Gravitas Gaming

Ediz "goodfornothing" Basol
Derrick "impulsive" Truong
Ben "theNUT" Hui
Thomas "thoMz" Garcia
Shaun "Hostile" Catron

After falling to x3o at the x3o Winter Classic a few months ago, it was hard to really determine whether Gravitas would be able to go blow for blow with the two bigger US squads throughout the 09 season. Then, all of the sudden, the boys who were probably the least expected to do much at EM III ended up looking like the best team in America.

Now heading into the KODE5 US Finals, Gravitas Gaming looks as if they could really make a run at taking the whole event.

A major factor that will give them a boost from the start will be the confidence they gained from competing at the EM III Grand Finals. On top of that, Gravitas is looking better and better as time progresses. Their skill level is very close, if not right up there with both x3o and EG.usa, and they look as if their ready to step it up and put pressure on both teams to try and stop them.

Gravitas should be one of the more exciting teams to watch at the KODE5 US Finals, and will more than likely be one of the final teams left.

Strengths: They have to be feeling good right now. Though a 1-3-1 record at EM III isn't that impressive, it was better than either of their higher profile American rivals could muster up. That and their pure talent at CS should play to their favor.

Weaknesses: Make sure that their good feelings don't get in their way. Both x3o and EG.usa will come out looking as if they have something to prove, and GG will be the team they'll want to use as an example. GG will need to stand strong and play their game, or else they might fall to an angrier, hungrier team.

Steno from FD takes a look at GG's chances at KODE5:

"Every US team right now is playing very sloppy and doesn't look in good shape, and the Germany event was a reality check for the teams who were playing over confident and getting away with things they shouldnt be. This kode5 should be interesting. Gravitas seems like they are falling apart right now and a prime example of a team who was playing way too over confident prior to the Germany event."

compLexity

Justin "sunman" Summy
Mike "method" So
David "zid" Chin
Sal "Volcano" Garozzo
Erik "da_bears" Stromberg

On paper this looked like it would be another All-Star team jam packed with players that were so talented at CS that they would be able to dispatch any opponent that got in their way. However, for compLexity, the early days of their return back to CS 1.6 hasn't exactly gone as planned.

While they do hold a respectable 13-2 record in CEVO-Main at the time of this article, it isn't against the highest level of play, and it is an online league. The only other competition they've faced off against is in ESEA-I against the big boys, where they sport a mediocre 3-5 record.

Still, compLexity's biggest advantage is that they have yet to show what they can do on LAN, and that is where all of these big name players have shown that they can put in the work.

Now, heading into KODE5, it would seem that coL might be one of the bigger mysteries at the event. While they have looked quite bland in online play, it isn't any indication of what these players might be capable of once they get going on LAN. If Mikey can even get close to his old form at this tournament, we might be in for a big surprise.

The best bet on coL would be to assume that they won't be around to see the later rounds. However, you never know what might happen, especially with a team that has so many talented players from the past.

Strength: They have yet to be seen on LAN, and that could really play into their favor. The players that did pug it out recently, like zid, looked great. Plenty of talent and experience could do wonders for this team.

Weaknesses: They don't look anywhere near ready to compete against the tougher teams at the tournament. I don't want to call it a lack of skill, because all of these players have proven they have talent, but right now, they just don't look strong enough to come off as a favorite.

goodfornothing from Gravitas Gaming sizes up compLexity at KODE5:

"coL is a team that started off a little slow as was to be expected with their return from source. However these guys are professionals and I think they're gonna be performing better on LAN. I can't say I think they're gonna be winning the event or anything, but they're gonna put up a fight."



Page One: EG.usa and x3o
Page Two: Gravitas Gaming and compLexity
Page Three: Frag Dominant and Texas All-Stars
Page Four: Pandemic and eMazing Gaming