Hey guys, and welcome to sublyme's coverage of tonight's CAL-invite playoffs. Division winners zEx, TEC, 3D, and GX all have bye's for the first round, so let's get to the matches!
Tidbit: aoX vs a* on shoutcast by way of the Team Sportscast Network. Also this post has been updated with various quotes and somesuch![break="Sublyme's predictions"]Tonight it's an old favorite in de_nuke. I'm working in comments from players on all the playoff teams, so this post will be updating. Let's get to the matches.
art of eXecution vs Ascension
Ah, where to begin? aoX certainly isn't the powerful team they were once before. They're still not a team to underestimate but I don't see great things happening tonight. This has been a rocky season, losing 4 starters and gaining new ones. aoX is still shaky and reworking their chemistry but it's not going to be overnight. Speaking of a clan's chemistry coming together overnight, however, Ascension got Funk and Kimber mid-season and have managed to really beef up their record and defeat strong teams like WEW and GX. They really have their stuff together and will definitely pick a win up tonight.
I was able to get a word in with usual aoX starter moxley, and he had this to say:
Green Berets vs Team Stomping Grounds
All I can say is that I am dubiously impressed by TSG's effort this season. I should have known they'd improved when they tied [rs] earlier, as I only attributed it to a fluke at the time. However, here they are, with a record of 11-4-1. GB is working feverishly at getting chemistry down; losing their leader to the war on Iraq hasn't helped much. They're very much in the same position as aoX, and thus neither of them will be advancing. Congratulations on making the playoffs in your first season though.
Rector gave me a little something something in jest
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Pinnacle vs WeekEnd Warriors
Oh my Lord. I honestly don't know where I was at the time, but last night I was checking 3D's match results page and noticed an 18-6 loss to Pinnacle. I thought, that's odd, major error, I'd better tell Torbull. But first I went to the CAL-i results and found they had indeed been destroyed by Pinnacle. Shocked isn't the word to describe it. Whatever the case this totally changes my view on tonight's match. Pinnacle has obviously rallied together and beat some tough teams while WEW was on a losing streak. However, WEW isn't a team to bet against...most of the time. They went far in the playoffs last season and I see them heading far again. As I said in the comments, if I see anyone besides 3D defeating zEx it's going to be WEW, as WEW has been known for taking out zEx on several occasions.
WeekEnd Warriors -over- Pinnacle :: 14-10
Biodegradable Heroes vs Echo 7
E7 had a strong season, and despite their critics who noted their weak schedule, they came out strong. Still, it's been more downhill than up for E7, as halfway through the season they were 8-0 and lost 5 of the last 8 matches, ending with a healthy 11-5 record. BiO surprised a lot of people this season as at the end of last season they were losing lots of games and didn't seem to be too strong. Seeing their performance this season showed me that they have the talent and ability to make it past this round.
I managed to catch up with BiO-Ball, and he had this to say:
HLTV demos will be up once the games are over, as there is no live HLTV due to the crash bug. I'll post results as they come in!
Tidbit: aoX vs a* on shoutcast by way of the Team Sportscast Network. Also this post has been updated with various quotes and somesuch![break="Sublyme's predictions"]Tonight it's an old favorite in de_nuke. I'm working in comments from players on all the playoff teams, so this post will be updating. Let's get to the matches.
art of eXecution vs Ascension
Ah, where to begin? aoX certainly isn't the powerful team they were once before. They're still not a team to underestimate but I don't see great things happening tonight. This has been a rocky season, losing 4 starters and gaining new ones. aoX is still shaky and reworking their chemistry but it's not going to be overnight. Speaking of a clan's chemistry coming together overnight, however, Ascension got Funk and Kimber mid-season and have managed to really beef up their record and defeat strong teams like WEW and GX. They really have their stuff together and will definitely pick a win up tonight.
I was able to get a word in with usual aoX starter moxley, and he had this to say:
Well to be honest, I think it's going to be close, but it is going to come down to pistol rounds.. I am unable to play due to constant 15 loss (go cable!), but I think we can still win, my guess is aoX > A* 14-10Meanwhile, DragonClaw of Ascension had a positive outlook as well:
We've been scrimming non-stop preparing for the playoffs especially for our 1st round match vs. aoX. Our goal of course is to do our best and win the CAL-i Invite title, but it is also very important to not get knocked off in the 1st round. I'm sure both teams have done the needed preperation for playoffs, which will lead to a great match.Ascension -over- aoX :: 15-9
Green Berets vs Team Stomping Grounds
All I can say is that I am dubiously impressed by TSG's effort this season. I should have known they'd improved when they tied [rs] earlier, as I only attributed it to a fluke at the time. However, here they are, with a record of 11-4-1. GB is working feverishly at getting chemistry down; losing their leader to the war on Iraq hasn't helped much. They're very much in the same position as aoX, and thus neither of them will be advancing. Congratulations on making the playoffs in your first season though.
Rector gave me a little something something in jest
-We are all confident and playing very well, and nothing will change as Sublyme will predict us to lose as always.Team Stomping Grounds -over- Green Berets :: 15-9
Pinnacle vs WeekEnd Warriors
Oh my Lord. I honestly don't know where I was at the time, but last night I was checking 3D's match results page and noticed an 18-6 loss to Pinnacle. I thought, that's odd, major error, I'd better tell Torbull. But first I went to the CAL-i results and found they had indeed been destroyed by Pinnacle. Shocked isn't the word to describe it. Whatever the case this totally changes my view on tonight's match. Pinnacle has obviously rallied together and beat some tough teams while WEW was on a losing streak. However, WEW isn't a team to bet against...most of the time. They went far in the playoffs last season and I see them heading far again. As I said in the comments, if I see anyone besides 3D defeating zEx it's going to be WEW, as WEW has been known for taking out zEx on several occasions.
WeekEnd Warriors -over- Pinnacle :: 14-10
Biodegradable Heroes vs Echo 7
E7 had a strong season, and despite their critics who noted their weak schedule, they came out strong. Still, it's been more downhill than up for E7, as halfway through the season they were 8-0 and lost 5 of the last 8 matches, ending with a healthy 11-5 record. BiO surprised a lot of people this season as at the end of last season they were losing lots of games and didn't seem to be too strong. Seeing their performance this season showed me that they have the talent and ability to make it past this round.
I managed to catch up with BiO-Ball, and he had this to say:
Well, we really haven't scrimmed maybe once or twice but we have gone into our server and gone over strats , and we seemed to have it all pretty down so I think we will do fine tonight, but e7 has got a good bunch of guys that have played together for a long time and will make it a close match. I really can't tell you which way its gonna go. Guess you'll just have to watch. GL to e7 Tonight.s1m0nz was in pretty much the same boat about e7:
BiO is a well disciplined clan and well... we aren't. We only scrimmed once before this match and are gonna go in using just raw skill.Biodegradable Heroes -over- Echo 7 :: 13-11
HLTV demos will be up once the games are over, as there is no live HLTV due to the crash bug. I'll post results as they come in!
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