Branch 1

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The first branch of the bracket starts with SK Gaming, and ends with Fnatic. The branch holds quite a few talented and tested teams, including Astralis, Team 3D, and mTw.ATI. One of the earliest exciting matches that we'll see at this event is going to be Astralis vs NiP. Astralis has been fairly quiet for the past few months, including a disappointing WCG showing; however, they can't be ruled out, especially against NiP. NiP with the exception of some good play at WEG, has been below expectations to the thousands of Fan boys who fell into competitive gaming years after most of us, and have been becoming moist at the idea of living in an era that is once again dominated by NiP. The obvious next move up the branch is a showdown that we've all been waiting for. Unless Astralis pulls an upset over NiP, we're going to see SK Gaming versus NiP on de_cbble in the third round.

This is, next to coL and Team 3D, one of the best grudge matches we're going to see this year. Considering how SK Gaming had their fallout Heaton, this is going to be a great match to watch. I'd say it would be a great match for me to sneak into the tournament area to spectate, however I don't speak Swedish, so I won't understand a word they say. You can watch these guys screaming at each other, and have no idea if they're hyping each other up or cursing their opponents.

Bootman's Grudge Thoughts:

Although SK and Heaton left on extremely bad terms, I just did an interview with Heaton that can be downloaded later tonight from MFAVP, and Heaton said that he's pretty cool with the SK players right now. So at this moment in time I wouldn't say it's really a grudge match because they hate each other, but more along the lines that they are competing to see who the top Swedish team is. The great thing is that this will be SK's first big match in the tournament to see if Summer CPL 2005 results were purely because all the good teams were at ESWC. The only bad thing is that CPL decided to make de_ctbble the third round of the upper bracket.

I would imagine most of the world is looking for SK Gaming to go over NiP, but I'm from Las Vegas, and that makes me a gambling man. So I bet a few GotFrag coworkers that NiP will upset the strong SK team. I'm not in it for the money as much as I'm in it for the competition. I have a gambling problem. After the way they were playing at WEG though, I have faith in Heaton and company. I know that he personally felt like they were disappointing the community and we all know the only man who's perfectly content with being washed up is Bullseye, so I'm expecting that NiP changed that.

On the lower end of the branch, Team 3D's first match is mTw.ATI in the second round (first round BYE), which Team 3D should be able to walk on by. TGS could take Fnatic, but, sometimes American teams struggle with the translation of playing against Euro teams. Regardless, either team is going to come up short against a Team 3D that’s out to prove something in their first CPL with the new lineup. Team 3D is one of my top five picks for the tournament, coming hot off of their vacation to the Source engine, and a day after dropping the Razer tournament finals to Complexity.

By round four, either NiP or SK Gaming will be going up against Team 3D, regardless of who comes up on top, it will be a classic grudge match between legendary teams, and a great way to start off Saturday.

Bootman's Ex-Coach Grudge Thoughts:

Just kidding, I'm friends with them. I honestly think that if 3D doesn't make it to the finals this event, I might have a seizure. They have been on fire lately and with the additions of Method and Shaguar, they look unstoppable. I think that if they can call the right tactics, the aim will do the rest. Look for Method, Dominator, and Volcano to put up some big numbers against NiP or SK. I don't care what any of you guys say, Dominator is going to be the next legendary player. If you have the pleasure of watching HLTV, keep it on him and make sure to hit tab to watch him stay on top with method.