The Pick & Ban Tournament has begun ; Round 1 pairings are out !

The Pick & Ban is back !

This time we're there ! The 128 entrants to the first Coup Critique tournament of the year know their opponents, and the Pick and Ban can now begin. As a reminder, you have until Sunday January 26 to play a first round which is already shaping up to be decisive, as this year's tournament will be played as a Single Elimination! So, what are the most exciting line-ups? Who can spring a surprise? We tell you all about what's at stake in this first week! 

 

Spared seeded players ?

Did the introduction of a seeded system spare the sixteen players concerned ? Yes and no! While Stellar Flares, Don Salvatore and Spookyz will start as favorites in their respective confrontations with Diamondapa, Rems and Ad4k, other top players of 2024 can legitimately fear an early exit. WWe're thinking of Hiko, who will have to beat Umberto, who did very well on the DCT last season, Cicada, who will be up against Antonazz, a player from the French team, Bloodclat, who will have to be careful against Simuxxie, who is rather good on the PST and, above all, Akalli. Indeed, the titleholder will have his work cut out in this first round, as he will have to eliminate Devin, a regular at Smogon tournaments, to pursue his dream of a double! 

 

Outsiders to watch 

While the sixteen seeded players will be hoping to hold their own, there are plenty of outsiders hoping to upset the hierarchy! Among them is Fabionacci, a regular on the Coup Critique circuit, having competed in all the tournaments last year. In his first round, he will have to face Hyper Bol, eliminated by forfeit in round 8 last year: anything but a piece of cake! Among the Circuit's regulars, we'll also be keeping a close eye on Nemosse's performance against He4tr4n, Remi25's battle against Daharan and Mylkilex, who will have fish on the menu with Surimi! 

 

Matches of the week !

So, what are we watching this week? Here's Coup Critique's selection of three must-see posters! 

 

Akalli vs Devin

Do we still need to introduce Akalli? Last year, France's current top player flew over the Coup Critique circuit. Pick and Ban ? Champion. Salty Tour Tournament? Champion. Aren't you happy? Double it! After a slightly more subdued end to the season, Akalli is back with more motivation than ever. And fortunately so, because he'll need all that motivation to get him off to a flying start. The titleholder will have to overcome the formidable Devin. Empo's official builder, considered the best player in the world, Devin is a complete player. Capable of shining in both old gen and 9G, he was a semi-finalist in the Official Ladder Tournament 8G in 2021. So sit back, relax and enjoy the show! 

 

Umberto vs Hiko

On my left, Umberto, brilliant last year at the PnB and, above all, first in the regular season at the Dire Climb Tournament. After a break on the second part of the Circuit Coup Critique, Umberto is back to prove he's lost none of his talent!

On my right is Hiko, who not only annihilated the author of these lines in the first tournament match of his life, but has also established himself as one of the best French players of the moment. Fifth overall in the Coup Critique 2024 Circuit, Hiko has distinguished himself with a fine 6th place in the PnB and a 3-0 World Cup record.  

The bell is about to ring and, in the end, only one will still be standing in the ring. Any predictions?  

 

Antonazz vs Cicada 

2024 had been his year. Involved in the Pokémon competitive scene for several months, Antonazz had made a name for himself by reaching the final of the Official Smogon Tour. On the Coup Critique Circuit, on the other hand, the player selected for the French team at the last World Cup had a disappointing first year. Only 68th on the circuit despite taking part in all the tournaments, he failed to put in any notable performances. This is an anomaly he will have the opportunity to remedy in this first round, as the draw has not spared him! Facing him is the captain of the world champion French team. Twelfth overall last season, Cicada's best performance at the PnB was to reach Round 14 (out of 17) of the Loser Bracket. But this year, there's no catching up! 

 

A dream line-up, an over-motivated titleholder, outsiders ready to break down mountains: that's the summary of the program awaiting you this week. So to make sure you don't miss a thing, stay tuned to our Discord and the Coup Critique website, and let us know which horse you're rooting for in the comments! 

Article by Juyen