EPTWCS EU Ro32 - Group E Preview
Countdown:
By peanuts
When the term "foreigner hope" is bandied about, the names attached today are usually Snute, Bunny, Scarlett and perhaps Sen. But although the four of them have found recent success in major tournaments, none of them have had a particularly good record in their respective WCS regions. For whatever reason, whether it's the increased difficulty or the nature of preparation based leagues, their inability to consistently reach the knockout phases of the competition has to be considered a disappointment. Yet quietly, another foreigner has made four consecutive Ro8s with relatively little fanfare.
Mill.VortiX is one half of the famed Duran-Duran duo from Spain. As the country’s most famous and successful players, the two (the other half being Lucifron) rose to prominence during late WoL. Though he was initially deemed yet another patchzerg, this Spaniard’s impressive run at the 2012 WCS EU finals hinted at a level of play above the rest that could keep him relevant even when the inevitable nerf would inevitably strike. Since then, Vortix has been the silent foreign hope, making respectable runs in the tournaments that he enters and very rarely looking as out of form as his peers do on a regular basis. His four straight appearances in the quarterfinals of WCS EU is a feat matched by few in any region and a true testament to his skill.The Spanish Zerg is well known for his ability to play whatever style he needs to. From swarmhost to roach hydra to muta/ling/bane, Vortix has a little of everything up his sleeve. Sporting a 65% ZvT win rate and a 9-4 record over the last two months, the Spaniard should be confident going into the match.
Cascadia.Kas is one of the of the first foreign Terrans to rise to prominence. However, at the end of every rise, there is a fall. For many, the fall comes just before true greatness can be achieved. And over the past year, that seems to be what Kas has been experiencing. Once the Terran version of Sen, taking 3rd place at TSL 3, WCG 2011 and IEM Kiev, lately, the Ukrainian has lately fallen on hard times. This year, his highest result has been a somewhat mediocre Ro32 finish in WCS EU, bringing him down to Challenger from where he once again had to fight his way out. Like many foreign players, Kas is a bundle of potential but with a knack for always discovering another weakness as he irons out others. To get out of this group, those weaknesses need to be kept in check.Kas is a Eastern European Terran through and through. 3M or mech, no inbetween. Sporting impressive micro, Kas is able to take early engagements in his favor by virtue of greater production, setting himself up for a successful mid game. The advantage also occasionally lends itself to late game, where Kas will break out a more mech centric style of play to roll over his economically outmatched opponents.
mYi.jjakji has been described as a phoenix, rising from the ashes of his post-championship fall into Code B to a place much closer to where he once was. However, in recent months, the flames are starting to cool ever down again. After a Ro4 finish in WCS EU S1, Jjakji has yet to break the quarterfinal barrier in any tournament, always dropping out in the Ro8. Last month, the former GSL winner found himself eliminated in the Ro16 at IEM Shenzen. Before that, he fell in an uncharacteristic 0-2 against MaNa at DH Summer to drop out of a tournament where he should have been competing for the championship.In terms of style, jjakji is a fairly standard sort of Terran. What sets him apart from others is his sheer aggression. Jjakji is the player who will throw 2 medivacs worth of units in your face, and as soon as the drop is over, he’ll have the next one queued up to hit you again. With incredible multitasking skill, the mYi Terran often goes for the late game, as he shines in it, simply outmaneuvering his opponent at every turn.
Fnatic.Harstem, on the other hand, is caught in an endless cycle of Ro16 finishes. Always popping up at Dreamhacks and ROGs, the Dutchman has been able to take down big name players, but has yet to chain up these victories. Online, the story is often different, with the Protoss showing strong results in online cups and on ladder. In fact, last season, when paired against Jjakji in the Ro32, Harstem shocked everyone by taking the set 2-0, taking first place in the group. So often, it seems as though Harstem is one step away from breaking into the next level of foreigners (#YEAROFHARSTEM, anyone?), but he has yet to make that one run he would need to make good on such promises.Harstem is a Protoss who focuses mostly on strong timing attacks and his micro. As a big fan of blink timings, the recent widow mine buff has hurt him slightly in the matchup. Harstem has been know to throw out odd builds, relying on his ingenuity to unsettle his opponent. With his strengths flourishing in mid-game scenarios, expect Zealot warp-ins and DTs to make an appearance where blink stalkers may no longer be as reliable as they once were.
Overall thoughts and predictions:
If there is one consistent local in WCS EU, it is VortiX. He has made the Ro8 4 consecutive times, a record that not even the best Koreans in the region have. It's difficult to imagine him falling this early in the tournament, and unless someone surprises him, he should be able to advance. jjakji should join him as it's difficult to doubt the former GSL champion, though he did get knocked out last season in the Ro32. That should be more of a motivation to do well than a sign of a decline, and a good performance this season will finally stamp a hotly desired ticket to Blizzcon.
Vortix 2 > 1 Kas
jjakji 2 > 1 Harstem
Vortix 2 > 1 jjakji
Harstem 2 > 0 Kas
jjakji 2 > 1 Harstem
VortiX and jjakji advance to the Ro16. 
