SSCam Season 3 Div B Playoff Preds

Ok so if you read the div A preds I already said that was what I was looking forward to the most but this is definitely what I was looking forward to second most. Pretty small field in our first season with split divisions but everyone who qualified has some potential. This is your opportunity to play your way into Div A for future seasons as well Div B offers 2 qualification spots into the Prize Tourney to the finalists. Yatta yatta a chance to win 100 dollars in that invite only tournament. Top half preds were done by myself (Jon, Drunk_Canuck) and the bottom half were done by AJ (__imaj__). Good luck guys

Rd 1 Playoff Matchups

#8 xlx_whatwhat_xlx vs #9 FreeJackpot - This should be a pretty interesting matchup between Wes and Bryan. Before the season had played out I would have definitely had Bryan as a big favourite in this matchup but Wes showed that he can compete in sets with good players. In fact Wes was able to beat Bryan in that very group stage in a close 5-4 result. While the seeding would indicate Wes is the favourite in this matchup I think in this knockout round Bryan's experience in pressure games will be the difference. No easy task for the winner as AJ is waiting in the next round.

7-4 Bryan Result - 8-6 Wes

#5 astro61200 vs #12 THEFOOL13 - In the first round this is definitely the biggest mismatch. Probably biggest in all of the playoffs. DJ was able to squeak into the playoffs on one win because of his group's lack of activity. Scott has shown some good form by qualifying well for playoffs in this competition and 8brcam's div B last season. With his only loss coming to the #1 seed in the playoffs Scott should be liking his chances to make a run here. Not too much to say about DJ. He's had back to back poor group stages in the previous two seasons without any good results. This one could be close but not likely.

7-3 Scott Result - 7-3 Scott

#7 dc_sacha vs #10 Top__Dawg__ - I see this match as being probably one of the only close 1st rd matchups. While it was easy to predict these two making playoffs, giving either one the advantage just isn't that practical. I forsee lots os mistakes and missed opportunities for both. Heads for Sacha, Tails for Sterlo...

Sacha 7-4 Result - 7-2 Sacha

#6 skilled_banger vs #11 ll_eskimo_ownage_ll - This has the potential to be a great matchup with both players having done good in 8brcam in the past with Musti winning last season's Div B. Petey is Div A caliber so this will be a good transition for Musti to see where he stands in the lower half of Div A quality. With that being said, Petey has always been an above average players but has been incognito, or so it seems, recently. I doubt that has dampered his ablities. However, Petey only completed 1 set in the group play so that does make this interesting.

Musti 9-7 Result - DQ win for Musti

Rd 2 Matchups

#1 __imaj__ vs #8 xlx_whatwhat_xlx - Finally after a bit of a wait we get to see div B's number 1 seed in action. That number 1 seed is AJ (holds for applause)... and he'll be facing off against SSCam first timer Wes. In the last matchup for Wes I argued that he was up against someone with more cam set experience. He showed that's he's got some decent composure by hanging in tough against Bryan in 14 games. AJ is definitely on a different level from Bryan so this set shouldn't play out the same. AJ has been playing in cam comps steadily from before I even started on the circuit and he's had the chance to play against just about everyone. AJ definitely holds the edge in this matchup because he is just overall more skilled. He can be prone to an awful set though so there's an outside chance for Wes to continue his run into the semi-finals.

7-4 AJ Result - 7-3 AJ

#4 true.scrub vs #5 br0nz3 - Div B heats up right off the bat with this matchup between David and Scott. Both players are here by no fluke with David qualifying in the general field last two seasons in playoffs and Scott showing he's still on form with his recent 8brcam div B playoff run. Both players are looking to show they belong in the competitive Div A. Unfortunately only one of the two can advance beyond this point. Scott is definitely the more experienced player but David is no slouch at all. He's been figuring this game out pretty quickly and he's ready for a breakthrough on the cam comp scene. A trip to the semi-finals here would go a long way towards that but I think Scott is too focused and will be too much in this matchup.

7-5 Scott Result - 7-4 Scott

#2 fv_arctic vs #7 dc_sacha - This should be a pretty interesting matchup between Chip and Sacha. This is Chip's first go around in SSCam and he's intent on proving that he's division A material. His season stats were second best in the field of 24 so now all that's left is to show up in the playoffs and take care of business. Sacha is a less experienced player who is still relatively new in cam comps. He's definitely faced better players in past SSCam playoffs so I think his chances are better than in previous seasons. In a race to 7 the better player in this matchup will win out but don't expect anything to come easy.

7-4 Chip Result - 7-4 Chip

#3 xlxkavinxlx vs #6 skilled_banger - Two players who might have preferred to start off the season in Div A are now meeting up in the quarter-finals of Div B with only one getting a chance to move on to try to take the title. Musti is the reigning Div B champ in 8brcam so there's definitely a lot to be said for that. Musti is by no means out of Kavin's league and even though his name might be known a little more around yahoo I think Kavin has a great opportunity to represent his #3 seeding well and move onto the semis. Hopefully this set can get played because Musti's first round was a headache. Hard to pick between either of these two but I'll have to give the edge to Musti. Great opportunity for Kavin to show he belongs though in this matchup.

8-6 Musti Result - 7-2 Musti

Semi-Final Matchups

#1 __imaj__ vs #5 br0nz3 - Ok so things are finally getting interesting in Div B. We have the top seeded AJ fresh off breezing through the second round to make it this far. On the other side we have Scott the old school vet who really doesn't have the time for this division B bullshit. Well while both of you might move up to div A for your efforts in the playoffs this season only 1 will gain automatic qualification into the prize trny and become a finalist. There isn't a whole lot to choose between these two... AJ took the regular season meeting which is what earned him his seeding. In the other two instances where re-matches have occurred in the playoffs the group stage loser has prevailed. So as hard as it is to bet against the top seed here I'm going to have to go with the grain and pick Scott to win a close one.

9-6 Scott Result - 9-5 Scott

#2 fv_arctic vs #6 skilled_banger -

no pred Result - 7-4 Chip

Finals

#5 br0nz3 vs #2 fv_arctic - Ok so we're into the finals of division B and no one should be surprised by our two participants. Scott and Chip likely would have been div A players had this not been their first seasons in SSCam as well as just getting back into cam comps fairly recently. So instead of the div A grind they get rewarded with invites to the prize tourney as finalists here. I honestly don't know too much about styles in this matchup but just based on ss tourney matchups I think Chip is probably the better, more creative shooter. Scott is definitely no slouch as he's showing some skills making it this far, breezing through AJ in the semi-final round. Hopefully this is a competitive matchup and both guys will show up on their game. I'm going to have to just go with my original hunch and predict Chip as the div B champ in a close set.

9-7 Chip

SSCam Season 3 Div A Playoff Preds

So essentially this is the moment I've been looking forward to most for this season. Div A playoffs are a showcase of the top players from SSCam's highest quality and most well attended season. Honestly I don't see any bad matchups and advancing even one round here will be a good showing. Final 4 gets you an invite into SSCam's prize tourney where 100 dollars will be on the line. Bottom half preds were done by myself (Jon, Drunk_Canuck), Cam (legend.skillz) makes an appearance predicting the top match only and Trav (__Trav__) took care of the last 3. Good luck to all.

Rd 1 Playoff Matchups

#1 mr_camtasia vs #16 xsoubanhx - This will be a great match to watch..im looking forward to this one. Pita is a real good player and he's fun to watch. He's got a solid run game and can safety with the best of them. If he wins this match I can see him going far in this but he's got one tough cookie in round 1. Chris is just amazing...I personally idolize this guy. One of the best runners to have played this game. I think this match will be close because I think Pita will be prepared and come in and play some great ypool. Just think Chris will be too much . Vgl guys, have fun.

7-5 Chris Result - 8-6 Chris

#8 Drunk_Canuck vs #9 legend.skillz - Both are good players here with different primary strategies. Jon's a bit smarter, less of a risk taker where Cameron's going to rely on running more than anything. So what will make or break this match is basically whether Cameron is finishing runs, or leaving easy clean-ups for Jon. Jon can run as well don't get me wrong, but I expect he'll play it slow here and let Cameron try and hang himself with unfinished runs. So really what I expect to happen here is Cameron will probably lose a few games to that, but he's not going to get down to 2-3 balls every time and miss or screw up a leave. It'll usually be with him having 4-5 balls left instead of 2 which is why this should be a close set. My deciding factor is that the number of tables he finishes will be greater than the number of open ones he leaves (2-3 balls left).

7-5 Cameron Result - 7-2 Jon

#4 black_stallion009 vs #13 safdarbandali - What an intriguing matchup. Not a big difference in these two guys' games IMO. As in they play similar, i do think Irfan is the more skilled of the two, and he did beat Ant in groups and somehow took top spot in their group even though him and Ant shared IDENTICAL stats haha. Saf's never really had much luck in cam comps though so I dunno what to say there. Irfan on the otherhand won SS Cam a couple seasons ago. But still I see this as one of those sets though where anythings possible, and going into this match I have to say Irfan already has a slight advantage and any other advantages added is a bonus for him. With Saf, it puts the set closer, with a small, but possible steal from Irfan.

7-4 Irfan Result - 7-3 Safdar

#5 AlmightyWarrior vs #12 hp_king22 - I don't really even watch Sid play, I basically judge him from the wins or losses in his groups. And the funny thing about those is, this season of SS Cam he beat the top 3 players in his group (excluding himself) then lost to the worst two. So i really don't understand that at all. As far as this Don guy goes, he says he's good. Fair enough, but the only person to really back that up was Kenny, and i kinda took it sarcastically because com on, Kenny? he deson't give anyone credit =)). Judging by your stats I wasn't too impressed, mainly because you barely beat Shane and Mina. I had thought you had beaten Derrick, and I was writing that off as Derrick being wounded, when I found out that you took over TJ's stats and the only sets that are yours are Shane/Mina. So hell you went undefeated in your group! But hey you could be really good, but the only way you're going to win here is if Sid plays EXTREMELY bad. And lately he's been pretty consistant so I don't see it.

7-4 Sid Result - 7-3 Sid

#2 the_pool_professor vs #15 pas_killa - In this matchup we have last season's champ Kenny vs an old school well known player in Pas. Pas barely squeaked into the playoffs possibly because of the inactive group but now that he's in there you can't expect him to be an easy out. I haven't really seen Pas on form much lately but he still knows how to play the game. This is a re-match from the group stage where Kenny romped 9-0. As long as Kenny takes this set seriously then he shouldn't have too much trouble because of his more solid all around game. Pas did a great job qualifying for knockout stage but his run this season ends here.

7-3 Kenny Result - 7-4 Pascal

#7 aka_sicc vs #10 A_D_A_M__ - Here is a really interesting round one matchup. Going into the season Ant was one of the top favourites to win the whole competition but coming second place in his group didn't help out his seeding at all. That makes round one slightly tougher for him. While I'd still say Ant is a pretty big favourite in this matchup he is playing against a player who can definitely compete in this set. If Adam gets on a roll he can run with anyone and has the table vision to play smart shots and slow things down when necessary. When Ant is on his game he tends to not let his opponents shoot very often. Adam will have to minimize the mistakes and try to keep up and maybe pull it out in the end. Ant won't kill Adam but it should be a comfortable win.

7-4 Ant Result - 7-3 Ant

#3 stun.shot vs #14 pr0.g0dly - Another good matchup here with Nick vs Mina. Normally I would say there isn't much to choose between either of these two players. They can both hit great shots to get out of sticky situations, have good ball control and they're not afraid to play in safety games. This is a rematch from the group stage where Nick pulled out a come from behind victory 5-4 to help him get this great seed. This should be a really close set but there's no way I can bet against Nick coming off arguably his best group stage in any cam comp. He's a former winner of the comp and looks serious to try to make a run against this tough field. Mina will push him but Nick advances.

7-5 Nick Result - 10-8 Mina

#6 __Trav__ vs #11 toyboy2die4u - Trav is going to be looking to avenge his loss in last season's playoffs after he went out in his first set after earning the #1 overall seed. This bracket is definitely a lot tougher and filled with sharks. Round one won't be easy as Kazi stands in his way to move into the quarter-finals. Trav seems to be more consistent but both players have put up good results in top cam comps. These playoffs are filled with all around players and these two are no exception to that rule. Like most of these sets it'll come down to which player keeps the silly mistakes under control. Kazi has the skill to win this set even if Trav plays great but I think he's a little more prone to giving away easy games with unfinished runs. Should be a great set to watch.

7-5 Trav Result - 7-3 Trav

Rd 2 Matchups

#1 mr_camtasia vs #8 leafed_leafs - Very interesting Round 1 results for both players. Kinda the opposite of what I really expected. Chris is ruthless, one of the best runners you'll see and he's going to play the same no matter what the score is. Jon can definitely hold his own, he could upset Chris if he played really well. They faced off in groups during the season with Chris taking the W, so they both have recent experience playing each other. Should be a tight match, but probably about the same outcome as groups unless some good things happen for Jon.

7-5 Chris Result - 7-5 Chris

#13 safdarbandali vs #5 AlmightyWarrior -

no pred Result - 7-3 Sid

#15 pas_killa vs #7 aka_sicc - Ok so this definitely looks like the mismatch of the secound round with Pascal vs Ant. Pascal was pretty much lucky to qualify for the playoffs but then showed he belonged with a great 7-4 win vs Kenny. Ant qualified with a pretty low seed but I'd say he's getting a pretty sweet draw here after taking out Adam in the first round. I don't see anyone now getting in Ant's way on the way to the finals in this competition as the top seeds on this half of bracket are dropping. The win against Pas isn't a guarantee I know that Pascal has beaten Ant before in set play and he definitely won't be initimidated by any of Ant's antics. I think Ant wins big but don't count Pas out completely.

7-3 Ant Result - 7-1 Ant

#14 pr0.g0dly vs #6 __Trav__ - Mina and Trav will both go into this matchup thinking they've got a great chance at advancing to semi-finals and a prize tourney entry. Trav definitely had the much stronger season as evidenced by his #6 overall seed in this bracket. On the other side Mina just barely squeaked into playoffs and took out a defending champ in Nick. Neither player will be intimidated in this matchup by any style as they're both experienced in many other comps. The edge will go to the guy who makes the least mistakes and I think that's going to be Trav in this matchup. Should go down to the wire.

7-5 Trav Result - 8-6 Trav

Rd 3 Matchups

#1 mr_camtasia vs #5 AlmightyWarrior - Winner here will advance on to the upper half of the SS Cam Division A Playoffs bracket. And really either player is capable of winning here.. capable of winning this match or winning this entire season of competition. Chris is a great runner, but tends to give up big leads. With a Rt9, if you give someone an inch well.. they're gonna come back with momentum and steal the set. I've never really watched Sid play, but hey the guy won 8brcam.. gotta be doin something right aye? I'm gonna say though that Chris gets up early here 3-1ish and maintains a +1-2 lead throughout the set and it remains steady like that for awhile, both of them trading runs and cleanups. So really it's all on Sid in the end, because Chris has a poor reputation late in sets.

9-7 Chris Result - 9-7 Chris

#7 aka_sicc vs #6 __Trav__ - Ok don't sweat it guys you will have a prediction before you play. The second semi-final matchup puts two of the big names in the tournament against each other as you might expect. Trav has improved on his upset loss in round 2 from the previous season to make it this far. Ant is in his first SSCam but no one should be surprised that he's made it this far with ease too I might add. This should be Ant's biggest challenge up until now but I honestly think he's on another level. Trav can definitely hang with Ant if he's on his game but when Ant is on his game there aren't too many people who have a chance. I always like to root against Ant because he's like the evil empire (NYY) but his selection of shots and execution seem as if they're on a 200 million dollar payroll. If you didn't understand that reference I'm just saying I can't pick against Ant in this matchup.

9-6 Ant Result - 9-2 Ant

Finals

#1 mr_camtasia vs #7 aka_sicc - Ok so we're finally at the finals of div A. The best of the best. Once again no surprise here... many could have picked these two out as the best two players in the field from the start of the group stage. Ant wasn't challenged at all on the way to the finals here while Chris was challenged in close sets every round. I wouldn't really read too much into that as no one will be running away with this set. This is the first round for either player where I can say they've met their match. Both players are great with english and have great table vision, able to hit tricky banks, combos just about anything you've ever seen in tight situations. Will definitely come down to who is executing their shots and finishing runs (like any set) but these are two of the best around and I'd recommend watching this one if you want to see some top level pool. Ant wins too many comps so I'm going to pick Chris as the winner in this one because personally it's nice to see Ant lose.

10-8 Chris

Season 3 Group Preds Div A

Division A

Ok I know this is everyone's favourite part. These preds were especially tricky because the groups are so tough I have a lot of good players missing out of the playoffs. Most were done by myself (Jon) and Ben (fhm_champion) did Group C. Best of luck with your sets and just a reminder semi-finals or better qualifies you for the year end prize tny.

Group A
pas_killa - Is there a better way to start off a preds section than to start with this guy. Pas is very old school has been around for a while. Played in tons of cam comps with varied success. I'm hoping he is getting back on his game lately because this is going to be a tough competition. Might need to learn how to safety a little more to make the playoffs here but it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

ll_chex_ll - Luiz is a pretty good player, definitely happy to have him in the competition. He's had pretty good success within the comps I've seen lately with decent showings in UCC and 8brcam group stages. He's an all around player who can take advantage of other's weaknesses for sure but he's a little bit inconsistent. With this being such a challenging group wins are going to be hard to come by.

__Trav__ - Trav had a great first season... well at least the group stage went pretty well for him. After an early exit in the playoffs last season Trav will be wanting to better that performance. Another great performance this season will be even more legit with a stronger field. He has a very strong all around game and I see him qualifying for playoffs but definitely won't walk over this group like last season.

Sourwood - Daz is back and in form as evidenced by his semi-finals appearance in the previous season. He's got a tough road just to make it back to the playoffs this season with this gruelling group stage. If he stays on form he should be able to pick up the necessary wins to advance but there's no sure thing here. Should be able to manage a spot in the knockout stage.

the_pool_professor - Last season's champ Kenny really had no challenge through the playoffs winning every set with ease. This season will be a big change. I see him making the playoffs quite easily and challenging Trav for top spot in this group. While Kenny is still one of the favourites to win this entire competition there's no change it will be a walkover this time around.

king_hustler2004 - Last season he pulled out a second round playoff appearance which kept him in the top division for this season. I know King wouldn't have it any other way to be playing against the best but this is going to be a really tough group for him. He has the ability to run a lot of tables which can win vs anyone but overall everyone else in this group has a more well rounded game. Wouldn't be shocked if he wins a couple sets but that's his limit.

Pecking Order - 1.Kenny 2.Trav 3.Daz 4.Pascal 5.Luiz 6.King

Group B
pool.sharko - Mina is in his first effort here in SSCam. He definitely had the pedigree coming into this competition with strong group stages in each of the last two 8brcam competitions. He is a difficult player to play against and can hit spectacular shots to finish tables. His safety game leaves a little something to be desired but he doesn't have to rely on it very often. Playoffs are a possibility here but it's a tough group.

i_always_rape - Shane earned his spot in div A with good performances in the last two competitions qualifying for playoffs with decent seeding both time. This could be his one and only season in div A barring him scraping out at least a couple wins which I highly doubt. I've always been told that my negative predictions will be proven wrong but in this group Shane won't finish higher than 5th.

stun.shot - The last time Nick was put in a group with this kind of talent he responded with an 0-6 run in 8brcam div A. That was probably a fluke but his skill will definitely be tested in this group here. I think last season's finalist is definitely up to the task of at the very least qualifying for the knockout stage but first in the group is doubtful. Nick is going to need to be on his playoff form from the get go and I think he'll know that.

poolist - Derrick is trying his hand in his first SSCam competition. The early favourite to take first place in this group, Derrick is going to give everyone trouble. When he's playing a lot of sets as he is right now he's going to be running a lot of tables. Knows when he has to safety but rarely has to. In the blink of an eye you could be looking at a 3-4 game losing streak and the set is over. Only downside is catching him cold he can leave his opponents open runs galore. Not as if he can't be beaten but he should be a lock for the playoffs.

DOMINATING - TJ had a pretty successful season last season becoming one of Kenny's many victims in the second round of the playoffs. Previous to that set he had been showing some rare form that hadn't been seen in a while. Hopefully he's not too busy and can shoot a little to avoid the rust but he could definitely come out of this group if those runs are going down. His very aggressive style seems to work moreso than not so he'll be riding that wave if all is well. Will be fighting some quality players for a spot though.

fhm_champion - Ben might have surprised some people taking his run in the competition all the way into the semi-finals last season. The reason for that I believe is his steady gameplay. Doesn't seem to change his style too much throughout the set and doesn't let games slip away. There's definitely a challenge in this group to prove that last season was no fluke. I think Ben will scrap out some key wins to grab a spot out of this group.

Pecking Order - 1.Derrick 2.Ben 3.Nick 4.TJ 5.Mina 6.Shane

Group C
streets_d1sciple - Matt Lasko, one of the most annoing players on yahoo pool next to me. He prefers to try and run tables and is a good runner, but lacks consistency at times. However, he is still good and I will not be surprised if he makes a run at this division.

A_D_A_M_ - Adam is a pretty classy player who is above average on most days compared to most players, and when he is hot he can be tough to beat. Look for him to be a tough match for anyone in this group because he can shoot well and play smart.

bromzzz - Stephen is a decent runner on most days, who decides against snooker on most occasions. He could surprise a few people in this division in this group if he runs well. On the other hand, if he does not finish his runs, he will find it tough to win in this group.

mr_camtasia - His name is Chris. He is a fantastic shooter. Once he starts flowing, he gets his noodle going!!! (And it is hard to stop). Expect to see many runs by this guy because he is dangerous. Also, he can play snooker and bank good too, and has virtually no weakness to his professional game play.

leeds_united14 - Jon is also a good player. He can play any type of game he desires and is smart on when he decides to run. If he finishes his runs like he is expcted to, he can make some noise in this group.

TlNO_NICA - Tino is a nice guy. His game style is odd in my opinion, he can play kind of bad, but then out of no where the next set he can play like he is one of the best ever. So obviously he can be inconsistent, and you never know what you're going to get, but he's a decent runner who lacks a snooker game. Nevertheless, he is a good person but I think he struggles in this group.

Pecking Order - 1.Chris 2.Jon 3.Adam 4.Matt 5.Stephen 6.Tino

Group D
mvp_shameful - Last time Sid was in this competition he was a finalist losing to Kevin Season 5 last year. He's back and he's back on his game doing outstanding in competitions of late most notably making a good run in 8brcam's playoffs this season. Sid has a great all around game and has the patience to stick with his mostly conservative gameplans. Should fight with Conor for top spot in this group.

expect.loss - Trio gets his wish playing in his first legit cam comp in a while. While I know he's definitely eager to prove himself against the best it'll be a tall task in this group. He definitely has the talent to get a couple wins out of this group but that'll be his ceiling. His high wire act isn't nearly consistent enough to get by against this quality.

thebezisback - Conor is an often spectacular player who has been in a bit of a funk from what I've seen lately. He's always been one of the scariest players to play against for anyone. On talent alone definitely takes first place in this group. Can play any style but his array of shots is so massive that he doesn't often have to settle for a safety. If he's on his game is a favourite to win this group and the whole competition.

legend.skillz - Cam had some championship aspirations last season that were cut short by Daz in the quarter-finals. Unfortunately for him it only get tougher from here. Even though he won his division last season his chances at pulling the same feat again here are unlikely. While Cam is an excellent runner who can beat anyone I think his game will be a little too one dimensional to take 4-5 wins in this group. Should cruise into the playoffs though barring a big upset.

safdarbandali - Not really too sure the history on this guy but I think he's pretty new to the cam comp world. He's no stranger to set wins in the comps he's played in but he's really lacking any sort of signature win. He definitely has the potential to get hot but until those skills get displayed on the big stage i'm not sold on it. Safdar has an outside chance of qualifying for playoffs but he's in for tough sets from everyone.

Pimpism - Chad has really impressed me with his play in the league and with his showing in the previous SSCam season. This new format will be especially challenging as the group stage will require focus for every match. I think Chad will have to stay patient and rely on his safety game here to have a shot at the playoffs because the run game gets shaky for him at times. If he plays the way he can the playoffs are a possibility but he's going to get some schooling from the top dogs in this group.

Pecking Order - 1.Conor 2.Sid 3.Cam 4.Chad 5.Trio 6.Safdar

Group E
toyboy2die4u - Two seasons ago Kazi was a finalist in this competition. Last season no playoffs at all in a pretty mediocre group. Not really too sure what happened there but he is showing some form in qualifying for the 8brcam playoffs this current season. There isn't really anyone in this group other than Ant who can overmatch Kazi but I think he'll be fighting for the final playoff spot.

mvp_chiddy - Craig had a fairly unspectacular season in the previous one without having his sets finished in the group stage and the highlight being a first round playoff victory vs Shane. Although he's had some pretty strong results in other competitions he hasn't been able to show that he can consistently knock off top players. On talent alone Craig is in the top 3 here but he can't afford to take any sets off.

mvp_fate - This player needs no introduction to anyone who's been following cam comps any time lately. He has been the last man standing seemingly in most of the competitions he enters. Should blast through this group pretty easily, I won't even bother trying to tell you how he's going to do it because that would take up too much space. Probably the only group where I can guarantee a player gets 1st place.

nhanxx - Everyone's favourite story of last season was Nhan's run to the quarter-final round where he pushed Ben to 14 games. We'll see after this season if it was really worth while because this group stage is going to be tough. Nhan has made tremendous strides in his game but to put it together this fast to compete in this group might be asking too much. We were surprised with last season's run so maybe he can surprise us again. Take notes while you're waiting for your turn to shoot in these sets.

sykology - Brent barely made the playoffs last season getting in with two archive wins and even then just barely. He is no stranger to tough groups being a regular participant of 8brcam's div A. He seems to surprise everyone with his success but at the end of the day his name consistently comes up in the playoffs. He'll need to have his mojo going because he plays a type of style that's all or nothing. Might have to vote against playoffs but no doubt it'll be close.

black_stallion009 - Irfan is still an improving set player and he had another solid season with a quarter-final appearance in last one. This will be new territory for Irfan in SSCam as he won't be expected to dominate this group. Far from it in fact, he'll be fighting and will need some quality wins to even qualify for the playoffs. I think Irfan will live up to the challenge and will do work to snag 2nd or 3rd place.

Pecking Order - 1.Ant 2.Kazi 3.Irfan 4.Craig 5.Brent 6.nhanxx

Season 3 Group Preds Div B

Division B

Ok folks the moment you've been waiting for. The section where I give cheers and jeers based on how well you all play pool. The predictions were all written by Jon (leeds_united14) so direct your complaints there. Finalists in Div B will gain an invite to the year end prize trny where you can win money plus doing well in this Division will gain you a promtion to Div A. Good luck everyone.

Group A
dc_sacha - Sacha is back playing SSCam after missing out on the playoffs in the previous season. This season with the split divisions should help him out as no one should overmatch him terribly in this group. He is a player who is always working on his game trying to improve. He's in with a couple tough players but I see him advancing to the knockout stage.

fv_arctic - Probably should be a div A player in any other comp but the late entry got him stuck in this second division. Chip is one of the early favourites to win this whole competition and he's been drawn with one of the other favourites Musti. Seems to know what he's doing from games I've seen and his 8brcam playoff success is more proof of that. I have Chip winning this group with a potential challenge from Musti.

sampler_43 - Brad is a player who I know not too much about. From what I gather SSCam is the only cam comp he's participating in with a little interlg experience too. Last season wasn't very successful being drawn in a tough group. This season definitely looks a lot more promising in the second division. He's hoping to steal a set or two from more experienced players and sneak into a playoff spot.

MaryJane_High - Shelle is back playing in yet another SSCam season. With recent improvements in the competition's field the group stage has been rough over the last couple seasons for Shelle. Always plays her sets and is always improving div B should be a great place to play some more competitive sets. She's been drawn into possibly the toughest group here but I see her winning a couple sets at least and maybe catching a playoff spot.

skilled_banger - Everyone talks about Musti with such high praise but I haven't really noticed anything all that special. Does pretty well in SS trnys which is mostly all I have to go by. I just haven't seen him in too many playoff brackets in cam comps or at least not deep into them at all. Musti should be a playoff player in this competition and will be looking to play his way into Div A for the next season. Musti will grap one of the top two spots in this group should be an interesting set with Chip.

zah1d_rasul - Last season was Zahid's first and he finished it off with only one win in the group stage. Should have much better opportunities to improve upon that this season with the easier group. Not really too sure what kind of player he is but has won less than 40% of games within the lg. Probably a favourite to bring up the rear hoping to steal a set or two for a successful showing.

Pecking Order - 1.Chip 2.Musti 3.Sacha 4.Shelle 5.Brad 6.Zahid

Group B
lawbubba - This man is brand new to cam comps so should be interesting to see how he does. He's a longtime member of ss with occasional success in the lg trnys. Should be a learning experience here to see how sets are played. Not impossible for him to win a set in this grouping but it would be considered a longshot.

lol_lmfao_lmao - Bryan is another player trying to fight his way up to play with the big boys. Div B should be a great way to get himself re-acclimated with the competition. This should be a relatively easy group for Bryan because of the experience edge he has over most of the players in here. The only other proven player in the group is David and that should be the biggest challenge. Bryan's ability as a good shooter and ability to play some safeties will carry him through to playoffs like a breeze.

xlx_whatwhat_xlx - Another brand new player in the SSCam field here. Never seen this guy in any competition/interlg at all so just going by lg stats seems to be a fairly average player. There aren't really too many standouts in this group though so the opportunity is there. Not much information to really back up this prediction but I see him winning a couple sets and at least making it close to a playoff spot.

mr.owner_pwner - Yet another new player to cam comps. Darrien is looking for a different challenge and here it is. He is a player with decent skill seems to do relatively well in tourneys and usually gives me a tough match. He's a good shooter with decent english knowledge and I think he might even know how to hit a safety. Should be right in there looking for a playoff spot and has potential to knock off good players.

true.scrub - Not really too sure what it is about David's game that makes him successful but it's hard to argue with results. SSCam playoffs 2 seaons in a row and also was able to earn a high seed in the div B 8brcam playoffs. Has been a fairly consistent set player and I'm almost willing to say he has what it takes to win this competition. Unlike previous seasons he is going to have to live up to expectations and discard all of his opponents in the group stage. Should be a lock for a playoff spot.

_BIG_J_69 - This group is just loaded with new people and Erik is yet another one. Erik is a pretty good player and I had him seeded as a playoff player going into this season. This group is pretty wide open and I predict a fight between as many as 3 players for the final playoff spot. He should be right in the mix in that fight and I give him the edge to come out on top and possibly take a decent seed for playoffs.

Pecking Order - 1.David 2.Bryan 3.Erik 4.Darrien 5.Wes 6.Bubba

Group C
Hotdude_70 - Rahul told me that he was going to have a better showing in the group stage in this upcoming season and the new div B will definitely make that a possibility. This particular group is still pretty tough though and although I'm not going to say it's impossible for Rahul to make the playoffs it would be a pleasant surprise. Should have more competitive sets in this group but should really only expect 2 wins tops from Rahul.

advanced_n00b - Rees makes his return to the competition after playing elsewhere abroard refining his skills. This should be much different than his last time in the competition as he enters as one of the early favourites in this section. Rees is always improving as a shooter and his strategy game has taken a jump with his willingness to rely on safeties a little more. While Rees is still a bit of a cam comp rookie, his experience stands out here and I have him as a long on a playoff spot.

Top__Dawg__ - Sterlo is someone who I had pretty high hopes for when he first started playing in SSCam. Unfortunately the first two season have been pretty disappointing with subpar group stages. On the plus side this has landed him in div B which should give a better opportunity to get some wins and gain some playoff experience. Sterlo has been working hard with his game playing a lot of races against good players lately. I see that paying off with a playoff spot finally.

xlxkavinxlx - And here is Sterlo's main competition for the last playoff spot in the group. Kavin was impressively a playoff player in his first go in SSCam which was a pretty nice feat considering the field. He got no favours with his grouping in this lower division with no guarantee he'll even make the playoffs here. I see Kavin giving everyone a tough set and definitely has great chances to qualify for the playoffs.

drew_just_owned_you - While Drew is brand new to cam comps he's by no means new to pool. He's been a member in SS for a while and can be challenging to play against. He's a pretty good shooter and that's all you really need to be able to take someone out. I don't see the playoffs in his future but he could surprise a couple people with good sets and maybe even wins.

ll_eskimo_ownage_ll - Another player who could have an argument to be playing in div A this season. As is the case with that group he now becomes a favourite to win the entire div B and move up for the following season. Petey has a ton of interlg experience and isn't new to cam sets either. He's a good, creative shooter and he will play safeties until the cows come home. I see him just barely outlasting Rees in a set and taking the group title.

Pecking Order - 1.Petey 2.Rees 3.Sterlo 4.Kavin 5.Rahul 6.Drew

Group D
dx.fanatic - Well what can we say about Jack. I haven't really seen him do anything good at all in any cam comp of note but at the same time he has played a few which gives him an experience edge. Seems to be an alright player who can win sometimes in big games. While I had him seeded to make the playoffs there's no guarantee as Adam will fight him for that last spot.

astro61200 - Scott is an old schooler looking to get his game back on track here. Has shown he has some good form still with a run in the 8brcam div B playoffs. Should qualify for the playoffs pretty easily in this competition too. Not really too sure how he plays at all pretty much just his name gets him this prediction.

_2hardcore_ - DJ is a name I see popping up all over the place in a bunch of competitions so he's definiteliy getting his repititions in. For his sake hopefully he's starting to pick up some new skills because there hasn't really been any success so far. Last season's poor showing leaves him in div B with more friendly surroundings but I still don't think they're friendly enough. More of an opportunity to build on his 1 set win from last season but that won't be enough to make playoffs.

dr_papsmear_at_your_cervix - Adam is brand spanking new to cam comps but I think he'll expect to do well right off the bat. His latest style includes shooting as fast as he can and smashing the balls around the table in an odd fashion. This works for him sometimes but I've never heard of shooting better, making better choices when rushed. He has a strong chance to make the playoffs in this group but I see him coming up just short.

DEJAVU_AJ - On to AJ! Last season's playoff appearance wasn't enough to keep him in div A. But now he stumbles down into one of the favourite positions in div B which isn't such a bad transition. AJ has loads of cam comp experience with most of it being pretty average. He does however stand out in this particular grouping as an obvious playoff qualifier and will fight to win this group with Scott. He should be claiming a pretty high playoff seed with a good performance here.

PSYCHOJASON - Jason has made his return to SSCam and right on time to be a div B competitor. Was literally the last guy in the field and he'll be looking to improve upon his last performance in the competition. Not really too sure what kind of a player he is but he stays pretty active in ss so I'd have to say he could win a set or two here but the playoffs are a longshot.

Pecking Order - 1.AJ 2.Scott 3.Jack 4.Adam 5.DJ 6.Jason