The reality is there are "only" 7 GSLs a year and even RO4 pays only 4k or so. That's less than winning an MLG and in addition to MLGs, there'll be numerous smaller tournaments available, and of course likely the league incontrol is hyping about. The current state of zerg makes the prospect of actually placing in top 2 in GSL very unlikely, though the maps may change that. Finally, it appears the lack of practice partners was going to finally be an issue and it seems to me idra hasn't been motivated to practice for quite some time.

T.O.P.

Hong Kong4685 Posts

February 16 2011 06:58 GMT

#143

He gave up on beating the Koreans. No respect.

Meta

United States6228 Posts

February 16 2011 06:58 GMT

#144

On February 16 2011 15:23 Moonling wrote:

Show nested quote +

Umm pretty sure GSL is 50k while MLG is like 13kish so no... where are you getting this info from?

I'm pretty sure Idra has a better chance to win MLG than to win the GSL. Also, even though first prize in the GSL is an astounding amount of money, making the semifinals and losing results in 1/10th the prize pool of 1st place, and making the round of 8 is 1/20th the prize.

Placing 3rd in any of the 5 MLG events this year will net you a quick $2k, and while placing ro8 in one of the GSLs this year is technically more money ($2.5k), I think Idra is probably hedging his bets on dominating the NA competition.

And that doesn't even include unannounced tournaments, dreamhack, or the MLG Champion's tournament which will have a much larger prize pool than the regular tour.

He wouldn't have made this decision if he thought it would financially negligent. Good move overall I'd say.

LeFroMaGe

United States628 Posts

February 16 2011 06:58 GMT

#145

I thought Idra was getting better each round... I just don't see him improving in LA, most likely regressing. Besides Dimaga, where is the talent in this house? Is Dimaga even going to LA?

Look, theres just more top tier consistent talent in Korea, with new and innovative builds practicing in houses daily. I just can't see the NA scene booming for another 2+ years. One 50k NA weekend tourney once a year *shrug*.

I'm all for a great NA scene, but I don't see their being enough sponsorship to tip the scales to the foreign scene.

Maynarde

Australia1286 Posts

February 16 2011 06:59 GMT

#146

Heard it on SOTG. I reckon it's a good thing INControl made an excellent point that Korea isn't necessarily the hub of SC2 like it was for SC:BW. I will be interested to see how the NA tournaments handle the return of the Grack :D

syllogism

Finland5948 Posts

February 16 2011 07:01 GMT

#147

On February 16 2011 15:58 T.O.P. wrote:
He gave up on beating the Koreans. No respect.

He WAS beating koreans, but no one, especially a zerg, is a huge favorite to win the GSL currently, MVP aside I suppose.

Doraemon.doraemon

United States335 Posts

February 16 2011 07:01 GMT

#148

him being in korea gave him a lot of prestige that he wouldn't had in the west... like someone said, it made him an icon... i wonder what effect this move will have on his reputation

that being said, gsl lost a lot of appeal for me now, idra was one of my main draws

now i really hope incontrol's announcement can live up to the hype...

lolsixtynine

United States600 Posts

February 16 2011 07:02 GMT

#149

This is both awesome and kind of sad at the same time. It was awesome to see IdrA do so amazingly well in Korea, but also it'll be cool now that he can tear shit up back in the US/Europe.

anc

6 Posts

February 16 2011 07:02 GMT

#150

I think there are just much more stuff happening outside Korea. He got invited to an Italy lan apparently. Then there is The gathering at Norway. Dreamhacks. Assembly, MLGs. Even online tournaments as high as 1-2k in prizes every week.

I don't think he is dodging Korea at all. He is moving where he thinks SC2 will grow the most. Don't worry, if things keep up at the western esports, the Koreans will come to the West. Moon did all over the world in wc3.

T0fuuu

Australia2275 Posts

February 16 2011 07:02 GMT

#151

I guess he and EG cant be bothered flying over to America once every two months to participate in tournaments or maybe it was an SK situation where Idra wasnt placing high enough to justify paying for his accomodation.

GenoZStriker

United States2914 Posts

February 16 2011 07:08 GMT

#152

^ LOL. Keep guessing. You're not getting close though.

dc302

Australia576 Posts

February 16 2011 07:08 GMT

#153

so is he still competing in the march gsl?.. D=

DivinO

United States4796 Posts

February 16 2011 07:09 GMT

#154

Welcome back, IdrA!

LostBLuE

Canada188 Posts

February 16 2011 07:09 GMT

#155

Artosis' Tasteless just got there nerd hearts broken </3

Steinchen

Austria39 Posts

February 16 2011 07:09 GMT

#156

a GSL without idra? makes me sad

but still gl & hf in the usa

Ludwigvan

Germany2371 Posts

February 16 2011 07:10 GMT

#157

Everything moving so fast. What will happen next?

AnotherEon

United Kingdom250 Posts

February 16 2011 07:11 GMT

#158

kinda glad of this, was kind of a shame that idra couldn't compete in all these other international tournaments because he was out in korea, its not just about the prizemoney but the exposure as well - if you take first place at tournaments you gain a lot of fans and notoriety which is better in the long run

im hoping this gives idra the motivation he needs atm too, idra seemed really demoralised getting cheesed/playing against abusive builds all the time on korean ladder

Pudge_172

United States1378 Posts

February 16 2011 07:12 GMT

#159

On February 16 2011 16:08 dc302 wrote:
so is he still competing in the march gsl?.. D=

No he is not. The 3 guys left in his group each get a "win" over him.

His flight is sometime early March according to what he said on SotG.

knyttym

United States5797 Posts

February 16 2011 07:13 GMT

#160

Super excited to see what he can do in all the foreign tournaments. Definitely a smart choice on his part as korea just feels so isolated. EU and US tournies are booming and having the arguably best zerg in the foreign scene competing is going to be awesome.