I think AF Blue is greatly improved but in my opinion they made the group look weak because it was, well weak. At most I expect them to take one map, but I don't mind being wrong here since it would make for some fun games!

+1 to my knowledge skill for this gem, thank you.

If that's all it took then I see no issue with this post since I don't have to see it. I'm a happy camper once again.

I'd have to agree with #2, I don't see the value that this particular brings to Over.gg, at least not enough to be on the front page feed, imo.

Not too sure about that, LW Blue handled them relatively easily in groups and even without Flower I don't see Conbox having the skill to overcome this, even with the offbeat strats they have up their sleeves.

I'm assuming they might get put in with Latin America if Blizzard ever gets to it. It's a real shame that SA isn't part of this right now but maybe in the future.

The ping disadvantage must be a be of a turnoff I'd imagine. I'm really hoping the SA scene gets more exposure though, the more active regions OW the better.

Meta Athena were the kings of unusual strats last season though. I still feel like this is a riskier choice since if they lose here, they might have to face them again in the losers finals of this phase. To me at least, Meta is a stronger team.

A rematch of the groups but I don't see this match going any different if not worst for Conbox. I wouldn't mind being wrong and this turning into a good competition but I still don't see them pulling through.

LuxuryWatch Blue 3-0 Conbox Spirit

Not sure what to expect from this one. I'd give the edge to LH because they did win their match and KDP has looked really shaky even losing to Mighty AOD, but the talent pool and the potential they have can't be denied. Should be another good one.

Lunatic Hai 3-2 Kongdoo Panthera

I expected them them to pick either X6 or Conbox so no surprise there. I think this should be a swift game, barring any surprises of course.

EnvyUs 3-0 X6-Gaming

I'd be interested to know why AFB didn't chose Group A AND Conbox since even in the event that they would have lost to Envy they still would only have had to face the winner of X-6 and Conbox.

To me that would have been an almost guaranteed path to the semis. Well, at least this makes the groups slightly more balanced.

I don't know how to properly quantify AFB's performance this season because their group was, imo, the 2nd weakest but I'll give them a slight edge considering how much better they look now that their unit has been improved.

Afreeca Freecs Blue 3-2 Meta Athena

3-0 AF Blue

Like C9, the 2-2-2 flag meta has proven to be strong. But for real though I'm really excited to see how well they do vs the top talent of NA so soon after big roster changes. Getting top 6 will not be easy in any way shape or form.

The match was alot closer than the score indicates and much, much closer than I thought it would be. I do think the region bashing is ridiculous and irrelevant when diversity breeds good competition. Hopefully both teams continue to improve so they can stand up to our Korean overlords and help Envy overthrow them.

They looked real good, specially for such a new team. Looks like the NA scene is going to be more competitive, well at least until Rogue and nV get involved again, but I can't wait to see what's up!

I think the exception to the rare flag meta is the 2-2-2 flag meta. Pioneered by C9. As you can see it's very effective.

I'm pretty sure there's no Canada only region, but half the roster being NA makes sense. We Canadians don't discriminate against talent based on their flags <3

Even though IMT has more Canadians, still makes me proud that a local org actually made it this far. Gonna have to give this one to IMT though. Multiple Canadian flags too stronk.

Need to make a team of super Canadians at some point (and have them be picked up by a Canadian org) - but in the mean time, GO Toronto Esports!!!!

2 Canadians > 1 Canadian, I'm afraid TL has this.

He was a member of the team and was swiftly removed. Nothing else to say about it really.

I think Harsha's take on this is correct:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wS6PiJ2wek&feature=push-u&attr_tag=CdW8DDIl9F3F_NW3-6

Basically the team isn't built in a functional manner. IDDQD doesn't have the support he needs to be effective and some parts of the unit just don't complement each other. IMO if Seagull does come back for OWL you build around him + IDDQD and make sure the rest of the cast can give them what they need to succeed, w/e form that ends up taking.

Looks like the only possible contenders to these guy's throne is FTD, but even then I don't really see this team losing that match.

One more and they're guaranteed in!

I honestly think C9 did better than I assumed they would considering their new addition. I do, however, believe that their insistence on playing triple tank was a big factor in them not winning a single map.

I see good things coming from this group going forward.

Eye of the Kaiser.

Agreed. With this they've gone a long way in solidifying their 2nd seed, unless FW somehow drops the ball in their last matches, and hopefully they can dispatch ahq in the playoffs to face off against the current alphas of the tourney.

Interesting. This year's World Cup looks like it's going to bring the competition from all sides.

Indeed, this just proves that western teams in general aren't good at adapting considering how easily Rogue is winning and how they got absolutely demolished by Lunatic Hai, at their own comps no less.

They had to make it somewhat competitive right?

In terms of player roles I'd have to agree, the team would look stronger on paper but I'd be concerned with synergy and personalities since IDDQD doesn't seem to mesh easily with just anyone.

I think splitting splitting the 12 games (total) over three days, not including playoff days, may have helped with that. basically just making sure no team plays more than two games in the same day since both C9 and Rogue looked visible spent at the end and that more than likely had an effect on their performance.

Dare I say that C9 may possibly have just done better against Hammers if it was the case.

Oh..yeah I totally knew that...errhem.

The casters noted that while KDP's DPS were strong they often failed to protect their own backline. It's what both LH and Mighty managed to abuse to get the wins.

C9 needs a 4-0 here if they want a chance at first seed in the group.

I'm impressed with C9, no matter what the score is at the end of this. They're more flexible than I initially thought they'd be. Also, their flags give away their favorrite comp: 2-2-2

1-4 from the previous season get split up and the other 12 teams are placed randomly.

Do you think LGD will be chosen to represent China at the OW World Cup or would they be making a team with the "best players" from several teams?

The battle for seeding, NiP needs a 3-1 to tie map scores and a 4-0 to outright win. I assume they'd get the 2nd seed if they do end up tying maps since they'll have gotten the "win"?

Ultimately I think eUnited has this, 3-1.

Not sure who's got the edge here, but I think this will be the battle for the 3rd seed in the group.

I'm gonna give this one to C9, but I think it should be a good match regardless!

What are the chances that any of these teams could beat Blank? It feels like they're getting some much needed competition in Taiwan right now so I'm assuming they can only come back stronger...

Chinese Taipei/Taiwan, though you could argue the same for Australia.

Apparently AU will be pitting the best teams from ESL ANZ and Blank to decide who goes but I wouldn't be surprised if both of these teams ended up represented their countries.

Possibly, from the information that came out contracts aren't compatible with the league so the more free agents they have the better.

The problem is making a living until then if you don't have an org to support you...

Agreed.

I love C9 but I have to give a slight edge to Movistar. I hope I'm wrong though!!

Makes me wonder if this will be the face of their OW World Cup team of if they'll be going to another team, or making a hybrid of some sort.

It's likely to happen again unless they change the way they make groups. Only the previous season's 1-4 teams are seeded, the rest are randomly placed so the chances of getting at least one group with more than two strong teams is high.

But yeah, had Rogue or AOD been placed in groups B or C they may have made out of this phase. However I strongly believe that neither would have made it past the double elimination format of the next phase considering the strength of the top teams right now.

Flash Wolves look unstoppable right now. Hopefully Blank gets it together to get some games off of these guys...

Epic fight from a team that no longer had anything to lose after the 2nd map.

Hope this works out for them. Whatever it is they need...

Not sure it's that effective, first because being able to hack that 2nd one is a big risk but mostly because dive teams don't spend that much time at that particular choke.