EPTHere you will find my photos of the ESL One Franfurt 2015 event!
But for the readers my impressions:
DAY 1
Last year getting into the venue was a big critic point. And the ESL tried to change it. And they succeeded in case of the wrist bands ... but not at the gates! "Doors open at 9am!"? My ass! It opened at around 9.30! And of the possibiltiy of open gates in width around 10m, we used... two?? Seriously: Get more people at the entrance! Didn't you get the memo: The first impression is most important! And the entrance IS the first impression! Get it together please!
Finally in I basically ignored "everything" and went to the "shops". But not for shopping, I was searching for FuDDx. At first I missed him but when I found him it was a big hello and he was already working on my requested Meat Boy, because he had nothing else to do. ... Well, that was a rare sight. When word got out, a balloon artist is in town, people went crazy and FuDDx had only short breaks to fullfill all the requests!
After I put Meat Boy in a safe spot in my car I checked out the rest of the venue. The seating arrangement was kind a irritating. You had to go outside to get to your seats. Also if you were not a premium ticket holder you were faaaar from the stage. Also I didn't understand the two additional screens at the sides. They were basically laying there. First I thought that is for the people high up, but I was watching there the whole time and even from there the picture was distorted. So ESL, just get rid of them. I don't think anyone was using them. Or can someone disagree with me?
Some people complained about the seats by itself, but I didn't thought them that bad. Actually it was kind a nice sitting so close to complete "strangers" and cheering with them and "analysing" the plays. So-so in that regard.
Because I was taking pictures I was often at the shops and walking around catching community figures bullriding or checked out the cosplay. And I missed the cosplay "awards" or what they did a little bit, but if the Timbersaw didn't win this, heads should roll! Here the "original" and here the cosplay. That is next level people!
Some community figures and players were walking around and always getting a crowd. I have no pictures but I swear, there was SingSing in a big crowd and I walked around for over 20min and he was still in that spot giving autographs, pictures with fans and so on! Same thing could be said for Tobi. But he had such a big smile for all of them and even for me, when I finally got him. A more relaxed life it was maybe for Sheever. She had no official job at ESL One, maybe that is the reason. Or maybe all those nerds are afraid of tall and beautiful women!
Even some "normal" people asked me for a picture. So here you go, you are on the internet now! 
As for the games themself, most of them were quite straight forward. The most exciting games were C9 vs IG. So go watch them. And of course you can't forget the Techies of Team Secret!
After that the day was over and I went dancing because who needs sleep anyway?
Day 2
The second day I had learned! I arrived there at 9.30 am and doors were already open (still not more, but day two it was ok). Interestingly not the main area! So I grabed a needed coffee and when I got it, I could go in. I wanted to see FuDDx again, because Meat Boy needs his girlfriend! While I basically was the first one on Saturday, some people beat me to him
There I was witness of FuDDx' greatness, when he gave someone a prepepared figure (I'm not sure what it was ... a Riki? Who cares!) that stood over 1m tall! Ok, propably faster then doing it again, but great anyway! Well I waited to get my Bandage Girl and was happy! Day over! ... ok, joke 
But I have to admit, on the second day I took less photos and there wasn't that much new I could talk about. The fighting arena had to be repaired. I was running around with a Wolf Medallion and got myself a picture next to the Witcher-PCs by CaseKing (also notice the TeamLiquid button!!!) and took some pictures of a well built fan. Some German news stations came around to interview a little bit. And it seems that day was a little bit of familiy day and just to "relax".
What else... oh yeah, the games! Finally I watched a little bit more of them!
The semi-finals were nothing special. EG brought their A-Game and went all over VP. For the exciting things, you have to go with Secret agian and check out the first map against IG. Some incredible Anti-Mage play and splitting up the map with him and Aghanims-KotL.
So we got what we all wanted: EG vs Secret finals! And they didn't disappoint!
A long and hard fought game one, where EG broke Secret's base basically on the back of some clutch Winter Wyvern plays!
Game two was maybe a little bit more one sided, but we saw some really great ultimates of Crystal Maiden and great plays all around.
After that Secret did a re-run of the already mentioned AM-KotL combination and showed the Sumail-Tinker, who is boss!
Then came map four and a highly cheered Bloodseeker for Secret. EG was going strong but again Puppey showed his skills on KotL! Seriously: All the games of Secret, where they played KotL I always had the feeling, that he is one of the crucial parts of the win! He was played often by Secret and most of the times they got behind or it was even, then Puppey had his Aghanims and Secret started to steam roll! So my tipp for other teams: Ban KotL against Secret or you will loose! (ok, you could easily name more heroes that go that way, but I stand to that
). ![[image loading]](http://www.geisterkarle.net/galerien/galerie/eslone_2015/DSC_0166.JPG)
When EG called the last "gg" the crowd went wild and standing ovations all around! It only went crazier, when they took the trophy in their hands. Also next year I will smuggle in my 400mm camera objective, because I want to see the stage...
Well, it was now late and wrapping up time. People were leaving and packed up myself. Said my good-byes to the nice ladys of the "tattoo" stand and of course to the people at the most important shop at the venue!
So farewell ESL One 2015! We will probably see each other next year!
And here again the link to all of my photos:
http://galerien.geisterkarle.net/?id=104
