Hi Folks!

I am sure most of you guys know that the Intel Extreme Masters World Cup 6 will kick off in roughly 10 days. This tournament promises to be one of the best tournaments in 2012 for cs 1.6, if not the best. There are numerous reasons for this. We have the new lineups of powerhouses SK and fnatic who will be contesting their first major tournament. Also, we have the experienced lineups of ESC and Na'Vi who want to prove that they still belong to the best teams of the world. Finally, outsiders like mousesports, eSahara, LIONS etc. should make the tournament very interesting.

Below, I will (briefly) go over both groups and predict the outcome (although I'm generally bad at it).

Group A participants

SK Gaming (face, f0rest, GeT_RiGhT, RobbaN, trace)
Natus Vincere (ceh9, Edward, markeloff, starix, Zeus)
mousesports (gob b, karrigan, roman, zonic, zonixx)
Anexis (BERRY, Nuggi, Snappi, zE-, SFM(?))
tyloo (KingZ, mo, Savage, tb, xf)
ESC Gaming (kuben, Loord, neo, PASHA, taz)

Group B participants

WinFakt (allu, aslak, basic, H^N, lurppis)
fnatic (cArn, Friis, Gux, MODDII, Xizt)
Moscow Five (Dosia, ed1k, Fox, ROMJkE, xek)
Lions (FYRR73, kHRYSTAL, niko, THREAT, zneel)
semXorah (atx, fbm, felippe, LuL4, luq)
Electronic Sahara (drizzer, HaRtS, MAJ3R, mSx, SIXER)

Group A: Prediction

SK Gaming

These Swedes will be one of the teams to watch this tournament (even more than usual. Since the addition of trace, SK Gaming has, so far, displayed good performances in almost all matches. Note that all these matches were online so I do not pay too much attention to them. Also, teams that sign one new player often perform really well in the beginning because everyone is motivated as hell. This means we do not know how SK will perform on the long term with this lineup. I've been thinking about the fact that 3 world class madfraggers(GeT_RiGhT, trace, f0rest)could be too much regarding chemistry and teamplay. So, I really don't exactly know how they will perform this tournament but I expect them to pass the group stage without too much difficulties.

Natus Vincere

The Ukrainians will be on site in Hannover as well. They will have to defend their title of last year and that could give some extra motivation. This motivation is already there because they had, in my opinion, a slightly disappointing 2011. Natus Vincere seem to be on fire so far in 2012. The match they won versus fnatic in TECHLABS cup was online but I saw both teams took the match seriously. Na'Vi won Kingston Trilogy Tour in Turkey as well, following a 2-0 win over Moscow Five. I think, for next IEM, all eyes are on Zeus. Since he gave away his IGL-title to starix, he has been playing godlike in almost every match. The MVP title in Kiev last month is a nice example. It's hard to say where exactly they will end up in their group but they go through, that's for sure.

mousesports

This is the team that has disappointed me the most during IEM Global Challenge Kiev. I expected them to contend for the title but they clearly didn't do so. After the tournament, it became clear that mousesports still had huge communication problems since the addition of zonic. They have had some time now to talk about a lot of stuff so they will definitely play better than last tournament. Also, they announced before that Kiev was just a tournament to prepare themselves for the WC in Hannover which is their main goal. If karrigan performs like usual, if zonic plays like in mTw, and so on, I think mousesports have a good shot at passing the group stage. It will be very, very hard though if you look at the teams they will be facing.

Anexis

I think this team is pretty underrated. They don't really have godlike individuals but their teamplay is so strong. I'm not going to compare them with mTw but they always seem to be prepared really well. If I'm right, the team features only four permanent players nowadays. SFM played with them recently but I don't know if they will take him with them to Hannover. However, I don't think Anexis have much chance to pass the group stage. No that they are bad, but the competition will just be too tough for them. I wish them all the best though.

tyloo

It is clear that Chinese teams are not what they used to be anymore. I think Counter-Strike is losing ground in China because people play more other games over there. I don't know much about this tyloo lineup. I hope (for them at least) that they prepare very well because otherwise this tournament could be disastrous for them.

ESC Gaming

Not much to say anymore about the Golden Five. They showed sloppy shape online past weeks but that's often the fact. They just focus on major tournaments and they mananage to do that like nobody else. However, there is always huge pressure on NEO's shoulders. I think ESC can win this tournament but they just need everyone to play well, especially NEO. In general, the Polish Giants know the game like their own mother. I remberber the times when they added PASHA. The whole scene was sceptical about PASHA's addition because peope just didn't think he was good enough. PASHA has proven that he is a very important factor in ESC so I really respect and admire the decision they made back then. Because ESC aming often displays consistent performances throughout the whole tournament, I expect them to top Group A.

Group A Outcome

1) ESC Gaming
2) SK Gaming
3) Natus Vincere
4) mousesports
5) Anexis
6) tyloo

Group B: Prediction

WinFakt

I think WinFakt performed according expectations in Kiev since they played for the first time with their new lineup there. I just have one question. Why is H^N awping so often instead of aslak? I know H^N is a decent sniper but aslak is just on another level with the big green. Tomi, could you answer to this question if you read this? I think allu also performed reasonably in Kiev and he is very motivated so he will do alright again. A lot depends on BASiC though. I think aimwise, he is the best player in Finland right now and he really needs to perform if WinFakt want to pass group stages. I'm sure that WinFakt will be playing on a higher level than in Kiev because lurppis has some time to prepare his crew for the big battles. GL Winfakt.

fnatic

I'm definitely not the only one who is looking forward to see the new fnatic with moddii on LAN. He has been playing amazingly online so far and I bet he will frag a lot in Hannover too. I think fnatic is, along with mousesports, the most important outsider to claim the title. Despite the fact that I think they will struggle in group stage (like they always do), I'm pretty sure they will reach the playoffs. If they do so, they will be one hell of a nut to crack for any opponent.

Moscow Five

This team impressed me the most throughout 2011. They were far too inconsistent back then but now they seem to have solved that problem. They remind me of Na'Vi because they seem to be like the dreamteam of Russia, just like Na'Vi is for Ukraine. With their aggressive style, they can surprise any opponent with their nice aim and especially sprays. They lost to Na'Vi in Turkey recently but they played well over there and Moscow Five will be another team to reach the playoffs in Hannover.

Lions

I think they will remain the 3rd best team in Sweden this year. I think this team mostly consists of players who lack a few percentages of skill to play in teams like fnatic or SK. However, they are playing together for a while so their teamplay should be excellent. I'm not saying they have no chance at all, but it is very unlikely that LIONS will place top3 in my opinion. It is up to them to prove me wrong. No matter what happens, I'm looking forward to THREAT's tactics and zneel's oneshots. Also, I want niko and kHRYSTAL to do way better than last tournament.

semXorah

I want to say sorry to all Brazilians but I just don't know anything about this team. I think Brazilians teams have good aim but they often lack tactical superiority. I hope that the Brazilian guys will have fun playing in Germany because passing the group stage is nearly impossible. Note: If Brazil would feature a team with Fallen, nak, fnx and two young talents, they would have more perspective in my opinion.

Electronic Sahara

I love this team because they feature amazing individual players. Though I think it's weird that this lineup was composed so late. I mean, people have been begging for a team like this for years. I think this eSahara lineup is a desperate act by the players to finally reach some success (after emuLate's win back in the days). I hope they pracc very well during the next 10 days because only if they do so, they have a chance to actually do something in Hannover.

Group B: Outcome

1) Moscow Five
2) fnatic
3) WinFakt
4) LIONS
5) eSahara
6) semXorah

So this is what I think about the group stage. As you read, I think Moscow Five and ESC Gaming will be the first semi-finalists. Afterwards I expect SK and Na'Vi to join them to battle it out for the title in Hannover. I don't know what the exact top 4 will be, that's why I leave that prediction up to you guys.

What do you think about this prediction? Who do you think will win IEM6 WC Hannover?

Grtz Ruban

Note: This was my first blog. I know my English is not that fluent but I guess it is enough for you to understand.

Cheers!