Intel Extreme Masters World Championship Katowice will be the host to the first WCS Championship of 2016. A total of 32 players from around the world will battle it out for their share of the US$150,000 prize pool, and, most importantly, a spot at the WCS Global Playoffs and 10,000 WCS points.
We've assembled a great lineup to bring you all the action from Katowice:
Host: Paul "RedeYe" Chaloner Desk Host: Shaun "Apollo" Clark Analyst: Geoff "iNncontroL" Robinson Commentator: Kevin "Rotterdam" van der Kooi Commentator: Nathaniel "Nathanias" Fabrikant Commentator: Brendan Valdes Commentator: Benjamin "Demuslim" Baker Commentator: Leigh "Maynarde" Mandalov Observer: Alex "Funka" Verrier
Along with the broadcast team, we are also happy to announce that BaseTradeTV will be assisting in completing our full coverage plan for the first day of the event - be sure to check them out here.
Redeye hype, Maynarde hype. Also interesting how Incontrol is an analyst and Demu is a caster, they'd probably do even better if you switched their roles around.
DeMuslim is caster again nice, he was best caster back when he had bad shoulder. Him and IdrA casts <3 also double English casts with Apollo was pure #BANTS
On February 29 2016 19:40 Cricketer12 wrote: Valdez is awesome...but maynarde...
They couldn't get Tasteless so they went with the next loudest caster. Because loud = passion.
It would seem so...
I just remember things like last iem "(maynarde shouting)there's no way Zest can lose! Bbyong is finished". 5 seconds later "Woah bbyong won that, how did that happen"
On February 29 2016 19:50 True_Spike wrote: Is Redeye back for good?
Redeye is a freelancer now. So anybody can hire him for their events. He is not part of ESL/IEM or any WCS team. He also left Gfinity, but he can always be hired as a host.
That said, I have decided to make some changes and while I’m not sure where it will lead me, I’m comfortable with that, for now. I will be leaving Gfinity at the end of February and concentrating on the hosting and presenting side of things in a freelance capacity. I’ve already got a couple of things lined up in the first quarter of this year, but I’m keen to find some more, gotta keep paying the bills!
Glad to see Redeye demu and apollo well all because they're english. Having Geoff really puts me off watching this to be honest his humour is wank his attitude is wank i just find him loud and obnoxious, i suppose i can mute the stream when i need to.
On February 29 2016 20:25 JonSki wrote: Glad to see Redeye demu and apollo well all because they're english. Having Geoff really puts me off watching this to be honest his humour is wank his attitude is wank i just find him loud and obnoxious, i suppose i can mute the stream when i need to.
Hmm was wondering how to articulate pretty much exactly what this guy said without being offensive. Oh well maybe us Brit's just really don't get his humour.
On February 29 2016 19:35 FueledUpAndReadyToGo wrote: Guess Gabe Newell fired Redeye for being from the same country as 2GD. Welcome back to SC2 Paul
To be fair, 2GD is an ass, as Gabe said. He's part of the dying breed of 'edgy' (read, immature and unprofessional) people in the eSports scene that need to be replaced if eSports has any hope of progressing to a mainstream audience.
Redeye is a total boss, and has always been one of the most professional hosts in he scene, and I'm sure he'll get to present many more sc2 and dota2 events in years to come.
This lineup is so great that I may even forgive them for not having koreans in it I never thought we are gonna get Redeye back! Hating on Valdes is however really 2014 by now, he is as good as any non-progamer caster out there.
However I don't know how are they gonna make any strong statements about the games without any "experts".
On February 29 2016 20:25 JonSki wrote: Glad to see Redeye demu and apollo well all because they're english. Having Geoff really puts me off watching this to be honest his humour is wank his attitude is wank i just find him loud and obnoxious, i suppose i can mute the stream when i need to.
Hmm was wondering how to articulate pretty much exactly what this guy said without being offensive. Oh well maybe us Brit's just really don't get his humour.
Nah, not just brits. Same here.
I generally dislike people/casters who are "toxic for views". I don't think Geoff is an ass, but he acts like one. That, and the constant tries to provoke toxic comments by players ("which player was worse?" etc). Banter is fun to some extend, but not if it's constantly forced by a caster.
I'm absolutely pumped for ReDeYe though. Love that old fart.
Very cool lineup! Super Yay for Maynarde and RedEye! – Hope Apollo can keep his niveau. To me, he seemed a bit burnt out after so many tournaments and so many casts.
On February 29 2016 22:09 evolsiefil wrote: for the love of god stop inviting nathanias and rotterdam already. they are doing a terrible job and make sc2 look so bad and unprofessional.
On February 29 2016 22:09 evolsiefil wrote: for the love of god stop inviting nathanias and rotterdam already. they are doing a terrible job and make sc2 look so bad and unprofessional.
you're literally first one here complaining about them so no, I don't think you're correct on this one.
Redeye hype, Maynarde hype, Valdes hype, all others hype as well, including Nathanias and Rotti ... I can't believe it, but I will be watching it at the end! With this production ... and with Redeye back ...
Wouldn't it've been nice to have some koreans there? like .. sOs! and herO! You know, the best players in the world. Not the foreigners, who otherwise wouldn't stand a chance. Except for a few.
On February 29 2016 23:37 Naikonz wrote: Wouldn't it've been nice to have some koreans there? like .. sOs! and herO! You know, the best players in the world. Not the foreigners, who otherwise wouldn't stand a chance. Except for a few.
oh wow they got valdes, happy for him he improved quite a lot actually! we'll be fun to see him in such a big tournament. let's see how he does, good line up overall, also glad to see redeye
dunno about demuslim though, but that's just my personal opinion
I've grown fond of the hilariously bad pictures the Korean crew takes of the American casters in SPL, GSL, and SSL, but Valdes should consider using this awesome picture for his Korean casts.
On February 29 2016 23:20 Diabolique wrote: Redeye hype, Maynarde hype, Valdes hype, all others hype as well, including Nathanias and Rotti ... I can't believe it, but I will be watching it at the end! With this production ... and with Redeye back ...
Well, that's disappointing. You endlessly complained about the WCS changes, and this is all it takes for you to go back on your word?
On February 29 2016 22:09 evolsiefil wrote: for the love of god stop inviting nathanias and rotterdam already. they are doing a terrible job and make sc2 look so bad and unprofessional.
Well Nathanias is Terran biased and sometimes it hurts to hear his commentary when Terran is losing, but otherwise he's professional. Can you give some examples?
On February 29 2016 23:20 Diabolique wrote: Redeye hype, Maynarde hype, Valdes hype, all others hype as well, including Nathanias and Rotti ... I can't believe it, but I will be watching it at the end! With this production ... and with Redeye back ...
Well, that's disappointing. You endlessly complained about the WCS changes, and this is all it takes for you to go back on your word?
Agreed. I won't watch simply because it's WCS. Otherwise I would be there on the place watching. But I don't care about these players and no one from my loved ones is there herO, sOs, Bomber, Maru, MMA, Rain, Parting, soO (I know some of them are not active)
Since this thread is all about spewing out your opinions I thought I could do the same:
Host: Paul "RedeYe" Chaloner must do his job well since i never remember anything he's said, plus points for a host i guess
Desk Host: Shaun "Apollo" Clark Seems smart and gives illuminating insight into overall strategy, seems almost too nice and noob friendly sometimes though
Analyst: Geoff "iNncontroL" Robinson He is funny in that american vulgar way, guess he's quite good at that and not that bad at starcraft either
Commentator: Kevin "Rotterdam" van der Kooi He is popular among plebs for a reason, that reason being that he's quite good
Commentator: Nathaniel "Nathanias" Fabrikant this guy gives really good terran analysis and is good at picking apart strategy and such
Commentator: Brendan Valdes oh gosh he's so nice and also very good at commenting on the general state of things in game
Commentator: Benjamin "Demuslim" Baker he was decent at playing a while ago but haven't seen him commenting anything
Commentator: Leigh "Maynarde" Mandalov he looks like a serious guy in the picture i guess
Observer: Alex "Funka" Verrier this guy is good. also his TvT casting was super, so im sad he's not commenting but whatever
Really good lineup! The regulars, Maynard and Incontrol are prefect for those long events, havening Valdes here is a cool switch up too. Kinda meh about Demu, but i guess beeing fine with 7/8 is good.
Seeing Redeye back is pretty cool since he's one of the best hosts around. I also wish Apollo would stop being on the desk since imo he's one of the best casters in the scene. Although I guess it doesn't really matter much since I can count the number of players I care about on one hand and therefore won't be watching most of it.
On February 29 2016 19:35 FueledUpAndReadyToGo wrote: Guess Gabe Newell fired Redeye for being from the same country as 2GD. Welcome back to SC2 Paul
To be fair, 2GD is an ass, as Gabe said. He's part of the dying breed of 'edgy' (read, immature and unprofessional) people in the eSports scene that need to be replaced if eSports has any hope of progressing to a mainstream audience.
Redeye is a total boss, and has always been one of the most professional hosts in he scene, and I'm sure he'll get to present many more sc2 and dota2 events in years to come.
Good lineup, should be fun.
That's a shortsighted and ignorant view of what 2GD did/does for the overall scene.
On March 01 2016 03:54 Battle51 wrote: No Koreans => Not watching.
Why? This is why SC2 slowly loses viewers, because of a narrow-minded thought process like this.
If you think that most of the people who qualified for this "World Championship" aren't in the Top 10 in their respective nations, then I don't know what you've been watching. Especially for EU, there have been crazy and innovative and fun games.
I would rather see a playing field that's even and has a sprinkle of the general gamers instead of Korean rolf-stomping their way through until its Life (rip?) or sOs or Zest or Solar winning the whole thing. I'm not saying I don't like Koreans, they're fun to watch and are the main source of entertainment. But, Europeans and some North Americans and Has bring plenty of life and enjoyment to the game.
Why can't you and others who think "SC is a dying game" be happy that we have these tournaments?
On March 01 2016 03:54 Battle51 wrote: No Koreans => Not watching.
Why? This is why SC2 slowly loses viewers, because of a narrow-minded thought process like this.
If you think that most of the people who qualified for this "World Championship" aren't in the Top 10 in their respective nations, then I don't know what you've been watching. Especially for EU, there have been crazy and innovative and fun games.
I would rather see a playing field that's even and has a sprinkle of the general gamers instead of Korean rolf-stomping their way through until its Life (rip?) or sOs or Zest or Solar winning the whole thing. I'm not saying I don't like Koreans, they're fun to watch and are the main source of entertainment. But, Europeans and some North Americans and Has bring plenty of life and enjoyment to the game.
Why can't you and others who think "SC is a dying game" be happy that we have these tournaments?
Because "Top 10 in their respective nations" is about Rank 200 in real life. We want to see the best players play regardless of nationality, not a watered down product because foreign players need their free Blizzard money.
On March 01 2016 03:54 Battle51 wrote: No Koreans => Not watching.
Why? This is why SC2 slowly loses viewers, because of a narrow-minded thought process like this.
If you think that most of the people who qualified for this "World Championship" aren't in the Top 10 in their respective nations, then I don't know what you've been watching. Especially for EU, there have been crazy and innovative and fun games.
I would rather see a playing field that's even and has a sprinkle of the general gamers instead of Korean rolf-stomping their way through until its Life (rip?) or sOs or Zest or Solar winning the whole thing. I'm not saying I don't like Koreans, they're fun to watch and are the main source of entertainment. But, Europeans and some North Americans and Has bring plenty of life and enjoyment to the game.
Why can't you and others who think "SC is a dying game" be happy that we have these tournaments?
Because "Top 10 in their respective nations" is about Rank 200 in real life. We want to see the best players play regardless of nationality, not a watered down product because foreign players need their free Blizzard money.
I take it you don't watch the Aussie cricket team then
On March 01 2016 03:54 Battle51 wrote: No Koreans => Not watching.
Why? This is why SC2 slowly loses viewers, because of a narrow-minded thought process like this.
If you think that most of the people who qualified for this "World Championship" aren't in the Top 10 in their respective nations, then I don't know what you've been watching. Especially for EU, there have been crazy and innovative and fun games.
I would rather see a playing field that's even and has a sprinkle of the general gamers instead of Korean rolf-stomping their way through until its Life (rip?) or sOs or Zest or Solar winning the whole thing. I'm not saying I don't like Koreans, they're fun to watch and are the main source of entertainment. But, Europeans and some North Americans and Has bring plenty of life and enjoyment to the game.
Why can't you and others who think "SC is a dying game" be happy that we have these tournaments?
Because "Top 10 in their respective nations" is about Rank 200 in real life. We want to see the best players play regardless of nationality, not a watered down product because foreign players need their free Blizzard money.
I take it you don't watch the Aussie cricket team then
On March 01 2016 03:54 Battle51 wrote: No Koreans => Not watching.
Why? This is why SC2 slowly loses viewers, because of a narrow-minded thought process like this.
If you think that most of the people who qualified for this "World Championship" aren't in the Top 10 in their respective nations, then I don't know what you've been watching. Especially for EU, there have been crazy and innovative and fun games.
I would rather see a playing field that's even and has a sprinkle of the general gamers instead of Korean rolf-stomping their way through until its Life (rip?) or sOs or Zest or Solar winning the whole thing. I'm not saying I don't like Koreans, they're fun to watch and are the main source of entertainment. But, Europeans and some North Americans and Has bring plenty of life and enjoyment to the game.
Why can't you and others who think "SC is a dying game" be happy that we have these tournaments?
Because "Top 10 in their respective nations" is about Rank 200 in real life. We want to see the best players play regardless of nationality, not a watered down product because foreign players need their free Blizzard money.
I don't see what's watered down about this. Just because they're not 1-32 in "real life", they can't provide content and fun? But, everyone has their own preferences and want to see only certain things instead of being open to new things. Guess it's like any other competitive sport.
I'll take my WCS World Championship with what I have because I'm content that I get to see such an event happen and for foreigners get "free Blizzard money".
I think we need to give this line-up some new nicks to perfectly blend in Poland, no?
How about this?
Host: Paul "tygrysku" Chaloner Desk Host: Shaun "pieseczku" Clark Analyst: Geoff "malpeczko" Robinson Commentator: Kevin "zuczku" van der Kooi Commentator: Nathaniel "miesko" Fabrikant Commentator: Brendan "slonce" Valdes Commentator: Benjamin "rybko" Baker Commentator: Leigh "ciacho" Mandalov Observer: Alex "pyszczku" Verrier
On March 01 2016 06:49 BaneRiders wrote: I think we need to give this line-up some new nicks to perfectly blend in Poland, no?
How about this?
Host: Paul "tygrysku" Chaloner Desk Host: Shaun "pieseczku" Clark Analyst: Geoff "malpeczko" Robinson Commentator: Kevin "zuczku" van der Kooi Commentator: Nathaniel "miesko" Fabrikant Commentator: Brendan "slonce" Valdes Commentator: Benjamin "rybko" Baker Commentator: Leigh "ciacho" Mandalov Observer: Alex "pyszczku" Verrier
I like how all of these are perfectly valid when addressing a girlfriend / boyfriend (even if some are rather childish), except for Nathanias', whom you basically called a piece of meat. A little piece of meat, in fact.
On March 01 2016 03:54 Battle51 wrote: No Koreans => Not watching.
Why? This is why SC2 slowly loses viewers, because of a narrow-minded thought process like this.
If you think that most of the people who qualified for this "World Championship" aren't in the Top 10 in their respective nations, then I don't know what you've been watching. Especially for EU, there have been crazy and innovative and fun games.
I would rather see a playing field that's even and has a sprinkle of the general gamers instead of Korean rolf-stomping their way through until its Life (rip?) or sOs or Zest or Solar winning the whole thing. I'm not saying I don't like Koreans, they're fun to watch and are the main source of entertainment. But, Europeans and some North Americans and Has bring plenty of life and enjoyment to the game.
Why can't you and others who think "SC is a dying game" be happy that we have these tournaments?
Just want to mention your hypocrisy> Neither Polt nor Hydra are in the top10 in their respective nation.
Otherwise I don't want to start another WCS rage thread, but let's just say that your view is, ehm, different. That's like saying that if I enjoy Champions League I am supposed to watch Czech 3rd division(which is an atrocity to watch unless you are from the village which is playing). I don't have the time to waste on a useless tournament I won't enjoy. I have a job, I don't have too much free time, I have another hobbies, I don't waste my time on T3 tournaments.
Please note that have there been some Koreans I would have been there on site watching it live. Because Poland is closer than Korea (and yes, I probably used wrong tense there, I know that I don't know how to use English conditionals and I don;'t care)
On March 01 2016 06:49 BaneRiders wrote: I think we need to give this line-up some new nicks to perfectly blend in Poland, no?
How about this?
Host: Paul "tygrysku" Chaloner Desk Host: Shaun "pieseczku" Clark Analyst: Geoff "malpeczko" Robinson Commentator: Kevin "zuczku" van der Kooi Commentator: Nathaniel "miesko" Fabrikant Commentator: Brendan "slonce" Valdes Commentator: Benjamin "rybko" Baker Commentator: Leigh "ciacho" Mandalov Observer: Alex "pyszczku" Verrier
I like how all of these are perfectly valid when addressing a girlfriend / boyfriend (even if some are rather childish), except for Nathanias', whom you basically called a piece of meat. A little piece of meat, in fact.
On March 01 2016 03:54 Battle51 wrote: No Koreans => Not watching.
Why? This is why SC2 slowly loses viewers, because of a narrow-minded thought process like this.
If you think that most of the people who qualified for this "World Championship" aren't in the Top 10 in their respective nations, then I don't know what you've been watching. Especially for EU, there have been crazy and innovative and fun games.
I would rather see a playing field that's even and has a sprinkle of the general gamers instead of Korean rolf-stomping their way through until its Life (rip?) or sOs or Zest or Solar winning the whole thing. I'm not saying I don't like Koreans, they're fun to watch and are the main source of entertainment. But, Europeans and some North Americans and Has bring plenty of life and enjoyment to the game.
Why can't you and others who think "SC is a dying game" be happy that we have these tournaments?
Because "Top 10 in their respective nations" is about Rank 200 in real life. We want to see the best players play regardless of nationality, not a watered down product because foreign players need their free Blizzard money.
I don't see what's watered down about this. Just because they're not 1-32 in "real life", they can't provide content and fun? But, everyone has their own preferences and want to see only certain things instead of being open to new things. Guess it's like any other competitive sport.
I'll take my WCS World Championship with what I have because I'm content that I get to see such an event happen and for foreigners get "free Blizzard money".
Anyone is entitled to its opinion about the WCS changes and we can probably still have a not too bad entertainement even with this lineup but it is a travesty to deny that it is watered down. For the simple reason that the reigning champion cannot even defend his title because the rules now prevent him to take part to the competition at all. And I could actually say the same for almost (thx Hydra) the whole top 16 actually.
On March 01 2016 06:33 Ja.Y. wrote: (...) Guess it's like any other competitive sport. (...)
That's exactly the point why so many people are complaining.. it's NOT like any other competetive sport. NO sport just rules some people out of the competition, just for the reason of them being too good. You just cannot hype this being a worldwide competition, if it's in fact just not. It's like a second class tourney, and I'm not saying this because of the players are worth less, but they are MADE less of a value by the new system. It's not a big of an achievement anymore as it has been in the old system, when you could do it far in tourneys like this as a foreigner and try to claim being a world-class player. And it won't be in the future, if Koreans will be classed out by default in every single tournament.
Say what you want about my opinion, but it's NOT like any other competitive sport. That's exactly the problem I have with the new WCS.
Not to speak about the fairness towards pros who were depending their life choices on this and had to leave europe and NA partly because of the stupid decision of Blizzard.
On March 01 2016 20:18 SeriousLus wrote: Valdes? are you fing kidding me? hes the most annoying caster besides Kaelaris.. and not very accurate in his casts, which is even worse.
and whats up with redeye - didnt he give up SC2 hosting gigs?? xD
I like Valdes and I find Kaelaris annoying too. Now you can see how ridiculous the problem with casters is
He's like Jesus(or Terminator). He's back, baby, he's back Or Dragoon! he has returned
On March 01 2016 15:28 zealotstim wrote: Where are artosis and the plott brothers?
Takes a bit of money to pull Tastosis out of Korea, I think.
As for Day9.. is there a particular reason he should be here? He stepped away from Starcraft a long time ago to work on developing a video game; doesn't have time to be a "contributor" to Starcraft anymore. It took him hours to prep the Starcraft Dailies, and he never liked to travel to events to cast much from what I recall.
On March 01 2016 15:28 zealotstim wrote: Where are artosis and the plott brothers?
Takes a bit of money to pull Tastosis out of Korea, I think.
As for Day9.. is there a particular reason he should be here? He stepped away from Starcraft a long time ago to work on developing a video game; doesn't have time to be a "contributor" to Starcraft anymore. It took him hours to prep the Starcraft Dailies, and he never liked to travel to events to cast much from what I recall.
Oh god we've been making fun of ToD's nose since forever now and it appears his surgery was nose related. Not gonna lie I laughed. ( since it's not serious )
On March 01 2016 15:28 zealotstim wrote: Where are artosis and the plott brothers?
Takes a bit of money to pull Tastosis out of Korea, I think.
As for Day9.. is there a particular reason he should be here? He stepped away from Starcraft a long time ago to work on developing a video game; doesn't have time to be a "contributor" to Starcraft anymore. It took him hours to prep the Starcraft Dailies, and he never liked to travel to events to cast much from what I recall.
And someone has to stay in Korea to cast the games. As much as I found the GTR/Sojung casting pair fun in the past I don't want to see them do 4 days of casting serious games.
I'm happy to see Valdes has fans too, even though I'm not. Personally I didn't know there are this many people that dislike Maynarde's casting. I haven't heard so much of it but I'm happy to have him casting for now. A bit sad for me that Wolf is not doing SC2 at this event, another caster that seems to be controversial.
Artosis has a family in Korea with a young child so he doesn't really wanna leave them much I think. Also TY's GSL group is playing on Thursday and thier is also SSL on Friday and I'm pretty sure he values this way more than IEM World Championship.
On February 29 2016 19:35 FueledUpAndReadyToGo wrote: Guess Gabe Newell fired Redeye for being from the same country as 2GD. Welcome back to SC2 Paul
Rofl Best Comment!!!. 2GD 2-G0D@mN douchy. Hate Chicks get banned brah, he deserved that hardcore tho. Redeye is great, so nice to see him back in the blizzard arena in addition to valve's awesome productions. I cannot wait to see some Redeye casts for Overwatch.
Every time I read about how Koreans basically can't play outside of Korea anymore it just makes me sad. They were punished for their hubris and the Lord Blizzard cast them out.
EPT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/b7kXI9T.jpg)
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