Day 3 ends with two more Terrans entering the fray. The WCS EU qualifiers have proved themselves to be a testing ground where old and younger players alike found new strength, and that proved true as Strelok and Krass would make it past the large bracket to take the top two spots.
Strelok made his path through three well known names in MVPduckdeok(finale), Welmu, and Day two's dark horse PandaTank on his way to the finals. He showed strong play in his match-ups and seemed to favor the mech composition. This is a great result for the Ukrainian Terran as his results slid down during the end of WoL and his resurgence here shows that he is still capable of throwing down with the best of them.
This left Krass to defend the honor of Europe and defend it he did, taking out both Mentalking and MVPTails on his way to the finals. On top of that, he took out Harstem and Adelscott, establishing his strong TvP matchup. This qualifier has really solidified Krass' place in the European scene. Last year, he made a great run in WCS Germany placing fourth and now he will now be fighting alongside the established greats of Europe.
With both Strelok and Krass qualifying, Ukraine and Germany are now the most represented countries in the WCS EU with both countries taking four slots each in the Premier division. With only two spots left, only two countries can tie them for the most spots: Sweden and Korea.
Onto the last day:
The WCS EU Qualifiers have been hectic with delays, strange starting times, Byzantium sign-up rituals and ten community streams running along trying to catch all of the action. For the last qualifier, the floodgates are open and there is now no limit to the amount of participants. This means that everyone is allowed to join and with the field so large, anything can happen, but here is a list of players to watch out for as they have been most consistent in the qualifiers.
They will now be joined by the rest of Europe in the final showdown, with only two spots remaining. Will one of the more known players take the spots or will some new names upset everyone yet again. Finally, will EU defend against the KR invasion one last time?
Yall, watch out for Krass, i've been calling him to be a big deal ever since he was a merc for K3 in IPTL. gogogogogogo Krass and Bunny, Foreigner terran fighting!!!!!!!
They beat strong Protoss players including Korean pros TAiLS and finale with powerful Mech composition.
Congrats! Hope more and more Terran players explore diverse unit compositions in TvP. Hope we can see more great games like today's that are not MMMVG since 2010.
Umm, Sweden already has 4 ppl in (sortof, sase, naniwa, thorzain); and France, Spain, Poland, Denmark, and Russia could tie as well, some if they take both spots
On April 17 2013 10:35 HeeroFX wrote: Surpised Finale and Tails haven't made it in yet.
EU-KR latency is super bad. KR-NA is manageable.
If that mattered so much they wouldn't have chosen EU. Tails should know how it is because he plays in tournaments in pretty much every region. It's not like he went into it not knowing.
Wow, with EU being known for having lesser Terrans in comparison to the other races in the region and seeing how the qualifier is dominated by Terran contenders, leaves me thinking how much Terran will dominate in a whole and especially in the other regions.
Either way, all these players are great and so far with no koreans qualifying in our qualifiers, we look strong in EU!
On April 17 2013 10:53 ejozl wrote: Wow, with EU being known for having lesser Terrans in comparison to the other races in the region and seeing how the qualifier is dominated by Terran contenders, leaves me thinking how much Terran will dominate in a whole and especially in the other regions.
Either way, all these players are great and so far with no koreans qualifying in our qualifiers, we look strong in EU!
Hehe check the invite list. Without the Korean Terrans in there even if all the qualifier spots would be taken by Terrans they would still be a rare sight. Might see alot of Terrans break out in EU and NA now as Blizzard seems to have found a way of buffing Terran without affecting the fourth race Korean Terran to much. But it will take some time to see the truth.
If I wouldn't know that our Toss players have a few aces up their sleeves, I would be really worried for them as Toss seems to have some troubles getting to their army of doom, which is then unstoppable. But really worried about the other regions that don't have this Protoss presence EU has.
Also, I think someone told me a while ago that Happy pulling out of WCS didn't matter because he was bad.. What up, son? Now the rest of the Empire Terran need to qualify.
On April 17 2013 12:01 Mohdoo wrote: Harstem has been the best Protoss in the world for roughly the last 8 years, so I expect him to qualify next time no problem TBH.
On April 17 2013 10:53 ejozl wrote: Wow, with EU being known for having lesser Terrans in comparison to the other races in the region and seeing how the qualifier is dominated by Terran contenders, leaves me thinking how much Terran will dominate in a whole and especially in the other regions.
Either way, all these players are great and so far with no koreans qualifying in our qualifiers, we look strong in EU!
wat
Thozain+jinro+empire+Strelok+lucifron+oldschool naama vs mana+scarlett+nerchio+stephano+naniwa+hasuobs+scarlett+live/happyzerg+??
On April 17 2013 12:01 Mohdoo wrote: Harstem has been the best Protoss in the world for roughly the last 8 years, so I expect him to qualify next time no problem TBH.
what world is that ? =/
He's obviously kidding lol
Congrats to Strelok and Krass! Impressed and surprised
It doesn't look like all of them are uploaded. Most of the replays are of round 1 only with some in the 2nd and 3rd. The top 32 (or 64?) don't seem to be included in those.
My controversial opinion is that Terran is very powerful at lower levels of play at the tippy top elite we see Zerg who can macro and do the little micro things like anticipate drops and snipe mines and Terran drops hard in the rankings. So here in the league Terran could reign until the KR vs. EU at least.
On April 17 2013 10:35 HeeroFX wrote: Surpised Finale and Tails haven't made it in yet.
EU-KR latency is super bad. KR-NA is manageable.
If that mattered so much they wouldn't have chosen EU. Tails should know how it is because he plays in tournaments in pretty much every region. It's not like he went into it not knowing.
thats the point, they played tours here before, its not like its "unplayable" ... i can play kr too and its playable ...
On April 17 2013 10:42 Prplppleatr wrote: Umm, Sweden already has 4 ppl in (sortof, sase, naniwa, thorzain); and France, Spain, Poland, Denmark, and Russia could tie as well, some if they take both spots
Gratz to em both, go strelok!
actualy ukraine have 4 players too and probably one more after last quali
I didn't knew anything about krass before this event other than "he's pretty decent I guess", but I found myself rooting for him so hard after he beat Harstem and especially after he knocked out the first Korean.
If we see this kind of play from krass in the near future, he's defenitely gonna be a Top-European player. Yes, his style is very dependent on harrassment, but he has to macro and multitasking to back it up!
On April 17 2013 11:57 Leru wrote: I guess Strelok qulifying can give a hint at the quality of the WCS - bleah .
Why so mean? That's not very nice, comrade! He beat good players. Wtf do you want from him? The fact you dont like him doesn't make him a bad player or WCS EU a bad tournament.
Maybe balance whining 12 year olds should remember, that they invited 9 (nine in words) Zergs and 9 (nine) Protoss, but only 3 (three) Terrans. So obviously there are a lot more strong terrans left than toss or zerg.
Hint: The fact that in WOL a lot of Terrans disapeared, doesnt mean that they were bad.
I hope Xlord can make it today! Yes, he got pretty schooled by cShuttle yesterday, but Shuttle had been playing TvZs for the last three sets while Xlord had to play ZvZ, ZvP and then ZvT! Still, he is an underdog to make it, but who knows, with enough luck...?
On April 17 2013 16:48 JustPassingBy wrote: I hope Xlord can make it today! Yes, he got pretty schooled by cShuttle yesterday, but Shuttle had been playing TvZs for the last three sets while Xlord had to play ZvZ, ZvP and then ZvT! Still, he is an underdog to make it, but who knows, with enough luck...?
Wouldn't mind seeing TargA going far either! ~
Or because Shuttle is better than Xlord, because he is.
On April 17 2013 10:36 larse wrote: They beat strong Protoss players including Korean pros TAiLS and finale with powerful Mech composition.
Congrats! Hope more and more Terran players explore diverse unit compositions in TvP. Hope we can see more great games like today's that are not MMMVG since 2010.
On April 17 2013 10:53 ejozl wrote: Wow, with EU being known for having lesser Terrans in comparison to the other races in the region and seeing how the qualifier is dominated by Terran contenders, leaves me thinking how much Terran will dominate in a whole and especially in the other regions.
Either way, all these players are great and so far with no koreans qualifying in our qualifiers, we look strong in EU!
Maps do a good job of wiping out zergs in these kind of formats and always has. We're a lot more sensitive to trash maps designed by Blizzard with any of the following characteristics:
* Ramp is 2 miles away from main minerals and natural expo. * Rocks. Lots of rocks. * A more than 50% propensity for a split map stalemate. * Few counterattack paths.
Face someone decent in a bo1 on one of these and you're gambling for your survival.
In a bo3 you will likely have to play at least one of your matches on one of these because of loser's pick. If you're unlucky, oen of these are also automatically set as first map in the bo3.
I honestly think a shit map (any shit map) existing in the map pool will affect zerg more than the other races.
Congrats to Strelok and Krass, they deserved to qualify no matter.
On April 17 2013 16:48 JustPassingBy wrote: I hope Xlord can make it today! Yes, he got pretty schooled by cShuttle yesterday, but Shuttle had been playing TvZs for the last three sets while Xlord had to play ZvZ, ZvP and then ZvT! Still, he is an underdog to make it, but who knows, with enough luck...?
Wouldn't mind seeing TargA going far either! ~
Or because Shuttle is better than Xlord, because he is.
Stephano mentioned on the NASL stream that Shuttle is a beast in TvZ and predicted the 2:0 win. However, Xlord has been in a great shape latelly, too. He has been tearing through this season of EPS Germany and reached the playoffs convincingly in first place.
On April 17 2013 16:48 JustPassingBy wrote: I hope Xlord can make it today! Yes, he got pretty schooled by cShuttle yesterday, but Shuttle had been playing TvZs for the last three sets while Xlord had to play ZvZ, ZvP and then ZvT! Still, he is an underdog to make it, but who knows, with enough luck...?
Wouldn't mind seeing TargA going far either! ~
Or because Shuttle is better than Xlord, because he is.
Stephano mentioned on the NASL stream that Shuttle is a beast in TvZ and predicted the 2:0 win. However, Xlord has been in a great shape latelly, too. He has been tearing through this season of EPS Germany and reached the playoffs convincingly in first place.
Yeah but we don't have our strongest terrans playing in EPS. Heromarine is too young and KraSs for some reason does not participate...Don't think Xlord would be at the top with more good players beeing in the league because his ZvT looks really weak.
Yeah but we don't have our strongest terrans playing in EPS. Heromarine is too young and KraSs for some reason does not participate...Don't think Xlord would be at the top with more good players beeing in the league because his ZvT looks really weak.
because EPS is really unimportant. Sadly because I like its format.
Yeah but we don't have our strongest terrans playing in EPS. Heromarine is too young and KraSs for some reason does not participate...Don't think Xlord would be at the top with more good players beeing in the league because his ZvT looks really weak.
because EPS is really unimportant. Sadly because I like its format.
its so bad coverage, bad quality overall, it was waaaay better the first seasons, new format took out every interest in it ...
Yeah but we don't have our strongest terrans playing in EPS. Heromarine is too young and KraSs for some reason does not participate...Don't think Xlord would be at the top with more good players beeing in the league because his ZvT looks really weak.
because EPS is really unimportant. Sadly because I like its format.
its so bad coverage, bad quality overall, it was waaaay better the first seasons, new format took out every interest in it ...
Hmmm, I actually like the new format: -Every cup matters -Having a cup rather than groups or a league adds excitement in my opinion -A-series players can participate Furthermore, the previous format with groups was terrible. The group stage was extremelly boring and only the playoffs offered any excitement. I assume that you have season 17 in mind when you talk about the first season. The league format was certainly better than the group format, but in the league the last few playdays were quite boring since there were a lot of matches that didn't matter, since some people were already through, respectively out. Overall, I'd say that the current cup format is the best the EPS has ever had. However, I agree that the coverage and the production quality could be somewhat better, although there is always Take's stream and if I'm not mistaken also the ESL stream in English.
On April 17 2013 11:57 Leru wrote: I guess Strelok qulifying can give a hint at the quality of the WCS - bleah .
Seems you don't like Strelok, but even if he was inactive he's one of the best foreigner terran, deal with it.
Krass seems hot these times, impressed by his play. Congratulation to him too.
Yeah, Strelok seemed to play well the few bits I saw of him, dunno what that guys on about, obviously some Strelok hater. Krass was really really good too.
Hoping BlinG makes it through today, we need at least one UK player in this thing!
Yeah but we don't have our strongest terrans playing in EPS. Heromarine is too young and KraSs for some reason does not participate...Don't think Xlord would be at the top with more good players beeing in the league because his ZvT looks really weak.
because EPS is really unimportant. Sadly because I like its format.
its so bad coverage, bad quality overall, it was waaaay better the first seasons, new format took out every interest in it ...
Hmmm, I actually like the new format: -Every cup matters -Having a cup rather than groups or a league adds excitement in my opinion -A-series players can participate Furthermore, the previous format with groups was terrible. The group stage was extremelly boring and only the playoffs offered any excitement. I assume that you have season 17 in mind when you talk about the first season. The league format was certainly better than the group format, but in the league the last few playdays were quite boring since there were a lot of matches that didn't matter, since some people were already through, respectively out. Overall, I'd say that the current cup format is the best the EPS has ever had. However, I agree that the coverage and the production quality could be somewhat better, although there is always Take's stream and if I'm not mistaken also the ESL stream in English.
I love EPS and the new open system too. Yes it was more important back then, but that's only natural if you look how big the international tournaments have become. I think Germany can be proud to be one of the few countries to have a national tournament that pros can play in consistently and I really hope EPS never dies. Also seeing XlorD dominate again like back in wc3 gives such a cool nostalgic feeling to the league, I enjoy it a lot again . Once Heromarine joins the fun it will only get better.
I like the new EPS system with the cups more, and what is so bad about the coverage? I mostly watch it on TakeTV, but Kaelaris also casts it afaik.
I really don't get why Krass isn't participating in the EPS cups, those cups would be some of the easiest ways to make money for him and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have trouble reaching the playoffs. EPS will definitely get more exciting when Heromarine is allowed to play and if Krass decides to play in it.
Yeah but we don't have our strongest terrans playing in EPS. Heromarine is too young and KraSs for some reason does not participate...Don't think Xlord would be at the top with more good players beeing in the league because his ZvT looks really weak.
because EPS is really unimportant. Sadly because I like its format.
its so bad coverage, bad quality overall, it was waaaay better the first seasons, new format took out every interest in it ...
Hmmm, I actually like the new format: -Every cup matters -Having a cup rather than groups or a league adds excitement in my opinion -A-series players can participate Furthermore, the previous format with groups was terrible. The group stage was extremelly boring and only the playoffs offered any excitement. I assume that you have season 17 in mind when you talk about the first season. The league format was certainly better than the group format, but in the league the last few playdays were quite boring since there were a lot of matches that didn't matter, since some people were already through, respectively out. Overall, I'd say that the current cup format is the best the EPS has ever had. However, I agree that the coverage and the production quality could be somewhat better, although there is always Take's stream and if I'm not mistaken also the ESL stream in English.
well knowing today playing "hasu vs socke" etc i take the time and watch the bo3 or even 2 or more taking the time to watch a german only tournament while alot other streams and vods gsl and co able to watch ? ...no and yes i mean the league, and still i would watch the "top matches" it was like ... dont know better feeling watched league style in like alot of games (cs etc) for so many years and always fun, watched 1 tournament stopped after 2 noob vs noob games because being bored
On April 17 2013 22:49 Champloo wrote: I like the new EPS system with the cups more, and what is so bad about the coverage? I mostly watch it on TakeTV, but Kaelaris also casts it afaik.
i like the CASTS but not the coverage, i mean threads posts anything where i get exited for it
The EPS is nowhere near as important as it was in WC3 or Counter-Strike.
I wouldn't blame the terrible first seasons of the EPS solely on the format. The play and some of the players were bad, the coverage and presentation was bad. EPS's prestige was falling quite rapidly with the death of Counter-Strike and SC2 had top tournaments almost every day, so the "little" EPS fell quite flat. And players couldn't rely on the EPS because of the 2 or more years of payouts for the already declining prize pool.
The new format makes the EPS basically a Go4SC2 for German players. The uniqueness of the old Bundesliga (round-robin) format is gone. It was the best decision at that time to change the format, but the EPS has also lost its unique place with it.
In fact, WCS EU is becoming the league that EPS could have become if everything went great. A longer regular season that is nonetheless exciting. Competition that allows new talents to come in and grow without capping the pool by so much that the better players fall into mediocrity. A prize pool so players can make a decent living. A product that attracts regional and global sponsors.
Oh by the way: Maybe a lot of WCS EU participants move to Germany. Which would make them eligible for the EPS. They could up their allowance if they wanted and bring some glamour into the EPS.
I used to love Strelok, with his original heavy multitasking drop play against protoss, I'm happy that he is achieving results. Hoping to see more of him this year.
On April 17 2013 10:31 DBS wrote: Yall, watch out for Krass, i've been calling him to be a big deal ever since he was a merc for K3 in IPTL. gogogogogogo Krass and Bunny, Foreigner terran fighting!!!!!!!
On April 17 2013 11:57 Leru wrote: I guess Strelok qulifying can give a hint at the quality of the WCS - bleah .
Seems you don't like Strelok, but even if he was inactive he's one of the best foreigner terran, deal with it.
Krass seems hot these times, impressed by his play. Congratulation to him too.
Hoping BlinG makes it through today, we need at least one UK player in this thing!
sadly BlinG is the only one from UK that has a realistic shot at qualifying, since demuslim plays in the WCS NA (guess so?)
I dunno, Ziktomini, Ourk or JohnnyREcco could decide to play well today. I mean they probably won't but in terms of other British players that have any kind of chances of taking out Koreans/top foreigners those 3 are probably the only ones.
On April 17 2013 11:57 Leru wrote: I guess Strelok qulifying can give a hint at the quality of the WCS - bleah .
Seems you don't like Strelok, but even if he was inactive he's one of the best foreigner terran, deal with it.
Krass seems hot these times, impressed by his play. Congratulation to him too.
Hoping BlinG makes it through today, we need at least one UK player in this thing!
sadly BlinG is the only one from UK that has a realistic shot at qualifying, since demuslim plays in the WCS NA (guess so?)
I dunno, Ziktomini, Ourk or JohnnyREcco could decide to play well today. I mean they probably won't but in terms of other British players that have any kind of chances of taking out Koreans/top foreigners those 3 are probably the only ones.
EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Waxangel/WCS2013/wcsdarkbanner.jpg)
Na'Vi.Strelok and 
