Johan “Toxic” Quick

WCG Seed : 1
Total Q4 Prize Money : $68,420
GGL Q4 World Ranking : 1
GGL 1v1 World Ranking : 1

Q4 Results to date :

2006 Digital Life : 1st
2006 WSVG UK : 1st
2006 Kode 5 Finals: 1st
2006 Kode 5 Sweden : 1st
2006 Quakecon : 1st
2006 Intel Summer : 1st
2006 ESWC : 6th
2006 WSVG Dreamhack : 2nd
2006 ESWC Sweden : 1st
2006 Vsports All Stars : 1st
2005 CPL Winter : 2nd
2005 VIA Dreamhack : 1st

Man or machine? In the last 4 months, that question has been asked many times and the only sensible answer is that Johan IS a machine. What human being could possibly go through 6 tournaments in succession without being beaten, indeed without even coming close to losing?

The historic sixth title (in a row and his ninth Q4 title), came at Digital Life this last weekend, where even the starlet, av3k, couldn’t get the better of him (save one map on Phrantic which was close). Whilst it may seem that Toxic is invincible right now, there was enough in his games (at digital life and WSVG UK) to see he is not unbeatable, but it will take an exceptional player in exceptional form to beat him at WCG.

It seemed early on in Quake 4 that he was destined to be the second best player on the scene, mainly after his defeats by cooller at CPL Winter and again at WSVG Dreamhack, but since then he has overcome the Russian twice himself and that particular thorn seems to have become no more painful to him than any other player on the circuit. Indeed, with cooller missing in action over the last 2 months, it has left the way clear for others to step up and take Toxic to task, but as yet, 6 tournaments later, we are still waiting. That particular fight won’t be a feature of the WCG tournament either with Cooller’s late exclusion.

If he has one worry in the group stage it has to be his match with Cypher, who beat him at ESWC of course. Having said that, Toxic is in far better shape than he was at ESWC and Cypher has had nothing in the way of major games since Quakecon. We shouldn’t discount Fox either, who despite his poor finishing result at WSVG UK, he showed enough against Stermy (a very close game) to prove he has the ability to overcome the top players and lets face it, few know Toxics game better than he.

Prediction : It would be a fool who predicted anything other than a 7th straight win for Toxic, but this is the WCG and with it comes more expectation, more hype and more pressure than anything that has gone before. Win this one and you truly go down in gaming history. It is unlikely that he will face a bigger test in 2006, but he has shown that he is relentless in his quest to dominate Quake 4 and WCG should be no different. The only thing his opponents can take heart from is his poor finish at ESWC this year and hope that he is having a couple of off days, otherwise the Toxinator will be heading home with the biggest prize of them all.