And he's not wrong. Every NA team can make the clash, even though I have gone back and forth on this. That being said, we should have a pretty good idea of who isn't going after Friday.There is still a mathematical chance for every single North American team to make the Western Clash –even No Tomorrow, every game matters.— CauthonLuck (@CauthonLuck) February 9, 2017
Friday February 10th
Match 1: Tempo Storm vs No Tomorrow
Remember that Tweet from just a second ago? Cauthonluck doesn't want his team taking No Tomorrow lightly because they do have something to fight for. Tempo is in control of their destiny, and a win all but assures that they go to the clash, and it absolutely eliminates No Tomorrow from the clash as there are three teams with three wins, and the best No Tomorrow could finish after losing this match is 2-5. Tempo Storm avoids their usual slow start, and No Tomorrow not only is eliminated from the Clash, but they are assured a spot in the Crucible. Tempo sweeps, 3-0.
Match 2: Naventic vs Superstars
What happened to Naventic? Lots of people had Naventic fighting for a top spot in HGC, but honestly, I was not one of them. Yes, I think Naventic is good. Yes, I think they are dangerous and they can beat anyone at any time. However, since Fan left, Naventic is more bark than bite, and Fan openly said someone on this team is a huge weak link in HGC interviews. Superstars have their own struggles with consistency, but this is a team where Superstars has the better player at every position, and if Hosty drafts well, Srey calls the shots, Faye and Goku wreck fools, and Iakona doesn't wiff an ancestral like he did last week (sorry, I had to mention it), this is an easy win for Superstars. Superstars take it 3-1.
Saturday February 11th
Match 1: Superstars vs. B-Step
Speaking of what happened to a former powerhouse, what happened to B-Step? Similar to Naventic, they were defanged when Glaurung left. k1Pro can talk about being the best ranged assassin in NA, and he did, but he isn't. That being said, this is a really good match up for B-Step. The problem is, B-Step won their matches last week by pulling out old strats, and Superstars knows those comps and can more than handle them. It's a competitive match, but Superstars takes it 3-1.
Match 2: Team 8 vs. Naventic
This is the nail in Naventic's coffin. Team 8 has been the most dominant NA team, even with their one loss to unbeaten Tempo Storm. Open up a seat in the Crucible because Naventic is heading there with a 1-5 record after this match. Team 8 pounds them in a sweep, 3-0.
Sunday February 12th
Match 1: Tempo Storm vs. Gale Force eSports
NA match of the weekend! GFE has to win this because Superstars is going to win two and Team Freedom has a head to head edge against them. If GFE can beat Tempo, then they are in the Clash. That said, no one is beating Tempo Storm right now in NA. GFE will make a series of it, but it's 3-2 Tempo Storm wins.
Match 2: Team Freedom vs. No Tomorrow
These teams had a ton of hype from the other teams in interviews. No Tomorrow was picked as a contender for the clash by a lot of observers of the NA scene. Team Freedom has lived up to some of that, but No Tomorrow has only managed three map wins in four matches. It doesn't get any better for No Tomorrow, already eliminated on Friday by Tempo Storm, Team Freedom needs a statement win, and they get it with a 3-0 over No Tomorrow.
Now, I don't usually do this, but after this weekend, if my predictions go as planned, the NA standings are thus:
1. Tempo Storm 6-0
2. Team 8 5-1
3. Superstars 4-2
4. Team Freedom 3-3 (they beat GFE, so they get the tie breaker)
5. GFE 3-3
6. B-Step 2-4
7. Naventic 1-5
8. No Tomorrow 0-6
If this happens, the NA participants in the Western Clash will be Tempo Storm, Team 8, and the third spot goes to Superstars, Team Freedom, or GFE. If this happens, I will do a special post explaining what those three teams each need to get a spot in the Clash.
No comments:
Post a Comment