Spoiler
Obviously the clear favoruites are indeed Amaterasu with such a dominate display all season warrants such odds, as previously mentioned they have the best teamplay and skill currently in the scene and they are high on confidence and form so expect them to be giving everything to win the only format they haven't won yet! More specifically, with the team having the current leader in the MVP Standings in Higen, you are always going to be confident and with the rising stars like Jakob and Achilles continually performing alongside the ever present high skill level of Zeyden, then it takes a real desire and chemistry to upset that group of players.
The runner-up I believe will be Legends, they have got the return of ClaSh to look forward to which will bolster the ranks and make them stronger in bigger formats, also they will have learned alot from the final vs Amaterasu last time out and expect Drake to adapt the lineup accordingly to try cause a upset. I believe they are a player or two short of being favoruites but with all time greats like ExTaZz, Shadey, Tiberias and Elsse, you can never write them off. If players such as Drake and Gibby hold there own and play solid without mistakes or being scared, then the pressure will be on Amaterasu to try and pick the best Legends players who can easily beat any Amaterasu player on their day!
Poosy will finish in Bronze as they don't have enough depth in skill to beat the teams above, the lack of presence of Python and Bagins will mean they effectively lack the in game leader and arguably the best player in the game (alongside Zeyden). This will be too much to replace and it will be a real shock if they win. Poosy is full of solid stable players which can easily hold their own, as shown by getting to so many finals and narrow loses to Amaterasu, but they are lacking in the first pickers and technical players department, this means they are just seemingly waiting to die and be outled at the moment. Admittedly Hertz has stepped up to the plate and perfomed well in the absents of others and having legendary players like Herishey, Axiom and Troister, will always give you a shout to win any match in a upset! They will be waiting patiently till next weekend for the Play-Off finals to show what they are about!
In 7v7 format, once you go outside the top 3 it can be a toss up on who performs best on the days, and especially how the typically "benched" players, show up. I expect Virgins, ENIGMA, NSS, Snappers and CCCP to finish off the top 8 in that particular order. I believe Virgins have the best starting 5 out of the remaining teams and will have enough skill on the bench aswell as the drilled style of play to fully overcome any inferior competition with little resistance. I could of ordered the next 4 teams in any random position and it would look realistic, but the reason why I believe ENGIMA will be 5th is because although they have drastically under performed, I feel they will want to end the regular season on a high before the Play-Offs start. In bigger formats the better players have more oppurtunity to exploit weaker players so I expect the trio of Wolpi, Bunter and Gerher to exploit the rest of the teams. NSS, Snappers, CCCP and even NPP are all a toss up and it probably will come down to which ever group the teams get placed in and also on the attendance each team brings respectively. I would say on paper NSS or CCCP have the strongest rosters, but the teamwork of Snappers and the leading skills of NPP with a modest skill level team, can't go unnoticed. If players such as Fietta and Cody play to the expected level then I believe they will finish 6th. If Ivan even comes close to his expected level, then he alone should help them finish 7th or even higher, but the consistent skill level recently of Fralla and Mike should also cement them in the Play-Offs. The 8th/9th position is tied between CCCP and NPP especially now more than ever, both teams vitally need that Play-Off seed which both are fighting for with the inevitability that Legends will take a spot which will force one of these two mentioned teams out. This means that both teams will aim for the highest position possible more than ever, also skill wise it slightly favours CCCP but the leadership skills of Melsyo are renowed far more than those of KOBZIK, respectfully. Expect this to be the most intense and meaningful tournament yet!
Outside of the top 9 teams, I expect to see the same as the rest of the season, to see teams like 13e Academy, BlackKnight, Fluss and GVT all push those who are seeded 5th-8th to the max to try get 2nd seed in each respective group and also to try cause a upset. Probably going under the radar is indeed the 13e Academy, these guys can more than likely reach the Play-Offs over NPP and CCCP if they have a brilliant tournament. With the exceptional leading of Nock, then the improving skill of Narrow with every gf and having a legendary all time god like player like Tardet, keep a eye on them to go under the radar and look to reach them Play-Off positions. GVT have perfomed well all season considering they are full of NA's with a disadvantage in ping, they will end the season as they started, outside the Play-Offs. BlackKnights and Fluss will keep trying with the new generation Polish and German majority rising players and aim to do as I said, reach bracket play and cause a almighty upset. For the rest of the teams in the tournament, they will give their all but fall short and finish in expected positions and they will all look to bounce back in Season 3 of EGS and try be challenging for those Play-Offs positions, alongside the exiciting arrival of another 12 teams from within the communities lower divisions.
