I agree, I think pretty any of the other three could end up 2nd, but I think I'd give the advantage to AUS, since BLANK have been looking good and have adjusted to the dive meta relatively well, specially compared to other previously tank focused teams.

That and they are a whole team.

By the way the Group/QF brackets to feel a bit random for me since by nature I'd assume something more like this:

((A1 vs B2) vs (C1 vs D2)) vs ((E1 vs F2) vs (G1 vs H2))
vs
((B1 vs A2) vs (D1 vs C2)) vs ((F1 vs E2) vs (H1 vs G2))

In the end the best teams should come out so I don't think it makes that much of a difference, but predictions would be affected by it so again, if anyone has a better understanding please let me know.

I love going into hypotheticals and this is creating even more hypothetical questions marks in my make believe approximate estimate.

I tried to make heads or tails out of the brackets and I've come up with some different results from you. To be honest I have no clue if I understand properly but from the video posted on the PlayOverwatch YouTube channel I think it goes like this:

Groups
((A1 vs B2) vs (D1 vs C2)) vs ((F1 vs E2) vs (G1 vs H2))
vs
((B1 vs A2) vs (C1 vs D2)) vs ((E1 vs F2) vs (H1 vs G2))

Confusing, I know but the previous bracket I wrote in formatted horribly so yeah...Now, here I'm assuming that the highest ranking teams of all Groups will make it to the QF with the only exception being that both Taiwan(1) and USA(2) going through over what I'm guessing would be UK and Germany. I just ranked Taiwan above USA as an example based on what AVRL put forth.

Also note that I'm utterly confused on how they do the bracket shuffle for the top 16 teams in the first place. If someone could clear that up for me the rest is relatively easy since rankings won't matter afterwords.

But going with what I currently have this is what I'm looking at:

QF: China vs Finland, Canada vs Taiwan, France vs Sweden, Korea vs USA
SF: China vs Taiwan, France vs Korea
GF: Taiwan vs Korea
Winner: Korea

I don't really have any basis for who wins what so I just YOLO'd it and of course my understanding of the brackets is probably dead wrong but this is what I think the tournament could end up looking like. Wouldn't be surprised if none of this was right though lol! Lemme know what yall think!

p.s. also, pardon any grammar/syntax/logic errors, English is ma 2nd language.

I think they should be able to top their group even though Spain seems to be their main opposition. They also look like they can run a number of different comps if they want to, including triple DPS with Zappis/Tracer, Taimou/Soldier and Linzr/Genji...should be some exciting games!

Also, props on the mini Taimou in the middle of that banner.

And the real test begins. Even if AFB got destroyed by LH they're a good team. Their opponents just new how to catch and deal with their dive in a extremely efficient and effective manner.

We get to see how KDU fairs and if they can get their revenge for getting sweeped last season!

:candle:...of hope for a successful rebuild.

I think you could argue a case for Birdring/Rascal vs Flower/SBB but I'm not sure about the rest of the squad. Funny thing is this is bound to happen when you have so much individual and team talent in the region.

I'm hoping team Canada can avoid them, or play the match of their lives if they need to that early.

KDU looking good in these two games. They look like they could make some waves next season!

The question being if these matches will be comparable to the competition in APEX, and I think they mostly will for the group phase with all the new teams getting in.

Flag meta still alive and the logo can be fixed. This might not be a total disaster if Hafficool can bring it...Let's see how he does on a recently top (tier 2?) team

Was a show match so I assumed they'd have fun with different things like the LH1 vs LH2 match.

Only one player was transferred to that team's inactive roster and they were already improving so this probably wont change much for AFB.

FL rebuild vs KDU rebuild, who's gonna come out on top in this one? I get to see if ma boi Fleta gets the support and resources he needs to crush it and carry the team to victory!

Good to see KDU seemingly doing well in their rebuild. Interesting that X6 weren't able to take this given their relative success at APEX as well.

Wondering if BLANK will get a chance to compete in AUS again with the OPC going on. I'd be interested in seeing how wide, or narrow, the gap between them and the others is.

I'm pretty sure competing against the Taiwanese teams helped them improve and adapt to the new meta.

Unfortunate, but not tat surprising with their last challengers run and how the scene is currently shaping itself. Maybe we'll get to see them make a triumphant return à la Ardeont style?

Still though, for the fallen:

:candle:

Curious to see what comps they're going to pull out, lots of flexibility in the SK squad.

This is totally theoretical but I wonder which SK squad would have been stronger, the current one or one with Miro/Birdring/Rascal instead?

I think this squad will do well but I feel like it's an interesting comparison.

Same as the APEX challengers, but you get to practice your inner shoutcaster/analyst though!

Tsugi (next):

Rewind! Positioning around EMP

I think LiNkzr is the one likely to flex, but they do have that pocket triple DPS id they need it. Should be a relatively flexible team.

This makes me very happy. After all they've been through it's really good too se them be able to compete. I just hope they get enough exposure to get picked up and take some pressure off Runner and now Mirage.

Observable and comparable data, or in some cases lack there of, make rankings like this difficult to quantify. Feel free to add some substance to your opinion though.

Right now it's just like a lot of those reddit comments with no elaboration behind it.

The Canadian dollar is almost worth $0.80US, WE'RE ON THE MAP NOW BOYZ!!! And we're starting with over.gg...MOUAHAHAHAHA!!!

I don't know how strong Japan and Vietnam are but I think these two teams have a solid chance of coming out 1 and 2 from this group. Will be interesting to see how this plays out...

Now the question is how many of these teams can reliably challenge the top 2 (which I consider to be LH and KDP at the moment ) or even the top 4 if you add AFB and LWB when at full power.

I'm hoping we get to see some pleasant surprises or even some redemption stories for some of these teams.

Rogue and France, except that one is only for the purpose of the OWC, even if the squad is Rogue..they're representing France and that alone deserves distinction.

I do think the World Cup teams could be excluded from the overall rankings page though, since they only exists for the purpose of one tournament, otherwise if that's not an option they'll eventually drop out on their own.

Over.gg, better than porn, proven by science.

Nice warm up to test themselves before the next APEX season rolls around. Hopefully they can make some waves and prove they've got what it takes to compete.

NC Foxes are some of the new kids on the block, making their first appearance in APEX Season 4. We might get a bit of a preview into how they'd fare against some possible Korean opponents if they get through this one.

I think it's unfortunate that seeding made it so that only one of these teams can make it through. LGD is arguably the better team and I assume they should win but with their close loss to 1246 you never know.

I just think both would have easily been able to qualify for the main event.

xQc mentionning that Arc6 may not have long to go with the lack of an Org and players possibly getting offers.

Clip: https://clips.twitch.tv/AgreeableImpossibleSangBibleThump

That would be too bad cause they were on the upswing with BEAT, but I think the tournament drought with them not qualifying for Contenders Season 1 might be the nail in the coffin.

Really hoping we get to see more of them because they were looking like a solid team as of late.

He will not play, neither will Mirage, confirmed by the man himself.

It's easy to say they're being overhyped after seeing the groups, I don't know why they wouldn't have been coming in seeing as they showed how resilient they can be even when a team surprises the shit out of them.

A lot can change between now and Blizzcon so it's hard to say if they'll come in hot or cold by then but until they stop winning tournaments and actually lose, to non top 2 Korean teams, I thing the hype around them is well deserved.

Yeah, China went relatively unchallenged during groups but I don't know how that'll translate to playoff performance. Frogue did seem less dominant than they did when you look at both their matches vs Thailand though so they might end up doing well.

Next up:
Rewind! Snowballs on Anubis B

I think I may have suffered a heart attack during that one. Aside from Volskya the maps were insanely close. Bravo Denmark! Amazing effort!

:candle: For Meza and the team Romania squad. They fought hard and true, a treat to see.

Yes it is, and better now than later. If the game is no longer fun and he realizes this might not be for him long term I don't see a problem with the decision.

CLG Sinatraa? That sounds like it would actually work quite well!

Sad to see him go, Silk's a monster at this game but I hope he continues to find success in the future.

The hunt for another DPS to complement Hydration is on! I'm guessing they'll be looking for someone who can Tracer like a beast with some flexibility for future proofing.

According to the rules it's based on match wins, then map scores with a tiebreaker match being played after that. Map scores will come into play if Thailand wins while Denmark loses putting them both at 1-1-1.

Any other scenario will see Denmark finish in 2nd because of match scores.

Blizz doesn't want to take viewership away from the OWC, l also think that APEX is much more popular than you give it credit and it's appeal isn't limited to just Korean viewers. In addition, the time slot of this match would have clashed with the Shanghai matches.

Get enlightened:
Rewind! Rogue's new defense comp

Thailand will not only be looking to win but to not conceded any maps if possible, because they were able to get a map off of Frogue. Argentina taking one from the Danes also helps them out in the map score meta game so this is very doable for the happiest team of the OWC.

Denmark need as many maps as possibly if they can't outright win since Thailand did get a map off Rog...I mean France and that they themselves conceded a map to Argentina.

I love you Meza...but Onigod plays for my local Overwatch team so...I'M SORRY MAN.

On that note, the winner of this match will most likely finish in 2nd since I don't expect HK to beat Mainland China. Rog...damn it, I mean France would be up next.

I'd surprised if they did, there are no tournaments for a lil' while with the OWC and Contenders Season 1 so it would have been pretty rough for them on their own.

Not sure if trolling or not...and if you aren't then I don't know what match you were looking at but his Tracer tracking looked pretty normal to my untrained eye.

By the way, this isn't Reddit. You're going to have to do more than just throw random, and baseless, accusations here. Have vetted proof to support your claims or don't make them at all.

Not that surprising but still, big hole to fill and I hope both parties find success regardless with this.

Glad I waited to comment until peeps figured it out for me. Good Luck to him in the future, Liquid has quite the shoes to fill but hopefully they can find what they need with the plethora of talent available right now.