EPTTLO: Seems to have recently after his injury completely reexamined the way he thinks about himself and his play. I am interested to see what this new TLO can do, but he has been put in the group of death with HuK, DongRaeGu, Haypro, and Naniwa, three players heavily Korean practiced and the surprise bad-ass of MLG Dallas. Its a rough challenge and I cant wait to see how TLO comes out.
HuK: If I recall, since HuK’s last MLG appearance he has been tearing up in Korea. He then took the foreigner world by storm in the last 2 major tournaments at Dreamhack and Homestory. I can see HuK taking this tournament or at least getting really deep, but like TLO he has a really rough group to fight out of, but I think he will be able to do it.
IdrA: Gracken has apparently been working on his issues with GGing early and dealing with his frustration that makes him fall apart. If those begin to be mastered I could see IdrA taking the entire tournament really easily. He is an AMAZING player whose only real enemy is himself.
InControl: I have heard that Geoff has been cutting back after Columbus on extracurriculars and has been really trying to up his play. I am really interested to see how he does.
Machine: EG has been in media blackout coming up to Anaheim, Bryce might come out with something amazing and I just love the guy so here’s hoping he takes some kids to school.
DongRaeGu: Though not even in Code A in Korea, DongRaeGu has been tearing it up as of late and is many people’s favourites to take Anaheim. I think he will do well, his group isn’t as brutal as say Pool A, but I am happy a Zerg is here. Things could cost him however; jet lag, or something. I expect him to do well, not sure if he will win, but I might be eating crow for saying that come Sunday.
The Open bracket will be quite a vicious fight too with some awesome names in the ring, some have been away for a while and some for the first time. Let’s see who I am interested in in the open bracket:
qxc: His recent all-kill of the Korean team Incredible Miracle shows qxc is on a deadly warpath. I am expecting him to come out of the open bracket and even if this is a tad controversial, I think he is poised reasonably to take the tournament.
WhiteRa: He’s been consistent through most of his SC2 career so far, but I think WhiteRA might make it through the open bracket. He is a solid player who is really adaptable and I think that might do him well especially against the Koreans.
Jinro: His mech play is really turning the standards of Terran lately and so he might be in line to do really well.
Choya: Korean Protoss who I think has what it takes to smash a lot of foreigner heads this weekend.
DeMuslim: Part of the EG blackout I think hes due for a big comeback.
