• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 23:35
CEST 05:35
KST 12:35
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
RSL Season 1 - Final Week6[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall10HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18Classic wins Code S Season 2 (2025)16Code S RO4 & Finals Preview: herO, Rogue, Classic, GuMiho0
Community News
Firefly given lifetime ban by ESIC following match-fixing investigation17$25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced7Weekly Cups (June 30 - July 6): Classic Doubles7[BSL20] Non-Korean Championship 4x BSL + 4x China10Flash Announces Hiatus From ASL76
StarCraft 2
General
RSL Revival patreon money discussion thread The GOAT ranking of GOAT rankings Weekly Cups (June 30 - July 6): Classic Doubles Server Blocker RSL Season 1 - Final Week
Tourneys
RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $8000 live event $5,100+ SEL Season 2 Championship (SC: Evo) $25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response Simple Questions Simple Answers
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 481 Fear and Lava Mutation # 480 Moths to the Flame Mutation # 479 Worn Out Welcome Mutation # 478 Instant Karma
Brood War
General
BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Flash Announces Hiatus From ASL BW General Discussion A cwal.gg Extension - Easily keep track of anyone Script to open stream directly using middle click
Tourneys
2025 ACS Season 2 Qualifier [Megathread] Daily Proleagues Small VOD Thread 2.0 Last Minute Live-Report Thread Resource!
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers I am doing this better than progamers do.
Other Games
General Games
Path of Exile Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread CCLP - Command & Conquer League Project The PlayStation 5 Nintendo Switch Thread
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine The Accidental Video Game Porn Archive Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative
Fan Clubs
SKT1 Classic Fan Club! Maru Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [\m/] Heavy Metal Thread
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion NBA General Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Men Take Risks, Women Win Ga…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 608 users

NASL, Thoughts and Predictions

Blogs > confusedcrib
Post a Reply
confusedcrib
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States1307 Posts
December 02 2011 19:03 GMT
#1
[image loading]

NASL season two has, like the first season, had a lot of problems. That being said, in many ways, the tournament bracket is a throwback to simpler times. We haven't gotten to see very much of Morrow, Mana, TT1, and others play recently, and it will be nice to get a chance to see how they are currently doing. With the lack of many Koreans this season, great players like Hwangsin, Brat_ok, and Strelok had a better chance to make it into the finals; it's been a while since these players have gotten the spotlight, so expect them to bring their best play to the table.

The way that the seeding worked out for NASL was very strange. Players like Huk, Hero, Puma and Idra who are normally easy tournament favorites are in real danger of getting knocked out early. For example, either Huk or Hero won't advance past the round of 8, there is no way around it, and the same goes for Idra and Puma. In the meantime, oftentimes more "under-performing" players like Brat_OK, Dimaga, and TT1 have only Sen in their way for a shot at the semifinals.

[image loading]

The bracket can be split into two halves, the top half's "best" players are Hero, Huk, and Sen, while the bottoms are Thorzain, Idra, and Puma. I think that the bottom half of the bracket is much tougher to predict than the top. The European players in the bottom half's bracket are all very formidable foes. The thing about this bracket is that everyone has a chance to go big, most players begin on an even footing, and then have to beat one bigger name player before they are within a shot at the finals.

Although TT1, Dimaga, and Brat_OK have a chance to make a name for themselves, they don't have much of a chance of getting to the finals. Even if they manage to make it past Sen, they would (likely) run into one of the top protoss' of HerO or Huk. I think Dimaga has the best chance for an upset, because when he turns on his best play, it's amazing to watch.

[image loading]
From Esportsproject.com

The semi finals will be exciting though, with the likely scenario being Sen vs. Huk or Hero. I honestly don't know who wins that fight, but it will definitely be a great one. In the quarter finals, Huk's PvP is favored over Hero's, but I do think that Sen has a better chance against Huk than he would against Hero. All I know for sure is that the top half of the bracket's semifinals will be a good one.

Huk vs. Hero is going to be a huge match for deciding the tournament (admittedly, it is very possible for Hasu to upset Huk, he's done it before after all). They are the two players with the best hope of defeating who will likely be Idra or Puma in the finals. It's also possible that we get a Puma - HerO finals repeat, but would Huk let that happen?

[image loading]
Again?

On a brief note, I think that HwangSin got the worst possible position in the bracket. He would have to go through two of the world's best PvP, and then likely face Sen. Based on results that I've seen, I think that PvT is HwangSin's best matchup, and it's a real shame that he won't get the chance to show it.

The bottom half of the bracket is difficult to predict past “I guess Idra wins.” I think Idra comes out over Puma only based on history, but those games are always so close that Puma can't be counted out. In MorroW vs. Mana and Demuslim vs. Thorzain I have no idea who wins, but I do think that Idra, if he overcomes Puma, has a good chance against any of those players. I haven't seen Thorzain too recently, but I do think that he can macro right up against Idra. Mana is also very good at playing head games with Idra, and in a matchup like PvZ that is a skill that cannot be underrated.

[image loading]


I am almost certain that the finals will be ZvP. I think that Idra is feeling very comfortable in the lower bracket, having often stated that he does not lose games to Terran unless they cheese him. The top bracket will all come down to the semifinals though, with the likely scenario being Sen vs. Huk or Hero. While I don't think that too many of the round of 16 games are that exciting, I think that by the quarterfinals, and especially the semifinals, we'll be set up to watch some great Starcraft.

If the bracket says one thing, I think it is diversity. There is an amazing mix of players from different countries with different play-styles, all of whom have a shot to make a real name for themselves. Will we have another finals as good as last seasons? I think that a Sen Idra finals would disappoint, but HerO Idra? A man can dream.


****
I'm a writer for TeamLiquid, you've probably heard of me
Bagration
Profile Blog Joined October 2011
United States18282 Posts
December 02 2011 19:52 GMT
#2
The 4 protoss in the top quarter of the bracket is really volatile, but I would say that Huk is the favorite out of all of this. This is going to be a good NASL finals
Team Slayers, Axiom-Acer and Vile forever
RoyGBiv_13
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
United States1275 Posts
December 02 2011 20:29 GMT
#3
Its a Catch-22. If an underdog wins the tournament (Im looking at you Brat-OK, Sen, TT1) then the tournament is considered weak that such a weak player won it. Good for the $ still, but you can expect the community backlash to be stiff and fierce.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic
Sabre
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United Kingdom1086 Posts
December 02 2011 20:32 GMT
#4
I think MorroW has a better shot than people give him credit for. When he turns on his game he's a monster
UK TrackMania Champion | Former SC2 player | http://www.twitter.com/Sabre_CS
Mattchew
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States5684 Posts
December 02 2011 21:01 GMT
#5
I predicted huk vs puma in the finals. My semis is huk dimaga morrow puma
There is always tomorrow nshs.seal.
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Next event in 6h 25m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RuFF_SC2 190
Nina 184
StarCraft: Brood War
NaDa 119
Noble 22
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm143
League of Legends
JimRising 1073
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K541
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor188
Other Games
summit1g11098
WinterStarcraft354
ViBE239
Trikslyr62
Livibee57
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick47466
BasetradeTV33
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 16 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH223
• Adnapsc2 8
• OhrlRock 1
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• Azhi_Dahaki22
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Doublelift4672
• Jankos2032
Upcoming Events
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6h 25m
RSL Revival
6h 25m
Classic vs Clem
FEL
11h 25m
Elazer vs Spirit
Gerald vs MaNa
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
14h 25m
Bonyth vs Dewalt
QiaoGege vs Dewalt
Hawk vs Bonyth
Sziky vs Fengzi
Mihu vs Zhanhun
QiaoGege vs Zhanhun
Fengzi vs Mihu
Wardi Open
1d 7h
Replay Cast
2 days
WardiTV European League
2 days
PiGosaur Monday
2 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
[ Show More ]
The PondCast
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Epic.LAN
5 days
CranKy Ducklings
6 days
Epic.LAN
6 days
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
6 days
Bonyth vs Sziky
Dewalt vs Hawk
Hawk vs QiaoGege
Sziky vs Dewalt
Mihu vs Bonyth
Zhanhun vs QiaoGege
QiaoGege vs Fengzi
Liquipedia Results

Completed

KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 2
HSC XXVII
NC Random Cup

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL 2v2 Season 3
Acropolis #3
CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
2025 ACS Season 2: Qualifier
BSL20 Non-Korean Championship
CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
Championship of Russia 2025
RSL Revival: Season 1
Murky Cup #2
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters

Upcoming

CSL Xiamen Invitational
CSL Xiamen Invitational: ShowMatche
2025 ACS Season 2
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
K-Championship
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
SEL Season 2 Championship
FEL Cracov 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
Underdog Cup #2
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.