EPTReasons to Win
MLG’s 2012 inaugural tournament could not be more diverse. It's not just the wide variety of nationalities, play styles, and personalities that are gathered - there are unique motivations behind these players as well. Winning means something different for each of these players in New York, and we'll explore a few of the more interesting stories.
Redemption
There's a lot to gain with a victory: prize money, personal glory, international fame, etc. But to some players, this tournament isn't about what they can gain, but how they can make amends. Are we talking about Mvp, whose form has slipped by his abnormally high standards? Or MC, who has switched teams and finds himself at a strange place in his career? No, for those two, time is on their side. For 
EG.IdrA, however, time and patience are starting to run short.
It’s been months since he went to Korea, seeking to adapt, evolve, and ultimately transcend the limitations of his previous play. Two disastrous GSL appearances along with a string of disappointing show matches have begun to wear the at patience of the masses. While IdrA has had success in ASUS ROG tournaments, MLG was always the better choice for EG’s temperamental Zerg. There wait the Koreans who are the bane of his existence (and one who enjoys mocking him considerably), and the other foreigners who have spent time in Korea but have something to show for it. What excuse or plea can justify another horrible showing now? We will see if that stoic expression can represent the confidence of a winner, or become yet again, the mask of failure.
Honorable Mention: Nestea
Vengeance: It must have hurt NaNiwa so badly to lose MLG Providence, a finals he had in the bag. It's a loss he will want to avenge.
Money: How many Koreans are in this tournament, who have no salary and no prize winnings in their entire career? $10,000 goes a long way in Korea.
Validation: TheStC and GanZi are excellent players who still don't get quite the credit they deserve. The only way they can resolve this situation is to stand on the podium.
The form of progamers has always been widely discussed, perhaps because we have a strange need to find our modern “bonjwa”. The landscape has fallen into chaos in the past few months, but there are always a few whose hot streaks you cannot ignore. For many players, the Winter Arena will be a momentous achievement in itself, but for
coL.MvPDongRaeGu, it will just be another checkmark on his already fantastic 2012.Wins in smaller tournaments and top 4 finishes all around the end of 2011 already solidified DRG’s status as an elite player, but it was was a heartrendingly narrow loss at the Blizzard Cup finals that showed us he was on yet another level. DongRaeGu has only improved since that disappointment, going on a rampage with a 31-9 record on the year. He's awaiting his first GSL finals, and there's not much doubt that Nestea has finally been deposed. If he can continue to ride the momentum, it's not just MLG Winter Arena that will be his for the taking. 2011 had Mvp and Nestea -- 2012 needs its first ruler.
Honorable Mentions: Sheth, viOLeT
Opportunity
There are players who are regulars on the tournament circuit, and then there are those who must make the best of their rare moments in the spotlight. The North American server might be looked down upon by some, but for our top NA players, it makes little difference which server they qualified from. Due to another high profile event going on in the same weekend, the top teams have split their rosters for maximum efficiency, opening up some room which there might not have been otherwise. Now, a select few have a chance of a lifetime to compete on the highest stage, and prove their worth to an audience that might not even know their names. Surely, out of all these players,
Axslav must have the most to gain.Two teams, and self-employment in the span of a month pretty much sums up Axslav’s misfortunes in 2012. Without financial assistance, it would be difficult for the 26 year old Nick Ranish to pursue Starcraft full-time. Though his skill and cult popularity should get him an offer before too long, surely those offers would be improved with a strong performance at MLG Winter Arena. Furthermore, he has no better way to prove that his unremarkable stint on Evil Geniuses was the fault of a star obsessed team, not his own. Beyond his own personal gain, Axslav also represents something more for the viewers at home. He's hugely approachable on his stream, and his handspeed sometimes looks like it's straight out of diamond. In other words: he's one of us, the everyman become pro-gamer. If he should succeed, it will be a success not just for himself, but for all those who carry the dream.
Honorable Mentions: dde, drewbie.
