WCS Season One
Premier League

From Weekly To Weekender
Fiddling With the Format

Round of 16 Preview
16 players, 8 winners

The Biggest Stories
A Weekend Full of Action

Finals Predictions

Brackets and standings on Liquipedia

by XXTN

Once upon a time, fans clamored for a weekly tournament in order to support the foreign scene. Fans batted their eyelashes at Code S and wished for something similar in the West. Then, once it happened, fans asked for more. They wanted the entire tournament offline regardless of the costs. What we have no is a compromise between the two: a weekly Challenger and Ro32, and a big weekend tournament to finish things off. It makes sense logistically, as WCS now brings together players from Canada down to Australia. This will be another step in the on going WCS experiment.

Overshadowed by the grand WCS restructuring, the condensing of the Ro16 and onwards into a single weekend event is a subtle change that could have major implications. Players no longer have the luxury of focusing solely on opponents in their Ro16 group. With the quarterfinals immediately following the second group stage, players must prepare for the possibility of facing just about anyone in the top 16. One must rely less on specific builds and more on instincts and mechanics. Players who can think on their feet and adapt to any situation are more likely to go far. Experienced and composed veterans like Polt and ForGG will embrace this new format. Known for his stamina and strong weekend performances, Snute will likely benefit from the change as well. The location of the venue is another important factor to consider. North American players, who have been accustomed to playing in the ESL studio in California, will have to cope with the fatigue and jet lag that comes with a flight to France. Players from the Asian/Oceania regions like XiGua, MacSed, PiG, and Has face similar challenges. European based players, however, will not have this disadvantage. The ante has been raised and the pressure to collect those precious WCS points is higher than ever. The road to Blizzcon 2015 has already begun and an early front-runner will be crowned on championship Sunday.

by lichter and XXTN

Group A: The Swarm and the Sire
Serral vs XiGua | ForGG vs TLO

One of the most basic analyses of group stages is that of matchup preparation. With 3 potential opponents, the player with the least number of matchups to prepare for often has the advantage. The reasoning is simple: one matchup, one mode of practice. Builds can be honed, and game sense can be fine tuned. However, there is also one notable disadvantage: one's style can be easily analysed in turn. Keen opponents can get a feel for that player's style, and games played during the group itself can enlighten opponents about his plans. After all, there's only so many builds you can do against one race.

ForGG must therefore approach this group with caution. While only the bold would not consider him the favorite in Group A, he's been drawn into a group with 3 zergs. While it continues to be his weakest matchup, it was against Life—by far the greatest zerg of this generation—that he won his first title in SC2. It appeared that he had finally grasped how to be anything and everything with his hellions and banshees, but his triumph in TvZ was short lived. His 0-5 record against Life since then may suggest that he hasn't figured it out yet, but his only losses since DreamHack Winter have been against the BlizzCon champ and Soulkey. That should give him enough confidence to continue playing his preferred mech styles, but his opponents may prefer to practice for ZvZ instead.

Of the three zergs, Serral has a notable knack in the mirror. Since the start of the year, he is a blistering 27-10, though some of those wins have come against middling opponents. He is still one of Europe's hottest properties right now, and his first place finish in his Ro32 group was evidence of his growing stature. Unfortunately, we've yet to see any ZvZ from him since his 2-0 win over Suppy, and his relative newness may give him the edge in the tightrope that is ZvZ. He's also far more balanced than his two zerg brethren.

The two opponents that he will have to beat to reach the knockout stages could not be more different, however. While XiGua is a paragon of standard roaches, TLO is far more unpredictable. The Invictus Gaming player has been playing roach wars for years, and his organization of his ranks is some of the best. Unfortunately, his lack of ingenuity in ZvZ, especially in deadlock situations, often puts him on a clock to strike before his opponent can transition. XiGua is the type of player that meets expectations, and that likely means another Ro16 exit.

On the other hand, TLO's ingenuity can sometimes manifest in madness. He's the type of player that can find a solution for any problem, but also the type that can try a novel answer for a problem that wasn't asked. The mercurial zerg can peak as high as third in an IEM or bottom of any group, and there's no telling what he has in store.

Prediction: ForGG and Serral advance.

Group B: Now Is The Time
Snute vs MacSed | ShoWTimE vs PiG

After dominating his Ro32 group with a 4-0, Liquid.Snute finds himself in familiar territory here in the second round of WCS. For most fans, the top foreigner of 2014 remains the heavy favorite to advance, but his recent lack of results casts some doubt. Snute’s last deep run in a premier tournament took place nearly 7 months ago at Dremhack Moscow. Since then, he’s been almost exclusively competing in online cups, appearing at only one international lan this year. At IEM Taipei, Snute barely failed to make it through the open bracket, having suffered consecutive losses to FanTasy and Cure. Luckily for Snute, he will not have to play any Koreans in his Ro16 group. The foreign hope has been slumping against Koreans these past few months, but he is still dominant against his non-Korean peers. Over the past two months, Snute has gone 45-9 in competitive matches vs foreigners. With so many Koreans having returned home, now’s the time for Snute to rise and seize the WCS crown.

Still, that is easier said than done… especially for someone who struggled in WCS last year. The last time Snute appeared in the WCS quarterfinals was S1 of 2014. Though he is a formidable weekend warrior, Snute has struggled with the weekly format of WCS, which calls for specific preparations. Fortunately for him, changes to the WCS format have made the Ro16 and beyond a weekend affair. After the group stage, players must set aside preparation and rely on instincts and mechanics - a scenario that brings out the best in Snute. He should excel in a group with a Zerg and two Protosses, as these are Snute’s strongest matchups. His infamous SH play in ZvP is as impeccable as ever, and he also demonstrates an uncanny understanding of ZvZ dynamics. With the right mindset and proper preparation, Snute should easily advance from this group and possibly hoist the trophy on Championship Sunday.

When asked to list the WCS mainstays, the likes of Polt, viOLet, TLO, and Welmu typically come to mind. The fact is, iG.MacSed has been one of the most consistent players in regards to WCS. This season marks his 6th consecutive Premier League appearance, and 4th ever top 16 placement. MacSed has survived season after season partly because he is such a difficult opponent to prepare against. Aside from WCS, the Chinese Protoss primarily participates in obscure online cups. He doesn’t score any big invites, and he doesn’t travel. Simply put, there are just not many MacSed replays to study from. The element of surprise could certainly give MacSed the leverage he needs to advance. MacSed could get the drop on Snute and PiG, as he has yet to face a Zerg in this WCS season. In addition, MacSed has not played either Snute or Pig since 2013, and he has never met ShoWTimE in a competitive match. These facts make the Chinese Protoss nearly impossible to prepare against.

In the past, MacSed has shown a propensity for a variety of all-ins and timings against Zergs. Be it 2-base blink, immortal/sentry, or proxy voidrays - you name it and he can do it. This style of play couples well with MacSed’s decisive personality. PvP can prove chaotic at times, but MacSed is quite a resourceful player; he will make the most of his units and can be just as a great a problem solver as Polt. In his games, he always sticks to the game plan or commits fully to an attack. Here is a player with unwavering confidence and conviction in his strategies. MacSed is my pick to advance because he embodies MC’s calculated yet aggressive style with just a hint of Has’ insanity. Now’s the time for the great wall to come down and for MacSed to show he can do more than just survive in WCS.

Prediction: Snute and MacSed to advance

Group C: Glory and Infamy
Polt vs FireCake | MaNa vs Hydra

One of three Koreans remaining in WCS, ROOT.Hydra’s recent results suggest he is primed to make a deep run in this tournament. Just last month, he gave Zest a run for his money at IEM Katowice by almost eliminating the eventual champion in the first round. A week later, he defeated Bunny, FanTaSy, Heart, and Rogue enroute to a second place finish at the Gfinity Spring Masters. Not only was he mechanically sharp in those games, but he also demonstrated excellent game sense. Hydra knew when to defend and when to take the fight to the enemy. Hydra exhibited patience and composure under pressure and was able to deflect most aggressions with ease, succumbing only to PartinG in the grand finals. However, Hydra is by no means defensive minded. The belligerent Zerg is always eager to fight, taking map control with small groups of zerglings and his muta flock. He crushes opponents who dare to venture too far onto creep as easily as those who macro too greedily behind their high walls.

Heading into this weekend, Hydra already faces high expectations to place highly in his first ever WCS PL season. The CJ Entus exile is a member of the new crop of KeSPA players (Rain, Soulkey, and TRUE, to name a few) leaving behind KeSPA’s rigorous traditions for more global opportunities. But many of these players have already shown that with more freedom comes the high probability of deteriorating skills. Since leaving SK Telecom, both Rain and Soulkey have exhibited a clear dip in results and form. Many Korean pros think international competition is a cakewalk compared to the cut-throat Korean leagues, but this is often not the case once players are actually out there on their own. Can Hydra prove he has what it takes to survive in the wild? Having been set free, will he now soar to glory or plummet to infamy?

Since WCS began nearly two years ago, CMStorm.Polt is already a two-time champion and a heavy favorite to take home his third title. After losing an epic game five in last season’s semis against Bomber, Captain America has bounced back by easily topping his Ro32 group. But since then, Polt has retreated from the spotlight, quietly preparing to make his first grand splash in 2015. Aside from losing in the early stages of IEM Taipei and failing to qualify for Katowice, Polt has no other significant results in 2015 to speak of. But still, a well rested and mentally fresh Polt is a frightening prospect. One of the most consistent players in the game, Polt rarely slumps because he can maintain a level head and does not dwell on losses. Many expect him to return from this mini-hiatus with the same caliber of play, if not higher. Polt’s patient and surgical style is easy to predict yet difficult to stop. He can think two, sometimes three steps ahead of his opponent and rip his prey apart with multi-pronged attacks. The CMStorm Terran is known for his tactical prowess in all three matchups. He doesn’t need Bomber’s relentless macro or Maru’s speed and control. Polt rarely looks for a one-hit KO; he likes to throw a variety of combinations to soften an opponent’s defense and capitalize when the opening presents itself. This style has kept him winning for his entire career, and it’s not about to change. Having never lost to MaNa or FireCake in a competitive setting, Polt’s only hurdle in this group is Hydra, who defeated Polt 2-0 earlier this season in one of the WCS American qualifiers. Polt may not necessarily advance in first, but I would be shocked to see the veteran Terran fall in the Ro16. The expectations for Polt are through the roof, and he must keep his cool as he always has. For CMStorm.Polt, the fine line between glory and infamy lies between second and third place.

Prediction: Hydra and Polt to advance.

Group D: French Onion Soup
Welmu vs Bunny | Kane vs Has

The Broth: Welmu

It's unfortunate how often Welmu is overlooked in the list of best foreigners. While he's never had a barnstorming run to a Ro4 or finals like some more illustrious foreigners, tournaments in Europe just aren't complete without the Finn going far. What Welmu really needs now is a truly great moment, and WCS is as good a stage as any. Once considered one of the strongest macro protoss players, Welmu has been switching things up more often lately. He's not afraid to all in or gamble on a big attack, and it keeps opponents honest. This ability to use that protoss threat is actually a good way to draw proceedings into the late game, where Welmu has traditionally performed well. However he's still at risk of becoming lost in that sea of the really good but never great, and it's high time for him to surprise us with his flavor.

The Crouton: Kane

As one of the more opinionated players out there, Kane isn't one to shy away from crunchy tweets. His back-and-forth with NaNiwa was not without some drama, and the Canadian Zerg doesn't seem to back down from anyone. Once upon a time, that would have been all he'd be known for. During the early parts of 2013 and 2014, Kane was just the filler that added texture to local tournaments. Even during the Ro32, few expected him to do well. While his reputation justified those predictions, Kane showed that he has the talent to become the star of his own dish. He won his group by beating TargA and Happy, but they were very close 2-1s and this his first time reaching this far in a premier tournament. His will and composure will be put to the test, and we'll see whether he floats or sinks to the bottom.

The Onion: Bunny

At his best, Bunny can make even the most hardened pros cry in frustration. He is as close as we've gotten to a foreigner MMA or GuMiho, and he has built a reputation as one of the most exciting Europeans to watch due to his penchant for drops and runbys. When everything works well, his play is spicy and explosive. Yet when his fingers get tangled and his attacks don't pan out, he can fall like a dull bulb. On that fateful day at Gfinity G3, Bunny made himself a worthwhile headliner and one of the foreigners most likely to break the Korean WCS monopoly. This group is his for the taking, and anything short of 4star games will be a disappointment.

The Cheese: Has



Well, it's not like you could have expected differently. Has and his cheese precede him, and it's impossible to mention him without alluding to his past exploits. Somehow destined to offend fan favorite fans forever, Has decided to defeat NaNiwa in the Ro32, deflating the Swede's comeback train before it had even picked up steam. Has did play well, and he did show some moves to prove he isn't just a fondue of wacky builds, but his advancement did look a little short of convincing. Drawn into a group of 3 well liked foreigners, Has looks odds on to succeed. Yet even though the cheese usually tops French Onion Soup, it's usually what goes first.

Prediction: Welmu and Bunny advance.

With an entire tournament packed into one weekend, WCS Finals Season 1 will definitely be full of interesting storylines. This is the first WCS that looks ripe for a foreigner to take, and we could see history made this season. While we haven't had months of games for events to unfold, each player enters the finals with a tale to tell.

Only Outsiders Left Alive

When it was revealed that ForGG, Polt, viOLet and Hydra would be the only Koreans to compete in WCS, everyone bemoaned the fact that WCS had become a charity for Koreans with athlete's VISAs. However, things have not gone exactly as planned. viOLet was axed by the Liquid duo of MaNa and Bunny in the Ro32, ending the Surgeon Zerg's run with a whimper and a thud. Polt came agonizingly close to losing against Kelazhur in the winners' match, and he was once again explosed in TvT. Hydra looked uncomfortable against MorroW in a 1-2 defeat before bouncing back in the rematch 2-0. Only ForGG looked comfortable in the Ro32, defeating Sen soundly before cleaning up FireCake to advance.

Now, only 3 Koreans are left alive, and they look vulnerable. Even a Korean top 2 looks under threat, and it's not beyond the realm of possibility to get an all foreigner finals. It appears that cutting the field actually did help curtail the Korean cartel, and their supremacy could be coming to an end.

Unfortunately, the 3 Koreans left are unlikely to be usurped with ease. ForGG recently broke his title duck at DreamHack, and Polt remains the most storied WCS player so far. Hydra may have lost Gfinity Spring against PartinG recently, but he's still an MSL champion on the trail back to stardom. Upsetting them in a Best of 3 is one thing, but taking 3 maps in 5 against them is another. ForGG has only ever lost 4 Bo5+ series in 36 tries, while Hydra is a perfect 10-0. Only Polt has shown weakness in Bo5+, though his 68% series winrate can hardly be called one. It should be noted, however, that Polt has never beaten Snute in a Bo5+, with 2 losses and a 4-6 map score.

This is foreignland's chance to finally take one back. Even though the roster of Koreigners has been trimmed, it would still be a momentous occasion to triumph over three of its best. Now more than ever, WCS looks like a foreign tournament. Yet more than likely, A Korean could still win it.

The Next Zerg Bonjwa

If you're really bad at math, a cursory look at the Ro16 may suggest that zerg has a 50% chance of winning the tournament. After all, 8 of the participants are members of the swarm, so they probably have the best odds of raising the trophy. However, history is not on their side. Only 1 zerg has ever won a WCS: HyuN in Season 1 of WCS AM. Meanwhile, there have been 5 protoss and 6 terran champions since WCS 2013, suggesting that the tournament just hasn't been very kind to the insectoid race.

Unfortunately, the outlook doesn't look too bright. Group A has 3 zergs, ensuring at least 1 drop out, while three zergs in other groups are Premier League debutantes. PiG, FireCake and Kane have all done well to make it this far, but will they be able to play their best when the spotlight is on them? Even Hydra doesn't look like a lock for the playoffs if he struggles against Polt or MaNa. Only Snute has been given a favorable draw, yet his record in WCS has been spotty at best.

If a zerg does win WCS, it will be a momentous occasion. It would be the second zerg title in 13 tries, Hydra's first SC2 title, a foreigner's first WCS title, Snute's second premier title, or someone else's first premier title. Many strong opponents stand in the swarm's way, but they desperately need a win to spare the race more blushes. With half the field theirs, this is their best chance to get one back. I just hope they don't use swarm hosts to do it.

For King and Country

Perhaps the most interesting aspect about the new WCS system is that it is the most global tournament in the world. There are now 16 players representing 11 countries in the Ro16, easily the highest level of diversity of any tournament in the world. Among those 16 players, 11 have never won an international tournament. Among those seven are national champions. XiGua and MacSed represent China. ShoWTimE for Germany. PiG for Australia. FireCake for France. Hydra for Korea. Kane for Canada. Welmu for Finland. For many of them this has been the first chance to step outside their country and fight on the international stage that they've seen for years. And it isn't just them. Every player here will be representing their country and themselves for one eternal moment of glory.

lichter

The Finals I Want: Bunny vs Snute

WCS is supposed to be foreignland's chance to reach BlizzCon by acquiring enough points in the tournament. The lack of Koreans flooding the brackets does give them that chance, but only a finals appearance really comes close to denting the domination. A final between Bunny and Snute would not only give them the chance to represent Europe in Anaheim at the end of the year, but it will also be the first foreigner vs foreigner final in a premier tournament since God knows when, culminating in the first foreigner champion in WCS since 2012. Both players received favorable groups, but the brackets I envision will have Bunny upsetting Polt and ForGG in TvTs, while Snute will have to force his way past Serral and Hydra. Not exactly the most likely scenario, but I'm actualy succumbing to #liquidbias for the first time ever.

Winner: Bunny 2 - 4 Snute

The Finals I Expect: ForGG vs Snute



Without a doubt, this would be the most anticipated finals possible, except perhaps Polt vs Snute. ForGG is an adopted European but still a Korean, while Snute is the true foreign hope for many. A clash to decide whether WCS is truly foreignland's would send shockwaves regardless of the result, and both players will more than deserve a victory should they play well this weekend. The only potential downer in this matchup is the possibility of Mech vs Swarmhosts. ForGG has always favored his factory in TvZ, while Snute could give the current swarm host design one last hurrah before it's finally changed forever. A WCS title in the name of swarm hosts would be an amazing ending for the game's most reviled unit, but ForGG has proven his mettle against Life—albeit not the best SH player—at DH Winter. The other possible finals is Polt vs Hydra, but the two looked very vulnerable in their Ro32 escapes.

Winner: ForGG 4 - 2 Snute

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stuchiu's two evil scenarios

Scenario 1: Polt 4 - 3 Hydra.

I've read enough comicbooks to know now that the showdown happens in the finals and that it must be Captain America vs Red Skull Hydra. As Polt cuts down Hydra in the 7th game, Hydra will scream, "CUT ME DOWN AND 2 MORE KOREANS WILL RISE IN MY PLACE." Then in WCS Season 2 he comes back with Jaedong and Stardust. Dun dun dun.

Scenario 2: Has 4 - 3 Hydra

Hydra's last words before Game 7: "Has, you must kill me."
Has: "But Hydra, you are everything that is evil in this world, I can't do it!"
Hydra: "You must, for the greater evil. Remember our words. Cut one down and 2 more will rise in our place."

And Has beats Hydra, ensuring StarDust and Jaedong play in Season 2.

So emotional :[

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Soularion

Heart: Has vs Snute
Head: Polt vs ForGG

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The_Templar

ForGG 4 - 0 Bunny

A Korean will win this tournament, and with Polt and Hydra lumped into one group it's not unlikely that one of them gets eliminated pretty quickly. ForGG will somehow avoid every on-form player and advance by very narrow margins, while Bunny will effortlessly cruise past pretty much everyone he meets. All of the non-Koreans will show up in top form which will make Bunny look even more impressive. This series of events will make a foreign Terran almost look favored in the finals before ForGG crushes him with mass hellions in 30 minutes.

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thecrazymunchkin

With 8 zergs left in the competition, swarm hosts are an unfortunate certainty to turn up. With this in mind, and in order of increasing certainty:

Predictions:

At least one swarm host vs swarm host thriller
Schedule to overrun into a fourth day due to swarm host related complications
Has to cannon rush his way out of the group
Firecake to go AFK for 20 minutes without anyone noticing
Camera cut to Stephano crying as he realises what he has unleashed
Two Liquid teamkills in the quarter finals
ForGG to win

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Destructicon

Editor's warning: Destructicon may have been high with whatever it is he takes before writing fanfics

ForGG vs Polt/Hydra

It's been years since the Koreans staked their claim of Europe and America, and now they return to defend what is theirs. And why should we doubt it? Through diplomacy and battle, through selling their services and exchanges with the natives, the Koreans came, they saw and they conquered. And not only that, they have also civilized WCS. Before their arrival, WCS was an ugly slugfest fought between the swarm hosts of EU and the dairy farmers of NA. Now it's a gentlemen's duel.

And yet once again the indigenous tribes have come out of the woodwork to challenge their self proclaimed masters, only for the honor of clubbing each other to death once they have deposed of them. In the face of such adversity it's up to the last representatives of Korea to keep the peace. They may be outnumbered but they are certainly not outgunned.

Polt is a multiple time WCS champion. ForGG is now a DH Winter champion, perhaps the last. Hydra is on a murderous rampage through the foreigner ranks. Yes, the Korean Empire is in good hands.

Writers: lichter, XXTN, stuchiu.
Editors: lichter.
Graphics: v1, lichter.
Stats: Aligulac