EPT
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IEM Season IX - TorontoWhen we posted the Power Rank 2 days ago, our focus was on the incredible firepower KeSPA was sending. Their 4 representatives formed the top 4 of our list, each one a former champion or looking like a future champion right now. KT.
Zest, JinAir.sOs, and CJ.herO[jOin] stood as the best protosses in the world and most people accepted on faith that they would be contending for the title. Like all things KT.
Flash, his presence served as a source of delirious excitement and cautious skepticism. He was on one of the hottest streaks any progamer had ever experienced, and his rat-a-tat-tat takedown of the Korean elite suggested he would fit snugly into the weekend format. As it turned out, the invaders were stepping on someone else’s turf. Foreign hopes and wandering Koreans, traditional enemies stretching back to the early MLG days, temporarily joined forces to fight the amicable menace. After 2 days in the rough-and-tumble arena, the KeSPA contingent came out looking very human. They went a combined 16-11 (59%) and lost one of their members to the Open Bracket. Every player seeded into the group stage will have to play the final elimination match in order to move on. It’s possible that only 1-2 (or none at all) will actually make it to the quarterfinals.
Overall it was one of the strangest starts we could have asked for. Expect more of the same tomorrow as the final matches of the group stage kick off Day 3. Liquid’
Bunny faces Zest in Group A, yoeFW.
Leenock gets a rematch against viOLet in Group B, TCM.First runs into sOs again for Group C, and MC gets to show off his clever anti-Flash strategies one last time in Group D. ![[image loading]](/staff/lichter/IEM/toronto2014/iemgrps.jpg)
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Notes:
A Bastille Day, of sorts: So far IEM Toronto appears to be the best foreigner showing in a long time. Liquid’Bunny and Liquid’
Snute successfully fought their way out of the Open Bracket to qualify for the group stages; if Bunny can pull off some magic against Zest he will be the second foreigner to reach the Ro8. While HuK was not as fortunate as his brethren, he managed to take down Leenock and Jaedong before perishing in the losers final. Acer.Scarlett did not go quietly into the night either, putting up a strong fight against ST.Life before falling to Flash with some flourish. The Cold Grip of the North: Snute is praised as one of the best foreigners yet he is regularly described as a mere threat to Korean players. Judging from his games at Toronto he ought to be upgraded to Grave Danger, at least when it comes to ZvP. Utilizing his indefatigable swarm host + mass spore crawler defense, Snute overcame herO in 2 grueling series to advance to Stage 2. In the group stage he won the winners match against sOs without swarm hosts, breaking the Jin Air protoss with excellent timings and solid defense. Going into the quarterfinals, all remaining members of Aiur should be quaking at the thought of facing Snute.
You don't like swarmhosts? Deal with it.
The Other Asian Guys: To no one’s surprise, other Korean players besides KeSPA ones got out of the group stage. It was a bit startling to see them all get out in first place though. Liquid’
TaeJa of the creaky wrists hardly looked worn-out today, vanquishing Zest and making short work of his teammate Bunny. YoDa proved his burgeoning worth to TCM with close victories against ROCCAT.HyuN and Leenock. Life maintained his scintillating form from Day 1, overcoming a traditional roadblock in Scarlett and manhandling MC in the winners match.The Disappointment Continues: Once again, EG.
Jaedong puts in a performance unworthy of his reputation. Fears that his miserable form would continue into Toronto were proven true as he dropped 0-2 to HuK in embarrassing fashion, including a loss to a 4 gate as he attempted to go 4 hatch before pool. Jaedong showed better games against Leenock but was unable to parlay them into a series win.
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