Hardly anyone still believed it, but we are back! After more than three years of hiatus, we return with Clan Cup Season 7. Fewer teams, smaller divisions, but plenty of top players who, after all the draft cups, finally want to compete again at the highest level to prove who is the best.

We want to use this opportunity to analyze the teams, the players, and their strengths and weaknesses. Who are the favorites, and is there a surprise team?

We start with our PG veterans iFS, who have been part of the competition since Season 1:

Lineup:

JeRoMe, BNG, DizzeH, Finalzje, KeizeR, nani, RT

Previous results:

3× Silver, 2× Bronze

The team led by captain JeRoMe has always been part of the competition and is once again among the circle of favorites this year. No other team has played together in the same lineup for as long as iFS. This is also their biggest advantage: roles and routines within the team are clearly defined, and everyone knows exactly what they have to do. Their experience, combined with strong fragging power, makes them one of the strongest teams in the cup again this year. So far, however, they have always fallen short of the big triumph due to small mistakes. This even gave rise to the iFS meme that the flag always gets returned in their own base. Will they manage to fix these small issues this year?

JeRoMe’s move to Dubai naturally raises a big question mark. Will he still have the same impact on the game with his high ping as before, and if not, who can step into his shoes? With nani and JeRoMe, there are really only two true flag runners. All the other players on the team have incredible aim, but they are not exactly known as the fastest flag runners. It will therefore be exciting to see how iFS perform this year.

Prediction:

They will once again finish in the top 3. Due to the lack of a second flag runner and the fact that they seemingly only have left-side defenders, the title will once again be out of reach this year.

cat enjoyers

Lineup:

dB, Anaconda, bolty, Fen1x, hev, promises, Skarn

Let’s move on to the youngsters of the cup, cat enjoyer. Three years ago, the core of the team around captain dB, together with Skarn, promises, and hev, caused quite a stir when they unexpectedly secured the bronze medal. Since then, a lot has happened. The players mentioned have made a huge leap in their skill level over the past few years and have also managed to significantly strengthen the team through strong additions in Anaconda, Fen1x, and bolty.

Their greatest strengths lie in their activity, excellent team play, and of course their mastermind and shot-caller Skarn, who not only masters every bug and spawn in his sleep, but also drives every opponent to despair with outstanding positional play combined with the most annoying movement imaginable. The key question will be whether the players can handle the mental pressure required to win the title. For some on the team, this will be their first real Division 1 tournament. Often, it is fine margins that decide between victory and defeat. It remains to be seen whether they can fully realize their potential. One thing is certain: it will be very difficult for any team to beat them.

Prediction:

4th Place

social Distancing

Lineup:

azuR, Hatchet, K-os^, PuTZe, tOxX, wdn

Previous results:

2× Gold

They are finally back! The two-time champions have returned, even though the team is no longer the same. The core built around azuR, Hatchet, and wdn is complemented by what is probably the best flag runner in the entire community at the moment, PuTZe, as well as the community clown, tOxX. This is a team that can certainly beat anyone with its experience and individual quality.

The key question will be whether they can truly come together in terms of team play. At the moment, I see their main weakness in the fact that they lack a true second defender. Only azuR is a guaranteed pick on all maps. This variability can, of course, also be a strength, as it makes it difficult for opponents to prepare for their formations. There might also be a surprising comeback from K-os^, who could provide the necessary stability on defense.

Despite these question marks, a finish in the top 3 should be an absolute must for this team. Whether it will be enough to take the very top spot remains to be seen.

Prediction:

2nd Place

scosfar

Lineup:

Serenity, Asking, Dewsick, reflex, riven, steel

Oh boy, what a team… not only is the number of previous cup winners on this roster impressive, but above all the sheer potential it holds. Packed with absolute top players — and Asking — it will be extremely difficult for any opponent to beat them.

If you had to look for a weakness, it would probably be activity. Some players, such as Serenity and reflex, are coming back from a longer break, and the different time zones could make it challenging to practice together frequently. Nevertheless, this team remains the absolute favorite for the title. Dewsick alone has the potential to decide individual maps almost single-handedly once he finds his rhythm.

For me, this is the team everyone will have to beat if they want to stand on top at the end.

Prediction:

Winner

conquerors

Lineup:

stong, Audio, DVNO, FraCtaL, MaDTeTa, unbreaK

Let’s now turn to our quiet friends from Portugal. A formal introduction is hardly necessary — these guys probably have some of the most experience at the absolute highest level. Especially stong and our beloved UT encyclopedia MaDTeTa have been among the cornerstones of the scene since the golden era on ClanBase.

Their team play and almost blind mutual understanding are their greatest strengths. It remains to be seen whether this can compensate for their now somewhat less dominant aiming. However, their cleverness will certainly cause problems for more than one opponent. Even though I could imagine them pulling off a triumph, I currently see the overall competition as slightly stronger.

Nevertheless, I believe this team will demand everything from every opponent and will by no means go down without a fight.

Prediction:

5th Place

virtual pizza boosters

Lineup:

nuke, atr0city, banko, khr, Lokooo, NeBu, Own34d0r

Last but not least, we come to what is probably the most curious team in the entire cup. Three continents, seven different countries, and who knows how many time zones separate the guys from vpb. Individually, every single player brings top-tier quality to the table. In particular, ryaN has already proven his skill with multiple titles to his name.

However, even with the best will in the world, I cannot imagine this being enough for a top-three finish given such vastly different circumstances. The team is definitely a dark horse and could become the surprise of the tournament. It will be exciting to see how they handle setbacks, especially how they deal with them as a team.

Prediction:

6th Place