UKTerrorist

UK CPL Final Qualifiers 2002 Predictions

With the CPL UK Qualifier finals only days away and the teams competing at Northampton now confirmed I've decided to draw up a little preview of the clans attending.

[SCEE]

Line up = DK (Jay) - Havok (Lee) - Docker (John) - Omni (Mark) - FELLA (Russ)

My knowledge of scee is not great and without DK around to fill me in I can't say too much. However they have been in the scene for a long time and have attended more than one major LAN in their history. Any team with experience can be dangerous, but because I know so little about them I shall let my ignorance guide me and place them 8th.

Prediction = 8th

Clan One

Line Up = Keiju (Bourke), Righteous (Lewis), Barely-Legal (Roberts), Obi (Day) and Strikes (Kinch)

Clan One have been around a long time and have always managed to keep in the top 10 of UK CS. They came past some tough opposition in mag8 at the qualifiers and have recently had to bring in ex-members to make up a team for this LAN. However Clan One can always be dangerous and it would not surprise me if they cause at least one upset.

"We are basically there at the end of the day to have fun, and to prove we're not all config." - Barely Legal

Prediction = 6th

Does Not Compute

Line Up = Unknown

We know that dNc mean business, nobody comes all the way from Ireland for nothing and they have their eyes set firmly on those free tickets to Dallas. Going on recent LAN history and their victory at Primary Strike puts them in good stead. Disappointing performances in the Eurocup last season does not detract from the Irish team that has the advantage of being able to practice LAN almost all year round. An advantage any of the participating clans will admit is huge.

Prediction = 2nd

Eikosia

Line Up: Deean, Puneet, Toomy, Shads, Mud, Houd

A clan formed mainly for the CPL out of some of the players who at the time were roaming clanless. I can't really offer you an objective opinion of their chances as I'm part of the team. Here's a statement from Puneet:

"We've put in a lot of time recently on certain maps but we’re going mainly for the experience. We’re in it for the fun and winnings just a bonus." - Puneet

Prediction = 4th

ERM

Line Up = TeppuM, WaZ, Rav0r, Bom, Monst

I first encountered ERM at i10 when TeppuM had just left veterans and had decided to create this clan. Since then they have proved to be one of the UK's better clans and have managed to perform in a few online tournaments with some success. Most notably they reached the finals of recent lan Roweb against Infinity eSports and lost (13-0 I think). Most importantly however their leader, Morgan is the master and a great organiser, check out #cspickup.

"We're gunna get whacked out." - TeppuM

Prediction = 5th

Infinity-eSports

Line Up: Dartagnan, Lil, Grim, Darth, Liquid and Danfrag

The most established clan in UK gaming history? Infinity eSports are without doubt the most experienced gamers going to the CPL after having represented the UK at last years World Championships. With a team that has all played at the highest level and arguable some of the best individual talents in the European community it would be a brave man who betted against Infinity at Northampton. I caught up with Dartagnan aka Edwards for a quick chat, he had this to say:

"Well, we're practicing very hard this week in the amazing Cyberweb cafe, who have been so helpful and given us everything. We've been doing loads of practice all day everyday, and will be very prepared for the UK Quals finals. Nothing but 1st place will be acceptable." - Dartagnan

Prediction = 1st

Lancity^Inept

Line Up = Renz0r (Huxall), c0ld (McCall), Seagull (Gee), !? (Obasuyi), UN! (Salkeld)

I have never heard of this clan and presume it's a local LAN clan from Leeds. As such I wasn't able to find anything about them. If anyone knows anything or if they are reading this please email me with some info.

Prediction = ? (can't make one for a team that I don’t have any knowledge of).

Nocturne

Line up = Rhyzz, Procedure, Ripper, Landshark, Ex
As the line up suggests this is not the Nocturne we have come to know, missing Blaze, Messiah and many of the older veterans. The original team that was planned as well as the weeks training in Bath would have definitlely made Nocturne serious contenders for the tournament but it seems with that Rhyzz has had some problems getting the team together for the finals and things are not looking great for Nocturne. You can’t ever count them out but all things suggest they are going to struggle.

"We’re going out first round" - Procedure

Prediction = 3rd

Twisted Reality

Line Up = Jay, Defect, Demo, Dolly, Feitek

Twisted Reality are another clan much like Clan One that has maintained a presence in the UK CS community for some time. Although I have only ever encountered them a few times on the Internet I have little experience of the players that are going to Northampton. They did manage to beat some decent clans at the London qualifier to get through so who knws what to expect. If anything the dark horses of the competition.

"Well we have recently just come back from a week LAN were we was just fine tuning taccies and working on team play, so as u can see we are planning on doing our best :]" - Jay

Prediction = 7th

Well there you have it, almost certainly I will be 100% wrong so begin the flames now.