Richard "DrGonzo" Lewis takes a close look at the upcoming Danish SLAP Live

Everyone will have noticed the strength in depth that the Danish scene has started to build off the back of the DEL and by providing opportunities for up and coming players in their national team. The SLAP LAN, held in Brøndby, Denmark, is an event that has always been dominated in attendance terms by the locals, but with a significant prize fund of €4000 this time around it has tempted some of the other continental teams to make the journey across the water.

As a result of this it promises to be one of the last great European events of the year for CS:S and there are many questions likely to be answered during the course of the event. Can Roccat bounce back from a series of disappointing LAN and online results? Will the former 4kings side be able to win a hat-trick of events attended? Can mTw's line-up finally click and start to pull out the performances necessary to show they are still the best Germany has to offer?

You get the picture. With the fictitious Polish LAN, AKA sassquaando part 2, not happening this will be one of the last clashes with these teams. The most important question of any event is "who will win?" so let's round up the usual suspects and see if we can answer the question.

Team Dignitas

James "Mx" Smale
Lewis "Hughsy" Hughes
Sam "RattlesnK" Gawn
James "PEZ" Perrott
Tom "beta" Hanna

Their placing as first seed will divide many and you can see both sets of the argument. Even if the roster of CGS glory is long gone now for Dignitas they instead have three of the reigning EPS champions from Crack Clan, and a winner of the inaugural season. In addition they have a player still widely regarded as one of Europe's best AWPers despite prolonged periods of inactivity due to studies. At the moment you would argue it was the best line-up in the UK based on this alone, but does it deserve to be seeded amongst the others? While it does seem odd that an as of yet untested line-up would be thought of so highly, that is something that can't be really answered in any way without it descending into repetitive argument.

What can be said is that they can beat any team when everything is firing on all cylinders and they currently possess a roster made up of some of the most dedicated players. For some, especially James "PEZ" Perrott, it is a shot at the big time, to shed prior reputations and prove they deserve the Dignitas name. For others it is a chance to roll back the clock and relive some past glories. It has been a while since Dignitas were back on top in CS:S and their manager Michael "ODEE" O'Dell, made some tough decisions to put this side together, parting company with players he had worked with for a long time. I don't know anything of their preparation for the event as they have seemingly been off everyone's radar since being announced. This could be a sign of them working hard behind closed doors, or something that points to inactivity. But if the team are prepared and can balance some of the big personalities in there during games, then maybe the first seed isn't too far off.

Player To Watch:

James "PEZ" Perrott: Who else? The shock pick-up's first event as part of Dignitas and his opportunity to prove himself, as his compatriot Tom "beta" Hanna might put it, or to show why so many mocked the move. Although he hates the term and refuses to acknowledge it, he is the poster boy for where keen-ness (AKA hard work) can get you. Amongst the company of his team-mates this event should show whether that quality is enough.

fnatic

Mark "AirRaid" Koks
Milan "xertion[V]" Veeger
Sandor "proph[V]" de Munck
Quint 'Blaze' Spierenburg
Kaj "kajsk1ng" van Staalduinen

It took some time for the team to get back to winning ways, but they did it. After bringing in a player many thought would be the weak link in the chain, known for his COD4 background, Kaj "kajsk1ng" van Staalduinen has not only shown he can hold his own, but he was instrumental in winning the OOF3 final. The team followed that up with a win at FOM but have had to shuffle the pack once more. Luuk 'darky' Verink, who had been in incredible form, had to stand down and it just so happened to coincide with Quint 'Blaze' Spierenburg's return from traveling the globe.

How this will impact on how they play remains to be seen. The much publicised problems at 4kings won't have helped matters, but the squad have still been knuckling down with a week long boot-camp before the event. This is a good move on their part for sure. While the victories at OOF and FOM represent a return to winning ways, many will cite those events as being far from premier and the teams of the teams in attendance there weren't many that should have posed a challenge to players of this ability and experience. They are aware that SLAP represents an opportunity to show they can win big and it clearly means a lot to them.

They aren't going to be without a home for long, but a win out in Denmark would be quite a way to announce yourselves as being back on the market.

Player To Watch:

Quint 'Blaze' Spierenburg: Another obvious one. Will all that time picking fruit and battling jumping spiders have hampered his skills? Just how rusty will he be, it at all? Everyone who followed Holland's finest recently will know he's filling a massive pair of shoes by coming in for Darky, but if anyone can do it, surely it can be this man.

Vitriolic Gaming

Robin "Fifflaren" Johansson
Erik "HaZ" Holm
Daniel "giftig" Ivarsson
Christopher "Helblinde" Nilsson
Joacim "majk" Kroon

If brutal truth be told I am amazed that this line-up is still together and poised to continue where they left off at TeX09. Why? Well, it's the Swedish thing isn't it? I don't know what it is, but just when a Swedish team looks like it's going to come along and produce something meaningful in the CS:S scene, they seem to be tempted away by Absolut, parties and blondes. Not that I blame them. I like those things too. But I've had cornettos that have lasted longer than some Swedish line-ups… Incredible really when you look at how their fellow countrymen continue to dominate 1.6.

Anyway, they are still here and I'm glad because, for me at least, they are one of the teams I think that could cause more than a few upsets here. Third place at TeX was a good finish even if they did look outclassed by the likes of RedLine, and they've now had time to put right some of the mistakes that were holding them back when it came to beating the very best. Incredibly as well they will come into this event with one of the most "stable" rosters, the other teams in and around them having all made significant changes. This alone could give them the edge when it comes to the important encounters and who is to say these guys might not be one of the teams in the final?

Player To Watch

Erik "HaZ" Holm: Just because it has to be really. It never ceases to amaze me how high a standard this guy operates at, despite having been around for so long. One of the true unsung greats of the game and a player capable of taking down teams by himself, as we saw him do as part of Crack Clan on numerous occasions.

mTw

Patrick 'mEiJin' Kriebus
Philipp 'osirisbash' Kaczmarczyk
Andre 'nooky' Utesch
Florian 'puRit' Dobberphul
David 'dav1d' Kelling

When the entire German scene went through the usual spell of switching players for the upcoming EPS season the reigning champions looked to have got a good deal, certainly more than their main rivals Team Alternate Attax. While they were gambling on two players relatively unproven at the highest level, mTw made only minor tweaks and brought in the highly rated Patrick 'mEiJin' Kriebus. Since this has happened though, things haven't been going according to the script.

On the last three occasions they have played their closest rivals they have lost. They have already lost twice in their EPS season putting them in fourth spot and they have struggled in some matches. The good news for them is that they seem to be hitting form at just the right time. They beat the EPS leaders comfortably just prior to this event and they will want to show that the disappointing display at TeX09, an event many thought they could win based on their online form, was something of an anomaly.

That said, there are plenty of people who scoffed at them being seeded as high as fourth and those will likely be expecting a repeat of events gone by. Certainly a poor placing here will lead to the old jokes about mTw and LAN rearing their head again, but the side need to start proving that they are capable of top billing and soon.

Player To Watch

Andre 'nooky' Utesch: One of my favourite German players and one who I think will need to be at the top of his game if his team are to be capable of beating the big names, his unerring gamesense and intelligent play always make him a joy to watch.

The Imperial

Henrik 'FeTiSh' Christensen
Kristoffer 'gravity' Søholm
Jesper 'purityy' Larsen
Bo 'wantz' Vestergaard
Victor 'v1ctor' Neergaard

Top of the DEL and looking likely to cruise to victory as Roccat falter behind them, The Imperial – formerly MoD – come into this event as the top team in their country on current form. Everyone knows that "home teams" generally tend to do well at LAN, and this team could well be capable of causing some surprises, even if they haven't really done that in the past.

As a team that continuously flirts with a placement in the top ten in Europe, this is an event that will either cement or break that reputation, with plenty of their fellow Danes being all too aware of how they play and how to exploit any potential weaknesses. But they should be equipped for that, with the wily fox of Henrik "Fetish" Christensen at the helm, their ability to adapt and innovate should just about keep them ahead of the chasing pack.

The real test is going to come when they play the top teams. In previous events this is where they have fallen down, making simple mistakes that are all too easily punished by seasoned players. A team that isn't made up of superstars with robotic aim, their strength lies in their discipline, execution and their timing. If this happens then The Imperial could have just pulled off a masterstroke:

Player To Watch

Victor 'v1ctor' Neergaard: The most recent addition to the team, stepping in for Stefen '3k2' Markussen who has now moved into management, he is another player coming to this event looking to show what he can do. Although it has been said he will be joining the team no matter what after the event, a great performance here will definitely make that a reality.

Roccat

Thomas "inCre" Hector
Martin "orga" Hansen
Morten "frozt" Frost
Dennis "rytter" Rytter
Danni "rytme" Hansen

The "Great Danes" that haven't been looking so great lately. The less said about TeX the better, a placement that prompted the team to come out and vocalise their disappointment. With the DEL round the corner many felt the status quo would be re-established, but a couple of draws have left them off the pace and the top spot and hoping for an Imperial slip-up if they are take top seed for the play-offs

But it isn't all doom and gloom. Thomas "inCre" Hector has steered the Roccat ship admirably for some time now and with the decision to move Troels "eXce" Kierulff and replace him with another one of Denmark's up and coming players in the form of Dennis "rytter" Rytter might just prove to be a masterstroke. The name might be one you aren't familiar with, but bringing in some fresh blood could just be the cure for the malaise that had set into the team, causing their play to stagnate. With their collective exeprience, the AWPing of Martin "orga" Hansen and the mercurial talent of Morten "frozt" Frost this team really shouldn't be coming in to this event being taken lightly by anyone. One confidence boosting win against a big name and who knows what could happen? Until then though, they are coming in with an understandable sixth seed.

Player To Watch

Dennis "rytter" Rytter: As much as I might want to pick others, logic decrees that Dennis is going to be the one to watch, much like the others coming to this event with points to prove. Many saw his inclusion as a step back for the team, but he brings a lot to a side by simply executing the basics extremely well, without the need to attempt the fanciful. His rigid and consistent play is exactly the sort of thing Roccat have been missing.