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Who's the best Protoss Player in North America? American Zergs can cheer for Sheth and Idra, Terrans can root for the newcomer Quantic Illusion, but who should American Tosses shower their plaudits upon?
I initially imagined a top ten power ranking. Then I cut it down to a top 5. Then a top 3. But comparing a Losers Bracket Round 6 loss to a 7th place in tournament qualifier is pointless. Only one American Protoss has achieved anything of note recently. So, I'm going to list a few honorable mentions then name that player.
Please note, if you consider Huk a North American Protoss, he is clearly the best. Consider this blog an explanation of who is #2.
Honorable Mentions
- Desrow. Trained extensively in Korea before recently returning to Canada. Arguably the best player, but it seems unfair to crown him the King until he puts in the results.
- Ddoro. The second most accomplished player. Qualified for MLG's Winter Arena through a NA qualifier. Had a short road to the Championship Bracket during MLG's Winter Championship, but shocked the unconventional Zerg Sleep to make it in.
- Gatored. The only American Protoss to show he could compete at the highest level. Astoundingly, he beat Strelok, TOP and DongRaeGu at IEM NY. However, because of a focus on school, has disappeared in 2012.
- State. Average results in MLG OB. A recent second place in a local LAN. But his play shows potential.
- Incontrol. A solid stretch of MLG OBLR6 finishes from running from late 2011 to early 2012. Intriguing recent win against Thorzain. Also took a map from Real at HSCV.
So. Who's the best? I could try to slather on some drama, but you've already scrolled down and seen the picture, haven't you?
Axslav
![[image loading]](http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQeEK4eYKZShX274d-BVug7e9wpnL8y4DxGs4NZv8mAdMztjqQJyw)
I guess you've earned the right to be smug, Ax. You made it to the CB for both the Spring and Winter Championships, beating players like Idra (after EG dropped you), Illusion, Minigun, Theognis, and Ostojiy. You also took second in MSI Battlegrounds, notably beating State and Beastyqt. Throw in some solid performances in qualifiers, and you're hands down the best Toss in NA.
But what do you think?
Poll: Who is the best Toss in NAAxslav (18) 35% Minigun (15) 29% Nony (7) 14% Desrow (3) 6% Other (please specify) (3) 6% DDoro (2) 4% Incontrol (1) 2% State (1) 2% Cruncher (1) 2% Yata (0) 0% Attero (0) 0% Gatored (0) 0% 51 total votes Your vote: Who is the best Toss in NA (Vote): Desrow
(Vote): Incontrol
(Vote): Yata
(Vote): State
(Vote): Minigun
(Vote): Attero
(Vote): DDoro
(Vote): Gatored
(Vote): Cruncher
(Vote): Nony
(Vote): Axslav
(Vote): Other (please specify)
Edit: I forgot to mention TT1. With his performance in the NASL, he easily deserves to be mentioned here. In fact, considering his impressive NASL3 run, I believe he is currently #2 to Axslav.
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Chad "Motherfuckin" Jones :DDD
Isn't Minigun like rank 5 on GM right now?
EDIT: OH SHIT HE WORLD RANK 5 AND NA RANK 1 YEAH CHAD!
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When nony is in form he is an absolute beast, but in current form it is probably axslav or minigun.
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Well Canada is part of North America so Huk. And if Huk doesn't count then Kiwikaki
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I was about to be all like WTFWHEREISAXSLAV.
But then I saw.
Its kind of funny though. You can rattle off like a trillion good NA Zerg, but T and P is really a headscratcher past the obvious.
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On July 10 2012 04:42 Jaaaaasper wrote:
When nony is in form he is an absolute beast, but in current form it is probably axslav or minigun.
In BW sure, in sc2 he has yet to prove he is.
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HuK for sure, if he still counts. If he doesn't count, Ranged is really damn good.
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Isn't HuK from NA?
I'd consider him the best by far.
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Well since the thread says IN NA not from I think Huk would be considered In Korea, Though I think he is at the EG Lair atm so when he is here it's him when he is gone it's either Axslav or NonY
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I would say Huk, but it is obvious you aren´t counting him on purpose (understandably)
Going by Best (and not most accomplished) I would say Nony, he is sick even tough he barely practice, and he is really the go to protoss to cheer for aswell.
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Great write up! :D
I would have to say our top protoss players excluding Huk, would be Axslav and Minigun. I liked the honorable mentions I would say, Yata, Gatored, desRow, State, Nony and iNcontrol are all around the same level. Of course there are other players right below them that are just waiting to have a break out performance to show their skills. I'm most looking forward to seeing if anyone else can jump up and show their skills by the end of 2012!
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On July 10 2012 04:47 MattBarry wrote:
Well Canada is part of North America so Huk. And if Huk doesn't count then Kiwikaki
HuK has dual-citizenship in both the U.S. and Canada, so he's NA anyway 
HuK by a mile, unless he wants to consider himself a Korean because he's been practicing in Korea for so long (is he still there and not in the EG house)?
If not HuK, then I don't know. Huge round robin between everyone mentioned.
EDIT: We all forgot about TT1. Might be him.
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On July 10 2012 04:56 blade55555 wrote:Show nested quote +On July 10 2012 04:42 Jaaaaasper wrote:
When nony is in form he is an absolute beast, but in current form it is probably axslav or minigun. In BW sure, in sc2 he has yet to prove he is.
To be fair, he was really good in beta, and had a bunch of good mlg runs after that, he has just been streaky and never in top form since beta, but he has shown flashes of briliiance, so i think he would top this list when he is in form, but that may never happen ;_;,
c'MON Nony make me eat those words
Edit:
Also yeah, tt1 hasn't been doing many tournaments, but he looked really strong in nasl, so he has to be mentioned in this.
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On July 10 2012 06:40 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:Show nested quote +On July 10 2012 04:47 MattBarry wrote:
Well Canada is part of North America so Huk. And if Huk doesn't count then Kiwikaki HuK has dual-citizenship in both the U.S. and Canada, so he's NA anyway HuK by a mile, unless he wants to consider himself a Korean because he's been practicing in Korea for so long (is he still there and not in the EG house)? If not HuK, then I don't know. Huge round robin between everyone mentioned. EDIT: We all forgot about TT1. Might be him.
Great call on TT1 DarkPlasmaBall. For whatever reason, he slipped my mind. I believe he's a close #2 to Axslav, but you could definitely argue it.
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Probably dragOn or dRaW. Jumper might be up there, but he's clearly out of shape, and oh...
...SC2.
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When I opened the thread I'm thinking "This guy is so uninformed, Axslav is the best", but apparently you know it too ^^
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axslav has had the best results i believe.
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probably TT1 or Minigun, but as soon as HotS rolls around, KiWiKaKi will rise to the top once more with his sick new builds
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NonY of course =P Once he gets back into form, he'll be the Protoss foreigner we need  After seeing him get Top 16 at WCS @ Anaheim, I'm hoping he'll have a fantastic performance for WCS come Raleigh in August.
As by results, Axslav and HuK have had by far the best results over the last few months, Desrow is looking to be on the rise after his stay in Korea, Minigun is currently Rank #1 on GM with an insane amount of games thus far and is heading down to Houston to train in the coL house, and I'd really like to see Gatored play more actively again (when was the last time he played in a major tournament?).
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In terms of American players I would put Ranged and Insur in the top 5 right now. They were the two highest placing protosses in WCS USA.
Very hard to pick an overall best though. Probably would have to go with Axslav in terms of overall results+overall most well rounded player.
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I voted for Minigun.
But that is only because Huk wasn't on there (;
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EPT
