UKTerrorist

CPL UK Qualifier Preview

4Kings.Intel – Seed #1

What is there to say about Four Kings that hasn't been said before. They've dominated the UK scene for as long as most of us care to remember but have never placed better than 5th at a CPL event. They have more line-up changes than any world-class team I can think of. Is Winter CPL their time? This qualifier will give us a good indicator. Will they even qualify for it? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see this weekend.

Being number one seed certainly helps their cause but whether or not they deserve it is questionable, particularly with GG in attendance. As always, they certainly have the individual ability to do well – better than past results at least – but it’s been the same old story for a long time now. Great individuals do not a great team make. Lack of practice and lack of stability has hurt 4kings for a year now, since their last decent finish: 8th at Winter CPL, 2003. Unfortunately, this has not changed in the run-up to this event. Out is snajdan, in is unknown quantity, red. I'd like to say his play will determine 4k's placing but in reality, how well he is integrated and how much the team practices beforehand will be what makes or breaks their chances.

One to watch: Red, it has to be, just to see how he fits in to the team.
Predicted finish: 1st or 2nd

GoodGame – Seed #2

I think everyone's aware of what happened the last time French GG was in the UK. Getting taken right to the wire by lastchance (five overtimes I believe?) then dominating 4k in the finals. Despite being seeded second, GG are definitely the favourites to take top spot at this event. CPL has not been kind to GG in the past – they don't even make the top 30 on csports statistics-based ranking. Statistics, however, can only tell you so much (especially since these ones only go back as far as 2003). Much like 4k over here, GG has dominated the French scene for a long time but history shows us that GG have never been quite so impressive at the big events. Their best result was fourth at ESWC last year. The similarities between GG and 4k continue, though, when we look at form over the past year: dominant on home ground but less than impressive on their travels with overtones of inconsistency all over their awards page. They won the WCG France qualifier but only managed top 64 at the finals, after placing an impressive second and EOGC. Simply put, if GG brings their best form, they are more than capable of walking away with a place at Winter CPL.

One to watch: Oligan. Far be it from me to say he carries this team at times but he certainly has more "clutch" games than most of his team members
Predicted finish: 1st or 2nd

5Giants – Seed #3

Now, I know what you’re all thinking. 'Who the fuck are they?' Right? Well, I was thinking exactly the same as you. A quick search on clanbase found no matches played and their website was very informative. Thanks to goRRRRRR, I found out a little, though. Their team is made up of members of the reasonably well known Zero Gravity, who attended ESWC and WCG, and the less well known exotic. Still, how this justifies a seeding above teams like plan-B and mysod is beyond me. Whilst they may have more LAN experience they never performed particularly well at the ones they attended. Maybe they'll surprise us, maybe not. Be sure to tune in to UKTerrorist this weekend and find out!

One to watch: Wish I knew, your guess is as good as mine.
Predicted finish: top 10

Asylum – Seed #4

After the late dropout of mysod, these guys will be watering at the mouth with an opportunity like this. They’re looking to prove themselves to the world as an international LAN team and with an impressive win over 4kings on Tuesday night, they’ll fancy their chances. Asylum is one of the form teams coming into this tournament with some impressive victories recently. Having beaten The Titans several times in the past few months, including a 16-1 and 16-2 hammering in a show match there is definitely a new power rising in Denmark. Can they continue this run going into the CPL, though? It’s really a tough one to call. It really depends on whether they can have a good game against the best teams. Despite my prediction, they are capable of winning this tournament and silencing the critics.

One to watch: Bloddy. He almost beat 4k single-handedly. If he plays well, Asylum has a great chance.
Predicted finish: 4th

Drake – Seed #5

This team has been one of the best in Iceland for a long time but has struggled with consistency of results and of its roster. They managed a respectable 9-12th placing at Summer CPL 2003 and won almost every LAN in Iceland for the past two years. However, they haven’t attended a CPL since then and only managed to place 3rd at the last Skjálfti LAN. With Ice Gaming quickly looking to overtake them as the number one team in Iceland, Drake will really want to get a good result here and hopefully go to the CPL itself. Will this happen? Personally, I doubt it.

One to watch: Wardrake. This is a team built around team-play but WD has been known to pull off some great individual performances. They’ll need them if they want to progress here.
Predicted finish: top 10

n!faculty – Seed #6

This German team had a pretty good showing at the recent EOGC event, last time they graced these shores, beating TAG and making it to the semi-final where they lost to the eventual champions, DSkyline. However, n! have never been a well-known clan internationally and the third place at EOGC is probably their best ever result. Looking at the quality of teams in attendance, third place is not especially impressive but it’s also not terrible. They have the ability to upset some of the other sides on their day and should manage to get out of the group, behind GG but I would be surprised if they even made it as far as the semi-finals this time around.

One to watch: Sodayi. In another teamwork based team, he is the one who could just be that extra ingredient that n! needs to succeed.
Predicted finish: top 10

Landed! – Seed #7

And so we come to the last of the UK sides in the top 8 seeds. Apart from 4k, landed are probably the best chance we have at getting a team to the CPL. They fall into what is perhaps the most even group and if they can beat fellow Brits, 2s2p and Dutch calibre, they have a great chance of getting through to the second phase. With 5Giants being rather an enigma, it’s possible that Landed could even go through as top of the group. With few non-UK teams knowing much about Landed they have the potential to cause a few upsets and even be a good outside to reach the finals. Unfortunately, they simply don’t have the power to overcome teams like GG and 4k right now. Still, the best chance for an all British team to do well probably rests on the shoulders of the Landed team.

One to watch: bosh. I've watched this guy since the t:R days and I think he’s definitely the trump card Landed could use to progress in this tourney.
Predicted finish: top 10

plan-B – Seed #8

Where did these guys come from? Formerly known as CUM.at, they have taken the CSCL by storm in its first season. Winning every game in the group stage, they finally ended their unbeaten run on Tuesday against SK in the playoffs. Despite this, they will be looking forward to the coming weekend with anticipation and a desire to prove themselves. Their only LAN experience was LanVegas earlier this year, which they won. They’ll be looking to build on this and prove that they can compete with the best and that they are worth better than an 8th place seed. I honestly believe these guys have the ability to match it with both 4k and GG but lack of LAN experience could hurt them, hence their predicted finish.

One to watch: papst. This guy has been Mr Consistency for the Austrian side.
Predicted finish: 3rd