WCS Winter Americas came to a conclusion befitting its name as America's Neeb defeated Canada's Scarlett in the grand finals to claim the $12,000 first place prize. The victory gave Neeb his fourth career WCS Circuit title, as well the #1 spot in the 2019 WCS Circuit standings.
Scarlett brought three consecutive all-in builds to open the grand finals but was only able to take one map before being thwarted by composed defensive stands from Neeb. Scarlett tied the series up at 2-2 by adapting to Neeb's two-Stargate Phoenix opener in game four, but Neeb took the lead right back after shutting down a fast Nydus-Swarm Host strategy in game five. The American Protoss then closed the series out in game six by crippling Scarlett's economy with an early Glaive-Adept attack, followed by a march of Zealots, Immortals, and Archons to extract the final GG.
The Neeb-Scarlett finals card seemed like a foregone conclusion once Mexico's SpeCial suffered his shock elimination in the round of 16, leaving no clear challengers to the two icons of the North American StarCraft II scene. While China's rising star TIME put in strong performances throughout the course of WCS Winter, even defeating Neeb 2-0 during the group stage, he fell 2-3 to the cunning veteran MaSa in the playoff gauntlet. As for MaSa himself, he was unable to deliver another one of his vintage wild card performances (having defeated both Scarlett and Neeb in some prior WCS Challenger tournaments), as he was eliminated by Neeb in the semifinals.
WCS Winter will conclude with the Europe playoffs on Sunday, Apr 07 3:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00).
On April 07 2019 10:01 Boggyb wrote: That was the worst finals of a major event since WCS Valenica last year.
It certainly felt like the final games lacked energy. But it could also be that this format/way it was organized makes the event last about 6 hours longer then it should. That being said, but thanks to the casters and big congrats to Neeb!
On April 07 2019 10:01 Boggyb wrote: That was the worst finals of a major event since WCS Valenica last year.
It certainly felt like the final games lacked energy. But it could also be that this format/way it was organized makes the event last about 6 hours longer then it should. That being said, but thanks to the casters and big congrats to Neeb!
Other than the FFA between the semis and the finals (how long are the breaks normally?), this was pretty similar to any other for both Scarlett and Neeb, so I don't think fatigue was a real issue. I didn't watch it till the end, so I wasn't fatigued either.
On April 07 2019 10:01 Boggyb wrote: That was the worst finals of a major event since WCS Valenica last year.
It certainly felt like the final games lacked energy. But it could also be that this format/way it was organized makes the event last about 6 hours longer then it should. That being said, but thanks to the casters and big congrats to Neeb!
Other than the FFA between the semis and the finals (how long are the breaks normally?), this was pretty similar to any other for both Scarlett and Neeb, so I don't think fatigue was a real issue. I didn't watch it till the end, so I wasn't fatigued either.
On the caster side I can just say I don't think I or nate felt fatigued but it's really hard to authentically hype up the games more than we did when every game but one is pretty one sided and also under 9 minutes. I am the biggest neeb and scarlett fanboy and even I was a little disappointed by how one sided and straightforward most of those games were. And I was actively hyping myself up for it being the finals and a classic rematch before the series started.
Game times: Game 1: 5:07 Game 2: 7:30 Game 3: 6:13 Game 4: 11:30 Game 5: 8:12 Game 6: 9:20
Just to note some of these games were actually entirely over minutes before the tap out.
Cool, I missed the finals because I tuned in between the semis and the FFA. I tuned out a few minutes into the FFA because they are unbelievably boring. Really stupid idea to run an FFA that will drive viewers away before the actual finals takes place.
On April 07 2019 11:51 yht9657 wrote: Probably the first premier event I've watched that feels like some weekly online cup.
yea that's what i got out of it myself like this the finals of the championship but sounded and felt just a weekend tourny not a months-long fight for the title and honestly I feel the players should feel some responsibly for that there play just seemed like they were playing like just another day on the ladder.
On April 07 2019 10:01 Boggyb wrote: That was the worst finals of a major event since WCS Valenica last year.
It certainly felt like the final games lacked energy. But it could also be that this format/way it was organized makes the event last about 6 hours longer then it should. That being said, but thanks to the casters and big congrats to Neeb!
Other than the FFA between the semis and the finals (how long are the breaks normally?), this was pretty similar to any other for both Scarlett and Neeb, so I don't think fatigue was a real issue. I didn't watch it till the end, so I wasn't fatigued either.
On the caster side I can just say I don't think I or nate felt fatigued but it's really hard to authentically hype up the games more than we did when every game but one is pretty one sided and also under 9 minutes. I am the biggest neeb and scarlett fanboy and even I was a little disappointed by how one sided and straightforward most of those games were. And I was actively hyping myself up for it being the finals and a classic rematch before the series started.
Game times: Game 1: 5:07 Game 2: 7:30 Game 3: 6:13 Game 4: 11:30 Game 5: 8:12 Game 6: 9:20
Just to note some of these games were actually entirely over minutes before the tap out.
honestly, it seems like Scarlett doesn't care all that much anymore how she plays neeb looked ok but still a little lackluster but Scarlett idk iam a fan i really wish her well but it just seems like she doesn't care shes just trying to get by.
On April 07 2019 10:01 Boggyb wrote: That was the worst finals of a major event since WCS Valenica last year.
It certainly felt like the final games lacked energy. But it could also be that this format/way it was organized makes the event last about 6 hours longer then it should. That being said, but thanks to the casters and big congrats to Neeb!
Other than the FFA between the semis and the finals (how long are the breaks normally?), this was pretty similar to any other for both Scarlett and Neeb, so I don't think fatigue was a real issue. I didn't watch it till the end, so I wasn't fatigued either.
On the caster side I can just say I don't think I or nate felt fatigued but it's really hard to authentically hype up the games more than we did when every game but one is pretty one sided and also under 9 minutes. I am the biggest neeb and scarlett fanboy and even I was a little disappointed by how one sided and straightforward most of those games were. And I was actively hyping myself up for it being the finals and a classic rematch before the series started.
Game times: Game 1: 5:07 Game 2: 7:30 Game 3: 6:13 Game 4: 11:30 Game 5: 8:12 Game 6: 9:20
Just to note some of these games were actually entirely over minutes before the tap out.
honestly, it seems like Scarlett doesn't care all that much anymore how she plays neeb looked ok but still a little lackluster but Scarlett idk iam a fan i really wish her well but it just seems like she doesn't care shes just trying to get by.
I agree! I feel as though she can only win with aggression and once it's figured out she's doomed. Wish she had a more macro style these days.
On April 07 2019 10:01 Boggyb wrote: That was the worst finals of a major event since WCS Valenica last year.
It certainly felt like the final games lacked energy. But it could also be that this format/way it was organized makes the event last about 6 hours longer then it should. That being said, but thanks to the casters and big congrats to Neeb!
Other than the FFA between the semis and the finals (how long are the breaks normally?), this was pretty similar to any other for both Scarlett and Neeb, so I don't think fatigue was a real issue. I didn't watch it till the end, so I wasn't fatigued either.
On the caster side I can just say I don't think I or nate felt fatigued but it's really hard to authentically hype up the games more than we did when every game but one is pretty one sided and also under 9 minutes. I am the biggest neeb and scarlett fanboy and even I was a little disappointed by how one sided and straightforward most of those games were. And I was actively hyping myself up for it being the finals and a classic rematch before the series started.
Game times: Game 1: 5:07 Game 2: 7:30 Game 3: 6:13 Game 4: 11:30 Game 5: 8:12 Game 6: 9:20
Just to note some of these games were actually entirely over minutes before the tap out.
honestly, it seems like Scarlett doesn't care all that much anymore how she plays neeb looked ok but still a little lackluster but Scarlett idk iam a fan i really wish her well but it just seems like she doesn't care shes just trying to get by.
Just to be clear, not placing any blame on scarlett. I don’t know the reasons she picked to play the way she did. Just justifying why energy on caster side felt a bit lower than a usual final.
On April 07 2019 10:01 Boggyb wrote: That was the worst finals of a major event since WCS Valenica last year.
It certainly felt like the final games lacked energy. But it could also be that this format/way it was organized makes the event last about 6 hours longer then it should. That being said, but thanks to the casters and big congrats to Neeb!
Other than the FFA between the semis and the finals (how long are the breaks normally?), this was pretty similar to any other for both Scarlett and Neeb, so I don't think fatigue was a real issue. I didn't watch it till the end, so I wasn't fatigued either.
On the caster side I can just say I don't think I or nate felt fatigued but it's really hard to authentically hype up the games more than we did when every game but one is pretty one sided and also under 9 minutes. I am the biggest neeb and scarlett fanboy and even I was a little disappointed by how one sided and straightforward most of those games were. And I was actively hyping myself up for it being the finals and a classic rematch before the series started.
Game times: Game 1: 5:07 Game 2: 7:30 Game 3: 6:13 Game 4: 11:30 Game 5: 8:12 Game 6: 9:20
Just to note some of these games were actually entirely over minutes before the tap out.
honestly, it seems like Scarlett doesn't care all that much anymore how she plays neeb looked ok but still a little lackluster but Scarlett idk iam a fan i really wish her well but it just seems like she doesn't care shes just trying to get by.
Just to be clear, not placing any blame on scarlett. I don’t know the reasons she picked to play the way she did. Just justifying why energy on caster side felt a bit lower than a usual final.
no yea didnt mean to suggest you were but thats just the feeling i got from her today and yea the cast wasnt all that great but to be honest you all didnt have alot to work with. i hope next wcs is alot better because if its like this again the viewers ship is going to go sub 5k imo i know you all do your best and you give what the players give you and maybe people need to start telling the players that if they dont have views they dont have tournmants.
On April 07 2019 10:01 Boggyb wrote: That was the worst finals of a major event since WCS Valenica last year.
It certainly felt like the final games lacked energy. But it could also be that this format/way it was organized makes the event last about 6 hours longer then it should. That being said, but thanks to the casters and big congrats to Neeb!
Other than the FFA between the semis and the finals (how long are the breaks normally?), this was pretty similar to any other for both Scarlett and Neeb, so I don't think fatigue was a real issue. I didn't watch it till the end, so I wasn't fatigued either.
On the caster side I can just say I don't think I or nate felt fatigued but it's really hard to authentically hype up the games more than we did when every game but one is pretty one sided and also under 9 minutes. I am the biggest neeb and scarlett fanboy and even I was a little disappointed by how one sided and straightforward most of those games were. And I was actively hyping myself up for it being the finals and a classic rematch before the series started.
Game times: Game 1: 5:07 Game 2: 7:30 Game 3: 6:13 Game 4: 11:30 Game 5: 8:12 Game 6: 9:20
Just to note some of these games were actually entirely over minutes before the tap out.
honestly, it seems like Scarlett doesn't care all that much anymore how she plays neeb looked ok but still a little lackluster but Scarlett idk iam a fan i really wish her well but it just seems like she doesn't care shes just trying to get by.
Hasn't she always gone for a ton of cheese against Neeb (or at least for the last few years). It's just her preferred playstyle against a player she knows really well.
On April 07 2019 13:06 ZigguratOfUr wrote: Hasn't she always gone for a ton of cheese against Neeb (or at least for the last few years). It's just her preferred playstyle against a player she knows really well.
Pretty much. I'm trying to think of a time she didn't play him super aggro/cheesy in LotV and I'm coming up with the IEM PyeongChang qualifiers where IIRC she won multiple macro games. But ZvP balance was WoL levels of horrid and lurkers were countering their counter (immortals), so she probably didn't see a need to take big risks.
On April 07 2019 10:01 Boggyb wrote: That was the worst finals of a major event since WCS Valenica last year.
It certainly felt like the final games lacked energy. But it could also be that this format/way it was organized makes the event last about 6 hours longer then it should. That being said, but thanks to the casters and big congrats to Neeb!
Other than the FFA between the semis and the finals (how long are the breaks normally?), this was pretty similar to any other for both Scarlett and Neeb, so I don't think fatigue was a real issue. I didn't watch it till the end, so I wasn't fatigued either.
On the caster side I can just say I don't think I or nate felt fatigued but it's really hard to authentically hype up the games more than we did when every game but one is pretty one sided and also under 9 minutes. I am the biggest neeb and scarlett fanboy and even I was a little disappointed by how one sided and straightforward most of those games were. And I was actively hyping myself up for it being the finals and a classic rematch before the series started.
Game times: Game 1: 5:07 Game 2: 7:30 Game 3: 6:13 Game 4: 11:30 Game 5: 8:12 Game 6: 9:20
Just to note some of these games were actually entirely over minutes before the tap out.
honestly, it seems like Scarlett doesn't care all that much anymore how she plays neeb looked ok but still a little lackluster but Scarlett idk iam a fan i really wish her well but it just seems like she doesn't care shes just trying to get by.
Hasn't she always gone for a ton of cheese against Neeb (or at least for the last few years). It's just her preferred playstyle against a player she knows really well.
i just think she honestly doesnt care a hole about sc in general to be honest i think she sees the writing on the wall that wcs prollys not going to be here in the near future so she just getting what she can and not go the extra mile to me that how i see her performances lately. maybe she does but it doesnt seem like it. and in general most of the players seem not to excited about sc there just there to be there because they dont have anything else to fall back on.
On April 07 2019 13:06 ZigguratOfUr wrote: Hasn't she always gone for a ton of cheese against Neeb (or at least for the last few years). It's just her preferred playstyle against a player she knows really well.
Pretty much. I'm trying to think of a time she didn't play him super aggro/cheesy in LotV and I'm coming up with the IEM PyeongChang qualifiers where IIRC she won multiple macro games. But ZvP balance was WoL levels of horrid and lurkers were countering their counter (immortals), so she probably didn't see a need to take big risks.
shes been doing the same build order for awhile now everyone knows what shes goin to do she just hopes they make a some mistakes and she takes advantage but she doesnt bring anything new to her game.
Scarlett won IEM Pyeongcheng cheesing sOs, Scarlett is just a cheesy ZvP player so we shouldn’t be surprised. It looks brilliant when it works and sad when it doesn’t.
EPT
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