Squad tourney "semi-final" weekend preview

Gandalf2 · Post by **Gandalf2** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 5:25 pm

So it's the business end of the 2008 Allegiance squad competition, and this week is the nearest thing we get to semi-finals. In the upper bracket we have SysX and PK, the two remaining unbeaten teams in the competition. For the winners a place in the final awaits, and the losers will play again next week against the victor in the lower bracket, which is XT-RT, for a place in the final. Also happening is the 5th/6th place play-off between ACE and GB. Herein I try to give a neutral preview to the three games - I do not mean to insult anyone or degrade any squad in this preview

Upper bracket - SysX vs PK

Tourney so far.... SysX received a bye in the first round, before beating GB then ACE. PK also received a bye, before beating RT and then XT. Given that the teams PK beat are in the other semi-final, it is arguable that they have beaten better quality opposition.
Recent form... Last week in the warmup match, PK beat SysX in an IC vs Rix matchup. Will this reflect their choices this weekend though? Rix are not a common choice for squad-games, perhaps SysX are trying to lull PK into a false sense of security? Will spidey bring out the belters tac once more, or revert to tried & tested IC exp? PK are less well known for experimenting and will most likely go IC exp.

It should be noted that SysX appear to be the seeded team in this match-up.

Squad tourney 2007... SysX - 3rd, PK - 2nd. PK beat SysX to reach the final.

Final opinion - I would make PK slight favourites for this game, but it should be a close match. I would give PK a 65% chance of winning.

Lower bracket - RT vs XT

Tourney so far.... RT, along with GB, have played the most games (4) to reach this stage. A win over the roman legion was followed by defeat at the hands of PK, but have got their campaign back on track with victories over SF and ACE. XT beat SF, lost to PK and last week beat GB to reach this stage.
Recent form... RT's victory over ACE last week is arguably the shock result of the competition so far, as it was the first "away" victory. ACE as giga tried a rather unorthodox tactic on an unorthodox map, but RT managed to win with IC tacpremacy. XT on the other hand took a long time to finish off GB, thanks to a tech base being nanned

XT, as with PK, are not known for experimenting in squad games and are likely to show up in their shiny IC ints. RT are slightly more unpredictable in their faction choice - I wouldn't like to speculate in their choice for this game

Squad tourney 2007... XT winners, RT 4th. They did not meet in the main competition. However RT have yet to beat XT in any squad game.

Final opinion... You've got to back the stalwarts XT in this one. However RT continue to improve and who is to say that tomorrow will not be the day they finally beat their bogey side?

5th place play off - ACE vs GB

Tourney so far.... The Wildcards beat SRM, before losing to SysX in an IC exp vs IC exp match and then losing to RT in their next match. The Borg have had an up-and-down competition, beating BS, losing to SysX, beating SRM and then losing to XT last week.
Recent form... ACE must be disappointed after last week's defeat to RT - can they pick themselves back up to claim 5th spot? GB probably expected to lose to XT but may be heartened by making them work so hard for it.

Squad tourney 2007... ACE 5th. GB did not take part due to failing to play enough qualifying games. However they did meet in the qualifying rounds on June 24th, with ACE winning 2-0.

Final opinion... ACE to bounce back from last week's disappointment.

UPDATE

The pre-match votes stood at....
SysX - 11
PK - 30

RT - 23
XT - 19

ACE - 45
GB - 4

fuzzylunkin1 · Post by **fuzzylunkin1** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 5:41 pm

Go PK, you can do it!

Go PK, we know you can!

spideycw · Post by **spideycw** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 7:47 pm

I just want to say that rarely have I seen such a well written and enjoyable post on these forums (Southpaw's fan faction is only in his blog) and it adds a lot to the tournament.

Kltplzyxm · Post by **Kltplzyxm** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 7:54 pm

Hear hear. This should be more of this to generate excitement. I hope the upcoming season will be even better as we'll have a more organized regular season IIRC.

HSharp · Post by **HSharp** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:21 pm

SysX vs PK

Match between arguably two of the best squads in allegiance most likely being commed by arguably two of the best commander's in allegiance. Of course should it come to back-up commanders then SysX have a bigger choice of quality commanders then PK.

Both teams have thier respective strengths and while spidey n co are infamous for thier unusual strategies, no team holds a candle to a PK bomber run. However for both teams this won't be the most important match of the tournament as the loser will have another chance in the final (yes being very cocky in saying these two teams will beat XT/RT).

I think SysX should be able to scare up a victory against PK but it should be a very close match. This match will just allow the victor a nice period of taunting time but the loser will be able to have an extra fun squad game vs RT or XT.

RT vs XT

RT the former underdogs of Allegiance vs XT the reigning squad tourney champs. RT have a very strong all-rounder team but they don't have the sheer whore power that XT can call upon, however RT has good teamwork and if they can keep thier miners safe against the XT offense then they have a chance of victory.

I'm going to have to say an XT victory though but it should be a very good game.

ACE vs GB

ACE are the stronger side in results but GB might be able to pull out a suprise from thier bag of tricks. However my money is on ACE by a longshot. Stronger team and a nice pool of powerful commanders, ACE should win this unless champy and co pull off some miner killing miracles.

Death3D · Post by **Death3D** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:41 pm

HSharp wrote:QUOTE (HSharp @ Oct 18 2008, 03:21 PM) However for both teams this won't be the most important match of the tournament as the loser will have another chance in the final (yes being very cocky in saying these two teams will beat XT/RT).

I is confuzed.

Idanmel · Post by **Idanmel** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:51 pm

This post should be in the front pages!
Sticky news it!

Correct · Post by **Correct** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:54 pm

I should be able to vote I am in one of these two squad and PK. I voted RT and ACE as well.

zdude1994 · Post by **zdude1994** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:57 pm

I feelz sorry for GB. The underdogs shall prevail.

Dorjan · Post by **Dorjan** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:58 pm

Loved it! Voted!