Spring Arena 2 is just days away! It's going to be an intense three days, as 32 players go toe to toe for a share of $26,400 in prize money and Spring Championship seeding. You know the players. You know what to expect from the streams. So who's playing whom? For this Arena, the 1st-15th seeded players all got to choose their Winners Round 1 opponents. Our #1 seed, DRG, got first choice, and so on down. We've got the results of the choices for you, and we know what the bracket's going to look like. In short: this is going to be interesting.
Socke vs Idra. Oz vs Grubby. Thorzain vs Inori. Killer vs Ret. MMA vs MC. And this is just Round 1. Arena 2 is going to kick things off with some insane matchups, and it's only going to get crazier from that point on.
Watch it Live
Are you ready to watch? We will be airing every single match, on 11 live streams. The broadcasts go live at Friday, May 18 4:00am GMT (GMT+00:00). To watch Arena 2, you have options:
Spring Season Pass: If you’ve already purchased a Season Pass, your HD upgrade code can be found in your email. (Be sure to check your junk mail.) To use the code, simply select an HD quality in the stream player when the event is live, and then follow the steps to redeem it. If you don't yet have a Season Pass, you can purchase one today in the MLG Store for $30 (or $15 if you’re a Gold Member). With a Season Pass, you’ll get live access to Spring Arena 2 and immediate access to HD Arena VOD, as well as HD access and immediate VOD access to the Spring Championship.
A la carte Spring Arena 2 PPV: This $20 pass will grant you access to Spring Arena 2 only (this includes immediate access to HD VOD). You can purchase the pass here, and then, once the event is live, you will be prompted to enter your code to gain access.
Don't miss out on one of the best weekends of StarCraft II! Get your pass today and join us live from New York City this Friday as we kick off three days of top-level gameplay from 32 of the world's top players.
On May 17 2012 06:54 Condor Hero wrote: poor MMA got MC lol
Well top 16 seeds got to choose their opponents. MMA had 15th seed and by that time the only 2 players left were MC and Polt. I think we all know why MMA chose to avoid Polt.
On May 17 2012 06:54 Condor Hero wrote: poor MMA got MC lol
Well top 16 seeds got to choose their opponents. MMA had 15th seed and by that time the only 2 players left were MC and Polt. I think we all know why MMA chose to avoid Polt.
What was the basis for the initial seeding? Oz as Korean qualifier winner is seeded 4th, Select as USA qualifier winner gets 5th, Thorzain as Dreamhack winner gets 6th and Stephano as Europe winner gets 7th. Is there some point-system which decided that order?
In any case, looks like a great tournament. Considering the map-pool, I think Stephano made a mistake choosing his opponent (Ryung). I know Ganzi did.
The broadcasts go live at Friday, May 18 6:00am CEST (GMT+02:00).
Wait is this serious? It seriously starts on Friday 6AM CEST? Like Thursday night at America and the time when most of the EUs will sleep or go to work/school? (Fortunately I start work at 2PM but still, thats kinda weird, isnt it...)
The broadcasts go live at Friday, May 18 6:00am CEST (GMT+02:00).
Wait is this serious? It seriously starts on Friday 6AM CEST? Like Thursday night at America and the time when most of the EUs will sleep or go to work/school? (Fortunately I start work at 2PM but still, thats kinda weird, isnt it...)
That's indeed curious. I highly doubt the players start playing at midnight New York time
On May 17 2012 07:21 m0ck wrote: What was the basis for the initial seeding? Oz as Korean qualifier winner is seeded 4th, Select as USA qualifier winner gets 5th, Thorzain as Dreamhack winner gets 6th and Stephano as Europe winner gets 7th. Is there some point-system which decided that order?
In any case, looks like a great tournament. Considering the map-pool, I think Stephano made a mistake choosing his opponent (Ryung). I know Ganzi did.
Goody Q(-.-q) !
From what I can tell, first 1-4 were supposed to go to Arena 1 top 4, but since MKP declined and MC took his spot everyone moved up one and MC took seed 32. Every 3 seeds afterward seem to be distributed among 1 korean, 1 euoprean, 1 american (not sure about the order).
The broadcasts go live at Friday, May 18 6:00am CEST (GMT+02:00).
Wait is this serious? It seriously starts on Friday 6AM CEST? Like Thursday night at America and the time when most of the EUs will sleep or go to work/school? (Fortunately I start work at 2PM but still, thats kinda weird, isnt it...)
I believe they screwed up the time. What they have listed is midnight on Thursday in NYC.
Socke < Idra Oz > Grubby poor grubby Thorzain > Inori LETS GO AVENGER Killer < Ret gotta hope MMA vs MC <- my brain and heart are giving mixed feelings either way
On May 17 2012 06:54 jmbthirteen wrote: Oh Sleep picking Huk after beating him in the qualifiers. Very interesting.
I wonder who was left at that point because the pick is a little odd. Maybe he saw something in their match (but he needed a game 3, so it's not like it was a sweep) or perhaps it was the lesser of several evils. Another one that sticks out to me is Stephano not picking a Protoss and instead a Korean Terran.
Does anyone have the pick order and seeds, out of curiousity?
On May 17 2012 06:54 jmbthirteen wrote: Oh Sleep picking Huk after beating him in the qualifiers. Very interesting.
I wonder who was left at that point because the pick is a little odd. Maybe he saw something in their match (but he needed a game 3, so it's not like it was a sweep) or perhaps it was the lesser of several evils. Another one that sticks out to me is Stephano not picking a Protoss and instead a Korean Terran.
Does anyone have the pick order and seeds, out of curiousity?
Stephano crushed Ryung at the IPL 4 lan qualifier in the UK, that might be the reasoning behind it.
Killer picked Ret, probably to get revenge from losing to him at Dreamhack. Bly and Polt not being picked and therefore playing eachother Select picking Rain, whom he beat in the qualifiers Tefel picked Leenock (!!!) Sleep picking Huk for a rematch of their qualifying match
On May 17 2012 09:32 Dexington wrote: Some interesting things:
Killer picked Ret, probably to get revenge from losing to him at Dreamhack. Bly and Polt not being picked and therefore playing eachother Select picking Rain, whom he beat in the qualifiers Tefel picked Leenock (!!!) Sleep picking Huk for a rematch of their qualifying match
Tefel has one of the best ZvZ's in Europe, so makes sense
On May 17 2012 09:32 Dexington wrote: Some interesting things:
Killer picked Ret, probably to get revenge from losing to him at Dreamhack. Bly and Polt not being picked and therefore playing eachother Select picking Rain, whom he beat in the qualifiers Tefel picked Leenock (!!!) Sleep picking Huk for a rematch of their qualifying match
Never even heard of Tefel o_O
ELO ranks him somewhere from 50th-60th internationally in ZvZ specifically.
On May 17 2012 09:32 Dexington wrote: Some interesting things:
Killer picked Ret, probably to get revenge from losing to him at Dreamhack. Bly and Polt not being picked and therefore playing eachother Select picking Rain, whom he beat in the qualifiers Tefel picked Leenock (!!!) Sleep picking Huk for a rematch of their qualifying match
I think Bly was 16th and had no choice in who he got. MMA had the last choice between MMA and Polt. I don't see how MMA would rather play MC in by far his worst MU instead of Bly in his best.
On May 17 2012 09:32 Dexington wrote: Some interesting things:
Killer picked Ret, probably to get revenge from losing to him at Dreamhack. Bly and Polt not being picked and therefore playing eachother Select picking Rain, whom he beat in the qualifiers Tefel picked Leenock (!!!) Sleep picking Huk for a rematch of their qualifying match
Killer wasn't at dreamhack, you're thinking about Genius.
On May 17 2012 09:32 Dexington wrote: Some interesting things:
Killer picked Ret, probably to get revenge from losing to him at Dreamhack. Bly and Polt not being picked and therefore playing eachother Select picking Rain, whom he beat in the qualifiers Tefel picked Leenock (!!!) Sleep picking Huk for a rematch of their qualifying match
Tefels choice was between Leenock, Polt and MC. I guess he is more confident in his ZvZ than in his ZvT.
On May 17 2012 08:47 blade55555 wrote: 20 dollars up from 10 for the last one? Well it'll be interesting seeing the results but not worth 20 hope idra does well!
I fink they've gone an confused the reasons why people didn't pay for the last one and are trying to confirm their idea that they won't get enough people at a cheaper price point to make it worth it, when people didn't want to pay for the last one because it didn't have players that people want to watch. Not that it matters to me, i'll never give MLG money as long as it's as intentionally obtuse about public relations as they are.
On May 17 2012 09:32 Dexington wrote: Some interesting things:
Killer picked Ret, probably to get revenge from losing to him at Dreamhack. Bly and Polt not being picked and therefore playing eachother Select picking Rain, whom he beat in the qualifiers Tefel picked Leenock (!!!) Sleep picking Huk for a rematch of their qualifying match
Killer wasn't at dreamhack, you're thinking about Genius.
Tefel is actually a really solid player from Poland. He beat Nerchio 3-0 in a tournament a couple weeks ago. He likes to use 14 pool followed by 17 hatch and then gas in ZXZ, very different from other players. I like his style and if he manages to be careful during his matches against Leenock (not lose to agressive ling heavy style or all-in roach/baneling) I honestly think he has a good shot of winning the match.
I also think Bly might be able to beat Polt. His ZXT is really good. But I know, call me crazy..
On May 17 2012 06:54 jmbthirteen wrote: Oh Sleep picking Huk after beating him in the qualifiers. Very interesting.
Requoting you after finding the bracket with the seedings. Apparently, Sleep got the 14th seed and the only players left at that point were Huk, Polt, and MC, so he did indeed try to pick the lesser of evils (as I mentioned in a previous post). Might possibly show some respect for Huk since the Koreans didn't pick him until more or less forced to (and given his MLG results, that is probably wise).
On May 17 2012 09:45 m0ck wrote:
Tefels choice was between Leenock, Polt and MC. I guess he is more confident in his ZvZ than in his ZvT.
Based on Tefel's 12th seed, Violet and Huk were still there as well.
On May 17 2012 06:54 jmbthirteen wrote: Oh Sleep picking Huk after beating him in the qualifiers. Very interesting.
Requoting you after finding the bracket with the seedings. Apparently, Sleep got the 14th seed and the only players left at that point were Huk, Polt, and MC, so he did indeed try to pick the lesser of evils (as I mentioned in a previous post). Might possibly show some respect for Huk since the Koreans didn't pick him until more or less forced to (and given his MLG results, that is probably wise).
I think both Thorzain and Stephano have a decent shot at getting something done. Socke could actually make a deep run himself if he brings it. This is not looking to bad for the foreigners
Tefel is pretty smart. I don't know how this picking exactly works, but it makes sense for a less known / unknown guy to do something like this. The opposition is pretty scary no matter who he gets, and he already got a ton of exposure just by picking Leenock. Even if he takes a game, let alone series off of him it's going to be through the roof.
Plus, Leenock knows nothing about him, it's ZvZ, and you can bet anything in the world that Tefel will come with something vicious prepared against him.
On May 17 2012 07:11 Fionn wrote: Also a potential Polt/DRG match in round two with them already facing in Fight Club this weekend.
Polt/Bly always produce good games, and MC/MMA should be fun.
Have you seen MC's PvT recently? It's almost as bad as MMA's TvP historically at this point. Those games won't be "fun" so much as "wtf" I have a feeling.....
EPT
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