Grading the teams after #HGC Phase 1 for Europe

So, after the completion of the first round robin of the Heroes Global Championship, let's take stock of the teams. Most of the time, when people use a grade system, they forget what the grades actually mean, so, before I give out my grades to the teams in EU, here's a reminder of what the A through F grade scale actually means and how I will apply it:

A: Outstanding, far exceeding average expectations
B: Good, or above average of what was expected
C: Average, performed exactly as expected
D: Below Average, did not to live up to expectations
F: Failure, performed far below average, extreme disappointment of expectations

Got it? C is a good grade. It means that a team did exactly as we expected them to do. OK, let's go!

Misfits 7-0 (21-5) - Grade A+: Everyone expected Misfits to be good, but to record 3-0 sweeps over both Team Dignitas and Team Expert, I don't think anyone expected that. Misfits head into the clash the clear favorites to win, and have established themselves as real contenders for the Mid-Season Brawl.

FNATIC 6-1 (20-9) - Grade B: Now, before you all get upset, this is slightly below where they expected to finish. That said, aside from their 3-2 loss to Misfits, FNATIC dominated every match, and I think people are still in awe over their win vs. MVP Black at Blizzcon.

Team Dignitas 5-2 (17-8) - Grade C-: No one is more upset with Dignitas' performance than Dignitas themselves. They spent all of 2016 at the top of EU, and to finish third is a disappointment. They are going to the Clash, but they have work to do if they want to live up to their own high standards. Right now, Dignitas is in danger of missing out of global competitions for the first time since we have had globals.

Team Expert 4-3 (15-9) - Grade B-: Good things were expected of the former Two Bees Determined, which is why Expert signed them. They didn't drop a map in their first three matches, but they have to be slightly disappointed with their performance vs. the top 3. Good start, now they have to figure out what they do next.

Playing Ducks 3-4 (12-16) - Grade A-: How can I give Playing Ducks an A-? Because this was a team that was supposed to roll over, and they were in every match. They are not in the top of EU, yet, but they are on their way. Their performance against the top 3, not getting swept by any of them, and their upset of Tricked eSport shows that it's only a matter of time before the Ducks are serious contenders in EU.

Tricked eSport 2-5 (11-16) - Grade B-: In their last match against Misfits, Tricked demonstrated that they are just coming into their own and, like the Ducks above them, they are a serious threat each time you face them. This relatively new team is scary and is only getting better with each match.

Synergy 1-6 (5-19) - Grade D: Not only was Synergy not competitive, but nothing they ever did was compelling or scary. Synergy played uninspired all through out phase 1, and they continue to lack a solid team identity. They are mechanically solid, and they do not make a lot of mistakes, but they need to figure out who they are, and fast.

beGenius 0-7 (2-21) - Grade F: I want to give beGenius a higher grade, because when you watch them play, one match at a time, they do not make big mistakes. They draft competitively, they play smart, they just get outplayed by the more experienced teams. In interviews, some of the other players in EU said that beGenius was a bit of a surprise to make the league. When I watch their games, I see all the potential in the world in this team, and they do need time to come together, but they are running out of time, fast. Between now and April, beGenius need to figure out what they are doing and who they are.

Remember, we have all of Phase 2 to go through before Playoffs, the Crucible, and the Mid-Season Brawl. A lot can happen. Every team in EU is a threat because they are all really good, and even Synergy and beGenius cannot be taken lightly as the skill gap narrows with each match.

NA grades tomorrow. Spoiler alert: they won't be as kind.