EPTWho Will Be The Next TaeJa?
But if there's one storyline that stands out above all others in four years of DreamHack♥SC2, it's the dominance of
TaeJa. With three championships and plenty of top finishes, TaeJa is the undisputed king of the DreamHack Open. TaeJa owes much of his success and renown to DreamHack, and DreamHack in turn can be proud that they've been such a key part in the career of one of StarCraft 2's greatest players.However, the Liquid ace will be sitting this one out. He's won the last two DreamHacks and would surely love to defend his title, but wrist injuries have taken a toll. While TaeJa will certainly be missed, his absence opens up a golden opportunity for many of the players he has defeated in the past. It's unclear how many months TaeJa has left as a progamer, or how many DreamHacks he will participate at in the coming months.
For the players who wish to become the new king of DreamHack, the time to strike is now. Of the players competing at this weekend's DreamHack Bucharest, we think the following five have the best chance of inheriting TaeJa's DreamHack dominance.
EG.Jaedong
by XXTNDown 3-1 on Frost and frantically clicking away, Jaedong engages sOs with a flimsy hydra-corrupter army. It's now or never: the 2013 WCS Championship is at stake. Within seconds, hope turns to desperation as JD’s hydras melt under colossi beams, and freshly warped-in stalkers close in from the flanks. Jaedong shakes his head, slides his finger to the "G" key... and thinks 'another second place.' It is his fifth on the year.
An esports icon with an illustrious career,
EG.Jaedong is one of the few Brood War legends to successfully transition into SC2. However, the Tyrant’s success has been overshadowed by his inability to capture a premier tournament title. With five runner-up medals (two at Dreamhacks) in 2013, Lee Jae Dong has been nicknamed "Jae-kong." He finally captured first place in December at ASUS ROG Northcon by defeating Scarlett 4-2, but sadly, that success has yet to carry over to 2014. NorthCon's sub-par production, quiet audience, and disappointing level of hype also left many fans wondering if it was truly the big tournament win Jaedong had been looking for.The Best Money Can Buy...
When JD joined Evil Geniuses in late 2012, he found a foreign team that was willing to spare no expense to help him gain international success. In that way, Jaedong's path in SC2 was similar to that of TaeJa's. Leaving SlayerS for Team Liquid in early 2012, TaeJa gained the opportunity to compete not just in Korea but all around the world. He made the most of the opportunity, posting incredible results in both 2012 and 2013. However, TaeJa differed from Jaedong in that he captured title after title, while Jaedong continued to crumble before the finish the line.
Still, Jaedong has every chance to make up for it in 2014. While Taeja was known for cooling off between his red-hot peaks, Jaedong was consistently in top form throughout all of 2013. With Evil Geniuses' generous backing, Jaedong can continue to batter away at all the DreamHacks and premier tournaments he can fit into his schedule. Unlike last year, things might finally break his way.
While JD’s mental toughness and confidence were called into question, his work ethic was never in doubt. Hailed for his flawless mechanics and razor-sharp precision, Jaedong has been conditioned by years of rigorous KeSPA training. Further, Jaedong hates losing above all else, so rest assured, he has done all he can to prepare for Bucharest. As the highest prize-winning pro-gamer and the second greatest BW player behind Flash, Jaedong’s track record certainly proves that his mechanics, experience, and instincts are just as sharp as Taeja’s.
As long as Jaedong can identify what his opponent is throwing at him - whether it be a double proxy-rax or an immortal-sentry all-in - his control and decision-making allow him to deflect almost anything. Additionally, his ling-bane-muta control is world class, and he also isn’t afraid to throw in the occasional roach-baneling bust. All JD needs to do is trust in his killer-instincts and subdue his nerves.
...As Long As He's Not Cheesed
While he’s strongest in mid to late game scenarios, Jaedong is most vulnerable when he is taken by surprise. In recent months, Jaedong has shown weakness against cheesy builds and unconventional timings, especially against Protoss. In 2014, Jaedong has only a 53.23% win rate in ZvP, his worst matchup. He lost to Mana and HerO at IEM Cologne, got knocked out of WCS America S1 Ro32 by Has, and lost in the open bracket of IEM Katowice to HasuObs and Dear. Jaedong hasn’t attended a live tournament since then, and his PvZ online record is a shaky 9-7 with several losses to mostly unknown foreigners. And unfortunately for Jaedong fans, there are plenty of strong Protosses in attendance, including MC, HerO, and Stardust.
It's The First One That Counts
If Jaedong shows up to Bucharest fresh and focused - no ZvP problems and no mental block - then he definitely has the potential to win DH Bucharest… but that’s a lot of “ifs”. The road ahead is sure to be arduous and trying. However, I can say with certainty that the Tyrant is hungrier than ever for this ever-elusive Dreamhack title and eager to conclusively shed his reputation as a kong. Once he knocks down that first big tournament in front of a roaring live audience, then many more championships are sure to come. It's time for the Tyrant to reclaim his throne.
Roccat.HyuN
by lichterWhen
HyuN broke his SC2 championship duck at DreamHack Valencia '13, it was supposed to be the moment where he evolved from the baneling that was always shot down before the finish line into the ultralisk that trampled over all the other competitors in the race. Unfortunately, the unscrupulous dealings of his former team Quantic almost caused HyuN to retire after the most successful year of his career.It was all the more painful because of how hard it had been to get there in the first place. HyuN made a late switch from BW to SC2 in 2011, and was mired as mainly as a fringe player on TSL while competing in Code A for most of the year. It looked like HyuN's was destined to be yet another ex-BW pro making an uninspired SC2 run to try and extend his career.
The online IPL Fight Club slowly changed that perception, with HyuN's notoriety growing after each win. He defeated the likes of Squirtle, aLive, GuMiho, ByuN, Life, and PartinG until he reached fourteen straight wins, establishing himself as a player who could beat ANYONE online. He soon manifested that skill on the live stage, riding his momentum to the Code S finals in his very first appearance. Though he would end up losing to Sniper in seven games, HyuN established himself as one of the top players in the world.
Making the leap from runner-up to champion proved to be as difficult as the jump from pretender to contender. In his first four tournaments of 2013, HyuN didn't get anywhere close to matching his GSL finals performance. In his fifth, HSC7, he managed to place fourth. At his sixth, MLG Anaheim, he once again fell short in the finals. But his constant efforts finally paid off, and in July at DreamHack Valencia, he was able to lift the champion's trophy.
Tragically, it was the prize money from DreamHack Valencia that Quantic's owner absconded with alongside HyuN's unpaid wages, putting him in one of the darkest places of his career to close out 2013.
I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends
Fortunately for HyuN, the entire SC2 community rallied behind him in support. With cash donations, plenty of encouraging messages from fans, and a new team in Roccat, HyuN found the motivation to keep himself going. In fact, HyuN seems to have come back even stronger than ever. After a couple of misfires at IEM Cologne and Katowice, HyuN went on a rampage in WCS America, defeating Revival, ByuL, puCK, Heart, TaeJa, Alicia, and Oz to claim the championship.
Now that he is back in form, HyuN has the potential to be the scariest weekend-warrior in Europe. His play isn't based on meticulous preparation or analysis of his opponents – he sticks to his extremely aggressive macro style no matter the opponent and adjusts on the fly. He has no glaring weaknesses, possessing even strength in all three match-ups. Most importantly, he's acquired a visa that will allow him to stay in Europe for a full year, which spells disaster for everyone else who had championship aspirations. He's already given everyone a preview of the year to come at the Copenhagen Games LAN, where he went 18-2 on his way to winning the 3,200 Euro grand prize. HyuN will be eager to repeat that performance in Bucharest and claim another title at the tournament where he had his first taste of gold.
Hyunderwhelming At Times
For all of Hyun's high finishes and impressive victories over top Korean players, he has also amassed a collection of disappointing outings, early eliminations, and upset losses. He exited his last two DreamHacks in the Ro16, and even suffered the shame of falling to WCS America Challenger League at one time. HyuN is like fellow WCS Season 1 champ MC in that he's capable of incredible highs, but they usually come in between disappointing lows.
Hyun is a player that thrives on momentum, but momentum can only take you so far. His struggles last year in WCS AM showed a player vulnerable to well prepared opponents, and his sudden success in what was essentially a weekender version of WCS AM may point to that same fact. That ability to bulldoze through opponents one after the other has so far only netted him two trophies, even in formats that seem like his natural hunting ground, and no one is more disappointed in that than Hyun. This year has started well for HyuN, but he could make it a great year if he can ride his momentum to a stack of giant checks.
Liquid`HerO
by DarkLordOlliBefore that pesky TaeJa came along and mucked things up,
Liquid`HerO was the defining success story of DreamHack. The Brood War B-teamer seemed doomed to yet more anonymity in StarCraft 2, but a move to Team Liquid and trip to Sweden changed all that. By winning DreamHack Winter 2011, HerO finally won the championship he had craved for so long and jump started what would become one of StarCraft 2's most successful careers. When HerO came back a year later at DreamHack Winter 2012, he enhanced his reputation by claiming the title one more time. The words of House Song were the same as those of House Stark: "Winter is Coming."Back To His Rightful Place
With TaeJa entering an uncertain period in his career, HerO has had no trouble stepping up and re-assuming the role of ace. With a 8-1 record in ATC including a reverse all-kill of Evil Geniuses and a clutch 3-kill against Mouz, HerO's been the main impetus behind Liquid's rise to the #1 spot. He's also given Liquid their only premier championship of the year, taking down INnoVation, Jaedong and Polt on his way to the IEM Cologne championship. Last, but not least, he's given TeamLiquid a Korean presence by playing with partner team IM in Proleague, where he's put up a respectable 5-4 record with wins over players like sOs and Flash.
Unfortunately, all the hype has been dampened by an embarrassing slip-up in WCS America, where the nervous, mistake-prone version of HerO popped up at the worst possible time. HerO dropped out in the Ro32 without even seeing the live stage, and fell into an extended period of sulking in misery. Standard HerO.
The Match-Ups
Fans who watch HerO's stream know that he's still capable of the hyper-fast, multitasking oriented PvZ that made him famous in the first place, but somehow he doesn't seem to be confident in using that style in big tournaments. Considering the massively stacked Zerg lineup at Bucharest, playing an overly safe, standard style probably won't suffice. Maybe it's time to go back to his roots. If you're going to go out, you may as well go out in style.
More so than PvZ, the most glaring weakness for HerO is his PvP. Luckily there aren't that many top PvPers at Bucharest. Stardust and MC have to be respected, but everyone else would probably be an underdog on paper to HerO, no matter how volatile the match-up is.
As far as PvT goes, it's the one match-up we can unquestionably say HerO is excellent at. The matchup almost solely carried HerO to his IEM Cologne championship; he finished with an 11-2 map record against terran, beating ForGG 4-0 overall, Innovation 3-0 and Polt 4-2.
The Same Old
The conclusion for HerO is the same one we give for him at nearly every tournament. If he's calm and collected, he can beat anyone at DreamHack and is definitely among the favorites to win it. When he can string wins together, he keeps gaining confidence until he becomes nearly unstoppable. That's when we see the flamboyant HerO come out - the one who's willing to take risks, try flashy plays, and generally be the HerO everyone wants to see. When he's off... well you can look forward to his depressed tweets.
HerO is not the most consistent player in the world, but he just needs to feel positive and confident for two days to get the job done. As HerO's two DH championships show, he's capable of summoning the best version of himself when it matters the most.
mYi.jjakji
by DarkhorseThe story of
mYi.jjakji is well-known as both a cautionary tale and a parable of redemption. The NS Hoseo Terran was a surprise up-and-comer in late 2011, and he seemed ready to take the Starcraft II world by storm with his thrilling win over Leenock in the Code S November finals. Unfortunately, he would become the first and most infamous victim of the Code S winner's curse (it's literally called the "jjakji-line" in Korea). Since that GSL final on December 3, 2011, jjakji has been without a premier tournament win. Not only that, but he disappeared out Code S, spending over a year wandering the wastes between Code A and Code B.At the end of 2013, we witnessed the most unexpected resurgence. jjakji's switch to mYinsanity coincided with a return to Code S and a top 6 finish - his best finish since his Code S title. His new team opened up the gates of Europe to jjakji, and instantly he became a threat to take the championship at any of the foreign tournaments he was participating in.
Fear The Korean Terran
jjakji seems to have set himself up with a winning formula to go on a DreamHack rampage, the likes of which we haven't seen since Taeja. The ambitious foreign team mYinsanity has allowed jjakji to use their teamhouse as a base of operations in Europe, guaranteeing his participation at DreamHacks and plenty of other European events. Barring any visa issues, it wouldn't be surprising to see jjakji play at every single DH: Open event.
Playing the "fourth race" known as Korean Terran, Jjakji can usually breeze through foreigners in the earlier group stages, and has the potential to knock out nearly any Korean challengers in the later rounds. Since moving to Europe, Jjakji has finished top 8 at 3 IEM events, secured himself a top 3 at Homestory Cup, and finished the WCS EU season in the top 4. Jjakji has all the tools needed to be successful at DreamHack.
Another Pretender?
Here's the only problem: jjakji hasn't won a tournament yet. He's considered a top contender in every tournament, but he has yet to earn a first place finish to justify it. Everyone expected him to rule EU after his region switch, and while he has increased the level of competition in the region, he hasn't reached the very top of the mountain. Rain stopped him in the Ro8 of IEM Cologne, while sOs bested him in the Ro8 of the IEM World Championships. Twice he was knocked out of the semifinals by MC: once at IEM Sao Paulo and once in WCS EU. One might look at his finishes and think, "Hey that's pretty good," but there are expectations for a GSL champion. Not having reached a final is disappointing for a player of jjakji's caliber.
In a way, Jjakji seems to be becoming something of a ForGG 2.0 [Editor's note: I made him put this in]. When ForGG switched to Millenium and moved to Europe, there were many who expected him to be able to take first in many of the major EU events. While he has done respectably well with several top four finishes, ForGG has never returned home with the gold from a premier event. Jjakji seems to be following a similar trend. There are plenty of reasons why a player may not perform up to their potential after moving to Europe, whether it be the less intense GM ladder, the fewer practice partners, or the lack of a strict training system enforced by a team. jjakji will have to stay focused and keep practicing hard if he wants to be a tournament champion instead of someone people see as top 8 lock and nothing more.
Final Prognosis
This weekend, jjakji will try his hand at DreamHack for the first time in his career. While he should be safe through the early rounds, the Ro16 bracket will be complete madness. The player list includes MC, who has knocked him out of 2 straight semifinals in Premier events, Hyun, who has one of better records against jjakji in tournament games of any player, and his one-time GSL final opponent Leenock. Other title contenders includes two time Dreamhack champ HerO, Kespa players TY and Roro, and Dreamhack Winter finalist Life.
Despite his many almost-successes, jjakji still deserves the benefit of the doubt. It takes more than skill to win a major tournament - all sorts of luck and circumstances out of your control factor in as well. jjakji has the skills required to win DreamHack or any other major European tournament, and as long as his determination and work ethic don't waver, he should be able to lift a trophy again.
(I don't have particularly high hopes for him in the champagne ceremony)
MC
by WaxangelHe's back! After over 680 days without a major championship, MC finally returned to his winning ways at WCS Europe. Defeating MMA in the grand finals to put another $25,000 in his bank account, MC is now well past Mvp in the all-time prize winnings rankings, and looks to be right on course to becoming the first player to hit the $500,000 mark.
Surprisingly enough, DreamHack only accounts for a puny $15,000 of MC's winnings. That came back at DreamHack Stockholm 2011, a small invitational event where MC defeated White-Ra in the finals. Since then, MC simply hasn't found the time attend DreamHack events – unusual for the single most active player on the international circuit. The one other time he did attend at Summer 2012, he finished outside the money in 8th place.
With DreamHack being so long overdue on making a contribution to the Protoss President's campaign fund, MC has seen it fit to finally go and collect it in person.
What's German For "Minchul?"
MC went to zero DreamHacks in 2013, but he might be able to hit all six stops in 2014. Since leaving SK Gaming, MC has joined the growing crowd of Korean gamers who have relocated to Europe to chase the lucrative opportunities it has to offer. The GEM agency/team operates a team house in Germany, which MC can use as a base camp as he travels all around the continent in search of more prize money. With over $200,000 up for grabs in this year's DreamHack circuit, MC will look at it as a crucial part of his plan to finally buy his much desired Audi.
Although MC isn't the greatest player in a straight-up game, his mastery of all-ins makes him especially suited to the best-of-three style tournaments at DreamHack. Somehow, MC's all-ins seem even sharper than before, hearkening back to his prime days in 2011. Back then, simply knowing an MC all-in was coming was hardly any help in holding against it, as the Bosstoss would crash his way through the defenses with precise execution. Watching MC mug Stardust, jjakji, and MMA at WCS Europe, you could have sworn the old MC had stepped out of a time machine.
With an honest face, can you really say that there's a player in the world MC can't beat in a Bo3 right now? The other players at the tournament might fear facing visiting KeSPA players RorO and TY, but in MC's case, he's the guy that they should be afraid of.
Consistently Inconsistent
On the other hand, MC is a player who has shown a tendency to go through sharp ups and downs. If he's capable of beating anyone in a Bo3 single elimination format, he's also capable of losing to anyone. Welmu, HuK, and Socke are just a few of the names that come to mind when you think about players that could upset him in a PvP Bo3. Though MC is a championship caliber player, it's crucial that he find more consistency if he's to make the most out of his stay in Europe.
Four More Years!
As we head into year four of MC's reign as Protoss President, we can't underestimate the psychological boost MC might have received from winning WCS Europe. Though he always put on a brave and confident face for the cameras, you never know what kind of self-doubt he might have been swallowing beneath it. Consciously or subconsciously, simply knowing that he can still be the best is an important boost for MC.
It's hard to predict how MC will do at this tournament. He could flame out unexpectedly in the group stages, or he could cut a path through his fellow Koreans on his way to the title. At the very least, we expect him to give us a few killer interviews, impress/appall us with an incredibly abusive all-in, and separate some Swedes with their money.
Shout Outs & Players Who Barely Missed The Cut
There are a lot of great players coming to play at DreamHack Bucharest, but for one reason or another, not all of them seem like the types that could start a DreamHack dynasty. Still, we gotta give them some props.
RorO and TY: RorO and TY are two top contenders for the title, but it's unlikely they'll be back to play in many more DH tournaments this year. Feel free to bump this post in 7 months when A) one of them has won Bucharest, and then returns to Winter to take his second title, B) one of them has joined a foreign team and sweeps the final three DH's.
INnoVation and MMA: The Acer duo is formidable for sure, but neither of them has that attitude of "I want to compete at every f***ing tournament possible." Honestly, we'd enjoy it if Acer management would nudge them into showing up at a few more international tournaments (hopefully MMA shows up for the next one). Instead, it's Code S first and foremost for INnoVation and WCS tunnel-vision for MMA.
YoDa and First: This duo of MC's housemates were top tier players at one time, but they've struggled mightily after becoming teamless. They have all the potential to become champions again, but they do not appear to be fully recovered as of yet. Since they are based in Europe as well, they'll have plenty of LANs where they can play themselves into shape.
Life: With all apologies to Startale, we still dream of ST_Life becoming RedBull_Life and trotting the globe in an MC-esque quest for tournament winnings. However, if Life's foreign travel support is the same as last year, we'll probably only see him at a couple more international events in 2014.
TaeJa: Why do we get this strange feeling that these mysterious wrist pains will subside once summer comes around?
