This weekend sees the Crossfire PrizeFight Challenge and the biggest prizepot given out in Europe for Call of Duty2 and Wolfenstein Enemy Territory. With over $7000 in cash prizes up for grabs the cream of the crop will litter Rotterdam's TGS Gaming Centre for an all out blood bath. The whole tournament is brought to you by www.crossfire.nu
The ET Tournament -
Fresh from a jaw dropping Quakecon, Enemy Territory is on an all time high. Quite how any tournament will top Quakecon is a challenge fit for a king, however king's are exactly what we're going to be seeing this weekend!
Favourites for the tournament are of course idle. The Quakecon winners have dropped just 3 maps all year round and the prospect of them losing more seems unthinkable right now. However rumours of a mixed activity since returning from Dallas and adjusting back to 6 vs 6 rather than 5 vs 5 has opened a window of opportunity for the Estonian's to be challenged at least. However, cometh the hour, cometh the Estonian, and in Night there is an Estonian to be proud of! He is the very definition of a clutch player and so many times he has saved the day for his team.
So who could challenge idle? Lets look at the Number 2 and 3 seeds dMIZE and Rize, who finished 2nd and 3rd in Eurocup respectively.
DMIZE have in Jak a Quakecon winner and a man that knows how to beat idle, he knows this how? Because he was once apart of them and is held in high regard by his former team. DMIZE also have a player held in the highest regard by idle's manager Galahad, and that is the Spaniard Winghaven. Famed for his multitasking and panzer whoring, Winghaven has the ability to truly annoy the opposition and thats exactly what hes going to do. Combined with a multinational and multi talented roster, dMIZE must feel they have a genuine chance of doing well in this tournament.
Rize land in Rotterdam knowing their preperation has been hindered by a roster change and players vacations, how much will this cost them? Well, possibly not as much as you'd expect. This summer saw young gun, Butch, become a fully fledged Wolfenstein veteran. His 3 weeks in the Crossfire.nu Quakecon team that placed second saw the man every accused of cheating come out the other side in flying colours. Delivering more damage than his team-mates and playing with some of the games all time greats in high tension, nail biters. Rize's star player, just got better...a whole lot better! Rize thought they had replicated the Butch formula by adding Maus to their roster, another player dogged by hacking accusations, however Maus will not be proving anyone wrong this weekend as he will not be attending, and that has forced the Germans to call on a replacement, combined with vacations this has hurt them, but if they keep Butch alive anything can happen!
After that we've a chasing pack, they either qualified or were on the waiting list and in what shape does that put them for the tournament? There is no doubt that there are teams out there that can cause an upset and the question is how far can they go.
In sFx there is a team with the very potential to go all the way, powered by half the Demiurge team (who are on of the 3 teams to take a map off idle this year) and a classic combination of Finnish power. The spanner in the works here is mAx, Quake 4 dueller who placed 2nd at ESWC Belgium has been brought back to the game he first loved. Whilst mAx is without notable achievement in Wolfenstein he has the reputation of an aiming machine, and thats exactly what he'll deliver. His performance could change things for the team, if they are coherent and can utilise players like mAx and Xionn then there is no telling how far they can go. Their qualification against all odds showed their potential, now its time to realise that on the biggest stage!
At Quakecon idle evolved ET gameplay to a CounterStrike styled playbook, running strat after strat in a timely fashion. They made the most of every attack, stopping one to start another with efficient callings of when to attack and or when to regroup and try again. We saw the game taken to another level of complexity, part of that was aided by the 5 on 5 format, the other part was down to their dedication and innovation. If teams don't catch up and don't evolve, they'll be left behind, if the scene has evolved with idle then maybe there is the chance to give them a run for their money. Idle face completely different opposition to that of Quakecon, now they are facing more experienced and coherent teams who have been together for a long time. The flaws in Crossfire's and KiH's teamwork at Quakecon will not be there for idle to exploit, this time they're going to have to do things the hard way.
TosspoT's Prediction -
1)idle
2)sFx
3)dMIZE
4)Rize
The Call of Duty tournament
Call of Duty is right in the middle of a revolution, and the Crossfire PrizeFight Challenge is another opportunity for the scene to show its worth to the onlooking professional arena. Until the end of this year, there are big prize lans every month and the time is now for teams to get their act together and make a buck or two!
Right now it is Speedlink who are in the driving seat, they tore through the TeK-9 LAN but were pinned back by Dignitas in the grand final, winning only in the final round of the match. Diginitas come fighting back with some fresh blood in their lineup and a desperation to find the winning formula. This tournament is also to be the final show in a CoD career that has spanned the continent of a legend who can turn the match in an instant, that is none other than kickr of WHOCrew.
Favourites for the tournament are of course Speedlink. Their win at TeK-9 underlined their dominance in the community, however the question has to be raised are they really being challenged? We saw holes in Speedlink when Check6 rose to the occasion and beat them in Eurocup, other than that the Germans have been efficient to say the least. Since Netgamez they've rarely been displaced from their thrown, however they're yet to face an opponent who truly has warranted the right to fight them. Check6 died right as they were on the precipice, Dignitas are yet to find the winning formula and the chasing pack are still...chasing!
If anyone is going to beat Speedlink then Dignitas are certainly the number one contenders. Dignitas and Mick are the last team to successfully overthrow the Germans from number one and that was back in CoD 1. Those days are gone but not forgotten, and captain Mick has again rung the changes in his roster. Bringing in an all British lineup may restore coherence and its certainly been given a great opportunity to meld and prepare. This past weekend saw the team win i28 and get to grips with their new roster. We keep waiting for Dignitas to hit the spot in CoD 2, when they do the Germans are in trouble, however with a further roster change due for Eurocup preparation this is Mick's last chance to see whether this team is the one to challenge the Germans.
TMPClan sit on the outside of that intimate duo and look on dreaming of success, is the time nigh for them? Their recent addition of Knaller really takes the team to another level, they've know one of the few people to beat Speedlink and that is experience money just cant buy. The important factor this team has over the top two is a hunger that is hard to compete with. Leader solz is desperate to bring home the gold, he's yet to see his dream come true however could Knaller be the man that could see the magic happen in Rotterdam? I do truly believe we'll see this team perform well, does that mean place well? No.
DigitalMind had the romance of victory on home soil prior to their loss of Knaller. The late change to their roster has hurt them badly, and infact should wash their chances of success away however, home advantage can never be underestimated and I do still think this team will do well in the tournament.
The only reason I am writing about WHOCrew is because I am a self confessed Kickr and formerly ext fanboy. There are very few people that can make games exciting on their own, very few people who can change a match in the blink of an eye. In Kickr we have one of this rare breed. TeK-9 lan was supposed to be his farewell, however being the perfectionist that he is, he would not go out on such a low. I'm told the call was made to bring in reinforcements in the shape of ext, however in the end it was not to be. WHOCrew reminded us all what they can do at Playz lan, charging through the bracket defeating TeK-9 and Check6 in that brought a romance to the game not seen for some time. Can they cause an upset? Of course they can, Can they go all the way? I refuse to write them off.
TosspoT's Prediction -
1)Speedlink
2)Dignitas
3)TMP
4)dSLASH
This weekend will see the continents greatest World War 2 team players descend into Rotterdam. One thing is for sure, there's money to be won and there will be no reprieve as these games get serious.
You can watch the whole tournament live on Inside the Game, using Octoshape P2P streaming technologies at www.crossfire.nu
The ET Tournament -
Fresh from a jaw dropping Quakecon, Enemy Territory is on an all time high. Quite how any tournament will top Quakecon is a challenge fit for a king, however king's are exactly what we're going to be seeing this weekend!
Favourites for the tournament are of course idle. The Quakecon winners have dropped just 3 maps all year round and the prospect of them losing more seems unthinkable right now. However rumours of a mixed activity since returning from Dallas and adjusting back to 6 vs 6 rather than 5 vs 5 has opened a window of opportunity for the Estonian's to be challenged at least. However, cometh the hour, cometh the Estonian, and in Night there is an Estonian to be proud of! He is the very definition of a clutch player and so many times he has saved the day for his team.
So who could challenge idle? Lets look at the Number 2 and 3 seeds dMIZE and Rize, who finished 2nd and 3rd in Eurocup respectively.
DMIZE have in Jak a Quakecon winner and a man that knows how to beat idle, he knows this how? Because he was once apart of them and is held in high regard by his former team. DMIZE also have a player held in the highest regard by idle's manager Galahad, and that is the Spaniard Winghaven. Famed for his multitasking and panzer whoring, Winghaven has the ability to truly annoy the opposition and thats exactly what hes going to do. Combined with a multinational and multi talented roster, dMIZE must feel they have a genuine chance of doing well in this tournament.
Rize land in Rotterdam knowing their preperation has been hindered by a roster change and players vacations, how much will this cost them? Well, possibly not as much as you'd expect. This summer saw young gun, Butch, become a fully fledged Wolfenstein veteran. His 3 weeks in the Crossfire.nu Quakecon team that placed second saw the man every accused of cheating come out the other side in flying colours. Delivering more damage than his team-mates and playing with some of the games all time greats in high tension, nail biters. Rize's star player, just got better...a whole lot better! Rize thought they had replicated the Butch formula by adding Maus to their roster, another player dogged by hacking accusations, however Maus will not be proving anyone wrong this weekend as he will not be attending, and that has forced the Germans to call on a replacement, combined with vacations this has hurt them, but if they keep Butch alive anything can happen!
After that we've a chasing pack, they either qualified or were on the waiting list and in what shape does that put them for the tournament? There is no doubt that there are teams out there that can cause an upset and the question is how far can they go.
In sFx there is a team with the very potential to go all the way, powered by half the Demiurge team (who are on of the 3 teams to take a map off idle this year) and a classic combination of Finnish power. The spanner in the works here is mAx, Quake 4 dueller who placed 2nd at ESWC Belgium has been brought back to the game he first loved. Whilst mAx is without notable achievement in Wolfenstein he has the reputation of an aiming machine, and thats exactly what he'll deliver. His performance could change things for the team, if they are coherent and can utilise players like mAx and Xionn then there is no telling how far they can go. Their qualification against all odds showed their potential, now its time to realise that on the biggest stage!
At Quakecon idle evolved ET gameplay to a CounterStrike styled playbook, running strat after strat in a timely fashion. They made the most of every attack, stopping one to start another with efficient callings of when to attack and or when to regroup and try again. We saw the game taken to another level of complexity, part of that was aided by the 5 on 5 format, the other part was down to their dedication and innovation. If teams don't catch up and don't evolve, they'll be left behind, if the scene has evolved with idle then maybe there is the chance to give them a run for their money. Idle face completely different opposition to that of Quakecon, now they are facing more experienced and coherent teams who have been together for a long time. The flaws in Crossfire's and KiH's teamwork at Quakecon will not be there for idle to exploit, this time they're going to have to do things the hard way.
TosspoT's Prediction -
1)idle
2)sFx
3)dMIZE
4)Rize
The Call of Duty tournament
Call of Duty is right in the middle of a revolution, and the Crossfire PrizeFight Challenge is another opportunity for the scene to show its worth to the onlooking professional arena. Until the end of this year, there are big prize lans every month and the time is now for teams to get their act together and make a buck or two!
Right now it is Speedlink who are in the driving seat, they tore through the TeK-9 LAN but were pinned back by Dignitas in the grand final, winning only in the final round of the match. Diginitas come fighting back with some fresh blood in their lineup and a desperation to find the winning formula. This tournament is also to be the final show in a CoD career that has spanned the continent of a legend who can turn the match in an instant, that is none other than kickr of WHOCrew.
Favourites for the tournament are of course Speedlink. Their win at TeK-9 underlined their dominance in the community, however the question has to be raised are they really being challenged? We saw holes in Speedlink when Check6 rose to the occasion and beat them in Eurocup, other than that the Germans have been efficient to say the least. Since Netgamez they've rarely been displaced from their thrown, however they're yet to face an opponent who truly has warranted the right to fight them. Check6 died right as they were on the precipice, Dignitas are yet to find the winning formula and the chasing pack are still...chasing!
If anyone is going to beat Speedlink then Dignitas are certainly the number one contenders. Dignitas and Mick are the last team to successfully overthrow the Germans from number one and that was back in CoD 1. Those days are gone but not forgotten, and captain Mick has again rung the changes in his roster. Bringing in an all British lineup may restore coherence and its certainly been given a great opportunity to meld and prepare. This past weekend saw the team win i28 and get to grips with their new roster. We keep waiting for Dignitas to hit the spot in CoD 2, when they do the Germans are in trouble, however with a further roster change due for Eurocup preparation this is Mick's last chance to see whether this team is the one to challenge the Germans.
TMPClan sit on the outside of that intimate duo and look on dreaming of success, is the time nigh for them? Their recent addition of Knaller really takes the team to another level, they've know one of the few people to beat Speedlink and that is experience money just cant buy. The important factor this team has over the top two is a hunger that is hard to compete with. Leader solz is desperate to bring home the gold, he's yet to see his dream come true however could Knaller be the man that could see the magic happen in Rotterdam? I do truly believe we'll see this team perform well, does that mean place well? No.
DigitalMind had the romance of victory on home soil prior to their loss of Knaller. The late change to their roster has hurt them badly, and infact should wash their chances of success away however, home advantage can never be underestimated and I do still think this team will do well in the tournament.
The only reason I am writing about WHOCrew is because I am a self confessed Kickr and formerly ext fanboy. There are very few people that can make games exciting on their own, very few people who can change a match in the blink of an eye. In Kickr we have one of this rare breed. TeK-9 lan was supposed to be his farewell, however being the perfectionist that he is, he would not go out on such a low. I'm told the call was made to bring in reinforcements in the shape of ext, however in the end it was not to be. WHOCrew reminded us all what they can do at Playz lan, charging through the bracket defeating TeK-9 and Check6 in that brought a romance to the game not seen for some time. Can they cause an upset? Of course they can, Can they go all the way? I refuse to write them off.
TosspoT's Prediction -
1)Speedlink
2)Dignitas
3)TMP
4)dSLASH
This weekend will see the continents greatest World War 2 team players descend into Rotterdam. One thing is for sure, there's money to be won and there will be no reprieve as these games get serious.
You can watch the whole tournament live on Inside the Game, using Octoshape P2P streaming technologies at www.crossfire.nu
