GotFrag.com - Jumping off with their first match of the day, Pandemic is set to face arguably the best team in the nation, X3O. Before the CGS, Pandemic was definitely on a hot streak. In their last CEVO-P season, they went into playoffs seeded first and also did outstanding at WSVG. This just goes to show they do have the ability to be America's team, but are they ready to step up to the plate right now? After CGS their online results have been mediocre at best. Every single one of their players has done magnificent in the past and still can in the future. Habibi, Tran, and Koller are all outstanding individual players and compliment White and Alvarado's smart play quite well. I think if they play on a map like inferno or dust2, they will do just fine. If the map chosen is something along the lines of train, they will be fighting against some strong teamwork from X3O. This team has a ton of space for improvement. Hopefully they took this week to bootcamp in order to fill some of that void.

In my opinion, X3O got matched up against the toughest lower seed opponent here, instead of coL, eMg, or Allstars. For this, they cannot underestimate their opponent. They need to stay on their toes and just continue to perform those same beautiful tactics with the same abundant teamwork. Just like Pandemic, it seems like every person on the team holds their own instead of one person having a stand-out tournament, multiple players have stand-out matches simultaneously. I know X3O wants this victory, because it will put them that much closer to a rebuttal to EG's victory against them at EM. They will be looking to just "play their game" and control the momentum.

The last two times they have met up online Pandemic has fallen short, including a 16-4 loss even though it was on strike. But, with both teams bootcamping a bit before the event, I have a feeling those Pandemic practices has evened the playing field a bit. X3O is eager to represent the U.S. with another chance at an international event, and Pandemic is yearning a success at their first outing. This is definitely the best match-up of the first round.

X3O
Andrew "dRew" Timmerman
Dan "mehLer" Mehler
Ryan "Ninespot" Bell
David "saviOr" Park
Jeff "hero" Mettetal


Pandemic
Hoang "sonny" Tran
Chad "Daffsta" White
Cyrus "org" Habibi
Jimmy "foogz" Koller
Noah "Striker" Alvarado




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