Group D

SK Gaming

Jimmy "allen" Allen
Robert "RobbaN" Dahlström
Kristoffer "Tentpole" Nordlund
Dennis "walle" Wallenberg
Abdisamad "SpawN" Mohamed

The SK Gaming players come into this event with immense pressure on their shoulders. With Marcus "zet" Sundström reportedly on the verge of joining the squad upon his return to Counter-Strike: 1.6, the players know that a bad tournament may lead to their dismissal.

SK Gaming managed a 3rd-4th place finish at Dreamhack 08 Summer WGT, losing to runner-up roccat in the semi-finals, and winning ESWC Sweden. They also placed third at the KODE5 Finals in Moscow, Russia and fourth at the Extreme Masters II finals.

The fourth best team in the world, according to the GotFrag rankings, has seen its stock rise and fall. If SK Gaming fails to win its group, chances are that it won't reach the final.

Strengths

Hunger. When was the last time SK won anything big? That's right it has been a while and they want it bad. Like someone lost in the desert, they need some water and fast.

Weakness

Within their group, SK is THE team to beat. With such a large target on their back and their penchant for falling short at the end of a tournament, things could get ugly for the Swedes late in the event.

Recent Results

3rd/4th Dreamhack Summer 2008, 1st ESWC.se, 3rd KODE5

Prediction

Top four will be easy, second is possible, first is a stretch.

emuLate!

Mathieu "R!Go-" Bridet
Michael "HaRts" Zanatta
Jeremy "ioRek" Vuillermet
Mickael "mSx" Cassini
Mathieu "MaT" Leber

Having earned the respect of many by winning the controversial WCG 2007, emuLate has been showing solid results throughout the events they've attended since the last ESWC (DreamHack Winter 2007: 3rd, Gamegune 2007: 3rd, KODE5.de: 1st, SEC: 3rd). Their roster has gained enough experience over the last two years competing in international events to become a solid contender for the podium at the Masters. Add to this that they are playing on home soil these guys will be dangerous.

This year they have been quiet. They didn’t make the Extreme Masters II Finals, or KODE5, or Dreamhack Summer … they just have a third place at SEC 2008. This could be a blessing in disguise as no one knows what they are up to and what they have been playing like.

Strengths

The Best in France. They’re the undisputed number one in France and with this comes a swagger that few others can match. The flip-side of being the best is the potential for overconfidence and hubris.

Weakness

The other side of being the best in France is that you’re the best in a country of sub-par teams. With emulate missing from the top flight of CS competition for most of 2008, one has to wonder if playing at French competitions is a worthy substitute.

Recent Results

3rd at Dreamhack Winter, 1st at Gamers Assembly, 3rd at SEC

Prediction

emuLate should not have a very hard time getting through this group, and could upset the entire field due to the format.

Excello

Janne "Kuppi" Kuparinen
Joona "natu" Leppanen
Konsta "kookas" Kaisla
Matti "SPIKEONE" Jarvinen
Tomi "lurppis" Kovanen

The Finnish team Excello features a line-up composed by some of the most experienced players from their country. However, Excello's constant roster swaps and changes have definitely weakened the team. The latest changes have not even been confirmed as definitive by the organization and if the team does really poorly we could see this team disintegrate.

Excello did not pose much of a threat to roccat during the local Dreamhack WGT qualifier. In a group with the likes of SK Gaming or emuLate, Excello is expected to battle with x6tence for just the third place.

Strength

Skilled and experience players. Kuppi, lurppis, and natu together on the same team could spell trouble for a team that underestimates them. Also team chemistry might not be that be that big of an issue as these players have played with each other on one team or another. The question is can they gel?

Weakness

A piecemeal team usually achieves piecemeal results.

Recent Results

Top 10 at Extreme Masters II

Prediction

Excello should finish 3rd of their group


x6tence e-Sports Club

Jose "DrastyK" Blasco
Antonio "FlipiN" Rivas
David "r1bera" Antón
José "sioK" Rodríguez
Jean "wasi" García

The Spanish team comes into this event with hopes rather than expectations. Disappointments have been aplenty for x6tence, who has been far away from Europe's elite for several years now.

After losing its #1 status in Spain to the former Nextlevel team, x6tence decided to add perpetual-play's Jean "wasi" García, who was one of the players on show at Ciberline III. In EPS Spain play, x6tence recently defeated Nextlevel, which might signal a return to the x6 of old.

Strength

Nothing to Lose. While it might be trite, x6tence has nothing to lose here. Picture a cornered wild animal, they could very well surprise some people.

Weaknesses

After building their reputation on the performances MusambaN1 was able to single handedly able to secure the team went downhill. I don’t see him back on this roster.

Recent Results

2nd at EPS Spain

Prediction

X6tence should finish 4th of their group, unless they happen to upset excello.


Hellway

Jonathan "spEw" Steiner
Mathias "ess1x" van Singer
Yannick "Predator" Christen
Yannick "MalKav" Gibert
Hervé "Glad" Postalci

One hardly noticed that Hellway participated at SEC 2008, where it finished in 9th-12th place. Hellway was sent to the Lower Bracket after losing 16-4 to fnatic and later crashed out of the tournament following a 16-12 defeat at the hands of Amazing Gaming.

For this event, Hellway decided to snap up two French players: former ComputeX player Yannick "MalKav" Gibert and former Back To Reality member Hervé "Glad" Postalci. The inclusion of two experienced French players will bring consistency to this team, who probably is just aiming for respectable performances.

Strength

International experience. Although this team has not had any major impact at international tournaments, it has been to big events. That’s the best way I could spin being a doormat.

Weakness

Where to start?

Recent Results

No noticeable results outside Switzerland in 2007/2008

Prediction

They get less than 10 rounds this event. Yodeling practice would net 11.