EPTWhile I suggested that three way ties in four man groups were relatively uncommon in a previous article on the subject, this past DreamHack was a full on tie extravaganza. This created a handful of amusing examples of injustice. It should stand to the organizers involved in choosing and applying a structure to simulate the possibilities and make design decisions that avoid these kind of mishaps. Absent that, one would at least hope that when these blunders actually occur people would recognize that something is wrong and that things should be done differently.
- HuK finished 3-0 (6-1) in his first group, 3-0 (6-1) in his second group, and 2-1 (4-4) in his third group. Due to a three way tie for first place with Stephano and sLivko, he was eliminated before the RO16 based on his map score despite losing only one series. He lost to Stephano, who finished fourth.
- On the flip side, nine of the players in the final sixteen had all lost two or three matches on their road through the group stages.
- Because of tiebreakers, three other players were also eliminated after a single series loss, but in the second group stage rather than the third. Amusingly, one of them was HuK's teammate, JYP, despite winning his series against silver medalist DIMAGA. The other two were DeathAngel and ToD, though they didn't face off against anyone in the playoffs.
- LiveZerg (out in the third group stage) and qxc (out in the second) each took a series off two players (NaNiwa and MaNa, Harstem and MaNa respectively) who would make the RO16 without actually getting there themselves. HerO and sLivko were the only ones in the playoffs who would accomplish the same feat.
- Spitting in the face of extended series, DreamHack matched up Vampire and Cytoplasm in the same group in the first and the third stage. Vampire won both series 2-0 without any help from MLG, but still managed to get himself eliminated.
- The third group stage had one three way tie for first in Group G (2-1, 2-1, 2-1, 0-3) and one three way tie for second in Group A (3-0, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2). Would it have been a better idea to just take away a spot from Group A so that three players could advance from Group G?
- The eventual winner, MaNa, lost three series throughout his group stage games. He and Harstem were the only players in the RO16 with that weak a record. Furthermore, in the second group stage MaNa was in a three way tie for second place and a hair away from being quietly eliminated in the RO64. Fortunately, map score gave him the edge over qxc and merz.
- 1. Wait for a period showing the most lopsided performance for one race in the history of the game (Zerg).
2. Only let Koreans participate if they play the other two races (Protoss: HerO, JYP, Daisy, Vampire/Terran: Dragon, PuMa, Keen, TaeJa).
3. Use the rules against them (JYP was eliminated on a tiebreaker).
4. Sic as many of the rest on each other as possible (PuMa helped eliminate Daisy and Vampire in group stages, HerO eliminated TaeJa in the RO16).
5. Count on EG to live up to its cursed reputation (PuMa and JYP being eliminated prematurely after losing to foreigners).
6. Bring out the big guns (NaNiwa vs. HerO, NaNiwa vs. Keen, SaSe vs. TaeJa, Stephano vs. Keen, HuK vs. Vampire).
7. If there are any left, cross your fingers and hope for the best.
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