Arbalet Cup preview: Group B

Second part of HLTV.org's pre-Arbalet Cup Europe coverage, we take a closer look at the teams - This time in Group B.

mousesports	PinG
Antonio "cyx" Daniloski	Alexey "xaoc" Kucherov
Fatih "gob b" Dayik	Juriy "strike" Tereshenko
Roman "roman" Ausserdorfer	Kirill "ANGE1" Karasiow
Manuel "Tixo" Makohl	Sergey "lmbt" Bezhanov
Navid "Kapio" Javadi	Taras "craft1k" Voitenko
compLexity	H2k Gaming
David "Xp3" Garrido	André "BARBARR" Möller
Derek "dboorN" Boorn	Danny "pop" Oldenburg
Jeff "hero" Mettetal	Jon "hyvlarn" Edelsvärd
Scott "evolution" Cavallero	Markus "pronax" Wallsten
Thomas "thoMz" Garcia	Richard "Xizt" Landström

Ever since winning the European Championship in IEM4, mousesports was once again singled out to be one of the teams to watch in 2010. The Germans did however not live up to the high expectations, falling against Natus Vincere in the relegation stage at IEM4 World Championship. Since then, the team has kept a flawless performance in the German ESL Pro Series, it will however be different teams that will be testing mousesports this weekend. All but a first place in the group would be disappointing for the Germans, who will need to watch out for the Ukrainian squad, housing players who defeated them in a IEM4 group stage match played in Dubai last year.

Next to Natus Vincere, PinG is the second Ukrainian team on display this weekend in Stockholm, currently with a very good string of results. Coming with a first place finish at Arbalet Cup CIS, PinG got a lot to prove to keep the critics away. The key for the Ukrainians will obviously be a victory against mousesports, but looking at what teams they have in their group, PinG will have to stay on top of their game, as it can turn out to be a three-way decider who will claim the two spots granting access to the second group stage.

The newly formed compLexity squad will travel to Stockholm with a huge pressure on their shoulders. Crushing Evil Geniuses 16-5 and 16-3 to win CEVO-P XII, compLexity were quickly appointed as new dominant force in North America. The team will have eyes pointed their direction when playing their first match in the group stage, as the community will be curious to know whether it was a one-time performance against Evil Geniuses. It will be the first encounter with European teams for the American squad and it will be crucial whether they can cope with them or will fall to the ground.
 
H2k Gaming recently booked a ticket to ESWC 2010, following a victory at the 2010 Swedish Championship. It has been a series of mixed results for the squad this year, who now will face their biggest test of the year. Placed in a group where the outcome can go several ways, H2k will be looking to do what they have had success with in the past, taking the underdog role against the big teams and turn it against them. It will be an up-hill struggle for the Swedes, several members managed to down Evil Geniuses last time they attended Arbalet Cup Europe, pulling the upset will be what H2k have to do in order to advance from the group.

HLTV.org's final placing prediction:

1. mousesports
2. PinG
3. compLexity
4. H2k Gaming

 SteelSeries competition

Who do you think will win Group B? By leaving a comment below, with the team you think will win, you will have the opportunity to win a SteelSeries QcK+ fnatic Custom Limited Edition mousepad.

The competition will close at 12:00CET on Friday the 14th of May, when the first round of matches in the group kicks off.

The winner will be drawn between all correct answers once Arbalet Cup Europe has come to an end.