Post by scnoi1217 on Aug 8, 2010 18:48:41 GMT -5
Similar to how teams are ranked before the season in baseball and football, I wondered what you guys thought were the top competitors at the moment to go the furthest (or all the way) in SASUKE 26. Below is my list of the top 10 competitors for SASUKE 26 (doesn't mean they'll go the farthest in 26, but is based on past performance):
1. Li En Zhi - The former finalist looked his strongest in 25, and I expect him to get even better in 26 barring any major slip-ups (Metal Spin for example). By far the most consistent competitor in the First Stage, he has been progressing very nicely in the later stages and could be poised for another big run.
2. Koji Hashimoto - The former finalist and Shin Sedai has continued to progress and excel at a great rate. Barring any crazy new obstacles in the first two stages, he should be able to coast into the Third Stage with little trouble. From there, we'll see how far his training will take him.
3. Yuuji Urushihara - The reigning grand champion and 3rd Stage legend took a bit of a hit with his second stage misstep in 25. But always a threat, I expect these past 6 months of training to help him make a huge run in 26.
4. Kenji Takahashi - Take Levi's speed in the first two stages and add considerable upper body strength and you have Kongu Takahashi. One of the strongest (and fastest) competitors of the last three tournaments, he can make a solid run to the UCH without too much trouble. However, something inside of me wonders when (of if) his inconsistency of Shin-SASUKE will come back?
5. Yoshiyuki Okuyama - Of the four SASUKE 24 finalists to make it to the Third Stage in 25, Okuyama struggled the most with the new obstacles. He along with Li En Zhi are the most consistent competitors out there. He will make it to the Third Stage, the question is: how far will he go?
6. Toshihiro Takeda - Takeda has been consistent as anyone over the last few tournaments and can make it back to the Third Stage again in 26. The problem is that he struggled mightily with Shin-SASUKE's Third Stage and with the stage harder than ever, the prospect of a Takeda Final Stage appearance shrinks with every tournament.
7. Makoto Nagano - The former grand champion is still a force to go all the way in any tournament..if he can pass the First Stage. Since SASUKE 21, Nagano has failed the First Stage in 3 out of 4 tournaments. While he's still a threat, his recent inconsistency in unprecedented for him. But if he does get past the First Stage, he could easily be the last man standing at the end of SASUKE 26.
8. Naoya Tajima - Tajima's sloppiness in the First Stage caught up with him in 25. It almost reminds of how Li was during SASUKE 22 and 23. Hopefully Tajima can follow in similar footsteps as Li in 26. If he does, he has a chance of going very far.
9. Hitoshi Kanno - After making it to the finals, Kanno has had two underwhelming tournaments in a row. He can do well in the Third Stage IF he gets there, and at this point, that's a big if.
10. Yamamoto Shingo - His SASUKE 25 performance was both surprising and expected with him clearing the First Stage on his first attempt but failing in classic Shingo fashion on the Balance Tank. His performance is still a bit inconsistent but he definitely has what it takes to get back to the Third Stage.
Please, you can agree/disagree with a person's list, but please put your own as well.
1. Li En Zhi - The former finalist looked his strongest in 25, and I expect him to get even better in 26 barring any major slip-ups (Metal Spin for example). By far the most consistent competitor in the First Stage, he has been progressing very nicely in the later stages and could be poised for another big run.
2. Koji Hashimoto - The former finalist and Shin Sedai has continued to progress and excel at a great rate. Barring any crazy new obstacles in the first two stages, he should be able to coast into the Third Stage with little trouble. From there, we'll see how far his training will take him.
3. Yuuji Urushihara - The reigning grand champion and 3rd Stage legend took a bit of a hit with his second stage misstep in 25. But always a threat, I expect these past 6 months of training to help him make a huge run in 26.
4. Kenji Takahashi - Take Levi's speed in the first two stages and add considerable upper body strength and you have Kongu Takahashi. One of the strongest (and fastest) competitors of the last three tournaments, he can make a solid run to the UCH without too much trouble. However, something inside of me wonders when (of if) his inconsistency of Shin-SASUKE will come back?
5. Yoshiyuki Okuyama - Of the four SASUKE 24 finalists to make it to the Third Stage in 25, Okuyama struggled the most with the new obstacles. He along with Li En Zhi are the most consistent competitors out there. He will make it to the Third Stage, the question is: how far will he go?
6. Toshihiro Takeda - Takeda has been consistent as anyone over the last few tournaments and can make it back to the Third Stage again in 26. The problem is that he struggled mightily with Shin-SASUKE's Third Stage and with the stage harder than ever, the prospect of a Takeda Final Stage appearance shrinks with every tournament.
7. Makoto Nagano - The former grand champion is still a force to go all the way in any tournament..if he can pass the First Stage. Since SASUKE 21, Nagano has failed the First Stage in 3 out of 4 tournaments. While he's still a threat, his recent inconsistency in unprecedented for him. But if he does get past the First Stage, he could easily be the last man standing at the end of SASUKE 26.
8. Naoya Tajima - Tajima's sloppiness in the First Stage caught up with him in 25. It almost reminds of how Li was during SASUKE 22 and 23. Hopefully Tajima can follow in similar footsteps as Li in 26. If he does, he has a chance of going very far.
9. Hitoshi Kanno - After making it to the finals, Kanno has had two underwhelming tournaments in a row. He can do well in the Third Stage IF he gets there, and at this point, that's a big if.
10. Yamamoto Shingo - His SASUKE 25 performance was both surprising and expected with him clearing the First Stage on his first attempt but failing in classic Shingo fashion on the Balance Tank. His performance is still a bit inconsistent but he definitely has what it takes to get back to the Third Stage.
Please, you can agree/disagree with a person's list, but please put your own as well.
