Welcome to this the 13th week of action in the 2009 Allegiance league!
The table so far...
Code: Select all
Squad P W L F Pts
SysX 8 8 0 0 24
RT 9 7 2 0 23
PK 9 6 3 0 21
XT 9 6 3 0 21
ACE 10 5 5 0 20
SF 9 4 5 0 17
SRM 10 1 9 0 12
BSPQR 10 0 10 0 10Last week match reports... ACE beat BSPQR, PK beat RT, SF beat SRM.
Match previews
RT vs SysX
The big game of the week is RT vs SysX, a battle of the current top 2 in the standings. This is realistically, the last chance for anyone but SysX to win the league. SysX are unbeaten whereas RT have lost 2 - if RT can win this, all their other games, and SysX lose one other game (to XT, perhaps?) then it could finish as a draw at the top. You'd get long odds on all that happening - but if SysX win today then you can multiply those odds by 1,000, and you might as well give them the trophy, even though it won't be mathematically over for a few more weeks.
I'm hopeful of a good game here, unlike the last two matches between the top 3... in recent weeks we have seen a disappointing performance by PK in losing to SysX, and then a similarly disappointing loss for RT against the Knights. Furthermore, you could look back to the last match between these two teams, which ended in a clear victory for SysX (though it was a more competitive game than the two examples above). However, I am confident this will be different. For a start, it'll be on GPZ server, which will help euro-based RT no end. Secondly, both RT's defeats have come on the USA servers, they even managed to beat PK on the GPZ server in one of the games of the competition so far.
But you have to say, SysX have been pretty awesome this year. They have a great commander and are highly skilled in all areas, especially whoring. I would have to make them favourites, and say they have a 65%-70% chance of winning this one.
XT vs PK
This is a big match for two teams who are currently equal on points. PK have easier fixtures remaining so they will be favourites to finish above XT, but if XenoTech manage to pull off a win here, then they could yet finish in the top 3.
XT definitely have the skills to win, and are on a 5 match winning run in the league at the moment, though they could hardly have a tougher run than their next 3 games against PK, SysX and RT.
So a tough one to call, but I go for PK to win in a game lasting about 1 hour 30.
SF vs BSPQR
An interesting game this one, between two teams who are both "in form" after a fashion.
A fortnight ago, Steel Fury beat ACE for the first time, which must've been a big boost for them. They followed this up by beating SRM last week. Meanwhile the Black Legion have still yet to win a game in the league, but have put in commendable performances in recent weeks, including a 2 hour game against ACE which needed HoD to end it , and recently managed tobeat GB twice to score their first victory as a joint squad (and the Legion's first victory at all). Some attributed this to a return of a few BS vets, so if they turn up again this could turn into a real good fight.
I have to go for SF though, they have the experience and will be on a high. However I don't think it's as clear cut as it might look at first glance and it should last over an hour.
Matches of the season?
Since we're getting near the end of the competition, I thought it would be good to look back on the highlights. What do you think were the best matches? Here's a few that I can think of - obviously they are biased to RT's matches, because those were the ones I was actually in, it would be good to hear what other people thought too
RT (dreg) vs PK (belters), Week 2, GPZ, Iron diamond, match report
An epic game, RT started very strongly but PK bombed them back. Both squads tried to put a sup in one of the middle sectors, with RT winning the race. PK then tried to bomb it, again, and again, and again, but somehow in a series of epic furballs, the base survived. RT galved PK back to their home, but still PK did not give up and somehow nearly managed to snatch victory despite being stuck in their home, but RT secured the epic win after 1 hr 40. It set RT up for a great campaign, which could see them finish higher than their surprise 4th place in the 2008 tourney.
SRM (IC) vs RT (bios) Planet, Week 8, Nova, match report
SRM push a con next to RT's home, but fail to kill the garrison. Lots of expansion from both teams, but the large map made miner killing difficult. Lots of adv. tech was on show... bases fell to tp2, bombing and capping. Epic fights all over the place but eventually RT come out top in a 2h43 mammoth match...
SF (belters) vs ACE (belters) Week 11, Limited Diamond, match report
Finally after many close calls, SF manage to beat one of the 5 higher-ranked squad. This game represents a watershed in SF's history in my opinion. It wasn't a bad game either!
Nominated by spidey
SysX (IC) vs PK (IC) Week 1, InsideOut, Match report
A 2h07 battle on a map with no exp rocks
Our first game vs PK was pretty epic after they defended so well and so long with that IC Tac but our truly inspired bombing and Brood ramming prox at full speed won it for us.
I am talking 3 or so Heavy Bomb runs at a time making a big ruckus while 1 sb solos a garrison etc etc
So come on people, give us your votes, hit reply to share your opinions on this week's matches and on the top games of the season!
PRE MATCH VOTING.... RT 19 - 23 SysX, XT 19 - 43 PK, SF 46 - 12 BSPQR
I often get that wrong!