#3 Indigo [8-1] vs. #6 Undefined Status [8-1]
Indigo :	Angel (L), cob, kushet, sysreq, mmptr, d0ss, Fanatic
uS :	Akilae (L), Blinkman, PsG-1, MoCt, Morter, Jackal

Undefined Status came out of nowhere with two weeks left in the season, knocking off Check Six and Wat¿ on their way to a high playoff seed and an eventual berth in the quarterfinals after a close overtime victory over Kensai in the opening round. Using a defensive style punctuated with some clutch frags and coordinated offensive pushes Undefined Status has been very succesful coming into matches as an underestimated and underdog team. This time however, they face Indigo, one of the most consistently solid and active teams in the game who features a strong lineup complete with excellent sniping and heavy skills. Indigo also features some of the best teamwork, rivalled perhaps by only Wat¿ in that regard. Indigo knows that uS is dangerous and they will surely be prepared for anything - so will Undefined Status be up to the challenge? We shall find out this week on Danger Canyon.

Indigo

Since the start of this season Indigo has slowly been making a name for themselves as a Top 5 team. With a rigorous practice schedules, superb tactical instincts, and sound strategy produced by their mastermind from Malign kushet they possess all the aspects that they need to be a strong team, not to mention excellent aim from players such as mmptr, sysreq, and d0ss. That makes them deadly on any map, but with perfect timing and coordination Danger Canyon becomes a strong point for any team who practices it enough and it is such a map for Indigo. Undefined Status will have their hands full against Indigo's strong cylcing, rotations, well-timed spam, and sniper presence if they cannot gain a foothold and never lose it early in the match. Indigo will use the strong inside presence of players like sysreq, who had a dominating performance on the inside at CPL against [xeno] in [sio]'s mutliple overtime loss, and the skills of others like mmptr and Angel to control outside from the sniper ledge. Except Indigo to stack the inside and control the heavies on the map, with players controlling the rockets from those hills and coordinated inside spam into the opposing tunnel. Indigo could be the best team on Danger at controlling the map and never losing control, but their offensive pushes need some work and that is where a team like Wat¿ could take advantage of them - or Undefined Status. Indigo will have to make sure they are both careful on offense but aggressive enough to get the needed scores when they do have middle control so that they do not risk a quick counterattack after giving up too many heavies to their opponents. If they can keep their offensive pushes tight and hitting from multiple angles, they should be able to score the needed points and still keep up their inside control long enough for more players to flank and get in position once again. Indigo will still have to be aware of heavy outside pushes, especially with mulitple vehicles, since their strong inside force can leave them weak at times while they are on a rotation. However, do not expect Indigo to give up control once they take it on this map; Undefined Status will have a very rough time fragging this week.

Undefined Status

While Indigo may be an impressive team at maintaing map control, Undefined Status could be one of the best defensive teams in Halo. Check Six has always been known as a Blood Gulch powerhouse, and strong defense combined with well-timed pushes gave them a 2-1 win. Even more surprising, the following week they played Wat¿ on Sidewinder, who plays a very aggressive pushing style with excellent coordination and support to push the base from cliffs that usually results in them spawn camping for nearly the whole map, and Undefined Status shut them down to gain the 4-2 victory. On Danger Canyon, once a team loses map control it is extremely difficult for them to regain it. In fact, many times it is more viable to wait in your base for the inevitable offensive push and counterattack after a succesful defense. For Undefined Status to be succesful during this match, that is exactly what they will need to do. On Danger Canyon a creative team with some strong clutch frags can set up an almost invincible defense when they have their whole team trapped at the base, and Undefined Status is if nothing else one of the most creative teams in Halo. From ghosts lodged in the inner entrance to hidden rocket hogs and chain turrets at the top of the outside hill teams can shut down even a coordinated offense on two fronts while at their base in the Canyon. Undefined Status will most likely have strong defensive coordination, and that combined with Indigo's shaky offense at time could give them the oppurtunities they need. Some strong counterattacks could allow them to get someone like Dallas on the sniper ledge to give them the edge they need; Indigo plays a heavy inside scheme and if uS can setup outside on the sniper ledge that could lead to some caps with vehicle pushes even if Indigo still controls the inside. While Undefined Status may get a chance or two for pushes after gaining inside control, I think the best way for them to cap will be looking for the right oppurtunity: if Indigo places a man out of position by sending too many inside or uS can catch them on the rotation it could spell doom for the Indigo squad as uS' defense will be tough to crack.

Keys to the Match

I think this is almost a matchup between different philosophies on how to play Halo. While Indigo uses map control to gain heavy weapons and powerups to make coordinated pushes against an enemy base that may contain five foes, Undefined Status likes to set up strong defenses in order to counterattack to hurt the enemy when he is out of position or making other mistakes. Unless Indigo comes extremely well prepared with superb offensive coordination, this match will inevitably be a low scoring duel. Indigo will need to keep their mistakes to a minimum and make sure their rotations are at the right times becaue they cannot afford to allow uS any free caps. Undefined Status will have to take advantage of every oppurtunity they get, and if they can win some inside control make sure they use it to its full advantage because Indigo will not give it up if they get it back again. I think they key to this matchup will really be how much both teams have practiced their strategy and well they execute it. With a low mistake game and good offenses Indigo will easily take the match, but if Undefined Status can find a weakness in their opponent or gain outside control they have a good chance.

Prediction

While Undefined Status is by no means a bad team, they are not in the same league as Indigo. While uS may have taken out Check Six and Wat¿ on some of their best maps, no less, Indigo will not make the same mistake those teams did an underestimate their opponents. They will be ready for what uS might bring at them and will make sure to make no mistakes while keeping control of the map and pushing on offense. While uS has a very real chance of getting some caps and even taking the match, without some very strong fragging performances they will not be able to get anything going. Last week they barely defeated Kensai due to a standout night from Dallas, and Indigo is much stronger in every aspect - aim, in game instincts, tactics - than `k, so if their play the week before is any indication it could spell trouble for this season's biggest underdog story.

Indigo > Undefined Status [2-0]