EPT
Elazer steps out of Nerchio's shadow while Neeblet bounces back in convincing fashion
The final day of the WCS Global Finals group stage had a number of questions to be answered. Would
Neeblet bounce back after his loss to Zest on Day 3? Would heavy favorite 
Nerchio survive a ZvZ against compatriot Elazer? Could PtitDrogo do the unthinkable and upset Proleague legend Stats? Did Dear learn anything from ShoWTimE in time to upset 
ByuN? The day opened with Stats handily defeating PtitDrogo. Stats proved his class as he never looked in danger throughout the series and easily booked his place in the quarterfinals. PtitDrogo remained in good spirits after the match, and departs the tournament having left his mark and - if nothing else- will be remembered for his beret and moustache (perhaps next year he needs some baguette)!
Neeblet struck the first blow in his series against
Patience with dominant play. However Patience hit back in game 2 after Neeblet made a number of uncharacteristic control mistakes. Foreign fans might have been concerned going into game 3, but Neeblet's Oracle-Stalker timing attack quickly put to rest any doubt about him advancing. Patience struggled to respond to multi-pronged pressure and bowed out confirming the second foreigner in the quarterfinals. Byun looked to be back to his old form as he dismantled Dear in two games to confirm his place in the quarterfinals. In the first game Byun exploited Dear's greed with his trademark incredible Marine control off the back of a timing attack. While in the second game Dear was never able to respond to Byun's potent Cyclone build. In the post game interview Byun credited Showtime for giving him lots of practice to prepare him for Dear.
In the final game of the day Elazer was the heavy underdog with a career match winrate against Nerchio sitting at a mere 13.64%. Despite Elazer suffering set backs early in game 1 due to excellent speedling control from Nerchio, a clever Mutalisk switch gave him a fight chance. Nerchio was unable to get the required fungals to win the game back and was forced to concede. The second game was eerily similar, Nerchio once again made a strong start but Elazer won crucial fights with both players near maxed armies thanks to incredible Roach flanks. The 2-0 win secures Elazer his biggest payday of his career so far.
The bracket was drawn so that two players from the same group could not meet until the finals. This meant that when Showtime and
Dark were drawn into the same side of the bracket there was a 66.6% chance that Showtime would be drawn a non-Korean opponent. After Dark drew Neeblet as his quarterfinals opponent, there was a 50% chance that TY would draw Byun. The big winner in this drawing looks to be Dark who, if he is able to make the finals, will avoid his Korean compatriots. Neeblet proclaimed confidence against Dark in his post-game interview and would probably be happy with his bracket. Byun and TY are the obvious losers from this bracket drawing, both were pegged as heavy favorites coming into the tournament but Showtime's upset win over Byun on day 3 has lead to them being drawn together. The upside for the fans is that the much anticipated Byun-TY series will be played out, so that should be a treat on the first day of Blizzcon.
The WCS quarterfinals begin in
