ex-iBP squad has withdrawn from the competiton. Whether or not this is related to the match fixing scandal that was brought to light over the past couple of weeks is up to speculations.

With ex-iBP withdrawing now, another american team will replace them but the questions are up in the air regarding the team that will take the vacant spot in Group B.

Sn0_Man

Tebellong44238 Posts

January 21 2015 17:34 GMT

Liquid?
Liquid????
PLS LIQUID

I wonder if this has anything to do with all the matchfixing stuff

amazingxkcd

GRAND OLD AMERICA16375 Posts

January 21 2015 17:38 GMT

It probably won't be liquid, but rather Torqued as they were in the finals of both qualifiers and if this had to do with match fixing scandals, then that would be wierd since MLG pays for everything and if that scandal was a problem for MLG (since it happened before the qualifiers), then MLG would have already barred clutch cats from competing. So ex-iBP dropping out is for a whole separate reason

Sn0_Man

Tebellong44238 Posts

January 21 2015 17:39 GMT

yeah i guess

I'm not really a torqued fan tho. Moe and all.

At this point it feels like the invite will go to whoever can show up on 2 days notice though, so there's hope

wun4

Slovakia91 Posts

January 21 2015 17:40 GMT

Really hope for Liquid as well! It would make the tournament even more exciting, though no matter who the replacement is, it will likely be hard to perform up to their potential with such a short notice.

mki

Poland882 Posts

January 21 2015 17:42 GMT

Would be awesome for Liquid, but they might want to wait a little bit to ensure a better showing at their first LAN as TL.

amazingxkcd

GRAND OLD AMERICA16375 Posts

January 21 2015 17:43 GMT

This is where im getting my torqued replacement theory from

Sn0_Man

Tebellong44238 Posts

January 21 2015 17:45 GMT

hmmm well thats actually a pretty good reason to think it's torqued lol

wun4

Slovakia91 Posts

January 21 2015 17:51 GMT

yep, that tweet does make it likely it is indeed Torqued. Well, as much as I am a Liquid fan, I suppose at this point in time, Torqued does have a better shot at getting some good results. And of course, given their qualifier performance, it is right for them to be the first team in line for being the replacement.

EDIT: Hmm, according to DailyDot, the replacement will likely be Team Liquid. So maybe the Torqued tweet was about something else, after all.

Sn0_Man

Tebellong44238 Posts

January 21 2015 18:01 GMT

#10

My opinion of DailyDot is quite low.

amazingxkcd

GRAND OLD AMERICA16375 Posts

January 21 2015 18:05 GMT

#11

Dailydot is just speculating (and the fact that they pass over torqued who got to both mlg qualifier finals and the fact that steel is already going to MLG to be their observer) leads me to think that they don't even know who will be the replacement. They do bring up a good point about hiko's contacts but if that was a problem then that would have been fixed before the mlg qualifiers so that's a moot point.

Like i said, it's a speculations leading towards either team liquid or torqued so this will be interesting (they'll have to play both fnatic and ldlc and cloud9 which is a tall order to handle)

wun4

Slovakia91 Posts

January 21 2015 18:14 GMT

#12

I find Richard Lewis to be quite reliable when it comes to his reports, though he has been wrong before (and in this case, his wording likewise recognizes nothing is absolutely certain quite yet). So I suppose we'll just have to wait and see. Either team would be a fine replacement.

Roggay

Switzerland6320 Posts

January 21 2015 18:48 GMT

#13

The only reason for the replacing team not to be Torqued would be because Steel was also involved in the match fixing scandal. Other than that, they are the obvious choice.

yamato77

11589 Posts

January 21 2015 18:48 GMT

#14

Well this is disappointing. They might have had a shot in a Bo1 against Fnatic/LDLC to make an upset happen.

Richard_Lewis

United Kingdom446 Posts

January 21 2015 19:06 GMT

#15

Hi guys,

Sad to see so many people discrediting myself and my publication about this news. I've got a very good track record over ten years and don't ever go to print unless my sources are reliable.

Let me tell you here. It WILL be Team Liquid.

amazingxkcd

GRAND OLD AMERICA16375 Posts

January 21 2015 19:07 GMT

#16

On January 22 2015 04:06 Richard_Lewis wrote:
Hi guys,

Sad to see so many people discrediting myself and my publication about this news. I've got a very good track record over ten years and don't ever go to print unless my sources are reliable.

Let me tell you here. It WILL be Team Liquid.

Well Richard, you're right! Sorry for doubting you

Roggay

Switzerland6320 Posts

January 21 2015 19:15 GMT

#17

Well I'm ready to trust you about that as you always do a great job, but there is nothing wrong really about waiting for the official statement before rejoicing.

Very good news if this confirms.
edit: and it does.

Sn0_Man

Tebellong44238 Posts

January 21 2015 19:16 GMT

#18

official statement is out
literally before richard made that post, though I assume he didn't know that at the time

I must say, I'm glad he was right

johnbongham

451 Posts

January 21 2015 19:23 GMT

#19

My only issue with richard's report is that he doesn't bother distinguishing between individual players. I still don't believe that the IBP core of swag, skadoodle, and azk had anything to do with throwing a match.

yamato77

11589 Posts

January 21 2015 19:31 GMT

#20

They kind of had to have had something to do with throwing the match, considering they did the purported throwing themselves.

Regardless, I'm glad it's Liquid over Torqued. Class is appreciated, and they are no worse in terms of skill. Unfortunately it's the group of death, but maybe they'll gain some valuable experience.