Russian Tournament Preview Group B

Group B

Kent

Team: Krylya Sovetov

Odds: 2 – 1

Previous tournament performances: Semi-final, final, group stages, final, final, final, winner, Quarter-Finals, Winner

Ranked: 2nd

Kent did what was expected of him last tournament picking up his second tournament victory with the much converted EPL Tournament in emotional circumstances. Things however are a bit different this time. Having joined the majority of the tournament players and being drawn a dud team he really is going to have to work to retain his title. The work starts straight away too as he is in arguably the most difficult group of the tournament. Ludy who he normally trounces has Zenit St Petersburg, whilst May and Sideshow are difficult opponents. Like a true champion I expect him to just scrape through and I mean just. It won’t be pretty but he will beat Ludy and one out of May or Sideshow. He might just find it a bit easier in the knock-outs till he meets a resurgent SpursBoy in the final.

Verdict: Final


Ludy

Team: Zenit St Petersburg

Odds: 8 – 1

Previous tournament performances: Group Stage, Group Stage, Group Stage, Group Stage, Group Stage, Group Stage, Quarter-Final, Group Stage, Group Stage, Quarter-Final

Ranked: 11th

Ludy put in arguably his strongest tournament performance last time round securing a great quarter-final place and was just on the cusp of the semi-finals before losing to Oscar. However that group wasn’t the hardest, this one is. He has been drawn an excellent team to take on the big guns with and he will need to utilize them properly if he is going to be in with a chance. Unfortunately for him I just can’t shake off the feeling he is going to be the cannon fodder of this group, but may decide the fate of Sideshow or May. One of them two players may drop points to Ludy. Whilst Ludy has a habit of going out in the group stages, he tends to pick up a point at least.

Verdict: Group-Stages

May

Team: A Viadikavkaz

Odds: 5 – 1

Previous Tournament performances: Final, Final, Group-Stages, Quarter-Finals

Ranked: 8th

Having got over his blip in Norway May struck back in the EPL tournament to a decent quarter-final finish, it could’ve been so much better though. What should be a very interesting game is the one against Sideshow who knocked him out of the last tournament. May has proven he does revenge well by hammering Tyke last tournament and I think Sideshow might just meet a similar fate. I also think May is the more capable of beating Kent and/or Ludy. As for the knock-outs it’s a lottery but his team really is chit so I expect a short stay there, would be nice to see Virus finally beat him.

Verdict: Quarter-Final


Sideshow

Team: Kuban Krasnodar

Odds: 7 – 1

Previous Tournament Performances: Semi-Final

Ranked: 19th

A really impressive debut last time saw Sideshow storm a group of death and upset many of the big guns in Tyke, Comu and May. Whilst he ultimately fell to the tournament favorite Kent who knows what he could’ve done with a stronger team? As for this tournament we have a similar set of circumstances which I don’t think will have a similar outcome. Whilst he is capable of beating all three players I think he will only beat Ludy whilst losing to May and Kent. However when they do play him, they will be guaranteed one tough match!

Verdict: Group-Stages


Predicted Group Standings:

1. Kent 7 pts
2. May 7 pts
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3. Side 3 pts
4. Ludy 0 pts