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Today  Uzi has prepared his first match preview piece, which like a good wine will hopefully improve with age and as he gets to know the teams a little better as the tournament progresses (and pads out his paragraphs with SkillTracker stats).
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 Insignia Cadre vs TeK-9 Networks LTD. |
So here we go then embarking on another expedition into the upper echelons of the European CSS hierarchy - and what a way to kick things off as we open the season with this heavyweight encounter between two of Finland's finest.
 Now it was only just over two weeks ago that Insignia Cadre unveiled their new CSS five man squad. All of the faces on display are very well known not only on the scene but especially so with the Cadre name as all five players have previously met with success in previous incarnations of the team. There aren't any teams in the two invite divisions that you would rule out of qualification for the play offs - but if there were Insignia Cadre would not be one of them. A team thats going to take some stopping for sure.
TeK-9 are possibly better known for their CoD and WC3 teams lately but you would be wrong in thinkng they dont have what it takes to kick some ass in the Invite East division. A quick once over of their site shows that whilst they are fully aware of Cadre's abilities they do suggest that everyone should brace themselves for a "surprise" tonight. One thing thats for sure here is that with ten players all from Finland on the server the win is as important for both teams as much for the bragging rights that go with the three points vital to both teams at this early stage.
Prediction: Insignia Cadre[16:10] TeK-9
Player to Watch: Eversor |
Team Temptation vs  Team Ebuyer |
 The last season that Team Temptation contested in theSGL did not go well for the guys as they took four hefty defeats ( as Team Sky) at the hands of arguably the top four teams in the Invite division before finally succumbing to roster problems and withdrawing from the remainder of the season and vowing to come back stronger next time around. Well they're back and ready to put that promise to the test as they open their campaign with this tricky (are there any easy ones?) tie against the consistent Team Ebuyer tonight on de_cpl_mill.
I keep reading that source teams have very short memories. I say this as it seems every time a team that is playing CGS is mentioned then its also said that since they're paying more attention to the mr9 rule set that they might not do well on mr15 anymore. I doubt this will have that much effect as all the players on display here in the opening night have grown up playing mr15 and a month or so playing a shorter, faster game will hopefully not have too much impact on the teams concerned. As for Team Ebuyer themselves , the last time I saw them in action personally was during the recent Intel tournament where they were unlucky to meet r3 (the eventual runners up) early in the knock out stage and lost a close match. A lot will depend on how well the guys gel together after some of them have been playing for Polarity in the CGS qualifiers.
Prediction: Team Temptation [10-16] Team Ebuyer
Player to Watch: tom (or haggis if he plays) |
Auxilia vs  Defeaters.css |
After the Auxilia roster was reduced to near extinction only a couple of months ago things looked bleak indeed for this once mighty powerhouse of UK CSS however with the changes made at r3 and 4K right after the Intel tournament there was a flurry of activity as Chilli came in to look after the day to day management of the side and take the strain from Gandofini, with him he brought beta and along with a four hotshots from 4K a new Auxillia team was born. Plenty of strength on show here and on their day certainly capable of beating any team unfortunate enough to be placed in their path.
 Defeaters own team history sums up their recent activity as well as anything where they state that they are a "Very old team, which had some roster changes because some players departed due to CGS - we picked two probably most promising players from Team-Defiance, STR and sneix." - another team falling foul of the CGS "glory hunters" here then (though who can blalme them for trying eh?) Both teams with roster changes here but on this occasion I'm going to have to go against the Czech outfit as it's my belief that Auxilia have enough firepower on board the battlebus to take this tie.
Prediction: Auxilia [16-8] Defeaters
Player to Watch: beta.
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 Junk52 Theatre vs  adastra |
 After a couple of poor results over the very recent past Junk53 Theatre may well feel they have something to prove to their doubters. There seem to be a fair few of you who don't think the J52 crew deserve their slot in the Invite East according to message received by the admins. In each season we announce (any game type) one team is singled out by others who feel they should have that slot for themselves and this time around its Junk52 getting a slating. A tricky first tie in the form of adastra beckons for them and they will need to show some steely determination and a severe upturn in form to make an impact on this opening fixture.
As the Swedish contingent in the Invite tier adastra have the responsibility of being their countries sole representative in the event and things certainly bode well for them as they come into this match after losing out in one of the CGS qualifiers to (a sadly absent form this event) Fnatic team by a single round of overtime. The current squad names themself as the "adastra v3" and have obvious skill overloads in all the right places. As referred to above a tough night at the office is going to be in evidence for Junk52 Theatre if both teams keep to their current run of form.
Prediction: junk52 Theatre [05:16] adastra
Player to Watch: olander |
 Cubesports vs Catch-23 |
cubesports only have a single player on their roster and as such are likely to be replaced unless they pull their finger out and organise things pretty darn quickly. They have built up a good reputation in other game types as well as CSS so it would be shame to lose them at this early stage on a technicality.
What we are denied here is a all Italian clash as Catch-23 would appear to have been awarded the night off whilst Cubesports sort out their roster at the double, or are replaced
Prediction: n/a
Player to Watch: n/a |
| ONESIX.CSS vs Zboard Team |
ONESIX.CSS have fast built a reputation which contradicts their relative inexperience in CSS. To illustrate this, a hard fought and inspirational win over 4K in the recent Intel tournament (on a highly familiar map - de_train) was followed by what could only be described as a definate lack of fizz shown on de_contra as they turned out a flat performance against Asperity and went out of the tournament as a result. Since then, the ONESIX.CSS core lineup has given their emphasis to source (over 1.6) and may be in better shape to contest some of the unfamiliar maps which they will have to do well on to acheive promotion to the Invite tier. Tonight though it's cpl_mill and frankly there is no problem here for ONESIX. The key to this game lies not with them but with their opponents.
Following on from the above, the result in this match is going to depend on the kind of performance that Zboard Team turn in. Back once again under the command of "that man" ben0, this time backed up by jafro and with a virtually un-drilled line up this team could either tear into ONESIX like men possessed or succumb to the wily 1.6 tactical ploys of their opponents. A tough one to call indeed so I'm going to be daring and sit right on the fence on this one - though should I get chance this is the game I'm going to be watching myself this evening.
Prediction: ONESIX.CSS [15:15] Zboard Team
Player to Watch: ben0 |
pub-AftershocK vs  extenSia! |
pub-AftershocK have been around for donkeys years now and claim a wonderful five year tenure as one of the established 1.6 and CSS teams evident in the ED realm. In their ten matches played so far in theSGL they have lost only two (drawing one) though notably this has been when taking a step up in class and encountering a higher level of opponent (Alba Gu Bra and 4K in this case). these are the sorts of team they will be playing week in weekout in the Championship and things will certainly be tough for them but they have proved time and again not to bet against them or count them out - because when you do they'll come storming in and flatten you before you know it.
My love for all things French is well documented.... and here we have extenSia! who are no stranger to major events and crucially - doing well in them. Their website is sadly down at this time so I'm going by what they have told me via their team history which sure looks impressive, 1st ESL undefeated, 1 EAS ESL undefeated (and much more). It's my understanding that this team could easily have been candidates for the Invite tier and as such we could well expect to see them there next season after a successful Championship campaign which might start tonight with a win over pub-AftershocK.
Prediction:pub_aftershocK [09:16] extenSia!
Player to Watch: ghosty
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| xciteuk vs Gaming Transcendents |
How could anyone not look forward to seeing xciteuk back in action? Well, gaming trancendents don't seem to be looking forward to it as they have neglected to fill their roster with any players to take them on. Whether this is an oversight on their part or a declaration of intent not to take part remains to be seen but much like Catch 23, xciteuk will be available for pcw this evening as their opponents are either knocked into shape with large wooden pole or sadly - replaced.
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Tue, 22 May 2012 19:48:11 +0100
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