by Will Gordon
Hello again, Clix world! Those of you who follow the competitive heroclix scene know what time it is- ROC World Cup 2017! For many players, this is the premiere Clix event of the year. While I personally still believe the Wizkids World Championship is the most prestigious event in our game, the big cash prize offered by the ROC makes this the bigger event for some. Either way, with the U.S. National Championship being relegated to a kind of high profile side event at Origins, I find it hard to argue that the ROC Cup and Wizkids Worlds are not the 2 biggest tournaments Heroclix currently has to offer. Once again, a top flight field will descend on Atlanta in hopes of walking away with $4K and the title of ROC World Cup Champion. For the occasion, I have a prepared a special power rankings specifically for this year’s tournament.
First, let’s take a quick look back at what transpired at Worlds in June. As I predicted, 
Brock won the World Championship! Congratulations, Easton! Hmmm? What’s that? It wasn’t Easton? It was… HOWARD Brock? Ok, my bad, haha! In all seriousness, while I never saw it coming, it was the ROC founder himself who took home the big prize. While I know Howard is a strong and experienced player, I have to admit I didn’t think he had what it took to get through the field that assembled in Columbus. Much respect and sincere congratulations- couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy! Easton, along with Warren Ginn, did end up with a World Champion designation as well- those two guys joined with juggernaut Howard Brock to win the team World championship in a hard fought battle over Phoenix Nest. I would also like to give credit to the new National champion- Texas’ own Dustin Seeders. Another player I underestimated, Dustin made it through a veritable murderer’s row of clix elite to take the title of U.S. National champion.
For this iteration of my heroclix power rankings, I have once again altered the format. Taking a cue from how the UFC handles its rankings, I am listing Ed Arnold-Berkowitz as the defending champion with the top 15 contenders for the title. I have limited it to players who will be in attendance and playing in the tournament. This rules out the newly crowned World champion, Howard Brock, who will not be playing due to his close ties to the event, as well as World #1, Patrick Yapjoco, who will be serving as Head Judge. While there will, no doubt, be great players in attendance with a chance to win who don’t make this list, these are the guys I would take against the field, ranked in order of how likely I believe they are to win the big prize. Expect the top 16 in Atlanta to look very much like this:
Champion: Ed Arnorld-Berkovitz
- Easton Brock
Has to be the odds on favorite to claim the title- Easton is the most active and consistent of all the top players. Coming off a Top 4 at Worlds and finished second by the slimmest of margins at last year’s cup. I thought it was his time last year, but I’ll consider it an upset if anyone other than him wins it this year.
- Josh Earnest
Josh hasn’t payed as much recently as in previous years, but I’m sure he’ll be ready to go. If it’s a ROC event, and he’s playing, expect to see him at the top table all day long and inside the Top 4 at the end. It’s hard to imagine that Josh won’t win this event at some point- it could easily be this year.
- Kennie Pena
Coming of a successful stint judging at Origins, Kennie will be returning to competitive play at the ROC Cup. Good news for those wanting to see a quality field consisting of the world’s best players, bad news for those who are looking to win the event (ay!). Anyone who has played clix at the top level over the last few years knows what Kennie is capable of on the map, and with the competitive juices flowing again, adding a ROC Cup to his resume is certainly a possibility.
- George Massu
As I’ve said before, George is the closest thing to a legendary player we have in our game. After a forgettable performance at last year’s Cup (damn you, Faust, ha!), I expect a return to form. Looking to become the first player to win Worlds, Nationals and the ROC Cup- 2 down, 1 to go. George has stayed sharp throughout this past season and I fully expect a serious run at the title this year.
- P.J. Bolin
If Easton is the the most active and consistent top player, PJ is right behind him. Plays a heavy ROC schedule and wins at a phenomenal rate. Also won 2 of the 3 Wizkids Opens at Gencon in August. The Phoenix Nest team member came up just short of claiming a team World champion tag at Origins, and he clearly has the talent to get it done in Atlanta. The best player to enter the scene over the past couple of years, PJ has quickly established himself as part of the game’s elite.
- Paris Gordon
The 2015 World champion has continued to play well, despite a pedestrian showing at Origins. Has a WKO win, a state championship and ROC Regional win in recent months. Looking to join Patrick Yapjoco and George Massu as the only players to win a World title and a ROC Cup. Top 8 at the ‘15 Cup, expect another strong performance from Team Ragnarok’s most accomplished player.
- Scott Crampton
The 2016 U.S. National champion (and the talent and brains behind Critical Clix, by the way…), has performed well at the ROC Cup in the past, with a Top 4 finish in ‘15. Scott always has a plan and he is always well versed in how to go about executing it. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t show well this year- anything outside the Top 8 would be unexpected.
- Adam Friedman
Another former U.S. National champion (2014) with a chance to win it all. Adam has had long stretches of inactivity since his Nationals win or he would probably be higher on this list. With a focus on mathematical probability and power interaction in the margins of rules clarity, Adam’s unique perspective has established him as one of the game’s best, and most interesting, players.
- Isaac Arnold-Berkovitz
The boy wonder is back, looking for his second ROC Cup. His recent 2 ROC state championships indicate Isaac’s game is in good form coming into Atlanta. Could he keep it in the family for a third straight year? I would be more surprised to see him finish out of the top 16, than to see the kid do it again. Players beware- he’s a real threat.
- Matt Greichunos
Making his long awaited debut in the Top 10- Phoenix Nest’s Mattie G! Matt has been a top player for a long time now and I know how much he’d love to win the Cup. One of the ROC’s most decorated competitors, he’s won at every level except the very top. He performed exceptionally well at Origins this year, beating many of the players on this list, and I expect his A game at this year’s Cup.
- Kevin Schaefer
Another ROC veteran, Kevin is definitely one of the game’s most underrated players. He’s been winning states, SQ’s and Regionals for years now, and anyone who sits down across the map from him knows they have a game on their hands. Maybe a bit of a dark horse, but not as much of a long-shot as some might suspect. I fully expect him to show well and make a quality run for the Cup.
- Warren Ginn
Recently crowned team World Champion, another player who has been on the cusp of the power rankings for a long time. An exceptional player, Warren has performed well on the ROC circuit from the beginning. He’s won his fair share of SQ’s and WKO’s, with too many top 8’s/top 4’s to count. A deep run in Atlanta would not be unexpected.
- Daniel Powell
Coming off a Top 4 at last year’s Cup, also has a recent ROC State Championship. Another strong veteran player who has stepped his game up over the past couple of years. Couldn’t have come any closer to the final last time around, I wouldn’t rule out a similar run this year.
- Dustin Seeders
Probably only behind P.J. in terms of accomplished players to enter the scene over the past two years. Has won on the ROC and WKO scene at an exceptional rate, and he beat a lot of great players to claim his National Championship at Origins. I’ve admitted to underestimating Dustin in the past, I may still be doing so. I expect a top 16, but I’m sure he has his sights set higher.
- Phil Isaacson, jr.
Phil finished 5th at last year’s cup, after a 2nd place finish the previous year. Inactivity has been a factor in ranking Phil in the past, but after a strong showing at Origins, I know he’s fully prepared for this year’s cup. Has come so close on the biggest stages so many times, it seems almost inevitable that he’ll seal the deal one of these years.
So, there you have it- My Top 15 contenders to wrest the title from Four Point Gaming’s own Ed Arnold-Berkovits at this year’s ROC World Cup. Agree? Disagree? Feel free to drop me a line at clixranks@gmail.com, if you have any comments, criticisms, or suggestions. Really looking forward to Atlanta, can’t wait to roll some dice and see many of you there!
