The Championship Gaming Series World Final is the single most important event on the calendar for all players and teams, an opportunity to be crowned World Champions is not seen often. Every team and every individual has their own unique way of preparing for such an event and the Underground is no different. At the highest level of competition there is not a huge skill gap so it is mentality that often separates teams and players. Preparation as with all elite athletes is a process that encompasses both mind and body; practice coupled with the correct mindset is an integral part of a successful campaign.

A typical Championship Gaming Series tournament is far from your average run of the mill competition and a spectacle such as the World Final can be an intimidating atmosphere for players. Last season the importance of being mentally prepared became apparent when many of our divisions had difficulty in replicating practice room form on the World Final stage. The experience gained from last year can only be an asset leading into the Pan Asian Championship Match and the World Finals in Los Angeles. “The team cannot be better prepared then they are now.” Says Harout ‘Haroutig10’ Atacparian. “After the disappointment last year and most importantly the experience we as a group gained from the event itself, everybody has practiced and played according to what they are going to expect this time around.”

Season 2 has seen a massive increase in preparation time and lead up tournament play for all of the Pan Asian teams, drafts weren’t held the morning of competition and the tournament structure in Wuhan for the Pan Asian Championship allowed each team to play every other team at least once. When asked about how this season’s preparation differs from season one Daniel ‘Berzerk!’ Chlebowczyk had this to say; “The natural factors of the team having more time and more opponents on the road to the finals has been the main difference. We had a well attended multi-format LAN tournament to fight for our draft spots, so that gave me a lot of focus - I really honed in to win that tournament. There was more at stake and more determined opposition so it meant a lot to go undefeated at that point. Then we had a fuller round of matches in Pan-Asia, so I feel like we're less rushed and in less of a vacuum this year”

Everyone seems to agree that this year the team is better prepared then in the past, a mix of experience and rigid preparation will see Sydney fielding arguably their strongest lineup to date. Berzerk believes that a better performance so far this season can be attributed to the strong unity and friendship that exists in the current lineup: “Most importantly though I think we've gelled as a team much more. As a group we have a much better understanding of the task in front of each other individually, a greater comfort level, and a respect for each other. We enjoy being on the team together and playing well for each other as much as for ourselves.”

Individually the players have been working on their own games, honing their skills, reading up on theory and examining their opponent’s games. Everyone believes that they are capable of defeating any opponent and is confident in the team’s ability as a whole. Even the new additions to the team are confident of the Underground’s ability this season; Chad ‘SPUNJ’ Burchill had this to say “As I’m a rookie of the 08 season I’m coming in with a brand new outlook. I am personally confident that all of our divisions can perform and I get that vibe from the rest of the team. I know what the team as a whole is capable of so I believe we can take it all the way.”

The Underground of season two is undoubtedly a stronger team, better preparation coupled with the experience gained from season one have helped to strengthen both performance and friendship. Whether the confidence and self belief present in the team translates directly into results remains to be seen but one thing is for certain; the Underground go to the World Finals a better prepared, more confident and stronger force then ever before.