I think this is a unfair decision. If they would seed the IEM winner into code A it would be ok, butseeding them into up and down matches is a delicate move. Imagine you were one of the code A players who knocked out the IEM winner just to face him in up&down matches again, wouldnt you be pissed? Or imagine the drama if the IEM winner gets into code S with luck (allin or cheese or something). It feels like all this random seeding stuff is hurting the image of a tournament that wants to be taken serious as the most prestiguous tournament in the world. I could live with it if there was a rule how such situations (like the Idra situation) are handleled, that was known to all players and viewers before the tournament starts. But such sudden decisions make it feel rather random and unfair. To me it looks like they are trying to get moon back in the tournament (for obvious reasons) not to help get more foreigners in the GSL. Maybe im wrong, but this on the fly decisions (or publications) dont really help to disprove my concerns. In the end its arguable if this decision is wrong or not. Since more viewers for GSL does not only mean more money for gom but also a bigger exposure for e-sports, wich is a good thing i guess. But at some point in the future we have to ask us what kind of tournaments (players) do we want? Those that are popular or those that perform good? Is this a show(drama) or is this a sport(competition)? Is this WWF or is this FIFA?
I like it. They needed a short-term solution to that issue, and they want to make sure that their tournament stars some skilled players that may show impressive games (= more views = more income).
Seeding someone who wins a major international tournament with a decent prize pool against other Korean invites is guaranteed to bring media and community attention, and they can rely on one more experienced player to bring entertainment to the GSL.
I think this is a great idea by GOM. True, the four semifinalists of IEM were all knocked out of code A, but having represented Korea(except for Moonglade who represents SEA) in a global tournament like that means they are players of high caliber who belong among the best. And I think its great that GOM recognises other tournaments outside Korea as highly competitive and rewards players who participates and do well in them.
Is it unfair that one of those guys gets a free pass to the Up/down matches? Maybe it is, but not everything is fair in life and I dont see a problem with rewarding someone who plays well, even if the tournament is not actually a part of GSL.
Looks like either Ace or Moon is gonna get that spot in the up and down matches. Even though it isn't exactly fair to the other code A players, I still like that GOM did this. Given his performance so far, I'd say Ace can look forward to playing in code S next season.
It's moon or ace. Moon went out ro32 code A this time. As did ace. That's a pretty big bump really. I dunno, guess it just doesn't seem right to me, but then again it's a weird situation.
Why don't we just wait one season to find out if this is "fair" decision or not? That will ultimately prove if they're good enough to stay or not. If so, we'll see if they win their GSL matches and be qualified enough to stay in Code S/A. Otherwise, if they drop down to Code B in just one season, we'll know that they weren't ready for the GSL. I mean seriously, just wait a couple months.
On March 05 2011 02:48 Torumfroll wrote: I think this is a great idea by GOM. True, the four semifinalists of IEM were all knocked out of code A, but having represented Korea(except for Moonglade who represents SEA) in a global tournament like that means they are players of high caliber who belong among the best. And I think its great that GOM recognises other tournaments outside Korea as highly competitive and rewards players who participates and do well in them.
Is it unfair that one of those guys gets a free pass to the Up/down matches? Maybe it is, but not everything is fair in life and I dont see a problem with rewarding someone who plays well, even if the tournament is not actually a part of GSL.
Yeah, I agree with this entirely. It's a much better solution than giving a Code A player a free pass to Code S (plus a free pass for whoever they pick).
I'm actually very interested in seeing if Ace or Moon gets picked by one of the top 2 from Code A. This would be a good indication of if the other Korean teams actually feel Ace or Moon deserve to be there.
On March 05 2011 03:05 Frazzlehoon wrote: Why don't we just wait one season to find out if this is "fair" decision or not? That will ultimately prove if they're good enough to stay or not. If so, we'll see if they win their GSL matches and be qualified enough to stay in Code S/A. Otherwise, if they drop down to Code B in just one season, we'll know that they weren't ready for the GSL. I mean seriously, just wait a couple months.
Because code A/code S distinction is primarily determined by some luck for most people at this time (save for some top code S players, but this season shows even the best can lose). Starcraft2 and starcraft 1, at the top level, is highly volatile and with the GSL there just isn't enough games to show any overwhelming skill difference. Starcraft brood war has the proleague, which gives sufficient amount of games for TaekBangLeeSsang & co to show their worth above the rest.
So it's not "proving their skill" that gets you into code S/code A at the moment. It's very volatile, and still will be in a few months. There is nothing to wait for; we already know that <IEM finalist 1> and <IEM finalist 2> are skilled. The same goes for the people they lost to in code A. Giving IEM winner idra's spot is an arbitrary seeding spot that is better served by just keeping it in korea.
If future IEM winners are given the same spot and the announcement well in advance that provides incentive for players.
But if intel is involved that actually makes a lot of sense. I forgot about who was sponsoring what. Marketing wise or w/e this can be a fine/great decision. But it doesn't really have merit otherwise.
I don't think this is a terrible choice, but I'm not sure if it's the correct one. The probably winner of IEM (Ace) is a good player, but it still remains he wen't out in the ro.32. Imo, they should have just held an 8 tournament for the lsoing people in the ro.16 or something, but that might have been too much effort.
On March 05 2011 03:25 pHelix Equilibria wrote: Well wasn't the Koreans doing ridiculously well at IEM? Are they going to clarify that the next highest ranking foreigner to take the spot?
The point isn't to get foreigners in, it's to avoid having the code A winner giving a free ride to a 3rd place, or giving free rides to code A finalists. You can argue that they are more worthy of getting a free ride into S, than someone who lost in Code A RO32 (but won IEM) is to get one chance of getting into S with a guaranteed code A next season.
Why cant GOM do the same as with LiveForever last season, do a mini tournament for all the 8 people who failed to win in the up and down matches. Giving a free pass for players who were knocked out first round does not seems fair.
On March 05 2011 03:36 godemperor wrote: Why cant GOM do the same as with LiveForever last season, do a mini tournament for all the 8 people who failed to win in the up and down matches. Giving a free pass for players who were knocked out first round does not seems fair.
But they aren't giving a free pass for players knocked out in the Ro32. They are giving one free pass to the winner of the IEM Global Championship just this once because IdrA's absence opens one spot.
It happens to be a player knocked out in Ro32 that will win IEM yes but you can't look at it that way since it could've been anyone in that tournament. That's flawed logic.
Edit: They are also not taking away the chance of anyone else. They are just filling a missing spot with a player that has to win a prestigeful tournament to get 1 chance in the up and down-matches.
NBA: Player who scores most points in All Star game gets his team the extra playoff spot!
I like the idea someone said about letting Code A winner get the free trip to Code S. That seems fair for everyone since that guy has to win so many rounds of code A for $1,500 and...the chance to choose your opponent?
Winning IEM looks 10 times easier than making it out of Code A this season.
EPT
