”Cadred must be getting desperate” was the collective whisper from the gallery. “Why on Earth would they send him to cover a CoD4 event?” – well, why indeed? But that is what will be happening. It’s not like I don’t follow Call of Duty or anything and of late I have even laid my prejudices about Call of Duty 2 being the far superior, and more skilful, game to bed. I watched every CiC7 match from the comfort of my e-sports dungeon and liked what I saw.

So yes, I’ll be the Cadred eyes and ears on the ground at the upcoming SteelSeries E-sport Challenge and it promises to be a good one, even for those that have previously sneered at the game. There should be a lot of consistency in terms of the quality of the event itself – the crew that are running it are the same people that put together The eXperience – as lauded as much for CoD4 as it was for CS:S, prize money not withstanding – and the admin team are coming from CiC7 in the form of that Vita Nova lot. As set-ups go it’s not likely to get much better that.

However, we’re not here to discuss that. We’re here to discuss who is going to win it. And there’s a lot of interest in who’s going to win it, not least of all over at Paddy Power who are taking bets on the event. You can see their odds here.

CiC7 threw up some surprises, the tournament twisting and turning, before we were presented with some familiar winners. With this being the next opportunity for players to prove themselves, is it going to be the same story again, or will some upsets disrupt the hegemony of the Call of Duty 4 scene? Here’s my thoughts on the upcoming action. Expect bold predictions because, in this game at least, I don’t really have a reputation to lose:

Fnatic

stevy
Zenith
Kyochi
Linqan
Odyx

This team have been such a dominant force it is hard to imagine anyone else winning a tournament, or betting against them to be in the final. Their balance just seems to be perfect, so much so that even their rival-come-admirer Tom “d1ablo” Newman waxed lyrical about all their good points in a recent article about what makes the perfect team. The accurate sniping of Stevy, the aggressive SMG work from Linqan, the youthful exuberance of odyx and his AK… Each player in the squad are capable game winners in their own right, but together the total is far greater than the sum of its parts. That said, their win at CiC7 doesn’t tell the full story. They may have won their matches out in Holland, but a lot of them were tight scorelines and the victories would best be described as competent rather than comprehensive. Reason Gaming managed a victory over them in the group stages, but couldn’t replicate that in the final when the stakes were higher. Does this mean that this could be the event where they fail to deliver? It’s unlikely and it has been suggested before but there is always the knowledge that it has to happen some time. If this is that event then predictions for the tournament will become meaningless as it would be anyone’s game but for those who are looking for a safe bet it doesn’t really get much safer than these guys.

Predicted Finish: 1st

fnatic were brilliant at CIC7

Power Gaming

Toxjee
mazarini
paradox
luboshmir
froster

I personally liked the look of Power Gaming out at CiC7 and they seemed to grab their third spot without too much fuss and noise. They put in some really fine performances and looked a solid unit. Hampered by meeting a rampant Reason Gaming ahead of schedule they had to make do with the lowest step on the podium, but I don’t know if that will happen twice. Paradox and luboshmir had fine competitions throughout and if you ever need extra motivation, well Power Gaming have sent a clear message out about their expectations after what happened with their Team Fortress 2 side – progress or make way for someone that bring home the prize. However, this team don’t seem to need that motivation, having maintained a steady line-up for some time and revelling in being supported by an organisation that can deliver on its promises after some bad experiences, with everything that has gone on around them, who is to say that they won’t go one better this time? Paddy Power seem to like them, having made them favourites and while I wouldn’t go that far maybe they know something I don’t.

Predicted Finish: 2nd

Reason Gaming

D1ablo
Duffer
SoCLoN
Lighters
Trigger

Based on their fine performances out at CiC7 you’d be forgiven for thinking that this could well be their event. Alas, since that promise they have had to make some changes after the player that many saw as the galvanising factor in the team, Tim “revoltz” Denton, decided he’d be retiring from competitive play. The team responded quickly and positively by picking up by adding Jason "lookzor" Perez O’Connor with enough time between then and now and bed into the team. Everything seemed to be going fine initially, but after announcing his return it didn’t take long before he was ousted due to personal differences. With that done and dusted the player they bring to this event is the Call of Duty 2 legend Michael "Trigger" Sowa, which represents something of a risk. No-one can doubt his pedigree but with the amount of time he’s had to settle in and get back to his regular standard it does remain to be seen whether this team can scale the same heights as the one before it. The good news is that they do retain the d1ablo and duffer combination, especially important if duffer manages to perform like he did at CiC7 this time around. It was literally the tournament of his life and his contribution was instrumental in their drive to the final. For me personally though I can’t see the team matching that success this time round with the difficulties they have encountered prior to the event.

Predicted Finish: 3rd

Team Dignitas

Germaine
nreo
Phantasy
raz
robyYE

The Jeckyl and Hyde of Call of Duty 4, the team has swung wildly back and forth as either being front-runners or underachievers. While the current roster boasts not only talent, but exciting players that dare to attempt the near impossible, it is also perceived to be imbalanced in terms of what it brings to the table. Players have had to adapt to unfamiliar roles and frankly it has shown in their performances of late. Their 9th / 16th placing at CiC7 can be put down to the luck of the draw, but the facts are for a team of this capability that sort of finish isn’t acceptable. With a field that is slightly reduced in strength you can expect them to climb up the standings automatically, but I fancy them to just pip fourth. After the disappointment it is said Chris “nreo” Mead has been working hard to marshal his troops ahead of this latest test and with their experience and natural ability it will carry them through against the mixes and the fresh faced players. Expect an entertaining ride though, Declan “germaine” Elcocks’ AK work is always something to watch out for and their very own miracle-man Robin “robyYE“ Swaters continues ot try and exorcise the ghost of Blackmane with his sniper work. Expect better, but not good enough to trouble the podium.

Predicted Finish: 4th

dignitas are just off the back of a win at i39

H2K

miRACLE
Mumma
qLimAxzU
mySpyS
vissEh

The winners of the Vita Nova “Season Zero” league, they went to CiC7 and were one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams there. Any LAN event can be a baptism of fire for a team and usually if things don’t go according to plan the pressure tells and changes usually ensue. However their 5th / 8th out in Enschede, while respectable in itself given the quality of competition, could have been better were it not for Reason Gaming – again – meeting them early. Having knuckled down, maintained the same roster and looking eager to improve on their position they could really do something, which would be a welcome story. Alas I don’t see them nipping ahead of any of the teams mentioned above them for a variety of reasons and in a way this event might have come a little too soon for them. Still, this is the experience they need if they want to be able to mix it up with the big boys and the event after, provided they make it through this one intact, could be the one they really start to live up to their potential.

Predicted Finish: 5th / 8th

And if you’ve got some money to burn…

mTw

plotsch
hornyz
jetleck
thunder
jotschy

The Germans still haven’t done anything to shake that “onliner” tag yet but if they do… Well, you know how it is. The teams that go from having strings of poor events, to just coming from nowhere then feel fit to bust out the old “proved myself lads” and flex their muscles as they pose for an unlikely winners cheque. Then every time you try to point out it was some sort of wild fluke you’re shouted down by a legion of fan-boys who maintained the team was amazing all along and before you know it you’re a lone voice crying out in a wilderness of insanity… Or something. Well, anyway, if you are feeling flush you could back these guys and see what hapopens. They’ve stuck together through thin and thinner at LANs and the organisation obviously thinks they still have what it takes. Could this event and this field be the one they storm from behind and catch everyone by surprise?

Predicted Finish: ???

MCA

solz
semme
svo
mofje
prophecy

Man, I really felt for these guys out in their native country. A team with quality CoD2 players like Nick "solz" Schurinck and Niels "zemme" van Steenbergen don’t really deserve to finish outside of the top sixteen of any tournament, but they did after a tough early run. No-one will be giving them too much of a hope out in Denmark, but with the vast majority of the other Dutchies staying home to celebrate the awesome Queens Day they could well be flying a lone flag for a nation. Not that their success or failure will enhance or diminish the celebrations back home, but they deserve something for missing such an awesome street party.

Predicted Finish: Better than CiC7