Wild and Crazy!

This week was very crazy for me. My personal life aside, WSOP lost a team in SP who couldn't get their way so they jumped ship. I wonder if it was WSOP or if it is inter leagues in general for them... With the departure in UIC, WPC, and now WSOP it leads you to believe there is more to this story. I will elaborate once I have learned more. I am posting Monday's match only because at the moment I am unsure of tomorrows match.

BNR vs T8B, Monday @6pm, Room:Welcome to the Jungle

BNR are coming into this match on fire winning their first 2 matches resoundingly. I wouldn't be surprised if they do it again here. T8B are hit and miss, if they show with their strong players Jordy can squeak out a win but it will be a up hill battle this week for T8B. Dina just has what seems like endless depth and that will doom T8B here... Jordy walked into a gun fight holding a measly knife.

Outcome:4-2 BNR

MIB vs LPL, Wednesday @7pm, Room:Back to School

Rich hasn't done much since Pommy left and expect it to continue here. The only thing MIB has for them is that their division is pretty much 3 leagues. With SP withdrawing from WSOP and DPP failing to show with a full team EVER you can see MIB going 3-11 and still make the playoffs because of the way the format plays out. So, it must be your lucky day Rich.

LPL has done well thus far this season splitting their win/loss after playing 2 of the best teams in the league. Ant is a strong captain, he does well to setup the best match-up. Even if you takeout Ant from this equation LPL wins hands down. There is no way that Rich can bring a team that will win this match unless he has 4 players up his sleeve that I don't know about.

Outcome: 5-1 LPL

DPP vs DS, Thursday @6pm, Room: I'm Gonna Crawl

DPP hasn't shown with a full team so far this season but hopefully Tom can get it together. They were so excited about getting into WSOP and assured the admins they would be able to bring a team and the first time they did it was with 2 players. On a positive note, they won their first game in WSOP last week. I hope that good things will come to DPP, if they can field a full team they might have a shot at making the playoffs in their weaker division.

Chele comes into this week sitting in last. DS lost some tough games the last 2 weeks and this match comes at a perfect time. With this easy win DS can start climbing back into the hunt for the playoff spots. This match will help DS rebound and setup a great clash between FR and DS next week.

Outcome: 5-1 DS

Heated Western Div Match

The opening week of WSOP was quite interesting. We saw a 6-0 dq win handed to FR (not a surprise there), SP was 6-0'ed with ease by ICA, BNR did what needed to get done in a win vs MIB, LPL fell just short to PFN, and the best match of the week was played by DS and T8B. The DS/T8B match was the first to use WSOP's tiebreaker rule. Jordy and Chuck went head to head in a very close match that ended with Jordy winning it all for T8B. Chuck just cracked under the pressure, he had the 8 but must have been one angle off. One interesting thing to note, 2 players withdrew last night MJ in LPL and Brox in T8B before reporting their losses. James has noted in the shout box that if they decide to comeback they are sitting one match out and forced to give-up the game credit. MJ leaving LPL will be a HUGE loss for them and it will give FR a good chance of possibly stealing a game from LPL.

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WESTERN DIVISION MATCH-UPS
LPL vs FR, Tuesday @7pm, Room:Under Pressure

This is the match of the week. FR started the season off very strong while not even playing one game. As stated above, they were given a 6-0 DQ win to the hastily added DPP squad who just couldn't bring the players needed when asked to join the weekend before WSOP started. Tom tried his hardest to get players eligible it just didn't work out. Corey is FR's captain this season and just by judging the list of names he brings to the table, LPL better take this match seriously.

FR have; Shane, Ashie, Corey, James, Petey, Ben, and Tonz. Any of the guys listed can go up against LPL's team. Ant will show with the usual squad here. If Ant shows with the same team he has signed up this match should end extremely close. I am worried that Ant might be losing control of his team.

LPL had one player withdraw last night because he was unhappy with his loss. PFN's Brock played fairly well in that match exceeding expectations taking home the win vs MJ who had his EGO get the better of him. Ant cant allow that on his team, it shows a complete lack of respect for himself, PFN, and most importantly WSOP.

Ant would have taken this match in my opinion if MJ was still on the team. It would have gone to game 7 and Ant is the king of clutch. Sadly for LPL it wont get that far...
Outcome: 4-2 FR

ICA vs T8B, Wednesday @7pm, Room:Intermediate Lounge 2

Bev did a wonderful job with the decision to allow Shan to captain their first WSOP match and I expect great things to come here with ICA.They destroyed a strong SP team who showed with 6 and watched as all 6 lost. That match was huge for ICA's self-esteem, they are a new league and that win must have pumped them up. They will go into this match with a GIANT chip on their shoulders, rightfully so.

Jordy on the other hand did well to carry his team into victory. He had 2 strong wins in a match vs DS. The only way T8B will continue their winning streak is if their all-star player can get himself into a tie breaking game 7. Key players will need to win for T8B but they will not have home field this time and that will be a big factor combined with the lack of depth in their front 6.

I see this going to game 6 with that game deciding the victor.
Outcome: 4-2 ICA

Eastern Division Match-ups
PFN vs SP, Wednesday @6pm, Room:Bad Times

This match-up would have interested me more if SP didn't get demolished by a very solid ICA team. At this point I don't know where to place SP. Are they a playoff caliber team? apparently it is to early to tell. Pete starts off the season with 2 strong teams in a row and his schedule doesn't get any easier next week.

SP normally are hit and miss and they will need to be hitting on all cylinders here if they want to win. PFN came in last week vs the predicted top team in the Western Division and handled them in 6. Look to see this match ending in 5. PFN is just too strong, it will be interesting to see if SP turn it up and keep this match closer than their previous.

This match ends as stated above, game 5 defeat for SP seals their doom for this week. Look to see SP rebound in the near future to regain a playoff spot near the end of the season.
Outcome: 5-1 PFN

MIB vs DPP, Tuesday @6pm, Room:Back to School

MIB did well to push BNR into a game 6 match and I suspect they will be a lot more competitive in this inter league than they have been in their previous. Rich just needs to keep the heat on his team, making sure they show with 6 on a regular basis. He just might surprise some people and steal the last playoff spot that is clearly up in the air with the shellacking SP got week 1.

DPP showed with 0 players for their first match of the season. I wasn't very surprised by that because DPP only had 3 players registered on the WSOP site. Tom, if you can get a full team eligible and at the table you just might steal this match from MIB. I hope you show with any amount of players because a 6-0 really looks bad for your league.
Outcome: 6-0 MIB

Cross-Division Match-up
DS vs BNR, Monday @7pm, Room:A Face In The Crowd

DS played the closest match of last week. Chele had her team in it all the way to game 7. Chuck even had the game but in the end DS fell just short. I really hope that DS show with a strong crew here because Dina means business. I suspect this match will not be as close for DS.

BNR opened the season with a strong victory over MIB. Dina will bring a similarly deep lineup vs DS because she doesn't want to lose that sexy top spot. Since PFN will most likely win they need to keep up with their only competition in the division. I foresee Dina starting off strong in WSOP with a easy schedule the first 3 weeks of WSOP.
Outcome: 4-2 BNR

Epic Cross-Division Play!

Cross-Division Match-ups
LPL vs PFN, Thursday @7pm, Room: Under Pressure

What a Great start to the season we have here ladies and gentlemen. This is the best way to start a inter-league off with a heated battle between 2 hard hitting divisions. The predicted favorite of the Western Division, LPL, smash heads with one of the Eastern Divisions most dangerous teams , PFN. Ant is the key factor here, he always plays at a high level expect the last game to come down to Ant vs Andy.

It would be EPIC to have both key members play each other for the match finale. That might be asking for too much but we will soon find out. PFN will come to the table with the regular crew; Jeremy, Andy, Kerry, Ogges, etc. That list of names would be intimidating to anyone but LPL. Ant isn't to keen on Cubby and he might be able to scrounge up enough players to show with a full team. If that is the case, LPL will handle PFN with a flick of their wrist.

I am hesitant in crowning LPL thee Season favorite because currently they only have 4 members registered under the WSOP site. Having insufficient players has affected LPL heavily in UIC, hopefully this doesn't carryover to WSOP. PFN needs to play very defensively in this match. Playing defensively will tempt LPL into some runs that could possibly leave PFN with easy wins. Most likely this will happen; PFN shows with 6 and wins game 6 do to a lack of players on LPL's side (maybe that will light a fire under Ant).
Outcome: 4-2 PFN

ICA vs SP, Wednesday @ 7pm, Room: Intermediate Lounge 2

Here we have 2 more teams that are predicted to make the post-season,
This match will be very exciting. Bev is running the show for ICA who currently have 7 players registered on the WSOP site. ICA is a mesh of MP and SS. Nish, Trey, Shan, and Nigel, etc. have the potential to win any match. That is scary to think about when you are forced to play them week one.

SP on the other hand have key players like Pete, Ketan, HornyScots, etc. SP are in a similar boat as LPL, they don't have a full team. SP are sitting @ 5 players on the WSOP site which shouldn't present a problem for them besides the fact that they couldn't show with 5 on Saturday in UIC. This team is black and white. One season they are shooting up the charts and the next season they are sitting at the bottom wondering what happened.

With the lineup Bev gets to play with, there shouldn't be much doubt on who will win this match.
Outcome: 4-2 ICA

FR vs DPP, Monday @ 7pm, Room: Beetle Spot

FR are coming in with the most people signed up on the WSOP site. This should be a change of pace for FR who tend to show-up a player or 2 short for weekly matches. Corey will do well here, he has spelled Petey from time-to-time on the weekends and is prepared to take a team to the playoffs. With some help from former X8B players there will be no question about them making the playoffs.

DPP are little known, they are the smallest league in WSOP, Tom is a nice guy and tries hard to keep his league active. I am hoping he gets more than the 3 he has currently registered but it doesn't look likely. DPP shows with 3 and will be forced to lick their wounds after a VERY one-sided finish.
Outcome: 6-0 FR

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Eastern Division Match-up
BNR vs MIB, Monday @ 6pm, Room: Welcome to the Jungle

Dina gets her chance to start the season with a bang. This match is going to be pretty easy for BNR. Dina can show with her subs and still achieve success. That just shows the depth she has in BNR.

MIB only have 3 players registered on the WSOP site which leads you to believe they will not show with a full team. Piling on their level of play MIB aren't up to the quality BNR have. With any luck, MIB shows with 6, they still fall far from the tree...
Outcome: 5-1 BNR

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Western Division Match-up
T8B vs DS, Thursday @ 7pm, Room: Afraid to Lose

This should be a good match by virtue of both teams having semi-low expectations this season. T8B have Jordy and Marco while DS have Ashton and Steve ( I thought he might be playing for ICA but it looks like we will find out this week where this lone ranger decides to camp).

With these solid players mixed in with some who aren't, we should see a fairly even match. I foresee this match going to game 7, the first match to allow the breaker. This match has the potential to be the most enjoyable.
Outcome: 4-3 DS

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Pre-Season Predictions

Welcome to the newest inter-league on the block. The season is starting this Monday and there is plenty of hype surrounding it. There are a lot of words flying about how this IL was made to own WPC and I would like to dispel that notion right now. This inter-league was made to provide ypool with another option for leagues that want something that is a bit different. In reality it is a modified version of WPC it wasn't created to hurt anyone's feelings. Ben and James envision a inter-league with none of the draws and points system issues that are present in WPC. They hope this simplifies things a bit. Are you all ready for the competition ahead? I know I am! I will be looking forward to providing predictions every week. With that said, on with my pre-season predictions....

Eastern Division
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BNR-1st
PFN-2nd
SP-3rd
-out of contention-
MIB-4th
DPP-5th

#1 BNR- Being last season's champions in PRO and currently near the top of MLP standings, this team is a power house in everything they play. Dina has done well to put together a strong line-up and I assume that she will have the same players for WSOP. More than half of her team could make an all-star team with ease, which makes BNR a force to be reckoned with. They take the first round bye going into the playoffs when the season ends. Dina don't under estimate PFN though, they could easily take your top seed if you're not careful.

#2 PFN-Andy is always a good competitor, he will take a win however way he can get it. Make sure you have your i's dotted and your t's crossed when you match-up against this guy. Andy will surely steal a game or 2 this season from a competitor that is to careless to check that their players are eligible (more or less because of Cubby though). That aside, PFN are always strong and consistent. They will hold their own quite nicely against the tougher teams this season while steamrolling the lesser opponents.

#3 SP-Pete seems to have had rough IL's since the mess in WPC last season. They have under performed in UIC, MLP, and withdrew early this recent season of WPC so it makes you wonder how this team is going to perform here. I say Pete and Ketan hold it together well enough to get into the playoffs and once you're in the playoffs who knows what can happen!

#4 MIB- Rich is a nice guy but based on MLP and WPC I cant foresee this team making the playoffs. They just aren't quite there. MIB needs to bring in some players to contend with the likes of BNR, PFN, and SP. Tell that happens you guys are seeing another gutter season.

#5 DPP- You guys are the epitome of under-dogs. Coming in as probably thee smallest league in WSOP filled with a group of no names adds up to a big #5. Tom you are a great guy, you have a lot of dedication to your league... I just cant see you guys making the playoffs this season, wish you guys a bunch of luck and I hope you can bring 6 every week!

Western Division
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LPL-1st
ICA-2nd
FR-3rd
-out of contention-
T8B-4th
DS-5th

#1 LPL- This team is one of the strongest lineups I have ever seen. Ant has done wonders putting together a legendary list of names. On paper no one should be able to beat them but there is always yahoo to even out the playing field lol. I see Ant taking home the first round bye in this division, it is by far the toughest division this season so be careful Ant don't take ICA, FR, and T8B lightly.

#2 ICA- Nish and Nigel are putting together a scary team here. Players like Steve, Shan, Nish, Croz, and Trey can hold their own against even the toughest leagues. This team should be feared they can run it our hold out in a snook game if need be. They have the potential to beat LPL at least once but I don't see them getting the coveted round one bye. You can be sure ICA will pull off some blowouts this season, watch out, you don't want to be one.

#3 FR- Petey has done well here bringing in players from X8B that will help him make the playoffs. Ben, James, and Corey are known to pack a punch. They should be enough to push FR over the edge. Don't forget, Petey has Ashie and himself too. FR will turn some heads this season, one hopes Ashie will be a good boy though or FR might be seeing their best player boxed at least once this season.

#4 T8B- I didn't think T8B would do well this season but that's before Jordy and Marco decided to play for them. Sassy has done a great job, I only hope that Jordy does better at captaining this team than he did with UO in MLP. 2 guys don't make a team but I have faith that Jordy will pick up one or two more key players to push them into the hunt. This team has a lot of untapped potential.

#5 DS- DS did well to get into the WPC playoffs this season, I gave them many props for that but here we are in a IL that has just way to many big boys. Chele needs to make sure she gets more players eligible here in WSOP, but then, she might not have to worry if they don't make the playoffs :-s. Ashton, I hope you show on a regular basis you are DS's only hope!