Attendees:

Evil Geniuses - Smatin/Azael/Tenderloin
SK.US - Enforcer/Pookz/Realz
Check-Six (formerly eMg) - Twixz/Flex/Toez
Complexity - Reckful/Venruki/Sodah
Complexity BHMS - Massive/Snutz/Brogo
SK.EU - Another/Inflame/Enigmz
Button Bashers - Hiren/Orangemarmalade/Numberone
Fnatic - Woundman/Yog/Douja

(make sure to register and set your local timezone to see when the event is going on for you)

The Major League Gaming PC Circuit, played on HP, rolls into sunny southern California November 6th-8th 2009 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Once again the very best World of Warcraft teams, hand selected by MLG, will be competing for over $15,000 cash, three HP Firebird computers and a chance to compete in the MLG WoW Championships in January.

Most of the american teams have all been rushing to practice last minute (as usual), so it'll be interesting to see who shows up ready to play.

Wish I could be there, but apparently I'm taking a step back from competitive pvp, which is news to me.
Anyway, here we go ladies.

My Predictions:
1. SK EU
2. Check Six
3. complexity

Evil Geniuses - Smatin/Azael/TenderloinThis team has been having issues practicing. Not too surprising since they only finalized the lineup about a week or two ago. I still feel RLS is too weak to ever win a tournament without counter comping, especially running on a brand new team without any sort of coordination.
Smatin has no LAN experience, while Tenderloin has very little (playing around at the 2009 Regionals where his priest failed to show up). Seems like this team has been playing UA exclusively, which just doesn't work against good RMP teams. Wait for them to run up against complexity to see how rough it is for RLS. Expect every other RMP to figure out/copy/get the strat for this and win easily.

SK.US - Enforcer/Pookz/RealzHaven't seen them practicing much either. Pookz is the only person I see play on a somewhat regular basis. They don't seem to do well on live at all for whatever reason, but still had some decent games on the MLG realm apparently.

Check-Six (formerly eMg) - Twixz/Flex/ToezEven with the nerfs, Twix and co have been practicing a ton. It all comes down to how well this comp can do with all the nerfs. Our RLS has a strong win/loss ratio against this team on live so this team will probably live or die based on their results against RMP. I'm pretty sure they have something up their sleeves for this tournament as well. Expect them to surprise everyone when they get there.

Complexity - Reckful/Venruki/SodahComplexity has constantly put in a good amount of practice for every event and continue to do so for Anaheim. I've seen them experimenting with arcane and other various specs, so look for them to surprise some teams. Looked like they were sitting on their ratings earlier on in October just to maintain #1 in the BG, but things have changed. They played a bunch of games online and on the tournament realm recently, so things are looking pretty good for complexity. Could this be their chance to finally win a tournament?

Complexity BHMS - Massive/Snutz/BrogoI've played these guys in 3s and 5s this season and they play such a passive game it really is fucking boring, but it gets the job done. They just hop around like turbonerds spamming chains and dots, constantly pillaring until you run out of mana. None of them have LAN experience and I'm not sure how well they do against RMP or beastcleave. Interesting to see how they will matchup against the SK.eu team running the same lineup. I have nothing against these guys at all, but I just don't see how they can compete with a veteran LAN team running the same comp.

SK.EU - Another/Inflame/EnigmzWARLOCK GOD INFLAME HAS RETURNED TO AMERICA TO DESTROY.
Hopefully he can control himself (as he is pretty close to where the LA Lakers play). If he's not busy trying to escape the event and catch a bus down to the Staples Center, they should be able to easily smash people with the Hungarian powerhouse Another on DK. I wish I lived in europe and had a british accent so I will be rooting for this team I guess.

Button Bashers - Hiren/Orangemarmalade/NumberoneKoreans are overrated. They gem and gear like retards, people give them too much credit. They won't have enough practice against good RLS and DK/lock/druid. Maybe someone will stand up mid game and let Orangemarmalade 2v1 them though, anything can happen. I love these guys, especially Orangemarmalade, but they didn't make it out of group play last time and don't think they will this time either. Hope they surprise me though.

Fnatic - Woundman/Yog/DoujaI can't really say much for this team because I don't think I've ever ran into them in arenas on live, but they are probably my 3rd pick to win this tournament despite being RLS. Yog is one of the best warlocks in game atm and Douja has become the one of the best shaman in the tournament scene today. Their only problems this tourney will be beating complexity and the 2 DK/Lock/Druid teams. If fnatic can beat these teams, they have potential to go all the way. Anyway, I haven't seen these guys on live for a while. Most likely another team that hasn't practiced much yet.



Tourney Fallout:
- If EG and SK don't make it out of bracket play, I think both teams will split up.
Pookz, Azael, and Tenderloin will make a wizard cleave and pick a sponsor (maybe SK because of the MLG finals spot?), freeing up the other organization.
- Check6 and complexity will stick with their teams and head into the MLG finals with solid rosters.