Reading Play.com November Event Report

The first Southern PESrankings ever to be held it Reading took place on the 1st November. Some of the top players turned up knowing that taking this event could see them rise to the summit of the rankings table. There was, like in Glasgow, alot off interest. However again, like the Glasgow event, we also had the usual drop outs but had a very respectable turn out of 25, making it a simple 4 groups of 6 with the top 4 making the last 16. NickFrench for some reason turned up 45 minutes early, stating that he thought the time was 11:15. I however was not fooled and knew that his tactic was to get a feel of the place ;)
So as the players all began to arrive the banter began and expectations were high with Pure domination claiming yet again that he was going to wipe the floor at another offline event. Also had a new player that turned up on the day and was the newest member to join the ranks with the user name "fifa" which as you can imagine caused quite a stir. Quoted by Oz_Idris as "disgusting"

So as the players were getting in a few much needed warm ups i began what was to turn out to be a very interesting group stage indeed!

GROUP 1

Nickfrench, Sk8erpro, proevo_legend, Johnny_bees, Fifa, Zain 8

Nick french looked the player to beat with 3 straight wins and looked very solid but seemed to become to comfortable and drew his last two games. Sk8erpro was having mixed fortunes but still remained unbeaten in the group stages.Johnny_bees and Proevo_legend had a fairly average performance who also crushed Zain.8 9-1! who was getting knocked all over the park. Spared his blushes of ending his day with a big fat zero with a 1-1 draw against fifa who also did not seem to get going. Maybe a new name will bring him more luck ;)

NickFrench 11pts
sk8erpro20 11pts
proevo_legend 9pts
jonny_bees 7pts
Fifa 2pts
Zain.8 1pt

Group 2

Cesc, Razaq_adel, Irfydude. Mr M, Miller82, Azhan

This group saw a few names that have been around rankings for a few years. Cesc formally known as "minicesc" pretty much romped this group without really coming out of second gear. The rest of the pack were all battling it out for 2nd 3rd and 4th with azhan struggling to get to grips with his game. Irfydude who had reluctantly made the ride down looked a bit off form. The fourth qualifying spot was decided on the last game which saw a somewhat underpar performing Miller82 needing to beat Razaq_adel. He battled bravely but eventually lost the game 2-1 in which there was a bit of controversy. Mr M appearing to tap Miller on the shoulder just as Razaq_adel had played a through ball in which he scored from. Miller did pull a goal back but the damage was already done.Mr M progressed by a marginal goal difference.

Cesc 15pts
razaq_adel 8pts
Irfydude 7pts
Mr M 5 5pts
Miller82 5pts
azhan 5 1pt

Group 3

Fieldy969, Naser, Boss_Mos, Max_Allstars, NeoKubrick,

The group which saw no fewer then an incredible 81 goals scored saw a possible contender for the rankings title Xtrap record the days biggest scoreline with a 10-1 deomolition job of Max_Allstars which saw his confidence rise but was brought down to earth a little but a 4-2 humbling by Naser who looked a very good player indeed. Fieldy969 also another very strong player dishing out a few beatings of his own with his only defeat coming to Xtrap 5-3. Boss_mos lost more games then he won but was enough to see him through to the knockout stages where it was back to the drawing board for NeoKubrick who propped up the table.

xtrap 12pts
fieldy969 12pts
Naser 5 9pts
boss_mos 6pts
Max_Allstars 4pts
NeoKubrick 1pt

Group 4

Footimaster, Rascal94, Oz Idris, Moanzy1, Pure Domination, Uncle Dean

This was the group that most people had their eyes on. Two big names in PESrankings, footimaster and Oz Idris, oh and not forgetting the player who in his own eyes is destined to win the season this year pure domination. All eyes were on footimaster and Oz and were both expected to fight for the top two spots. However, the little known Rascal94 was here and he wasnt just here to make up the numbers. He brushed aside Oz Idris in a convincing 5-3 win and came a very respectable 2nd, with this people suddenly took note. Moanzy was another player to lose more then he won but again made the knockouts which saw our potentially new rankings champion go tumbling out in the group stages yet again. Uncle dean also did not get going and joined Pure Domination at the root of the table.

Footimaster 13pts
Rascal94 12pts
Oz Idris 10pts
moanzy1 6pts
pure domination 1pt
Uncle Dean 1pt

LAST 16

Random draw was made for the last 16. Fieldy969 pipped Nickfrench 2-1, Johnny_Bees gave a solid performance in his 2-0 win over Rasaq_adel, Naser took forward his good form and sent sk8erpro20 home with a 2-1 win, Footimaster sent Moanzy1 crashing out with a 5-1 humbling. Dark Horse Rascal94 continued to shine where caution was thrown tot he wind. 4-4 after full time we went into extra time where Proevo_legend was leading 5-4 up until the 112minute but let two very quick goals in and that was that for him. Cesc continued his 100% start to the event and comfortably beat Boss_mos 4-0 where as xtrap managed to just edge out Irfydue 2-1. Mr M was comfortably beaten by Oz Idris 4-2, much to the delight of a certain somebody ;)
[COLOR="Red"]
Fieldy969 2-1 NickFrench
Johnny_Bees 2-0 Rasaq_adel
Naser 2-1 Sk8erpro20
Footimaster 5-1 Moanzy1
Rascal94 6-5 Proevo_legend
Cesc 4-0 Boss_mos
Xtrap 2-1 Irfydude
Oz Idris 4 - 2 Mr M[/COLOR]

Quarter Finals

Fieldy969 and Johnny_bees were friends before this game began, however after fieldy969 comfortably knocked his mate out 3-0, he was left wondering if he was going to be getting a lift home as a very disgruntled Johnny_bees marched off head down with smoke seeping through his ear, not a happy chappy! Footimaster continued to take the game to his oppenents and sent a very good naser home with much to think about after he was whitewashed 5-0. Rascal94 continued to shine and was up again against Oz idris. He showed no signs of nerves and completed a memorable double over a player who is considered to be a front runner for this years title. Next up for Cesc to defend his 100% start was Xtrap. It came to a grinding halt and was hit for 6 without reply.

Fieldy969 3-0 Johnny_bees
Footimaster 5-0 Naser
Rascal94 3-1 Oz Idris
Xtrap 6-0 Cesc

Semi Finals

Rascal94 had another stern test in his tie with Xtrap. He took the lead and odds looked on that he was heading towards another startling win. However he lost his concentration for a second with a loose pass and xtrap needed no more encouragement. He stated he only needed the one goal and he wasnt far wrong. From then on it was one way traffic and once the 2nd went in it was as good as over. Rascal94 battled bravely but this was one step to far on this occasion but he can go home knowing he can compete with the top flight. The other contest saw footimaster again scoring past what looked like strong players for fun has he taught fieldy969 a lesson with a 4-0 setting up a very interesting final indeed. On goals scored these two topped the charts so it was no surprise to see them both in the final.

Xtrap 3-1 Rascal94
Footimaster 4-0 Fieldy969


Final

After a short delay while the HMV dude at the time made these two lads grope each other in a very manly fashion we was able to get the final underway. Was a surprise that footimaster was here for the final after a few times just seeming to vanish when he was up to play. However he was never to far away, was either the toilet of macky D's. The boy has a serious appetite, in one way out the other!!

So anyway, they kicked off, we was all expecting goals galore, being that they have both been banging them in for fun so was hoping for a goal fest and a very close encounter. We got One. Xtrap opened the scoring, and then scored again and again and again and again, and unbelieveably sent footimaster to one of his biggest defeats ever. His face told the story. Xtrap was in the zone and footimaster seemed to off run out of steam. So with that win Xtrap became the first Play.com Reading champion and bagged himself a few goodies and a £100 play.com voucher but more importantly it sent him racing to the top of the rankings table. He is the man to catch at this early stage of the season.

Xtrap 6-0 Footimaster