<img src="/images/wcg2006/wcg_esr_q4_preview4B_clamp.png">

Q4 GGL World Ranking : 19
Q4 Prize Money : $3,150

Results

2006 Quakecon : 7th/8th
2006 ESWC : 8th
2006 CSA Tri Tourney : 2nd
2006 ESWC Australia : 1st
2006 CSA March : 5th
2006 W2Z v NHZ : 1st

Jokingly dubbed the “American Cooller” at TAS this year, Clamp still has a little way to go before he can truly claim that title. He has still had some impressive tournaments this year however.

A top 8 finish at ESWC followed by a similar result at Quakecon suggests that Sabian may well deserve a place in the top 8 players in the world right now. The fact he regularly competed in the CSA tournaments this year has also helped his stature, although if you consider that he lost to cl0ck twice in two consecutive events, then either cl0ck is top 8 material too or Clamp isn’t.

His failed relationship with Fzero certainly hasn’t helped him attend the big events as he had wanted to or planned and depending on who you believe he is out of pocket and now without a clan or a sponsor. This doesn’t bode well for him attending further large events this year and his recent defeat to Lost-Cause in the Kode5 US finals won’t have helped either.

As for his ability, he still has a little way to go before he is the finished article, but is capable of brilliant play at times and deserves to be considered one of the top 20 players in the world right now.

Sabian considers he is not the best aimer in the world, however does mix it up. “I think I balance good aim with smart game play and I am just an overall good player. Some players have amazing aim and some make up for their lack of aim with amazing strategies, but I think I am a mix of those.”

How does he feel about the 1.3 patch? “I think that 1.3 makes the game play feel much smoother, fast and fun. I haven't played it enough to say if it feels balanced but from my initial impressions it feels like a more solid game.”

It remains to be seen if he can go any higher, but he has age on his side and despite not being hugely experienced, if he can pick up a new sponsor or a clan capable of supporting him, he could still make the jump from top 20 to top 10.