Only four tournaments remain until all of the WCS Points have been distributed. Only four tournaments stand between the current standings and a finalized Blizzcon roster. It will be a mad scramble to the top as only the top 8 have been solidified.* While Life and Jaedong are not 100% locked in, they are all but guaranteed a trip to Anaheim. The last 6 spots are all up for grabs. Here are the remaining tournaments beyond the WCS/GSL:
1) KeSPA Cup 2) DH Moscow 3) DH Stockholm 4) Red Bull DC (no announced WCS Points yet, but all other live Red Bull events in 2014 have had points)
The first two tournaments completely overlap and, as expected, have completely different players. Therefore the 16 attendances at Kespa Cup will not be able to get additional points unless their teams fly them out to DH Stockholm (which is not likely given their tendencies over the past year). For many of the players in Kespa Cup, this is do or die. It is no longer enough to just cheer for your favorites to win: now you must also cheer against others if your player is to have a hope of survival. Pick a side because from this moment onward, we’re at war.
On the Very Cusp 1) sOs - No one makes you think of money grubbing quite like $O$. His greatest story isn't that he was one of the old dual aces of WoongJin Stars, or that he is currently one of the dual aces of Jin Air, or the fact that he was last year's Blizzcon champion. It’s that he only seems to win when the prize money is given out in exact 100,000 dollar amounts. Unfortunately for him, he will be put to the ultimate test. Can he win when they aren't giving out 100k checks? Is he really willing to dirty himself with checks that come in a sum less than 100k? We’re about to find out.
2) soO - The biggest loser of the (now defunct) season finals was soO. If they had existed, he would have guaranteed his Blizzcon spot with 3 more second place finishes, cementing his spot as the greatest SC2 Kong of all time. Instead, he is the greatest SC2 Kong of all time with three consecutive GSLs now under his belt.
3) Classic - After being dragged down and killed by the embodiment of evil in GSL, Classic is now at a major crossroads in his life. On the left is Sniper, beguiling him to become the avatar of the Power of Protoss age. On the right is Zest, a player who has proven himself to be more than just what the meta had made him. Can Classic prove that his GSL was no fluke? Or will he have the worst slump of any GSL champion after their championship?
4) herO[jOin] - While Classic got kicked out by Shine, at least he can say he didn't get lose to Super and Reality. It’s been a road of hard knocks as herO has lost GSL Code A, Red Bull Online and IEM Toronto in succession. Much like Classic, KeSPA Cup promises to be herO's last shot to reach Blizzcon. At least even if he loses, he won’t become the Sniper of his race.
5) Rain/Pigbaby - Both are hovering around 2,000 WCS points, well within range of qualification. Both are still alive in their WCS/GSL regions. Both are in Kespa Cup and will be facing monsters in their initial matches. PigBaby must fight Zest, one of the greatest Protosses in the world while Rain faces the unstoppable force of Broodlord/infestor. And both must win, if only to personally kill the chances of possible usurpers taking their spots at Blizzcon.
6) Flash - I’ve never seen a hype train crash that swiftly or loudly since Lucifron in 2013. God Damn. Despite that horrific meltdown in the GSL Ro16 the train is still chugging along, prepared to drive straight to the finals of Kespa Cup. Will the One True God be reborn or will the hype train explode?
Threats Abroad
MMA/YoDa/Solar - All three are still alive in WCS/GSL and will be competing in DH Moscow. By the way things are looking they will likely be at Stockholm as well. These three players have the largest amount of possible WCS points to gain and are the biggest threats to the chances of other fan-favorite players (like Flash).
The Last Shot
Anyone still in GSL/WCS has a shot to make it to Blizzcon if they can snatch the crown. For simplicity's sake I've put them into two groups: The Hopefuls and the Snipers. Those in the Hopeful group are still alive in their respective regions and can secure a spot with either a high placing or a victory. Those in the Snipers group are already qualified. They have no other reasons to win other than to make money and/or ruin other people’s aspirations.
“In order for me to succeed, others must also fail.” - Probably how jjakji feels right now
This duo of players is on the very cusp of elimination. Both have been eliminated from WCS yet despite that, both are still fairly high in points. Both have much smaller chances to change their destiny in their own hands and must pray that others fail spectacularly. They are:
Snute - Widely considered the best foreigner player in the world at this very moment. However, he kind of wishes bad things on WEC; the only reason it didn't have WCS points was a late application. At least he gets to attend Moscow and Stockholm in order to stave off death.
jjakji - With nothing to play in, Jjakji will be spite incarnate as he prays and watches his comrades all fail with bated breath. Hell, if I was Jjakji I’d Skype up every player in DH Moscow and tell them the weaknesses of MMA/Yoda/Solar and then I’d Skype JYP and bribe him to give shoulder rubs to every player at Kespa Cup except Zest, Stardust, soO, Bomber and San.
That One Asshole
Dear - He really really really shouldn't even get a write-up, given that he’s at 0.16%. Except he’s on Samsung, the only Kespa team willing to send players anywhere with some consistency. He would need to win both Dreamhacks to have a shot at Blizzcon. Given that he did this exactly one year ago, taking GSL and the Season Finals, look to Dear to kill your favorite player’s dreams of making it to Blizzcon.
On September 11 2014 12:59 MiniFotToss wrote: Rain faces the unstoppable force of Broodlord/infestor.
WTF???? Rain is going against Bomber, not a zerg
It's a joke: During a time when PvT was imbalanced in Protoss' favored, Rain claimed in an interview that Terran was overpowered, almost as bad as BL/Infestor back in WoL (which was really broken).
He lost a lot of credibility as a spokesman for metagame balance that day
On September 11 2014 12:59 MiniFotToss wrote: Rain faces the unstoppable force of Broodlord/infestor.
WTF???? Rain is going against Bomber, not a zerg
This is an interview question Rain had before GSL season 1 ended.
So is Protoss really in that bad of a situation? Some could argue that you’re exaggerating.
Right now, the top 16 spots on ladder is taken by 10 Terran players. Normally, Terran players don’t do so well on ladder but I feel that things have gotten very serious now that there are 10 Terran players up there. When I see things like that, I feel that I’m not the only one who does badly in PvT. Widow mines have become very OP. In fact, I actually think that BW spider mines were better. That additional damage against shield was really big. Now Protoss can’t play using a templar build order. Once Terrans realized that, they are now so much more daring. And even without all that, Terran is still too strong. It’s like WoL Brood Lord/Infestor/Corruptor level.
Protoss then proceeded to win 10/12 Premier tournaments with 0 Terran finalists.
That timing. Hopefully soO can cement his place in Blizzcon this tourney/season. Also I'm glad Bomber is pretty much in, it would suck if his hopes were resting on his match against Rain
I don't think Jjakji 's chances are bad at all. He's pretty far up in the rankings and he's already confirmed to show up at Moscow. I also think he's highly likely to show up at Stockholm as well.
Personally I highly doubt anyone below Innovation on the current rankings has a chance.
On September 11 2014 13:42 movac wrote: I don't think Jjakji 's chances are bad at all. He's pretty far up in the rankings and he's already confirmed to show up at Moscow. I also think he's highly likely to show up at Stockholm as well.
Personally I highly doubt anyone below Innovation on the current rankings has a chance.
He doesn't need to do too much to have a decent spot. He will have to win one, or reach the semis of both, to guarantee his spot though.
I like all the suspense at the end of the year here. Besides Flash, I'm not sure who I want to grab these last few spots. Obviously soO should keep his spot, but other than that let's see this thing play out!
I'm a little confused though. Why not more love for viOLet? Seems he has as good a shot as many of those other "threats abroad".
Classic - Flavor of the month Toss who in my opinion hasn't really proved himself. He can become a legit contender or can drop out of the radar in the future but for the present I wouldn't bet on him.
SOS - I haven't seen him winning convincingly against high level T/Z when he did not cripple the opponent early on. (i.e. canons/timings) Think of him as you wish.
herO - Same as SOS
Flash/Soo - Solid players with zero flairs. Not sure what to make out of these. They are whom I think of when it comes to code S but not necessarily as champions.
That leaves Rain as the most complete player among the 6 in the list, but of course anyone can take down anyone on any given day so there's that.
BTW, I really think the snark against Sniper is undeserved and needs to stop. His run for the GSL championship was more convincing than, say, that of Classic's. He wasn't even one of those Zergs who abused BL/Infestors at every chance they got. (e.g. Symbol) He was more in the molds of Leenock/DRG.
Nice write-up. Only think, I would complain about is, that Jaedong is not quite a Sniper yet. He already dropped from 99,5% to 96.5, because + Show Spoiler +
Classic defeated Rogue
. If soO, Snute, MMA, Rain and a few others also do well at Kespa-cup/DH Moscow, he can still get eliminated.
On September 11 2014 14:17 Radicalness wrote: I like all the suspense at the end of the year here. Besides Flash, I'm not sure who I want to grab these last few spots. Obviously soO should keep his spot, but other than that let's see this thing play out!
I'm a little confused though. Why not more love for viOLet? Seems he has as good a shot as many of those other "threats abroad".
Yeah, he's 17th and still in premier league afaik. He has pretty good chances.
A slightly important detail I think this article failed to mention is that all herO has to do to move up 400 points is beat Sorry, a SKT B-teamer who has absolutely zero placed results ever. Im not even sure hes made he's made Code A before... "But he qualified for Kespa cup tho right?" Yes, but he really went thru the gauntlet of Alicia, Nado, Journey, and DeParture. Its not a 100% guarantee, but as long as herO shows up at least decent, he should win easily.
On September 11 2014 22:59 Dragoonstorm7 wrote: A slightly important detail I think this article failed to mention is that all herO has to do to move up 400 points is beat Sorry, a SKT B-teamer who has absolutely zero placed results ever. Im not even sure hes made he's made Code A before... "But he qualified for Kespa cup tho right?" Yes, but he really went thru the gauntlet of Alicia, Nado, Journey, and DeParture. Its not a 100% guarantee, but as long as herO shows up at least decent, he should win easily.
He did beat Alicia. I don't think herO is quite a sure thing but since it's BO5 he should have a good chance.
On September 11 2014 22:59 Dragoonstorm7 wrote: A slightly important detail I think this article failed to mention is that all herO has to do to move up 400 points is beat Sorry, a SKT B-teamer who has absolutely zero placed results ever. Im not even sure hes made he's made Code A before... "But he qualified for Kespa cup tho right?" Yes, but he really went thru the gauntlet of Alicia, Nado, Journey, and DeParture. Its not a 100% guarantee, but as long as herO shows up at least decent, he should win easily.
On September 11 2014 22:59 Dragoonstorm7 wrote: A slightly important detail I think this article failed to mention is that all herO has to do to move up 400 points is beat Sorry, a SKT B-teamer who has absolutely zero placed results ever. Im not even sure hes made he's made Code A before... "But he qualified for Kespa cup tho right?" Yes, but he really went thru the gauntlet of Alicia, Nado, Journey, and DeParture. Its not a 100% guarantee, but as long as herO shows up at least decent, he should win easily.
And what's the excuse for those victories? Opponents were easy too?
I think any of these Kespa players is good enough to take games off the best in the world or even go on a winning streak for awhile. So herO really shouldn't take sorry lightly or he might be sorry. Haha. I remember when Sora went on a mean streak like that once. Every one of these Kespa players is a threat. That said, herO is the favorite and he's had the opportunity to play a lot of PvTs against the very best TvP players recently (Cure especially). So I think herO has good chances.
On September 11 2014 22:59 Dragoonstorm7 wrote: A slightly important detail I think this article failed to mention is that all herO has to do to move up 400 points is beat Sorry, a SKT B-teamer who has absolutely zero placed results ever. Im not even sure hes made he's made Code A before... "But he qualified for Kespa cup tho right?" Yes, but he really went thru the gauntlet of Alicia, Nado, Journey, and DeParture. Its not a 100% guarantee, but as long as herO shows up at least decent, he should win easily.
And what's the excuse for those victories? Opponents were easy too?
TvTs and an in-house team game vs Classic? Look, Don Jimbo is definitely right when he says any kespa player can win a series vs anybody, but looking at the participants of Kespa Cup, herO got hands down the least accomplished player here. Maybe the odds arent near 99% like I implied, but they are the most in his favor that he could possibly have asked for.
I can't wait for day 2! too bad Flash will likely play soO in the qf. would have loved to see both of them in the finals but whatever, should be epic anyways. Also hoping Rain makes it pretty far ^.^
On September 11 2014 14:17 phantomfive wrote: What did Sniper do?
Beat a bunch of fan favorites to win his season of GSL and crushed a bunch of nerds' hearts
Also absolutely annihilated SlayerS in their farewell game in the GSTL on the day they were disbanding by all-killing them after YugiOh racked up 3 wins and made a lot of people hope they could go out on a high. And made Eve cry in the booth.
EPT
sOs - No one makes you think of money grubbing quite like $O$. His greatest story isn't that he was one of the old dual aces of WoongJin Stars, or that he is currently one of the dual aces of Jin Air, or the fact that he was last year's Blizzcon champion. It’s that he only seems to win when the prize money is given out in exact 100,000 dollar amounts. Unfortunately for him, he will be put to the ultimate test. Can he win when they aren't giving out 100k checks? Is he really willing to dirty himself with checks that come in a sum less than 100k? We’re about to find out.
soO - The biggest loser of the (now defunct) season finals was soO. If they had existed, he would have guaranteed his Blizzcon spot with 3 more second place finishes, cementing his spot as the greatest SC2 Kong of all time. Instead, he is the greatest SC2 Kong of all time with three consecutive GSLs now under his belt.
Flash - I’ve never seen a hype train crash that swiftly or loudly since Lucifron in 2013. God Damn. Despite that horrific meltdown in the GSL Ro16 the train is still chugging along, prepared to drive straight to the finals of Kespa Cup. Will the One True God be reborn or will the hype train explode?![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/9VDGH06.png)
