Jonpro's Wreslemania Predictions

This is my first dig at anything like this so forgive any discrepancies or misrepresentations I might make.

Four Sundays from now, the bunker will fill up with a mixture of players, some of which have been familiar faces to QLD LAN for ages and some of which are new to the scene. With the absence of your garden variety NME/iDogged/f-zer0 teams, I’m inclined to call this an amateur comp, but I really can’t. Some of the sharpest players to play at Local Bunker comps over the last year and a half will make up what I predict will be the top 5 seeds, and the struggle to make it out of the groups, will be intense in at least one of the groups. Let me introduce you to the teams.

1. Team Immunity - Steel GazR BenoR Yaman deStiny

What is there to say. This team just came off a seemingly comfortable WCG nationals win. I'd imagine team Immunity would be in the process getting their shit together to play against the best of the best overseas in November. With the absence of powerhouses f-zer0 or encore this time around, it would be a safe bet to say this mix team of Melbourne and Queensland talent will comfortably take this event. From what I have gathered from speaking to those who have had the opportunity to prac these guys since the national, and from my own introspection, it would seem that the team aren't playing at full potential at the moment. Perhaps they're taking a much deserved chill period after the WCG event, or perhaps they're complacent now they're 'the best in Australia'. Either way, although they are definite front runners for jonpro, they will want to fire on all four cylinders to comfortably secure themselves the $400 and more importantly, to give themselves the best preparation going into the international event. Although I am a little biased in this regard, I would suggest to ESAU readers to carefully watch Jez (steel) this comp. Each player in this team share a great amount of talent however if nationals were anything to base things off, Mr. Panov will be the one to go hollywood on his home turf.

Predicted finish: 1st
Player to watch: Steel

2. A-Gamers - Swing JKS dBs jimNeso DVO

Behind obvious front runners, iMmunity, these guys would be at the top of the pack of teams duking it out for the silver medal. This team isn’t the biggest advocate for the idea of praccing before a comp, but it never stopped them succeeding. They comfortably took EYA and NME to the lower bracket last comp with no pre-game preparation what so ever. With Konny leaving CS behind, these guys picked up Encore’s own Davio to fill the void for this comp. Coming off a comfortable 5th/6th placing at the recent WCG nationals, these guys shouldn’t find much difficulty making it out of their group stage. However, the struggle to grab the $400 will be a different story. With the dissolution of 2G4U, we say goodbye to one of the top seeded teams for this competition. The result of this is some of 2g4u's players fill the gaps in some of the lower tier teams. Fortunately for A-gamers, this eliminates one of stiffest competitors for the second place title, but the struggle will still be there from other worthy mentions, ATP, 1up and shuffz. As I predicted before the team changes, A-gamers will prevail against these teams but I believe they will meet their demise in the final against immunity.

Predicted finish: 1st – 3rd
Player to watch: Davio

3. Shuffz - Sponny StalkE Boodoo THFS BurtoN

Losing syliX to family commitments has meant that everyones favourite lan player Matthew 'WTF-BurtoN' Burton has filled the 5th position in this team. These guys have consistently challenged top teams over the past few competitions and I don't see it being any different. A somewhat existent practice schedule will see these guys going into the competition somewhat prepared. That said, I do see them making it out of groups, but beyond that is up to them and the vibe on the day. Shuffz will look to the consistency of TH(ie)FS, and apparently the calling of BurtoN to ensure that they are still fighting it out for $400. To ensure a good tournament, I have been informed that Tim will be avidly studying dBs demos in an effort to better himself. (written by Jim)

Predicted finish: 3rd – 6th
Player to watch: TH(ie)FS, Doc/Peng^^ on decos



4. ATP - PeetyG aspire Fizz-e GoMeZ peekay

According to a certain active member of the Brisbane LAN scene who is playing for ATP, this team are going to ‘shit all over’ shuffz and rub it in Burtons’ face. With fire in at least one of their bellies, and a considerable amount of rum in another two players bellies, we should see some big shots and really frustrating clutches all day with this mob. Much like I would say for shuffz if I were doing their prediction, depending on what teams they get parceled with in their group will determine weather they make top4. If Pete manages to get more than four hours sleep the night before and the hot headed hoodlum aspire quells his emotions, we should see some stellar plays from these two. Additionally, Peekay and fizz are known around The Bunker to be extremely consistent and If I were to watch this team all day, I would pay special attention to watching these two. Their fifth player, Gomez, is a bit of a dark horse. He has been playing this game longer than Team Starbust, the Sydney 1.3 powerhouse, and has been known to pull off the occasional 50 bomb at the local. This teams performance really lies in the luck of the draw and how quickly they build up chemistry together but they will be very entertaining to watch.

Predicted finish: 3rd – 6th
Player to watch: Peekay

5. 1UP - B1GB3N jAtz exe snakewOw Takita

This is the other team I could predict taking a spot in the top four. Since I originally wrote this prediction, this team parted ways with popular source sensation, d1gz, and welcomed with open arms the burger man himself. Takita would be the only player, locally or internationally, I have ever known to be able to stop a Bombsite B rush on his own with an awp, whilst eating a bacon deluxe burger with both hands. Despite having held the same core four for the last two months, pracs have been few and far between for 1UP and I'm unsure of how frequently snake plays 1.6. Over the most recent events, Jatz has demonstrated to quite a few teams in QLD CS that he can drop the numbers, and Ben continues to put up top6 placings at Bris LAN events, regardless of which team he plays for. The level of experience of this team will carry them over the line against the lower seeded teams in their group, but the struggle will be against the gatekeeper teams such as shuffz and ATP. If these boys stay collected and if they get some more prac in, we could see them make a podium finish on the day. Oh and I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't mention that snake swindled into top4 at AINC nationals (YERP).

Predicted finish: 3rd – 6th
Player to watch: Takita (See Below)


6. Destinatus - Gonzo, Sollz, Brinx, Dekko, Avengrr

I'm going to say something rediculously cliche here and call this team the dark horse of the competition. The core of this team, brinx, sollz and Avengrr, had a crack at the Local earlier this year at the WCG autumn cup, and although my memory doesn't quite serve me justice, I don't think they did particularily well. However, After the mordecai's, the destiny's and the izm's of Australian CS, it would be foolish to mention anything about these guys being a team of Michael Jordans (nothing but net). All three of the core of this team have played competitive online CS for at least the last four years, and used to succeed back when online meant something. It's just a matter of when for these three, and this time around they've enlisted the help of household names; Gonzo and Dekko. After finishing a successfull campaign with G7, dekko's steam hours took an immediate dive. It is difficult to make any sort of prediction to how he'll play on the day but as always, Chris will be interesting to watch. On the other hand, GonzowneR is back and truly in top form. With a strict training reigime of Jump maps, day of defeat and the occasional scrim, this is looking like it could be one of those comps where Paul reminds us all that although his heart is still black, like a pair of his sisters jeans, he can bring the headshots.

Predicted finish: 3rd - 6th
Player to watch: Gonzo or Brinx

7. GreenStreetUnited - LiZARD(Kaned), TrentmolleR(Lethal), Sazz(da_snAke), BanGin(JakeG), Darbo

What is there to say. GSU are back for another crack. With mixed results since a top4 placing at SG.summer in Late 06 and a 7th/8th at SG.winter mid 07, It's difficult to know what to expect from these guys. What can be sure though, is that these guys have been getting their online scrim on, especially Lizard and Lethal. If Sazz and Jake can get into some good form, any of the lower tier teams wont be getting out of groups, and the higher tier teams will definitely have their hands full. With all of these guys getting into shape, the only other pivoting factor to whether these guys do well or not, is how wasted they get on Saturday night. If I had to pick any player in this team to be the player to watch I'ld have to say keep an eye on Sazz (deathmatch King) Bullivant if he's in form, or turn to the consistency of LiZARD.

Predicted finish: 7th/8th
Player to watch: Sazz or LiZARD.

8. Next Generation - Incuban Knight Regal Sammcf Gryph

One of Queenslands’ most stable teams. These guys cycle through a new 5th after every comp but their core4 remains the same, this sort of stability is a virtue we rarely see in Australian CS teams these days. At the big 16 team comps, these guys have been known to pull out the upset win and score top6 but on a normal day at LAN for these guys, they usually score around the 7th/8th threshold. With a new pair of capable hands in the form of former Sydney sider JaseGryph and the absence of the iDogged/NME like teams, we could see these guys cause an upset and push through the group stages. Their most likely result however, is probably 3rd in their group and 5th/6th overall, comfortably beating the lower teams but struggling against the higher.

Predicted finish: 7th/8th
Player to watch: Gryph or Incubean.



9. Magical - nahum genzr mE kfg Lucky7

Probably one of the more entertaining teams to watch on the day. Each of them are so much sharper than people give them credit for. However, Jack (mE) is an online stain and should be burnt on a cross. Luckily for Queensland LAN, his silent defuse scripts and his smoke sprites can’t save him down at The Bunker and we will be looking at Nahum, genzr and Karl(Lucky7) to make the big frags. At previous events, these boys have really caused problems for those middle tier teams like Nextgen and appletini, but are really just there for a bit of fun and don’t really take it to the top placers. Depending on how the groups are selected, these guys could finish 3rd in the group but are unlikely to upset some of the more solid teams.

Predicted finish: 9th-12th
Player to watch: Nahum



10. Appletini - aFganflyTrap rixEh runie zsx TBA

Those of you who know afgan, would know that he’s the sort of guy who has to do things the Bundaberg way. With Unnecessary amounts of difficulty and even more unnecessary amounts of hate crime. He insists on hand picking his lineups from the middle tier of Queensland CS and it has never quite worked for him, and so here he is, with another incomplete team of sharp capable players and looking for a 5th. Regardless of who they get, these boys will most likely cause trouble for any teams sitting in the 3rd – 8th seed category and will comfortably defeat the 9th and 10th seeders. As mentioned earlier, each of the players of this team are capable, but if you are looking for someone to watch from this team, look no further than zsx to pull out the big green and try and control the game.



Predicted finish: 9th-12th
Player to watch: zsx

11. UKnowit - cowboy mains halnaes kid born

From what I can recall, these boys all started popping up around Brisbane LAN mid 2006. All besides cowboy, are regulars to the Brisbane comps and often make mix teams with the magical crowd and with snake and d1gz. Much of what I’ve said about these last few teams resonates true for these guys. There isn’t much gap between 5th and 10th this comp and on any one day these guys could grasp a mid group finish, but are unlikely to cause any problems for your top4 contenders. Also, like magical, each of these players have good aim and should be fun to watch on the day.

Predicted finish: 9th-12th
Player to watch: born

12. Section8 - NazenemY Bulba eLusive monitor T.J.

This team is an interesting mix of players. You have monitor and T.J. who have been playing since the dawn of time, and new talent with Bulba and Nazenemy. I’m not sure how long eLusive has been around for, but from when I’ve seen him play he’s had some great aim on him. If there are is any team with players who really want to win on the 21st, it’s this team, with Jesse(Bulba) and Paul(Nazenemy) raring to learn and improve, putting in the hours on steam and getting in the HLTV’s. On top of this, T.J. brings some experience to the table, playing with the oldschool northern Queensland powerhouse Reso in early 1.6, and more recently, playing with interstate team mEx, before and during WCG nationals 2006. Although this team have a lot of the elements to make it far, a lack of practice together with a lack of collaborative experience will restrict these guys to the bottom end of the grid. With a bit of cohesion on the day, they could place mid grid in their group, but wont challenge the top4 contenders.

Predicted finish: 9th-12th
Player to watch: T.J. or BulBa.