fnatic

The CDC4 champions appear to have picked up right where they left off in Enschede, dropping an average of just over two rounds per game in the group stages and taking the role of favorites well in their stride. The addition of Rickard "zEm" Intveld was perhaps a gamble given his recent inactivity but the former WHO Crew star offers fnatic an added "x factor" that could prove invaluable in big games. Given the quality of their opposition yesterday it's impossible to say yet whether Intveld is close to top form but there were certainly no negative signs to be taken from their group matches.

A potential meeting with Evil Geniuses today will be the true test of this team's title credentials and victory against the Canadians will not be easy. EG have done their homework and will certainly have browsed through the large collection of CDC4 demos made available by fnatic a few weeks ago. If both teams continue undefeated, they will meet on mp_strike, an interesting selection for both sides. EG's last outing on mp_strike saw them tie Roskilde in the group stages while fnatic defeated Intense but lost to H2k on it at CDC4. The use of EG's self-proclaimed "worst map" could well tip the balance in fnatic's favor in this encounter and set the Swedes up for a mouth-watering rematch with TLR on mp_crash.

TheLastResort

While TLR's group record wasn't anything to write home about, the CDC4 finalists remain easily the UK's best hope of taking the gold here at i33. PC problems meant the team's preparation was anything but smooth but if they can recapture the form that saw them sweep through the CDC4 playoffs, TLR have every right to expect to reach the final. The performance of "SoCLoN" will again be key to their chances but, like with fnatic, every victory is very much a team effort for TLR. Dedication and hard work are paying off for this UK team and they definitely have what it takes to go all the way.

4Kings look to be TLR's likely third round opponent in a match where a place at the ESWC Masters iPower tournament could potentially be at stake. TLR beat what was of course a vastly different 4Kings lineup at i32 but the memory of taking down their "royal" cousins will certainly be something they would enjoy even more a second time. Victory versus 4K would earn TLR a chance to either take revenge on fnatic or face EG, both of which represent much tougher prospects. It is there, I believe, where we will see what TLR are really made of.

Evil Geniuses

EG were in some senses an unknown factor heading into this tournament but they have certainly proved themselves serious contenders now. Don't read too much into their draw with Roskilde, the Ravens are vastly underrated and were playing on a complete high. Focus instead on the confident manner in which the Canadians took apart TEK9, a team both feared and revered in North America in equal measures. In their first match on foreign soil EG weren't infallible but they certainly never looked like losing.

Drawing versus Roskilde might have come as a surprise to EG but today is a new day and they have just one goal in mind, to take down fnatic. The Swedes have looked in top form this weekend but won't have been tested under pressure like EG twice were yesterday. EG are a team packed with talent and have the big-game experience which will be vital here. Watch out for sparks to fly when these two meet and don't be surprised if, regardless of the outcome, they meet again in the final.

Roskilde Ravens

Perhaps a surprise choice on this list but Roskilde have seriously established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in European Call of Duty over the past month. Victories over Serious and LowLandLions at CDC4 could have been written off as a one-time affair but the passion and maturity the Ravens showed last night as they beat TEK9 hints at true potential. I said after that match that if they beat EG I wouldn't be surprised at all if they reached the final but, having drawn, it's tougher to call.

Roskilde's weakness is that they can't always finish off their opponents, they showed it against SK at CDC4 and they showed it again last night versus EG. Experience is the key here and Roskilde might just not have enough of it. The performance of team captain Kenneth "fRiJeC" Jensen will be massively important to the Ravens. We know "Champ" can provide the frags but Jensen needs to play like he did against TEK9 last night if they really want to take something home from this event.