While the 9th-32nd ranked players battle it out in the group stage on Day 1, the top eight players of 2014 will be waiting patiently in the Championship Bracket on Day 2.

In this article we briefly look back at how these players have performed this year. As with the group stage players, we also invited them to give some thoughts as to how they might perform and have included their responses here.

1 Team Exile5PiG 2197.5

The defending champion of 2013, PiG comes into this year's final with the number one seed. 2014 has been an eventful year for PiG, with a qualification to WCS America Challenger League and a prolonged excursion to Europe training with mYi and he will be looking to finish the year strongly with a successful title defense after finishing the season with back-to-back Masters Cup wins. It is notable that, despite his reputation as one of the region's top players, PiG's last Masters Cup win was in 2012 just prior to his first ACL title at ACL Melbourne. Will history repeat and lead him to another premier win?

2014 OSC Wins

WCS NA Qualifier
SEAcraft Weekly #1
SEAcraft Weekly #2
SEAcraft Weekly #3
Hype Cup #1
SEAcraft Weekly #19
Masters Cup #46
SEAcraft Weekly #28
Masters Cup #47

2 Root GamingPetraeus 2145.0

Another player who took the fight internationally this year is Petraeus who stayed in the United States for much of the year after joining ROOT and is now residing with mYi in Europe. Looking at his results this year, it's clear that he has very much made the Hairy Bash his tournament, winning every one which he has turned up to. Being in Europe for the finals, it remains to be seen whether or not he can overcome the latency from Europe to play at his best.

2014 OSC Wins

SYF Weekly #4
Hairy Bash #1
Friday Fun Night #7
Masters Cup #39
Hairy Bash #2
Masters Cup #41
Hairy Bash #3
Hairy Bash #5

Interview

1. What was your favourite OSC tournament/or moment this year?
   My favourite has been the Hairy Bash's actually since I always seem to do well in them.
2. How far do you think you can go in this tournament?
   Theres 350-400 ping from EU to SEA so I'm probably going to get utterly destroyed.
3. Are there any players you want to play the most?
   DAVID.
4. Are there any players you want to avoid?
   I think PiG is the scariest opponent for me right now.
5. Who do you look up to, take inspiration from, in the StarCraft II community?
   Snute, I guess.
6. Who are some of your favourite SEA players?
   David.
7. Where can your fans follow you?
   @ROOTPetraeus
8. What do you love the most about StarCraft II?
   It's a fun game.

3 Imperium Pro TeamEnDerr 1890.0

If you had been asked who won the most tournaments in OSC this year, you might have suggested one of the Koreans or someone like PiG. Instead, the answer is EnDerr. A resident of the Philippines and often encountering connection issues in tournaments which led to unfortunate forfeits, EnDerr has kept at it and taken out sixteen wins this year, seven more than the next closest player PiG.

2014 OSC Wins

Friday Fun Night #5
FeDe Open
Friday Fun Night #11
Friday Fun Night #13
Hype Cup #2
SEAcraft Weekly #5
Friday Fun Night #18
SEAcraft Weekly #6
Friday Fun Night #19
SEAcraft Weekly #10
SEAcraft Weekly #14
Friday Fun Night #24
SEAcraft Weekly #18
Friday Fun Night #26
Friday Fun Night #28
Friday Fun Night #31

Interview

1. What was your favourite OSC tournament/or moment this year?
   WCS Oceania.
2. How far do you think you can go in this tournament?
   1st to 4th
3. Are there any players you want to play the most?
   PIG
4. Are there any players you want to avoid?
   non
5. Who do you look up to, take inspiration from, in the StarCraft II community?
   Life
6. Who are some of your favourite SEA players?
   Iaguz,Wally
7. Where can your fans follow you?
   facebook page = https://www.facebook.com/pages/Enderr/477420982377098
   Twitter = https://twitter.com/EnDerrPH
8. What do you love the most about StarCraft II?
   The concept.

4 Team Exile5KingKong 1500.0

Our resident Korean, KingKong's performance when it counts is as scary as ever despite focusing on his studies and playing part-time, winning both ACLs this year and qualifying for every season of WCS America Challenger League. Real-life commitments have unfortunately led to a reduction in his tournament load toward including a forfeit from WCS America Season 3, so his current level is difficult to gauge.

2014 OSC Wins

Masters Cup #38
Bass Fish Open #1
WCS NA Qualifier
Friday Fun Night #20
SEAcraft Weekly #22
SEAcraft Weekly #26

Interview

1. What was your favourite OSC tournament/or moment this year?
   My favourite OSC tournament are WCS Oceania , Seacraft Weekly and Masters cups because when I join these , My feeling is very interesting and exciting
2. How far do you think you can go in this tournament?
   I would like to include with TOP 3 but I'm not sure because recently I couldn't practice a lot...I will just do my best at the Tournament
3. Are there any players you want to play the most?
   I don't care anyone , I will focus on winning haha
4. Are there any players you want to avoid?
   I don't care but I don't want to meet protoss because protoss is imba
5. Who do you look up to, take inspiration from, in the StarCraft II community?
   I usually talk with Startale Hack and Curious , They have been giving many Idea for me
6. Who are some of your favourite SEA players?
   I like everyone but The most favourite player is PiG and Dot because They always help and support for me
7. Where can your fans follow you?
   I think so.. But not really haha , I hope to get a lot of fans to cheer up for me :D
8. What do you love the most about StarCraft II?
   I love all of the zerg that's why I choose zerg :D

5 Arthur 1427.5

The runner-up from 2013, Arthur is the only teamless player in the top eight. After the disbanding of SlayerS, Arthur has flirted with a few teams but largely continued playing solo. Arthur is also the only Korea-resident in the top eight, a result of his frequent participation in SEA tournaments. With a bounty available for his defeat, local players will surely be looking to take him down in the finals.

2014 OSC Wins

Masters Cup #37
Saturday Showdown #12
ZOWIE SEA Open #1
SEAcraft Weekly #13
Masters Cup #44
SEAcraft Weekly #29

Interview

1. What was your favourite OSC tournament/or moment this year?
   Masters Cups
2. How far do you think you can go in this tournament?
   2014 SCS many korean . i think top 8 ~
3. Are there any players you want to play the most?
   yes i want vs freewin
4. Are there any players you want to avoid?
   maru
5. Who do you look up to, take inspiration from, in the StarCraft II community?
   peatreus
6. Who are some of your favourite SEA players?
   peatreus , demilove , blysk
7. Where can your fans follow you?
   @Sc2arthur
8. What do you love the most about StarCraft II?
   yes i love Sc2

6 mYi AcademyBlysk 925.0

The lone Singaporean representative in the top eight, Blysk has very much emerged as one of the most promising up-and-comers. 2014 has been an exciting year for Blysk, joining the mYi Academy and travelling internationally to ACL Sydney, DreamHack Stockholm and qualifying for MSI Beat IT. As he looks for that breakout tournament, a good finish in the season finals would set him up for a strong 2015.

2014 OSC Wins

SEA Rising Star Invit. #1
Friday Fun Night #17
SEAcraft Weekly #16

Interview

1. What was your favourite OSC tournament/or moment this year?
   Favourite OSC tournament or moment this year would be SEA Rising Star, it was nice going through the tournament and claiming first feeling confident throughout. ACL was heaps of fun too eventhough i totally screwed up there.
2. How far do you think you can go in this tournament?
   in this tournament, i'm not too sure yet, It's hard to judge how good you are in the DreamPool. But if i could dodge the kespa Koreans i think i can do decently well vs anyone else. I think realistically, i might be top 8.
3. Are there any players you want to play the most?
   This may be a little random but, i want to face Spear. I've wanted to face him in every single tournament i've played in. We always have really close matches that lead to 2-1 in his favor. Before the Bounties were announced i took 2-1 series off him before too so i really want to claim the bounty on his head because i know i can
4. Are there any players you want to avoid?
   Kespa Players as pre-mentioned. Petraeus, Enderr, Pig, as of now i'm not feeling very confident in my PvZ and the top tier Zergs in our region are strong too especially when each have their own unique playstyle.
5. Who do you look up to, take inspiration from, in the StarCraft II community?
   In the Starcraft 2 Community... Grubby, he's always been like a mentor and a brother to me. But of course i've got a lot of close friends and people coaching me here and there too
6. Who are some of your favourite SEA players?
   PiG, he's just an amazing person, always mannered, always dedicated his hardwork and "givebacks" to the community is just so admirable. He's also a very friendly person always cool to hang out with him and see him do well. Also special mention about Petraeus, i remember meeting him back in Japan for a tournament and he was this shy dude who just had a dream and a goal and he just kept going at it. Now he's come so far and doing so well, really admire that as well, waiting for my breakout moment soon i hope
7. Where can your fans follow you?
   @itsblysk my twitter that's where all the magic happens of else, check out my stream twitch.tv/flashblysk a lot of info about me there and ways for me to interact with the fans too
8. What do you love the most about StarCraft II?
   The innovation, the depth of knowledge, the competition, the community, the travels. This whole journey through SC2 is just amazing, and i don't think i'll stop here. Esports is just amazing.

7 Vox EminorMightyKiwi 915.0

Like his compatriot Petraeus, MightyKiwi also spent a good amount of time at the ROOT house in the United States this year after joining their academy team SEED. After returning, he joined new team Vox Eminor and also travelled to ACL Sydney. The only player apart from PiG to take a SEA Bounty this year, MightyKiwi is another of the players who will be looking to make a strong showing on his way to a strong finish in a premier tournament.

2014 OSC Wins

Friday Fun Night #6
Friday Fun Night #14
SEAcraft Weekly #11
SEA Rising Star #2
Friday Fun Night #30

Interview

1. What was your favourite OSC tournament/or moment this year?
   Probably has to be the SEA rising open #2 that i won, only dropping one map, in the Grand final
2. How far do you think you can go in this tournament?
   ro8 would be solid for me, though i think it might be a top 16 finish for me
3. Are there any players you want to play the most?
   I'd like to play Petraeus for old times sake
4. Are there any players you want to avoid?
   Every other Zerg
5. Who do you look up to, take inspiration from, in the StarCraft II community?
   Taeja, Life, and Impact. they're all young players who have a good mindset and show that putting in the work can produce results
6. Who are some of your favourite SEA players?
   Well i am #1 NXZ fan even though he is a bad friend and i love me some AgUy (i am trying to revive him for LotV). Petraeus is a cheeky little kid but he's there too
7. Where can your fans follow you?
   @VoxMightyKiwi and Twitch.tv/MightyKiwi

8 Root Gamingiaguz 887.5

Despite the sparse looking list of wins in OSC this year, iaguz has shown a breakthrough international performance this year. Another of this region's exports, iaguz also stayed in the United States with ROOT for a large portion of the year, coming back to play in ACL Sydney to earn a qualification for WCS America Season 3, with a break-out international performance to be the first player from our region to advance to the Round of 16 of Premier League since mOOnGLaDe.

2014 OSC Wins

WCS NA Qualifier
Masters Cup #43

Read more

• Grand Finals Format and Information
• Meet the Players: Group Stage
• Meet the Players: Championship Bracket

OSC 2014 GRAND FINALE SPONSORS

TEXT: xpaperclip, players + thanks to Maynarde and Eddie
GRAPHICS: Jemsk, Blizzard Entertainment

[syfNaMeK]

Put a hood over MightyKiwi's head and he would look like a sith lord or something

Quick Comments

syfMightyKiwi:

rofl

[SLCN.NXZ]

Man this top 8 is like the the final defence of sea against the inevitable Korean onslaught from the group stage. Gonna be fun to see this bloodbath unfold.

David is #1.

[x5_dot]

awww sam is too cute! looking forward to seeing him compete again

hoping my x5 boys do us proud!

[syfRize]

Arthur is a qtpie ;-; just look at him

david looks like a criminal on the loose hahaha

EDIT: Short for cutie pie

Quick Comments

SSfp_Saulo:

What is a qtpie? :)

[syfChadMann]

Originally Posted by Arthur

Who do you look up to, take inspiration from, in the StarCraft II community?
peatreus

Originally Posted by Arthur

peatreus

hehehehe Thats a new one.. >.<

Good luck dudes, looks like a great tournament and awesome production thus far!

[Eddie]

Awesome work

A lot of $'s won between these guys this year! Hopefully they can go deep this tournament and win some more!

[syfMightyKiwi]

Stacked group stage, gonna be hard tourny.

[freeedom]

If you had been asked who won the most tournaments in OSC this year, you might have suggested one of the Koreans or someone like PiG. Instead, the answer is EnDerr.

It would be cool to get Soo-like numbers as to how many 2nd place finishes as well for him.

[fray`Alpha]

Really cool write up, (I love the formatting paperclip, looks great )

this just getting me super hyped and excited.... soo bummed I wont be here to watch. will have to wait 2 weeks to see the games (hopefully most of the vods are saved and some go to youtube to watch there). Really hope some of our sea players can get fairly high in this tournament (this is including you Sam ).

[SLCN.Wally]

Really impressed with the presentation of these thread.

[Eddie]

Originally Posted by VoxMSI.MightyKiwi

Stacked group stage, gonna be hard tourny.

That's why finishing top 8 is so important! Bypass that, set yourself up in the R16, best chance at moving forward and earning more $'s.
This will be even more important next year as the prizepool shall likely go up again.