wNv - aps, rap, Sakula, ray, aQi

wNv was actually looking to be the stronger of the two Chinese teams in attendance at the outset of WEG season 1. The team got off to a nice 2-0 start before dropping their next three consecutive games. They were still in a position to make the playoffs when their sixth and final game rolled around against Gamer Company. With a win, wNv would move on, but with a loss, they would go home. And instead of buckling down and trying to beat GamerCo straight up, as they had already done once earlier in the regular season, the team had to resort to cheating.

For those who do not remember, a wNv member was caught looking at the live HLTV feed behind him in order to see the position of GamerCo's members on the map. The player was warned, and so he did what any reasonable person would do; he did it again. Because of the exchange rate, you're out after only two strikes in Korea, and rightfully so when you're dumb enough to turn around and stare at a live HLTV feed in front of a live audience with the opposing team sitting right next to you and WEG admins watching you at all times.

But enough with the hate. wNv is a good team and one of their players made a poor (ie: stupid) decision that ended up costing them the game via forfeit and sent GamerCo to the playoffs. wNv will need to focus on two things this season. The first is to not get cocky and to concentrate on holding their momentum once they get some going. The team took an absolute nose dive after their 2-0 start to end up finishing 2-4 and out of the playoffs, and there's just no reason to lose four consecutive games after starting out so well. The second key for wNv, and this one is really important, is to not cheat in front of a live audience, the opposing team, and carefully watching admins. If wNv can avoid doing that, I'd say their chances of making a mark on WEG's second season are significantly better then they would otherwise be.

Lunatic Hai - mal, cliper, enemy, rish, adamant

Lunatic Hai, while a great team with a ton of skill, did not have a successful run during the first season of WEG. While being paired up with eventual champions NoA not just once, but twice, might have had something to do with this, the fact is that Lunatic Hai simply did not live up to expectations. There's no denying that this team has a ton of skill, and they've been able to consistently dominate a tough Korean scene over the past several months. Since Lunatic Hai has been able to remain consistent in local events much more so then they were during WEG's first season, fans of the team may have reason to believe that they'll be able to turn things around this season and play well on a solid week-to-week basis.

Group A

Catch Gamer
Gamer Company
Lunatic Hai

This is a difficult group to predict results for, as none of the three teams seem to be heavy favorites, but they all have the potential to do great things in the event if they're able to play well enough. Gamer Company is the biggest wild card here, as they played very poorly during WEG's first season, but the recent addition of DarK as in-game leader may help to turn the team around and get them playing at the level at which they placed third at two consecutive CPL Dallas events. If GamerCo does manage to reach that past level of greatness, it will be very difficult for either Catch Gamer or Lunatic Hai to beat them, but if GamerCo falters, look for a bitter, hard-fought battle between these three teams to decide the winner of the group.

Group B

Abit Strike
Astralis
Mortal Teamwork

Very interesting group here, as you've got the proven team Abit Strike, who I think many people are underestimating coming into WEG season 2, grouped up with Astralis who haven't quite performed up to expectations, and Mortal Teamwork who no one really knows what to expect from since they're such a new team. I actually believe this to be the most balanced group of the four initial groups, as it's hard to put any of these teams very high above the others. I suppose the favorite to come out on top would probably be mTw, if for no other reason then the fact that they've got a player like rwa on the team. Still, Astralis and Abit Strike have their own star players, like natu, tihOp, and LaiXiLaiXi. This will be a very interesting group to watch, and whoever comes out on top here will be a definite threat to win the entire event.

Group C

Evil Geniouses
Four Kings
Pentagram

If EG was hoping to catch a break in their initial group to give them some time to settle back into a more fiercely competitive state of mind, then they won't like the way this group turned out at all. 4K really put on a show last season, beating NoA not once, but twice. They won once in the regular season and once in the three game playoff series between the two teams, although 4K did eventually lose that series. Then you've got Pentagram, who have been as red hot as any team in the world in the past few months. No doubt about it, EG looks to be pretty well screwed. If, by some miracle of Canada, EG does manage to emerge from this group with a win, you can take that as definitive proof that they are back and in a big way. But frankly, I'm much more interested in seeing 4K and Pentagram lock horns in a match which I believe will decide who ends up coming out on top of this group.

Group D

Begrip.se
NoA
wNv

Very tough draw for wNv. On paper, they are one of the weaker teams in attendance, so being forced to match up with NoA and Begrip.se in their opening group is definitely not good. NoA, meanwhile, has to be pretty happy with the draw. They know they can beat wNv without much trouble, and they will have to feel confident going up against a Begrip.se team that may still be trying to find itself when they play. Look for NoA to get off to a great start here with their new member quick, unless Begrip.se can get things going really well very early on and pull off a big upset over the #1 team in the world.