One week left of qualifiers and it looks like there are 19 teams left fighting for 12 spots in D1. Some of the spots have been clinched already, but the bottom of tier 1 is still fighting it out to see who gets in on the inaugural season of division 1 TWL.

There are plenty of “win or go home” games…no wait…all the players are already at home…so I guess it’s more like “win and STAY home”. Because if you lose, you will probably have more time outside playing sports, hanging with your family, maybe find a lady friend or two (Yes, they DO think you’re weird when you say “meatshot” while doing the nasty). I’m losing my audience aren’t I? I apologize, here are the rankings.

1. eXpertise – (5-0-1) – LW: 1 (Next Game: terribles – 2nd ) I saw it with my own eyes. These guys definitely deserve that #1 spot. Great scout work, great strategy, great teamwork. I was very impressed with what I saw. Definitely my early favorite to take the Season 4 Division 1 title.

2. le Terribles – (6-0) – LW: 3 (Next Game: expertise – 1st ) It must be “opposite day” everyday in terrible land…because these guys are damn good. They will get a chance to grab the #1 spot on my final power rankings if they take out eXpertise next week. But that will definitely not be an easy task. 

3. YoFa – (5-1) – LW: 6 (Next Game: Ginger Kidz – 7th  ) “YOFA WILL NOT DIE” very assuring words from brucee. YoFa looks strong after beating nQa in badlands. I think these guys will do great in D1 if they decide to stick around.

4. You're my wonderwall ps litany sucks – (4-1) - LW: 5 (Next Game: EVGA - NR) Again, if this is purely based on skill, this team would no doubt be #1 on my rankings. But I still don’t know how dedicated these guys will be after CEVO S4 starts.

5. Kryptic Gaming – (5-1) – LW: 2 (Next Game: Snow Bears – 8th  ) The score was 4-2. But truthfully, Kryptic was no match for the terribles this week. Even with that loss, Kryptic is still one of the strongest teams in TWL right now, and they have already have a spot in Division 1 waiting for them, so good work Kryptic!

6. Rage and Terror – (4-1-1) – LW: 4 (Next Game: ionic – 12th ) No one expected that forfeit loss against ionic. Not sure what Rage is up to. From what I hear, they are definitely not broken up. But maybe they just gave up on TWL early. I hope they stick around because these are a great group of guys who can help TWL’s D1 get some creditability. They get matched up against ionic again…the team they forfeited against last week. Are they going to have enough guys to play this week?

7. Ginger Kids – (4-0) LW: 10 (Next Game: YoFa – 3rd ) Dramatic overtime win against Truwar. I told you guys these Gingers are the real deal. Some great scouts on the team, and great guys so you can’t even be mad when you lose. The problem is that they will need to beat YoFa to get into division one. Tough task boys. Good luck.

8. Snow Burrrs – (5-1) – LW:8 (Next Game: Kryptic – 5th ) Took care of ATF pretty easily 6-2. Win or lose next week, these guys have pretty much clinched a Division 1 spot. Congrats guys. They have a big matchup vs Kryptic next week that will tell us where both of those stand in D1.

9. Truwar – (4-2) – LW: 7 (Next Game: Team Tactics - NR) Tough loss against Ginger Kids. Even in the midst of their roster changes, they still put up one hell of a fight. But they will definitely need a win next week if they want to make it in D1. They will be up against Team Tactics, who are hoping to play the spoiler here by keeping Truwar out of D1.

10. Crack Clan – (4-2) LW: 12 (Next Game: TF2F - NR ) A lot of clans would have just given up when they lose 2 in a row to start off the season. But these guys bounced back hard, and one more win, crack clan will be in division 1. And it looks like it will happen against TF2F.

11. Kings of the BONGO – (4-2) LW: 9 (Next Game: mathackers - NR ) No shame losing to expertise 6-0 since eX have only given up 1 point all season. But it is do or die for BONGO next week.

12. Ionic – (5-1) – LW: NR (Next Game: Rage – 6th) Congratulations for ionic for clinching D1. Am I mad that they didn’t beat one team that was D1 worthy and still made it in? A little. But is it their faults? Nahhhh. It just worked out that way.

ATF – (4-2) – LW: 11 (Next Game: ploop - NR) Another tough team, another loss. These guys will be fighting for their D1 lives next week. Regardless of that result, they’ve had a great qualifier, taking some games that they would have easily lost last season. A very improved team, keep up the good work boys!

Aaaaand here are my predictions for the 12 teams in D1:

 * = already clinched

- the terrribles*
- eXpertise*
- Kryptic Gaming*
- Snow Bears University*
- Ionic*
- YoFa – With a win over Ginger Kids this week
- ATF – With a win over ploop
- BONGO – With a win over mathackers
- Rage and Terror – With a win over ionic
- Crack Clan – With a win over TF2F
- Truwar – With a win vs Team Tactics
- You’re my Wonderwall ps they’re pure - with a win over EVGA

Discuss this thread on the forums: http://commforums.com/w7-s4-qualifiers-power-t1248.html

The match between Complexity (CoL) and 20ID on Gravel Pit was PwnageTV's Match of the Week on June 10th and an important one for the standings of the ESEA-Invite division. Complexity was trying to avenge an earlier loss to 20ID on Badlands while 20ID was trying to bounce back from their first loss of the season against Loaded a week before. Loaded has wins over both teams but with 3 tough loses in the beginning of the season are a step behind Complexity and 20ID, the top two teams in the division. Considering the caliber of the teams and the importance of a big win against each other, the quality of the match didn’t disappoint.

As a reminder, Gravel Pit is stopwatch scored with each team taking a turn playing offense and the team that out performs the other takes a point. It’s a best of 3 so if one team wins the first two “sets”, the third set won’t be played.

Rosters:

Complexity -
oPlaid: Scout/Hvy/Engie
Paladin: Soldier
Hell: Scout/Engie/Sniper
Pure (pyyyour in game): Medic
Punisher: Soldier
Reptile: Demo

20ID -
Gaston: Scout
Seagulls: Soldier
Saber07: Scout/Sniper
Ruwin: Medic
DOSR (RocketSurgeon in game): Soldier/Heavy
AlexWut: Demo

1st Set:

Complexity started the first set as Red on defense and instead of 2 scouts utilized 2 engineers during setup time, Hell built his SG behind the B house and oPlaid building his gun on the central rocks at A with Reptile present as support. 20ID quickly pushed in past the SG at A though as oPlaid and Reptile really had little chance of slowing down the entire team.

20ID quickly capped then moved through C to push into B, popping their uber and clearing out the gun behind the house. As the uber faded, coL had enough time to collect themselves for a counter-attack that quickly cleared out 20ID.

Engineer re-setup behind the house while waiting for 20ID to come in. 20ID go straight for the cap and force Complexity to come after them. Both team’s pop ubers and kind of neutralize eachother. 20ID was able to take down the SG with their uber and gain a slight upper hand but 20ID didn’t push their advantage and the CoL reinforcements streaming from spawn were able to shut down 20ID. Hell switched from Engie to scout to be a little more mobile around A.

After reforming, 20ID’s 3^rd push started with a one man disadvantage but was still quite aggressive, popping their uber early and utilizing it to help their Soldiers and Demo jump forward with fully buffed HP. It wasn’t effective though as Complexity was able to dodge most of the damage and stay alive. Complexity utilized their uber and deathmatch skills to clear out the intruding 20ID players. The forward players isolated from the medic were killed off and eventually Ruwin was overwhelmed.

Furthur slowing down 20ID, Reptile was able to pick off Ruwin in the long B tunnels, and the rest of 20ID’s squad rushed in a suicidal attempt to scout the CoL defense and perhaps snag an influential frag, but weren’t able to do anything in the face of stiff opposition from coL. Complexity even stuffs the oncoming 20ID team one more time in the tunnels, killing 3 players and forcing 20ID to retreat.

With 1 minute left for 20ID to cap B, coL strongly resists 20ID’s push and seems to initially have the upper hand and be able to hold the point. Ruwin’s uber prove to be effective while Pure’s uber didn’t happen at the best time but it’s the scouts returning from spawn and Ruwin staying alive that turn the tide of the battle towards 20ID and allows them to finally capture CP B in overtime.

CoL is able to hold off the initial push from B, but the first push afterwards is successful despite a valiant effort by Reptile with 5 kills at the top of the tower. A final rushing Soldier put him down and 20ID log their time of 10:47. A great final push on B and a quick cap on C, but CoL’s fierce defense of B significantly slowed 20ID down.

20ID: 10:47

On Defense, 20ID ignore CP A completely and setup a Sentry Gun on the ramp of the house. CoL charges in through C with Reptile able to get inside the house and lob stickies over the edge of the ramp to quickly put the gun down. The first uber by Pure and the continued strong performance of Reptile deal some damage but the push is stopped. The 20ID Engie (Saber07) switches to Scout while interestingly Pure changes setup and switches to the Kritzkrieg.

It’s first usage turns out to be quite influential. After a scout pick on 20ID’s demo AlexWut, a charging Reptile fires off a long-range crit stickey and tags Ruwin with it! 2 other kills go CoL’s way but RocketSurgeon is able to kill Pure with a dying breath of shotgun shells. The Complexity push stutters without their medic and they get pushed off the point by an aggressive counter-attack by 20ID. While trying to return to action, the CoL soldiers get stuffed then, tracked down and killed while trying to retreat. Pure gets picked by the 20ID scouts and CoL is completely pushed out of CP B.

Once they compose themselves, coL.Reptile scores another kritz-kill and lays a couple crit-stickies although that’s the extent of its damage. The crit stickies do lead 20ID away from the back of the house and Complexity’s rush into the left side of the house clears out 20ID. On the first push into C the Kritz is triggered again but is even less useful. RocketSurgeon, as Heavy now, kills 3 of the onrushing Complexity members and the attack coming from CP B quickly fades.

Going through A, the first Kritz is again ineffective but Hell is able to get 2 kills with some very effective scout work. The scouts get stuffed though, but a coL soldier comes onto the point to start the capture. He’s quickly cleared off by 20ID but Reptile is able to sticky jump up and score some melee nade kills. Reptile is eventually dropped by a 20ID scout, but respawning troops from coL and more good work from Hell leads to a quick cap on C with 1:45 left on the clock.

coL:  9:02

2nd Set:

Complexity starts the 2^nd Set on offense and were certainly looking dangerous enough to score another quick victory. 20ID again gifts coL with CP A and doesn’t play with an Engineer. Pure starts the round off with the Uber but he’s taken down while holding onto an Ubercharge as the first push falters. After respawning he again switches to the kritzkrieg. 

The second push in from the right tunnel is quite effective with the Kritzkrieg being used to pressure 20ID into using their uber. After it fades, Ruwin is cornered and 20ID is cleared off B in a quick time of 3:28 thus far.

coL pulls out of B to approach C from A but their kritzkrieg shots missed, no damage was done, and they were easily stopped. Their 2^nd push started with some Kritz pressure from Reptile, but Complexity was forced to be patient in emerging from the hallways. As they try to enter C from the left side, Reptile scores a sticky kill on an incoming soldier. With a scout rushing at him and a scout trying to flank Pure behind him, the Kritz is activated once again and both scouts land right in front of Reptile’s face. The ensuing nade kills all 3 players. Complexity pushes the advantage and heads for the tower. Hell is able to push RocketSurgeon off the point and scores another kill but is taken down. oPlaid and Pure rush the tower together and are able to score the cap, logging the time of 6:30.

coL: 6:30

coL run a 2 engineer setup, planting a 2^nd gun at the C site but after the free cap of A, 20ID choose to approach B from the A tunnel, bypassing complexities 2^nd SG.  20ID’s uber demo takes out the SG and soon after coL’s uber is forced as well. Pure gets killed by the constant 20ID pressure. Reinforcments come in for 20ID and with Complexity being a little scattered the B site is overrun.

oPlaid switched to heavy and the first of 20ID attacks are easily stopped. With only a minute left due to Complexity’s swift capture, 20ID are forced to bide their time. Their first uber leads to some good pressure but their demo demos while the medic and soldiers are able to survive. Complexity’s counter-uber temporarily holds C but as oPlaid comes out of invulnerability Saber07 delivers the only headshot of the night and puts him down instantly. Seagull and Ruwin push up but are cleared off by Reptile and Complexity. AlexWut returns to the scene and gets ontop of the tower, but Reptile performs a tricky sticky jump to land on the point and clear him off. Storming up the tower however is Saber07, who puts down Reptile with his SMG and takes down Reptile! Hell from coL tries to double jump up to stop the cap, but he misses the jump and Saber caps to tie the game just as the clock was about to expire. While he missed the jump, on close examination it appears Hell would not have been able to stop the cap anyways.

20ID: 6:29.5

3rd Set:

After a break, 20IDs offense starts in surprising fashion as they choose to barnstorm control point B. They kill Punisher out of the gates and are able to catch Complexity off guard as they were once again trying to present an initial defense of A using oPlaid as a  2^nd engineer and Reptile. 20ID gets some good frags at B, including Pure who again is caught with his uber. As 20ID’s initial losses return to the battle and Complexity’s defense spread thing they are able to quickly push coL off the point and get the cap!

coL is forced to defend CP A in an unusual situation but are able to stop a quick cap by some good work from Reptile and Pure. Ruwin is picked and 20ID is forced to wait. Their first push falters after Pure is able to retreat to the safety of C while keeping his team healthy. 20ID eventually come again from the right side of A enabling them to sandwich Pure behind the house and take him out. Ruwin goes down as well but 20ID have done the damage and are able to take CP A. While pushing into C, lobbed demoman grenades aimed at oPlaid on the tower lead to a precautionary uber from Complexity. The team survives for the moment, but the oncoming pressure and uber from 20ID are enough to clear out the tower and the team gathers up top to put in a solid time of 7:17 altough Complexity had already beaten that time by a minute earlier in the night.

As Complexity’s offense loads up, Pure is again starting the round with the regular Uber gun in order to utilize the free starting uber, then again changes to the Kritzkrieg after his first death. A is a free cap. Heading into C both team pop ubers and following the ubers Complexity is able to kill both Seagull and Rocket Squadron. A 6 v 3 is then further turned into a 6 v 2. Complexity grabbed control of the back of the house then crushed 20ID as they moved around to the front of the house. They take B easily and are left with 4 minutes and 50 seconds to take C.

Their first push is quickly stuffed and Pure is killed early to stop a 2^nd push. Coming back into action, Pure again uses the kritz in co-ordination with Reptile and while again ineffective 20ID is forced to use their uber a little early. Pure survives as Complexity switches to the left side. Reptile is able to kill the 20ID Heavy RocketSurgeon with persistant sticky bombs and Complexity begin to chip away at the 20ID defense. The kritz is again used but Reptile’s crit stickies on the point turn into an unneeded insurance policy as Complexity is able to storm the point in force beating 20IDs time easily and winning the match.

Final Score

Complexity: 2, 20ID: 1

Complexity’s stiff defense was crucial in winning the first set and their ability to hold off a quick cap of CP A delayed 20ID long enough that the third set was an easy victory for Complexity. Their creative use of the Kritzkrieg was also a major factor in the map as they were able to pile on significant offensive pressure with it. The advantage of its frequency was clearly evident in the final push of the match and Reptile even discussed some of these factors himself in Pwnage TV’s post match interview… and gave a shout out to William Wallace.

Shout out to PwnageTV, Leogeo, and Brad for a great broadcast of the match, despite some technical difficulties.