[deL]

League Admins
deL and Lemminks

Prizes
3 x TGM subscriptions worth $120 for 6 months

Time and Location
Thursdays 8PM AEDT in channel SEALA

Unlike the leagues above this one, which you might call spiritual successors to the original SEACL, this division has a more recent history with the PDCL. It features many of the same teams with a majority of the same players, and we can accurately determine form and relative strengths based on last season's results.

Last PDCL season's finalists and eventual victors, AsG, make a return with a little changed lineup. Joining them are their playoff partners FaDe and VB and of course the usual suspects in TA, ToR and TCP will have a second shot at this level. We can see the pecking order among these teams, with a few favourites but really an open field where any team can beat another on their day. However, joining these regulars we have some new entries in the Chinese community clan ToT, eXo B-teamers eXofG, newcomers KFC and Tasmanians SCT (shoutout to Smegenstein) amongst others!

However, all of this could amount to exactly nothing. While the event has its similarities with the PDCL there are a few key areas that might decide which teams take the podium places including the presence of a substantial prize and an entirely new format. The qualities I think will exceed in this tournament are depth - not just a lot of players, but a good spread of races of equal talent and a good spread of styles, like all-around players that can be used as utilities and snipers who can prepare for one map or player - and vigilance. If the previous BSGCL or PDCL seasons are anything to go by the more casual players at these lower leagues can not always commit to play each week, so despite one team having a very strong lineup if they have no depth and players can't make it they are going to lose to an all-around team who turns up every week with an abundance of players to choose from. Following this philosophy I think we can pinpoint the possible favourite teams as TCP, AsG and eXo. However, the higher league can't always be counted on to win as the gap between many Diamond players and their Masters counterparts is very small and I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the all-diamond teams sneak a few victories.

Match 1 - TA vs eXofG

Preview

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This is going to be an interesting first round matchup as TA takes on eXofG, the b-team for eXo. TA are a well known clan with active forum participants and an equally active participation in clanleague events on SC2SEA, while this is the first try for eXofG. Both teams are diamond-heavy with a decent spread of races so depth shouldn't be a problem. I expect it to come down to superior leadership from the intelligent and downright good-looking captain of TA.

Prediction: TA 5-1 eXofG

Rosters

+ [Rosters] +

Terror Australis	eXorbitant
TAdeL	pEdRo
TABlitz	eXoCeephyr
TAFadey	eXoVier
TAdracover	xFgBASA
TAPoisedYeTi	xFgGigant
TASCM	XfGLear
TAStarScream	Carloz
ZergGirl	reix
TAMiLes	xFgGerms
	XfGSurt
	Placebo

Match 2 - KFC vs VB
Preview

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This matchup is mouthwatering in more than one way. Another case of Old vs New we see 3rd place PDCL participants VB take on the previously unknown KFC. Despite being unknown their roster is heavy with Masters players so this match is really going to come down to which players are used. If KFC give their extensive BSG players a run then VB will most likely have the experience and skill to take it out, but if KFC have a good participation for the first match of the season they could run out comfortable winners and announce their intentions for the rest of the event.

Prediction: KFC 4-2 VB

Rosters

+ [Rosters] +

KFC	VB
KFCTrinion	VBRhuubarb.662
CbBTreAd	VBBoony.911
Luminescent	VBsirhcle.357
Nightmare	xHpKisHerEx.889
KFCBukket	Ice.963
KFCFatboi	JiNxXx.115
TSAce	VBWhiplashJC.584
CbBBrickwall	VBMuldeh.670
Yoker	LOSdrnnn.252
CbBDeathkaos
KFCPanda
IamJeremy
CbBBeast
KFCcheese
KFCYager

Match 3 - iRL vs TCP
Preview

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Both of these teams should be familiar to sc2sea regulars and it's no surprise they they should be relatively evenly matched here. I think TheGrayZerg will be hard to overcome for TCP but I'd have to give them an edge with FYRE's recent strong NZ tourney performance. It's too hard to call a definitive winner but I think we can all agree that the fans will be the winners if the commentators have to keep saying Durrrr.

Prediction: iRL 3-3 TCP

Rosters

+ [Rosters] +

Imperial	Team Carbon Pressure
iRLdKiWi	lolwut.901
neoneo	Durrrr. 763
TheGrayZerg	FYRE.654
iRLdiRty	Heaven.837
Bubblepoosh	Lemminks.916
iRLTemplar	TCPOrb.366
iRLEstancia	ReapzzHD.820
iRLZeion	craftkings.915
iRLStitcH.598	TragicHero.742

Match 4 - AsG vs ToT
Preview

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Another very hard decision. The ToT lineup looks to be stretched due to the A-Team using most of the Masters and up talent and they are against the defending champions AsG. AsG has only gotten stronger since their debut season victory with the promotion and addition of some Masters level players to complement the proven strong lineup. I think unless ToT turn out to be one of the tournament's darkhorse teams I would have to predict a one-sided victory to AsG.

Prediction: AsG 5-1 ToT

Rosters

+ [Rosters] +

Ascension Gaming	Trick or Treat
AsGZealo	Alopex
AsGKepler	Oracle
AsGThor	Zephyrus
Goosejuice	Morning
Hazzerk	Kara
AsGK	hqc
Jayaiwhy	sexxmachine
AsGEman	InterMin
AsGArmi	YituoshiToT
MilfMaMa

Match 5 - FaDe vs HDMD-kT
Preview

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HDMD-kT is one of the few teams I look at the roster of and recognise exactly no one, so this may indicate that they are a little inexperienced in a tournament format. Whether they are ladder monsters or just use a different server I imagine FaDe will give them a baptism in fire for their first game of the tournament. Featuring many of the strong names that got them to the finals in the PDCL season, FaDe has depth (though no Terrans!) in abundance and all active members who will be practicing for these games. There are also several ace options such as Lemon, who performed an all-kill in PDCL, and Rawfish who was FaDe's ace player in the PDCL finals, making it even harder for their opponents to come up with a sound strategy.

Prediction: FaDe 5-1 HDMD-kT

Rosters

+ [Rosters] +

Clan FaDe	HDMD-kT
FaDeLemon	AZKMokss
Fullstop.283	GenSyntax
FaDeRawfish.111	ThreeLilPigs
Ricochet.641	Achiless
FaDePseudo.250	Sharper
FaDeEXCL.173	Ace
HoneyBadger	Zygus
FaDeEpiC.203	Exile
	kTEisenhart
	HDRandymakMD
	HDCanoMD
	CNcdoPhaze
	HDChinkZMD
	HDRhyeMD

Match 6 - SCT vs ToR
Preview

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As much as I want to back my Tasmanian brethren (or "extended family" as we call each other) ToR's lineup looks to have been on the juice since they last competed as a team. With regulars like Djvillain and Erasmus being no slouches, the addition of Masters players will really increase their chances in this Bo3 format, which favours the stronger players winning rather than upsets like a Bo1 would produce. I say SCT's results pivots on the performance of superstar Smegenstein. If Smegenstein is doing well, ESPORTS is doing well.

Prediction: SCT 2-4 ToR

Rosters

+ [Rosters] +

SCT	ToR
MJtron	ZarZob
hamsupsup	ahuhC
DrSayus	EsKy
Namida	HTXypha
Smegenstein	Erasmus
elmo	Doofus
FaDeEpsilon	DeekZ
DeMackas	ToRDjvillian
	ToRsPook
	Kweeeeeeeers
	Shadowz
	AZKSupapower
	Recoil
	Saucy

Not playing Round 1

+ [ZeroCraft] +

Eski.833
insurgence.768
Random.788
shifty.684
krip.314
Incognito.453
ZeroAbsolute.790
Suman.449

My Player Feature for this tier of the SC2SEA League competition will be none other than VB's Rhuubarb. The reason he was picked over other good options, like last season's PDCL runners up AsG, was due to his strong performance here and in SEACoL and his relatively recent promotion to masters (also AsG already got interviewed).

The face Rhuubarb pull before taking the souls of Diamond players

Name: John "Rhuubarb" Atkin
Age: 23
Race: Protoss
Team: VB

deL. You are somewhat of a veteran at this tier of competition with your experience with VB in previous team events, as well as your strong performance in SEACoL (topping the ladder). Do you think you will stand out in this league or do you see some players that you are uncomfortable against?
Rhuubarb. Well I only started getting into the SEA clan scene about 6 months ago. I found VB via Teamliquid and then sc2sea via the VB homesite. I enjoy competition and am fairly competitive so I've tried to be as active as possible, and have been more active on sc2sea recently in general. I don't think I will stand out though, even though I am the only master ranked player in VB.

I have a tendency to choke in leagues (note my fairly poor record in the PDCL), but have been practicing and streaming a bit more and hopefully will have some more success. But I don't feel like there is one player I can single out, I feel if I play my best I will do well. However, I'd like to beat ZergGirl cause she (she, right?) beat me in SEACoL.

deL. What do you see as your role in VB? Do you consider yourself an ace player or will you practice for specific maps/matchups/players?
Rhuubarb. I will probably be the ace player, but we have some other good players who I might put in as the ace if I feel they might have a better chance than me against who I think their ace will be. The strength of my matchups varies a lot. Depending on the metagame my vZ or vP is sometimes really good, or really bad. At this level I feel confident against Terran though, and that has been quite stable for a long time for me.

deL. VB seem like more of a social/friendly team than one designed to specifically improve play. Do you still practice often as a team, and if so how do you go about it?
Rhuubarb. VB definately is focused on the social aspect. We have our own inhouse tournaments but there is not much practice as per say. Most of my practice is via the ladder, but sometimes if I want to practice a certain matchup I can sometimes get a practice partner, but I'd guess that compared to other clans, it's not so much of a focus in VB. It more about fun for us, and balancing real life with sc2.

deL. Seeing VB has been in almost all of the lower tier leagues on sc2sea to date, do you have any rival players participating in the league, or perhaps a team you are looking forward to facing?
Rhuubarb. Well my greatest achievement was against TA in the PDCL where we were down 3-2 and I won the last 2 games to give us the win, you may remember that Del :P (Hey I got you back in a GPD! -deL). I'd like to do better this season against FaDe, cause they always owned us in PDCL, also one of my favourite VB members recently left VB for FaDe. But either of those a what I would consider friendly rivalries, so even if i lose, I can still laugh afterwards.

deL. Thanks for your time, best of luck in the upcoming league! Any last comments, thanks or shoutouts?
Rhuubarb. Thanks to all of the SC2SEA admins involved with setting this up. It's something that I know takes a lot of effort and I personally appreciate what they do for the community. Also of course clan VB for being an awesome bunch of guys (and girls... but I don't think we have any). I can't wait for this to start.

Thanks Del for the interview.

Brackets - Official Post - SEACL Preview

Quick Comments

	ToRSpartaz:	Da Boss <3
	ToRSpookToR:
	VB_Rhuubarb:
	ROOTPetraeus:
	Zealo:	thinking we have a chance after losing our 3 best players :)
	TCPLemminks: