The best Call of Duty 4 teams across Asian have come together to battle it out in the lead up to the Exhibition Tournament at the World Cyber Games Asian Championship in Singapore from 7th-10th of August 2008. This is the second time the Samsung King of the Hill has been run and the first time for Call of Duty 4.

Sixteen teams representing Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China and the Phillipines came together to play out a three match round-robin group format followed by an eight team single elimination finals series. At the end however only one team would take the title of the Samsung King of the Hill .

Group A comprised the Freedom Fighter Force and XHYDRO Alpha from Malaysia together with S!GA-B1 and S!GA-B2 from Thailand. XHYDRO Alpha were certainly the star performers in the group going through undefeated with scores of 11-6, 11-0 and 11-4. The number one player was Warclone who amassed a total of 55 kills on the scoreboard. The next best for XHYDRO was Steel on 42 kills and pr8sh on 37. The next best in the group was also a step clear of the opposition. S!GA-B1 won two of the their three matches with scores of 11-4 and 11-2. S!GA-B2 won one of their matches whilst the Freedom Fighter Force were unable to pick up a win. XHYDRO Alpha and S!GA-B1 progressed through to the Finals Series.

Group B comprised JEDI Maverick from Singapore, [CERT] Oblivion from Malaysia, =JS= Team[CN] from China and Combat Elite Battle Unit  from the Phillipines. Much to the disappointing of everyone, the powerhouse =JS=Team from China was unable to participate in the tournament and thus forfieted all of their matches. Thus it was a battle of three in Group B. The JEDI Maverick team were equal favourites going into the tournament and were expected to go through undefeated. They certainly delivered picking up scores of 11-5 and 11-9. Their match against the Combat Elite Battle Unit from the Phillipines was arguably one of the best matches of the round-robin and it would have been a massive upset if CEBU had pulled through. Alastor and dZeUk scored 23 and 19 kills respectively to help CEBU get into the position they had however it was the strength of players like easy with 23 kills and MiSaY on 21 that would hold them out. With JEDI Maverick winning both rounds, it would come down to the match between CEBU and [CERT]Oblivion to determine who would go through. Despite CEBU doing better against JEDI, it was the Malaysian team of CERT who would take the glory and the finals spot with an 11-7 win. Overall results for Group B were JEDI undefeated, [CERT] with 2 and CEBU with their forfiet win over the Chinese =JS=. JEDI Maverick and [CERT] Oblivion through to the Finals Series.

Group C comprised XcN from Indonesia, JEDI Python and Bf.Nut Xplode from Singapore and [CERT] Revolution from Malaysia. Bf.Nut Xplode were the other equal favourites for the event and it was anticipated that like JEDI Maverick they would go through undefeated. The Indonesian's however had something to say about this whole idea and did so in the most dramatic fashion. The 11-2 scoreline by XcN sent shockwaves through the competition as the Indonesian team stamped their authority and announced their arrival on the international stage. Their other two matches presented a similar story, 11-2 and 11-0. Losing only 4 rounds in the preliminary stages of the tournament it would prove interesting to see if any team could stand up and challenge XcN. Bf.Nut Xplode took down [CERT] 11-4 and JEDI Python did the same 11-1 meaning the Malaysian team would finish disappointingly at the bottom of Group C. What this mean however was that a do-or-die match would result between Bf.Nut Xplode and JEDI Python for the second finals berth from Group C. It turned out to be the best match of the round-robin stage. Neither team was able to establish dominance on the crash map and the scoreline of 10-10 pushed it into sudden death overtime. At the end of the 21st round the equal tournament favourites had held on and scraped through into the finals. XcN and Bf.Nut Xplode would make their way through to the Finals Series from Group C.

Group D comprised XYHYDRO Bravo from Malaysia, JEDI Sidewinder and Bf.Nut 20+ from Singapore and Elite Force from Indonesia. This group would turn out to be the closest of all. It was disappointing for XHYDRO Bravo not to get a win and finish at the bottom of the group. The remaining three teams however would go around and around each winning one other match. JEDI Sidewinder won 11-6 against Elite Force, Elite Force defeated Bf.Nut 20+ 11-8 and Bf.Nut 20+ would defeat JEDI Sidewinder 11-4. What did it all mean? Well the three teams were all equal on two wins each so it went to a count-back of the number of rounds won. If ever team discipline and dedicate was important - these results proved that you never ever give up in a match regardless of how much you are losing. Every single round counts. Overall Bf.Nut 20+ won through first with 30 rounds, Elite Force went through with 28 rounds and JEDI Sidewinder missed out with 26 rounds. One or two rounds difference in all of the matches in Group D could have bought about a very different outcome. Bf.Nut 20+ and Elite Force go through to the Finals Series from Group D.

Quarter Finals is now where the action progressed to. Eight teams, single elimination, best of three map format. The first Quarter Final was between XHYDRO Alpha from Malaysia and Elite Force from Indonesia. The first map went in favour of Elite Force 11-2 however due to unforseen circumstances the second map could not be played. Both teams came back the next day to battle it out on Backlot however it was the Indonesia team winning 11-5 and eliminating XHYDRO Alpha from the tournament. The second Quarter Final saw the other Indonesian team up XcN against [CERT] Oblivion from Malaysia. In a performance that matched their results so far, XcN dominated their Malaysian opposition winning 11-0 on Backlot and then 11-2 on Crash. Their record was now 5 maps, 5 wins, 55 rounds won and only 6 rounds lost. There was certainly a new favourite for the tournament. The international flavour of the tournament started to dry up as both of the Malaysian finalists were out of the Finals Series. Additionally both Elite Force and XcN from Indonesia would meet in the Semi Finals - Indonesia was at least guaranteed a Grand Final berth.

A demonstration of national pride would be coming up but it was also on display in the third Quarter Final in the battle between two teams from host nation Singapore. Both teams weren't just from the same country, but from the same clan. Bf.Nut Xplode would face up against Bf.Nut 20+. Would the youth and skill Xplode come through or could the experience of 20+ give them an upset. This matches certainly had all there is to offer in competitive Call of Duty 4. The first map was on Backlot and the 20+ line-up handed it to your fellow clan mates taking them down 11-4 and had everyone thinking an upset was again on the cards. Xplode however had other ideas and when the teams went to Strike the map was a lot closer. 20+ had a chance to close it out however Xplode pulled through taking it 11-8 and forcing it to a third and deciding map. The ever popular overgrown was the battlefield and the youth and stamina of Xplode enabled Xplode to grab the upper hand against the tiring 20+ line-up. The final score of 11-4 would push Xplode through into the Semi-Finals and send their clan mates packing. The bracket would now take us to the fourth and final Quarter Final where Singapore based JEDI Maverick would go up against S!GA-B1 where again it would be a three map thriller. JEDI came out firing racing to an early lead on Strike with a demoralising score of 11-2. The best team from Thailand wasn't to be counted out however and when they went to Crash they would use all of their individual skill, discipline and teamwork to hold on in a tough fight and deliver the goods with a score of 11-8. The decider was again overgrown and it was a close tussle between the two teams however JEDI was able to establish enough of a break to give them the advantage. They held on and with a good solid all-round performance they took the map and the final 11-7. Moving through to the Semi Finals would be Elite Force and XcN from Indonesia and Bf.Nut Xplode and JEDI Maverick from Singapore.

Semi Finals would see national pride at stake. One team from both Singapore and Indonesia would be walking way not just with a Grand Final berth but also with the title of their countries best Call of Duty 4 team. Elite Force had proven to be a tough and gutsy team throughout the tournament scoring solid victories. XcN on the otherhand had been delivering blow after blow to everyone came in their path. Could they do it again or were their fellow countryman going to stand in their way. In this Semi Final, it was pretty simple really - when you're hot, you're hot. Two maps, two wins, 22 rounds in favour, just 7 rounds against. The XcN team was quickly turning into the Asian COD4 powerhouse as they rolled over Elite Force on both Strike and Crash, 11-3 and 11-4 respectively. Whilst the Elite Force may have been taken out in one heavy hit, they can certainly take away the fact that they are one of the top four online teams in Asia for Call of Duty 4 and the a home-grown Indonesian team would be taking their place in the Grand Final. Who they would meet in that Grand Final was still up for grabs and the second Semi Final would deliver a battle that could not have been more different that the first.

For years Singapore gaming has been a battle between two dominant forces. Bf.Nut and JEDI have been close friends, but also bitter rivals. Now was the opportunity for one to stand-up and put their name forward as the best online COD4 team in the country. The first map was district and it was a close battle throughout the early stages. The Pwn*Star from JEDI Maverick would amass 20 kills to lead the server and in doing so help secure an early victory for JEDI. The Force was certainly with them as they took the first map 11-7. The map change would present Strike to both teams with the opporunity for JEDI to wrap it all up. Bf.Nut Xplode however would never say die and they pushed the map to its limits. Three big scores from Soldat, Aki|ice and Soldier with 22, 21 and 18 kills respectively would allow Bf.Nut to establish the smallest of margins in the latter stages of the map. Their teamwork then saw them through with an 11-8 win to force the Semi Final to a third and deciding map. Overgrown here we come and again it was a very close match. The Bf.Nut Xplode scoreboard demonstrated the value of teamwork and contribution with scores of 16, 15, 14, 11 and 9. This was contrasted over at JEDI where a massive individual man-of-the-match performance by easy would bring him 27 kills. Lot's of kills for both teams means a very close match and that is what eventuated. The masterful work of easy, supported by Pwn*Star and MiSaY, would take JEDI to the very last round of the map. With the scoreline of 10-9 Bf.Nut were in a must-win situation to stay alive in the tournament. JEDI however slammed the door shut securing the round, the map and the Semi Final 11-9.

3rd Place Decider was played out between Bf.Nut Xplode of Singapore and Elite Force of Indonesia. The Elite Force went out to an early lead with a gut wrentching thriller on the first map Strike. Whilst it didn't go to overtime, it was as close as you could have otherwise got with a score of 11-9. The second map was the choice of Bf.Nut and District it was. A map not normally played that much in the competitive format of the game, it certainly turned out to be a favourite for Bf.Nut. They opened up and early lead and were able to hold it through to the end taking the map 11-6. The deciding map was again trusty old Overgrown. This match was the decider for third place and the teams ironically found themselves in the third and deciding map. This match-up was worthy of a Grand Final show-down as both Bf.Nut and Elite Force went round for round. Despite some disconnections, the teams waited until the players were back before going at it again. It continued this way until both team reached 10 round wins. It was all locked up and would come down to sudden death overtime. It was a strong fight and a good fight across three maps to find out who would win 3rd place in the tournament and it all came down to the last round. Elite Force went in hard however it was Bf.Nut Xplode that picked up the final round for the win. In doing so they secured 3rd place in the tournament.

The Grand Final would now see XcN from Indonesia going up against JEDI Maverick from Singapore. The only question remaining was would XcN continue their rampaging domination of the best teams in Asia, or would the JEDI Masters in the form of Maverick stand in their way and put a stop to the onslaught. The first map was Backlot and the solid team play of XcN would result in every player contributing and reaching double figures on the kill count. Q! stood up for JEDI being their best scorer on 13 however the force was no match for XcN who would roll through with yet another victory 11-5. XcN now found themselves just 11 rounds short of overall tournament victory and the mantle of the best online Call of Duty 4 team in Asia. The one thing we have found about XcN throughout this tournament is once you awaken the beast, you definitely want to be somewhere else. JEDI found out very quickly that the beast awake and he had them in his sights. The map of Strike nor the JEDI Maverick line-up were any match for the XcN team who took everything in their stride as they went through the motions to win 11-2.

XcN, the best online team in Indonesia was now crowned the best online team in Asia. They finished with the record of 9 matches, 9 wins, 99 round wins, 20 round loses.

Gamestah commentary of the Samsung King of the Hill Tournament can be found by visiting the following section in the File Library.

Rapture Gaming most certain deserves a big pat on the back for setting up this tournament. It took a lot of faith to launch Singapore's first Call of Duty 4 tournament so close to the World Cyber Games 2008 Singapore Nationals and Asian Championship, however the response from the community and a full schedule of 16 teams resulted. Naturally being the first tournament of its kind there were always going to be positives and negatives. The great thing was that despite some problems here and there, the tournament was run successfully. Raputre Gaming certainly have played a significant part in helping the COD4 community develop and grow the game competitively in Singapore and Asia. Hopefully this will continue in the future. You can find out more about Rapture Gaming by visiting RaptureGaming.com