Los Angeles, California - The culmination of all the hype, news, changes, excitement, and flames has finally arrived with the Championship Gaming Series Combine and Draft. Over the next four days, sixty players from four different games will join six franchises and become true eSports professionals. With Counter-Strike having an extremely large following, much of the excitement surrounding the draft concerns which of the numerous Counter-Strike: Source teams will be making it into the big time. Multiple teams abandoned their original game for Source because of the opportunity to play in the CGS, and now, the time for all the teams’ practice and dedication to shine at its brightest point has arrived.

Each of the six franchises will consist of just one Source team, meaning the competition will be fierce as each team vies to impress the general mangers. And with Complexity and Team 3D already signed to their respective franchises, only four spots remain for teams to fill. Success in major competitions in the past simply required game-related skills, but the Combine brings a new element to the table in that the GMs will be looking for players who demonstrate professionalism, personality, and the ability to perform and carry themselves under the spotlight. Playing in the CGS will be like no other past experience for the players, and only the best of the best will survive the cut.

A myriad of teams have qualified and registered for the Combine, and through a series of competitions, interviews, and various other skill tests, the general managers will be preparing for their selections in the draft. In this preview, GotFrag takes a look at some of the top Counter-Strike: Source teams heading into the Combine that will be looking to outshine the rest in hopes of being drafted into a franchise.

Check-Six

Qualifying for the Combine as Revolution Sports, the team now under the Check-Six flag will be looking to really stand out this weekend. The team names are familiar, but the individual players have flown under the radar and not received as much attention as others in big name teams. Placing second at the Buy.com event was a huge step, but the team has been relatively quiet since then, overshadowed by coL's performance and other controversy in the CEVO playoffs.

This young group of guys has shown they have the skill and talent to compete, but whether they will be able to perform under the spotlight remains in question. A solid and stable roster has allowed the team to build up chemistry and the players have been together for quite some time, which will work in their favor. Check-Six will really need to come out in full force at the Combine if they want to be noticed and get drafted.

EF Gaming

Following a win at CGI ’07 EFG went through a rocky period of time marred by mediocre results in CEVO Pro and multiple roster changes. However, after all the dust had settled, EFG had re-assembled its roster by welcoming back players that had been a part of EFG’s ride of dominance in 2006. Aside from pham, the EFG players are at the top when it comes to experience in Source, and the team’s overall skill is undeniable. EFG recently finished at the top of its group in the CEVO placement event, taking down u5 along the way.

EFG certainly has a cast of exciting and high-energy players, and each of them knows what it takes to be a winner and come out on top. Roster instability may hurt their full potential, but EFG has the ability to rise to the occasion if the team can bring their best game this weekend. EFG’s vast amount of experience will come in handy as they look to catch the eyes of the GMs.

Evil Geniuses

A big question mark hovers over Team EG and how they will perform this weekend. EG has competed in several Source events since they took on Source, from CEVO to both the CGS LAN qualifiers, but the team has yet to establish any sort of consistency or dominating presence. EG showed progress in its Source play with a second place finish at The Bridge last month, but fell short more recently in failing to qualify for CEVO Pro.

Experience is definitely something the players do not lack, and the squad is made up of some of the most professional yet charismatic players. Individual skill is not a question, but whether the team can pull together and impress this weekend is. Team EG has many things going for them, and if EG comes out in full form at the Combine and uses those things to their advantage, it would not be surprising to see EG be selected in the draft.

Forbidden

A newly formed team prior to the Buy.com qualifier, Forbidden absolutely dominated the competition and quickly established themselves as a new force in the community. Put into the most difficult group in the recent CEVO Pro placement tournament, Forbidden showed off its dominance again by defeating the likes of 3D, JMC, zEx, and RecKoning en route to an undefeated performance.

The core of the Forbidden team is made up of some of the most experienced Source players, and the influx of former-1.6 teams into the Source competition field has not deterred this team at all. Forbidden is certainly at the top of the skill ladder, and there are no signs of a letdown going into the Combine. Look for Forbidden to be one of the first CS: Source teams to be selected in the draft.

Jax Money Crew

Since moving to Source, JMC has yet to find real success in competition with less-than-desirable results in CEVO Pro, a fourth place finish at The Bridge, and failing to qualify in the CEVO placement tournament. However, the team is full of raw skill and talent, as can be seen at the players’ past achievements in 1.6. But But how well JMC has adapted to Source at this point and whether they will be ready to take on the other big guns in Source remains to be seen.

JMC gets a mention also because their former manager Alex Conroy is one of the six general managers. It would be wrong to automatically assume Conroy will draft his former team, but it would be foolish to deny that the thought has crossed his mind. Whether his ties with JMC will play an influence on his choices will also be determined this weekend.

Pandemic

Pandemic gets a mention as well because their former manager Mark Dolven is also one of the general managers. As a team, Pandemic has yet to really establish themselves in the community due to not participating in CEVO Pro (the team played in Main instead) and placing out of the top four at The Bridge. Pandemic did find success in the recent CEVO placement tournament, finishing second in their group.

Like JMC, the roster is full of talented players who have a wealth of experience in the 1.6 scene. However, whether they will be able to perform and impress in Source is also the question. Because Dolven has ties with Pandemic like Conroy with JMC, one has to give Pandemic a chance at getting drafted, but again, it would be wrong to think Dolven would make his selection just because of that.

United 5

In the beginning of u5’s transition to Source, the team looked like a disaster that just couldn’t get it together. A horrid record in CEVO Pro made u5 seem like there was no hope for them. United 5 looked better at its first Source LAN in the Buy.com event, but it was at The Bridge where u5 showed its new self, taking down EG and the rest of the competition to come out on top. In the recent CEVO placement tournament, u5 tied EFG for the best record in their group, finishing second.

Over the past couple months, u5 has really pulled together and transformed as a Source team. U5’s 1.6 background has provided the players with valuable experience, and the team has been uphill journey of success. Out of the former-1.6 converts looking to get drafted (besides coL/3D), u5 looks the most prepared and ready. Things look bright for u5, and all their hard work will likely pay off this weekend.