Review

Gravel Pit week brought us lots of changes in both starters and backups. Carnage left Top Guns to be replaced by Alfa, but needing Grape to play until Alfa can actually join their roster, while Hero had to fill in for Blaze. Vector saw some switches, too. There was also the aforementioned djc on pocket for R5 and TLR ringing roamer for AG. Not many of the games were very interesting, unfortunately. And while some of the seeding was difficult, it's mainly moot since we won't be seeing this map ever again for the remainder of the season. Metalworks is coming up, with a dynamic middle point and the most boring rollout ever (although I guess rc4 made is a tiny bit less boring). This week should hopefully provide some closer games for our entertainment.

Power Rankings

1. High Rollers Gaming (8-0)

   What else do I even say about HRG at this point? They lost the initial round to Top Guns but quickly regained composure for the rest of the match. Everyone continues to play at the top of their game. HRG have a pretty easy week on Metalworks, playing Root Plus Six and Solace (again). I like Solace's odds of taking a round or two on 5CP but ultimately it won't change much. God this is so boring. I hope Shade gets a perfect game this week or something super interesting so I can talk about it next week. I'm afraid that eventually, writing here will be so stale and repetitive that I'll just put that one picture of b4nny in a moose hat as the description here and nothing more.

2. Tri Hards (7-1)

   Hero performed well enough for Tri Hards to get through last week, but Blaze's return is much appreciated. Dummy has been putting up fantastic numbers and playing all around well, worthy of being called the 2nd best Demo in Invite right now. Tri Hards like HRG play a Gravel Pit opponent again on Metalworks, in this case Runaway 5. R5 put on a strong show on Gravel Pit but as the transition returns to 5CP and Blaze returns I don't think there's much the R5 group can do. For the (hopefully) more exciting match, they'll take on the Mad Men for more bubble team goodness. Clckwrk and Boomer are gonna have a fun time fighting Mike and Snoopy, while the Soldiers jump around on middles with Gunboat ease.

3. Apocalypse Gaming (4-4)

   This was the most difficult decision. AG had the easier schedule and Mad Men played LAN contender Top Guns, but in the end I decided to keep AG in 3rd until more 5CP results develop. As predicted AG took both games 2-0 backed by strong play from Sweater and Indust. While I was right in saying TLR would bring some more fragging power and damage, Rando's performance wasn't so hot, dipping under 0.5 KDR. AG face Top Guns for the first time and it'll be good to see how they match up compared to rivals Mad Men and Tri Hards. AG also take on Mixup for round 2, and while I'm sure Mixup wants payback, I don't think it'll happen with the AG machine together. I expect a decent Mixup showing but Indust's ubers will widen the already moderate gap between these two teams. AG to win 5-1.

4. Mad Men (6-2)

   Mad Men is on a streak, running off Snakewater into a 4-0 Gravel Pit week. They dominated against a shuffled Vector and also beat Top Guns (who had Grape on Scout). I love getting proved wrong as it shows that I underestimated someone, and as I mentioned the lackluster-ish Soldier performance from last week, bl4nk and MemphisVon combined for 31 frags and 10 deaths in the match against Vector, and 33 frags and 17 deaths against Top Guns for a 64-27 total. Meanwhile rr continues to put out good numbers to support his team. Mad Men have an uneventful game against Root Plus Six but face the (ultimate?) test this week against Tri Hards. The Scout and Demo battles will be fierce, but will the Soldiers come up on top?

5. Classic Mixup (5-3)

   For the first time in six seasons, this variation of Mixup looks very vulnerable. Platinum is doing enough against the lower Invite teams but struggles against the teams that matter. Seagull and Harbleu have been playing their hearts out but without results from their combo it's going to be a long road ahead. Mixup gets a rematch with AG, and their first encounter with Runaway 5. If Platinum brings his A game or even B game, he should keep a normal Rando in check. Both pockets have had highs and lows so whoever struggles / shows weakness first could cause fights going in the other team's favor pretty easily. At the same time, Seagull has been very consistent all season and will keep Sweater on his toes. While the rest of their schedule is fairly lenient and should allow for them to sweep the lower Invite teams, they need to put on a better showing if they want to come to win LAN.

6. Top Guns (4-4)

   So Carnage's return was cut short, but Alfa is a good player and can fill his shoes so to speak. I'll be very honest though, Alfa kinda cost Top Guns a chance against Mad Men last week by joining the Root roster (preventing him from joining the Top Gun roster because of restrictions). That and Zbryan going 5-19 didn't help. You know who has been impressing me though? Ninjanick. He played extremely well in their match against HRG (dare I say even outplaying Shade with a few less deaths and a few more ubers). Top Guns have an important week coming up. They need to take out Vector Gaming handily and then fight against AG. They've already lost against Mixup and Tri Hards, so they need to beat AG if they want realistic odds. Further complications arise given Zbryan and Grape are not going to be here for this week, leaving their roster in the air. Pyyyour and Seanbud been pulling their own weight so it's on the rest of the team to help boost this team over AG. I really don't have a solid prediction given that the Top Guns roster is unconfirmed.

7. Solace Esports (2-6)

   Back to back matches against HRG, what are the odds. I don't think Solace will manage to take a round off them, based on their week 1 5-0 loss to the Tri Hards, but I hope they prove me wrong and shut me up.With how the team is playing recently, Solace has shown us that they're certainly a middle-Invite team, capable of pulling together rounds against the tougher teams while performing strongly against teams like Vector and Runaway 5. Speaking of Vector, they'll play them and their new(?) roster this week. I am a little concerned over the Solace flank, where Bdonski and Panic have been doing okay, but will certainly be tested by the likes of Hibachi and Mile. Over on the combo side though, things look to be smooth sailing with Milo playing like a beast, Chimpfeet's great positioning, and Xalox always having a good game. This game has potential to go to a 5-3 (the first of Solace's season, actually) if the flank struggles, but the combo play should power them through.

8. Runaway 5 (3-5)

   I'm aware R5 has the better record than Solace, but (a) we've already discussed that records alone don't translate into the same spot on the power rankings and (b) we've seen what happens when Solace take on a Ma3la-less R5, and that change is permanent. They put on a good attempt against Tri Hards (without Blaze), and convincingly beat Root Plus Six. As if on cue, Tri Hards will return this time with Blaze and Mixup will also give them quite the challenge. After I mentioned the high amount of drops from her, Overseer walked into Gravel Pit week and didn't drop once, playing well in both games. They'll need djc to step it up though. Even in the win against Root, he bottom fragged and top deathed for his team, and if they even want a shot at beating Mixup (I think Tri Hards is out of their chances) he needs to play better. Yuki and Duwatna will keep their counterparts in check, and Skarlett has been doing work, too. If djc turns it on, this can be a closer game. If not, I'd say a pretty fast 0-5.

9. Root Plus Six (1-7)

   Root Plus Six didn't have the best of weeks, but even still. Loronix tied for most frags in the match vs. Runaway 5 and Megawac is keeping is deathcount low. It's really hard for me to gauge anything when they kinda just got stomped on Gravel Pit but thankfully we're back to glorious 5CP. But...their schedule for this week is not very forgiving, going up against HRG and Mad Men. The Mad Men match will understandably be the less difficult match, but I don't expect that to translate into a win for the Root boys, barring some strange position switchups again from the Mad Men, and I think they smartened up after what happened last time they tried that. Both games will probably be 5-0 rolls in the other team's favor but look for Loronix and MarmadukeGrylls to continue doing work.

10. Vector Gaming (0-8)

    So Mr. Slin came in to Medic and Foster switched to Scout during Gravel Pit week. According to their ESEA team page, Mr. Slin was ringing until Lucrative gets the start, and Foster's move over leaves Phife out. I have no idea who Lucrative is so I'm going to have to wait and see how he does. Scout is Foster's main anyways so the change relieves him of offclassing. Vector already played Top Guns before, and I think this variant is possibly weaker (unless Lucrative turns out to be the next Shade) so I predict the last score to repeat itself. In their match against Solace, they'll need to contain Milo and Xalox' explosive (pun unintended) play to let their flank make frags happen. I'll say a 5-2 here. Lucrative wild card factor.

Match of the Week

Tri Hards (7-1) vs. Mad Men (6-2)

Who wants that second seed in the standings? Tri Hards want to keep #2 locked up while Mad Men are hungry for a jump after squeaking past AG. The Scouts are going to be super fun to watch, as Clockwork, YouMustMike, Boomer, and Snoopy all making plays happen for their teams. Blaze's return only means more dynamic roaming while MemphisVon has stepped up for Mad Men. Dummy is playing the season of his life right now and rr is definitely no slacker. Both Demos are the top of each team, providing a major source of damage and doing lots of work. The real decider is the battle between the pockets. Will bl4nk be able to keep his play up and deny / shut down Tri's aggressiveness, or will Tri and Blaze's Gunboating be too much for bl4nk and Nosferatu to handle? Oh yeah and since this map is pretty Crossbow-friendly, expect some funny kills from the Crossbow man himself.

Tri Hards have provne they're quite the show, with everyone playing at their best. Mad Men have the potential to make this one of the closer games for Tri Hards, and it'll mainly be up to the Soldiers to do so.

Prediction: Tri Hards: 5, Mad Men, 3

Players to Watch: Dummy, blaze, bl4nk

Final Glance

1. High Rollers Gaming
2. Tri Hards
3. Apocalypse Gaming
4. Mad Men (+1)
5. Classic Mixup (-1)
6. Top Guns
7. Solace Esports
8. Runaway 5
9. Root Plus Six
10. Vector Gaming

Previous Week: Week 4 Power Rankings