No change at all. Obviously koreans can drop some series as SC2 is a lot more volatile than BW because of the easier mechanics. Both these tournaments had a lot of mid and low tier koreans. IPL had most of the best koreans taken out by other koreans on the top half of the bracket. I guess the only thing that would change my view is if foreigners were more successful in GSL where the highest level of competition is at. Top foreigners taking out mid tier koreans(sometimes high tier) from time to time is nothing new and not consistent.

Sprouter

United States1724 Posts

October 11 2011 11:26 GMT

#63

The skill gap isn't as huge as it was in BW but it's only handful of foreigners that can compete with Koreans.

grappasc

Belgium86 Posts

October 11 2011 11:29 GMT

#64

poll way too ambiguous

kickinhead

Switzerland2069 Posts

October 11 2011 11:38 GMT

#65

It hasn't changed all too much, other than that I know now what I have only kinda expected - Stephano is really as good as I thought.

I also begin to feel like, although there are some very good Protoss around, we could really need some more Top-Toss players. I don't wanna talk imbalance, but with Korean Terrans and pretty many Zerg-Pro's already proofing that they are world-class, many Toss-players are very good, but didn't quite break that last barrier to become god-like, kinda like MC before everyone figured out his timings an he began slumping a bit (compared to winning everything before of course). ^^'

J1.au

Australia3596 Posts

October 11 2011 12:36 GMT

#66

The best Koreans don't even play SC2 yet.

UnholyRai

720 Posts

October 11 2011 13:01 GMT

#67

to be honest stephanos play is so unique it just shows that foreigners have the talent to come up with brilliant strategies that can beat even the best koreans.

However I think that once koreans study stephanos style, it will be the same old korean dominance again.

i answered "moderately changed", because I was not expecting foreigners to win these tournys, specifically IPL3.

Headnoob

Australia2108 Posts

October 11 2011 13:10 GMT

#68

The best foreigners fell to Medium level koreans, the best koreans got sniped by themselves really.

Happy as fuck that idra and stephano pulled out wins, but if we threw in an MVP for every ret/idra/huk (just examples) it'd just be embarrassing.

Personally i think moonglade will one day be the SC2 god, for australia

Micket

United Kingdom2163 Posts

October 11 2011 13:36 GMT

#69

I don't think it makes too much of a difference, but I voted moderately changed anyway. Mentally, foreigners will feel motivated and improvement will come about. It is not unfair to say Idra's great run at IEM may have played a part in good foreign Zerg performance.

minimalistic

Hungary157 Posts

October 11 2011 13:53 GMT

#70

Show me a foreigner who is a threat for Nestea or MVP in the longrun.

VTJRaen

United Kingdom238 Posts

October 11 2011 13:56 GMT

#71

It's changed my opinion on IdrA's metagame. So vastly improved recently, I think he has a shot of making Code S again if/when he goes back to Korea.

hysterial

United States2044 Posts

October 11 2011 13:58 GMT

#72

I think Idra and Stephano are easily code S material, but in terms of the best of Korea, hey can't compare yet at least.

SoniC_eu

Denmark1008 Posts

October 11 2011 13:58 GMT

#73

I'm pretty sure if an American took the IPL 3, the forums would be going nuts. I for one, am extremely pleased that a european took the IPL in convincing and entertaining fashion (yes u should watch kiwi vs. stephano *drool*). I dont believe there is some crazy big change now in skill lvls, but that europeans are slowly catching up to the koreans and this shows. But make no mistake, the koreans are still the strongest. As for NA, well maybe someday they too can win big tournies, but it seems they have a long ways to go at the moment. :D WELL DONE STEPHANO! :D

Probe1

United States17920 Posts

October 11 2011 14:02 GMT

#74

On October 11 2011 14:43 Waxangel wrote:
Look at me, replying to my own poll o/

doctors in white coats this way

\o

Feel the same way;; Give me 2 foreigners in the Ro8 and I'll hush but I feel like Stephano//Idras accomplishments are huge- just not as huge as home turf bringing the noise to Mok Dong

Thrill

2599 Posts

October 11 2011 14:08 GMT

#75

I think there's some beauty to this. Really good Koreans still win in Korea and abroad - mid tier Koreans get a chance to make a living outside of Korea and foreigners have some remote hope of winning. I liked IPL, minus the technical difficulties and some of the casters.

DyEnasTy

United States3720 Posts

October 11 2011 14:09 GMT

#76

this next mlg will tell if ipl was a fluke or not imo.

docvoc

United States5491 Posts

October 11 2011 14:10 GMT

#77

Idk about you guys but it has changed my mind significantly. Watching players like KiwiKaki attempt that 6 zealot rush off an ffe was completely unexpected. If we can continue to innovate, the Koreans won't be far off imho.

Jakkerr

Netherlands2549 Posts

October 11 2011 14:16 GMT

#78

In my opinion the best foreign players are better then mid-tier koreans.
But those mid tier koreans have a few very strong builds prepared where they can kill better players with if they aren't prepared well enough.
So yeh.. top foreigners are better players, but not as well prepared which is why they have a lot of unneeded losses vs mid tier koreans

CatNzHat

United States1599 Posts

October 11 2011 14:19 GMT

#79

I think the top foreigners can still compete with the almost-top-level koreans, like nada, puma in slightly imperfect shape, etc... And Stephano has found a style that the koreans seem to have no answer to yet in the ZvT matchup.

Choboo

Sweden2088 Posts

October 11 2011 14:19 GMT

#80

On October 11 2011 14:44 jalstar wrote:
Not particularly, the top foreigners like Thorzain, Huk, Idra, Stephano, have always been able to beat mid-tier Koreans.

Thorzain over MC remains the biggest foreigner win, with maybe Huk over Nada in second.

You do know that Elfi, Kiwikaki and Mana has also beat Nada right?