CS:S Intermediate Power Rankings - Week 4



1. Crucial Connexion


Crucial Connexion has once again topped the Power Rankings with yet another flawless week. The team's first match was an easy 16-1 victory over mainLineGaming, who was only able to field four players. Still, I wouldn't expect the score to be all that different should Crucial's opponents had five. Next up was one of the most anticipated matches in the past few weeks; Crucial Connexion vs. PC-Gamers Network, one of the top contenders this season and current #2 team in the standings. Though, one may not have guessed that Crucial was taking on the #2 team based on the outcome of this match. Crucial demolished PCGN in the first half, scoring a incredible twelve rounds on T-side of de_season. While PCGN picked it up in the second half, Crucial easily cruised to a 16-8 win. Looking ahead to the coming week, I fail to see anyone that is capable of taking down Crucial and they should once again come out of the week undefeated.


Week 5
5:1 – Crucial Connexion vs. Sure-Shot
5:2 – Crucial Connexion vs. The love is gone



2. Zeb Gamers


Zeb Gamers' only match of the week, besides a forfeit win, was 16-11 victory over Maine Event. Zeb Gamers performed well on offense, winning nine rounds in the first half. Overall, the team played well but considering their opponents haven't won more than one match this season (besides two forfeit wins), I expected Zeb Gamers to hold their opponents to single digit rounds. Nonetheless, at 6-2, with the third best record in the league, Zeb Gamers are looking strong heading into the second half of the season.


Week 5
5:1 – Zeb Gamers vs. ControL Gaming
5:2 – Zeb Gamers vs. The High Crew



3. Second Nature


With two wins in Week 4, Second Nature is now on a three game win streak, their longest of the season thus far. While the matches weren't blow-outs unlike their earlier wins (16-2, 16-3), for the most part, Second Nature breezed through each match. Against Maine Event, Second Nature had a solid performance on each side of the map, for a final 16-11 finish. The team's second match against eXe was quite similar, as Second Nature went on to win 16-10. Unfortunately, due to a forfeit loss earlier in the season, Second Nature is grouped up with a number of other 6-2 teams when they could easily be 7-1. Still, this team is a threat to any opponent and should retain a spot high in the Power Rankings for many weeks to come.


Week 5
5:1 – Second Nature vs. Freaking Awesome Gamers
5:2 – Second Nature vs. soundHax



4. Fragstarz


While Fragstarz was one for two in Week 5, the team managed to maintain a record worthy of the #3 spot in the division standings. It was a bit disappointing to see that Fragstarz fell to The High Crew in a 16-10 match. The team's CT-side was sub-par and not what I'd expect based on past performances. However, the team seemed to adapt well in their second match against Synchronous and instead came out on the winning side of a 16-10 score. Adapting as a team seems to be one of Fragstarz best qualities. This team doesn't have the individual powerhouse players that carry a match but instead are most deadly as a whole. That will be especially important as the team takes on eXult in Week 5.


Week 5
5:1 – Fragstarz vs. eXult

5:2 – Forfeit Win



5. PC-Gamers Network


In previous weeks, the Intermediate standings had a clear division between the top two teams (PC-Gamers Network and Crucial Connexion) and the rest of the pack. However, with two losses in Week 4, PC-Gamers Network has not only lost their undefeated record but has also dropped into the "6-2 pack". Though despite going 0-2, the team has still maintained a respectable spot in the rankings considering the strength of their Week 4 opponents. Against eXult, PCGN struggled on T-side, leaving them in a large hole heading into the second half. The match ended with a 16-10 score in eXult's favor. PCGN once again dug themselves into a deep hole early that was nearly impossible to recover from. PCGN lost the match by a final score of 16-8. Their match against Immortal7, another 6-2 team, in Week 5 will be a true test to see if PCGN is capable of breaking away from their current place in the standings.


Week 5
5:1 – Forfeit Win
5:2 – PC-Gamers Network vs. Immortal7



6. eXult


Yet again, eXult failed to field five players for one of their matches and it cost them the game. Against Freaking Awesome Gamers in a 4v5 match-up, eXult lost 16-6. I would hope this team takes this as a warning sign that they need to find a reliable back-up to replace an absent starter. This team could easily be 8-0 right now but instead sit at 5-3. Despite the loss, eXult impressed in Week 5 with a 16-10 win against PC-Gamers Network, the formerly undefeated team. eXult proved that they are very capable of a higher spot in the division standings...that is if all five starters are present


Week 5
5:1 – eXult vs. Fragstarz
5:2 – eXult vs. eXe



7. The High Crew


The High Crew completed their most successful week of the season, to bring the team's win streak to three. The team easily crushed insoMnia by a score of 16-6, shutting their opponents out in the second half. More importantly is the team's 16-10 win over Fragstarz. The High Crew plowed over Fragstarz's normally well-coordinated defense and planted the bomb a total of fourteen out of fifteen rounds. Moreover, The High Crew won a number of those rounds in 1v1 and 1v2 situations. With these wins, The High Crew has managed to put themselves on the playoff radar despite a very slow start.


Week 5
5:1 – The High Crew vs. Immortal7
5:2 – The High Crew vs. Zeb Gamers



8. Immortal7


Immortal7, previously known as Nigerians with Goggles, maintained the eighth spot in the Power Rankings with a 2-0 week, though one win was on account of a forfeit while the other was a somewhat average performance against a non-power ranked team. Immortal7 took on ControL Gaming on de_season, winning a rather impressive but expected ten rounds on T-side. The team's CT-side lacked, but because of the first half lead, Immortal7 was able to pick up enough rounds for the 16-12 win. Week 5 is an important week for Immortal7, as they'll face off against two power ranked teams, PC-Gamers Network and The High Crew.


Week 5
5:1 – Immortal7 vs. Pc-Gamers Network
5:2 – Immortal7 vs. The High Crew>



9. Synchronous


Synchronous fell two spots this week, following a 1-1 Week 4 record. First up was soundHax, a team that has fallen out of the power rankings as of late. The match was incredibly close, with Synchronous barely edging out in the end for a 16-14 win. I would have expected a bit larger of a margin, but then again Synchronous' matches have often came down to the wire. The team struggled in their second match against Fragstarz and ended up losing 16-10. Still, at 5-3 with a couple of easier matches coming up, Synchronous should be able to maintain a playoff-worthy record. t.


Week 5
5:1 – Synchronous vs. mainLineGaming
5:2 – Synchronous vs. insoMnia



10. eXe


At 3-5, eXe is a peculiar choice for the final spot in the power rankings. However, they are one of the few remaining teams to win a match in Week 5 that wasn't a forfeit win or wasn't played 4v5. Moreover, eXe received some props for putting up a decent fight in their 16-10 loss to Second Nature. The team's only win of the week was a 16-10 victory against insoMnia, with much of eXe's success in that match attributed to their offensive half. eXe has an opportunity prove they belong in the rankings this coming week as the team faces eXult.


Week 5
5:1 – eXe vs. Devastation-
5:2 – eXe vs. eXult