TEK-9.org previews the opening Extreme Masters Global Challenge event for QuakeLive in Dubai. The feature includes a group-by-group rundown of each player, from hot favourite
Shane
"rapha" Hendrixson to local underdog
Anas
"spammah" Ilyas and everybody in-between. A quick taster can be found below...
Out of shape? Probably. Washed up? Possibly. Still a legend? Definitely.
The only player who was going to keep rapha out of the headlines ahead of this event, Cooller, is now looking to return to Quake with a bang. With multiple CPL, WSVG and ESWC titles to his name, the Russian Quake star could arguably match any achievement he has to date by successfully pulling off this comeback with victory in Dubai. As unlikely as it is, the fans are still dreaming and will be avidly tuned in to ESL-TV for every match he plays.
Realistically though, even making it out of his group would be an achievement for Cooller given his limited practice time. His most recent appearance was in Quake 3 at the ASUS Cup where he lost to Cypher in the finals despite winning the upper bracket. Now with 385 matches on his QuakeLive account in the last three weeks, there can be no saying Cooller hasn't made the best of the time he's had and if there's anyone likely to pull off a win against Spart1e or DaHanG three weeks after installing the game it's got to be him.
You can read the full preview on
tek-9.org.
![shaftwhores only by [EXE]dann](/files/avatars/2007/51852-shaftwhore.gif "shaftwhores only by [EXE]dann"){kind=small}
Anton "Cooller" Singov (mousesports)
I also took a day off to see the final matches. My g/f wasn't too happy with that, but this IS gonna be a good tournament!