EPTThis year, thanks to comabreaded I was able to make it to Blizzcon, and to be frank, when we first got our tickets I was only excited by the chance to see new Diablo III footage and gameplay. I thought the competitive gamer within me to be long dead and boy was I wrong about that. A combination of events throughout the next two days changed everything.
Part 1. GSL Finals
When it was announced that the GSL finals would take place at Blizzcon my pulse quickened. The announcement brought me back to the days where I would torrent chinese vod sites for the latest Boxer videos. Around 2004 I was introduced to starcraft progaming and it consumed my life. For much of college I was either playing or watching starcraft. Excitement was building.
By Friday night I had camped out a spot front and center five rows back for three hours until the event began. As Tastosis took the stage I grinned from ear to ear, I was about to witness something I have only viewed through a computer monitor for the last 7 years live. This wasn't something I could pause, rewind and watch again.
The real kicker was when the korean announcers took the stage. I remembered those nights I would show my friends untranslated VODs of boxer and yellow playing a match and of the dozens of games we played afterwards. Even though I had no idea what they were saying, I had no other thoughts but to play Starcraft right then and there.
Up until that point the experience was the same, but when MMA and MVP rushed the stage the cheers became deafening. I reached my hand out and was blessed with a slap as they passed by. Most people won't understand, but when that physical contact occurred everything became infinitely more real. Hearing the crowd, the energy, it was more than I expected and I just let all of those experiences wash over me.
From the time the first game started to the time the last game finished I was completely in the moment. From the proxy barrack, factory, barrack play to the base trade and mass vikings at the end it was all amazing. Then the ceremony started and I was sucked up into the cheers for MMA. It was real, I was there, my voice was gone, but I was so happy I finally got to experience the finals of a major event and it was nothing like the videos, it was infinitely better.
Part 2. Autographs and TL Mafia
I absolutely had to meet the progamers at the convention as well as anyone from teamliquid I could find. In many ways this was an opportunity to pay my respects to the community that raised me in Starcraft.
I could not pass this up as it was most likely the only time I would ever get at an event like this again.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/A6VXUl.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/xAWWkl.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/IyPK6l.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/pfy9Dl.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/VFbiUl.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/NJwQvl.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/4YA0Tl.jpg)
When the Blizzcon closing ceremony turned out to be a dud my friends and I headed over to the Hilton to grab some food and see if there was anyone from TL I could meet. I didn't know who to expect, but I certainly didn't expect to see R1CH waiting on some drinks to bring up to the TL Mafia room. We politely asked if we could join him and R1CH agreed. I was excited at the prospect of meeting everyone face to face.
It was fun and it was awkward. Finally being able to interact with the community I was watching for years was wonderful. Hot Bid with his mafia game sense guessing correctly 60% of the time, R1CH having his way with GhostClaws, and Nazgul, sitting still looking suave.
I got a chance to talk with so many great people that night and that made me really appreciate how great a community TL is. However, what really made me appreciate you guys was when Nestea and Mvp showed up in the room. We were in a heated round of mafia accusations when they showed up. Everyone stopped, look up at them and then continued to play as if nothing happened. I'm not sure what happened, but they promptly disappeared.
It was a pleasure meeting all of you, thanks for rekindling esports in my life.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/fuSqfl.jpg)
Apologies:
Sorry Reddit Guy, we voted you out for being Reddit so many times.
Carnac, sorry for mistaking you as Dimaga!
.
