EPT
You get the Iron Squid Grand Finals.
![[image loading]](/staff/Fionn/nv8x8x.jpg)
While the main casters on stage will be the premier duo in France, Pomf et Thud, the English viewers who either don't understand French or want an alternative, will be greeted with the casting of Apollo and TotalBiscuit. No, Iron Squid might have not taken up the headlines before this weekend or doesn't have the lineage of a MLG or GSL, but with $12,500 going to the winner, a guaranteed TvZ finals between two great players, and a ruckus crowd getting to see their favorite Korean players for the first time, this is a Grand Finals that is worth staying up for.
In a rematch of last season's Code S quarterfinals, two players who are no strangers to winning foreign championships, MMA and Alive will be the opening act for the festivities. In their last encounter in a major event, Alive was able to get past Slayers' ace with a score of 3-1, but due to the fact that MMA was ill during those games, there is still some doubt if Alive can take him down on a big stage.
Unfortunately for the both of them, after being favored to get deep in this season's GSL, they both fell in the first round and have to fight through Code A to get back to their usual place in Code S. With the extra time off, both should be well rested and have been able to give it their all in preparing for these Grand Finals.
Recently in TvT, there is no question that Alive has been the stronger of the two. With his play style reminiscent of MVP's mech play when he was winning GSL title after GSL title, Alive has become known for his amazingly strong TvT and could be considered the best in the world at the match-up. His positioning is second to none, and he has a knack for even being able to throw in a cheese here or there to keep his opponent on his toes at all times.
But, if there is anyone in the world up to the task of combating someone who plays like MVP, it is MMA. Having beat MVP on multiple occasions at the GSL October finals at Blizzcon in Anaheim and the semifinals of the Blizzard Cup, MMA has shown that he has an array of builds to beat a player who likes to play mech in the long game. You might not always like the strategies he uses or how quickly the game ends, but MMA isn't afraid to proxy two barracks if he feels like you're playing too greedy.
In terms of international experience, even with Alive's recent win at IPL4, MMA still dwarfs him in accomplishments. As the only international triple crown winner in existence, having won a major title in North America, Europe, and Korea, MMA has been able to assert his dominance across the globe. Alive, on the other hand, before winning IPL4, was known for always having the potential to be a player who could win major titles, but was never able to get past his nerves and inconsistencies.
Now, with a North American title under his belt, he wants to continue his run of foreign success by adding a European championship as well. Expect some shenanigans from both sides and don't be too surprised if this match comes down to whether MMA can put Alive on tilt with some well executed early game strategies.
Prediction: Alive 3 - 1 MMA
So you have MMA, two-time GSL champion and winner of multiple foreign tournaments; Alive, the recent winner of the $50,000 IPL4 tournament, former Code S semifinalist and one of the mainstays in the GSL; and Nestea, the three-time GSL champion, one of the most respected players on the planet and the God of Zerg.
Then you have Symbol. Together, the three other players at the Iron Squid Grand Finals, have won a combined total of $460,270 in the tournaments they've competed in. They've won almost a half million dollars in their career and are all in the top fifteen prize winners all-time in Starcraft 2. Symbol, well, in his career, he has won a grand total of $900! And half of that was from winning the qualifier to even compete in this tournament!
It's no secret that Symbol is the surprise here. No one expected him to beat MarineKing, and I know most of you would rather be watching MarineKing vs. Nestea in a rematch of their GSL finals instead of a ZvZ with a guy you probably never heard of before reading this piece. Symbol got here by beating MarineKing with maybe not the most "honorable" tactics, but whenever you beat MarineKing, one of the best TvZ players in the world with a score of 3-0, no one should question your skill.
In terms of ZvZ, it's a whole different ball game. Symbol has been able to do well in ZvT, beating MarineKing to get to Paris and recently taking out sC in the first round of Code A, but going up against Nestea, a player who rarely loses ZvZ, is going to be another gigantic mountain to climb for this Cinderella story. When checking out his past ZvZ's, it isn't all that promising, being able to beat his teammate Revival a couple of times, but losing to players who we've never even seen in the GSL before.
But hey, if there was ever a match-up where an upset could occur, ZvZ might be it. Nestea, before getting third at IPL4, was never known for being a player who transferred his GSL skills to foreign events, noting that he had trouble sleeping at these events, and this could be a glimmer of a chance for our underdog. Symbol practices on the most Zerg heavy team in Korea, TSL, and has probably used every single one of his teammates to practice various builds he could use against the legendary Zerg player.
In the end, Symbol should lose. He's an amazing story to even get this far and has a bright future of being one of the best Zergs in the world, but this is ZvZ and this is Nestea. Being out of the GSL already, Nestea must not be the happiest camper in the world seeing his teammate MVP close to his 4th GSL title, and winning a hefty sum in France might lessen the frustration. Don't count out TSL's best Zerg, since he has been able to pull up major upsets before, but Nestea has to be the favorite to go onto the finals.
Prediction: Nestea 3 - 1 Symbol
![[image loading]](/staff/Fionn/frenchcrowd.jpg)
The crowd lining up to enter the Le Grand Rex for the Grand Finals
Bonus: If you didn't know, each player in the Iron Squid tournament was given a theme done by In Uchronia. If you haven't heard them already, check them out!
