Upper Round 1

Hacker vs Nip

Due to the seedings NiP, who won Dreamhack is forced into a first round match while teams that did not win any WSVG events are given a bye into the next round. That is neither here nor there, though this will not be an easy match for NIP and Hacker does have the potential to win this match, I think NIP will be too strong and will pull this out.

NiP > Hacker 16-11

Upper Round 2

Pentagram vs Fnatic

Pentagram comes into this match after a big first round win over wNv and may be able to carry their recent successes and their momentum in this event to carry them through Fnatic. Fnatic has been tough all year but seem to come up a little short many times but always finish near the top. This should end up being a very close match that really could go either way. With the recent performance of Pentagram I do have to give them the edge and think they will win this match.

Pentagram > Fnatic 16-13

Pandemic vs Team 3D

There is no doubt that Pandemic is coming into this tournament with a hot hand having convincingly taken the CEVO championship but as I always joke with Dolven, that was online. This would not be the first time Pandemic would have beaten 3D on LAN this year as they did so the first time they met at LanWar. After the initial meeting at LanWar, 3D was able to dominate Pandemic two matches in a row, These are different teams now. Pandemic has had several roster changes since then and Team 3D have recently put the hot hand of dominator back in the lineup. I think this will be a close match but though my pick may not be popular, I am going to go with Pandemic in this one. I know they have been practicing real hard and they want this badly. I think the desire is going to rest with Pandemic in this match and they have the skill as well.

Pandemic > Team 3D 16-14

aTTax vs SK.swe

Attax is a tough one to call. The team they had at ISC was virtually unstoppable, unfortunately this is not that team which makes them fairly unpredictable. SK comes into this tournament with a fairly disappointing, in SK standards, year so far. They have come up short in most events they have played in. They do have a long history and should have the chemistry to overcome a pug Attax team.

SK > aTTax 16-8

Complexity vs NiP

This prediction of course depends on my first prediction being accurate. This will be a rough first round match for complexity. Complexity has been having a rough go of it lately and Nip has definitely been strong. As with all matches in this tournament this is going to be close. In the end, Complexity should be able to come together and pull this out.

Complexity > NiP 16-12

Complexity vs Hacker

This came as a shock to me.  With Hacker rolling Nip they look poised to move through Complexity as well.  Complexity will put up a fight but with the match being on Train, one of Complexity's worst maps, I think that Hacker will probably take this one as well.  Complexity has what it takes to win but if Hacker continues to play like they did against Nip they will be a force to reckon with for the rest of the tournament.