NECam Season 2/2012 Playoffs A

Ok so we're finally at that time of the season again. Win or go home for those who have been good enough to qualify. Pretty interesting bracket, especially towards the bottom of the seeding. A lot of top contenders squeezed through based on lack of activity within their groups and are looking to make some noise as low seeds. Needless to say the entire bracket is fairly skilled and some good play will be required to win. As promised $40 to the winner and an entry into the prize trny for semi-finalists.

Semi-Finals

#15 sykology vs #3 deep.cerebro - no pred 

Result - 9-4 Luis

Quarter-Finals

#17 HolyWarrior_ vs #8 x_mirotic_x -  In this quarterfinals matchup, we have two experienced players from cam competitions and interleagues who have had their many victories in the past. Andy, a strategic player, often relies on his snooker game, but if he thinks he can run the table he will go for it more times than he use to in the past. He showed this vs Roy in Round 1, handling him pretty easy, although Roy might of not played his best set.However, in Round 2 Andy convincely beat JT 7-3. JT folks, was 5-0 in groups and has been winning a lot lately, and Andy still won comfortably. Kevin, on the other hand, is more a runner than anything, and is a great player, he also is one of the top 5-7sec players as well. In his only playoff matchup he ran Jon  most tables and took care of him 7-2. I think Andy might have trouble with how good Kevin can potentially run tables, and will make it hard for Andy to use his snooker to his advantage. Also, seems Andy has the Gremlins on him these days, and gets bad breaks or makes an accidental  mistake that costs him the game. This matchup should be a close one and exciting, since either play can come up on top, in this match. But I will give the edge to Kevin and his run game.

8-6 Kevin (Ben)

#13 fhm_chamipion vs #5 _dante - Pretty huge matchup here. Both players are coming off great wins and it's going to be hard to say who's more likely to win here but lets try. Ben had to knock off Kevin Welch and Shaggy to get here so his road has not been the easiest. Dante had to beat arguably the best player around now in Ant to advance so he's definitely been tested too. Ben is a former champ in this competition while Dante was the 8brcam runner up last season so these guys have a history of doing well in competitions. Dante has a tendency to be a little more of a runner than Ben so it's a little more likely that his level of play can vary. Not like Dante can't safety and if he chooses to dictate the pace in this set it could work out pretty well in his favour. If both of these guys are at the top of their games I think Ben's game is overall more sound. On any given day though Dante could get hot and be rewarded for his aggressiveness. Ben is the safe bet though.

8-6 Ben

#15 sykology vs #7 poolist - no pred

Result - 7-5 Brent

#3 deep.cerebro vs #11 AzN_PrIdE_LuVa - Trying to get this prediction written quickly because Pita likes to play his sets as instantly as they get set up. Last season Pita got hot around playoff time and took his run all the way to the semi-finals of the competition, where he lost to Ant. That was his best showing so far in the competition after having played a bunch of seasons. Got off to another impressive start these playoffs after taking out Rocky fairly convincingly. He's going up against another legend in Luis to try to at least duplicate his success from last season. Luis is looking pretty good after a good win against Irfan in the previous round and is still probably the favourite to take the whole competition. I think Luis has a game that is too well rounded for Pita to really compete against. For Pita to have any chance in this set he'll need to be running very well and have some bounces go his way. Wouldn't hurt for Luis to make some uncharacteristic mistakes as well. Pita does have cult hero status but I don't see that overcoming Luis

7-4 Luis Result - 7-2 Luis

Round 2

#1 _Sugarhigh__ vs #16 HolyWarrior - Moving on with an intriguing matchup in round two, we have the overall number 1 seed vs an always tough player to beat in Andy. Jt has the honor of a first round bye, due to being 5-0 in season play including wins over Stephen, Jordy, and yes, even Ant. I am not exactly sure if JT has gotten that much better, or if some of it was luck or what, from what I remember JT is a solid player, but not one you would of predicted to go 5-0 in this group, or even have a winning record. Nonetheless, he might have improved and could make this matchup something to watch. On the otherhand, Andy only had a fair season heading into the playoffs, with a 2-2 record, but handled a decent player in Roy, 7-3. Obviously, we all know Andy can handle the pool cue well, especially with snookering. He will attempt to run if he feels confident, otherwise he will rely on his snook game. I think Andy's experience and snook should do JT in at the end.

7-4 Andy (Ben) Result - 7-3 Andy

#8 x_mirotic_x vs #9 leeds_united14 - Kevin still hasn't gotten his form back, and I just don't think he practices enough. With the active players getting more and more skilled, he only hops on to play his sets. He's not as big of a threat as he once was. After saying that, he's still got a game plan. He's 80% run, 20% defense. Kevin takes smart shots, but his problem lately is just missing the shots he's taking. Jon's game is pretty steady. He's neither terrible or mega-outstanding, but he's above average. I haven't seem too much of him lately. With his league crumbling apart, and even the cam comp losing interest, I just think he isn't playing as much either. He had a nasty comeback against MJ in 8BRCAM group stages, which is nice. At the end of the match, I just think Kevin chokes a few times too many to take the win.

7-5 Jon (Dante) Result - 7-2 Kevin

#4 shaggymaniac vs #13 fhm_champion - This is a set between two players who probably think they have a good shot at winning the whole thing. Sean got off to a bit of a slow start this season, starting with a loss but he stormed back to win his next 4 sets all in the same day to claim this high seed. When he's running well then he's pretty hard to beat. It's easy to get frustrated when he's finishing every table imaginable and that can lead you into taking chances that normally you wouldn't go for. If anyone has the right approach to knock off Sean it would be Ben. He's always been known for his patience and usually ends up creating some easy run opportunities for himself. If Ben can weather the storm of Sean's runs to start off the set then he'll be in great position to pull off the win. Last time in the playoffs Ben was beaten by a runner and Sean does have the skills to run away with this. I just think Ben will remember and play his waiting game to perfection.

7-5 Ben Result - 7-3 Ben

#5 _dante vs #21 mvp_sicc - Here we have last season's 8brcam final contestants in round two! Dante may not be the premiere final choice for all the cam competitions but he plays smart and always has the potential to win a race and get far in the playoffs. During group play he finished 4-1 in a pretty tough group. On the contrary, Ant was only 1-2 but since the group does not like playing sets he made playoffs, much to the dismay of other opponents. Still, this may be an exciting round two to want to watch, since both can run well. Dante prefers to run tables off break if its open, and sometimes will snooker instead of trying to run. Ant too likes to run, and is probably the best runner in the game these days. Expect a fast set, and Dante needs to be on his A game to have a chance to win vs arguably the best player at pool today. However, as Ant has been winning and winning, he is the safe pick in this match.

7-4 Ant (Ben) Result - 7-4 Dante 

#2 PRO_BOY vs #15 sykology - A clash of styles here as Brent goes up against Uriel. Uriel is coming off his best season in the competition after going 4-1 in the group stage with some impressive wins. He has been a champion in cam comps before so he's not to be underestimated. He's got a fairly well rounded game and is willing to play safeties when he feels the time is right. Brent is definitely the aggressor in this matchup. He usually likes the look of most tables and his success is dependent on deadly accuracy or some lucky bounces. Brent is coming off a pretty close win in round 1 against Stephen that will mostly be remembered for the aftermath in the shoutbox. I don't see too much talking happening between these two opponents so that's a relief. Brent is definitely more on his game that he has been of late but in the end Uriel's approach and skill will win out.

7-4 Uriel Result - 8-6 Brent

#7 poolist vs #10 pool_king_luis - Pretty interesting match here. Derrick is finally back into the playoffs for the first time in a little while. Was able to pull off a pretty good season and win his group on the strength of a big win vs Ben. Luis also had a marquee win on his resume as he was able to knock of "the real Luis". Luis has already told me that he didn't want to be in the playoffs but yahoo poolers are so temperamental that it's hard to really take any of them seriously. I think this would be a pretty close set if it did get played. Luis has a tendency to choke up in the playoffs but I haven't seen Derrick do anything in the postseason in a while either. Going to go with the hot hand in Derrick based on his latest results.

7-5 Derrick Result - 7-5 Derrick

#3 deep.cerebro vs #14 master - Potential for a pretty explosive matchup here. Luis is back and after putting on an impressive performance in the group stage, it's time to see how he performs in elimination sets. Not really a whole lot to say about Luis besides the fact that he has titles galore and can match up pretty well against anyone. Irfan has been on the rise fairly steadily for quite a while now and looks like he's ready to make a big breakthrough. Irfan is one of the better shooters around and the only areas where he might be able to improve would be his strategy maybe safeties. Luis is by no means a perfect shooter, but for Irfan to have a chance, he'll need to have a solid gameplan going in and stick to it throughout. If he picks his spots well then he might just be able to pull it off. Personally I'll be going with the safe pick and Luis.

7-4 Luis Result - 7-4 Luis

#6 l2_o_c_k_y vs #11 AzN_PrIdE_LuVa - Well Mr. Friendly is heart-broken that the 8BRCAM Friendlys are currently down. He seemed to get a good bit of practice, going 18-1 in those sets. However, most were mediocre opponents that AJ could have beaten with his arms cut off. I think Pita is a whole different level of a player. More experience. More patience. More skill. This set could come with some emotional feelings because of Pita's rough time, which I'm praying for. I won't drag it in since it has nothing to do with this. All in all, Pita is a better player, but I'm not sure if he'll even be 60% to play, IF he even plays. I see Rocky getting an archive here. If Pita plays, I'll go with Rocky taking it.

7-4 Rocky (Dante) Result - 7-3 Pita

Round 1

#16 murkedddd vs #17 HolyWarrior_ - Decent seasons for both of these players. Roy wasn't quite able to live up to his #5 seeding from the previous season but managed to get in through an inactive group on 2 wins. Andy has made the playoffs every time he's been in the competition and also barely made it on 2 wins. Only problem with Andy's playoff experience is that he hasn't made it out of the second round in 5 tries. Roy was also upset early on in last season's playoffs so this could be a good set to get the ball rolling for one of these guys. I don't really see too much of a difference in skill between these players but Andy definitely has an edge in patience and strategy. Only thing I see going against Andy here is that he doesn't play quite as much anymore. With that being said I'll still give him the nod in a close set.  

7-4 Andy Result - 7-3 Andy

#13 fhm_champion vs #20 sixohtwo - Here is a matchup between two former cam comp winners. Ben of course is a former winner of this competition from last year. Kevin famously took home an 8br crown a couple years back. Ben had a pretty solid season, picking up 3 wins with his only blemish being a blowout loss to Derrick. Kevin actually only played one set and is the beneficiary of being in one of the two really inactive groups. Sort of unlucky for Ben to have to start with such a tough opponent but his style is also a pretty good way to slow down Kevin. Should be interesting to see which version of Kevin we get here. He can run really well but if his run game isn't on then he doesn't have much to fall back on. Going to have to pick against the dynamic force and go with calm Ben. 

7-5 Ben Result - 7-5 Ben

#12 adambuddy vs #21 good-faith - This one appears to be a bit of a mismatch but don't let the seedings fool you. Ant is a 3 time winner, including last season. Not even sure if he wanted to be in these playoffs but no one else in his group stepped up to get any points. Now that he's in, he could go all the way. The guy standing in his way is Adam. Adam has been around the block and isn't intimidated by anyone, which should help. He's shown glimpses of his old form lately so it's possible that he could catch fire during this set. Most of the time though, Ant will win this set and that's where the smart money lies.  

7-3 Ant Result - 7-4 Ant  

#15 sykology vs #18 stephenb_ - A couple of long time players in the competition here. Brent is coming off his best season in a little while. His most recent seasons have been a disaster where he really wasn't even close to making the playoffs. Brent picked up some solid wins this season and looks like he might have a chance to make some noise. His opponent, Stephen, is another one who barely got in on the strength of a little luck. Stephen only had one win but his win % was enough to get him through. Now that he's in, Stephen isn't a stranger to the setting. He's usually been in the playoffs but he really hasn't done anything at all in them. Good chance for Stephen to finally get a playoff win. Brent seems to be playing a little more lately so I'll roll the dice and say he'll take it.  

7-5 Brent Result - 10-8 Brent

#14 master vs #19 zl_stu_lz - I almost feel like it's a waste of time to write this prediction, but who knows, maybe this set will actually get played. Irfan is coming off a great season where he was able to pick up 3 good wins to go along with one loss. He's been absent a bit lately and wasn't able to play his final set to improve his seeding. He ended up stuck in this matchup which might be a blessing in disguise. Obviously no one really wants to have to play against Stu. Lucky for the field Stu hasn't been seen in a while. More than likely we'll see a DQ win for Irfan or even potentially a double DQ. If these two great runners meet up then we could see a very entertaining set where Stu should end up victorious.  

7-5 Stu Result - DQ win for Irfan

NECam Season 2/2012 Playoffs B

One of the best div B fields in a long time. We've got a few former winners and lots of div A experience in the field. Should be a good one to watch and as always the winner and finalist will receive invites to the prize trny. Preds were mostly done by Brice

Quarter-Finals

#1 ll_eskimo_ownage_ll vs #9 cyberinferno1 - Probably the first marquee matchup of the div B playoffs and it's no surprise that it should happen in the final 8. Petey is coming off probably the most dominant div B season in the history of the competition and followed that up with a solid win against the other Chad in the previous round. So far Petey is 1-0 against people named Chad in these playoffs so it'll be interesting to see if that trend continues. Chad has had his own domination of the group stage as well the past couple seasons as well. He looks like he's playing pretty well of late as he took out 8brcam's div B finalist in round 1 and just destroyed Rob in round 2. From what I know Chad still relies pretty heavily on runs, while Petey is way more willing to do use his all around game. As long as Petey knows that he's up against a pretty good player here and plays the set that way then he should prove himself to be the better player. If Chad truly is running as well as his previous scores indicate then that'll be the great equalizer. Still I don't think Petey is ready to bow out so early in the playoffs.  

8-6 Petey (Jon)

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Round 2 

#1 ll_eskimo_ownage_ll vs #17 hustle - So Petey's first go around in Div B was a smashing success as he posted a perfect 5-0 record and grabbed the top seed. He pretty much destroyed everyone in his path and might just be the favourite to win the competition. Generally speaking the top seed in the playoffs hasn't had a ton of success but I think Petey might break that curse. His opponent is no slouch by any means. Chad has been a finalist in div B before and had a pretty strong run once again last season as he was eliminated in the semi-finals. He just picked up a blow out win in round one against Moon and looks like he's playing pretty well. The difference in this set will be that Petey is probably just as good of a shooter as Chad, but Petey also doesn't mind playing slow. He'll wait for easier opportunities in general and over the course of the race that strategy should pay off. Should be a pretty close set and watch out for Chad because he can get hot with his runs. 

7-4 Petey (Jon) Result - 7-5 Petey

#8 t.wolves vs #9 cyberinferno1 - Round 2 rolls on with a match between Rob and Chad. Rob is back in the competition after quite a long time off. He actually was the winner of div A in second official season of the competition. Times have changed quite a bit as he's in the thick of a competitive div B playoffs now. His opponent, Chad, has been doing very well in the group stage of div B the past 3 seasons but won't be satisfied if his playoff run ends here. He's coming off a pretty good win against 8br div B's runner up from last season, Joey. Pretty early in Rob's comeback tour here but he's proven it's no fluke with another solid performance in 8br's div B. Rob definitely has a more well rounded game than Chad but I think Chad might be better at the thing he does best which is running. Just a hunch, that Chad is overdue for a big win in the playoffs.

7-5 Chad (Jon) Result - 7-2 Chad

#4 ItsAJ vs #13 so-great - no pred

Result - 11-9 AJ 

#5 Xx_SaTaNs_MaSTeR_xX vs #12 KrazyKerry - I don't know much about Luis seen him play a couple times and he's a pretty decent player. Had a good group stage going 4-1 with his only loss coming to Adam who is a solid player in his own right. Kerry could be presented a problem if Luis can get a good run game going when he plays her. Kerry has been getting better as of late though. She has been able to clear tables still makes some silly mistakes but all in all she has gotten better. Still needs to get a bit better at snooking her bank game has always been solid. She may not be fully warmed up as she got a DQ win in round 1. I think Kerry can pull off the upset win.

8-6 Kerry (Brice)

#2 Xx_Difference_Class_xX vs #15 llvllechanic - I know these two players' games very well as I have played Naveen countless times lately and Matt is just a solid player as he always has been. Matt has the better overall game and Naveen will have a challenge although I do think he's up for it. Matt has a solid run game and a solid snook game. Surprised that he is in Division B to be honest as I think he is Division A talent. Naveen makes some silly mistakes that will cost him sets if his opponent takes advantage of them. And seeing as Naveen beat me in round one that's something I failed to do but he does have a good game so kudos to him. However, if he makes as many mistakes as he did vs me he won't stand much of a chance vs Matt. I think Naveen rebounds his game but Matt comes out with the win.

7-4 Matt (Brice)

#7 sicc.stoned vs #23 back_luck_ - Only 2 days into the playoffs we already have one fairly significant surprise result. David was able to knock off Eddie in the previous round in fairly decisive fashion. After starting out pretty slowly in the competition, he's finally looking like he might be able to make some noise. A win here would be an even bigger upset as, his next opponent is Derek. Derek is a former winner in div B and is once again one of the top contenders to pull it off again. He's just got superior shot making and has experience playing in div A which has helped him round his game a little moreso than before. It's hard to say what to expect from David here because the last round was so much of a surprise. Pretty sure that Derek will be able to get it done here even if he doesn't bring his best game.  

7-4 Derek (Jon) Result - 7-5 Derek

#3 xnice_shotx vs #14 Mr_Wonderful__ - Another pretty interesting match up here. Phil was one of the 4 players in div B to pull off the perfect season as he made quick work of his group. It almost seemed like he wasn't really challenged throughout. I'll be looking forward to seeing how he reacts to having to play against a good player such as Adam. Adam isn't a guy I've really seen play but his result from the previous round where he blew out Rees, means he should be taken seriously. Another thing about Phil is that he played all of these sets almost 3 weeks ago and it's hard to say if he's still on that good form. Adam will definitely put up a fight but I don't see Phil's competition ending quite yet.  

7-5 Phil (Jon) Result - 8-6 Adam

#6 jj-man vs #11 __thaman__ -  This is one of the more wide open matches from round 2 where there isn't really a clear favourite. JJ is coming off his most impressive season in the competition after finishing with a 4-1 record. He's always been in the playoffs but this is his highest seed yet. Thomas also had a pretty good season and managed to get through round 1 on the strength of a DQ win. Was a little surprised by Thomas' success from this season but he's been doing pretty well in 8br too so maybe it's not as much of a fluke as it appears. Last season JJ played very well in the playoffs before disappearing in the later rounds so he'll be looking to avenge that. Hard to call a favourite here because both guys have a lot of holes in their games. Look for JJ to come out on top in a pretty sloppy set.

7-5 JJ (Jon)

Round 1

#16 rubiiiiiiii vs #17 hustle - Moon had a decent season going 3-1, and she faces a decent opponent in her round 1 matchup in Chad who also had a decent season also going 3-1. Moon is a decent player and has her days where she can play some good pool and can run some good tables. She is a bit too inconsistent though which worries me vs Chad. Chad is also a decent player in his own right, while some might make the case he could be in A, he is a better 5 sec player than he is untimed and is like Moon, a bit too inconsistent. Chad does have the better run and snook game though which should give him the edge in this matchup, unless of course he lets his attitude get the best of him and rage quits. I think Chad pulls this one out though.

7-4 Chad Result - 7-2 Chad

#9 cyberinferno1 vs #24 nevvf - Chad went 4-1 with his only loss being to the eventual group winner. He faces Joey who I believe if he truly regains his old form he can move up to Division A. Joey only played 2 sets and got into playoffs, but some people just don't play there sets I guess. But back to the pred, Chad has a pretty decent run game his snook game is subject at times which will get him into trouble vs Joey. Joey is a solid player all around who just needs to brush the remaining rust off. Joey had a deep run into 8br finals last season which makes me think he's getting his old form back. Just by going off recent games I've seen of Joeys and not seeing Chad around as much lately, I have to go Joeys way on this one.

7-3 Joey Result - 7-4 Chad

#13 so-great vs #20 SideShot - Josh had also had a decent season going 3-2 with his key wins coming against Kerry and DJ. He's facing Chris who went 2-3. Josh is the better overall player in my opinion here though Chris can pull out some good wins. Josh's run game is pretty good but can be sketchy at times if he's not really trying which he will need to avoid if he hopes to win this playoff set. Chris though also shouldn't be underestimated as he also has a decent run game his self. While he won't run break you every game you give him a open table or a runnable table and theres times where he will run it with his eyes closed. Overall though Josh is the better player here and should pull this out and advance.

7-5 Josh Result - 11-9 Josh

#12 KrazyKerry vs #21 lvlr_l7ry - Honestly it's surprising to see Carlos seeded this low in Division B. But Kerry has been doing well for herself lately and has gotten better. While she isn't the best, she has gotten pretty good and her game has progressed and it's been showing. She still isn't the best snooker but her banks are still some of the best and her run game has gotten better, she does face a tough challenge in going up against Carlos here. Carlos is the better overall player no doubting that, but he can't underestimate Kerry as she has been pulling off some upsets in Friendlies and has been keeping races close. Carlos' run game has gotten better as well and his overall game has gotten better. Though I do believe Carlos is the better player, I just feel like the upset is going to happen.

8-6 Kerry Result - DQ win for Kerry

#15 llvllechanic vs #18 x_choke.king_x - This one is actually a rematch from this season's group stage where Naveen comfortably defeated Brice by a 7-2 margin. Despite that result both players did end up having pretty good seasons with each of them picking up 3 wins. Both guys have been in the playoffs most seasons with Naveen having slightly more success than Brice. While the group stage result isn't always a huge determining factor, I still think Naveen is a stronger player than Brice. Naveen is more versatile in his game and even though he can sometimes make mistakes, over the course of the race to 7 the result should swing in his favour.  

7-4 Naveen (Jon) Result - 9-7 Naveen

#10 _Eddie_2 vs #23 bad_luck_ - Okay, so in all honestly I don't know who David is unless this is bmx David. But, Eddie made it to Semis last season in NE Cam and in 8br Cam. So Eddie has improved from seasons past but can he reproduce those deep runs into the playoffs? His run game has gotten better as has his snook game. If he can play well he could make another deep run. But, going off of Davids stats he went 2-1 in group stage with wins against Sterlo and Jason. Which are decent wins. But I still have to give the edge to Eddie here. 

7-3 Eddie Result - 7-3 David

#14 Mr_Wonderful__ vs #19 pobody's nerfect - Okay, so what I've gathered from people, Adam is decent and going off his group stage he went 3-1 with wins over Sacha, Jenni and the winner of his group Luis. Now Rees is no pushover so Adam can't take rees lightly. Rees didn't have the group stage he wanted going 2-3 with his 2 wins coming over Bryan and Jose. Now, Rees if he decides he wants to play and not mess around can play some mean pool at times. And not really have tons to go off of, and just knowing Rees's playing style I have to give the edge to Rees on this one.

7-4 Rees Result - 7-2 Adam

#11 __thaman__ vs #22 gb.elite91 - While Thomas has gotten better, Steve is no joke. People underestimated Steve cause they didn't know who he is, well I gotta tell ya when this guy is on, he's on he can run some good tables which is why he should be looked out for. Thomas can run some tables as well and has gotten better. He isn't consistent enough for me to say he can constantly win playoff matches but he can pull out a couple wins I think. But he did get a tough draw here going up against Steve who I feel is the superior player in this matchup. Thomas will need everything he can pull out in order to win this set. He should keep it close but Steve will in the end, win out.

7-5 Steve Result - DQ win for Thomas

New Era Cam - Week 3 Power Rankings Div A 2/12

Ok so here we are again with another edition of the power rankings. This is getting posted a little late so just keep in mind the records are as of Tuesday. 8 yahoo pool experts submitted their lists to contribute to this final ranking.

#1 deep.cerebro (4-1) - Luis doesn't have the best record in the competition but it's still pretty good. His reputation got him this spot in a landslide.

Last week (#1)

#2 x_mirotic_x (3-0) - Kevin looks to be on form once again. Will be one of the most dangerous players come playoff time.

Last week (NR)

#3 _Sugarhigh__ (5-0) - JT has a great chance at the top seed going into the playoffs after his win against Ant. Would probably be higher if we'd seen this kind of play from him before.

Last week (#7)

#4 fhm_champion (3-1) - Drops a little here after picking up his first loss. Still looks pretty strong heading into the playoffs.

Last week (#2)

#5 shaggymaniac (4-1) - Started off slowly with a loss. Then over the course of one day he won his last 4 sets. Definitely a dangerous shooter.

Last week (NR)

#6 PRO_BOY (3-1) - Coming off a big win against Chris, Uriel is making his first appearance in the rankings this season. Showing some good form coming down the stretch.

Last week (NR)

#7 master (3-1) - No extra sets played to add to Irfan's good record. Still hanging in there and dropping only one spot.

Last week (#6)

#8 l2_o_c_k_y (3-1) - Rocky also hasn't played since the last rankings. He sticks in the 8 spot once again.

Last week (#8)

#9 zl_stu_lz (1-0) - The only player who made the top 10 with only one set played. People really love Stu.

Last week (#4) 

#10 sykology (3-1) - Brent is on the ranking for the first time ever. Was a little overdue but he finally pulled off a solid season.

Last week (NR) 

Others receiving votes: poolist, mr_camtasia, AzN_PrIdE_LuVa, good-faith, _dante, leeds_united14, SupaSolid, adambuddy, the.g_o_a_t

New Era Cam - Week 2 Power Rankings Div B 2/12

Ok so here we are for the first edition of the div B power rankings! A team of 7 yahoo pool experts have submitted their top 10 lists and here is the result.

#1 Xx_Different_Class_xX (5-0) - There's not much more Matt can do. His last time in div B he won, plus he's already clinched an undefeated record. Well earned here.

#2 xnice_shotx (5-0) - Call him what you want... hiding always backfires. Phil has shown some good stuff with his performance in the group. Should be a threat to go deep in the playoffs.

#3 ItsAJ (4-0) - Like most of the players up here he's had div A experience. Last time he was in div B he was a finalist. Showing some strong form and looks on track to nab one of the top seeds.

#4 ll_eskimo_ownage_ll (3-0) - Petey is about as experienced as they come within the game. He's dominating so far in div B with all his wins being 7-2 results.

#5 cyberinferno1 (4-1) - Chad picked up pretty much where he left off last season. Grabbing an identical 4-1 record. Will look to make his mark on the playoffs.

#6 jj-man (4-1) - Probably the first real surprise on this list. JJ continued his great play from last season's playoffs and has secured a pretty high playoff spot through his great play.

#7 rubiiiiiiii (3-0) - Moon is showing that last season was no fluke with her quick start. She's already in the playoffs and looking to possibly finish off her best season.

#8 so-great (3-2) - Josh shook off losing his first game to come back and put together a solid season. Watch out for him to make some noise in the playoffs as a lower seed.  

#9 Mr_Wonderful__ (3-1) - Adam is looking pretty good so far in his first time in the competition. Still has a chance to rise here with one set left. We'll see him in the playoffs.

#10 sicc.stoned (2-0) - Derek is a really good player who has won this portion of the competition before. He's got a great chance to finish 5-0 and be a top seed in the playoffs.

#10 lvlr_l7ry (2-1) - Carlos has finally played some games in the competition. Going pretty well for him so far with 2 early wins and a great win percentage

Others receiving votes: hustle, t.wolves, __thaman__, Xx_SaTaNs_MaSTeR_xX, british_pool_wizard, n_4_v_e_e_n, KrazyKerry, handkrash

Div B Mid-Season Report 2/12

Yeah so the one man show is finally starting to show some rust. But so what! Here is the blog you've been dying to read. A whole 3 days after div A's version got posted. Jealous? Well don't be, because here comes da blog.

Group A

So in the first group most of the sets have been played already. Two players have separated themselves from the pack at this time and there's a lot left to decide. JJ had a pretty good season. He's finished all his sets with a 4-1 record and has clinched a playoff spot. Carlos is also off to a pretty good start at 2-1. While he did lose to JJ, his 70% win percentage is hard to miss. He'll be in the playoffs too and has an outside chance at still winning the group. There's a group of 3 players on 3 points. Brad is in the best position as he's 1-0 with a win coming against JJ. Steven (Eagle) has a chance at making the playoffs but he's pretty much in must win mode. Steve (gb) has a slightly better chance as he's got 3 sets remaining. Amy gave it a go but didn't have much luck and will be looking forward to next season after an 0-4 start.

Two key sets to watch:

Punk_Lobster vs lvlr_l7ry - This should be a pretty entertaining set between the preseason favourites in this group. Brad always does well in the group stage but at this point he's only played the one set. Carlos is looking like a definite standout in div B with his great win percentage. Something will have to give. Should be much closer than the other sets Carlos has played so far because Brad can really shoot well.

gb.elite91 vs Eagle_Force - Battle of the Steves here. Not sure why people with the same name always end up in the same group but I'm never willing to reshuffle. This is actually a pretty important set for these guys as the winner might still have a chance to move on to the playoffs. The loser will pick up at least their 3rd loss and be put into a much tougher situation.

Group B

Lots of activity in this group also. AJ is the early leader with 12 points and still a set left to play. Naveen bounced back from an early loss and is once again in solid position, sitting in second place with 6 points. The next player I'm going to talk about is a little intriguing. Miguel has finally played and won a set. Alex tells me that he's definitely not div B so look for him to possibly make a charge for first here. Praveen and Brice are very much alive with one win each. Carl has finished all his sets with zero wins unfortunately. Will be a little disappointing after his playoff appearance last season.

ItsAJ vs un.conquered - Well if Miguel was looking for a respectful, quality set out of this one, he might get one of those wishes. Miguel is the last guy AJ will have to play in order to try to get his perfect record. I've been told that Miguel is pretty good so this should be a good barometer.

n_4_v_e_e_n vs _The_Leprachaun_ - The match between Brice and Naveen should be a pretty good one. Both players were in the playoffs last season. Neither guy's season is on the line here but it will be an important win. Brice doesn't really seem to be around pool quite as much lately, so we'll be able to see if he can live up to his high seeding from last season.

Group C (Ross)

A.K.A the group that no one wants to finish in third place. Matt has first locked up with a perfect record and one would fancy him to reach at least the semi finals of the playoffs as long as he can cuts down on the choking his runs can be lethal. Chad also has a playoff spot locked up but one would predict his game is far too risky to cause any real threat to pose a danger in the playoffs. The race for third place is where this group really starts to get interesting as Cody, Jon and Chris could all potentially end up with 7 points or Jon could win out the remainder of his sets and finish the season on 10 points. Due to Cody being inactive from pool in the last few weeks down to joining the circus according to Jose I’m going to say he probably loses his last set. I am also going to say that Jon will win out the rest of his sets as he has held wins over players of the calibre of Sergio in the past which is greater than any threat this group has left to offer him after pushing the big 2 close.

Two key sets to watch:

S_IC vs LyFe_eLiTe - All the remaining sets left involve Jon. His set against Cody won't be much more important than the other two but it's definitely still important. Jon is the only player left with a chance to hit the 3 win level but at the same time Cody can force a tie for 3rd place with a victory here. Cody's win % is below 50 but it's still higher than Joe's and Chris' so he's technically got the best chance. Cody hasn't really shown he can beat good players yet in competitions so I see Jon moving through here.

SideShot vs S_IC - Obviously another set involving Jon. Chris and Jon will have a little familiarity with each other from the early days, when the lg actually hosted trny. Chris might be a little more of a challenge because of that familiarity and also because he has been in the playoffs before. Look for this to be Jon's toughest test in his challenge to win his last 3 sets.

Group D

This is probably the group with the least activity so far with less than half of the sets played. Only 3 of the players have points so far which makes the playoff picture look pretty clear. Petey has been a wrecking ball so far at 3-0 winning each set 7-2 so far. Chad is also showing that he'll have no problems getting back to the playoffs with his 2-0 start and he'll be the biggest competition for 1st with Petey. Rees sits at a 2-2 record and at this point looks pretty good to advance as well. Bryan and Jose are both in pretty big holes with their 0-2 records, while Jason has only played one set which resulted in a loss.

Two key sets to watch:

ll_eskimo_ownage_ll vs hustle - The two favourites going into the group stage have lived up to expectations so far and are on a collision course for 1st place in the group. Petey hasn't been in the competition in a few seasons but is showing that he's one to watch in div B. Chad has always done very well in div B as well, coming off a semi-finals appearance last season. Look for an entertaining set here.

PSYCHOJASON vs pobody's nerfect - This is a bit of an intriguing matchup. Rees hasn't quite clinched a spot in the playoffs yet and his last match will come against Jason. Jason hasn't been around a ton so hopefully it will in fact get played. Jason used to consistently make the div B playoffs and was seemingly improving his game before he disappeared for a few seasons. Rees might not know Jason too well, but he'll definitely have to take him seriously because if good Jason shows up it'll be tight.

Group E (Tim)

This group is pretty competitive.  Josh is in first place with 10 points and DJ is in second with 7, but both have played all sets (well done to both btw).  Kerry and Derek are tied for third with 6 points a piece however, Kerry has two sets and Derek has three sets still to play.  And in 5th place, Cris has 3 points with three sets still to play.  Josh and DJ are both watching to see the results of the remaining sets in the group and hoping that their points will stand up by the end.  BOL to my good friend Maria, but you need to step it up in those last two sets to have any hope of making playoffs. I've seen you play Maria... you have a good snooker game, now just back it up with smart shot selection. Anything can happen in this group! Kerry and Derek are both tough players that are going to be battling the rest of the season for points.  But let us not forget the mystery man Cris.  I have a feeling this guy is a shadow in the pool and could potentially come up with some big wins.  GL.

Two key sets to watch:

deftvision vs KrazyKerry - Mystery man Cris is gonna be a tough match for Kerry. Kerry is 2-1 and, ideally, she needs this win to put herself in great position to make the playoffs. So I'm assuming she's gonna be on her A game. If she does indeed play her A game, I think she’ll get the win.

KrazyKerry vs sicc.stoned - The two powerhouses of the group in my opinion.  Winner of this is in great position to make the playoffs.  Derek I’m picking you to win this set. GL both.

Group F (Ross)

Phil has first locked up with a perfect record. While going 5-0 in any cam comp may be impressive, winning 4 of the 5 races by a single game suggests all of these sets could have gone either way and he may struggled against more experienced players who know not to make unnecessary risks during sets. The race for second is where this group really heats up with Thomas finished his sets on 10 points and holding a win over Tim but a loss against Eddie the 2 of the 3 players who can join him on 10 points. However it is Faisal who holds all the cards in this group as if he wins his remaining sets he will leave both Eddie and Tim fighting for a wild card and steal joint second for himself.  Personally I don’t see someone who only one game against Thomas knocking off the reigning Division B 8BRCAM champion in Tim or the guy who claims he belongs in Division A in Eddie but prove me wrong.

Two key sets to watch:

xxl_champion_lxx vs _Eddie_2 - Once again a group where the remaining 3 sets involve one player, Faisal takes his turn. This is a pretty important set for both players. Must win for Faisal to stay alive and also must win for Eddie if he wants to clinch at least a wildcard spot.

handkrash vs xxl_champion_lxx - This is almost an identical situation to Eddie's situation. It's especially similar because both Eddie and Tim will be heavy favourites in these sets. Faisal was able to keep it close against Phil so maybe he's got a little left in the tank to pull out an upset here.

Group G (Tim)

Interesting Group.  Adam (3-1), Moon (3-0), and Luis (3-1) have are in a three way tie for first, all with 9 points.  Word on the street is that Moon is playing solid. She's the only undefeated player in the group but has two sets still to play. Make sure you play both and try your best to get 7 more points to take the group.  Adam got a big 5-4 win over Luis, but Luis got a crucial win over Mike. Both Adam and Luis have one set left to play against tough opponents.  Surprisingly, Sacha and Mike, both tough players, haven't performed well... however, Mike has only played one set. As for Jenni, she had a stellar performance in 8br cam but isn't doing so hot in this group.  Make sure you bring your A game for the last two sets if you want to have any chance of making the playoffs, Jenni. Same goes for you Sacha.  I know you're a good player, Sacha bro. Maybe you just haven't been playing as much lately but step it up in the last two for a chance at playoffs. As of now, unless Mike starts playing and winning sets--which is definitely a posibility cuz he's a good playa--it looks like the Moon, Adam, and Luis are fighting for top three spots.  GL all.

Two key sets to watch:

rubiiiiiiii vs Xx_SaTaNs_MaSTeR_xX - I know Moon, I don't know Luis. Should be a good set, could go either way. I'm kinda going out on a limb here,,, but Moon I've been hearing good things about you. I say Moon wins this set.

uBlowMe vs Mr_Wonderful__ -  The results of this set depend on which Mike shows up. The guy has had good showings in cam comps in the past, but I've also seen him play poorly. So, although I don't know him very well, I say Adam wins this set.

NEW  GROUP

Group H 

Kron_36 - Jay is someone who I've never seen in cam comps. Someone told me he was some kind of hider but who knows what that even means. I've seen him quite a few times playing on inter teams before so he's definitely got some skill. This is a tough group for you first cam comp experience but I also wouldn't be shocked if he held his own.  

bad_luck_ - David is giving cam comps a try for what I believe to be the first time as well. The only thing I know about this guy is that he makes pretty cool graphics. I guess if you hang around yahoo pool lgs long enough you probably get a chance to play a fair amount of games. Most of the other players in this group have a ton of experience so it'll be hard for David to make the playoffs.  

nevvf - Joey is an old school player who hadn't been around for quite a while. After having an average group stage in 8brcam he caught fire and made it all the way to the finals in div B in the previous season. While that's definitely an impressive feat this is still a pretty tough group. I can't imagine his play dropping off to a point where he doesn't make the playoffs but first place won't be a guarantee.  

british_pool_wizard - Jason is a guy that has a ton of div A experience but is once again coming off a bit of a layoff. Early on he's sitting at 1-0 with a big win against one of his main competitors in Rob. At his best in this competition, Jason did qualify for the div A playoffs so if he's on form look for him to be the top guy in this group, with a great chance at going deep in playoffs.  

thepr0fessor - I would have been more optimistic for Tate's prediction had this group not been added in 4 days ago. Not sure if anyone has gotten in touch with him yet but the lack of sets played isn't the best sign. There are guys in this group who I'm not sure on but with Tate I couldn't even begin to guess. Will have to assume the other guys are better.  

t.wolves - Welcoming Rob back to the competition! This is pretty exciting as we have a player who was in the original SSCam Cup all the way back in 2008. Rob was actually the very first winner of div A back then. A lot has changed as the field has expanded in number and quality. So far so good as he's got some good wins in this group through 3 sets played. Look for Rob to be in the playoffs and on his way to potentially another title. 

Pecking order - 1.Jason 2.Rob 3.Joey 4.Jay 5.David 6.Tate

New Era Cam - Week 2 Power Rankings Div A 2/12

Ok so after missing out on the pre-season version of the power rankings we're back. 8 yahoo pool experts were asked to give their top 10 in the competition based on how the season has been playing out so far and their knowledge of the players. Should be at least one more edition of the rankings so... still time to get your name on here!

#1 deep.cerebro (4-1) - The bar has been set high, ladies and gentlemen. Still a chance that there could be a perfect season out there but who is really going to vote against Luis the legend.

#2 fhm_champion (3-0) - Ben is a former champ and is off to a great start. Not a guy that anyone really wants to play against because of his patient style.

#3 good-faith (0-0) - Decided to take the loss off his record because it's really not his. Three time champ, including last season... enough said.

#4 zl_stu_lz (1-0) - Hasn't really made the same splash yet as the other guys ahead of him. He probably would have been voted this high without any wins though.

#5 mr_camtasia (1-0) - Another legend of the competition, Chris is a two time winner. He's not used to having so many big names to fight with for attention.

#6 master (3-1) - Irfan has been making a name for himself for quite a while now. People are finally starting to notice he's got a great run game.

#7 _Sugarhigh__ (3-0) - JT didn't receive a vote throughout all of last season, and now he's in the top 10. Is it a fluke? We'll find out soon.

#8 l2_o_c_k_y (3-1) - Pretty sure Rocky is here to stay. He burst onto the scene and can really only get better from here.

#9 adambuddy (3-1) - So Adam may have been an afterthought for some people lately. He's showing that he hasn't lost the ability to tap into that great form.

#10 _dante (1-0) - Getting some love, fresh off his 8brcam finals appearance. Are we going to see that quality now in every competition?

Others receiving votes: x_mirotic_x, AzN_PrIdE_LuVa, leeds_united14, poolist, __Trav__, xlx_skill_xlx, sixohtwo, sykology

Div A Mid-Season Report 2/12

So far the season has been great. Lots of sets have been played and the level of the competition is once again top notch. Should be an interesting stretch drive and with so many good players involved, unfortunately only the top performers will advance. $40 cash prize is still on the line here in div A. Here is le mid-season report.

Group A

The 3rd most active group. Leading the group is adambuddy with a nice 3-1 score against good players like Jon and Ashton. Second sin-e with a 2-2, not bad. And third Travis with a 2-1 which I think will get better later on this season. Leaving Shaun, Jon and Sergio. Who are not out, they still have a good chance of going in to playoff's but have to at least win the rest of their sets.

Two key sets to watch:

leeds_united14 vs __Trav__ - Trav has a 2-1 score and needs to beat Jon if he wants to secure his spot for playoff's. Jon has a 0-1 score with his only lost being to Adam. Jon needs to win this in order to have a good start in his group if he wants to make playoffs also. This will be a good set to watch since both players are good. Good luck you two.

adambuddy vs shaggymaniac - Adam is off with a 3-1 score, best score in the group leaving him with the lead. Adam will need to win this game to be rank 1 in the group if he wants to get a good seed. Shaun has a 0-1 score and needs to win this since Adam is the leading person. If Shaun loses, he might not have a good chance of making playoffs. Good luck you 2.

Group B

Only a third of the sets have been played so far in this group. Expect that to change pretty soon, as Stu has returned. Also with the addition of Kevin to the group, we should start to see how this group will turn out shortly.  The early star in the group is Rocky who has jumped out to a 3-1 start. Besides that, no one is a lock for the playoffs. Ross and Stu are the other players in the group who have points so far. Expect Stu to challenge for first in the group. Scotty started out with a loss but he's definitely a good enough player to turn it around in this group despite the stiff competition. Tan is in a really tough spot but if he can catch fire like days of old there's an outside chance of making the playoffs.

Two key sets to watch:

zl_stu_lz vs sixohtwo - Unfortunately the only way this set will happen is if Kevin hasn't withdrawn before the opportunity arises. If we're talking purely about pool skills then Stu and Kevin are both previous 8brcam winners. Always exciting to see the best players go head to head. The loser in this set will probably still make the playoffs.

xlx_s_p_g_xlx vs sixohtwo - This set could be equally as entertaining as the first one mentioned. These guys don't really have safety in their vocabulary for the most part and that's because they're great runners. Having played both of these guys it's hard to pick. Kevin has titles, but Scotty definitely has what it takes to win here.

Group C

These guys must have been pretty excited about the start of a new season. Here we are, almost two weeks in, and there are only 3 sets remaining to be played. Luis hasn't disappointed so far, as he's clinched the group with a 4-1 record. Pita and Neo have essentially clinched playoff spots with their 3-2 records. All that's left to determine is will there be a wildcard, and who will it be. Dan and Hope are the two with a chance at pulling it off as they sit with 1-2 records after having played the toughest parts of their schedules. Aaron is out of the playoff picture, but he could still somewhat salvage his season by putting some points up.

Two key sets to watch:

dwaechte vs eat_pinaples - These are the two remaining players with a chance at making the playoffs, so it goes without saying this is a little important. Both players have this match and one remaining against Aaron so a win here wouldn't just keep them alive, but it would also not be a wild stretch to pick up a win against Aaron and his 0-3 record. Both players with in the playoffs last season but I have to give Dan the edge to come out alive here.

dwaechte vs ACE2022 - This set is pretty much only key for Dan. Aaron has already bowed out of the playoff race. Hopefully he takes some satisfaction in competing with a good player such as Dan so that we get a pretty good set here. Dan might also see this as being one of his easier sets, which would be a big mistake. Aaron is still a really good player and if Dan isn't doing his thing then there definitely could be a minor upset here.

Group D

Most of the sets have been played in this group but there are several positions up for grabs. Ben is up to his normal tricks, and has jumped out to a 3-0 record to lead the group. Fair to say his toughest two sets are remaining, but he's essentially in the playoffs already with 9 points. Second place, for now, goes to Roy. He's only got a higher point total because of his bonus point and he'll be hoping that'll somehow hold on to be good enough for playoffs. Derrick and Mike are both sitting on 6 points with sets remaining. David has a win, and still has a little hope if he can step his game up in his last two sets. Daz hasn't had any success at all so far, and is out of the playoffs at an 0-4 record.

Two key sets to watch:

fhm_champion vs SupaSolid - This should be a pretty good set. Hoping that Mike shows up with his normal form because if he's not running well against Ben then it might not be such a good set. Huge contrast in styles here. Ben can definitely shoot as well as most in div A, but his patience is hard to overcome. Both players will need to gauge their aggressiveness and make their moves at the right time.

l3_lvl_x vs poolist - Well apparently Derrick doesn't need much time to warm up. Hadn't seen him in a while but he's off to a 2-0 start. David doesn't really have a bad loss, but he's definitely in a hole at 1-2. His other set comes against Daz but he'll definitely sleep easier if he can beat Derrick. Last time these two met a couple seasons back and David actually did win. Should be a close set because both of these guys can seriously shoot.

Group E

This group is currently tied in last place as far as activity with only 4 sets having been played. JT is having his best season ever in the competition and is off to a great 3-0 start. The other win in the group is owned by Jordy who had a nice win against Conor. Conor is no longer in the group, but he's replaced by another shark in last season's champ Ant. Ant has won the competition more than anyone with 3 titles, so I don't see him having too much trouble in overcoming that 0-1 start. Niks and Stephen both picked up losses against JT and are very much still alive. Sukio is currently on an extension and should join the fray soon.

Two key sets to watch:

_Sugarhigh__ vs good-faith - JT has been a pleasant surprise so far this season. He won't have to stress over the playoffs this time around as he's already sitting on 9 points. But how good is he really playing? Great way to test that is to get in the ring with Ant. Ant will definitely be the favourite in this set but it'll be interesting to see if JT can give him a test or maybe even pull out a win.

xlx_skill_xlx vs stephenb_ - Two players who have 7 sets left to play between them. This should be one of the important ones as the second loss always puts a little more pressure on. Both guys seem to always do enough to make the playoffs in every competition. Stephen is probably under a little more pressure in this set because he still has to play Ant. Only reason I give Stephen the edge is because this should be his most important set. He should show up on form.

Group F

This group is very undetermined. Half the sets have been played, but only one player has more than a win to their name. Irfan is currently leading the group at 9 points with a 3-1 record. He still has to play Chris, so it's very possible that he'll relinquish the lead in this group. Preseason the favourite to win this group would have been Chris and he hasn't done anything to change that yet with a 1-0 start. Dan, Uriel and Andy are sitting on identical 1-1 records and they all have a pretty even chance of making a move from there. Cam is technically sitting in second place with 4 points, but he's finished all his sets and there's no way he'll move on to playoffs.

Two key sets to watch:

master vs mr_camtasia - Irfan is once again showing that he belongs among the contenders in div A. Returning to the competition after a little time off he's started out with a nice 3-1 record. A win here would grab him a high playoff seed but he's facing Chris. Chris pretty much never loses sets in this competition. He's only ever lost once in the playoffs before and usually goes undefeated in the groups. If it was anyone else, I might give Irfan a chance but this is Mr Camtasia.

HolyWarrior_ vs PRO_BOY - These guys were both in the playoffs last season and will be looking to avoid a second loss in this matchup. Both players also have to play Chris still, which makes it all the more important. Last season Andy beat Uriel in the group stage, in a close 5-4 score. Both these guys are really strong player but it's fair to say the loser will be on the ropes. Hopefully Andy and Uriel come with their A game.

Group G

The other group in the tie for last place in activity! Not something that I celebrate, personally, but something needs to be said. Brent is out to an early lead with a 2-0 record. Nice comeback season for him after he's tanked in the last couple. Still needs that 3rd win but you can't argue with that record. Dante is also looking to be in good position with his 1-0 record. Kevin (Kevins_Yahoo), started out with a great win against Alex, but since then he lost the next two and sits at 1-2. No one expected Alex to be at 0-2, but his game hasn't been on form so far this season. Kevin Cheng is one of the two new players to the group. He's a former 8brcam champ as well as being a former finalist in this competition in 2010, which makes him an instant contender for 1st place. Rich has also been added to this group. Not exactly sure that I've ever seen him in div A before but he does well enough in div B.

Two key sets to watch:

x_mirotic_x vs x_i_am_me_x - A matchup between two of the most talented players in the game. Obviously this is a must win for Alex with him being at 0-2. If Alex is going to come back from that hole then this is a must win. Not exactly the easiest challenge with a former 8brcam champ in the way. Both of these guys are prone to having their off days but expect to see some very good pool here.

_dante vs sykology - Dante and Brent are undefeated at this point. They haven't wrapped up playoff spots just yet but zero losses is a good way to start. This won't be the make of break set but obviously a win makes things a little easier. Brent is a little more of a surprise sitting at 2-0 while Dante is coming off his best cam comp performance where he made it to the 8brcam finals. Brent doesn't back down from any challenges, so should be interesting to see if he can keep this mini-run going.