A 2V2 tournament with $9,000 in prize pool and top caliber talent, you know the drill.
Lineup
Sixteen pairings from in and outside of WTL will compete in a single elimination bracket event:
Twelve from each current Code S WTL team. Four handpicked by four invited players: Serral, Bunny, HeRoMaRinE, ShoWTimEGoblin, SKillous, trigger, their partner pool will be both outside and inside WTL.
Schedule
January 3-4, 2023: Round of 16 (best of 5) January 5-6, 2023: Round of 8 (best of 7) January 7, 2023: Semifinals (best of 7) January 8, 2023: 3rd place and finals (best of 9)
Pretty exciting move from WTL. Unfortunately whoever picked the map pool didn't look too hard into maps, because half of the map pool is kind of bad. Using any Blizzard 2v2 maps at all is particularly a terrible choice. There have been many maps submitted to TL.net Team Map Contests that would be better here.
On December 20 2022 11:14 MrIronGolem27 wrote: Pretty exciting move from WTL. Unfortunately whoever picked the map pool didn't look too hard into maps, because half of the map pool is kind of bad. Using any Blizzard 2v2 maps at all is particularly a terrible choice. There have been many maps submitted to TL.net Team Map Contests that would be better here.
On December 20 2022 11:14 MrIronGolem27 wrote: Pretty exciting move from WTL. Unfortunately whoever picked the map pool didn't look too hard into maps, because half of the map pool is kind of bad. Using any Blizzard 2v2 maps at all is particularly a terrible choice. There have been many maps submitted to TL.net Team Map Contests that would be better here.
I don't see them using any map outside of the official ladder pool, ever. This has been consistent since WTL started
On December 20 2022 11:14 MrIronGolem27 wrote: Pretty exciting move from WTL. Unfortunately whoever picked the map pool didn't look too hard into maps, because half of the map pool is kind of bad. Using any Blizzard 2v2 maps at all is particularly a terrible choice. There have been many maps submitted to TL.net Team Map Contests that would be better here.
I don't see them using any map outside of the official ladder pool, ever. This has been consistent since WTL started
Golden Kingdom and Catalesque were never on ladder
On December 20 2022 11:14 MrIronGolem27 wrote: Pretty exciting move from WTL. Unfortunately whoever picked the map pool didn't look too hard into maps, because half of the map pool is kind of bad. Using any Blizzard 2v2 maps at all is particularly a terrible choice. There have been many maps submitted to TL.net Team Map Contests that would be better here.
I don't see them using any map outside of the official ladder pool, ever. This has been consistent since WTL started
Golden Kingdom and Catalesque were never on ladder
Hum, fair point, but when they used it ? Because watched the wiki and didn't find it
There is a bad news that everyone of WTL production team is sick, and the the last round of regular WTL season is delayed. I wonder if this 2v2 match may also be delayed as well. Anyway I hope they will have a quick recovery.
On December 23 2022 23:48 ProTech wrote: Don't really understand this, can anyone sign up?
I gues they invited 12 wtl players and the 4 mentioned above and each of them can choose a Partner to play together
Kinda what I deduced, so the players selected from WTL can pick their team mates?
Froim the Liquipedia page : " Every team is composed of two players. For WTL teams, their players should be from their current roster. For invited teams, their teammates can be chosen without any limitation. "
On December 23 2022 23:48 ProTech wrote: Don't really understand this, can anyone sign up?
I gues they invited 12 wtl players and the 4 mentioned above and each of them can choose a Partner to play together
Kinda what I deduced, so the players selected from WTL can pick their team mates?
Froim the Liquipedia page : " Every team is composed of two players. For WTL teams, their players should be from their current roster. For invited teams, their teammates can be chosen without any limitation. "
Roster has been updated minus 2 team, Invictus and SSLT, and Clem not playing for Team Liquid. And it looks like HM, Showtime and Bunny doesnt want to play so WTL has replaced them with other invited players.
On January 03 2023 21:53 Elentos wrote: I think the skill gap in this first match MIGHT be a bit much
While I don't think we should put too much stock in players' 1v1 abilities, B/C tier Chinese players vs 2 world class players is probably a big enough gap for 2v2 magic to be impossible.
Still think a team like Special/Maxpax could win it all.
On January 03 2023 21:53 Elentos wrote: I think the skill gap in this first match MIGHT be a bit much
While I don't think we should put too much stock in players' 1v1 abilities, B/C tier Chinese players vs 2 world class players is probably a big enough gap for 2v2 magic to be impossible.
I mean personally I think what they were doing is also a garbage 2v2 strat. Firefly sacks himself in the early game by cannon rushing. For the rest of the game he feeds all his income to Silky. Silky shares control with Firefly.
They are playing archon mode 1v2, with extra steps.
E: And it's doubly strange because Firefly is a much stronger player than Silky. So we give up the stronger part of the team to prop up the weaker one for no net benefit.
I wonder what the difference is between this tournament which feels like a nice change of pace, and stuff like Nation Wars where the 2v2 felt like an annoying distraction. Maybe mixed 1v1/2v2 tournaments just aren't the way to go.
Also, it does help that WTL 2v2 has more prize money and a stronger player roster than any 2v2 tourney before it. It probably won't supplant 1v1, but maybe there's an appetite for more of these competitions going forward? I thought some of production like the live player comms were great, and an objective benefit over 1v1.
I think back in the day with some tournaments like PTSL (10+ years ago) they let you hear the comms. Destiny and Minigun were hilarious. The comms definitely are a huge plus. So I agree there.
Since 2v2 has many more different possible matchups, the bigger map pool selection with different maps outside of ladder was a very good move.
I wanted a bit more PP, TT, and ZZ teams or maybe randoms in there too. Perhaps a bonus prize for same race combos or if they random. The bonus prize should incentivize those combinations to be chosen.
I wouldn't mind allowing for qualification for known 2v2 players to participate.
I think there is interest if the meta becomes more varied beyond the mass phoenix that we saw with the previous patches. I think the carrier nerf in this ptr patch may allow draw it away from that tendency.
On January 08 2023 08:31 Waxangel wrote: I wonder what the difference is between this tournament which feels like a nice change of pace, and stuff like Nation Wars where the 2v2 felt like an annoying distraction. Maybe mixed 1v1/2v2 tournaments just aren't the way to go.
Also, it does help that WTL 2v2 has more prize money and a stronger player roster than any 2v2 tourney before it. It probably won't supplant 1v1, but maybe there's an appetite for more of these competitions going forward? I thought some of production like the live player comms were great, and an objective benefit over 1v1.
Glad I was there to witness this exchange live. And whilst I think 2v2 won't take over 1v1, I think it's fantastic. And helps that the tournament has a decent prize pool which extracts good players and makes it more meaningful.
On January 09 2023 01:23 Waxangel wrote: Would be interested to see this kind of tournament with free team making instead of players being bound to their pro teams.
On January 09 2023 01:23 Waxangel wrote: Would be interested to see this kind of tournament with free team making instead of players being bound to their pro teams.
I agree. I haven't watched a lot of pro 2v2, but the format is refreshingly different. I would like to see more after this tournament.