Division 2, playoffs preview

2010-04-21 11:07 by Hooraytio

The time has come! EQL11 Division 2 playoffs are ready for takeoff and here is your guide to the first 4 matches!

Apocalypse 2000 vs Demolition Crew 2

Apocalypse 2000
A2K won the regular season after 6 wins, 1 walkover win and a 0-2 defeat. Somehow they managed to lose versus Magnum 44 but this didn’t stop them for long. During the season they have had some problems with the lineup with meshuggah and xenic leaving while dahmer and springs have joined. So far springs didn’t play though while dahmer has had a stable performance. I am a little disappointed about only seeing willgurht on 1 map since he is usually pretty good as well. Their strongest map is DM3 with 83% wins while DM2 is a bit more unnerving for them with 67% wins.

Demolition Crew 2
The active but less successful DC2 have lost 7 games and are 1-14 in maps only winning once on DM2. Even though Ax3 managed to beat them they squeezed in at 8th spot because of more games played than Ax3. They had a tough start to their independence from DC1 and I hope to see them again next season as they definitely can improve a lot and end higher in the table next season. They have had a solid lineup during the season so I expect the same guys to be playing the quarterfinal as well.

Conclusion
In my opinion there is no doubt that A2K will win this game 3-0 but if something is going to happen in the favor of DC2 it will happen on DM2. DC2 didn’t manage to do much last time on DM2 versus A2K but DM2 is the map where anything can happen. A2K did manage to lose versus a weaker clan once this season and I think they will do everything to avoid this humiliation again. Especially DM3 and E1M2 will be a walk in the park for A2K.

Expected lineups
Apocalypse 2000: Adde, Dahmer, Chad, Twist
Demolition Crew 2: Highlander, Shamoth, Matek, Fluartity

Previous encounter
2-0 (dm2: 380-67, dm3: 236-101)

Expected outcome
Apocalypse 2000 wins 3-0

Fraggers United vs Satanic Slaughter Clan

Fraggers United
Fraggers United ended up in 2nd place after 5 wins and 2 losses. By acquiring persuader they got much stronger than I expected in my preview. They have used a variety of players throughout the season but I think they will have to use their best lineup if they want to win this quarterfinal. Persuader and ilkka have been very good so if they are playing while being backed up by kippo, buggy or anza depending on the map they can go far in the playoffs. Their weak spot is DM3 with 40% wins and this is also persuaders weakest map in my opinion and this has reflected their performance here. DM2 and E1M2 are usually equally good for this clan but they have played more DM2 this season.

Satanic Slaughter Clan
Satanic Slaughter Clan was off to a slow start with rekk had some computer trouble. Later on katsku was recruited and this jump started the clan once again and they managed to get a few more games played. They only got 1 win but it was a solid 2-0 performance versus Pissed Cobs. Somehow they managed to lose versus Chosen while fielding the same lineup but it could also have been a fluke since the current SSC lineup haven’t played much together when fielding katsku instead of rekk. Interestingly enough their strongest map is DM3 so their hope for the quarter will be to win DM3 and snatch two more map wins on DM2. They also won DM3 versus FU during the regular season even without fielding katsku.

Conclusion
These two clans have quite the opposite records when it comes down to map statistics and SSC´s chance will be to win on DM3 and DM2. I reckon FU will be too strong on E1M2. FU on the other hand must secure wins on DM2 and E1M2 and not let one of those two maps slip out of their hands. FU will choose first and I’m guessing they will pick E1M2 and win and after that we will see SSC win on DM3. Winning the following DM2 is crucial for the series because the 4th map will be E1M2/DM3 followed by a decider on DM2 if necessary. Even though SSC are good I imagine FU will be too strong for them over 5 maps.

Expected lineups
Fraggers United: Persuader, Ilkka, Buggy, Kippo
I know this is not their most used players but if they want to win they should try to field that lineup.
Satanic Slaughter Clan: Slaughter, Mingle, Chafe, Katsku

Previous encounter
2-1 (dm3: 195-211, dm2: 276-135, e1m2: 288-138)

Expected outcome
Fraggers United wins 3-2

Demolition Crew 1 vs Magnum 44

Demolition Crew 1
These guys had a solid season so far with 5 wins and 2 losses. They managed to beat FU 2-0 which was pretty good considering that both persuader and ilkka played for FU. However, they didn’t play E1M2 which have been the Achilles heel for DC for a long time. They have used the same 4 players throughout the season and this is of course an advantage for them going into the playoffs with a team that has grinded pracs and 16 official maps together.

Magnum 44
This clan did pretty well during the regular season winning 2 games and losing 3. Their peak was when they won versus A2K 2-0. However, this was also the only game plate played and I think they really need him if they even want to win a map versus DC. M44 are equally good on all 3 maps and their chance to win one or two maps is on E1M2. These guys have advanced a bit more on this map than other polish clans on the same level. They only played it once and won during the regular season but I have felt their wrath on this map during pracs.

Conclusion
I am sorry to say that I don’t expect the same upset here as M44 managed versus A2K during the season. Unless plate plays this will be a comfortable win for DC and even if he shows up it will at most mean 1 map win for M44. Even if 3-2 might sound even I don’t think DC will be in much trouble since their routine and individual skill is higher. I don’t imagine DC losing DM2.

Expected lineups
Demolition Crew: Pooll, Ponczek, Goniec, Kpt. Kloze
Magnum 44: Qs, Chmielu, Glt, Myca and hopefully Plate

Previous encounter
2-0 (dm3: 202-125, dm2: 173-144)

Expected outcome
Demolition Crew wins 3-0 (perhaps 3-1 if plate plays)

Pissed Cobs vs Chosen

Pissed Cobs
PC only managed to play 5 games during the season resulting in 3 wins and 2 losses. Their win versus DC1 was probably their best performance while the wins versus CSN and DC2 were more expected. They had some problems with activity and for a while it was rumored that they had quit playing altogether. During the season they added xenic and mipa and especially xenic will be a strong addition for the playoffs. Their strongest map is E1M2 with 100% wins while having 50% on DM2 and a disappointing 33% on DM3. As expected Panic didn’t play a single map yet.

Chosen
Chosen managed to play all 8 games during the regular season winning 4 and losing 4. They were Badly beaten up by A2K and PC while getting close to FU on DM2. Versus DC1 CSN managed to win E1M2 while being obliterated on the other two maps. The 4 2-0 wins were all pretty convincing although the DM2 versus Ax3 was taken into overtime. Perhaps the most unexpected 2-0 win was their last game of the season versus SSC despite them fielding katsku instead of rekk. Chosen have been strong on E1M2 and DM3 while playing kind of awful on DM2

Conclusion
This game can go either way depending on what players PC manages to field. They have been unable to field their best lineup in each game and maybe the activity problems have been the source of this. CSN have used a lot of players but it seems like they will be able to field most of their stronger players for this game, niw is excluded however since he left CSN just as the playoffs were about to start. I expect PC to proceed to the semifinals but not without a good effort from CSN to try and keep PC from achieving glory.

Expected lineups
Pissed Cobs: Pillo, Furi, Xenic, Sailorman
Chosen: Pyta, Donut, Sajko, Hooraytio and hopefully Flamer and/or Vert. Kalma announced he won’t play and Junkass suffers from bad ping.

Previous encounter
2-0 (dm2: 281-93, e1m2: 240-163)

Expected outcome
Pissed Cobs wins 3-1

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