posted Sep 5th, 2012 - The World Cup 2012 did not have any attendance of teams from the Netherlands. There were two Dutch competitors (Paul Hofstee, Jacco van Eerden) who delivered Dutch world class performance in Prostejov. However, other teams from the Netherlands could not really make it to the Czech Republic, as the timing of both events was in the way.

Teams in the Netherlands were still completing the national championships when the competition began in Prostejov. The date of the ESL Championship 2012 fits much better to the schedule of the Dutch teams, and the Netherlands will try to defend the ESL Spirit this weekend in Moorsele, Belgium, with a large delegation.

Twelve teams from the Netherlands are registered for the ESL Championship 2012, which is a higher number compared to the nine teams who competed at the national championships in August.

Dutch Nationals 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	AAA Class	13,19,22	17,16,M	C,1,F,7	15,O,6	E,21,P,8	12,K,A,18	5,L,9	4,10,H	J,Q,11,D	3,N,B,20	Total	Avg
1	Whooops (NL)	10	16	19	14	17	12	15	11	18	13	145	14.5
2	M4Trix (NL)	11	16	16	14	15	11	15	13	18	12	141	14.1
3	Creeps (NL)	9	11	16	14	13	12	16	11	18	12	132	13.2
Rank	AA Class	K,18,O	14,N,13	P,A,22	D,21,20	8,E,4	B,J,2	M,L,F,C	11,H,Q	15,9	19,6	Total	Avg
1	Cool Runnings (NL)	10	8	12	11	8	14	18	9	10	9	109	10.9
2	Murphy Mania (NL)	9	7	11	9	8	14	18	9	9	9	103	10.3
3	Pari-Passu (NL)	8	6	9	7	7	10	14	9	5	9	84	8.4
4	4igami (NL)	6	4	7	5	6	11	11	8	5	6	69	6.9
Rank	Rookie	N,A,G	E,O,L	Q,F,C	K,P,M	J,D,B	H,N,G	B,H,D	O,E,P	L,K,F	A,C,M	Total	Avg
1	Gravity Abuse (NL)	1	3	2	0	6	4	7	7	3	6	39	3.9
2	Shinobi (NL)	1	3	2	6	1	4	4	3	4	4	32	3.2

Whooops defended the national 4way title successfully, even though the reigning Dutch 4way champions had to work much harder this year to fend off the 4way lineup of the Dutch national 8way team, M4Trix. Whooops won easily in 2011 (139 - 119) and was only four points ahead of the same contender in August this year.

Neither Whooops nor M4Trix will compete for the Netherlands at the ESL Championship this weekend. They have to use their resources to get ready for the World Meet 2012 in Dubai where they will represent the Netherlands. Bronze medal winner Creeps will compete in the AAA Class for the Dutch delegation this weekend.

The three Dutch medal winners in the AA Class (Cool Runnings, Murphy Mania, Pari-Passu) will also compete for the Netherlands at the ESL Championship, together with Habanero who competed at this year's Tomscat Trophy, plus comeback team Meo.

There was no A Class competition at the Dutch Nationals this year. However, this does not mean at all that the Netherlands may not have teams in this category at the ESL Championship. Two A Class teams who competed at the Tomscat Trophy (Mach 4, TNT) will be joined by three additional Dutch A Class lineups to help defend the ESL Spirit.

It is not unusual that the Tomscat Trophy has more participation than the Dutch Nationals. Last year, and for the first time, there were also more Dutch teams at the ESL Championship 2011 than at the Dutch Nationals 2011, and it will happen again this weekend.

Last not least, the same two teams of the Tomscat Trophy competed again in the Rookie Class at the Dutch Nationals 2012, and Gravity Abuse represents the Netherlands this weekend, as well. By the way: The rankings between the same teams in all categories at the Dutch Nationals 2012 was identical with the rankings at the Tomscat Trophy 2012. No surprises in the Netherlands this year...