WEEK 2 RECAP
For the second week in a row, we had the highest rate of matches completed which is even more impressive since Week 2 had 8 additional matches with the introduction of the C Division. In Week 2, 43 of the 48 (90%) matches were completed by members, either played out or voluntary forfeits as a result of leaving the league. This high completion rate is, so far, working based on how the league was set up for season 2. The other 5 matches resulted in 'decisions' being made to determine a winner, if possible. Four of those matches were automatic forfeits as a result of members not playing either of their 2 matches this week, and as a result, having two members dropped from the league due to inactivity. One match ended in a "Draw" as both members played their other match, but couldn't play each other. There is one member I am making an exception for, CIIGLOMAN. He is out of town for a couple of weeks, but has stayed in touch with me during this time. I have agreed to keep him in the league, with the understanding that he will forfeit all matches until he returns. I am happy to make this arrangement with any member of the league providing they keep me updated to their status. I only kick members out of the league when they do not stay in touch with me or fail to reply to my messages.
Completed matches: 43 out 48 (90%)
Forfeited matches: 4 out of 48 (8%)
Draw matches: 1 out of 48 (2%)
Double Forfeit matches: 0 out of 48 (0%)
OLD & NEW MEMBERS
With the second week of action, two members were kicked out due to two weeks of inactivity (LEAGUEOFITSOWN and MERKTHOSE). Any member that does not play their matches 2 weeks in a row is automatically dropped from the league unless the above mentioned exceptions are made. Two additional members voluntarily dropped out, ND2130SRK and DOPEUYUU. Both cited time constraints, although ND2130SRK did promise to return. Special thanx to those members for gracefully bowing out and for their commitment to the league.
With their vacancies, the four players from the Waiting List were invited to join the league, MR_FLOWERS_- from the U.K., DIRDAMO from Spain, DJ__C--4 from Guatemala, and DRAKONIOUS from California. These four new members were not the first four listed on the Waiting List last week. In fact, DJ__C--4 was the 9th player on the Waiting List. Five other members either removed their name personally from the list or did not respond to my invitation. Those five players' names have now been removed from the List.
Also, the four departing members created Auto-Promotions for Week 3. All fighters that actually played (including forfeited wins) benefited by moving an additional 1 to 8 spots in the rankings, win or lose. Any fighters that did not play their matches do not benefit and could see other fighters jump them in the rankings. As I've said many times before...it pays to play. Below is a listing of the spots left open in each division as a result of the departing fighters:
GOLD Division: 3 spots
SILVER Division: 5 spots
BRONZE Division: 6 spots
A Division: 6 spots
B Division: 6 spots
C Division: 8 spots
Three members did change one of their fighters which results in their new fighter dropping a division and beginning at #15 (Skrface13 RYU, Kcilick CHUN LI, and Dionysus-X ADON). Any member can change their fighter at anytime, but just remember that it will result in a penalty of your new fighter dropping one division and starting at the #15 ranking.
THE WAITING LIST
The current Waiting List going into Week 3 is now shortened to 34 players, same as the beginning of Week 2. Please remember to be considered for the league, all players on the Waiting List must keep me on their Friends List (SFCCL-SALonghorn). This makes it easy for me to contact you if your name comes up for a formal invite. Removal of my name will result in your name being removed from the Waiting List in turn. Also, being on my Friends List allows me to invite you to any casual SFCCL events online. The players removed from the list are free to signup again if they choose to, but they will go to the bottom of the List. I update the list nearly everyday providing there are new signups.
At this time, there are no plans for another Free-For-All event.
MATCH OF THE WEEK:
Gold Division: Champion Skrface13 BLANKA (2-0-0) vs. #1 Contender ELGENERAL GUILE (2-0-0)
Week 3 gives us a great matchup to bring back the Match Of The Week (MOTW) feature. In the 17 month history of the SFCCL, there have only been 5 fighters who have claimed the Gold Championship. Those fighters are:
Lux_ GUILE (10-0 retired)
ElGeneral M. BISON (21-12 active)
ElGeneral GUILE (31-6 active)
xxUltimaCloudxx RUFUS (17-5 active)
Skrface13 BLANKA (15-1 current champion)
This week pits two of those Gold Champions against each other. Skrface13's Blanka took the league by storm after he joined in Week 19 of season 1. Quickly climbing the rankings, he ended up ranked #5 in the A Division. However, he went on to win the first-ever Super Brawl tournament to end the season. Trivia question: who was Skrface13's Blanka only loss to? Answer: it's a trick question. His only loss was a result of a double-forfeit in Week 25 of last season as a result of not playing his 2 matches that week. Shame, shame, shame......even the Grand (Gold) Champion missed a couple of matches! If I'm not mistaken, Skrface13 was actually moving at that time which prevented him from playing his matches.
ElGeneral's Guile still holds the record for most weeks as the consecutive Grand Champion at 10 weeks. He is one of the remaining three founding members of the SFCCL, joining way back in March of 2009 for the opening 16-person/32-fighter tournament. He lost in the semi-finals to Lux's Guile. Trivia fact: ElGeneral's other fighter, Bison, has been in 5 mirror-matches against his own Guile. This, in part, was the reason ElGeneral's Guile holds the record for 10 consecutive title defenses. But don't think that is any fault of his own - his Bison was just that good enough to keep earning the #1 Contender ranking last season. You think you're good enough to stop him?
Our first Special Event, WAR GAMES, is scheduled to take place this Saturday, July 31st, at 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time in HOME. All active members are invited to take part in this voluntary official event. All special events are 'live', meaning you must be online at the time of the event to participate. I, personally, will be running the event and will invite you to play if you are online at that time. The prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place are known as Prize Matches. A member can then exercise a Prize Match the following week where they can challenge another fighter for their ranking. This match is in addition to their normal 2 weekly matches. Winner of the Prize Match takes the higher rankings, and the loser falls to the lower ranking. 1st place earns the right to challenge anyone in the league, 2nd place earns the right to challenge anyone in the next highest division, and 3rd place earns the right to challenge anyone in your division. This is the perfect opportunity for the newest members to jump from the B or C Division all the way to the Gold Division in one match. Just remember you have to be online to play in the event.
And yes...those are mini-statues of Ken, Bison, and Fei Long you see in the above photos. All 25 of the original characters of the first Street Fighter 4 are available to purchase in HOME to decorate your Clubhouse or Personal Space. These three characters are the main characters I play. Sorry, no Dudley figure yet. Unfortunately, I am the only one who can add statues to the Home spaces. If you really want to see your favorite character in the Clubhouse, you would have to donate +$2 to me so that I can buy it and add it. If anyone is so inclined to do so, feel free to donate. The new 'Donate' button is located to the right of this blog. Just to clarify, this is only if you want to do so. I will never ask for any money from any member to be part of this league.
The website has been updated for Week 3, including updating the SFCCL global maps to include the newest 8 members. I do need to update the Player and Battle Points tables, however. I will usually update these numbers every 2 weeks, or unless we have any new members. The PP and BP tables should be updated by tomorrow.
DEADLINE FOR WEEK 3
Deadline for all Week 3 matches is Sunday, August 8th.
Enjoy the new timer! Thought it would be a useful tool/reminder to play your matches before they have to be 'decided' for you. Good luck to all members in Week 3.