NPower Championship Preview Group D

Group D

Analog

Team: Brighton

Odds: 8 – 1

Previous Tournament Performances: N/A

Ranked: N/A

Analog is a newcomer I know a bit about. Apart from being a trash talking Neanderthal who believes he would easily be in the top 5 rankings he does seem to have a pretty decent record on H2H which rivals mine and Kent’s. However with a group that contains champion Dog and Kent he has certainly been thrown in the deep end for this tournament and will probably lack the consistency to get him into the top 2 meaning his debut tournament will finish in the group stages, oh dear.

Verdict: Group-Stages Top 4: Yes



Kent

Team: Cardiff

Odds: 1 – 2

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

Ranked: Joint 1st

Kent comes into this tournament as clear favourite with Voom gone ramadaming and SpursBoy just not up to it atm, there is no clear threat to him. Last tournament saw Dog put an end to his reign in apparent ‘controversial’ circumstances so the match between them in this group should be very interesting indeed. Not really much to say, it looks like this will be Kent’s tournament, the strongest team and the strongest player.

Verdict: Winner Top 4: Yes



Dog

Team: Wolves

Odds: 3 – 1

Previous tournament performances: Group-Stages, Group-Stages, Quarter-finals, Quarter-finals, Quarter-Finals, Winner

Ranked: Joint 3rd

Well here he is, the man of the moment, the champion. Dog defied the odds last tournament thrashing the opposition and edging out crucial victories to break the Voom – Kent monopoly and win the tournament. However I’m sure he doesn’t want that victory to be a flash in the pan and will be hungry for more glory this tournament. Wolves are a decent team despite their relegation and whilst this group is tough he should see it through. Then what Dog shall we see in the knock-outs the one who had failed to win a single knock-out game before last tournament or the one who ripped up the form book and romped to the trophy? If it’s the latter, be afraid.

Verdict: Semi-Finals Top 4: Yes



SKA

Team: Ipswich

Odds: 10 – 1

Previous tournament performances: Group-Stages, Group-Stages

Ranked: Joint 20th

SKA makes one of his sporadic tournament appearances in circumstances which could’ve been better for him. Ipswich seem to be one of the poorer teams in the tournament and this group looks to be split in half with Kent, Dog and Analog running away with it. SKA will need to secure good results against them if he is to get through, so if he plays like he did when he drew with Tez his exit won’t be long in coming, it’s going to be tough for him, but I think he will beat Bales and TBag.

Verdict: Group Stages Top 4: Yes


Bales

Team: Hull

Odds: 11 – 1
Previous tournament performances: Quarter-Finals, Group-Stages, Group-Stages

Ranked: Joint 18th

Bales returns to the tournament having not been seen for a while. He has a decent team in Hull but I don’t think that will be enough to threaten the big three I mentioned in SKA’s preview. It looks like it will be a slog with SKA and Tbag which I think he will miss out on the 4th place but finish just above bottom.

Verdict: Group-Stages Top 4: No



Tbag

Team: Barnsley

Odds: 14 – 1

Previous tournament performances: N/A

Ranked: N/A

Despite wrecking Group C in the last tournament, Tbag has been given a reprieve and should hopefully make his debut in this one. Despite having the best team to have ever existed it looks like a steep learning curve for Tbag who isn’t confident of his own chances. So basically a win at this tournament would be a good start for him and hopefully he will get an easier group in the future, but I wouldn’t bank on that!

Verdict: Group-Stages, Top 4: No



Predicted Standings:
1. Kent
2. Dog
----------------------
3. Analog
4. SKA
5. Bales
6. Tbag