Saturday, 28 May 2016

ESEA open week 1 - matches to watch

Here are some of the games that should be close, or at least exciting to watch, in week 1 (Granary) of ESEA open season 22.



Bote 6v6 vs Cant Predict Stupid

  • bo4r
  • Spades
  • Vipa
  • Brick
  • rightjustify
  • Rogue

  • Duke Em
  • SD
  • Pot
  • Smarty
  • GGen
  • Highclass


  • Vipa takes on his former teammates in what I expect to be an aggressive, fast-paced game. Should be close but I expect Cant Predict Stupid takes it.
    POST GAME UPDATE: Bote's slow steady play gave them the W, 5-3.



    kuwumbu jungle 2 vs Ie Sparkle Gang black

  • dippidy
  • link
  • fatswimdude
  • Crasian
  • indecency
  • ?

  • THE BILLDOZER
  • barycenter
  • Megaboy
  • pokemonizepic
  • Megalinx
  • Brulee


  • I expect a roll in kuwumbu's favour, but Sparkle Gang black's players could be good enough to prove me wrong.
    POST GAME UPDATE: Boy did they ever prove me wrong... a 5-0 roll for Sparkle Gang Black, with roamer Megaboy nearly hitting 400 DPM.



    Every Villain Is Lemons vs ChibiBoutique ESPORTS

  • Flick
  • Troopo
  • Reflecto
  • Faust
  • kV
  • Fabulous

  • Jaaay
  • vinny
  • JJSlim
  • Bazingabarry82
  • Trapster
  • Hostiel


  • Slight edge to EVIL, who have been looking good on gran so far.
    POST GAME UPDATE:  After dropping 2 fast rounds due to wiping at mid, EVIL pulled it back together (mostly on Faust's back).



    Not Around Bears vs Egg Salad Dressing

  • zacice
  • Saturn
  • mostlybacon
  • Morin
  • Orbit
  • Differ

  • Keith
  • Wolves
  • FrozenFlarez
  • Brimstone
  • TheYellowCellphone
  • Pizza


  • I'll give it to ESD, who have been playing with their most recent pickup considerably longer than NAB have been scrimming with new scout Saturn.  They are very evenly matched teams most days, though.
    POST GAME UPDATE: a nailbiter of a game, with ESD taking it 5-4 in golden cap.



    WuT dUdE vs The Lolipoppers

  • Uber
  • Bwelp
  • Polar
  • Lysol
  • Fahren
  • TranslucentFeces

  • Br0nze
  • Kiin
  • Zabi
  • Bacon
  • Hearts
  • Raisin


  • The big challenge for WuT dUdE this season will be getting topfragger Bwelp to push his mic button occasionally.  I think the experience of Br0nze will give Lolipoppers the edge in this match, especially on a map like granary that's been in rotation since the dawn of time.
    POST GAME UPDATE: Proven wrong yet again... Lots of back-and-forth, but WuT dUdE takes it in the end, due in part to Br0nze having less impact than expected & Lysol putting up great numbers.



    Egg Salad Dressing vs WuT dUdE

  • Keith
  • Wolves
  • FrozenFlarez
  • Brimstone
  • TheYellowCellphone
  • Pizza

  • Uber
  • Bwelp
  • Polar
  • Lysol
  • Fahren
  • TranslucentFeces


  • Brimstone & gang should be able to win this one, WuT dUdE will have to play very coordinated to have a shot.
    POST GAME UPDATE: ESD had a very good showing, especially from their scouts.  That combined with a couple mistakes from WuT dUdE gave them a decisive win.



    ChibiBoutique ESPORTS vs Hurricane Watch

  • Jaaay
  • vinny
  • JJSlim
  • Bazingabarry82
  • Trapster
  • Hostiel

  • The_savior
  • RainofLight
  • edy
  • nessie
  • averted
  • Queyh


  • Hurricane Watch has won the majority of scrims between these teams, and I anticipate that to translate into a match win for them.  Chibi shouldn't be underestimated, though, and it might be a close game.
    POST GAME UPDATE: Hurricane Watch took 2 slow rounds in the first half, then Chibi bizarrely all disconnected after readying up for the 2nd half



    Cant Predict Stupid vs No Johns

  • Duke Em
  • SD
  • Pot
  • Smarty
  • GGen
  • Highclass

  • demoted
  • juicy
  • Simulate
  • Huck
  • powergamer
  • tiptoes


  • No Johns narrowly avoided death when juicy forgot to pay up, but with that out of the way they are looking like a team to beat - rolling nearly everybody they scrim.  I predict they take this match fairly smoothly.
    POST GAME UPDATE: Didn't get the chance to watch it yet but I was correct.



    Bob-omb Squad vs Shutup Mom im Bowflexing

  • ether
  • ebsikl
  • fusionn
  • plan
  • Wyze
  • charis

  • Dreamboat
  • Apt
  • Def
  • Tino
  • fdwdo
  • Dr. Shdwpuppet


  • The result of this match likely depends on if Bowflexing shows up and performs up to the standard we expect from these players.  If they play like their scrims so far, Bob-omb will take it.  Probably one of the closer games this week.
    POST GAME UPDATE: I couldn't have been more wrong.  An astounding 530 dpm from demoman fdwdo kind of sums the game up.


    Wednesday, 25 May 2016

    ESEA open s22 preview

    The following is a list of some teams to watch and possible playoff contenders in ESEA Open season 22 .  Power rankings will begin a couple weeks into the season when I've got more of a handle on team abilities, as we know scrims often aren't indicative of skill.  I'm sure I've missed a couple noteworthy teams too, it's nothing personal.

    Without further ado, and in no particular order:

    UPDATE 1: No Johns died for not having 6 paid up, Egg Salad Dressing and Chefs moved to Intermediate.  Cool club added.

    UPDATE 2: No Johns un-died, Egg Salad Dressing moved back to Open (that was fast).


    Not Around Bears

    zacice & saturn
    mostlybacon
    Morin
    orbit
    Differ


    NAB were supposed to play in intermediate, and are going to pound in open.  Not much else to say; we all know them after several seasons together.  Hard fragging scout Edward moved to backup, but saturn is hopefully a good replacement for him.



    cool club

    monkeysuit & kobe
    Suave
    Milan
    Neo
    redi


    mustardoverlord says they are good If the "strong personalities" on this team aren't a problem and they last all season, they should beat a lot of good teams.  Excellent DM abound, and Monkeysuit's plentiful experience should help keep their heads cool.



    Egg Salad Dressing

    Keith & Wolves
    FrozenFlarez
    Brimstone
    TheYellowCellphone
    Pizza


    Same deal as Not Around Bears.  Keith is possibly the best scout in open, Wolves was a great addition to their roster, and they all play well together.



    No Johns

    juicy & demoted
    Simulate
    Huck
    powergamer
    tiptoes


    All excellent fraggers, including a team core that played together in high open and intermediate for 3 seasons.



    The Westbrook Effect

    Madoff & coughy
    Daffodil
    Kyle Mortowski
    JOE
    Kevin Durant


    After vlad got VAC banned and their best player IMO (roamer Wilson) left, they are on the rebuild, but remaining team core JOE, Madoff and Kevin Durant are still some of the top players in open. New roamer Daffodil played well for Arstotzka last season, and pocket Mortowski has open playoffs and intermediate experience.



    The Lolipoppers

    Br0nze & Kiin
    Zabi
    Bacon
    Hearts
    Raisin


    Half of a mid-high open team from s20 plus former invite scout and highlander star Br0nze. Zabi also played for s21 team High Impact Love Crime (5-11), and new addition Raisin played for diexxxtracrispy (14-2, 0-1 playoffs).  Should do well.



    Cant Predict Stupid

    SD & Duke Em
    Pot
    Smarty
    GGen
    Highclass


    Featuring 4 players from Renegades/Veggie Tales, another group that has proven themselves to be easily good enough to make open playoffs.



    Bote 6v6

    bo4r & Spades_Slick
    vipa
    Brick
    Rightjustify
    Rogue


    High level highlander players with respectable ESEA open portfolios + former IM player Spades, if they focus enough on 6s they should make playoffs.



    WuT dUdE

    Uber & bwelp
    Polar
    Lysol
    Fahren
    TranslucentFeces


    Moderately experienced core of players who have been pugging together for a long time.  It's worth noting that despite using the Blasty Blast roster, half of them played for mid-high open team That's So Randal last season.



    Every Villain Is Lemons

    flick & Troopo
    Reflecto
    Faust
    kV
    Fabulous


    Solid team based around last season's Polish Pizzeria that was doing very well in scrims with their old pocket and demoman; hopefully that continues with their updated lineup.



    Milters

    Jaker & Yuker
    Kody
    Sybran
    Lights
    CallumSLG


    DM-heavy team who just missed playoffs in the very competitive (11 wins required) open season 21. When they are organized they play very well.



    Hurricane Watch

    The_savior & RainofLight
    edy
    nessie
    averted
    Queyh


    Like Milters, narrowly missed playoffs in their first season of open.  Their flank players departed in the offseason, but they look to have found worthwhile replacements.



    Bearly Getting By

    Fen & Mag
    Pinto
    Wari
    Arsie
    Oihguv


    Half of mid open s21 team The Slim Slins returns with class shuffles and some experienced new teammates.



    -Minty Fresh-

    Carn & dev
    Poruba
    Conky
    Yuno
    VAVLIE


    Built around last season's orbitCG, who have improved a lot since the start of s21.  With some decent offseason power class pickups they should do well in s22.



    ChibiBoutique ESPORTS

    Jaaay & vinny
    JJslim
    Bazingabarry82
    Trapster
    Hostiel


    Half of this team is more-or-less new to ESEA, but the other players were among the best on their former teams and they've been doing well in scrims so far.



    malicious activity

    yight/circa & badmouse
    cody
    crushing
    xrod
    Dilent


    Assuming Bullet's latest gay hacker team doesn't get banned or collapse (like they always do), they'll presumably do pretty well in open.  Still, it's a travesty that they are allowed to play.



    Bob-omb Squad

    ether & ebsikl
    fusionn
    plan
    Wyze
    charis


    Decently experienced mid-to-high open players, including playoffs for some.



    Ie Sparkle Gang black

    Billdozer & barycenter
    Megaboy
    pokemonizepic
    Megalinx
    Brulee


    Thrown together last minute, 20th team megaboy has rostered with in the offseason, we'll see if this ends up being more stable than Bill's last team.  Also the worst name in tf2 history.  These are all good players, though.



    kuwumbu jungle 2

    dippidy & link
    fatswimdude
    Crasian
    indecency
    ?


    Crasian is apparently only a temporary player unfortunately, however the rest of them are also solid fraggers including some IM experience.



    Shutup Mom im Bowflexing

    Dreamboat & Apt
    Def
    Tino
    fdwdo
    Dr. Shadowpuppet


    Dreamboat looks to have finally built a decent roster after months of tryouts (including most of last season).  Could be a playoff contender depending on how well they work together.