Review Clan Championship 9 + Interview with Lankbouv!

[Mr.Latvian 3,597]

 

 

Welcome all you eSports fellows!

 

In this article, we will be looking at the Clan Championship 9 which took part in Russian community, however, all communities were welcome to join it and play in it. The TOP 16 teams of Blitz rating points were allowed/asked to play in it. In the TOP 16 we had four English teams and twelve Russian teams. As there were a lot of clans, I will mostly talk about English clan's / player's performance in the tournament and just point out a few other clan performances which were a surprise or made an outstanding performance. I would like to point out that this will be more informational article not as an interview, but a review of the games of the teams.

In TOP 16 we had teams from the EN community such as Regrets, Deadly Army, All Kind and Chicos (now Penguins), and from the Russian side we had Synergy, Can't Stop, Next, Revolution, Woodpeckers, Chaos, Invincible, Star Warriors, Vavilon, Eternity, Arm Power and Hard Show. Favorites chasing the victory were Vavilon, Synergy, Invincible who won most of the Blitz tournaments and also Chicos who won many Blitzes in row as a new clan at the time and got into TOP 16 extremely fast.

 

Teams have fought for these exclusive paints;

 

Champion  + 25% Module,

 

Silver        + 20% Module,

 

Bronze     + 15% module,

 

Gladiator 

 

Participants have also been motivated by other prizes - an enormous amount of crystals and money that can only be used in Tanki Store.

 

 

English clans have been placed 2 in each group - Deadly Army and Chicos were in group 1 and All Kind with Regrets in group 2. All four English community clans made an awesome performance in the 1st group stage and at the end of the stage all 4 clans were in TOP 4 of the group or just a few points behind. Chicos and Deadly army faced each other in Bridges Light Format and in a close fight (rounds: 3-0, 0-1 and 0-0) Chicos finally managed to get the victory and won the game 2:0 granting them 3 points. In the 1st stage there were no outstanding moments or games with a result that no one would have thought of. I would like to point out group 1 Deadly Army and Eternity game in which Deadly Army tied the game in rounds 1:1 (1-1, 1-1. 1-0, 2-1 of flag difference) and got themselves 1 point. Second interesting Group 2 game where English clan took part, was the game of All Kind vs Can't Stop. All Kind won over Can't Stop in Light format Barda battle with the score 2:1 (2-1, 2-2. 1-2, 1-0).

 

In Group 1, Chicos and Deadly Army tied in number of wins, ties and loses with Arm Power, (all having 3 wins, 3 loses and 1 draw) and so the point difference come to play meaning that Chicos will place 4th and Deadly Army in 5th. Top 3 teams were Vavilon with 6 wins and1 tie, Revolution with 4 wins, 1 lose and 2 tied games and Eternity with 3 wins, 2 loses, and 2 ties.

 

Situation in Group 2 was very similar as in the Group 1. All Kind was in 3rd place with 5 wins and 2 loses, but Regrets were far behind in 6th place with just 2 wins in 7 games. Top 4 of the Group 2 were Synergy and Invincible (both 5 wins and 2 ties) followed by All Kind and Chaos with 4 wins, 2 loses and 1 tie. All Kind and Regrets faced each other in Parma XP/BP. Game was really tight, but All Kind managed to win with score in rounds 2:1 and got themselves 3 points.

 

Stage 2 continued in the same groups with the same clans. In the Group 1, English clans Deadly Army and Chicos met once again. However, the game result was this time different as Deadly Army payed back the previous loss, winning over Chicos in Parma Medium Format with score 2:1 (7-0, 2-2, 2-3; 3-1) giving Deadly Army 3 points. This time, Group 1 didn't show any groundbreaking performance or outstanding scores, I'll only mention Eternity vs Deadly Army which ended 3:0 for Eternity in Barda XP/BP battle, and Chicos who tied with Vavilon in Tribute Medium format 2:2.

 

Group 2 started badly for English community clans - our beloved Regrets left the competition and closed their clan, but All Kind continued their way and got into Top 4 of the group in count of 2 stages.

 

Their 1st game against Regrets (4:0 technical victory) was followed by the game against Can't Stop in Parma XP/BP. The game was actually a fight for 3rd/4th place in the tournament table, Can't Stop was drawing 4th/5th place with Chaos and All Kind was ahead just by 1 game victory.

 

 

Can't Stop vs All Kind game

 

Video:

 

The 1st round started with shoot out from both of teams for getting best position and chance on getting the flag. From side of All Kind, we couldn't see a good chance on getting away with flag, but Can't Stop with help of @Double.Shot camped in All Kind base and got away with flag giving Can't Stop a 1:0 lead in 4th minute of the 1st round. Game continued with the shoot out battle from both teams and in 6th minute both teams were getting away with flag - All Kind lost the flag just near their water tower camping spot, a good play from Can't Stop, but in the meantime, other Can't Stop members were trying to get away with flag on the other side of map. While Can't Stop players were shooting at the returning players, @Lankbouv got Double Armor and Nitro and with help of other All Kind members he returned the flag in Can't Stop's base. Just after that, All Kind with an excellent knowledge of Can't Stop's base, their spawns and control of the drops captured the flag when timer was at 2:30 matching the score - 1:1.

 

Round 2 starts with fast attempt of Can't Stop to get a control of drops and cap the flag, but All Kind quickly returns the flag and manages to capture one as well -  1:0 for All Kind. Game continued, All Kind tried to take next flag back to their base, but were stopped by Can't Stop's counter attack. @SERDE4KO with help of other Can't Stop player got the flag and run away to their base while @Fer_legend returned the flag from All Kind, excellent gambit was followed by All Kind attempts to return the flag resulting in multiple kills of flag holder. With lucky spawns and help of double armor and speed boost drops in base, Can't Stop equals the score. Can't Stop's Attack does not stop and tried to run away with next flag, unfortunately flipped him sideways.  This attempt is interrupted and eliminated by [member=I_AM_DAMN_GOOD] and @Lankbouv. Just few moments latter, that same player @SERDE4KO with help of @RanzeR run away with All Kind flag, made an excellent double kill and most All Kind players were just spawning while @SERDE4KO delivers second flag - 2:1 for Can't Stop.

 

Third round is pretty much dominated by Can't Stop, they once again grabbed the flag and captured thanks to main attacker @SERDE4KO with his awesome Wasp just 2:30 before the end of the round, but 1-0 is not enough for Can't Stop and so @SERDE4KO just few spawns latter got to the All Kind flag and  delivers it to the base where @Double.Shot captures it with help of double armor.

 

Can't Stop smartly used enemy's water tower spot and was almost always first to take the double powers. On top of that, thy were good in using double armors and speed bosts in their own base. Sadly for All Kind this match was critically  important and since they ended up loosing, Can't Stop with 24 points advanced to play-offs.

 

 

Group B (Group 2) results: Synergy, Invincible, Chaos and Can't Stop advanced to play off stage.

 

In group A, Deadly Army placed 3rd just 2 points ahead of Next and 4 points ahead of Revolution. However, based on complaint, Deadly Army was disqualified for sharing accounts to win battles in CC9 .

 

Group A (Group 1) results: Vavilon, Eternity, Next and Revolution advanced to play off stage.

 

 

I would like to note that Synergy in both group stage rounds did not lose any of their 14 games and tied only once. Vavilon lost 1 battle and draw 2, Invincible lost 1 battle and tied 3. Excellent performance from Synergy and other favorites like Vavilon.

 

Transfer window

 

Clan All Kind after a close loss in the group stage decided to close their clan.

Transfer Window was the most awaited moment for all the people who followed CC9, both players who just watched and teams who played.

 

Clan Vavilon got themselves new members as @TomRedl who was a member Invincible for a long time, and who as we all know was the main Smoky player for Star Series team Can't Stop, Scorpions.

 

Synergy as a total surprise took in @Lankbouv from All Kind.

 

Can't Stop took in 2 more members from All Kind - @PAKISTANII and [member=WiTh0uT.RuLeS].

 

Invincible took in @Free from MoS champion team Arm Power and @BurnFlame from Eternity.

 

Chaos took in @Alphavitee and @CEKRETHbIu from MoS champion team Arm Power.

 

 

Play-off

In the 1st game of play-off, Can't Stop played against favorite Vavilon. As expected from favorite, Vavilon won in Bridges XP/BP + Hard Kungur battle, but Can't Stop made a complain about Vavilon using 4 Wasps. So in the end, Can't Stop was given a 2:0 technical victory and Vavilon moved to loser bracket.

Next match was Eternity against Chaos in which Eternity won 2:1 in XP/BP Kungur and Hard Molotov formats, Chaos moved to loser bracket and Eternity advanced in their second game in play off against Can't Stop.
 

Tournament favorite Invincible played against Next and won  2:1 in Kungur XP/BP and Solikamsk Hard formats, Next moved to loser bracket.
 

Synergy without any surprise won over Revolution 3:1 Solikamsk Hard and XP/BP Red Alert formats, Synergy advanced to next round where it played against Invincible, and Revolution moved down to loser bracket.
 

Can't Stop vs Eternity match ended in 2 penalty rounds, but before them they tied in Parma XP/BP and Bridges Medium. In the end Can't Stop succeeded in 2nd penalty round and won with 2:1 score. Eternity moved to loser bracket where it faced Vavilon in Loser bracket final. With score 3:0, Eternity won in Molotov Medium and Parma Light. Synergy met Can't Stop in the Super-final, where Synergy won after a six round drama  (5:1 win for Synergy) and became the ultimate Champions. Teams played Red Alert XP/BP, Kungur Light and Bridges Medium formats. I would like to point out that Lankbouv played 8 rounds in total with Synergy in Play-off and by the rules is rewarded with Champion, Gladiator and the module with 25% protection from all turrets and hulls.

 

Before the Super-final game of Synergy and Can't Stop, Can't Stop played against Eternity for chance to play in the Super-Final. In tight game of Barda Light format and Tribute Medium format, Can't Stop won 3:0.

 

In end Synergy won 1st place and as reward they got 30 million crystals and 20 thousand rubles for shopping in the store, as well as 6 month of premium, Gladiator, Champion and module protection with 25% from all turrets and mines.

 

Can't Stop won 20 Million crystals, 10 thousand rubles for shopping in the store, Silver and Gladiator paint with module of 20% from all turrets and mines.

 

Eternity won 10 million crystals, 5 thousand rubles for shopping in the store with Bronze and Gladiator paints and 15% module from all turrets and mines.  

 

All teams who played in play-off receives Gladiator paint.

 

Check the interview with eSports legend, the newly-crowned champion Lankbouv below.

[Mr.Latvian 3,597]

Interview with @Lankbouv

 

I would like to begin with congratulating you on winning and becoming Champions with Synergy. Let's start with the questions, shall we. Overall, what do you think about Clan Championship 9? Was it well organized, well prepared, well said about rules etc.

 

Lankbouv: Thanks! Well, the organization was great, having set days for matches yet with negotiation allowed is by far better than the way EN eSports do it which is basically a free for all. The 4 formats was tricky to do, in the group stage allowing clans to play each other twice was fair and brilliant but in playoffs I do feel like hard format was neglected , always being the last format to be played. Overall, organization was good, but tournament could be said to be slightly ruined by DDos, but by now players must control that themselves: get protection or leave eSports. however, in the final, in first 2 rounds DDos happened to both teams, someone was using strong DDos which they must of paid for as even those with protection (like me) got DDosed.

 

 

At the start you took part with clan All Kind, what was your experience, was there something you would have changed or did different?

 

Lankbouv:  I can't talk about all details but I would say never again will I enter a tournament unprepared without training. We just lost lots of members and tried to play CC9 anyway, it wasn't a great experience yet we were 1 point from victory only once did we play with our best team, and notably beat Can't Stop who eventually became finalists. We had great potential but due to having no training or players being there we didn't do at all well. No blame to the leader, he did best he could in a really dire situation.

 

By drawing in total points with Can't Stop, you guys suffered and stayed out 5th in the group, since you lost to them in previous round. Then, All Kind decided to close and join different clans in transfer window. Was this decision made because of a loss or because of willingness to achieve something outside AK in future?

 

Lankbouv: No one in AK cared about TO anymore, I had friends in Synergy and so I was tested by them for 3-4 days before finally being accepted into their clan. I wanted to contribute and not just be a spare part. Thankfully I did play lots of rounds in playoffs. Speaking Russian in TS was not a problem for me, even though I never learned any Russian. St.Railgun taught me many words and I just got on with it, no problem.

 

Now you are part of Champion team Synergy. Do you feel any difference between organization in teams from side of All Kind and Synergy? If yes, tell us about it.

 

Lankbouv: The two times I have been main player and won something are MOS and Cc9. In MOS we had 6 great players and didn't need a lot of organization, we were all experienced and it was just XP/BP format. We played same in whole tournament and could of won without bad choices for map in final and us being very nervous. On Synergy organization of Medium and Hard format is incredible, something I never witnessed before in TO. Organization was the #1 reason we won Champion without a doubt. Dynamite and PAKISTANII are totally different leaders. I think PAKISTANII is good at choosing King players who will gel with clan and also at letting them play where they are best. He takes advice of others like me and WiTh0uT.RuLeS and zzz-07 when it came to format games and we made decision together. Dynamite took advice from SleD1111 for Medium and Hard and it worked well. Both leaders are very good.

 

You were the main defender/mid attacker of your previous clan All Kind. Has anything changed in Synergy?

 

Lankbouv:  They took me in because I was defender and so I stayed that in Synergy. We used 5 attackers in some XP and Light matches and so I didn't play that but if we needed 2 defenders I would play. In hard format I would always play with Freeze or Hammer in defense and in Medium I played Railgun camping/defend. Overall Synergy took me for my defending skills , I didn't need to learn like a new player. Synergy doesn't have 6 players who play all formats. I can say honestly 12 players in squad were actually 100% players of certain maps and certain sides of that map. For example, I always played Kungur Blue side XP or Light and always Rail in Bridges Medium, but I never play Osa Red side light XP or Hard format Solikamsk. Each player has their specialty whereas to a degree in AK we used same 8 players for all. (Before CC9, in CC9 it was just random whoever was there played).

 

 

Which player from Synergy you like the most in terms of tactics, game sense or in any other way, and why?

 

Lankbouv: T-H-E_S-P-Y.  It is evident in the first minute of round 4 vs Invincible in Osa, he has mastered the art of waiting, most players drive without thinking, he waited and landed several shots on the enemy.

 

Synergy has made an awesome performance and overall did not lose any game in Clan Championship 9. What can you say about their success. Can you maybe give some advice to other clans?

 

Lankbouv: Organize yourself, and get DDos protection.

Speaking about DDoS protection, check this post of my where I tell some advice on how to protect yourself

 

Ending this interview, do you have anything more to add?

 

Lankbouv: After having 2 incredibly successful tournaments, MOS I won Silver and CC9 Champion, I have to leave clans for a few months to focus on work to get into University. I wish the best of luck to all in clans, and I will still make YouTube videos which can be found here: https://www.youtube....frA-Yq95HQTgjVw

 

 

For all other games of CC9 check https://www.youtube.com/streamTO

For more interviews on our successful player Lankbouv check [issue 54] [eSports] EN Success: All Kind  and my own article All Kind: Interviews with the Pros.

[GoldRock 6,165]

Approved!

[Mr.Latvian 3,597]

Feel free to start commentating.

Edited January 4, 2017 by Mr.Latvian

[I.Love.YouUU 39]

:O omg nice :O

 

 

 

good luck

[NERF836 202]

Nice :D

[I3.R.0 1,700]

Very good article

[Tofu 6,773]

Nice article

[Lankbouv 6,347]

Great summary of the events, and thanks for the interview :)

[Lewis.Hamilton 1,110]

"get DDos protection".

You mean that if we face you and your clan, we will definitely need VPN? :D

[Mr.Latvian 3,597]

"get DDos protection".

You mean that if we face you and your clan, we will definitely need VPN? :D

Your jokes and accuse of Synergy and other clans are not fine and does not show a good impresion of you. Please stop making such a statements, feel free to PM him and tell that. But as far as you dont have decent proofs, I would like to ask not to say it on public, since its just blaming for being Champions who use VPN.

[GoldRock 6,165]

Since this appears to provide some valuable content for readers on the topic of CC9 and it's a good-quality piece, moved to eSports News section!

[Guest Maserati]

Nice work, keep it up! :)

[Jaaames 1,622]

Fantastic article here. Really gives a good decription of the events in such an important clan tournament.

Interview was also interesting. Lankbouv has many good points, with the whole thing being very well written

Well done! :)

[O.S.A.N 714]

This, is sure to be encouraging all clans & members to take part in such tournaments ^_^

Edited January 7, 2017 by O.S.A.N

[Rogue 1,915]

Great info

Amazing topic!

Congrats lankbouv

Wish AK didn't break apart

[BabyLou 1,881]

Dammit Janis, great job :D

 

I put the differences aside and congrat. Lankbouv for the accomplishment which proves why you should own Veteran and Germans not :P 

 

#ShotsFired :ph34r:

[Lankbouv 6,347]

We have differences? 

[BabyLou 1,881]

We have differences? 

I guess :ph34r: or we don't?  :blink:

[Lankbouv 6,347]

not as far as I know

[BabyLou 1,881]

Must be my lucky day then!!

[Find 220]

well everyone knows what i should say but ill keep it in mind. nice interv

[D1E 257]

Dont hold back for me, I have a thick skin Mr.Careless

 

What do you want to say :D

[Poker 4]

Like

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

Sexy photo lol. Nice interview but I found several grammatical errors from just scanning the article.