The running order for the Eurovision 2022 Grand Final was announced overnight.
For those into statistics, it's a great chance to over analyse how the songs will do based on how running orders have played out in the past.
We've taken a look at the form guide for each running order position but only based on the last five competitions, to make it a more "modern competition" look.
We have looked at how many top 10s have occurred in those five contests, the best result as well as average positions and rankings overall.
Definitions:
Top 10s: How many times a song in this running order made the Top 10 in five contests (since 2016).
Best result: The best result in that time for this running order position.
Average finishing position: The average placing this running order received over those five years (this has been rounded to a whole number).
Running order ranking: How well this running order ranks against the others (eg you can have an average rank of 8th but be the 3rd best running order overall).
So, let's take a look:
1. Czech Republic - We Are Domi - 'Lights Off'
Top 10s: 1
Best result: 10th ('What the Pressure' - Belgium 2016)
Average finishing position: 16th
Running order ranking: 19th
2. Romania - WRS - 'Llámame'
Top 10s: 0
Best result: 17th ('Ktheju tokës' - Albania 2019)
Average finishing position: 22nd
Running order ranking: 26th (last)
3. Portugal - MARO - 'saudade, saudade'
Top 10s: 0
Best result: 11th ('Slow Down' - Netherlands 2016 & 'Friend of a Friend' - Czech Rep 2019)
Average finishing position: 16th
Running order ranking: 17th
4. Finland - The Rasmus 'Jezebel'
Top 10s: 0
Best result: 12th ('When We're Old' - Lithuania 2018)
Average finishing position: 18th
Running order ranking: 24th
5. Switzerland - Marius Bear - 'Boys Do Cry'
Top 10s: 3
Best result: 3rd ('Scream ' - Russia 2019 & 'Nobody But You' - Austria 2018)
Average finishing position: 10th
Running order ranking: 6th
6. France - Alvan and Ahez - 'Fulenn'
Top 10s: 2
Best result: 7th ('Je Me Casse' - Malta 2021)
Average finishing position: 11th
Running order ranking: 7th
7. Norway - Subwoolfer - 'Give That Wolf A Banana'
Top 10s: 1
Best result: 3rd ('Hey Mama' - Moldova 2017)
Average finishing position: 13th
Running order ranking: 11th
8. Armenia - Rosa Linn - 'Snap'
Top 10s: 3
Best result: 4th ('If Love Was a Crime' - Bulgaria 2016)
Average finishing position: 12th
Running order ranking: 9th
9. Italy - Mahmood & Blanco - 'Brividi'
Top 10s: 3
Best result: 5th ('Too Late for Love' - Sweden 2019 & 'If I Were Sorry' - Sweden 2016)
Average finishing position: 13th
Running order ranking: 12th
10. Spain - Chanel - 'SloMo'
Top 10s: 1
Best result: 10th ('Last Dance' - Greece 2021)
Average finishing position: 18th
Running order ranking: 25th
11. Netherlands - S10 - 'De Diepte'
Top 10s: 4
Best result: 1st ('Amar pelos dois' - Portugal 2017)
Average finishing position: 5th
Running order ranking: 1st
12. Ukraine - Kalush Orchestra - 'Stefania'
Top 10s: 3
Best result: 1st ('Arcade' - The Netherlands 2019)
Average finishing position: 8th
Running order ranking: 2nd
13. Germany - Malik Harris - 'Rockstars'
Top 10s: 1
Best result: 2nd ('Sound of Silence' - Australia 2016)
Average finishing position: 15th
Running order ranking: 15th
14. Lithuania - Monika Liu - 'Sentimentai'
Top 10s: 2
Best result: 6th ('Lie to Me' - Czech Republic)
Average finishing position: 14th
Running order ranking: 14th
15. Azerbaijan - Nadir Rustamli - 'Fade to Black'
Top 10s: 2
Best result: 6th ('Spirit in the Sky' - Norway 2019)
Average finishing position: 15th
Running order ranking: 16th
16. Belgium - Jérémie Makiese - 'Miss You'
Top 10s: 2
Best result: 6th ('Dark Side' - Finland 2021)
Average finishing position: 17th
Running order ranking: 23rd
17. Greece - Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord - 'Die Together'
Top 10s: 2
Best result: 10th ('Hatrið mun sigra' - Iceland 2019 and 'Grab the Moment' - Norway 2017)
Average finishing position: 16th
Running order ranking: 18th
18. Iceland - Systur - 'Með hækkandi sól'
Top 10s: 2
Best result: 3rd ('You Are the Only One - Russia 2016)
Average finishing position: 12th
Running order ranking: 9th
19. Moldova - Zdob și Zdub & Fraţii Advahov - 'Trenuleţul'
Top 10s: 2
Best result: 5th ('SHUM' - Ukraine 2021)
Average finishing position: 16th
Running order ranking: 20th
20. Sweden - Cornelia Jakobs - 'Hold Me Closer'
Top 10s: 4
Best result: 2nd ('Voila' - France 2021)
Average finishing position: 8th
Running order ranking: 3rd
21. Australia - Sheldon Riley - 'Not The Same'
Top 10s: 1
Best result: 1st ('1944' - Ukraine 2016)
Average finishing position: 17th
Running order ranking: 21st
22. United Kingdom - Sam Ryder - 'Spaceman'
Top 10s: 2
Best result:1st ('Toy' - Israel 2018)
Average finishing position: 11th
Running order ranking: 8th
23. Poland - Ochman - 'River'
Top 10s: 1
Best result: 4th ('City Lights' - Belgium 2017)
Average finishing position: 17th
Running order ranking: 21st
24. Serbia - Konstrakta - 'In Corpore Sano'
Top 10s: 3
Best result: 1st ('Zitti e buoni' - Italy 2021)
Average finishing position: 8th
Running order ranking: 3rd
25. Estonia - Stefan 'Hope'
Top 10s: 3
Best result: 2nd ('Fuego' - Cyprus 2018 and 'Beautiful Mess' - Bulgaria 2017)
Average finishing position: 10th
Running order ranking: 5th
Closers (usually 26 in running order):
Top 10s: 2
Best result: 5th ('Non mi avete fatto niente' - Italy 2018)
Average finishing position: 14th
Running order ranking: 13th
So that's a wrap! We've had winning entries from both halves and in five different positions: 11, 12, 21, 22 and 24.
Does a good running order help? Of course! Is it that influential...? The jury is out! But generally, the best song usually wins wherever it goes from... but maybe best to avoid number 2 in the running order!
The Eurovision Grand Final takes place on Saturday 14 May (Sunday 5:00am AEST 15 May in Australia).