EPTThe Best of the West Primer
by lichter
With the qualifiers for WCS almost over (only Taiwan has yet to finish their qualifiers), we now know the roster of players competing for a coveted spot in WCS Premier League. While many players should be content making it to Challenger for Season 1 and earning a nice $2,000 paycheck, the dream of course is to reach the pinnacle of Starcraft 2 competition. Premier League is just one series win away for all these players, and it's difficult to argue that there are more deserving players than these.
So, before Challenger League gets underway it's a good time to take a quick look at each player and their prospects for 2015.
(Winrates are HotS only)
WCS Europe
BeastyqtQualifier Path:
Zeth, uThermal, MorroW, DayshiLast Good Result: WCS EU S2 2013
WCS 2014 History: None whatsoever
Winrates: vs
62% | vs 
54% | vs 
53% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Majestic and his 54% winrate in PvT
Our Expectations for 2015: One appearance in Premier League, and no Challenger repeats
HeRoMaRinEQualifier Path:
FireCake, TLO, Petraeus, ZansterLast Good Result: 2nd place at ESL Pro Series Germany Winter
WCS 2014 History: 2 Challenger appearances
Winrates: vs
60% | vs 62% | vs 69% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Delicious foreign zergs
Our Expectations for 2015: Kills more zergs than anyone, loses to every protoss
LilbowQualifier Path:
Krr, MaNa, MarineLorD, BunnyLast Good Result: 2nd place in Who's The Best European?
WCS 2014 History: Premier League S1, Challenger League S2/3
Winrates: vs
61% | vs 62% | vs 73% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: FireCake, who he is 10-1 against
Our Expectations for 2015: Contends with HeRoMaRinE for most zergs defeated; 1 Ro16
ForGGQualifier Path:
JonnyREcco, PtitDrogo, BlinG, HarstemLast Good Result: 1st place at Dreamhack Winter
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Ro4, S3 - Ro8
Winrates: vs
62% | vs 77% | vs 62% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Terran.
Our Expectations for 2015: Loses a single series to a foreign terran all year. Wins a season.
PtitDrogoQualifier Path:
FireCake, Nerchio, Serral, SnuteLast Good Result: ???
WCS 2014 History: None
Winrates: vs
55% | vs 44% | vs 61% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Definitely zerg
Our Expectations for 2015: Maybe a Premier League spot if he gets lucky with a zerg, but will probably just be a qualifier hero
KasQualifier Path:
roof, GunGFuBanDa, Lambo, HanfyLast Good Result: Let's just say it's been a while
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Challenger, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
57% | vs 59% | vs 60% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Some young upstart that he can yell at to get off his lawn
Our Expectations for 2015: A solid place in Premier League Ro32
StarbuckQualifier Path:
Theo, Bly, Welmu, HappyLast Good Result: Ro8 at DH Valencia 2014
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
64% | vs 62% | vs 64% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Someone who plays predictably standard
Our Expectations for 2015: One surprising Ro8 run, one surprising drop out of Challenger
BunnyQualifier Path:
Snovski, Zeth, Zanster, MarineLorDLast Good Result: 1st place at Gfinity G3
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro16, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Ro8
Winrates: vs
63% | vs 52% | vs 65% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Anyone but terran
Our Expectations for 2015: First foreign WCS champion!??! Or a bunch of Ro8s I guess
TargAQualifier Path:
Theo, Zanster, Snute, PetraeusLast Good Result: DH Moscow Ro16
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Challenger, S3 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
59% | vs 58% | vs 66% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Bly, who he is 13-6 against
Our Expectations for 2015: Once in Premier, twice in Challenger
NaNiwaQualifier Path:
SpaceMarine, MaNa, Hanfy, HappyLast Good Result: Previously retired
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
64% | vs 69% | vs 64% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Someone who annoys him on twitter
Our Expectations for 2015: Much twitter feud, much drama, much money
uThermalQualifier Path:
Tarrantius, prospect, Lambo, SerralLast Good Result: A lot of minor tournaments
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
61% | vs 67% | vs 59% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Someone bad at TvT
Our Expectations for 2015: Gets in a Ro16 because of an all terran group
MarineLorDQualifier Path:
Evire, Miszu, FireCake, hopeLast Good Result: 4th place at Gamers Assembly 2014
WCS 2014 History: None
Winrates: vs
55% | vs 52% | vs 66% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: PtitDrogo, who he is 12-5 against
Our Expectations for 2015: Anything from here is a bonus
SnuteQualifier Path: Guru,
JoNa, Tefel, PetraeusLast Good Result: IEM San Jose Ro8
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro8, S2 - Ro16, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
66% | vs 65% | vs 64% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Bly, who he is 22-8 against
Our Expectations for 2015: Lots of swarmhost games that will make me regret covering this league
MaNaQualifier Path:
PrimeLoT, DieStar, DeMusliM, HappyLast Good Result: 1st place in Who's The Best European?
WCS 2014 History: S2 - Ro16, S3 - Ro16
Winrates: vs
58% | vs 54% | vs 52% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Anyone but a TL teamkill, since he's usually the victim
Our Expectations for 2015: Proves he's not actually the best European, but does pretty okay in Premier League
MajesticQualifier Path:
chubZ, Dayshi, sLivko, TLOLast Good Result: Ro16 at Dreamhack Valencia
WCS 2014 History: None
Winrates: vs
55% | vs 54% | vs 62% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Probably doesn't matter
Our Expectations for 2015: $2000.
WelmuQualifier Path:
frozz, SpaceMarine, Bly, fraerLast Good Result: 1st place at Assembly Summer 2014
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro8, S2 - Ro8, S3 - Ro16
Winrates: vs
61% | vs 63% | vs 58% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: MarineLorD, who he is 10-1 against
Our Expectations for 2015: Finally wins a playoff match for a Ro4 appearance
FireCakeQualifier Path:
CoolTea, SortOf, Ret, DeMusliMLast Good Result: None
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
50% | vs 52% | vs 46% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Someone easy to tilt in chat
Our Expectations for 2015: Lives up to his name as neo-Stephano, minus the winning
MorroWQualifier Path: hephiastas,
Tefel, GoOdy, RevolverLast Good Result: A reaaaaally long time ago
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger, S2 - Challenger, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
55% | vs 54% | vs 61% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: FireCake?
Our Expectations for 2015: Every time he wins, the casters will remind us that he won IEM Cologne in 2010
NerchioQualifier Path:
qbeN, ZhuGeLiang, Complain, SpaceMarineLast Good Result: Not a lot of tournaments outside WCS EU
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro16, S2 - Ro16, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
63% | vs 64% | vs 66% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: MaNa, who he is 56-22 against
Our Expectations for 2015: Solid Premier League player and a lot of quotable tweets for future articles
HappyQualifier Path:
Theo, Strelok, Adonminus, BoomboxLast Good Result: Ro8 at Dreamhack Moscow
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Ro8
Winrates: vs
65% | vs 60% | vs 64% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Bly, who he is 79-44 against
Our Expectations for 2015: 9 straight WCS Premier League appearances? We need an award named after him if he does it
BlinGQualifier Path:
GenjiTakiya, Lambo, DeMusliM, TLOLast Good Result: 4th place at Insomnia51 (?)
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro16, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
63% | vs 60% | vs 51% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Anyone but Nerchio, who he is 2-22 against
Our Expectations for 2015: More interviews with his mom as he maintains his Premier League spot
HarstemQualifier Path:
QwerelL, DieStar, StarNaN, roofLast Good Result: 1st place, Insomnia51
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger, S2 - Ro16, S3 - Ro16
Winrates: vs
63% | vs 52% | vs 55% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Protoss
Our Expectations for 2015: Lots and lots and lots of selfies, and maybe a Ro16
RetQualifier Path: hope,
DnS, elfi, MiniraserLast Good Result: 2012?
WCS 2014 History: S3 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
57% | vs 41% | vs 59% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Someone who will let him build 90 drones before they attack
Our Expectations for 2015: Follow Ret @LiquidRet. Maybe a Premier League appearance if he doesn't get a terran
PsiOniCQualifier Path:
Krr, Zeth, ShoWTimE, StrelokLast Good Result: None
WCS 2014 History: None
Winrates: vs
62% | vs 53% | vs 50% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Someone he can cointoss to victory
Our Expectations for 2015: None
ShoWTimEQualifier Path:
Complain, TLO, SerralLast Good Result: 1st at ESL Pro Series Germany: Winter 2014
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Challenger, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
64% | vs 62% | vs 62% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: MorroW, who he is 8-0 against
Our Expectations for 2015: Alternating stints in Challenger and Premier
BlyQualifier Path:
fraer, Petraeus, MiniraserLast Good Result: 2012
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Challenger, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
67% | vs 50% | vs 57% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: A protoss with bad PvZ
Our Expectations for 2015: A Ro32 appearance, but a longer stint in Challenger
TLOQualifier Path:
Lambo, Tefel, Hanfy, MiniraserLast Good Result: Ro4 at IEM Sao Paulo 2014
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro16, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Ro16
Winrates: vs
57% | vs 52% | vs 55% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Anyone but a Russian
Our Expectations for 2015: TLO status quo, so more Ro32s and some Ro16s
SerralQualifier Path:
Adonminus, Hanfy, PetraeusLast Good Result: Ro4 at Copenhagen Games 2014
WCS 2014 History: S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
56% | vs 62% | vs 58% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Someone he can surprise
Our Expectations for 2015: Steadily improving results, maybe a Ro16
WCS North America
HydraQualifier Path:
patnessdark, 
GravTrace, TheTRUTH, PoltLast Good Result: Ro4 at IEM Singapore
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
57% | vs 66% | vs 66% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Any foreign non-protoss
Our Expectations for 2015: Underperforms, still places top 4 at least once
qxcQualifier Path:
Kingdom, Moosegills, Xenocider, puCKLast Good Result: Ro8 at Redbull Atlanta
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
54% | vs 57% | vs 55% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Someone else who is retiring after season 1
Our Expectations for 2015: Makes Ro16 or Ro8 before going inactive
BailsQualifier Path:
Zen, sWs, Goswser, ViBELast Good Result: Top 16 at Redbull Detroit
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger, S3 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
56% | vs 57% | vs 55% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: The weaker of Astrea/Semper
Our Expectations for 2015: Wins qualifiers before losing to better opponents in Challenger
viOLetQualifier Path:
GyuRi, ElhayM, Astrea, MaSaLast Good Result: Ro4 at Redbull Detroit
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger, S2 - Ro8, S3 - Ro16
Winrates: vs
64% | vs 55% | vs 63% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Anyone except Terran
Our Expectations for 2015: One deep run, otherwise hovers around Ro16 and Ro32
KaneQualifier Path:
SwifTFiRe, avilo, Goswser, PoltLast Good Result: Ro16 at Redbull Detroit
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger, S2 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
63% | vs 56% | vs 59% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Protoss
Our Expectations for 2015: One Premier spot, stays in Challenger twice
puCKQualifier Path:
THERIDDLER, PiLiPiLi, simon, bioiceLast Good Result: 4th at WEC 2014
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro16, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
59% | vs 47% | vs 59% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: ?
Our Expectations for 2015: One appearance in Premier, one in Challenger
MaSaQualifier Path:
FATALBUNNY, Trace, JonSnow, XenociderLast Good Result: Qualified for IEM Toronto
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
68% | vs 69% | vs 69% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: A foreigner
Our Expectations for 2015: Consistently kills fellow NA players before falling to the first or second Korean he meets
AstreaQualifier Path:
Creature, Semper, Scarlett, EJKLast Good Result: Took two games off HyuN in a ZOTAC Cup during WoL
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
56% | vs 62% | vs 63% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: A Zerg vulnerable to 2-base all-ins
Our Expectations for 2015: Might qualify for Challenger a second time
PoltQualifier Path:
Bepo, PandaBearMe, Intense, MinigunLast Good Result: 1st place at Redbull Detroit
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro8, S2 - Ro8, S3 - Ro4
Winrates: vs
71% | vs 66% | vs 67% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Not a Zerg, since Hydra and Kane both beat him in qualifiers
Our Expectations for 2015: Wins one WCS, otherwise reaches Ro8 every season
XenociderQualifier Path:
Picasso, sWs, hendralisk, DeeMoLast Good Result: Winning IEF 2013
WCS 2014 History: S2 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
58% | vs 47% | vs 62% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Not Terran
Our Expectations for 2015: Might make Premier once, qualifies twice
GuitarcheeseQualifier Path:
Perfect, CharSiuBao, Trace, SuppyLast Good Result: Reaching Premier last season
WCS 2014 History: S2 - Challenger, S3 - Ro32
Winrates: vs
77% | vs 47% | vs 55% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Protoss
Our Expectations for 2015: Mainstay in Challenger
StateQualifier Path:
Gayguy, Playa, ViBE, HuKLast Good Result: Getting to play a game in Proleague
WCS 2014 History: None
Winrates: vs
52% | vs 54% | vs 48% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: qxc, who he is 8-2 in matches against
Our Expectations for 2015: Qualifies for Premier once
ScarlettQualifier Path:
Voltz, PiLiPiLi, CNProtoss, TraceLast Good Result: Ro8 at WCS America
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Challenger, S3 - Ro8
Winrates: vs
65% | vs 57% | vs 60% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: A Protoss that refuses to do a 2 base all-in
Our Expectations for 2015: Makes a run to the Ro16 before losing to a Korean and retiring
SemperQualifier Path:
DeeMo, RotterdaM, WarreN, sWs, DrunkenboiLast Good Result: Beating RotterdaM's proxy tempests in the qualifiers
WCS 2014 History: None
Winrates: vs
56% | vs 63% | vs 55% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: The weakest player he can find
Our Expectations for 2015: We will probably never see him again
SuppyQualifier Path:
CharSiuBao, Playa, Night, GoswserLast Good Result: Ro8 at Redbull Atlanta
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
49% | vs 57% | vs 58% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Not Protoss
Our Expectations for 2015: Makes Challenger twice while studying for exams
HuKQualifier Path:
Silky, nathanias, JonSnow, IntenseLast Good Result: Ro8 at WCS America
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro16, S2 - Ro32, S3 - Ro8
Winrates: vs
60% | vs 52% | vs 59% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: Suppy, who he is 19-7 against
Our Expectations for 2015: Causes drama on twitter, reaches Premier 9 times in a row without anyone noticing
WCS Latin America
MajOrQualifier Path: MarinekinG, Sektor,
Sheep, ChamLast Good Result: 1st place at Copa America 2014
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Ro32, S2 - Ro16, S3 - Ro16
Winrates: vs
69% | vs 57% | vs 67% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: JimRiSiNg, who he is 16-0 against
Our Expectations for 2015: 3 seasons of Premier League, at least 4 correct prophesies
JimRiSiNgQualifier Path:
Soldier, Alison, Shakti, ByRadaLast Good Result: 5th/6th at Copa America 2014
WCS 2014 History: None
Winrates: vs
69% | vs 55% | vs 47% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: No protoss left, oops
Our Expectations for 2015: Maybe one Ro32 at best
CatZQualifier Path:
Gosudark, Alison, wiNgiAN, ChamLast Good Result: 4th at Copa America 2014
WCS 2014 History: S1 - Challenger
Winrates: vs
55% | vs 40% | vs 54% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: JimRiSiNg, I guess
Our Expectations for 2015: One season will have 2 ROOT players in the Ro8
KelazhurQualifier Path:
XionS, eGGz, AreS, ShaktiLast Good Result: None
WCS 2014 History: None
Winrates: vs
59% | vs 36% | vs 54% Who They'd Like to Face in Challenger: CatZ
Our Expectations for 2015: Maybe one Ro32 at best
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