For Dignitas, Speedlink and TeK-9 the greatest challenge of their playing careers has presented itself and if there was ever an occasion to rise to the challenge, it is now. This weekends WSVG will present the biggest event the game has ever featured at and for my money, the European teams all start as underdogs!
That may be a strange thing to say, the European community is far larger with some 800 active teams at last count. The European community is also busy with LAN's and bootcamps and the approach could be considered far more serious than their North American counterparts.
The history books are in favour of the Americans, roll back the calendar to 2004 and a similar situation occurs. The Europeans flew to Dallas expecting victory, they again had more practice, a larger community and more money, but at the end of the day they left empty handed. The top three at the CPL Summer 04 tournament read,
united 5, Team3D, compLexity you have to scroll down to 7th place to find the top finished European side, 
Team AMD Gamer.
Home advantage is a phenomena that people neglect too easy, but one that with close examination is very real, across all games. In 2005
winz won the UT2004 tournament at ESWC despite being predicted nothing higher than fifth at best, especially with the greatest players of the game in attendance. winz again won in Paris the following year, this time in Quake 4 despite having cooller, toxic and socrates in attendance. Team 3D's only CS 1.6 (CZ) Counter Strike major was won on home soil in San Fransisco, again with a star studded field. Womens tournaments such as Ms. Quakecon and the female CS tournament at ESWC both won by local teams.
Those phenomena stretch as far as the weather, the extremes of temperature is going to play with the teams to start with, something that TeK-9 as an organisation should remember. Last summers WSVG event saw TeK-9's Dutch Quake player Forever constantly complain about the heat outside and the freezing cold inside the Gaylord Texan Ranch. I can personally vouch for the fact that the Gaylord Hotel loves its air conditioning as much as I love a cold beer. For Europeans the air conditioning, especially in Dallas is something they'll have never experienced before.
American teams don't find it hard to adapt on local soil, at Quakecon 03 in the RTCW tournament the European dominance shadows two very good American performers. Affliction, the American favourites performed as to be expected making the grand finals but wSw shocked all of the teams with their dominance of European opposition, losing only on Village, their achielles heel.
For me, the American teams go in favourites because of the conditions and the historical evidence against the Europeans. But the pure arrogance in the comparisons some of the communities have made is always entertaining. The idea that two communities who have never met on LAN can dissect one another is laughable, but it happens every time such a situation arises and it adds so much flavour to the competition. However, lets look at the European teams headed to Dallas this weekend.
Dignitas
Dignitas are a team that whether you love or loathe them will always pose a threat to any opposition. They're without a major gold since the CPC1 in September, but have made some notable appearances in some of the bigger finals, however 2007 has simply not been their year. At CPC2 they lost in 3 maps during the Quarter finals and looked a shadow of their former selves during the Intel C2E finals. They won the i30 tournament and have claimed victory over Logitech in the QCup. I saw them bootcamp this weekend, they are prepared without a doubt, winning may be within their grasp.
They are overdue a big win, and they are no strangers to pressure however tournaments are often about the ability to adapt to your surrounding and your opponents quickly, Dignitas' biggest problem remains that they haven't pulled themselves back into any game from the jaws of defeat, indicating a lack of adaptability, something that will be key against unknown opposition. Smoke grenades with Razz will offer them a powerful old friend.
Speedlink
These lovable Germans seem to be hitting the form they've been missing for some time. Obviously with an extended period of inactivity and a roster change it was always going to take them time to shape back up, and they perhaps are now in something of the shape they'd be hoping to be in ahead of such a tournament. Recent online victories have served as a good reminder to their ever impressive potential, and they'll be requiring some oldschool magic to see them through. Trigger is always the man you watch hoping for something special, and I wouldn't bet against him rolling back the years to deliver a critical blows.
Speedlink are perhaps playing without pressure on them for the first time in a while, the expectation levels aren't what they once were after not claiming gold in some time however for me they are Europe's most consistent hope.
TeK-9
Davy proclaimed that TeK-9 will win the event earlier this week. A bold claim considering that TeK-9 haven't won a lan since milk lan, which for me wasn't a major. So what is going to change? Well, once again the Real Madrid of Call of Duty have shuffled their pack having lost Sko for the event. However the biggest plague of Real Madrid's team is the changes and the lack of cohesion between the players and the team. Individual brilliance has never been TeK-9's problem, teamplay has been however Davy thinks they'll over come that.
Why? It amazes me that Davy thinks TeK-9 will win this having not demonstrated the ability to scare off the Europeans on home soil, let alone across the pond. Knaller will be key, if he hits like he can do then TeK-9 wont find many that can compete if not mediocrity awaits the side once again.
I caught up with Joepoe for his opinion on the European Teams:
No matter what, it'll be a very entertaining weekend ahead!
That may be a strange thing to say, the European community is far larger with some 800 active teams at last count. The European community is also busy with LAN's and bootcamps and the approach could be considered far more serious than their North American counterparts.
The history books are in favour of the Americans, roll back the calendar to 2004 and a similar situation occurs. The Europeans flew to Dallas expecting victory, they again had more practice, a larger community and more money, but at the end of the day they left empty handed. The top three at the CPL Summer 04 tournament read,
united 5, Team3D, compLexity you have to scroll down to 7th place to find the top finished European side, Team AMD Gamer. Home advantage is a phenomena that people neglect too easy, but one that with close examination is very real, across all games. In 2005
winz won the UT2004 tournament at ESWC despite being predicted nothing higher than fifth at best, especially with the greatest players of the game in attendance. winz again won in Paris the following year, this time in Quake 4 despite having cooller, toxic and socrates in attendance. Team 3D's only CS 1.6 (CZ) Counter Strike major was won on home soil in San Fransisco, again with a star studded field. Womens tournaments such as Ms. Quakecon and the female CS tournament at ESWC both won by local teams. Those phenomena stretch as far as the weather, the extremes of temperature is going to play with the teams to start with, something that TeK-9 as an organisation should remember. Last summers WSVG event saw TeK-9's Dutch Quake player Forever constantly complain about the heat outside and the freezing cold inside the Gaylord Texan Ranch. I can personally vouch for the fact that the Gaylord Hotel loves its air conditioning as much as I love a cold beer. For Europeans the air conditioning, especially in Dallas is something they'll have never experienced before.
American teams don't find it hard to adapt on local soil, at Quakecon 03 in the RTCW tournament the European dominance shadows two very good American performers. Affliction, the American favourites performed as to be expected making the grand finals but wSw shocked all of the teams with their dominance of European opposition, losing only on Village, their achielles heel.
For me, the American teams go in favourites because of the conditions and the historical evidence against the Europeans. But the pure arrogance in the comparisons some of the communities have made is always entertaining. The idea that two communities who have never met on LAN can dissect one another is laughable, but it happens every time such a situation arises and it adds so much flavour to the competition. However, lets look at the European teams headed to Dallas this weekend.
Dignitas Dignitas are a team that whether you love or loathe them will always pose a threat to any opposition. They're without a major gold since the CPC1 in September, but have made some notable appearances in some of the bigger finals, however 2007 has simply not been their year. At CPC2 they lost in 3 maps during the Quarter finals and looked a shadow of their former selves during the Intel C2E finals. They won the i30 tournament and have claimed victory over Logitech in the QCup. I saw them bootcamp this weekend, they are prepared without a doubt, winning may be within their grasp.
They are overdue a big win, and they are no strangers to pressure however tournaments are often about the ability to adapt to your surrounding and your opponents quickly, Dignitas' biggest problem remains that they haven't pulled themselves back into any game from the jaws of defeat, indicating a lack of adaptability, something that will be key against unknown opposition. Smoke grenades with Razz will offer them a powerful old friend.
Speedlink These lovable Germans seem to be hitting the form they've been missing for some time. Obviously with an extended period of inactivity and a roster change it was always going to take them time to shape back up, and they perhaps are now in something of the shape they'd be hoping to be in ahead of such a tournament. Recent online victories have served as a good reminder to their ever impressive potential, and they'll be requiring some oldschool magic to see them through. Trigger is always the man you watch hoping for something special, and I wouldn't bet against him rolling back the years to deliver a critical blows.
Speedlink are perhaps playing without pressure on them for the first time in a while, the expectation levels aren't what they once were after not claiming gold in some time however for me they are Europe's most consistent hope.
TeK-9Davy proclaimed that TeK-9 will win the event earlier this week. A bold claim considering that TeK-9 haven't won a lan since milk lan, which for me wasn't a major. So what is going to change? Well, once again the Real Madrid of Call of Duty have shuffled their pack having lost Sko for the event. However the biggest plague of Real Madrid's team is the changes and the lack of cohesion between the players and the team. Individual brilliance has never been TeK-9's problem, teamplay has been however Davy thinks they'll over come that.
Why? It amazes me that Davy thinks TeK-9 will win this having not demonstrated the ability to scare off the Europeans on home soil, let alone across the pond. Knaller will be key, if he hits like he can do then TeK-9 wont find many that can compete if not mediocrity awaits the side once again.
I caught up with Joepoe for his opinion on the European Teams:
No matter what, it'll be a very entertaining weekend ahead!
1st $9,000
2nd $6,000
3rd $3,000
4th $2,000
Total $20,000
(reference)
Play style differed greatly as well between EU and US, US clans favouring more rush based play than EU teams were used to.
This time around I think there are stronger EU teams in attendance, with good LAN experience and playing a very similar style to the US clans. I'm hoping they clean up.