Division 1 Playoffs Predictions

2013-05-14 10:49 by Hooraytio

The teams in division 1 have qualified for 2 different playoffs starting with the semifinals. Here is how I think it will turn out.

Division 1 Playoffs Predictions

The playoffs in division 1 are divided into two sub playoffs. The four highest seeds from the regular season have proceeded to the a-playoffs while seeds 5 to 8 find themselves in the b-playoffs. The playoffs start with semi finals and we will see a final and a bronze game in each of the two playoffs. Just as previous seasons the games are best of five on DM2, DM3 and E1M2.

A-playoffs consist of the Viper Squad, Suddendeath, Crazy88 and Oclan and the two semi final matchups are the following ones:


the Viper Squad versus Oclan

In their return to EQL the Viper Squad were unsure of where they stand but in an interview by Andeh they still expressed confidence in their individual skill and team play. The question was if any other team would have caught up. However, since there hadn’t been an EQL season since last spring no other team had exactly been playing 4on4 together for a while either. tVs managed to find opponents on six occasions during the season and their hardest opponents turned out to be Suddendeath and… Oclan? Yes I am surprised since even, with Rikoll playing, tVS should be a much better team. The players from North and South America with a Norwegian spice managed to put on the show of their life, so far, coming very close to winning on both maps in their 0-2 loss. The game against Suddendeath had been anticipated by the whole scene and atleast 80+ observers watched on QTV. The game had a lot of nerve and SD had a great run on DM2 before tVS finally took over and fragged ahead. tVS are good on all maps and their individual skill and hive mind like teamplay is feared around the quakeworld scene.

Oclan just looked stronger and stronger as the season progressed and their strong play against tVS was not a coincidence. They racked up 2-0 wins versus the mid skilled clans and in the key game for the a playoff spot they managed to take down ATG 2-1. They also played well versus C88 and SD but in those games they didn’t have Rikoll yet and the resulting 0-2 losses were expected. Oclan have strong lineups on all maps but I would wager their best chance in this game is winning E1M2 a couple of times and then squeezing In a DM3 win. On DM2 tVS are just too good. Squeeze, Vegeta and Ovr must perform like never before behind Rikoll if they want to take down this dragon.

I am going for a 3-2 here for tVS even tho their seemingly weaker play versus Oclan in the regular season game could have been an off night while Oclan played really well.


Suddendeath versus Crazy88

Suddendeath has been looking really strong up to the last night of the season where they looked a little deflated as tVS made a great comeback on DM2 and won DM3 with a 70+ margin. Before that Suddendeath had steamrolled the greater part of division 1 with Ganon and Rst really stepping up to the task at hand. Carapace has been amazing with a lot of 100+ frag rounds while Bps has been a stable anchor as usual. Many spectators hoped for a win for SD versus tVS and up to the game the clans looked absolutely even. A part from the bump in the road that was the tVS game the rest of the clans made little resistence. Oclan and Crazy88 made gallant efforts but SD was just too strong.

Crazy88 has cemented their spot as a top 3 clan in the current scene but they are as consistent as tVS and SD. They couldn’t really threaten SD or tVS and they lost a map to ATG on DM3 which should be a fortress for C88. However, their E1M2 game has been stellar and if they all pull the same direction they should be able to win a map or two against SD. Last season they actually won the bronze game versus SD. There have been some lineup changes in SD since then and SD just looks like the stronger team now. C88 will need a real nice team effort this time again.

A 3-1 win for SD here would not surprise me even though I hope for a close 5 mapper in either direction.


B-playoffs consist of the Chosen, Anzas Tappra Gossar, The Black Ants and Fraggers United and the two semi final matchups are the following ones:


Chosen versus Fraggers United

Chosen had a rough ride against the top clans of division 1, losing all five games 0-2 against tVS, SD, Oclan, ATG and C88. However some improvements could be seen as they managed to put pressure on all of their opponents on E1M2, coming close to Oclan and ATG and as close as 7 frags from C88. In the other end of the table they defeated Immortals and Fraggers United 2-0, Demolition Crew 2-1 and lost to The Black Ants 1-2. Chosen was the only clan of the division to play 9 games so they have had the opportunity to test their mettle in a lot of official games. Their best map is without a doubt E1M2 on which they performed well against the top clans and on which none the other four clans could threaten them on. DM3 has room for a lot of improvement and their DM2 game is so-so.

Fraggers United started out with two quick games against SD and tVS which took the wind out of them and they didn’t play again until the very last day of the season. Their new recruits misfired and they had a lot of problems fielding 4 players throughout the season. When they finally came back they were able to pressure Chosen on both maps in their 0-2 loss. Later in the night they also played C88, 0-2, to secure a spot in the b-playoffs. They should be able to perform well against Chosen on all three maps even though DM2 is probably their best chance at securing map wins here. Culkey and Kippo are their best players and backed up by good play from Anza, Buggy and Focu they could actually win this.

In the end I will go with a 3-1 win for CSN but really, anything can happen in this one.


Anzas Tappra Gossar versus The Black Ants

Before the season most spectators would have thought that ATG would end up in a-playoffs but after some weak performances and a little inactivity problems ATG now find themselves locked in a battle for the b-playoff cup. They actually only won 1 game but out of all clans in the division they only played versus the top four teams and CSN so their stats look a little worse than they should have been. They won maps versus Oclan and C88 while losing soundly in 0-2 losses against tVS and SD which left them a little battered. Their best map is DM3 while they lack wins on DM2. If they can get Darkki, Fix, Hlt and Moje this game should swing in their favour although they might lose a DM2 or two along the way.

The Black Ants also had some problems during the season with getting a team online at the same time. Their strategy was to get on a server and use .qw to get their players to come. On four occasions it turned out to be successful as they managed to play C88, SD, OCland and CSN. They didn’t stand a chance against SD or C88 but they came close versus Oclan and they won 2-1 in the game against CSN. These guys are good at DM2 and DM3 and this really falls to their favor as ATG have been struggling on DM2. Their four active players, Kopytko, Szturm, Essoid and Er are equally good and they have some nice team play going on.

My suggestion here is 3-1 for ATG.

Good luck to all eight clans!


/Hooraytio

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