Cadred's May TF2 Top Ten

The Cadred Top Ten returns for the best in the European TF2 scene!

We are using the same regulations as other ranked games on Cadred: Fifteen votes will go into each month's rankings, ten of which are from the previous month's top ten teams, and five of which are from our panel members, who will vote every month.

The points system remains simple: a first place vote earns that team 10 points, 9 points are awarded for second place, and so on.

On page two you can read who the panel members are, and see their thoughts and opinions on this month's rankings.

Duncan "dunc" Wraight
Duncan is a regular top ten contributor.

He boasts an impressive TF2 CV, having captained the likes of what women want, TCM-Gaming, Ubersexuals and the TF2 England national team.

"This month hasn't seen an awful lot of officials. The four competitions I've taken results from are the eSportsHeaven One Night Wonder on Viaduct (only one result from Broder there, a win vs eLD), the eSportsHeaven Western Digital prize tournament, the EMS group stages and finally the EMS playoffs.

The clear, runaway winner in terms of official results for May is TCM-Gaming. They've been crying for months because I haven't ranked them high in my previous Top 10s, as according to my system (which was broken last month, I'm sure they'll agree it's fixed this month, even though it's the same system ;) they weren't, comparatively, taking the points they should have. This month is an entirely different story however with the powerful TCM team not losing a single official, in fact only losing a single map versus idk? in the ESH WD prize tournament out of 9 officials. In all of the Top 10s I've done, there has never been such a clear cut first place and I think it's equally obvious that the lineup changes TCM have brought about have in no small part been the reasoning behind such a good month.

Second place this month goes to the new-look Power Gaming lineup. Although they only played two officials this month, they beat the promising Broder team and last month's surprisingly successful idk? pink. Not much of a challenge for a team that should be competing for the #1 spot, hopefully we'll see more from them in June.

Third place goes to newcomer team WeMadeFux. They've been around for a month or two now but only in May did they play any officials, beating eLD in the ESH WD prize tournament and losing in a low scoring game to #1 spot TCM.

Fourth goes to my new team Dignitas, despite having only played one official, an incredibly close game vs Broder in which both of the original maps went to golden cap and the overall game was won by Dignitas on cp_well. Lineup changes and general inactivity mean Dignitas didn't bother with other tournaments in May but are hoping to be back and more active in June.

Fifth place goes to a team that I'm confident we will see much higher up come the June Top 10. At the end of April Broder replaced BERSERKERR with the infamous wltrs and their overall performance is just getting better and better as each game goes by. As well as being one of the most active teams in terms of PCWs, Broder placed themselves in a lot of tournaments in May and played very close games against Dignitas, Power Gaming and idk?. Unfortunately all of those games were losses, meaning they won't place higher in this month's Top 10, but I'm fairly sure we'll see them competing for a top 3 place next month.

Sixth place goes to idk? pink who've had an inactive and uninteresting month, losing to Power Gaming and allowing Dignitas to overrun them in the EMS group stages.

The most surprising placement this month has to be idk? who were last month's number one. Unfortunately in May it seems inactivity has taken its toll and idk? lost both of their important officials (both finals) against TCM. As TCM were placed middle of the table last month and idk? top, they lose a lot of points in my system, bumping them right back down to 7th for the month. Their only notable win this month was against fifth place team Broder, but even that seemed a struggle. Was idk?'s magic a one-month-only affair or will we see more from them when their standard level of activity is restored?

Eighth place sees an inactive FB who have already dropped out of EMS and only played one official in May. Ninth place goes to Hadouken! for their close Turbine game against idk? in the ESH WD prize money tournament and finally 10th place goes to rockit! because of the rest of the teams like newcomers stoic and eLD, their losses were the least grievous."

Dave "dave" Hopton

Dave is part of Cadred's TF2 team. He concentrates fully on the supporting the scene, and unfortunately doesn't play the game as much as he would like, but in the past was a top Division 2 player in Team YoYoTech.

Dave works as an admin for ETF2L, is a leading voice on ETF2L Radio and also helps out at Vanilla TF2; as if this wasn't enough, he's also amazingly attractive and an all-round incredible guy. This certainly qualifies him to be part of our respectable panel.

"And so we’re back again. For me, TCM have to take the title. Solid performances resulting in victories in the ESH and ETF2L 5th Cup Finals suggest that their roster shuffle is working. Perhaps they will be the new team to replace Dignitas, except they’ll keep playing incessantly.

Picking up fellow panelist dunc seems to have given Dignitas some renewed vigour and it’s for this reason I’m placing them further up the table. Firing on all cylinders, I think these guys can beat idk?, who will be slightly disappointed to have come 2nd twice in the aforementioned ESH and 6th Cup Finals.

May has also seen the emergence of some exciting new squads – in particular, Broder and WeMadeFux. It’s great to have some more nationalised teams near the top, and both have shown some hugely impressive results, although considering their rosters this is only to be expected. I really hope both these teams can continue to challenge the very top and keep the scene as close as it has become.

A lack of activity defines the lower echelons this month for me – Broder, idk? and TCM are all testament to the idea that practise makes perfect, so I’d love to see these guys pick up the pace – all have great potential, and victory is within their grasp!"

James J. "Admirable" McDonnell

James is the (fore)head of TF2 coverage at Cadred. He concentrates to the daily coverage more than the others in the team. He has been a long time community enthusiasist.

James has played in the Irish national team and much-loved coolclan in the past. He currently taking some time out from playing to avoid failing at life.

He is also rumoured to be the best Medic in Europe.

"As I sit myself down with a pint of Guinness to aid my thinking, and thus fulfil every stereotype about the Irish, it becomes clear that none other than the splendiferous TCM-Gaming can take the top spot. These fair sailors have shown they’re more than capable of being the best in Europe, although do it without a smile on their faces! Perhaps a drop of rum may help, although none of course for their new Medic Byte…

Tis a sad day for idk? – geddit?! They simply couldn’t match up and as a result drop down the tables for me. Their swashbucklin’ ways of last month should inspire them to do better this month I hope! Dignitas are of course a force to be met with fear, much like the British Flag, but the new ships on the horizon are of course Power Gaming, Broder and WeMadeFux. These buccaneers will be looking to continue their quest for treasure and have definitely put an X on that number 1 spot.

And now for the Davey Jones end of the table. Sitting in the gallows are the merry bunch of Spanish and German bounty hunters, Mister and Team Rockit. They clearly need to get the seawater out of their boots and start winnin, or else the future be lookin’ grim."

Patrick "JimmyBreeze" Harvey

Patrick retired from captaining a TF2 team last year, but since then he's only become busier in TF2, taking up positions as an ETF2L admin and a columnist for Cadred.

Patrick is well known for his insightful, irreverent and sometimes subversive esports writing.

"TCM have, yet again, seriously impressed this month. Re-introducing their former lover/bitter enemy numlocked to the squad and moving Byte to medic to accommodate him is the kind of move that would destroy lesser teams. But not TCM. Despite the reported chemistry problems and the drastic change to their system, they comprehensively beat I Don't Know? - last month's number one - in the ESH WD Challenge finals and the ETF2L 5th cup final too.

Those kinds of performances, under those kind of conditions, combined with their unparalleled February clearly make them top of the class for the spring/summer (just like they were for last year's autumn/winter season). And if online form is anything to go by, they're the team to beat at the upcoming LANs."

Sivert "Torden" Bakkeng

Sivert is our newest top ten contributor.

Don’t be fooled though he is a grizzled veteran when it comes to competitive TF2, having risen to fame in the revered Weapons of the Rebellion\4Kings squad that produced many of today's top players.

He currently captains Team Norway and the Scandinavian upstarts, 7 brothers who aren’t brothers, playing the pivotal medic role for which he is recognised as one of the best in Europe.

"TCM - It’s very difficult to like TCM. It’s not just from them having the charm of a horse. It’s the lack of courtesy to out “hello” or “gg” to their opponents. And the lack of courtesy to avoid outing verbal taunts (usually characterized by the formulas “lolOl * 10” and “:D + D * X-amount”). It’s their policy of making 11 people adjust to 1 person’s eating habits. Their complaints on your team’s random technical problems, be it Aequitas, Server or ISP troubles. And of course, any observation about their shortcomings is received more sensitively than a stick to a hornet’s nest. (Can’t wait to hear their feedback on this one!)

…It’s also very difficult not to admire TCM. Adding Byte and Zerox, partnering up with TF2 Godfather Xman, with the undisputed goal of becoming nothing less the best. It’s been a year of unparalleled practice, blood, sweat and broken glass tables. And it has paid off.

Unbeaten this month, they’re clearly and deservingly the best team right now. And with the expected improvements of their new demo and medic, they’re going to be a very tough team to best. With a laugh-yelling Arab, a well meaning emo Brit, a Belgian gentleman, mum’s favourite German and 2 Portuguese uncles – there’s no good reason why this family won’t (eventually) blossom to win our hearts too.

The Rest - Idk?: On vacation. Dignitas: Restructuring heals. Broder: Riding a good wave. Power: Rome wasn’t built in a day, even with the best carpenters. Mister: Still improving, Jan airshotting. TLR: Restructuring. WeMadeFux: See Power. FB: Doing their usual offseason hibernation, sleep tight boys. Stoic: 2 beasty scouts/snipers, 2 aggressively superb soldiers, 1 intelligent demoman and 1 stable medic. From the outside, they seem to have all the ingredients needed in the recipe for success."

You'll be able to catch more thoughts from our panel with Cadred's June Rankings in a few week's time!

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Originally published on Cadred.org on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:00:21 +0100 by Dave Hopton.

Archived from Cadred's May TF2 Top Ten as part of tf2esports.com's preservation of Cadred.org's TF2 coverage. All rights remain with the original author and Cadred.org; reposted for historical reference.