I have to give it to NaNi, despite Stephanos recent nasl win. Sure there were a few code s quality players at nasl, but NaNiwa has gotten to Ro8 Code s two seasons in a row now, and remember how close his series against DRG was.

FrostedMiniWheats

United States30730 Posts

July 18 2012 00:36 GMT

Stephano. May not have tried his hand at the gsl yet, but kicks Korean ass everywhere else and he's been doing it for longer. He usually looks the most impressive in play as well.

I'm glad Naniwa made the stupid complainers about the gsl seed shove it with consecutive ro8 finishes and almost beat the best ZvP out there in a bo5 in his weakest mu. Yes the gsl is the most prestigious tournament (maybe not so much anymore with the OSL starting up), and yes Koreans generally aren't as strong at foreign events, and yes Stepahno hasn't been tested as much in a preparation-environment.

However, it isn't like Stephano just did well against a few decent Koreans here and there in a handful of tournaments. No. He's been consistently putting out good games against many of the best Koreans in EVERY mu and even winning. I thought it was just fanboi praise initially, but over time I would have to agree that Stephano puts out better ZvP than almost any Korean Zerg save for the absolute best. I can't say the same for Naniwa in any mu, he just seems decent overall compared to the Koreans.

Finally, Stephano is more of a trendsetter in Zerg meta.

tl;dr

So really, it boils down to recent surge of success in a more prestigious tournament environment vs. numerous accomplishments in lesser tournaments against better opponents for what is going on for a year now.

Stephano wins easily.

Iddqdish

1 Post

July 18 2012 00:37 GMT

on the fly - Stephano
if there is time to prepare for 1 match - Naniwa

Renfield

United States62 Posts

July 18 2012 00:41 GMT

How could anyone vote for Stephano when Naniwa keeps making it super far in the GSL? Until Stephano does something like that all he has proven is he can sporadically beat Koreans.

OriginalBeast

United States709 Posts

July 18 2012 00:42 GMT

Thorzain...

Talionis

Scotland4085 Posts

July 18 2012 00:45 GMT

On July 18 2012 09:37 Iddqdish wrote:
on the fly - Stephano
if there is time to prepare for 1 match - Naniwa

Definitely this.

tredogz

Canada170 Posts

July 18 2012 00:47 GMT

IDRA .. . all the way!

Karthane

United States1183 Posts

July 18 2012 00:53 GMT

#10

No doubt that it is Stephano. He would crush Naniwa.

Kpaxlol

813 Posts

July 18 2012 01:00 GMT

#11

Stephano for sure. He's looking great atm.

dragoon

United States695 Posts

July 18 2012 01:02 GMT

#12

absolutely stephano. it was unreal how solid he was at nasl, taking out hero and mc~ (debatable best pvz players atm) not to mention alicia. sure naniwa's series vs drg was close, but i think that was more due to the fact that drg was caught off gaurd.

GAMENAMEHERE

United States14 Posts

July 18 2012 01:05 GMT

#13

If Stephano can go that far in the GSL, I'll change my mind. Don't get me wrong, I love Stephano, but NASL winner < Code S player (consistantly).

Benjamin99

4176 Posts

July 18 2012 01:10 GMT

#14

Stephano and not even a close contest

Fr0d0

Belize37 Posts

July 18 2012 01:18 GMT

#15

Stephano for sure. Personal profit >> Code S player.

nooboon

2602 Posts

July 18 2012 01:24 GMT

#16

It think this is a really good question as we have two players whose success have been different but are both consider to be the 'best' foreigner.

On one hand we have Stephano who has won multiple major tournaments this year.

On the other hand we have Naniwa, who has not won a major tournament yet (iirc) but has been to the GSL Ro8 twice.

kaisertoss

United States43 Posts

July 18 2012 01:25 GMT

#17

Why don't you rephrase as who you would want to see play more. Stephano by far.

Bibbit

Canada5377 Posts

July 18 2012 01:26 GMT

#18

On July 18 2012 10:25 kaisertoss wrote:
Why don't you rephrase as who you would want to see play more. Stephano by far.

Because thats an entirely different question, not a "rephrase."

Voted Nani. Like other Nani-voters, I'm still waiting for Stephano to hit up GSL

Drowsy

United States4876 Posts

July 18 2012 01:33 GMT

#19

Stephano because of race, but its really close.

On July 18 2012 09:37 Iddqdish wrote:
on the fly - Stephano
if there is time to prepare for 1 match - Naniwa

and definitely need to take this into consideration as well.

zanga

659 Posts

July 18 2012 01:36 GMT

#20

Why even compare? It makes no sense.

When stephano gets two Code S ro8 in a row we can start comparing apples and apples. It's not easy when youre alone against all the koreans in Seoul and "everyone" are trying to make you lose...

NANIWA > *

(also, Zerg is pretty good at the moment btw, you decide if thats relevant)