September 10, 2011 -- For just the second time in the history of The Great Arena, one hundred and twenty-eight fighters will unite in the common pursuit of fighting supremacy in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles]!
A field of 128 was last seen during Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn, where Cr0w emerged victorious to claim his second tournament win. A bracket of the same scale was featured in the original Tournament 1, with only 114 fighters competing with several byes on offer.
Unlike previous tournaments, Tournament 8 will run the duration of a complete fortnight, coinciding with Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] (starting September 4). T8 will also mark the first time League Rankings have been used to determine favourites in the field. The top ranked sixteen fighters have been seeded at the top of bottom of randomly drawn mini brackets, arranged in a closing order based on the standard Wimbledon system. At each end of the the complete bracket sits #1 Cr0w and #2 Ratt, able to meet no sooner than the Grand Final, after seven rounds of competition.
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] Semi Final Result:
1. Cr0w [1] d. Genku [8] in a solid victory!
It was as recent as August 14 that these two Semi Finalists stood opposite each other in the centre of The Great Arena. Supercard 11 saw Genku cash-in his contention for the Undisputed Championship, hoping to end Cr0w then five-defense win streak as reigning champion. The plan seemed perfect, with both men playing a cocky pre-match, but when it came time for SC11, it was Cr0w who ran roughshod over the contender in a +4 decimation.
In the Semi Final of Tournament 8, it was clearly a Genku who was a little wiser and little better prepared for the high stakes situation. A total decimation was not out of the question, but Genku's defenses were primed as he fought for the opportunity to break this unprecedented twenty-two match win streak! Valiant in his efforts, Genku simply did not have the strength to contend with a Cr0w who brought all his weapons to the ready! Try as he might, Cr0w could not break the defenses of Genku, but he never looked in doubt with the glint of a twenty-third victory in his eye, and the reflection of another tournament Grand Final clearly in sight. Decimation was denied him, but once again, Cr0w was victor.
2. Ratt [2] d. ElJobber [7]
Despite being seeded second, in the minds of some, Ratt was the underdog in this clash with the highly motivated seventh seed! Unfounded speculation had turned ElJobber from the fan-favourite conscience of The Great Arena, to an unfeeling, unrelenting competitor willing to do anything to win. In the build to the Semi Final, ElJobber had delivered +30 MAX impacts to JoelKatz (R3) and MINION (R2), and if he had his way, he'd do it again to Ratt!
With a win a piece at Pre-Show 8 and Supercard 10, they made for the more compelling Semi Final combination, matching up every bit as well as reputation would have it! Both men looked strong in spite of their hard fought paths to the final day, but it was Ratt who had a little extra something when it mattered most! Buoyed by the support of the crowd and by his own heartful efforts, Ratt once again proved why he is "The Iron Man," fending off fatigue and a motivated assault to turn the tables on ElJobber -- winner in an impressive, high level encounter!
The victory would set up a dream match between the #1 and #2 seeds, but before that could happen, the stars of the Duo Division would be given their chance to shine as the Semi Final of Tournament 9 unfolded...
Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] Semi Final Result:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] d. DaMo & DeathScepter
Emerging as the powerhouse tandem counterparts to Cr0w's domination of the solo field; Hokey & Ninja_Mime stepped into the arena with an impressive 12-1 record in Duo Division combat! One of those wins included a Championship defense against DaMo & DeathScepter at Supercard 11, but that wasn't about to worry the #3 seeds!
Where the result was comprehensive at the All-Star Summer Showdown, there would be no such decisiveness in the Tournament 9 rematch! With such a rare opportunity on the line, D&D showed tremendous tenacity, hanging with the Champions at every turn! For a worrying moment it seemed as if a second loss would rob Hokey & Ninja_Mime of appearing in a second Tournament final, but experience and success drove them the extra mile! Though victorious, the prospect of a rematch of the Tournament 6 final [which they lost] cast plenty of doubt over the longevity of the Champions as they awaited the result of the second Semi Final!
2. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] d. m0s & Nemesis316
As the only combination to defeat Hokey & Ninja_Mime (in the final of Tournament 6); fifth seeding downplayed the true stature and potential of Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon as a pairing! Theoretical favourites over the unknown quantity of m0s & Nemesis316, PR & GD had the x-factor of Ghostdragon's long run in the Singles field to consider, with regards to their longevity. Not to mention the upstart arrival of their opponents, who were successful at eliminating the #1 contenders to the Duo Division Championships in the Second Round!
What would unfold would be one of the most compelling encounters the Duo Division has ever seen! Despite their relative inexperience as a tandem, m0s & Nemesis316 benefitted dramatically from the rising confidence m0s has earned as a two-time winner of the Daruma 7 event. More than any flash in the pan, the pair took the fight every step of the way to the T6 winners! In one of the hardest fought matches of the entire tournament, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon were last minute victors, enduring under incredible conditions to emerge victorious by a relatively narrow margin!
The match marks another triumph for "Mr. Daruma" m0s, whose star seems to be on the rise well beyond the success he enjoyed in two victories in the immensely difficult Arena sideshow! Newly dedicated to combat, he has become a self-made contender, captaining a debut partner all the way to the Semi Final! m0s is sure to launch out of this to bigger and better things, but for Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon, the 'bigger' would occur after the Tournament 8 Grand Final, in a massive rematch of the Tournament 6 finish!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] Grand Final Result:
1. Cr0w [1] d. Ratt [2]
Pre-tournament seeding may have predicted their destined meeting, but any notion that numbers would denote the outcome of the Tournament 8 Grand Final would be sorely mistaken. There was an air of anticipation in The Great Arena as "The Iron Man" Ratt returned to face the overwhelming odds that he has so often relished throughout his career. Cr0w was the man who took the Undisputed Championship from Ratt, defeating him after the conclusion of Tournament 5: War for the Kr0wn, where tournament glory was doubled with a title match. It was a fitting end to Tournament 8, the spiritual follow-up to T5, which was the first one hundred and twenty-eight fighter field.
With two epic matches behind them, it seemed it was going to be an old fashioned slobberknocker that would decide the singles final. It seemed as if Cr0w's overwhelming victory over Genku had spent much of his energy, while Ratt too showed concerning signs of fatigue after his more obvious, hard fought match with ElJobber. Spent and fighting on will alone, there would clearly be nothing fancy about the tactics employed by the two finalists in this Grand Slam Grand Final. There was a sense that any fresh fighter could take advantage of them both, but that only made this all the more compelling, reminding The Great Arena just how much a tournament victory means!
For the first time in a very long while, Cr0w legitimately looked as if he could lose the match! While it would not return the Undisputed Championship to Ratt, it was a tantalizing added incentive to the already impressive accolade of a Tournament victory. Fight hard, though he would, Ratt simply did not have enough left to go the distance. Cr0w may have been the one to fight through the agony and fatigue, but no honest observer could claim that Ratt was a loser in this match. In ways that haven't been seen in such a long time, Cr0w was taken to a zone of absolute desperation, and you've got to think that given the opportunity, Ratt would be every chance to reclaim the Undisputed Championship! Will he get the chance? Only time will tell!
Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] Grand Final Result:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] d. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] in a +2 tandem decimation!
They met in the Grand Final of Tournament 6, where it was Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon who surprised everyone in The Great Arena to become not only the first team to defeat the dominant combination of Hokey & Ninja_Mime, but also the first-ever Duo Division Champions! It was a fact rectified just a week later, when Hokey & Ninja_Mime claimed the titles at Pre-Show 9: Destination Duo, but there could be no sense of a clear winner, either way, in the finale of Tournament 9! At least, not until the match began.
Like the solo competitors before them, neither of the Duo Divisional finalists were at their peak, but it was far and away less damaging for Hokey & Ninja_Mime than their apparently depleted opponents! Still fighting at a top level, the reigning Champions fought with a class all of their own, vastly different to the T6 final that surprised them with an upset! It was hard to say what robbed them of their mojo, but in the end, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon simply didn't have enough left to combat the awesome concoction of Hokey & Ninja_Mime!
Though it seems like another triumph for the already dominant reigning Duo Division Champions, the Tournament 9 victory comes as a long overdue win! Hokey has long been a darling of the Tournament scene, but never in his long career has he ever been the last man standing in an elimination field. So often regarded fondly as the lucky charm for an eventual winner, Hokey now stands triumphant, side-by-side with friend and fellow stalwart of The Great Arena, Ninja_Mime! Though the titles mean so much, the chance to stand victorious over a field of their peers in a tournament goes just that little bit further, you'd have to think!
A massive two weeks of Grand Slam action finally draws to an end, but the competition is far from over! Pre-Show 12: Grand Slam Aftermath concludes a fourteenth day of non-stop combat, bringing back all of the legends of The Great Arena for a standard card of blockbuster fighting!
Tensions between the fighters of The Union of The Human League and the Four Barons of Lord Mislukking continue to escalate! Baron of War, Ares Menschlich, has been revealed as responsible for influencing events that threatened to tear the human leagues apart, but he claims he merely exposed the undercurrent of contempt that was already there! Tournament 8 and Tournament 9 certainly drove the masses to fierce competition, but at Supercard 12: Night of the Barons, four the best will put aside their pursuit of personal glory to combat each of the Barons! It'll be a Night of the Barons preview at Pre-Show 12 when the man who was reborn to expose the truth -- Kron -- takes on the Baroness of Pestilence, Praga Conquette, before he resumes his feud with War!
It all begins again September 11 -- be here or live in fear!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Tournament Grand Slam - Day 12!
September 9, 2011 -- The two Grand Slam tournaments converge as the brave and the bold of The Great Arena duke it out for the ultimate glory of defeating a field of their peers to become tournament champion! Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] enters the Quarter Final stage as only the second one hundred and twenty-eight fighter field narrows to eight of the best fighters the league has seen. Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] delivers the same, with an eclectic mix of the new and old, only the second time the Duo Division has offered tournament glory to the ranks!
Who will reign supreme in the Grand Slam tour? Will it be Cr0w with his phenomenal win streak? Will it be ElJobber with the uncompromising will to win? Will it be Hokey & Ninja_Mime for the first time? Will it be Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon in another surprise finish? Will it be Ratt -- the marathon Iron Man who never quits? Will it be Scott-Howell & Murdoink -- the Duo Division originals?
Day 12 is the final stop before the ultimate showdown of the finals!
Grand Slam [Singles] Quarter Final Results:
1. Cr0w [1] d. TonyTheTiger [10] in a +21 annihilation!
It was supposed to be a challenging roadblock for the rampaging Undisputed Champion, but instead, the Quarter Finals proved just another statistic for #1 seed and all around dominator, Cr0w!
It was during Tournament 7 that TonyTheTiger radically transformed his reputation for being the ultimate opportunist, finally finding his claws in a string of decimations that set him up for a surprise loss in the final round. This newfound competitive edge saw TTT continue a predatory path through the field in Tournament 8 and suggested he could be a legitimate threat! Alas; a twenty-second straight victory would be delivered to Cr0w with devastating results, leaving TTT broken and battered after a +21 annihilation! Despite the unceremonious exit, TonyTheTiger leaves Tournament 8 with a world of credibility -- a stark contrast to the days of his shortcut attempts into the top rankings!
Meanwhile, the question on many lips remains -- who can stop the unstoppable force of Cr0w? With some of the strongest competition in the league looming in the finals, Cr0w may yet find himself navigating the walk of shame out of the winners circle of The Great Arena! Then again, with each of the top challengers already tasting defeat against the Undisputed Champion, his confidence will be riding high as he seeks to pick up a second consecutive 128-fighter tournament win!
2. Genku [8] d. Porygonix [14]
Emerging from a hard fought Fourth Round win over The_Purple_Bunny [9]; Genku did not quite look like the eighth seed he had been in previous results. Clearly wearing signs of battle fatigue, Genku had a legitimate task ahead of him against Porygonix -- fighter who achieved the unlikely feat of eliminating Kron [4] from the Fourth Round in a major upset!
Despite his flagging state, Genku was strong enough to fend off any prospects of another upset victory. Spurred on by the possibility of earning a rematch against his Supercard 11 Championship rival, Genku powered over Porygonix, fortunate enough to be faced with a challenger who very well may have expended his best in the previous round. Genku will no doubt use the opportunity to rally his best for a clash with Cr0w in the Semi Final -- a shot at redemption for the would-be Champion!
3. ElJobber [7] d. Ghostdragon in a decimation.
Time and again Ghostdragon has found himself fading at the crucial moment, but this once dubbed underrated fighter mustn't be forgotten as a former tournament winner, enjoying a coheld victory with Pink_Ranger as winner of Tournament 6! With a big win against Hokey [3] in the Fourth Round, GD has the spiritual momentum with him -- but would it be enough to quell a force who delivered two +30 MAX damage demolitions earlier in the tour? Sadly for Ghostdragon, the answer was no.
ElJobber has endured a tumultuous period of recent times, losing the gloss of fan-favourite status amidst speculation that he engaged in an underhanded attack at 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix! While allegations leveled by Tyrant-Cenobite haven't yet proven to be true -- the mud stuck and ElJobber transformed from "conscience" of The Great Arena, to one of its most callous competitors, at Tower of Power II!
Ghostdragon was defeated, but far from disgraced. The Quarter Final may not be the conclusive follow through GD would have liked to experience, but against a fighter as unforgiving as ElJobber, keeping the loss to a +2 impact is no mean feat! Ghostdragon must be recognised as having answered his critics with the impressive performance, which included collecting Hokey and Next Phase rival, Jammer2Omega, along the way. ElJobber, of course, reaffirms his newfound dominance in The Great Arena, looking ever dangerous to contest the elusive Undisputed Championship!
4. Ratt [2] d. Ken in a solid win.
A longstanding member of the upper echelon, Ken suffered several setbacks in his quest to become Undisputed Champion over the past few months! Hovering just outside the unofficial contenders list, he has needed some big wins to rejoin the top talent of The Great Arena. Fortunately, a generous run; which included circumventing Toryn [5] courtesy of a Blaze upset; meant Ken achieved exactly as was needed, following on from some much needed wins in event competition! Nobody could have wanted the dream to remain alive for Ken more than Ratt, but with tournament glory on the line, "The Iron Man" knew he would be doing Ken a disservice to be anything but his best!
The pair matched up surprisingly well as Ken fired up against the overwhelming odds of the number two seed! Unintimidated, Ken put in a considerate challenge, and despite being outclassed by an "Iron Man" in the endurance stakes, he kept the hurt to a minimum. Ratt was never in doubt as winner, but Ken has once against captured the imagination of the people. Ken will be rooting for Ratt as he moves into the final day of competition, but you can bet your bottom dollar that he's doing so with a future shot of his own, in mind.
Grand Slam [Doubles] Third Round Results:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] d. Artanix & foahchon
They may be the ultra dominant Duo Division Champions and number one seeded tandem for Tournament 9, but Hokey & Ninja_Mime are 0-1 when it comes to taking out the top prize of a Duo Division tournament. The psychology of the match was a twisted pretzel, not the least of which was influenced by Hokey and Ninja_Mime's solo defeats, Day 11. Artanix and foahchon may have exitted earlier, but with a T7 Semi Final and Challenger 7 qualification still fresh on Artanix' win/loss record, there was the scent of possibility in the air in this clash of veteran doubles!
The reigning champions felt themselves pressured in ways that were largely unfamiliar. Carrying a win/loss record that would make even Cr0w think twice about fighting either of the pair, Hokey & Ninja_Mime were rattled beyond expectations! Even so, experience ensured they were cool under fire. A big win pushes the champs through to the Semi Final, but the scars of this fight may prove psychological as they face the pointy end -- where they were defeated by Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon during T6!
2. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] d. JoelKatz & KittyKat in a +3 tandem decimation!
Always an unlikely pair beyond the First Round, JoelKatz & KittyKat looked well and truly out of their depth against the bizarre but seasoned pairing of DaMo & DeathScepter! Progressing through some surprise results and a generous draw, JoelKatz & KittyKat had none of the skills necessary to counteract the sheer force behind D&D's main event assult power.
DaMo & DeathScepter were massively confident as they charged to an impressive +3 decimation of their out-of-their-league opponents! The match sets up a compelling rematch situation for D&D, who were unsuccessful in their attempts to gain the Duo Division Championships at Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown! Is payback the next chapter in their tale -- or would that just be too conventional for the bizarre pairing?
3. Pink_Ranger/Ghostdragon [5] d. Scott-Howell/Murdoink [4]
The first-ever Duo Division Champions might be the only pairing to have a tournament victory in their list of achievements (Tournament 6), but seeded fifth, even they had to be somewhat uncertain of the challenge that awaited in Duo Originals and #4 doubles, Scott-Howell & Murdoink!
Tensions have existed between "Sugar" Scott-Howell and his partner ever since the launch of the Duo titles, which they have repeatedly been unsuccessful in competing for. Against the original title holders, that tension appeared to shine through, even as the Duo Originals enjoyed a convincing performance! Even with the sting of defeat fresh on his shoulders from the Singles brackets, Ghostdragon was able to combine with Pink_Ranger to once again progress to the Semi Final stages of the tournament. A result that appeared to push Howell and Murdoink to breaking point, leading the pair to turn the blame on each other!
4. m0s & Nemesis316 d. SubMan799 & Casselman [6]
They may have come from nowhere, but m0s & Nemesis316 announced themselves as a tandem to be reckoned with when, in the Second Round, they eliminated #2 seeds and standing #1 contenders to the Championships, DECEPTION & Onryo! Riding high on the success, it was fair to wonder if #6 seeds, SubMan799 & Casselman were truly favourites in the R3 clash!
The two teams matched up incredibly well, but a struggling SubMan799 presented something of an anchor to the fortunes of the #6 seeds. Looking on the verge of death, SubMan799 was a weakened counter to super-charged "Mr. Daruma" m0s, who has proven himself as an electrifying presence since taking out the arcade Daruma 7 feature in two amazing sideshows! A lopsided affair saw m0s captain the duo to an exciting and unpredictable Semi Final appearance!
September 10 will go on record as the grand finale for the Grand Slams! Four finalists remain in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] and Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] as the Semi Final stage brings together the best of the best in a must-win situation!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Semi Final:
1. Cr0w [1] versus Genku [8]
Cr0w [1] chases his twenty-third and twenty-fourth straight victory when he faces a rematch of the Supercard 11 Championship bout, against Genku [8]! Will the past deliver the keys to victory to the #8 seed, or is the unstoppable force of Cr0w destined to reign undefeated for another major win? These two men are former tournament champions, victors over Tournament 1 and Tournament 2 respectively, no less. T2 delivered Cr0w the first Undisputed Championship, but Genku won T1 before there was any gold to speak of! Will destiny deliver victory to Genku, or is Cr0w fated to win it all?
2. ElJobber [7] versus Ratt [2]
Once they represented the "conscience" and "heart" of The Great Arena, but at Tower of Power II, ElJobber [7] became a dark mirror to the fan-favourite "Iron Man" Ratt [2]! Neither of these time tested combatants have ever gained total victory over a tournament field -- who will be the one to earn the spot? ElJobber has delivered multiple MAX damage impacts to his opponents as he relentlessly pursues the Undisputed Championship he has never won. Ratt knows what it means to endure the harshest of conditions and has been the Undisputed Champion his opponent has not! Ratt owns a victory from Pre-Show 8, but ElJobber avenged it at Supercard 10. However you cut it, it's going to be one heckuva blockbuster!
Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] - Semi Final:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] vs DaMo & DeathScepter [3]
At Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown, DaMo & DeathScepter [3] were unsuccessful in their bid to take the Duo Division Championship from the reigning combination of Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1]! They may be the overwhelming favourites, the #1 seeded team with the doubles gold, but the only time Hokey & Ninja_Mime have ever won was at Tournament 6, the only other time the Duo Division was tested in an elimination bracket. Could history play on the minds of the dominant duo, or are D&D due for another domination at the hands of the champs?
2. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] vs m0s & Nemesis316
Ghostdragon was the only competitor successful enough to make it to the final eight of both the Singles and Doubles Grand Slam tournaments. He may have been unsuccessful in the solo field, but with attentions turn exclusively to the Duo Division, he rejoins Pink_Ranger to challenge a second tournament victory as #5 seeds! m0s & Nemesis316 weren't a part of Tournament 6: The Duo Championships, making their debut as a duo in Tournament 9, but already they have amassed a reputation. After eliminating the current #1 contenders for the Duo Division Championships in Round 2, they charged through the seasoned combo of SubMan799 & Casselman to earn this Semi Final opportunity! It'll be a clash of the old and new, the tested and the unknown as these two teams go head-to-head in another exciting clash!
Every match is a main event as September 10 delivers the Semi Final and Grand Final stages of both Tournament 8 and Tournament 9! Then, the action continues on Sunday as Pre-Show 12: Grand Slam Aftermath returns competition to a standard format! It's a massive Grand Slam Weekend in The Great Arena -- don't miss it!
Who will reign supreme in the Grand Slam tour? Will it be Cr0w with his phenomenal win streak? Will it be ElJobber with the uncompromising will to win? Will it be Hokey & Ninja_Mime for the first time? Will it be Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon in another surprise finish? Will it be Ratt -- the marathon Iron Man who never quits? Will it be Scott-Howell & Murdoink -- the Duo Division originals?
Day 12 is the final stop before the ultimate showdown of the finals!
Grand Slam [Singles] Quarter Final Results:
1. Cr0w [1] d. TonyTheTiger [10] in a +21 annihilation!
It was supposed to be a challenging roadblock for the rampaging Undisputed Champion, but instead, the Quarter Finals proved just another statistic for #1 seed and all around dominator, Cr0w!
It was during Tournament 7 that TonyTheTiger radically transformed his reputation for being the ultimate opportunist, finally finding his claws in a string of decimations that set him up for a surprise loss in the final round. This newfound competitive edge saw TTT continue a predatory path through the field in Tournament 8 and suggested he could be a legitimate threat! Alas; a twenty-second straight victory would be delivered to Cr0w with devastating results, leaving TTT broken and battered after a +21 annihilation! Despite the unceremonious exit, TonyTheTiger leaves Tournament 8 with a world of credibility -- a stark contrast to the days of his shortcut attempts into the top rankings!
Meanwhile, the question on many lips remains -- who can stop the unstoppable force of Cr0w? With some of the strongest competition in the league looming in the finals, Cr0w may yet find himself navigating the walk of shame out of the winners circle of The Great Arena! Then again, with each of the top challengers already tasting defeat against the Undisputed Champion, his confidence will be riding high as he seeks to pick up a second consecutive 128-fighter tournament win!
2. Genku [8] d. Porygonix [14]
Emerging from a hard fought Fourth Round win over The_Purple_Bunny [9]; Genku did not quite look like the eighth seed he had been in previous results. Clearly wearing signs of battle fatigue, Genku had a legitimate task ahead of him against Porygonix -- fighter who achieved the unlikely feat of eliminating Kron [4] from the Fourth Round in a major upset!
Despite his flagging state, Genku was strong enough to fend off any prospects of another upset victory. Spurred on by the possibility of earning a rematch against his Supercard 11 Championship rival, Genku powered over Porygonix, fortunate enough to be faced with a challenger who very well may have expended his best in the previous round. Genku will no doubt use the opportunity to rally his best for a clash with Cr0w in the Semi Final -- a shot at redemption for the would-be Champion!
3. ElJobber [7] d. Ghostdragon in a decimation.
Time and again Ghostdragon has found himself fading at the crucial moment, but this once dubbed underrated fighter mustn't be forgotten as a former tournament winner, enjoying a coheld victory with Pink_Ranger as winner of Tournament 6! With a big win against Hokey [3] in the Fourth Round, GD has the spiritual momentum with him -- but would it be enough to quell a force who delivered two +30 MAX damage demolitions earlier in the tour? Sadly for Ghostdragon, the answer was no.
ElJobber has endured a tumultuous period of recent times, losing the gloss of fan-favourite status amidst speculation that he engaged in an underhanded attack at 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix! While allegations leveled by Tyrant-Cenobite haven't yet proven to be true -- the mud stuck and ElJobber transformed from "conscience" of The Great Arena, to one of its most callous competitors, at Tower of Power II!
Ghostdragon was defeated, but far from disgraced. The Quarter Final may not be the conclusive follow through GD would have liked to experience, but against a fighter as unforgiving as ElJobber, keeping the loss to a +2 impact is no mean feat! Ghostdragon must be recognised as having answered his critics with the impressive performance, which included collecting Hokey and Next Phase rival, Jammer2Omega, along the way. ElJobber, of course, reaffirms his newfound dominance in The Great Arena, looking ever dangerous to contest the elusive Undisputed Championship!
4. Ratt [2] d. Ken in a solid win.
A longstanding member of the upper echelon, Ken suffered several setbacks in his quest to become Undisputed Champion over the past few months! Hovering just outside the unofficial contenders list, he has needed some big wins to rejoin the top talent of The Great Arena. Fortunately, a generous run; which included circumventing Toryn [5] courtesy of a Blaze upset; meant Ken achieved exactly as was needed, following on from some much needed wins in event competition! Nobody could have wanted the dream to remain alive for Ken more than Ratt, but with tournament glory on the line, "The Iron Man" knew he would be doing Ken a disservice to be anything but his best!
The pair matched up surprisingly well as Ken fired up against the overwhelming odds of the number two seed! Unintimidated, Ken put in a considerate challenge, and despite being outclassed by an "Iron Man" in the endurance stakes, he kept the hurt to a minimum. Ratt was never in doubt as winner, but Ken has once against captured the imagination of the people. Ken will be rooting for Ratt as he moves into the final day of competition, but you can bet your bottom dollar that he's doing so with a future shot of his own, in mind.
Grand Slam [Doubles] Third Round Results:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] d. Artanix & foahchon
They may be the ultra dominant Duo Division Champions and number one seeded tandem for Tournament 9, but Hokey & Ninja_Mime are 0-1 when it comes to taking out the top prize of a Duo Division tournament. The psychology of the match was a twisted pretzel, not the least of which was influenced by Hokey and Ninja_Mime's solo defeats, Day 11. Artanix and foahchon may have exitted earlier, but with a T7 Semi Final and Challenger 7 qualification still fresh on Artanix' win/loss record, there was the scent of possibility in the air in this clash of veteran doubles!
The reigning champions felt themselves pressured in ways that were largely unfamiliar. Carrying a win/loss record that would make even Cr0w think twice about fighting either of the pair, Hokey & Ninja_Mime were rattled beyond expectations! Even so, experience ensured they were cool under fire. A big win pushes the champs through to the Semi Final, but the scars of this fight may prove psychological as they face the pointy end -- where they were defeated by Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon during T6!
2. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] d. JoelKatz & KittyKat in a +3 tandem decimation!
Always an unlikely pair beyond the First Round, JoelKatz & KittyKat looked well and truly out of their depth against the bizarre but seasoned pairing of DaMo & DeathScepter! Progressing through some surprise results and a generous draw, JoelKatz & KittyKat had none of the skills necessary to counteract the sheer force behind D&D's main event assult power.
DaMo & DeathScepter were massively confident as they charged to an impressive +3 decimation of their out-of-their-league opponents! The match sets up a compelling rematch situation for D&D, who were unsuccessful in their attempts to gain the Duo Division Championships at Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown! Is payback the next chapter in their tale -- or would that just be too conventional for the bizarre pairing?
3. Pink_Ranger/Ghostdragon [5] d. Scott-Howell/Murdoink [4]
The first-ever Duo Division Champions might be the only pairing to have a tournament victory in their list of achievements (Tournament 6), but seeded fifth, even they had to be somewhat uncertain of the challenge that awaited in Duo Originals and #4 doubles, Scott-Howell & Murdoink!
Tensions have existed between "Sugar" Scott-Howell and his partner ever since the launch of the Duo titles, which they have repeatedly been unsuccessful in competing for. Against the original title holders, that tension appeared to shine through, even as the Duo Originals enjoyed a convincing performance! Even with the sting of defeat fresh on his shoulders from the Singles brackets, Ghostdragon was able to combine with Pink_Ranger to once again progress to the Semi Final stages of the tournament. A result that appeared to push Howell and Murdoink to breaking point, leading the pair to turn the blame on each other!
4. m0s & Nemesis316 d. SubMan799 & Casselman [6]
They may have come from nowhere, but m0s & Nemesis316 announced themselves as a tandem to be reckoned with when, in the Second Round, they eliminated #2 seeds and standing #1 contenders to the Championships, DECEPTION & Onryo! Riding high on the success, it was fair to wonder if #6 seeds, SubMan799 & Casselman were truly favourites in the R3 clash!
The two teams matched up incredibly well, but a struggling SubMan799 presented something of an anchor to the fortunes of the #6 seeds. Looking on the verge of death, SubMan799 was a weakened counter to super-charged "Mr. Daruma" m0s, who has proven himself as an electrifying presence since taking out the arcade Daruma 7 feature in two amazing sideshows! A lopsided affair saw m0s captain the duo to an exciting and unpredictable Semi Final appearance!
September 10 will go on record as the grand finale for the Grand Slams! Four finalists remain in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] and Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] as the Semi Final stage brings together the best of the best in a must-win situation!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Semi Final:
1. Cr0w [1] versus Genku [8]
Cr0w [1] chases his twenty-third and twenty-fourth straight victory when he faces a rematch of the Supercard 11 Championship bout, against Genku [8]! Will the past deliver the keys to victory to the #8 seed, or is the unstoppable force of Cr0w destined to reign undefeated for another major win? These two men are former tournament champions, victors over Tournament 1 and Tournament 2 respectively, no less. T2 delivered Cr0w the first Undisputed Championship, but Genku won T1 before there was any gold to speak of! Will destiny deliver victory to Genku, or is Cr0w fated to win it all?
2. ElJobber [7] versus Ratt [2]
Once they represented the "conscience" and "heart" of The Great Arena, but at Tower of Power II, ElJobber [7] became a dark mirror to the fan-favourite "Iron Man" Ratt [2]! Neither of these time tested combatants have ever gained total victory over a tournament field -- who will be the one to earn the spot? ElJobber has delivered multiple MAX damage impacts to his opponents as he relentlessly pursues the Undisputed Championship he has never won. Ratt knows what it means to endure the harshest of conditions and has been the Undisputed Champion his opponent has not! Ratt owns a victory from Pre-Show 8, but ElJobber avenged it at Supercard 10. However you cut it, it's going to be one heckuva blockbuster!
Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] - Semi Final:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] vs DaMo & DeathScepter [3]
At Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown, DaMo & DeathScepter [3] were unsuccessful in their bid to take the Duo Division Championship from the reigning combination of Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1]! They may be the overwhelming favourites, the #1 seeded team with the doubles gold, but the only time Hokey & Ninja_Mime have ever won was at Tournament 6, the only other time the Duo Division was tested in an elimination bracket. Could history play on the minds of the dominant duo, or are D&D due for another domination at the hands of the champs?
2. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] vs m0s & Nemesis316
Ghostdragon was the only competitor successful enough to make it to the final eight of both the Singles and Doubles Grand Slam tournaments. He may have been unsuccessful in the solo field, but with attentions turn exclusively to the Duo Division, he rejoins Pink_Ranger to challenge a second tournament victory as #5 seeds! m0s & Nemesis316 weren't a part of Tournament 6: The Duo Championships, making their debut as a duo in Tournament 9, but already they have amassed a reputation. After eliminating the current #1 contenders for the Duo Division Championships in Round 2, they charged through the seasoned combo of SubMan799 & Casselman to earn this Semi Final opportunity! It'll be a clash of the old and new, the tested and the unknown as these two teams go head-to-head in another exciting clash!
Every match is a main event as September 10 delivers the Semi Final and Grand Final stages of both Tournament 8 and Tournament 9! Then, the action continues on Sunday as Pre-Show 12: Grand Slam Aftermath returns competition to a standard format! It's a massive Grand Slam Weekend in The Great Arena -- don't miss it!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Tournament Grand Slam - Day 11!
September 8, 2011 -- Fighting for the opportunity to compete in the finals, the prestigtious Round of Sixteen arrives for Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles], bringing with it an eclectic mix of challengers who braved the elimination rounds, new and old!
Competing in the match of the round, The_Purple_Bunny [9] and Genku [8] made it a blockbuster every bit worthy of the main event hype garnered! Reflecting the proximity of their seeding, the pair of former tournament winners matched up incredibly well, taking it to a finals calibre collision! In the end, Tournament 1's champion beat out the most recent victor (T7), delivering Genku into a compelling Quarter Finals match!
Genku will take on Porygonix [14] thanks to his stunning upset victory over friend and mentor, Kron [4]! The recently returned Kron had been billed as the most likely obstacle to prevent Cr0w [1] continuing his undefeated charge through the top ranks, but crumbled in his match with Porygonix, suffering a shock +18 impact in his annihilation! Porygonix becomes a darkhorse contender, whilst proving the claims of current Kron nemesis, Ares Mensclich, who says friendship and morals mean nothing when the glory of winning is on the line!
Cr0w, of course, made it twenty-one victories since Tournament 5, doing away with DECEPTION [15] in an impressive match-up. Despite the defeat, DECEPTION went down as the first legitimate challenger to contest against Cr0w, no disgrace in the loss. The ferocious TonyTheTiger [10] earned a business-like victory over Ninja_Mime [6], moderate compared to some of his more punishing victories in recent times. The win sets up a reasonably interesting next stage of the gauntlet for Cr0w!
Ken continued his return to form with a comprehensive win over upstart tournament debut, Blaze! He'll face a major test when he meets up with #2 seed, Ratt, who was dominant in his elimination of DeathScepter [13]. Likewise, Ghostdragon continued his rise, taking out tournament folk hero, Hokey [3], to gain the spiritual favourite spot enjoyed by winners of T1, T2 and T3, who all defeated Hokey in their run to victory. He'll need supersticion on his side when he takes on "Max Damage" ElJobber [7], whose effect in the Fourth Round was kept to a minimum by "Mr. Daruma" m0s -- who put in an impressive performance!
Grand Slam [Singles] Fourth Round Results:
1. Cr0w [1] d. DECEPTION [15]
2. TonyTheTiger [10] d. Ninja_Mime [6]
3. Porygonix [14] d. Kron [4] in a +18 annihialtion!
4. Genku [8] d. The_Purple_Bunny [9] in a close fight.
5. ElJobber [7] d. m0s in a +2 decimation.
6. Ghostdragon d. Hokey [3] in a +2 decimation.
7. Ken d. Blaze in a comprehensive result.
8. Ratt [2] d. DeathScepter [13] in a +3 decimation.
Day 12 sees Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] and Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] come together in one massive display of tournament competition! It's Quarter Final time, bringing together the brightest starts of The Great Arena league and the deadliest doubles of the Duo Division with glory on the line! Every match is a main event, with no prizes for losers!
TonyTheTiger [10] will test his competitive new attitude against the unstoppable force of Cr0w [1], whose current streak sits at 21-0! It'll be make or break in this main event stoush as claw and talon duke it out in another blockbuster tournament battle! Also on the marquee, a massive clash as reigning Duo Division Champions, Hokey & Ninja_Mime (1), fend off the challenge of tandem stalwarts Artanix & foahchon, led by T7 semi finalist, the running hot Artanix!
Meanwhile; in the remaining singles bouts, it's a case of upstart versus seed as three of the most unlikely Finalists take on three of the top ranked contenders! The Duo Division will enjoy some similar surprises, delivering newbies to the big dance alongside the biggest names of two-man competition!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 12:
1. Cr0w [1] versus TonyTheTiger [10]
2. Porygonix [14] versus Genku [8]
3. ElJobber [7] versus Ghostdragon
4. Ken versus Ratt [2]
Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] - Day 12:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] versus Artanix & foahchon [7]
2. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] versus JoelKatz & KittyKat
3. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5]
versus Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4]
4. SubMan799 & Casselman [6] versus m0s & Nemesis316
Competing in the match of the round, The_Purple_Bunny [9] and Genku [8] made it a blockbuster every bit worthy of the main event hype garnered! Reflecting the proximity of their seeding, the pair of former tournament winners matched up incredibly well, taking it to a finals calibre collision! In the end, Tournament 1's champion beat out the most recent victor (T7), delivering Genku into a compelling Quarter Finals match!
Genku will take on Porygonix [14] thanks to his stunning upset victory over friend and mentor, Kron [4]! The recently returned Kron had been billed as the most likely obstacle to prevent Cr0w [1] continuing his undefeated charge through the top ranks, but crumbled in his match with Porygonix, suffering a shock +18 impact in his annihilation! Porygonix becomes a darkhorse contender, whilst proving the claims of current Kron nemesis, Ares Mensclich, who says friendship and morals mean nothing when the glory of winning is on the line!
Cr0w, of course, made it twenty-one victories since Tournament 5, doing away with DECEPTION [15] in an impressive match-up. Despite the defeat, DECEPTION went down as the first legitimate challenger to contest against Cr0w, no disgrace in the loss. The ferocious TonyTheTiger [10] earned a business-like victory over Ninja_Mime [6], moderate compared to some of his more punishing victories in recent times. The win sets up a reasonably interesting next stage of the gauntlet for Cr0w!
Ken continued his return to form with a comprehensive win over upstart tournament debut, Blaze! He'll face a major test when he meets up with #2 seed, Ratt, who was dominant in his elimination of DeathScepter [13]. Likewise, Ghostdragon continued his rise, taking out tournament folk hero, Hokey [3], to gain the spiritual favourite spot enjoyed by winners of T1, T2 and T3, who all defeated Hokey in their run to victory. He'll need supersticion on his side when he takes on "Max Damage" ElJobber [7], whose effect in the Fourth Round was kept to a minimum by "Mr. Daruma" m0s -- who put in an impressive performance!
Grand Slam [Singles] Fourth Round Results:
1. Cr0w [1] d. DECEPTION [15]
2. TonyTheTiger [10] d. Ninja_Mime [6]
3. Porygonix [14] d. Kron [4] in a +18 annihialtion!
4. Genku [8] d. The_Purple_Bunny [9] in a close fight.
5. ElJobber [7] d. m0s in a +2 decimation.
6. Ghostdragon d. Hokey [3] in a +2 decimation.
7. Ken d. Blaze in a comprehensive result.
8. Ratt [2] d. DeathScepter [13] in a +3 decimation.
Day 12 sees Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] and Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] come together in one massive display of tournament competition! It's Quarter Final time, bringing together the brightest starts of The Great Arena league and the deadliest doubles of the Duo Division with glory on the line! Every match is a main event, with no prizes for losers!
TonyTheTiger [10] will test his competitive new attitude against the unstoppable force of Cr0w [1], whose current streak sits at 21-0! It'll be make or break in this main event stoush as claw and talon duke it out in another blockbuster tournament battle! Also on the marquee, a massive clash as reigning Duo Division Champions, Hokey & Ninja_Mime (1), fend off the challenge of tandem stalwarts Artanix & foahchon, led by T7 semi finalist, the running hot Artanix!
Meanwhile; in the remaining singles bouts, it's a case of upstart versus seed as three of the most unlikely Finalists take on three of the top ranked contenders! The Duo Division will enjoy some similar surprises, delivering newbies to the big dance alongside the biggest names of two-man competition!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 12:
1. Cr0w [1] versus TonyTheTiger [10]
2. Porygonix [14] versus Genku [8]
3. ElJobber [7] versus Ghostdragon
4. Ken versus Ratt [2]
Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] - Day 12:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] versus Artanix & foahchon [7]
2. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] versus JoelKatz & KittyKat
3. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5]
versus Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4]
4. SubMan799 & Casselman [6] versus m0s & Nemesis316
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Tournament Grand Slam - Day 10!
September 7, 2011 -- For just the second time in The Great Arena, a tournament opportunity offers ultimate glory to one of the many pairs that make up the bustling competition Duo Division! Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] began with thirty-one of the top team-ups, but with the field halved to just sixteen, things are getting very serious very quickly!
m0s & Nemesis316 delivered a shocking upset in one of the feature fights of the round, surprising Championship contenders, DECEPTION & Onryo! The eliminated pair will contend the Duo Division Championship at Supercard 12, having already secured the match via a contender bout at Supercard 11. The early exit no doubt interrupts their preparation for the big match!
Tournament 6 winners, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5], looked strong in their successful deflection of Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny, continuing the wave of success that's been accompanying Ghostdragon in the Grand Slam [Singles] tour, as well!
The unique combo of DaMo & DeathScepter [3] set the pace for Round 2 with a hard +3 impact against Team Agaper's spiritual leaders, ZachAngel & Angelia. Hokey & Ninja_Mime breezed past solid competitors with another good win, SubMan799 & Casselman also looked convincing for a finals berth, while Great Arena originals, Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4] just barely scraped through against the special feature one-off of CCShadow & DArqueBishop. Tension between the Duo Division originals remains present as they struggle to get back on the right track toward the titles.
Grand Slam [Doubles] Second Round Results:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] d. Baraka_MK & SmokeRulz in a +2 tandem decimation.
2. Artanix & foahchon [7] d. Chromatose & Shadaloo
3. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] d. ZachAngel & Angelia in a +3 tandem decimation.
4. JoelKatz & KittyKat d. Khan & Reiko in a close fight.
5. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] d. Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny in a comprehensive result.
6. Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4] d. CCShadow & DArqueBishop in a close fought near draw situation!
7. SubMan799 & Casselman [6] d. rxvt & deadly w/ a +2 dmg.
8. m0s & Nemesis316 d. DECEPTION & Onryo [2] in an upset!
Twelve of the original sixteen seeds will progress to Day 11 as the Round of Sixteen line-up in a do-or-die clash! It's a showcase of the cream of the tournament crop, every fight worthy of the main event!
Cr0w [1] is the man to beat, but this undefeated Champion finds himself with a growing list of challengers, not the least of which is the destroyer of men, ElJobber [7]! Will it be a third +30 as the highly motivated m0s meets the highly strung? Kron [4] looks to be on a collision course with the Champ as well, keen to rekindle their rivalry at the expense of his ally and friend, Porygonix [14]!
Former tournament winners and top seeds, The_Purple_Bunny [9] and Genku [8], will go head to head in one of the feature matches of the round! Incredibly evenly matched in credentials and ability, it's sure to be a memorable encounter when the first tournament winner meets the most recent tournament winner! PLUS! TPB's partner and Grand Slam debut, Blaze, faces off against Ken in a battle of the dark horses!
Also on show in the Round of Sixteen: "The Iron Man" Ratt [2], "The Lucky Charm" Hokey [3], Ninja_Mime [6], TonyTheTiger [10], DECEPTION [15] and Ghostdragon!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 11:
1. Cr0w [1] versus DECEPTION [15]
2. TonyTheTiger [10] versus Ninja_Mime [6]
3. Kron [4] versus Porygonix [14]
4. The_Purple_Bunny [9] versus Genku [8]
5. ElJobber [7] versus m0s
6. Ghostdragon versus Hokey [3]
7. Blaze versus Ken
8. DeathScepter [13] versus Ratt [2]
m0s & Nemesis316 delivered a shocking upset in one of the feature fights of the round, surprising Championship contenders, DECEPTION & Onryo! The eliminated pair will contend the Duo Division Championship at Supercard 12, having already secured the match via a contender bout at Supercard 11. The early exit no doubt interrupts their preparation for the big match!
Tournament 6 winners, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5], looked strong in their successful deflection of Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny, continuing the wave of success that's been accompanying Ghostdragon in the Grand Slam [Singles] tour, as well!
The unique combo of DaMo & DeathScepter [3] set the pace for Round 2 with a hard +3 impact against Team Agaper's spiritual leaders, ZachAngel & Angelia. Hokey & Ninja_Mime breezed past solid competitors with another good win, SubMan799 & Casselman also looked convincing for a finals berth, while Great Arena originals, Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4] just barely scraped through against the special feature one-off of CCShadow & DArqueBishop. Tension between the Duo Division originals remains present as they struggle to get back on the right track toward the titles.
Grand Slam [Doubles] Second Round Results:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] d. Baraka_MK & SmokeRulz in a +2 tandem decimation.
2. Artanix & foahchon [7] d. Chromatose & Shadaloo
3. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] d. ZachAngel & Angelia in a +3 tandem decimation.
4. JoelKatz & KittyKat d. Khan & Reiko in a close fight.
5. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] d. Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny in a comprehensive result.
6. Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4] d. CCShadow & DArqueBishop in a close fought near draw situation!
7. SubMan799 & Casselman [6] d. rxvt & deadly w/ a +2 dmg.
8. m0s & Nemesis316 d. DECEPTION & Onryo [2] in an upset!
Twelve of the original sixteen seeds will progress to Day 11 as the Round of Sixteen line-up in a do-or-die clash! It's a showcase of the cream of the tournament crop, every fight worthy of the main event!
Cr0w [1] is the man to beat, but this undefeated Champion finds himself with a growing list of challengers, not the least of which is the destroyer of men, ElJobber [7]! Will it be a third +30 as the highly motivated m0s meets the highly strung? Kron [4] looks to be on a collision course with the Champ as well, keen to rekindle their rivalry at the expense of his ally and friend, Porygonix [14]!
Former tournament winners and top seeds, The_Purple_Bunny [9] and Genku [8], will go head to head in one of the feature matches of the round! Incredibly evenly matched in credentials and ability, it's sure to be a memorable encounter when the first tournament winner meets the most recent tournament winner! PLUS! TPB's partner and Grand Slam debut, Blaze, faces off against Ken in a battle of the dark horses!
Also on show in the Round of Sixteen: "The Iron Man" Ratt [2], "The Lucky Charm" Hokey [3], Ninja_Mime [6], TonyTheTiger [10], DECEPTION [15] and Ghostdragon!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 11:
1. Cr0w [1] versus DECEPTION [15]
2. TonyTheTiger [10] versus Ninja_Mime [6]
3. Kron [4] versus Porygonix [14]
4. The_Purple_Bunny [9] versus Genku [8]
5. ElJobber [7] versus m0s
6. Ghostdragon versus Hokey [3]
7. Blaze versus Ken
8. DeathScepter [13] versus Ratt [2]
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tournament Grand Slam - Day 9!
September 6, 2011 -- It had to be recognised that a conspiracy of events delivered JoelKatz to a severe mismatch, but no amount of expectation can diminish the awe of a +30 maximum impact in battle! It was the ominous beginning to Day 9, the second consecutive MAX damage delivered by ElJobber [7], who demolished MINION in similar fashion, three days earlier.
Despite the pageantry of the opening fight on Day 9, the real feature showdown had to be the meeting of Jammer2Omega and Ghostdragon! J2O set the stage for a great grudge bout when he overcame Pink_Ranger [16] in the opening round's first major upset! A recent encounter at Supercard 7 gave this teammate grudge bout the makings of a legitimate blockbuster -- and it did not disappoint!
Ghostdragon has oft been criticized for his inability to follow through under high pressure situations, but he was cool and collected in the incredibly tense clash with Jammer2Omega! Where GD had suffered defeat at the hands of the Next Phase posterboy at SC7, it was the former Duo Division Champion who showed tremendous character under fire, enduring to progress to the covetted Round of Sixteen!
m0s couldn't be overshadowed for his upstart performance against #12 seed, DaMo! The two-time Daruma 7 conqueror delivered a +4 impact to upset the third seed to be eliminated from the bottom bracket. Blaze continued the trend, making her Grand Slam debut record an impressive 4-0 with a staggering upset victory against fifth seed, Toryn! The close fought shocker left Toryn livid, salt in the wound as his rival Ratt [2] progressed confidently through a +12 decimation of Duo star, Onryo!
Hokey [3] went hard to progress to the Round of Sixteen, rekindling an old Great Arena quip that says a win against Hokey will greatly improve a fighters' chance to take the tournament final. He remains an active favourite in both the Singles and Doubles versions of the Grand Slam brackets! Ken also continues his impressive rise through the ranks, a quiet dark horse beneath the stars of bigger bouts.
Grand Slam [Singles] Third Round Results:
9. ElJobber [7] d. JoelKatz in a +30 demolition!
10. m0s d. DaMo [12] in a +4 decimation!
11. Ghostdragon d. Jammer2Omega in an incredibly close fight!
12. Hokey [3] d. AlexanderLuthorJr in a +5 decimation.
13. Blaze d. Toryn [5] in a close fought upset!
14. Ken d. Poasty
15. DeathScepter [13] d. Anub1s in a comprehensive win.
16. Ratt [2] d. Onryo in a +12 decimation!
The Duo Division takes centre stage once against on Day 10, with the Second Round of Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] bringing the dominant seeds one step closer to the finals! The fifty percent culling ensures the competition will be fierce in this, only the second tournament to feature the tandem teams of league!
Blaze has made an impressive impact in the ranks this fortnight, collecting a 4-0 record in her debut. She reteams with old friend The_Purple_Bunny to take on former champions and Tournament 6 winners, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5]. m0s & Nemesis316 will provide similar intrigue when they face #1 contenders to the Duo Division Championships, DECEPTION & Onryo [2]! All this and more!
Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] - Day 10:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] versus Baraka_MK & SmokeRulz
2. Chromatose & Shadaloo versus Artanix & foahchon [7]
3. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] versus ZachAngel & Angelia
4. JoelKatz & KittyKat versus Khan & Reiko
5. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] v Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny
6. CCShadow & DArqueBishop vs Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4]
7. SubMan799 & Casselman [6] versus rxvt & deadly
8. m0s & Nemesis316 versus DECEPTION & Onryo [2]
Despite the pageantry of the opening fight on Day 9, the real feature showdown had to be the meeting of Jammer2Omega and Ghostdragon! J2O set the stage for a great grudge bout when he overcame Pink_Ranger [16] in the opening round's first major upset! A recent encounter at Supercard 7 gave this teammate grudge bout the makings of a legitimate blockbuster -- and it did not disappoint!
Ghostdragon has oft been criticized for his inability to follow through under high pressure situations, but he was cool and collected in the incredibly tense clash with Jammer2Omega! Where GD had suffered defeat at the hands of the Next Phase posterboy at SC7, it was the former Duo Division Champion who showed tremendous character under fire, enduring to progress to the covetted Round of Sixteen!
m0s couldn't be overshadowed for his upstart performance against #12 seed, DaMo! The two-time Daruma 7 conqueror delivered a +4 impact to upset the third seed to be eliminated from the bottom bracket. Blaze continued the trend, making her Grand Slam debut record an impressive 4-0 with a staggering upset victory against fifth seed, Toryn! The close fought shocker left Toryn livid, salt in the wound as his rival Ratt [2] progressed confidently through a +12 decimation of Duo star, Onryo!
Hokey [3] went hard to progress to the Round of Sixteen, rekindling an old Great Arena quip that says a win against Hokey will greatly improve a fighters' chance to take the tournament final. He remains an active favourite in both the Singles and Doubles versions of the Grand Slam brackets! Ken also continues his impressive rise through the ranks, a quiet dark horse beneath the stars of bigger bouts.
Grand Slam [Singles] Third Round Results:
9. ElJobber [7] d. JoelKatz in a +30 demolition!
10. m0s d. DaMo [12] in a +4 decimation!
11. Ghostdragon d. Jammer2Omega in an incredibly close fight!
12. Hokey [3] d. AlexanderLuthorJr in a +5 decimation.
13. Blaze d. Toryn [5] in a close fought upset!
14. Ken d. Poasty
15. DeathScepter [13] d. Anub1s in a comprehensive win.
16. Ratt [2] d. Onryo in a +12 decimation!
The Duo Division takes centre stage once against on Day 10, with the Second Round of Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] bringing the dominant seeds one step closer to the finals! The fifty percent culling ensures the competition will be fierce in this, only the second tournament to feature the tandem teams of league!
Blaze has made an impressive impact in the ranks this fortnight, collecting a 4-0 record in her debut. She reteams with old friend The_Purple_Bunny to take on former champions and Tournament 6 winners, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5]. m0s & Nemesis316 will provide similar intrigue when they face #1 contenders to the Duo Division Championships, DECEPTION & Onryo [2]! All this and more!
Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] - Day 10:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] versus Baraka_MK & SmokeRulz
2. Chromatose & Shadaloo versus Artanix & foahchon [7]
3. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] versus ZachAngel & Angelia
4. JoelKatz & KittyKat versus Khan & Reiko
5. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] v Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny
6. CCShadow & DArqueBishop vs Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4]
7. SubMan799 & Casselman [6] versus rxvt & deadly
8. m0s & Nemesis316 versus DECEPTION & Onryo [2]
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tournament Grand Slam - Day 8!
September 5, 2011 -- Day 8 of Grand Slam competition provided few surprises as everyone expected to win -- did! It was a soundtrack of bodies hitting the floor as the top ranked seeded fighters absolutely dominated their competition, unleashing a volley of hurt into the Third Round that left few unscathed.
Porygonix [14] was the odd man out, content to bundle CeeKay out of contention with a steady, uncomplicated fight. Cr0w [1], of course, was not nearly as forgiving, asserting himself in a twentieth straight victory since T5 with a +9 impact -- the biggest blow of the day!
Cr0w's old rival and expected Semi Final opponent, Kron [4], couldn't resist getting in on the action with a +4 beatdown delivered to short-lived Supercard 11 All-Star, GreenLantern. DECEPTION [15] was one better than that, though, adding the decimation of Khan to his Day 7 win in the Grand Slam Doubles! The win sets DECEPTION up with a meeting with Cr0w in the Round of Sixteen -- a battle sure to test the #1 contender to the Duo Division titles!
CaTigeReptile was unsuccessful in her bid to uspet #6 seed, Ninja_Mime, but will walk away from Tournament 8 with her credibility as one of the upper ranks restored. Despite suffering a decimation at the hands of the reigning Duo Division Champion, it has to be said that it was CTR's grit that saw her endure one of the more modest impacts of this All-Star round. It is a testament to the benefits of the tournament system, where ultimate glory glorifies ultimately, but success is found at all levels of the competition!
Tournament 7 finalists, TonyTheTiger [10] and The_Purple_Bunny [9] were also victorious, confirming a top heavy Fourth Round that will feature all of the originally placed seeds of Days 1 and 2!
Grand Slam [Singles] Third Round Results:
1. Cr0w [1] d. foahchon in a +9 decimation!
2. DECEPTION [15] d. Khan in a +5 decimation.
3. TonyTheTiger [10] d. Casselman in a +3 decimation.
4. Ninja_Mime [6] d. CaTigeReptile in a +2 decimation.
5. Kron [4] d. GreenLantern in a +4 decimation.
6. Porygonix [14] d. CeeKay in a comprehensive result.
7. The_Purple_Bunny [9] d. flameshang in a +2 decimation.
8. Genku [8] progressed as a result of a bye.
Day 9 will see the conclusion of the Third Round of Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] and the formation of the all-important Round of Sixteen! An intriguing field makes up the second half of R3, where the seeds have been much less thorough in their march toward the finals!
The main event will be a Next Phase blockbuster as #16 seed Pink_Ranger's Duo Division partner, Ghostdragon, looks for a little payback against the man who eliminated her in the First Round, Jammer2Omega, in an exciting Supercard 7 rematch!
The master of the Daruma 7, m0s, will also be in action looking to apply his rare fortunes in a test with #12 seed, DaMo! Hokey [3] will have his tournament luck tested when he's challenged by AlexanderLuthorJr; class will be in session as Toryn [5] greets undefeated newcomer, Blaze; and Ken continues his quest to return to the top ranks against the new money of Poasty -- First Round winner of the Battle for the Bottom!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 9:
9. ElJobber [7] versus JoelKatz
10. m0s versus DaMo [12]
11. Jammer2Omega versus Ghostdragon
12. AlexanderLuthorJr versus Hokey [3]
13. Toryn [5] versus Blaze
14. Ken versus Poasty
15. DeathScepter [13] versus Anub1s
16. Onryo versus Ratt [2]
Porygonix [14] was the odd man out, content to bundle CeeKay out of contention with a steady, uncomplicated fight. Cr0w [1], of course, was not nearly as forgiving, asserting himself in a twentieth straight victory since T5 with a +9 impact -- the biggest blow of the day!
Cr0w's old rival and expected Semi Final opponent, Kron [4], couldn't resist getting in on the action with a +4 beatdown delivered to short-lived Supercard 11 All-Star, GreenLantern. DECEPTION [15] was one better than that, though, adding the decimation of Khan to his Day 7 win in the Grand Slam Doubles! The win sets DECEPTION up with a meeting with Cr0w in the Round of Sixteen -- a battle sure to test the #1 contender to the Duo Division titles!
CaTigeReptile was unsuccessful in her bid to uspet #6 seed, Ninja_Mime, but will walk away from Tournament 8 with her credibility as one of the upper ranks restored. Despite suffering a decimation at the hands of the reigning Duo Division Champion, it has to be said that it was CTR's grit that saw her endure one of the more modest impacts of this All-Star round. It is a testament to the benefits of the tournament system, where ultimate glory glorifies ultimately, but success is found at all levels of the competition!
Tournament 7 finalists, TonyTheTiger [10] and The_Purple_Bunny [9] were also victorious, confirming a top heavy Fourth Round that will feature all of the originally placed seeds of Days 1 and 2!
Grand Slam [Singles] Third Round Results:
1. Cr0w [1] d. foahchon in a +9 decimation!
2. DECEPTION [15] d. Khan in a +5 decimation.
3. TonyTheTiger [10] d. Casselman in a +3 decimation.
4. Ninja_Mime [6] d. CaTigeReptile in a +2 decimation.
5. Kron [4] d. GreenLantern in a +4 decimation.
6. Porygonix [14] d. CeeKay in a comprehensive result.
7. The_Purple_Bunny [9] d. flameshang in a +2 decimation.
8. Genku [8] progressed as a result of a bye.
Day 9 will see the conclusion of the Third Round of Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] and the formation of the all-important Round of Sixteen! An intriguing field makes up the second half of R3, where the seeds have been much less thorough in their march toward the finals!
The main event will be a Next Phase blockbuster as #16 seed Pink_Ranger's Duo Division partner, Ghostdragon, looks for a little payback against the man who eliminated her in the First Round, Jammer2Omega, in an exciting Supercard 7 rematch!
The master of the Daruma 7, m0s, will also be in action looking to apply his rare fortunes in a test with #12 seed, DaMo! Hokey [3] will have his tournament luck tested when he's challenged by AlexanderLuthorJr; class will be in session as Toryn [5] greets undefeated newcomer, Blaze; and Ken continues his quest to return to the top ranks against the new money of Poasty -- First Round winner of the Battle for the Bottom!
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 9:
9. ElJobber [7] versus JoelKatz
10. m0s versus DaMo [12]
11. Jammer2Omega versus Ghostdragon
12. AlexanderLuthorJr versus Hokey [3]
13. Toryn [5] versus Blaze
14. Ken versus Poasty
15. DeathScepter [13] versus Anub1s
16. Onryo versus Ratt [2]
Monday, September 5, 2011
Tournament Grand Slam - Day 7!
September 4, 2011 -- In the biggest Duo Division event since the match types inception at Supercard 3 -- thirty-one teams lined up with seven seeds, vying for the chance to claim superiority in a rare gathering of teams!
The always dense competition of the Duo Division did not disappoint, delivering a string of close fought matches. Where massive impacts have defined the many solo rounds of Grand Slam week one, there were only a few blowouts in Round 1 of the doubles competition! Tournament 6 winners and first reigning Champions, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5], were joined by debut team m0s & Nemesis316 in delivering an impressive +3 decimation against their respective opponents.
Reigning #1 seeds, Hokey & Ninja_Mime, were much less punishing in their +2 defeat of NovaStarr & Poasty, but as many will attest, they have little to prove in regards to their favourite status! The same can't be said for Duo Division Originals, Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4], who were severely tested by the less experience combo of Dolce & Bofh, a match most would have tipped them to win. It comes as the latest in a string of hiccups for the once flying combination, who have been unable to enjoy success since the induction of Duo Division Championships!
Porygonix & xtactics were a surprise exit for Round 1, unable to overcome the solid fundamentals of MKOld school combination, Baraka_MK & SmokeRulz. Another pair of old warhorses, DECEPTION & Onryo [2], enjoyed a steap victory over the unlucky Special Ops combo of Leroy & Mark. It cannot be forgotten that DECEPTION & Onryo booked themselves a Duo Division Championship match at Supercard 12 with their win over SubMan799 & Casselman [6] at Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown! Loitering in the bottom bracket, the almost-contenders will no doubt be keen to set up a grudge match if they can win through to the Third Round!
As previously reported, Khan & Reiko receive a bye into the Second Round as a result of DigbyRigby taking his #8 seed duo with kororaa out of comission via fights outside The Great Arena. DigbyRigby was defeated indefinitely by m0s when he challenged the Daruma 7 to a fight outside The Great Arena.
Grand Slam [Doubles] First Round Results:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] d. NovaStarr & Poasty in a +2 decimation.
2. Baraka_MK & SmokeRulz d. Porygonix & xtactics in a close fought battle.
3. Chromatose & Shadaloo d. Celeste & ScottK
4. Artanix & foahchon [7] d. Politics & Menas
5. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] d. Jerrod & MINION in a decimation.
6. ZachAngel & Angelia d. killswitch & flameshang by a narrow margin!
7. JoelKatz & KittyKat d. Shoe & ShingoEX
8. Khan & Reiko progressed as a result of a bye.
9. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] d. CAMK & Zedox in a +3 decimation.
10. Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny d. Liam & nif in a solid win.
11. CCShadow & DArqueBishop d. STEROLIZER & JRF
12. Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4] d. Dolce & Bofh in a close fight!
13. SubMan799 & Casselman [6] d. KombatKid & RantKid in a comprehensive result.
14. rxvt & deadly d. GuiltyByDesign & Shinnokxz in a close fight.
15. m0s & Nemesis316 d. Tyrant-Cenobite & queve in a +3 decimation!
16. DECEPTION & Onryo [2] d. Leroy & Mark in a decimation.
Week two returns The Great Arena to Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] as the first half of the third round raises the stakes for the solo fighters! As the herd things, the cream of the crop begins to rise, with just thirty-two of the original one hundred and twenty-eight vying for the ultimate claim of tournament victor!
Cr0w [1] remains the man to beat as he chases down his twentieth unanswered victory since Tournament 5 in a daunting match for foahchon! Fortunately for competition, the top half of the tour retains all of its seeded stars, offering a relatively strong field to challenge the reigning and record setting Undisputed Champion!
CaTigeReptile attempts to keep her stock high when looks for an upset against #6 seed and Doubles competitor, Ninja_Mime! TonyTheTiger [10] will continue the feline theme when he lines up for another feature fight, taking on Casselman with designs to be the ferocious predator who ends Cr0w's streak in the Quarter Final!
Kron [4], The_Purple_Bunny [8] and Porygonix [14] expect to have it easy in their Third Round bouts, but none as relaxed as Genku [8], who receives a bye direct to the Round of Sixteen courtesy of Quirk and KombatKid, who battled to a tie, Day 5.
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 8:
1. Cr0w [1] versus foahchon
2. Khan versus DECEPTION [15]
3. TonyTheTiger [10] versus Casselman
4. CaTigeReptile versus Ninja_Mime [6]
5. Kron [4] versus GreenLantern
6. CeeKay versus Porygonix [14]
7. The_Purple_Bunny [9] versus flameshang
8. Genku [8] progresses as a result of a bye.
The always dense competition of the Duo Division did not disappoint, delivering a string of close fought matches. Where massive impacts have defined the many solo rounds of Grand Slam week one, there were only a few blowouts in Round 1 of the doubles competition! Tournament 6 winners and first reigning Champions, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5], were joined by debut team m0s & Nemesis316 in delivering an impressive +3 decimation against their respective opponents.
Reigning #1 seeds, Hokey & Ninja_Mime, were much less punishing in their +2 defeat of NovaStarr & Poasty, but as many will attest, they have little to prove in regards to their favourite status! The same can't be said for Duo Division Originals, Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4], who were severely tested by the less experience combo of Dolce & Bofh, a match most would have tipped them to win. It comes as the latest in a string of hiccups for the once flying combination, who have been unable to enjoy success since the induction of Duo Division Championships!
Porygonix & xtactics were a surprise exit for Round 1, unable to overcome the solid fundamentals of MKOld school combination, Baraka_MK & SmokeRulz. Another pair of old warhorses, DECEPTION & Onryo [2], enjoyed a steap victory over the unlucky Special Ops combo of Leroy & Mark. It cannot be forgotten that DECEPTION & Onryo booked themselves a Duo Division Championship match at Supercard 12 with their win over SubMan799 & Casselman [6] at Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown! Loitering in the bottom bracket, the almost-contenders will no doubt be keen to set up a grudge match if they can win through to the Third Round!
As previously reported, Khan & Reiko receive a bye into the Second Round as a result of DigbyRigby taking his #8 seed duo with kororaa out of comission via fights outside The Great Arena. DigbyRigby was defeated indefinitely by m0s when he challenged the Daruma 7 to a fight outside The Great Arena.
Grand Slam [Doubles] First Round Results:
1. Hokey & Ninja_Mime [1] d. NovaStarr & Poasty in a +2 decimation.
2. Baraka_MK & SmokeRulz d. Porygonix & xtactics in a close fought battle.
3. Chromatose & Shadaloo d. Celeste & ScottK
4. Artanix & foahchon [7] d. Politics & Menas
5. DaMo & DeathScepter [3] d. Jerrod & MINION in a decimation.
6. ZachAngel & Angelia d. killswitch & flameshang by a narrow margin!
7. JoelKatz & KittyKat d. Shoe & ShingoEX
8. Khan & Reiko progressed as a result of a bye.
9. Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon [5] d. CAMK & Zedox in a +3 decimation.
10. Blaze & The_Purple_Bunny d. Liam & nif in a solid win.
11. CCShadow & DArqueBishop d. STEROLIZER & JRF
12. Scott-Howell & Murdoink [4] d. Dolce & Bofh in a close fight!
13. SubMan799 & Casselman [6] d. KombatKid & RantKid in a comprehensive result.
14. rxvt & deadly d. GuiltyByDesign & Shinnokxz in a close fight.
15. m0s & Nemesis316 d. Tyrant-Cenobite & queve in a +3 decimation!
16. DECEPTION & Onryo [2] d. Leroy & Mark in a decimation.
Week two returns The Great Arena to Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] as the first half of the third round raises the stakes for the solo fighters! As the herd things, the cream of the crop begins to rise, with just thirty-two of the original one hundred and twenty-eight vying for the ultimate claim of tournament victor!
Cr0w [1] remains the man to beat as he chases down his twentieth unanswered victory since Tournament 5 in a daunting match for foahchon! Fortunately for competition, the top half of the tour retains all of its seeded stars, offering a relatively strong field to challenge the reigning and record setting Undisputed Champion!
CaTigeReptile attempts to keep her stock high when looks for an upset against #6 seed and Doubles competitor, Ninja_Mime! TonyTheTiger [10] will continue the feline theme when he lines up for another feature fight, taking on Casselman with designs to be the ferocious predator who ends Cr0w's streak in the Quarter Final!
Kron [4], The_Purple_Bunny [8] and Porygonix [14] expect to have it easy in their Third Round bouts, but none as relaxed as Genku [8], who receives a bye direct to the Round of Sixteen courtesy of Quirk and KombatKid, who battled to a tie, Day 5.
Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] - Day 8:
1. Cr0w [1] versus foahchon
2. Khan versus DECEPTION [15]
3. TonyTheTiger [10] versus Casselman
4. CaTigeReptile versus Ninja_Mime [6]
5. Kron [4] versus GreenLantern
6. CeeKay versus Porygonix [14]
7. The_Purple_Bunny [9] versus flameshang
8. Genku [8] progresses as a result of a bye.
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