Suddendeath
SuddenDeath is probably the most feared team on the lower side of seedings for these quarter finals. Not without reason, cause this team consists of extremely skillful players (duel stars mawe, bps and arne) that also has a lot of routine and solid team play (with players such as m0lle and grisling). The only thing stopping these guys to be the favorite for the finalist spot with tVS, would be their activity. They haven't played that much pracs at all, and was also one of the least active division 1 clan in terms of played EQL matches (well apart from boefje obviously).

Fusion
My own team, Fusion, have really stepped up our game lately with the newest addition to the team, mr. Dm3 himself, Valla, to guide our steps. Giving tVS their hardest challenge so far during the group stages, where they won DM3 with only 7 frags, I think Fusion is probable to beat any team they face on The Abandoned Base during the play-offs. Considerably weaker on E1M2, and DM2, I don't feel its a huge weakness and they should have a good chance vs every team they face also on these map. Serox and Moltas are usually the back-bone of this team, with wild-cards Skillah, Squeeze and myself that also pulls off wondrous things now and then.

Conclusion
Probably gonna be the tightest of all the quarter finals. Actually I expect an extremely tight set of games. The deciding factor will probably be SD's lack of practice lately, and that Fusion have been relatively active the last months. I also think that Fusions strength on DM3 exceeds what SD can expect to have on the other maps, and that 2 map wins on DM3 are almost guaranteed for Fusion, while its abit more unclear the other way around.

Expected lineups
Fusion: Valla, Moltas, Rikoll, Skillah/ Serox
Suddendeath: bps, mawe, molecule, Arnette/ grisling

Previous encounter
1-2 (dm3: 325-153, e1m2: 234-264, dm2: 171-217)

Expected outcome
Fusion wins, 3-2


Thoughts from bps on this game:
At first he seemed to be unsure if I was just bullshiting him to get some info. Think I'll have to include that chat here as well :)

Rikoll: What do you think the outcome of your Quarter Final match vs Fusion will be?

bps: hehe, you're biased! Is this some kind of trick!? :D

Rikoll: no :-)

Rikoll: im actually gonna write predictions tonight, and i am gonna ask the same question (pretty much) to one players in every team (hopefully)

bps: yea I see

What do you think the outcome of your Quarter Final match vs Fusion will be?

bps: I predict it to end the same way as in group stages actually. wow, but wait. it's bo5. then it'll be 3-1 :Þ

Then so. Is there any player on Fusion you fear? That might make your prediction not come true.

bps: I'm curious to see what serox can pull off in this game. I can feel his hunger. (refering to serox' comments on the eql site news.). and of course, the given answer to this question is: valla needs to be stopped, but that's what we have grisling for! and then the counter question: who, in Fusion, will be sent out to stop Grisling??


Lets see what Valla thinks:

What do you think the outcome of your upcoming quarter final game vs SD will be?

Valla: I expect it to be extremely tight. However, I feel like I can be pretty confident when I say I expect us to take this one home. Suddendeath should not be underestimated though as they beat us in group play and they have one of the better lineups of this seasons EQL. Though we are a more active team and I think if you compare the players we are pretty even.

Any players in particular you fear on SD? That might be deciding factor to knock Fusion out of the tournament.

Valla: Well, bps on fire can possibly turn a game around against any clan, I feel like they are more of a team rather than relying on individuals. If their teamplay goes accordingly and bps has a good night I'm expecting an even tougher challenge than I originally think it's going to be.

Now a counter question from bps. bps thinks that you needs to be stopped, and thats what they got Grisling for. So bps is asking: who, in Fusion, will be sent out to stop Grisling??

Valla: I don't like to compare players on an individual level tbh. I mean, we have to play more focused as a team to stop them. Don't think individuals will do the trick ;-D But if I have to pick, then rikoll for teh win! Ez win for Rikoll. (thanks mate ;))