After seven rounds of qualifiers, the final 28 players are set to battle it out in the WCS 2015 European qualifier to decide who gets the coveted 14 spots for the WCS Premiere League. The competition will take place from Thursday to Saturday next week - see below for all the matchups and dates!
(Vote): Happy vs. Majestic (Vote): Welmu vs. Beastyqt (Vote): Harstem vs. Serral (Vote): MaNa vs. HeRoMaRinE
Poll: Best match for Day 2 ?
TLO vs Ret (114)
41%
ShoWTimE vs. Lilbow (85)
31%
BlinG vs. MorroW (42)
15%
uThermal vs. Bly (37)
13%
278 total votes
Your vote: Best match for Day 2 ?
(Vote): uThermal vs. Bly (Vote): ShoWTimE vs. Lilbow (Vote): BlinG vs. MorroW (Vote): TLO vs Ret
Poll: Best match for Day 3 ?
Nerchio vs. NaNiwa (312)
80%
ForGG vs MarineLorD (30)
8%
TargA vs. Kas (17)
4%
Bunny vs. Ptitdrogo (14)
4%
Snute vs. Psionic (13)
3%
Starbuck vs. FireCake (6)
2%
392 total votes
Your vote: Best match for Day 3 ?
(Vote): TargA vs. Kas (Vote): Snute vs. Psionic (Vote): Starbuck vs. FireCake (Vote): ForGG vs MarineLorD (Vote): Nerchio vs. NaNiwa (Vote): Bunny vs. Ptitdrogo
On January 18 2015 06:18 Aeromi wrote: Maps for Challenger League : Catallena LE • Deadwing LE • Foxtrot Labs LE • King Sejong Station LE • Merry Go Round LE • Nimbus LE • Overgrowth LE
I don't know of that's most disappointing they still aren't changing over, or if it's a relief because the new maps look terrible
On January 18 2015 06:18 Aeromi wrote: Maps for Challenger League : Catallena LE • Deadwing LE • Foxtrot Labs LE • King Sejong Station LE • Merry Go Round LE • Nimbus LE • Overgrowth LE
Are they afraid to see their maps played competitively or what? Oh yeah and I hate this Challenger format too. So many heartbreaking matchups )': (and yeah the French are not the luckiest here^^)
On January 18 2015 06:18 Aeromi wrote: Maps for Challenger League : Catallena LE • Deadwing LE • Foxtrot Labs LE • King Sejong Station LE • Merry Go Round LE • Nimbus LE • Overgrowth LE
On January 18 2015 07:04 astray71 wrote: Gotta be honest here... back to GSL everyone I'll keep an eye on Snute though
And also, when did Naniwa come back?
There's a lot of SICK matchups. What are you talking about? Lol. I can tell you don't keep up with stuff outside Korea because NaNiwa coming back/qualifying was a pretty big deal. xD
So after all these qualifiers, this is now single elimination who reaches the actual tournament and the loser gets nothing in return in regards to next WCS Season outside of 50 (?) WCS points?
On January 18 2015 07:18 Supersamu wrote: So after all these qualifiers, this is now single elimination who reaches the actual tournament and the loser gets nothing in return in regards to next WCS Season outside of 50 (?) WCS points?
On January 18 2015 07:18 Supersamu wrote: So after all these qualifiers, this is now single elimination who reaches the actual tournament and the loser gets nothing in return in regards to next WCS Season outside of 50 (?) WCS points?
They also get $2000!!!
Still, it seems a little bit silly that one match decides who gets into the Tournament where they have 2 lives in the group stage and who gets out. I am consistently underwhelmed with the formats in SC2 Tournaments, I wish some would just do floating triple elimination and rely on a robust seeding of the players. But then there would need to be a good (official) rating system, and that might be hard, since the regions are kind of disjunct with the regionlock and all. Not to mention that I think group play is awful. But I will still watch, since the matches will be good. I am surprised we don't see pro players complaining about the formats, though. I guess they value knowing their possible opponents sooner more than a more fair tournament format.
Given NaNi's recent inactivity Nerchio should be strongly favored but I think NaNiwa is significantly better in preparation for special occasions, whereas Nerchio often is stuck in tunnel vision when it comes to the metagame.
Or it might just come down to who better handles mind games
Some really cool match-ups, but yeah, one Bo5 is not the sexiest format I can think of for the challenger. It kind of scores really low, like sub-zero on the overall sexy-meter. But ok, at least everyone gets tons of time to prepare now for their match with the very known map pool.
On January 18 2015 07:18 Supersamu wrote: So after all these qualifiers, this is now single elimination who reaches the actual tournament and the loser gets nothing in return in regards to next WCS Season outside of 50 (?) WCS points?
They also get $2000!!!
Still, it seems a little bit silly that one match decides who gets into the Tournament where they have 2 lives in the group stage and who gets out. I am consistently underwhelmed with the formats in SC2 Tournaments, I wish some would just do floating triple elimination and rely on a robust seeding of the players. But then there would need to be a good (official) rating system, and that might be hard, since the regions are kind of disjunct with the regionlock and all. Not to mention that I think group play is awful. But I will still watch, since the matches will be good. I am surprised we don't see pro players complaining about the formats, though. I guess they value knowing their possible opponents sooner more than a more fair tournament format.
In 2013 they used 4 player groups for challenger league too. I don't understand why they changed it.
On January 18 2015 07:18 Supersamu wrote: So after all these qualifiers, this is now single elimination who reaches the actual tournament and the loser gets nothing in return in regards to next WCS Season outside of 50 (?) WCS points?
They also get $2000!!!
Still, it seems a little bit silly that one match decides who gets into the Tournament where they have 2 lives in the group stage and who gets out. I am consistently underwhelmed with the formats in SC2 Tournaments, I wish some would just do floating triple elimination and rely on a robust seeding of the players. But then there would need to be a good (official) rating system, and that might be hard, since the regions are kind of disjunct with the regionlock and all. Not to mention that I think group play is awful. But I will still watch, since the matches will be good. I am surprised we don't see pro players complaining about the formats, though. I guess they value knowing their possible opponents sooner more than a more fair tournament format.
I think this is a better format, I prefer having matches where there is a lot on the line for every match. $2000 and the notoriety gained is more than enough of a reward for getting through the qualifier, IMO.
If you think about it, in most major sports the playoffs are huge high-stakes games after they've been fighting for a really long time to get there. In American football it's even Bo1. This creates a more hype atmosphere for every playoff match since you work the entire season for that one moment. WCS has three seasons a year so I see nothing wrong with it really.
On January 18 2015 07:18 Supersamu wrote: So after all these qualifiers, this is now single elimination who reaches the actual tournament and the loser gets nothing in return in regards to next WCS Season outside of 50 (?) WCS points?
They also get $2000!!!
Still, it seems a little bit silly that one match decides who gets into the Tournament where they have 2 lives in the group stage and who gets out. I am consistently underwhelmed with the formats in SC2 Tournaments, I wish some would just do floating triple elimination and rely on a robust seeding of the players. But then there would need to be a good (official) rating system, and that might be hard, since the regions are kind of disjunct with the regionlock and all. Not to mention that I think group play is awful. But I will still watch, since the matches will be good. I am surprised we don't see pro players complaining about the formats, though. I guess they value knowing their possible opponents sooner more than a more fair tournament format.
I think this is a better format, I prefer having matches where there is a lot on the line for every match. $2000 and the notoriety gained is more than enough of a reward for getting through the qualifier, IMO.
If you think about it, in most major sports the playoffs are huge high-stakes games after they've been fighting for a really long time to get there. In American football it's even Bo1. This creates a more hype atmosphere for every playoff match since you work the entire season for that one moment. WCS has three seasons a year so I see nothing wrong with it really.
I agree that the money coming in from viewership and the money being spent on production is a factor for the business conducting the tournaments. I think with that in mind it makes more sense that the tournament has such a format.
Looking at the Tata Steel and the Linares (two very prominent Chess Tournaments), they are both Round-Robin.
So: Good Business decision, but not the best for finding out the top player.
(T)Happy vs. (P)Majestic (P)Welmu vs. (T)Beastyqt (P)Harstem vs. (Z)Serral (P)MaNa vs. (T)HeRoMaRinE (T)uThermal vs. (Z)Bly (P)ShoWTimE vs. (P)Lilbow (P)BlinG vs. (T)MorroW (Z)TheLittleOne vs. (Z)Ret (Z)TargA vs. (T)Kas (Z)Snute vs. (P)PsiOniC (Z)Starbuck vs. (Z)FireCake (T)ForGG vs. (T)MarineLorD (Z)Nerchio vs. (P)NaNiwa (T)Bunny vs. (P)PtitDrogo
On January 19 2015 02:50 Taari wrote: (T)Happy vs. (P)Majestic (P)Welmu vs. (T)Beastyqt (P)Harstem vs. (Z)Serral (P)MaNa vs. (T)HeRoMaRinE (T)uThermal vs. (Z)Bly (P)ShoWTimE vs. (P)Lilbow (P)BlinG vs. (T)MorroW (Z)TheLittleOne vs. (Z)Ret (Z)TargA vs. (T)Kas (Z)Snute vs. (P)PsiOniC (Z)Starbuck vs. (Z)FireCake (T)ForGG vs. (T)MarineLorD (Z)Nerchio vs. (P)NaNiwa (T)Bunny vs. (P)PtitDrogo
just my feelings... :Y
The only one that sticks out because it is strange is the Snute vs PsiOniC one, I don't think that he can do it.
Personnaly I don't care about drama and shit, and so I think Mana vs PtitDrogo will be the most interesting match of day 3 - although I think I read somewhere PtitDrogo didn't like PvT to much (or did I dream this?)
On January 19 2015 04:31 Gwavajuice wrote: Personnaly I don't care about drama and shit, and so I think Mana vs PtitDrogo will be the most interesting match of day 3 - although I think I read somewhere PtitDrogo didn't like PvT to much (or did I dream this?)
On January 19 2015 04:31 Gwavajuice wrote: Personnaly I don't care about drama and shit, and so I think Mana vs PtitDrogo will be the most interesting match of day 3 - although I think I read somewhere PtitDrogo didn't like PvT to much (or did I dream this?)
On January 18 2015 07:18 Supersamu wrote: So after all these qualifiers, this is now single elimination who reaches the actual tournament and the loser gets nothing in return in regards to next WCS Season outside of 50 (?) WCS points?
They also get $2000!!!
Still, it seems a little bit silly that one match decides who gets into the Tournament where they have 2 lives in the group stage and who gets out. I am consistently underwhelmed with the formats in SC2 Tournaments, I wish some would just do floating triple elimination and rely on a robust seeding of the players. But then there would need to be a good (official) rating system, and that might be hard, since the regions are kind of disjunct with the regionlock and all. Not to mention that I think group play is awful. But I will still watch, since the matches will be good. I am surprised we don't see pro players complaining about the formats, though. I guess they value knowing their possible opponents sooner more than a more fair tournament format.
I think this is a better format, I prefer having matches where there is a lot on the line for every match. $2000 and the notoriety gained is more than enough of a reward for getting through the qualifier, IMO.
If you think about it, in most major sports the playoffs are huge high-stakes games after they've been fighting for a really long time to get there. In American football it's even Bo1. This creates a more hype atmosphere for every playoff match since you work the entire season for that one moment. WCS has three seasons a year so I see nothing wrong with it really.
I agree that the money coming in from viewership and the money being spent on production is a factor for the business conducting the tournaments. I think with that in mind it makes more sense that the tournament has such a format.
Looking at the Tata Steel and the Linares (two very prominent Chess Tournaments), they are both Round-Robin.
So: Good Business decision, but not the best for finding out the top player.
Sure, but that's why you have several seasons leading up to a world championship. Each individual season isn't supposed to necessarily be won by the best player, that's what keeps the game exciting and interesting.
Oh god. Ofc im working this weekend. Gonna be hard not to look results up. Ill try not to until i watch vods. Man id love to see naniwa vs nerchio live tho.
EPT
Happy vs. 
Majestic
Serral
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/OIXof.gif)
