<img src="/images/wcg2006/wcg_esr_q4_preview4B_TOXIC.png">

Q4 GGL World Rank : 2
Q4 Prize Money : $58,420

Results

2006 Kode 5 Finals: 1st
2006 Kode 5 Sweden : 1st
2006 Quakecon : 1st
2006 Intel Summer : 1st
2006 ESWC : 6th
2006 WSVG Dreamhack : 2nd
2006 ESWC Sweden : 1st
2006 Vsports All Stars : 1st
2005 CPL Winter : 2nd
2005 VIA Dreamhack : 1st

Sporting a tournament record of 9 tournaments, 6 victories, 3 2nd places and a 6th, Toxic is only a fraction behind Cooller, there is so little to choose between them. Toxic’s low moment, like Cooller, also came at ESWC with a shocking 6th place finish.

Of his 6 wins, 2 were in national qualifiers (which still hold a lot of merit with the current dearth of talent coming out of Sweden), 1 was at a tournament held on a bo1 basis (Quakecon), 1 was at an event where the setup wasn’t easy (Vsports All Stars) and the other was just after Quake 4’s release last year. You could therefore argue that when it matters most, Cooller has won the bigger tournaments, usually beating Toxic in the Grand Final as well. Toxic also won the Intel Summer Championship and although he had to beat a determined Stermy, his nemesis Cooller was absent from the tournament. However, we cannot simply dismiss these results as that would miss the Swede’s ability to cope with change, different surroundings and difficult (or annoying) rule sets, where his lack of whining and pure dedication seems to come out in full bloom. I would also argue that Intel Summer was perhaps the strongest field of players of the year.

At the start of 2006 we wondered who could challenge what back then looked like a dead cert for the Quake 4 2006 crown, Cooller. We have our answer some 8 months into the year in the form of Toxic. Some might argue it was strange to see him nominated as esports player of the year, ahead of Cooller, but let’s not forget who has had the upper hand in their battles in the last few months.

Without a doubt, Johan is super confident right now, has the gameplay and aim and some considerable form in recent tournaments. Is he better than Cooller? Maybe, but we still have a few months left of the year before we can honestly assess them against each other. Certainly however, these two are ahead of everyone else right now and more recently Toxic has the edge.

WCG without Toxic being involved is unthinkable, so ensure that he gets to attend by including him in you vote.