With the IeSF 2012 World Championship being held in Korea at the start of next month, Rickard “SortOf” Bergman will be jetting off to bootcamp and acclimatise tomorrow.
When SortOf won NärCon 2012 at the end of July, he not only claimed the juicy grand share of 7000SEK, but also a paid trip to participate in the IeSF finals, held in Cheonan, South Korea. The finals will take place on the 2nd - 6th October and will feature some of the best names from around the world such as ST_Squirtle, fnatic NightEnD, Eclypsia Welmu, AT Socke and Tt PiG.
Each player will be representing their respective country for a shot at the $4400 prize pot.
After the IeSF finals, the Swedish Zerg will be staying in the New Star Hoseo team house in preparation for the Dreamhack Bucharest Open which takes place on the 20th - 21st October in Bucharest, Romania. The event will see 64 players from across the world compete for approximately $21 500 in prize money.
Some of the more notable players include fnatic Rain, Acer Nercio, Liquid TLO and Liquid Ret, to name but a few.
We wish Rickard the best of luck as he begins his journey across the globe tomorrow and hope that he can get his hands on some silverware and money, lots of money.
Stay tuned to Western Wolves for live coverage of the events as and when they happen!
What do you think you can learn from the Korean gaming style?
I'm really hoping to just find holes in my play so I can fix them and refine my performances. It is something that I really need in order to reach the next level.
Are the trip and support primordial to your career?
This trip is a great opportunity for me to experience a professional training environment which will be of great help for me. It's one more step forward in my progaming career, and and I want to express my gratefulness towards MadCatz and Western Wolves for making this possible.
It's funny because Rickard Stark was the Lord of Winterfell before Eddard in A Song of Ice and Fire, and SortOf is from Sweden. ... THE KING IN THE NORTH
So that's what you were talking about when you said NSHS had something going on with WW. Nice job, SortOf looks like the kind of talent worth sending over to KR for some good training.
On October 01 2012 08:03 Ollie wrote: It's funny because Rickard Stark was the Lord of Winterfell before Eddard in A Song of Ice and Fire, and SortOf is from Sweden. ... THE KING IN THE NORTH
It's funny cause that was the same exact reaction I had when I saw his name. Back to reading A Storm of Swords!
On October 01 2012 08:43 Catatonic wrote: If only the good Swedish players had shown up for that so Sweden could have a representative that actually stands a chance like Thorzain or Nani :O
On October 01 2012 08:43 Catatonic wrote: If only the good Swedish players had shown up for that so Sweden could have a representative that actually stands a chance like Thorzain or Nani :O
Naniwa was at the tournament and SortOf defeated him 3-1
SortOf has the potential to be a bigger player in Korea, but I hope the Darwinian style of learning doesn't overwhelm him in Korea. Best of luck to him, and hope we can see him in GSL at least, this guy is good.
On October 01 2012 08:43 Catatonic wrote: If only the good Swedish players had shown up for that so Sweden could have a representative that actually stands a chance like Thorzain or Nani :O
Nani was there and his performance was probably the worst I've ever seen from him, and that includes the probe rush.
I don't like these short term trips, really doubt it would bring this jump in performance everyone expects. Good luck nevertheless, should be great times in a neat country
I hope you the best SortOf! He's already a very good player, and I feel that this will definitely help out. I'm just worried about the current condition of NSHS.
I am skeptical of NSHS's ability to do anything to improve anyone's game play right now, after Jjakji falling down and their steady decline as a team lately. Also, they did basically nothing for Morrow, so I hope they can prove me wrong and give a good foreigner what it takes to become truly competitive.
On October 01 2012 08:03 Ollie wrote: It's funny because Rickard Stark was the Lord of Winterfell before Eddard in A Song of Ice and Fire, and SortOf is from Sweden. ... THE KING IN THE NORTH
It's funny cause that was the same exact reaction I had when I saw his name. Back to reading A Storm of Swords!
Its even better because he's on team "Western Wolves" and the sigil of House Stark is the dire wolf! ^^
Good luck to SortOf! But one thing...TLO is not really playing in that tournament thing is he? It would be quite new to me because he never qualified lol
On October 01 2012 13:56 eXeNoLuck wrote: Good luck to SortOf! But one thing...TLO is not really playing in that tournament thing is he? It would be quite new to me because he never qualified lol
They are talking about DreamHack Bucharest! TLO will participate there
Shame he's gone to a team with no GSTL spot and he presumably won't have a seed of any kind for next GSL season (presumably they'll go to Nani and Mana or Stephano if he finally takes it). Still, any Korean experience is better than none.
You have already shown that you're neihter a random nor a patchzerg but please show the people who call you things like that that they really need to be quite and show some respect.
On October 01 2012 20:50 turdburgler wrote: dumped in to a team house with a bunch of koreans who havent heard of him, hes gonna get stone walled so hard.
The NSHS players are excited to work with SortOf and Western Wolves are have already adjusted their practice schedule to accept him with open arms
Also I would like to note, this is a 'taster trip' to see how he likes the Korean practice environment
On October 01 2012 08:43 Catatonic wrote: If only the good Swedish players had shown up for that so Sweden could have a representative that actually stands a chance like Thorzain or Nani :O
smth tells me you didn't watch the actual event...
On October 01 2012 12:19 Aando wrote: Nani was there and his performance was probably the worst I've ever seen from him, and that includes the probe rush.
On October 01 2012 08:43 Catatonic wrote: If only the good Swedish players had shown up for that so Sweden could have a representative that actually stands a chance like Thorzain or Nani :O
I would say that SortOf is just as good as Thorzain or Naniwa at the moment. Just look at the results from WCS Sweden and WCS EU Championship
once upon a time going to Korea was celebrated by the entire community. TL was joined in celebration that a gamer was heading to compete against the best and become better just by practicing in the training house.
today everyone goes, only a few are heard from while they are there and only a handful actually improve.
EPT![[image loading]](http://westernwolves.com/images/content/33019-kingrickard.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://imageshack.us/a/img43/9003/sorof.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://imageshack.us/a/img194/9003/sorof.jpg)
