It's no easy task to launch an esport, so it's no surprise Combo Breaker 2017 has a lot on it's shoulders when debuting the competitive side of the new fighter from NetherRealm Studios, Injustice 2. This will be the world's first extended look into the best competition that Injustice 2 will offer, and while Combo Breaker needs to put on a flawless show, it'll be up to the competitors to showcase the game's strengths as a spectator esport.

The brand new game is still in its infancy in terms of discovery, but the quality of players that are flocking to Chicago are all name brands. Some of the names in attendance will be the cream of the crop from the previous Injustice: Gods Among Us and Mortal Kombat X, so we can expect a lot of the same consistency and results from the top players. Injustice 2, while a new game, shares a lot from the game mechanics of its prequel and spiritual predecessors.

In other words, the learning curve and top play will be immediate. Here are the players to look out for this weekend when the action begins. Editor's Picks Is SKT's dominance healthy for League of Legends?

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The king: Echo Fox's Dominique "SonicFox" McLean

The undisputed king of NetherRealm Studio games (he's won three Evolution Championship Series titles in their games), SonicFox gets his own category. From Injustice to Mortal Kombat, this is the player to watch for. He's showing three characters at his disposal so far: Captain Cold, Joker and Deadshot, but there are rumors of a fourth pick: Scarecrow. His play style can simply be titled 'fearless." He runs at you with an effective offensive plan of forward-moving strings, meter burns at the exact right moment, and a lethal guessing game from the start of the round. He's the complete package and the odds-on favorite to take down Combo Breaker.

The top tier

Panda Global's Brad "Scar" Vaughn competes in the 2016 Mortal Kombat X Proleague Season 2 Finals by ESL. Provided by Carlton Beener/ESL.

Right behind SonicFox are names that are very familiar to NetherRealm Studio fans alike: Echo Fox's Brad "Scar" Vaughn, Denom "A F0xy Grampa" Jones, Circa eSports' Christian "Forever King" Quiles, and Noble esports' Brant "Pig of the Hut" McCaskill. Scar may be the second-favorite to take down Combo Breaker because of his ability to both challenge SonicFox in any game and his incredible ability to adapt on the fly, but omy pick to be in the grand finals is A F0xy Grampa. The United Kingdom Aquaman player knows patience. He's not afraid to exploit every bit of character advantage in a match and is a regular to the grand finals of major tournaments. As for the best Batman in the business, Forever King, and the expansive character pool of Pig of the Hut, they're both in the mix if they avoid any inconsistencies in their game.

The best of the rest

While a few of these names possess the same pedigree that the players above boast, their star is just a shade dimmer. Do not overlook the likes of Mortal Kombat powerhouses, No Surrender's Denzell "DJT" Terry and Malik "MIT" Terry. The Terry brothers were regular fixtures to both top eight and grand finals of Mortal Kombat X tournaments. They were some of the best from the Atlanta player group, Yomi Gaming, and consistently challenged SonicFox for his crown. It will not surprise anyone if the Terry brothers end up as top players in Injustice 2 as well.

Right there with them is Method's Giuseppe "REO" Grosso, Frank "Slayer" Amaral, and Carl "PerfectLegend" White. PerfectLegend is a household name for NetherRealm Studio games for better or worse. The tape is out for the fighting game legend, but will that translate to success in a new game? For REO, the mad scientist of the community, it's all about match ups. REO is a talented player that needs the perfect bracket to succeed -- if there's an unfamiliar character or match, this will be a quick tournament. Slayer was one of the best west coast Injustice players in the United States, but failed to capture the same success in Mortal Kombat X. This will be his chance to reclaim some former glory.