[Baldie]

Two weeks before ACL Brisbane I asked the top 16 a series of questions. It's now time to reveal them and take a look at how accurate their predictions were.
Note: I was unable to source answers from PiG, Kez, KingKong & Alopex.

1. ACL Brisbane in two weeks. Are you prepared?
Wally : I try to prepare against protoss but it's hard to try and get inside the minds of a protoss player because most of the time they don't even know what they are doing themselves. All you can do is pretend to know what they are doing whilst holding down the R button.
Soundwave : Sort of. I still have lots of things I want to test out and I also want to make 100% sure my standard macro play is up to snuff. I think right now I'm not ready, but I will be ready by the time ACL Brisbane rolls around. I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain, so the bigger question is are HuT and Petrify prepared for me? :P
Law : Preparing for an all zerg group has been pretty easy, so I am pretty confident against all the zerg opponents, besides KingKong and PiG of course.

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HuT : Still got a few things to work on, but I'll be ready.
NXZ : To be honest I'm not in my best form but I've always enjoyed great performances at LANs, so yes, I am prepared.
Xormentor : Since ACL Brisbane was announced I have only been SC2 and averaging 10 games a day so I will be prepared as I ever will be.
Eros : Yeah, I'm currently in a pretty busy time at school but im still finding time to grind out games.
Pezz : Not yet, but on track for some good preperation.
Cuddles : It's hard to prepare, not being at a level that the rest of the competitors are but i think i'm pretty prepared.
Phoenix : Hmmm... I don't think I'm even close to prepared at this very moment, But in two weeks time I think I will be ready.
Petrify : I'm not prepared yet. I will be by the time it gets to Brisbane.
Schnitzel : I've had to go through a ton of assignments lately, but that period is over by the end of this week, so by the time ACL Bris comes around, I'm feeling really confident.

2. Top 16: 12 Zergs, 3 Protoss, 1 Terran. Will a Protoss or Terran make it out of groups?
HuT : Myself and Pezz will get through, hope you guys enjoy ZvZ.
Pezz : I'll make it out of groups easy, hut will make it out of groups easy too. Look out for both of us, I'm sure we'll both be zerg snipers at the end of our preparation. As for other protoss/terrans, I think their chances of making it out of groups are no higher than 50%.
Eros : I can say with confidence that both Hut and Pezz will make it out of there groups, Huts been showing some really strong play since his return and I think hes gonna preform really well this ACL and Pezz has recently preforming extremely consistently.

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NXZ : I can't see HuT and Pezz not making it out of groups, whether the two of them can make it far in the bracket, well, we'll see.
Xormentor : I feel Hut and Pezz will make it out of groups.
Law : I think my teammate Pezz will have a pretty easy time advancing through his group. I've heard that HuT has been playing well but I haven't actually seen his play.
Wally : Hut will definitely make it out of his group, his zvt is really good and I don't see the players in his group beating him. Pezz will most likely take first in our group cause he's a dirty scumbag protoss player.
Cuddles : I definitely think a terran can make it out of the groups, it's going to be tough for the protosses, because there respective groups are pretty tough.
Phoenix : Well the Protoss/Terrran players that made it into the groups are all strong players, I think for certain hut/pezz will make it out of their groups. Some big upsets will have to happen for either to not make it out.
Petrify : Yes, Hut and Pezz will 100% make it out of groups, other than that, i'm not sure.
Schnitzel : It's pretty likely that both a protoss and terran make it out. HuT is looking extremely solid lately, and though Pezz hasn't been playing a ton recently, he's still one of sea's top protoss, so i'd be really surprised if either of them didn't make it out.
Soundwave : I would be super shocked if HuT and Pezz didn't advance from their groups. I definitely think they're the strongest players in their respective groups. I hope they advance too, for the interest of viewer entertainment. ZvZ gets sort of old after the 47th Bo3 in a row.

3. Will you advance from your group?
Phoenix: : I think my group is an interesting one actually, There is no massive favourite like Kingkong or Pig. With that being said, I'm probably the least known player in my group, but I think I'm going to crush the cry baby quitter wally and make it out of my group easily in 1st/2nd place.
Wally : I really have to look out for phoenix, people underestimate him because he's diamond but he's actually reall... nah joking he's pretty shit. I'll most likely lose to pezz because he plays the best race and come 2nd-3rd in the group hopefully.
Petrify : I'll advance in 1st without dropping a map. HuT will easily get 2nd. From then probably someone from the open bracket.

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HuT : Absolutely.
NXZ : With the new format allowing 3 players to advance, I am very confident that I can definitely make it out.
Xormentor : Probably not, my only chance is probably to snipe one of the seeded players in my group and then also beat the open bracket players.
Eros : It's not the easiest group and with guys like PIG and NXZ who I looked up to when I was some random plat noob its kinda daunting but still I'm gonna practice hard and give it my best shot.
Pezz : Yep, hopefully in first place.
Law : Yes, I think it will be PiG, me, NXZ, in that order.
Cuddles : Most likely not, but anything can happen hence why i love starcraft, one wrong move can completely change the game.
Schnitzel : Since I don't know who's currently coming for the Open Bracket I would have to say Pezz in 1st, and then myself or wally in 2/3rd. But if someone extremely solid comes from the open bracket I wouldn't be surprised to see myself or wally not advance.
Soundwave : Getting into groups was my goal for a long time. I didn't even think to concern myself with the Championship Bracket. But looking at my group, I think, depending on who comes through the open bracket, I have a decent shot at making it out. I think I have roughly a 35-40% chance to beat HuT and Petrify, and I am super sure I'll beat my clanmate Phuzzy (aka Cuddles). It's sort of unfortunate that my clanmate is in my group, but he's the easiest opponent out of anyone in groups so I guess it's good for me and I won't feel bad about beating him because I don't think he would make it out of any group anyway

4. Who's the favourite to win it all?
Schnitzel : Obviously Kingkong comes in as the heavy favourite for this, but I think Pig has a really solid chance for taking him out, but apart from those two titans, unless someone has a REALLY good day, I don't see them losing to anyone but each other.
Pezz : Kingkong! I consider myself a dark horse though.
NXZ : Me.

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HuT : KingKong!
Xormentor : KingKong.
Eros : I think Chase is gonna win this without dropping a single match he has managed to perfect the art of proxy hatching in ZvZ so I dont think anyone else stands a chance.
Law : Kingkong and PiG are the obvious favourites.
Cuddles : I think either PiG or KK will probably take it out being the strong players that they are but my favourite probably soundwave.
Wally : A protoss player will probably win this tournament since it's all the rage right now. Joking aside, Pig and KingKing are miles ahead of us peasants and I don't see anyone beating either of them. Unless another up and coming protoss makes a miraculous tournament run through pure skill and game knowledge.
Phoenix : I think the favourite obviously our friendly neighbourhood korean. Kingkong ^.^
Petrify : KingKong will win it easily. PiG is an amazing player but KingKongs zvz is just a work of art.
Soundwave : KingKong or PiG. No one else is remotely on their level. Sure, there's potential for someone like Petrify or Pezz to take a game or possibly even beat them outright, but I think that's pretty highly unlikely. This isn't some online tournament, this is ACL. The real deal. No one can outperform KingKong and PiG on the biggest stage of them all at the moment. Normally I'd say KingKong defeats PiG (as he has in every ACL encounter except their triple 9 pool bout at ACL Melbourne) but I'm thinking PiG wants to leave Australia with a bang, so I think he'll ultimately come out on top.

5. What's your goal for ACL Brisbane? (eg finish top 3, advance past groups)
HuT : Aiming for a top 4 finish.
Xormentor : To beat one of the seeded players in my group.
Cuddles : I would love to advance from groups, but my group is pretty tough, but if i take a couple games off of these guys I'll be happy, definitely think i'm capable of it.

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NXZ : First.
Eros : If I make it past groups I will be ecstatic but as long as I play well and dont lose every game I won't really care.
Law : Atleast top 8.
Wally : If I switch to protoss now I think I have a good shot at winning, but I have a soul so I'm not going to do that. I feel confident I'll make it out of groups even whilst not playing the imbalanced race.
Pezz : I'd like to get first in group, get into the round of 8 and win my round of 8 match, anything more is a bonus.
Phoenix : I think making it out of groups/top 8 would be nice a nice achievement ~: D
Petrify : My goal is top 3 overall. If I come first in my group, which I should, I'll achieve that.
Schnitzel : I'll be happy if I can advance from my group with random. Anything more is just a plus for me.
Soundwave : I am literally going in with no goal. Whatever happens, happens. Last time at ACL Sydney I said "Okay, there's no way I don't make groups. I got this." and once I saw that my bracket was easily possible to make it out of, I got super nervous. The hardest enemy in that situation, the only one who could possibly have denied me groups...was myself. And I proceeded to do just that, because nerves hit me hard and I played like garbage (probably around 40% of my actual skill) in literally every game of that tournament and then infamously slammed my headset in frustration. So this time, no expectations. I'm sure if I get two easy open bracket opponents I'll subconsiously give myself expectations and the nerves might come back, but I'm counting on going in with a clear head and taking the games as they come. Championship bracket would be cool, but I'm pushing that out of my mind as merely a fantasy at this point.

Also, I'd like to play on the main stage so the stream could see my beautiful face and give me a nice new Facebook profile picture.

[SLCN.Wally]

Originally Posted by Baldie

but I think I'm going to crush the cry baby quitter wally and make it out of my group easily in 1st/2nd place.

this is so awkward now.

Quick Comments

TtSYF.tRoy:

rekt

[syfSoundwave]

My answers are like 2x the length of everyone else's.

Come on people, step up!

Quick Comments

	Chiddiru:	he asked for a response not an essay ;)
	syfChadMann:	^lol
	TtSYF.tRoy:	^^lol

[ThatGuyDoMo]

HAHA I told you guys this might come out afterwards

[SLCN.NXZ]

Well this happened.

[SLCN.Wally]

Originally Posted by Baldie

Xormentor : Since ACL Brisbane was announced I have only been SC2 and averaging 10 games a day so I will be prepared as I ever will be.

Must have felt bad to lose to namakaye when he hasn't played a game in a year

Quick Comments

	x5_Namakaye:	quitting is best way to improve, you know that better than anyone else amirite? :P
	zenabi:	Wally on a bming rampage today, what got your knickers in a twist?

[Chiddiru]

Originally Posted by Baldie

5. What's your goal for ACL Brisbane? (eg finish top 3, advance past groups)
HuT : Aiming for a top 4 finish.

I think 2nd place is top 4, so well done man #cut4hut

Quick Comments

syfChadMann:

#CUT4HUT

[nGenLight]

This Wally guy makes me feel really angry and defensive, and I haven't even seen a SC2 game in 3 months.

Quick Comments

	syfPhoenix:	Hahahah! This is amusing
	[TA]LoSt:	Yeh hes a bit of a gimp

[SLCN.Wally]

EU GM so hard amirite?

Quick Comments

	ThatGuyDoMo:	jesus what have we created
	syfChadMann:	double posting scrublord.

[syfPhoenix]

Wally, please, stahp. You're literally petraeus.

Quick Comments

Chiddiru:

who are you?

[DGWoLF]

Ladies and Gents
Below this post in Links to 5 interviews with players that were conducted over ACL Brisbane 2014.
I would like to apologize for the bad rendering and Audio issues involved in these videos.

The Bad rendering is due to my PC dieing and being on its way out. This will be fixed for the next event i cover which should be Pax Aus 2014.

The Audio issues i believe is compatibility with the Mic to Camera. I am going to see if i can fix this if cant then i will get a mic that will work with the camera.

Here you go

Ecko Esport's Schnitzel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIbqlC2hJJs

Silicon Sports's Kez

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1sp67IQCfw

Silicon Sports's Pezz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTe_ouX0Fxw

Frenetic Array's HuT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khUE8pBIrHY

Exile.5's PiG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPqdxD1t38w&index=1

I hope you enjoy the interviews from ACL Brisbane.
Any feedback is welcomed. I love doing this sort of Media coverage of events so i wish to improve as much as i can.

Thanks to ACL for letting me do the coverage i did and thanks to the players for the interviews.

Signing off

~Jesse DG.WoLF Wheeler