WCS Europe Season 1 - Premier League

Ro32: Group A Recap
SaSe and ForGG advance


Ro32: Group B Preview
Lucifron, HasuObs, Bly, Happy


Brackets and standings on Liquipedia

by Zealously

Results from Live Report Thread by Karasaki.
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Eyes on the throne
-Sase advances from Group A in first place

Today was a good day for the Duke in the North. Although Fnatic SaSe came into the first group of WCS EU Premier as an unknown, a wild card due to his erratic performances in the past. The Swedish Protoss made sure to show everyone that while he has had his fair share of low points, he is more than good enough to reach the Ro16 of the Premier League. His first opponent of the night, VPBenQ.sLivko, ended up on the wrong side of the fabled Swedish wrath, as Sase rained down aggression upon the Zerg. The first game ended somewhat abruptly as Sase denied Slivko's third and proceeded to walk into his opponent's natural with a mothership core and a bunch of zealot to slaughter drones in great numbers, while Slivko's lings got stuck in time warps and couldn't get there in time. The second game wasn't much different, as Slivko greedy opening was hacked apart by SaSe's aggression. SaSe opened with gateway units and then following up with oracles and a robotics facility, collecting the win with a slightly modified immortal-sentry composition.

With Europe had defended the motherland remarkably well in the WCS EU qualifiers, the fate of the (European Starcraft-)world was on Sase's shoulders going into the Winners' match against Mill.ForGG. Although ForGG was able to take the first game through strong widow mine harassment, Sase tied the series right back up in the next game as ForGG stretched himself too thin in his greed, and found himself unable to deflect a direct attack on his natural while a significant part of his troops were out across the map trying to cause economical damage. The final game was less about macro and micro than exploiting an obvious weaknesses, as Sase correctly predicted ForGG's greedy opener and lack of scouting on Neo Planet S. Not interested in dragging things out, Sase promptly teched up to DT's and (presumably) cackled maniacally as they shredded the Pretender's economy and forced a quick GG, earning the Swede the first spot in the Round of 16.

Hunting Season
- ForGG beats Bunny twice to advance in second place

The sounds of exploding SCVs were heard across Europe as Mill.ForGG and CW.Bunny clashed a total of four times on the night. Although ForGG's skill had been questionable at times in recent months, his vT remained his most consistent and most potent match-up for a long time. He proved this point against the Danish newcomer Bunny, defeating him four times over the course of series to secure his advancement to the Ro16.

The first series was no masterpiece by any means, with both using tank-heavy compositions with hellbats aplenty. ForGG looked especially error-prone as he moved into a siege line and lost most of his units, but luckily Bunny's drop defense was lack-luster at best. Several drops and approximately 200 roasted SCVs later, ForGG's superior economy had put him in the lead and he was able to clinch the first game of the set. The next game, too, was decided with fire as both Bunny and ForGG went for similar, hellion-based styles. ForGG was able to eke out an advantage in workers once again, and Bunny's switch into bio never fully worked out for him as his marines were incinerated along with his chances.

The two would meet up again a few hours later, this time in the final match of the evening. Bunny had just come off beating Slivko in three close games with an interesting BC switch to close things out in the final game, and contrary to what you might think, the Bunny seemed more energized than anything as he faced off against the Korean invader for the second time.

The first game perfectly showcased that Makes Hellbats Advantage™ doesn't apply when one player is much better than the other. Bunny went for an extremely early 4-minute armory into- 2-medivac hellbat drop in ForGG's main that was cleaned up with only a single SCV dying. Knowing full well that the hellbat drop is a surefire way to win games, Bunny went for another drop. That, too, got cleaned up by ForGG's own hellbats. The Danish Terran went for a third and final hellbat drop that was deflected just as easily. On the other hand, ForGG found more success with the same strategy, killing 18 workers with one drop compared to Bunny's 10 with three drops. Massively up in supply, ForGG marched across the map with more hellbats and Bunny tapped out.

The second game saw both players move away from the early hellbats, with Bunny opening CC first and ForGG going for a reaper opening that managed to both deal minor economical damage and get a full scout. Having been without flamethrowers for too long, both players put down their factories and began hellion production, with ForGG also going for banshees. The Millenium Terran's winning move was a hellion runby that got all the way into the main, roasting 23 SCVs and putting ForGG up 20+ workers. Once his banshee arrived, Bunny found himself with no detection, an inferior economy and only a single viking and had no choice but to surrender the series and drop down to Challenger League.

Writers: Waxangel and Zealously.
Graphics: shiroiusagi
Editor: Waxangel.