IEM Cologne wrapped up the Ro16 on day three, with CMStorm_Polt, EG.Jaedong, Acer.INnoVation, and SKT_Classic claiming the final four spots in the quarterfinals. After Protoss had dominated on the day two, it was Terran's turn to shine as Polt and INnoVation went a perfect 8-0 on maps to top both of their groups.
While Terran fans had plenty to cheer for, fans of foreigners were left disappointed as MaNa and mouz.HeRoMaRinE both fell out of the tournament, confirming an all-Korean top eight. However, MaNa scored a surprise 2-1 victory over Jaedong in before getting eliminated, becoming the only foreigner to take a series off a Korean in the entire tournament.
As a result, NaNiwa remains the only non-Korean player confirmed for the upcoming IEM World Championship in Katowice, although more Europeans may qualify at the live open brackets.
IEM Cologne continues on Sunday, Feb 16 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00) with the tournament being played to its conclusion.
On February 16 2014 08:23 DaftFunk wrote: Please tvz finals please tvz finals...
sorry but polt beats classic, polt loses to rain, jeadong beats patience and hero meeting and beating rain in the finals. and im a terran. i wish polt or jjakji could make it but i doubt it.
I'm a Hero fan boy, but I don't think he's ever won vs Innovation Jaedong, Rain and Polt should be the expected winners of their matches. I think it'll be a Polt vs Jaedong finals, but that's just based on reputation alone. I'm not sure about how strong Polt's play is at the moment - haven't watched his games yet. Jaedong looked a little shaky in group stages by losing to Mana, but he pulled it together in defending the all ins in the 2nd/3rd place match (didn't catch the first series between the two), but I think he can pull it together when facing a Terran. Still, hoping for Hero to make it to top 2 so he can have a chance at $100k
polt vs jaedong finals.. one can dream. head says rain vs innovation tho..
all in all very interesting matches, all high level and hopefully really close so i have a lot of entertainment.. since im sick i will watch the whole thing
HerO's gonna beat Innovation through mind games, while Classic is going to stomp all over Polt with mass zealot-storm-archon. Jjakji vs rain is tough to call, I think 3-2 for Rain, but wouldn't be surprised if Jjakji 3-0's since his form is really good now. JD vs Patience will make everyone rage, or, if not, the JD will win in a stomp.
Final will be Classic vs tough to call other side (Jaedong I think, and hope)
I think Classic because every foreign tournament there is a dark horse who shows up and pwns everyone with unique strategies (like Patience, Stardust, DuckDuck, and it seems like it will always be a protoss).
I don't recall a Rain v Inno match before. What's their record, if any?
Expecting a PvP or PvInno finals (Rain/Classic v Patience/Inno). Pity that there will be SKT team-kill before the finals.
I agree with Apollo - JD seems distracted, perhaps thinking long-term, Or maybe he's just saving his god-like energies for the knockout rounds, and did not even contemplate dropping at the group stage (Soulkey-style confidence). If the latter's the case, then he might pull a surprise (only to finish silver, yet again... hehe!)
Still, context is everything, and I wonder when those meetings occured (Proleague ace-match, perhaps?). It's just that I don't recall them meeting in key individual tourneys of late.
JD isn't in form to beat Inno or Hero in the semi's I don't think I'd be rather surprised to see him in the finals, and even more surprised to see a win. here's hoping though.
Still, context is everything, and I wonder when those meetings occured (Proleague ace-match, perhaps?). It's just that I don't recall them meeting in key individual tourneys of late.
Here you go! The last non-Proleague match they played was WCS KR Season 1 of 2013, so pretty long ago. Still, pretty even overall!
What I believe will happen is that Classic will Rolfstomp Polt (the power of protoss), have a close match against Rain where he barely wins and then beats JD in an epic final.
Why? Because he's basically the Soulkey of Protoss, since he switched to Protoss he's always consistant playing in the highest of leagues.
On February 16 2014 08:23 DaftFunk wrote: Please tvz finals please tvz finals...
sorry but polt beats classic, polt loses to rain, jeadong beats patience and hero meeting and beating rain in the finals. and im a terran. i wish polt or jjakji could make it but i doubt it.
What? Classic will cheese out poor poor polt (fucking Classic is bullshit) Jjakji beats rain Patience beats jaedong Inno beats hero Jjakji beats classic Patience beats inno Jjakji wins (I hope to God him if not Polt or Rain or Inno) Btw I am toss and rain is the only decent one here
I doubt Polt will beat Classic, Classic is just so good and Polt doesn't have a very good record vs Kespa players. I don't think he has even beat one in 2013.
I think this proves what we have been thinking all along. The players who succeed at Starcraft are those with the highest IQ's. Statistically, East Asians have higher IQ's than people from other countries. Hence, why we have an all-Korean quarter finals.
Statistically, East Asians have higher IQ's than people from other countries. Hence, why we have an all-Korean quarter finals.
Statistically, South Korea is not the only country in the East Asia. Not to mention that the only thing IQ test measures is how good you can do IQ test
This has been the best tournament since the WCS Global Finals. All the best players together again (like the old GSL before WCS abducted many of the best Koreans to EU and NA).
EPT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/UDNgK.png)
CMStorm_Polt, 
EG.Jaedong, 
SKT_Classic claiming the final four spots in the quarterfinals. After Protoss had dominated on the day two, it was Terran's turn to shine as Polt and INnoVation went a perfect 8-0 on maps to top both of their groups.![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Waxangel/iem/cologne13/ro8_1.png)
Jaedong, Rain and Polt should be the expected winners of their matches. I think it'll be a Polt vs Jaedong finals, but that's just based on reputation alone. I'm not sure about how strong Polt's play is at the moment - haven't watched his games yet. Jaedong looked a little shaky in group stages by losing to Mana, but he pulled it together in defending the all ins in the 2nd/3rd place match (didn't catch the first series between the two), but I think he can pull it together when facing a Terran. Still, hoping for Hero to make it to top 2 so he can have a chance at $100k
