Will it be a Clean Sweep... Again? (22 May 2015)
Wan Dirx may be out of the game but the former vaunted defense is keeping a close eye on the field. Team Haunted Woods made history last year by becoming the first team to win the much-lauded Altador Cup for the second time. "I am still dizzy from the team's win last year... phew, what a game!" he said. "I am looking forward to this year. I'm still rooting for my team, and I always will. There is no doubt in my mind that the team will claim their third Altador Cup this season. Let me tell you, the players are in good form."
Underdogs No More! (22 May 2015)
Kiko Lake continues to battle as an underdog in this year's competition. Unless there is a turnaround in their performance like what we saw in Altador Cup VII where they finished sixth, KL may have to settle with being one of this year's low-tier teams. To their credit, the team remains undaunted even when they play against more powerful teams that can (and do) annihilate them. "We are optimistic that this year's tourney will see a change in our team's fortunes. We have trained hard and we will put up a fight," said forward Meela Kitah.
Hale: No Regrets (22 May 2015)
Krawk Island fell behind in Altador Cup IX though the bets were on the team becoming the first in AC history to secure a repeat win. Instead, the honour went to Haunted Woods. Could trading forward Ealyn Hawkshanks to Kreludor have been a rash move? Team captain Garven Hale remains undeterred. His steadfast confidence in his team and their game is evident as he says, "We stand by our decisions. Hawshanks is missed and we wish him the best. As for the tourney, we played a good game and that is what matters. There is no doubt in our minds that we will take our place as champions again soon. Not that we need a Cup in hand to be the best." Hear, hear.
The Heat is On (22 May 2015)
The Kreludor team saw some changes last year after the club intervened and played hardball to boost performance. The team acquired player Ealyn Hawkshanks as a forward and lost Coco Metrone. The move didn't make a notable difference as they still placed seventh in Altador Cup IX. Those familiar with the tournament going-ons are speculating Captain Derlyn Fonnet might face the axe next if the club does not see a drastic improvement in this year's tourney. Fonnet says, "It is tough but not impossible to win the Altador Cup X."
The Lost Desert at a Loss (22 May 2015)
Despite a camping trip to improve team dynamics, The Lost Desert finished at 16th place in the ninth tourney. The team is at a loss about why they performed so badly. It has led to speculation that all is not well within the team, that some players want the club to sack team captain Leera Heggle. Forward Derbi Azar says, "That is untrue. Heggle stays. There is no reason for us to rock the boat. We are still one of the top contenders. We are taking our bad show last year in our stride."
Maraqua: Game Over? (22 May 2015)
Maraqua continued to fall in ranking after a not-so-stellar performance at the Altador Cup IX. Team captain Elon "The Black Hole" Hughlis claimed all they needed to better their game was a creative approach to handling their defense tactics. But clearly the strategy was not creative enough to show results. Understandably Hughlis has refrained from discussing his team's game plan ahead of the Altador Cup X. Will they spring a surprise and pull up to finish among the top five or will they continue to slide to obscurity? This year's match will definitely tell us which way Maraqua will go!
Team Moltara: Mystery Player on the Cards? (22 May 2015)
Just five tourneys old, an air of unpredictability surrounds Team Moltara in view of their dramatic rise to third place in Altador Cup IX. The team's strategies including bringing back goalie Harlis Neyhbol seems to have paid off. There are speculations about a change in game strategy this year as well though it is all very hush-hush. These rumours are largely based on unverified sightings of Captain Aldric Beign and a certain ex-player from a rival's team. Neyhbol has vehemently denied this while Beign was unavailable for comment.