Malifaux Masters Predictions 2014

There Can Be Only One

With the unfortunate end of Malifools and no invite on the upcoming Fools Daily I never go to share my predictions of what I suspect may happen at the 2014 Malifaux Masters this coming weekend.

Let's have a quick rundown of the groups, along with their ranking:

• Group A
• Joel Henry (1)
• James "MythicFox" Doxey (10)
• Luke Cocksedge (16)
• Connor Barker (15)
• Group B
• Mark Elwood (3)
• John Wharton (7)
• Scott Porter (25)
• Martin Wodehouse (9)
• Group C
• Ben Crowe (2)
• Maria Wieland (8)
• Joe Wood (14)
• Rob Smith (5)
• Group D
• Ant Hoult (4)
• Graham "Blutac" Bursnell (13)
• David Golden (17)
• Greg "The Chosen One" Piskosz (6)

Group A Prediction

Already making a decision is difficult here. On one hand it usually seems impossible to bet against Joel ever, but he is taking Gremlins and not his typical Neverborn.

When speaking about Gremlins we can't ignore Connor's prowess with them and he has been doing very well with them. No big event win outside of Heartfaux's 23 players though.

James Doxey is another stalwart but (much exaggerated) cries of "washed up" have been said with his loss of the Arcanist badge.

Luke Cocksedge didn't do too well at #M2GT all things considered, he also ranks lower than the other three in his group and where I would never like to bet against him statistics do help make my decision.

Oddly, form wise and other factors I think Connor Barker Wins Group A

With Joel Henry just sliding into the second place off the back of his natural skill and that Ophelia is actually pretty good.

Not confident with my picks here, but:

1. Connor Barker
2. Joel Henry

Group B Prediction

Group B to me is a quick decision, I do not say that writing any one off as "no chance" but I have a gut feeling.

John Wharton while giving me the biggest smashing I've received I can see with his style either winning or losing big which I think will possibly be his downfall in the group stages.

Scott Porter while he may have burst into 15th finally getting all his events in and also being someone who has whooped me I feel just hasn't been as consistent as the other two men.

Mark Elwood will take this group, he has been on a role and almost grabbed the number 1 slot this month.

Martin Wodehouse the new Arcanist champion has been doing great work too and although he is not always the most confident in himself he is never far from the top.

1. Mark Elwood
2. Martin Wodehouse

Group C Prediction

Ben Crowe, not just because he is SMP but because he is double qualified for this event winning the GT and being second in the ranking is a favourite for certain as he has been on a roll that doesn't look to be stopping.

Not writing off the rest, Maria is a skilled player and always picks up good results where ever she goes, her team along with Mark Elwood, Josh Leak and others, the Black Joker Society are actually a unit that scare me the most.

Joe Wood, he will bring Sonnia and he will burn things down to the ground. Ben has admitted that he has had his number in the past but I do think that is about to change.

Rob Smith seems impossible to write off, he did fantastically at M2GT his scores this past year are insane with only one event where he didn't top 10 (he came 11th) and all bar two of his events scoring him 80+ rankings points, this man is a machine.

Ben and Rob are my picks, I think the first round of Ben vs Maria and Joe vs Rob will be a big decider though, momentum is a real thing here.

1. Ben Crowe
2. Rob Smith

Group D Prediction

Dave Golden is a player I know little about, 17th in the rankings he squeezed in due to drop outs.

Players in Dave's position have taken down these events in the past but simply because I know so little about him he cannot be a pick of mine.

Same really goes for Ant, now while he has been a name I heard early coming into the scene it feels more like the past season was his more than now. Obviously this is wrong as he is still in top area of the rankings but the other two are the ones my gut say to pick.

Greg Piskosz the might of the North (hope I start some infighting) and many's pick to take down the event, I'm not confident he can go the whole way but I cannot foresee Greg anywhere but in the Masters still on Sunday.

Blutac just like Crowe has been showing us all that he really has got what it takes to be the very best (bursting into Pokemon here) especially with his win at the GT.

1. Greg Piskosz
2. Graham Bursnell

Continuing

At time of writing I am not entirely sure the way the matches are determined for day 2.

I assume:

• Winner A Plays Runner Up D
• Winner B Plays Runner Up C
• Winner C Plays Runner Up B
• Winner D Plays Runner Up A

If this is the case I think unfortunately for Joel and Connor, the group D boys take them both down.

To me B vs C is harder to decide.

I think Ben takes down Martin, and simply the form he's on Mark will beat Rob, this though would be one of the toughest games to bet on.

If I were right then:

• Graham vs Mark
• Ben vs Greg

These are some sick games of Malifaux. Blutac and Mark are both on such form it feels like a coin toss as does the other game.

I have to say first, I can't bet against the South and although Greg is the chosen one, I think Crowe will take him.

I would love to see a M2GT "final" rematch, but in the end I think Elwood just does it.

This would leave:

• Mark Elwood vs Ben Crowe

Again this is so hard, unless something loopy happens this will be a tight game but maybe for once I'm being optimistic rather than pessimistic.

SMP's own Ben Crowe, will take down the BJS member Mark Elwood.

And that is my prediction.

-Ben (@psientologist)