My DC: KO predictions based on what I think is most likely to happen/would make the best story:
(white is why I think the fight would be set up, and green is why I think that person would win)
(also keep in mind I wrote this before Scott tweeted that thing about not all of the fights being 1v1, but I still think the overall storylines are the same, and just think of this as how I'd personally do it)
More detailed thoughts under the cut:
Keep in mind that according to Scott Snyder the story is basically:
In order to defeat Darkseid they have to funnel as much Omega energy into one person as possible, ostensibly turning them into a god with powers on par with Darkseid. Omega energy is the energy of destruction and control. So in order to channel/create this Omega energy they have to defeat each other absolutely and without compassion. Any weakness or mercy wouldn't create enough Omega energy to be able to take on Darkseid. So, keep all that in mind: fights must be merciless, and the winner will become a god who goes on to fight and (obviously) defeat Darkseid.
Round ONE - LEFT bracket
Fight ONE : SUPERMAN vs GIGANTA Think their fight was set up to highlight how strong Superman is when he is able to defeat someone so much bigger than him. Cue jokes about how it's not the size that matters or good things come in small packages. I also think Superman is a shoo-in for the finals. Seeing as he is the obvious choice to fight Darkseid, both being regularly set up as the most powerful superhero on earth and being Darkseids opposite, and that he is the main character of the event (and the whole universe tbh, especially considering the summer of Superman).
Fight TWO : CAPTAIN ATOM vs POWERGIRL Think this fight is to set up how powerful Captain Atom is before he goes on to be defeated by Superman. I don't think Powergirl would win because if they wanted to do a kryptionian vs kryptionian fight, it'd be Superman vs Supergirl. Fight THREE : GUY GARDNER vs FIRESTORM Think this fight is largely supposed to be comedic, cue jokes about being a hothead and firestorm (both of them) being annoyed at Guy. I do think Guy would win mostly for the plot, cause it'd be funny, and cause I can't see any other person in that section that would make an interesting fight against Superman (again for plot reasons).
Fight FOUR : JAY GARRICK vs CHEETAH Speed vs speed. Think Cheetah would win cause she's more ruthless. That being said Jay could just as well win cause I think either one could make a fun "annoyed at Guy" bit for the next fight before being knocked out.
Fight FIVE : AQUAMAN vs KING SHARK Obviously paired as the two aquatic ones. Think King Shark would win purely because he's more ruthless. If it was Aquaman vs Black Manta that'd be a different story.
Fight SIX : CONNOR HAWKE vs HAWKMAN Hawke vs Hawk. Think Connor would win because he's the underdog, in an effort to subvert expectations. Hawkman would underestimate him. Also, Hawkman winning is the obvious choice so if he did win that'd be a really boring story.
Fight SEVEN : LEX LUTHOR vs BLACK LIGHTNING Don't know why this fight is set up. Maybe to highlight how ruthless Lex is? Maybe he goes really over the top? Anyway, Lex would win so he could go on to fight Superman.
Fight EIGHT : THE DEMON vs SUPERGIRL Again, don't know the why of this fight, but Supergirl would win for the Super vs Lex plot.
Round ONE - RIGHT bracket
Fight ONE : WONDER WOMAN vs STARRO Fighting because they're both powerful? To highlight how much of a threat Wonder Woman is perhaps? Wonder Woman would win because she is the obvious second choice to take home the whole tournament after Superman, and ending in a Wonder Woman vs Superman fight would be really classic.=
Fight TWO : LOBO vs PLASTIC MAN Think they're fighting because they're both kinda crazy characters. Think Plas would win because he's underestimated, and it'd be funnier. But could go either way, as neither is beating Wonder Woman.
Fight THREE : SWAMP THING vs VIXEN Swamp vs animal kingdom. Toss up but I think Swamp Thing would make an even more apt nature vs tech fight in the next round (either one works though).
Fight FOUR : CYBORG vs BATWOMAN Two strategists against each other. Also kind of a toss up but think Cyborg would win to set up the nature vs tech fight, and to not overwhelm with the bats.
Fight FIVE : BATMAN vs STAR SAPPHIRE Fighting because they're emotional opposites. Cold vs vulnerable. Think Batman would win simply to set up a fight between him and one of his sons. But also slightly torn because Knightfight #1 is coming out before KO #2, which would indicate he's out round one? But that would skip the father vs son fight which I don't think they'd want to miss out on.
Fight SIX : RED HOOD vs DAMIAN WAYNE Brothers. Toss up on who wins, either one is fighting Bats next. Thinking Damian simply because he's favoured by editorial but could go with Red Hood to set up the obvious fight.
Fight SEVEN : ZATANNA vs BARDA Magic vs a God. Think Barda would win for plot reasons, to set up for the end.
Fight EIGHT : HARLEY QUINN vs METAMORPHO Both funny characters. Think Harley would win because a Harley vs Barda fight would be more interesting, she's favourite by editorial, and she's more ruthless.
Round TWO - LEFT bracket
Fight ONE : SUPERMAN vs CAPTAIN ATOM Fighting to show how powerful Superman is. Even more so because he defeated someone who defeated another kryptionian in round one. Supes wins for obvious plot reasons.
Fight TWO : GUY GARDNER vs CHEETAH Fighting cause it's funny. Cheetah being pissed off at Guy. Guy wins because it'd make a more interesting fight with Supes.
Fight THREE : KING SHARK vs CONNOR HAWKE Sort of a man vs nature, as well as a normal guy vs super powerful being fight. King Shark would win by being more ruthless, and to set up for an evil vs evil fight again Lex.
Fight FOUR : LEX LUTHOR vs SUPERGIRL Obvious Lex vs Super fight. Think Lex would win for plot reasons. Could be that they go with Supergirl and end in a -girl vs -man thing, but I think having Lex already defeat a Super would be more interesting.
Round TWO - RIGHT bracket
Fight ONE : WONDER WOMAN vs PLASTIC MAN Fighting cause it's funny. Again, Wonder Woman would win because she's the obvious second choice for winning the whole tournament.
Fight TWO : SWAMP THING vs CYBORG Nature vs tech fight. Toss up on who wins, but I think Swamp Thing would be more suited for a fight against Wonder Woman, either one works though.
Fight THREE : BATMAN vs DAMIAN WAYNE Father vs son. Damian wins because Bruce can't bring himself to be ruthless towards his own son. Also Bruce is obviously an early out cause he has his own tie in.
Fight FOUR : BARDA vs HARLEY QUINN Birds of Prey fighting against each other. Barda wins for plot reasons, and to set up how powerful she is that she beat someone with unbeatable plot armour.
Round THREE - LEFT bracket
Fight ONE : SUPERMAN vs GUY GARDNER Fighting cause it's funny. Guy would do way better than expected. But Superman would obviously win in the end.
Fight TWO : KING SHARK vs LEX LUTHOR Evil vs evil. The only two bad guys left. Showing how ruthless Lex is before he goes on to battle Superman for plot reasons.
Round THREE - RIGHT bracket
Fight ONE : WONDER WOMAN vs SWAMP THING Also showing how powerful Wonder Woman is. She'd win for previously mentioned plot reasons.
Fight TWO : DAMIAN WAYNE vs BARDA Another Barda vs Plot Armour fight. Barda would win for plot reasons, and to subvert expectations by beating the last bat out of the tournament.
Semifinals
LEFT bracket : SUPERMAN vs LEX LUTHOR Obvious Lex vs Superman fight. Superman would win showing how strong he is, and because, again, he's the obvious choice to fight Darkseid.
RIGHT bracket : WONDER WOMAN vs BARDA Two of the most powerful women in DC. The obvious choice to win normally would be Wonder Woman (largely due to plot armour), which is why I think it'd be Barda. Both to subvert expectations, and to set up for a more interesting fight against Darkseid. People are less aware of Barda and would be surprised. It'd also be more enjoyable for the reader than a standard Trinity vs Trinity fight.
Finals : SUPERMAN vs BARDA
"God" vs God. The obvious choice for well known plot reasons vs the obvious choice for actual plot reasons. Barda is the only New God in the tournament and has a personal beef/relationship with Darkseid. Setting Barda up to be the one to actually defeat Darkseid, thereby defeating her own past and showing that she's well and truly moved on from being Darkseid general, would be a lot more interesting and be a far more personal and emotional story. It's also just not entertaining to watch the obviously favoured characters win every time, and DC knows that. Which is why I think they'd want to bring the obvious choice to the end and then pull the rug out from under everyone.
So finally:
Winner: BARDA
(I may have overthought this a little)














