The time has come for some of the biggest names in international CS to face off. The stage is set in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and eleven of the top names in CS will meet five local teams who are qualifying at this time. Not since ESWC have we seen a collection of so many top teams. This event should be a definite must watch for any CS fan.

Like the previews Extreme Masters events, the tournament will consist of two stages. First there will be a group stage consisting of four groups of four teams. The top two teams will advance into a single map, double elimination bracket.

While the teamlist is jam packed with talent from around the globe, the opening groups will mainly be Pro-Am style, with two or three pro teams taking on local UAE teams. Three of the groups feature teams who are right on the cusp of being considered world class, and a big upset in group play might very well land them in the bracket stage.



Meet Your Makers - taz, LUq, Loord, Neo, kuben
Virtus.pro - ROMJkE, Edward, LeX, Zeus, kane
AndThenSome - ArcadioN, wazorN, trace, Friis, FaagaN
Lords of Heaven - alwa7sh, Blanka, DaLa3, Haza3_, smasher

The ESWC champions are back at the biggest international event since then, to defend their claim at the top spot. Some might say they gave a sloppy performance in LA, but with a close loss to EG, their only really terrible match came in the 16-2 trouncing by SK. Competing with them for the top spot in the group will be Virtus.Pro. The Russians - err Ukrainians are here and should be looking to have a big event. While they failed to get out of group play at ESWC (under the pro100 name), they are off to a good start in ESL EM with a win over hoorai. This event will really be make or break time for them, as they will be challenged early by ATS to even make it out of group play. ATS also won their first match in EM III, taking down dignitas in straight maps, and defeated SoA on their way to taking second at WCG Denmark. They are definitely not a team to sleep on.

Predicted Advancers: MYM & Virtus.pro


SK Gaming - zet, tentpole, walle, allen, robban
fnatic - ins, archi, f0rest, dsn, carn
GameHolics - r0ckl3e, snicker, t0p, tamtoom, Teka
Assassin's List - danger, Doomsder, Gr1mmjaw, sticker, UKB

There's nothing like an early showdown to get a tournament started. Group B features the two prior stops winners, SK and fnatic. While their match will most likely not mean much except for seeding in the double elimination bracket, it will be interesting to see if that affects either team's approach. SK should be hungry to get a big win over their fellow countrymen, and show that despite Montreal, they are still the team to beat from Sweden. Fnatic might not care as much, and with early tournament play being somewhat shaky from them, don't be surprised if things go much easier than usual for SK. Who knows if either team will decide to forgo on giving it their all, opting to save strats for later in the event.

Predicted Advancers: SK & fnatic


mousesports - cyx, gob b, Kapio, tixo, gore
GamePlay - contE, naSu, plastE, ruuit, tihOp
DTS - Emelik, KEKC, pops, valentinich, ANGE1
Myth - alawi, corleone, fairxchange, Kop1, THeGame

Formerly known as Roccat, GamePlay unveiled their new sponsors at the EM LA event. Without looking at their play at that event, one might think 5-6th place was a bit of a disappointment, and their players would probably agree. However, following their loss to MYM, GP knocked out fnatic and lost in overtime to the eventual winners, SK. They are a great example of a team who at any moment can take down a giant. Also in group B are the perennial Germans, mouz. While they have been pretty quiet since their second place finish at GameGune earlier in the year, they are currently holding down the top spot in EPS, and started off the EM season with a straight map win over Dimension4.

Predicted Advancers: mouz & GamePlay


Made in Brazil - btt, cogu, fnx, nak, bit
mTw - zonic, Sunde, mJe, whimp, ave
Dignitas - 101, Sp|ke, AlesKi, Kurt1s, Suffz
IMPULSE - TBD

MiBR has been so close in the past two EM events. They could taste that big fat check in LA, where they lost two matches in a row to SK to take second place. After destorying fnatic 16-3 in their upper bracket match in Montreal, they found themselves shocked in the consolation finals by them. If any team is hungry for the win here, it is certainly MiBR. Standing in their way in this group, will be mTw and Dignitas. mTw put forth a pretty lackluster showing in LA, but they have shown recent signs of improvement, winning the WCG DK qualifier. Dignitas, formerly known as TLR, represent Britain's best hope in stepping back onto the world stage. They are competing online in EM III, where they lost their first round matches in two extremely close games with ATR.

Predicted Advancers: MiBR & mTw



Will playing the Montreal stop give an advantage to MiBR, SK, and fnatic?

Not much separates the teams who currently makeup the top ten in the world. Things are so close that it seems irrelevant to try and make predictions. That being said, it will be interesting to see how much attending the Montreal stop will have an impact on teams. Will those teams benefit from having some more competition right before this event? Or will others benefit more from being able to watch them compete and practice themselves in a comfortable setting. Just how grueling were the LA and Montreal trips on those select clubs?

Will SK slip off after losing in the finals against fnatic in Montreal?

After winning in LA, SK looked as if they were all on the same page and really motivated to bring the SK gaming name back to the top. While second in Montreal is nothing to be overly disappointed about, it may be the start of a downward spiral. Despite the fact that SK is a world class team, they seem to be even better when they can get excited and animated during a competition. Hopefully the back to back loss to fnatic hasn't taken the wind from their sails.

Which mTw will show up?

No, they do not have alternate lineups. But their performances this year might make one believe that they do. While reaching the quarterfinals at ESWC, they failed to make it out of group play in LA. In an interview with GotFrag, Zonic said that they "... have our work cut out for us when we get back home." While they were able to win the WCG Denmark qualifier and get a spot at the finals in Germany, the competition at this event is going to be so much tougher than even LA. Can the Danes bounce back with a big international showing here?

Can fnatic show some consistency?

We've heard it time and time again. It's easier to get to the top than stay there. While fnatic seemed to have no trouble until MYM stepped up a few years ago, they are now riding a rollercoaster when it comes to results. First they come in third at ESWC, a pretty solid accomplishment. Then they fail to even contend for WCG Sweden, and lose early in LA. Now the team just picked up the win in Montreal, defeating both US hopefuls, MiBR (who sent them to the lower bracket) and finally SK, in back to back maps. If fnatic can come away with the win here, they will be making a big statement.

Could a big team arise from the pool of locals?

It has been over three years since k23 shocked everyone with a second place finish at WCG. Since then, there has been next to nothing in the way of successful teams from the Middle East. With this event being the first major international event held in the region, it may very well be possible, however improbable, that a monster may lie hiding and waiting for this very chance. Most likely, there will be some really terrible teams playing, and don't be surprised if you see some "Big Al" performances, but don't rule out the possibility that one of these teams can actually throw down.


EM Dubai Viewers Guide
EM Dubai CS Melee/Scores