The 2017 WGI Color Guard World Championships are quickly approaching, and we're breaking down each round of the Independent Open Class prelims to see which teams will emerge from the BB&T Arena and Nutter Center venues in Dayton, Ohio, on Thursday, April 6.

All times are LOCAL (Eastern Time) to the event. Check the venue schedules for the exact times of your favorite ensemble's performance.

Round 1

Average Seeding Score: 80.750
First Performance: 9 AM
Last Performance: 10:03 AM
Venue: BB&T Arena | WATCH LIVE
In Round 1 of Independent Open, look for No. 4 seed Stonewall to come out strong and establish itself as a potential favorite for the gold medal. After earning a second-place finish at the WGI Mid-Atlantic Regional, the ensemble from Virginia must not be overlooked.

Round 2

Average Seeding Score: 80.100
First Performance: 6:15 PM
Last Performance: 7:27 PM
Venue: Nutter Center | WATCH LIVE
At the Nutter Center, Round 2 of Independent Open will feature four ensembles that are currently seeded high enough to make finals: No. 15 Legacy presented by Carolina Gold, No. 11 Legacy Performing Arts, No. 7 Reverie Independent, and No. 3 Paramount Open. This should be a pivotal round for positioning.

Round 3

Average Seeding Score: 80.556
First Performance: 10:25 AM
Last Performance: 11:37 AM
Venue: BB&T Arena | WATCH LIVE
Round 3 is going to be buzzing because of quite possibly the biggest story in Open class. Can No. 6 Sensation Performance Ensemble break through to the top after traveling all the way from Amersfoort, Netherlands? WGI's only European representative at the World Championships has made the 4,104-mile journey and is ready to throw down.

Round 4

Average Seeding Score: 81.316
First Performance: 7:50 PM
Last Performance: 9:02 PM
Venue: Nutter Center | WATCH LIVE
With three top 10 seeds and the highest average seeding score, Round 4 is without a doubt the toughest round in prelims. Featuring No. 9 The Brigadiers, No. 5 University of South Florida, and top-seeded AMP Winter Guard, this round will surely be a barn-burner.

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