Blizzcon Group A

So, I'm back. Last post was first week of March, and life started to get nuts. I haven't been able to follow and write about HGC. Still, it's Blizzcon. It's the World Championship. Sixteen teams, three from each major region, and still no love for the minor regions, but what else is new? Group A starts next Friday, and here's how it's going down:



Basically, if there is a group of death, it's Group A. #1 Korea, #2 China, #3 NA, and the representative from SEA. Sorry, Deadly Kittens, great name, but you are out. Deadly Kittens will make it interesting in both matches, but they are going to be out classed here.

It should come as no surprise that MVP Black is going to not just win this group, but walk away with it. The real question remains two parts: how good is China's second team and has Tempo Storm gotten their groove back?

So, here we go:

Match 1: MVP Black over Deadly Kittens

It's an easy 2-0 for MVP Black. The Deadly Kittens get their big shot on the world stage, and they draw one of the three tournament favorites. The return of Rich means that you can possibly see MVP Black not dropping a map in group stages. He remains the best mechanical player in the world, and MVP Black is hungry for Blizzcon. They missed 2015. They lost in the semis of 2016 after having been unquestionably the team of the year. It's a take no prisoners year for MVP-B.

Match 2: CE over Tempo Storm

I really want to believe that Tempo Storm has figured out their issues. They stormed through the NA Playoffs and upset Gale Force to get back to Blizzcon, making them the only roster to compete at Blizzcon, two years in a row, without a single roster change. Last year, they were under the banner of Astral Authority, having qualified as Murloc Geniuses. The happy days are not back again, though, as the Murloc-Astral-Storm roster fell from first to fourth in NA between phases one and two. Ultimately, I fear that CE is too good for Tempo to beat... in the first match. Tempo Storm will likely spend this match feeling out CE, not that they will throw, but that CE will show just enough to confuse the NA third place team. CE takes this 2-1 and sends Tempo Storm to face Deadly Kittens.

Winners' Match: MVP Black over CE

It's gonna be a 2-0. CE might take a map off of MVP Black IF they can out draft them, but that is their only chance, and it's a big if. Expect MVP Black to look to strike fear in the hearts and minds of the entire field, qualify for the quarters on day one, and sit back and study everyone else. The seeding and the group heavily favor MVP Black in ways that really are not fair.

Losers' Match: Tempo Storm over Deadly Kittens

I don't want to say Deadly Kittens are going out 0-4, but they are. I want the minor regions to have more of a chance, but SEA just isn't ready. Still, the Kittens made a good showing at the Mid-Season Brawl, so they are not completely out of it, and they are good enough to upset Tempo Storm and could push CE, but that's a fairy tale. Tempo Storm, 2-0... unless they look past the Kittens to a rematch with CE.

Deciders' Match: Tempo Storm over CE

In 2016, Murloc Geniuses were the kings of "you can't beat us twice." They fell to the losers' match in the group stage of the second NA Regional, only to fight back and win the tournament for a second time on their way to Blizzcon. The lack of a roster change, the growth of these young men as a team, should mean that CE will throw their best at Tempo Storm in their first match, while I expect Tempo Storm to hide something. Ultimately, this match will come down to one player: Psalm. If Psalm is a factor, and I believe he will be, Tempo Storm wins 2-1. If CE can target or shut down Psalm, CE wins. I give the edge to Tempo Storm.

If you liked that, let me know. Group B comes out tomorrow.