[Baldie]

WCS Season 2: Oceania/Southeast Asia
Qualifiers & Challenger

REGISTER HERE

In two separate Tournaments and three days of competition, we will find the best two players to represent our region at WCS Premier in Season 2. Those deserving of such a title will face off against 30 of the world's best players on the world stage. So start warming up those hands and pay close attention to the following information to find out how you can have your shot at the World Championship Series.

WCS Season 2: Oceania/Southeast Asia Qualifiers

+ [Click for details] +

Stage 1 - Online Open Qualifier Stage
- Date: Saturday 11th April 2015
- Time: 12.00PM - 10.30PM AEST
- Server: South East Asia
- Eligibility: Diamond/Master/Grand Master
- Format: Double elimination best-of-three
- Advancement to Stage 2: Top 12

Stage 2 - Round of 16
- Date: Sunday 12th April 2015
- Time: 12.00PM - 9.00PM AEST
- Server: South East Asia
- Eligibility: Prior advancement + pre-invited
- Format: Double elimination best-of-three
- Advancement to Challenger: Top 2

​The competing Players in the Round of 16 (Stage 2) receive a share in a $2,500 AUD prize pool as follows:

- 1st place - $600
- 2nd place - $400
- 3rd place - $350
- 4th place - $300
- 5th/6th place - $250
- 7th/8th place - $175

Main Stream
- Stream (SUNDAY ONLY):http://www.twitch.tv/aclproSC2
- Presenters: Helen Zepph Browitt and Elison Infurneaux Furneaux-Bate

WCS Season 2: Oceania/Southeast Asia Challenger

+ [Click for details] +

Stage 3 - Challenger
- Date: Saturday 18th April 2015
- Time: 12.00PM - 5.00PM AEST
- Server: South East Asia
- Eligibility: Prior advancement + Season 1 Premier Players
- Format: Single elimination best-of-five
- Advancement to WCS Premier: Top 2

The competing Players in Challenger (Stage 3) will receive a share in a $13,000+ USD prize pool as follows:

- 1) WCS Premier Seed (minimum $4,500)
- 2) WCS Premier Seed (minimum $4,500)
- 3) $2,000
- 4) $2,000

Main Stream
- Stream: http://www.twitch.tv/aclproSC2
- Presenters: Leigh Maynarde Mandalov and Helen Zepph Browitt
- Observer: Matthew Insano Kearney

Map Pool
Ladder Season 2 2015 Map Pool

- Cactus Valley
- Code
- Echo
- Iron Fortress
- Expedition Lost
- Inferno Pools
- Vaani Research Station

Further details on everything WCS can be found on the official website: http://wcs2015.aclpro.com.au/

[ROOTDemi]

Who are the 4 players invited to stage 2?

Quick Comments

	syfChadMann:	Ender, Blysk, iaguz, ???? - PiG already in Challenger?
	SLCN.NXZ:	90% sure iaguz is auto challenger too Chad, if kk is not playing the ANZ invites will be some new faces

[eCKoa`ProzeR]

Just to be safe and so that 10 people forget to check in, what time would check in time be?

Quick Comments

Baldie:

Check-in starts 30 minutes before the competition start so 11:30AM AEST

[ROOTDemi]

Pig and Iaguz were in premier in season 1 pretty sure they're already in challenger im talking about which 4 players will be invited to stage 2 of WCS

[Baldie]

Map pool has been announced. It will be the Ladder Season 2 2015 Map Pool

- Cactus Valley
- Code
- Echo
- Iron Fortress
- Expedition Lost
- Inferno Pools
- Vaani Research Station

PiG and Iaguz automatically qualify for Challenger so only two people will qualify for Challenger through the Stage 2 Round of 16. The 4 invited players into Stage 2 will be announced by Friday.

[Baldie]

The 4 pre-invited players into Stage 2 Round of 16 in no particular order are:

- KingKong (Oceania)
- Blysk (Southeast Asia)
- NXZ (Oceania)
- EnDerr (Southeast Asia)

Also please note the timing of Challenger has changed from 12 noon to 1pm.

[syfRize]

Originally Posted by baldie

the 4 pre-invited players into stage 2 round of 16 in no particular order are:

- kingkong (oceania)
- blysk (southeast asia)
- nxz (oceania)
- enderr (southeast asia)

also please note the timing of challenger has changed from 12 noon to 1pm.

wtf

varun or riot

[0perator_]

Originally Posted by fray`SouL

wtf

varun or riot

Literally this. Varun is my favorite player in all of SEA.

[SLCN.NXZ]

I want to address this (specifically in regards to demilove):

Today 1:47 PM: ESCDemiLove: i have no idea how
Today 1:47 PM: ESCDemiLove: NXZ and KK got seeded to stage 2
Today 1:48 PM: ESCDemiLove: but KK?
Today 1:48 PM: ESCDemiLove: and NXZ?
Today 1:48 PM: ESCDemiLove: wtf

Today 1:50 PM: mGG.ShayneRarma: Who is your top 4 invites then?
Today 1:51 PM: ESCDemiLove: definetly not KK
Today 1:51 PM: ESCDemiLove: KK Doesnt even play
Today 1:51 PM: ESCDemiLove: and ryan barely plays :|

First things first, this has always been based off results in WCS tournaments so its irrelevant how much someone practices. (Sorry for having uni and real life commitments lol)


Today 2:02 PM: ESCDemiLove: i dont think NXZ even made top 8 last season?

Well I did, I finished 7th and I think had our brackets been switched, so would have our placing been. That's just a side note but in my eyes you had the easiest bracket of anyone to make top 6.


Today 2:16 PM: ESCDemiLove: KK and enderr are understandable
Today 2:16 PM: ESCDemiLove: blysk too

Since you're fine with both Blysk and Enderr, I feel no need to comment on them being seeded over you.


Today 2:17 PM: ESCDemiLove: but NXZ :|

OK, so now we've narrowed it down to the only player you have a problem with; me. I was the highest finishing Oceania player from the WCS qualifier who could receive the seed. Fact. So therefore, in order to have a problem with me being seeded, you have to believe that the seeds should be based purely off placings with the region being ignored.

To address that, let me direct you to players who received SEA seeds from last year.

Season 2: Heartz (out 0-2, 0-2), Lobo (Out 0-2, 1-2)
Season 3: Heartz (2-1 vs Lobo, out 0-2, 1-2), Lobo (Out 1-2, 0-2)

Only when they played each other did they manage to win a single series in both of these seasons. Now, consider the amount of Oceania players who out placed them in season 2 specifically (assuming they would change seeds for season 3): Fenner, MightyKiwi, Crimson, NXZ, Pezz, Rival. That's 6 players and some out placed Heartz and Lobo by huge margins.

In comparison, you placed one slot higher than me (again, I'd claim that you took that placing quite fraudulently) and had minimal results in WCS qualifiers last year. Stop being so self entitled, there are at LEAST 6 Oceania payers who got WAY more screwed than you did and who actually deserve to be mad.

Thanks.

[Eddie]

2/2 split between seeds for Oceania + SEA seems to be the way they've done things for a while now.

Can't go past EnDerr on current or past form. Blysk has been a bit inactive of late, but has past results. Demi + PsiArc really unlucky on current form, but that's what happens when there's only 2 spots.

You'll all likely end up in Day 2 anyway.

[SLCN.NXZ]

Originally Posted by Eddie

2/2 split between seeds for Oceania + SEA seems to be the way they've done things for a while now.

Can't go past EnDerr on current or past form. Blysk has been a bit inactive of late, but has past results. Demi + PsiArc really unlucky on current form, but that's what happens when there's only 2 spots.

You'll all likely end up in Day 2 anyway.

Since you bring up Blysk, he recently beat both PiG and Iaguz back to back in a qualifier (which I'd argue is very strong recent form) and placed equal to Demi in the qualifier + he has past form to fall back on.

Sure, tough luck to Demi and PSiArc... but all those Oceania players I mentioned got equally or more screwed for all of last year.

Quick Comments

Eddie:

Yeah impressive result, but still fairly inactive compared to previously

[DUCKVILLELOL]

demi should play protoss kek

[syfSoundwave]

Why do any of you care? Like, seriously? Is winning a few Bo3s a day early really such a big deal? Do you not wanna wake up early two days in a row? I'm seriously missing the problem. If you're good enough for a seed then shouldn't you godstomp Stage 1 anyway?

Quick Comments

	DUCKVILLELOL:	EPEEN POINTS ARE ON THE LINE HERE
	SLCN.Wally:	also real money

[syfMightyKiwi]

how to be active when work 6 or 7 days a week Q.Q. Ryan is deserving of the spot i feel. He has always done well in WCS quals and tournament play. He's one of the more consistent players we have

[syfChadMann]

man **** the haters..

I am always sceptical of seeds offered that I can not understand the reasoning behind why they were offered... and Mr NXZ's seed seems to be totally legit. Considering iaguz and PiG don't need the seed and WCS has always only taking their own competitions into consideration when awarding seeds. Ryan was the highest placing Oceanic player that deserves the seed. So it should go to him. Demi, if you think you need a seed, then you should have worried about Blysk rather than NXZ. He's the other SEA player getting the seed after (a much deserved seed) Enderr.

Show us what you've got this tournament and make sure there is no doubt to claim your seed next time (or even that we will see you in Premier after this season).

#CHALLENGEACCEPTED!?!!

[Baldie]

2 seeds go to Oceania (Australia/New Zealand)
2 seeds go to SEA (rest of eligible region)

SEA INVITES
EnDerr
Highest placing SEA overall WCS 2014 points earner and made challenger season 1 the end

Blysk
Second highest placing SEA overall WCS 2014 points earner and equal highest placing from WCS season 1 after EnDerr
(to make a point to DemiLove's case which is where he would have slotted in if he got invited - while you both finished equal results for WCS Season 1, Blysk's higher 2014 results pushed him ahead of you)

OCEANIA INVITES
KingKong
Highest placing OCE overall WCS 2014 points earner and made challenger season 1 the end

NXZ
This is your best friend (screen grab of 2014 overall WCS position) for my explanation of inviting NXZ: http://puu.sh/gOqAr/444df26a10.png
Bold is already invited/qualified
Orange is did not compete in WCS Season 1 2015
Green is did compete in WCS Season 1 2015
Red is not part of ANZ region
Rank to far left is the position they finished in WCS Season 1 2015

When we looked at the best Oceania candidates we looked at our statistics. To breakdown the above image there were realistically 3 candidates (those in green). While technically Fenner and Crimson both got more points than NXZ last year - we decided to base our invites off of results of this year and because of that invited NXZ who came 7th vs Fenner's 13th and Crimson's 21st.

If you want an invite into WCS, perform well in WCS. Simple. There are a lot of people who missed out. That's the nature of only 4 invites of which only 2 per section of the region.

[ROOTProbe]

Confirmed that I should have not gone on a holiday during the first qualifiers haha

Quick Comments

asdfSchnitzel:

rip preb

[SLCN.Wally]

Can we please petition to play on this season's map pool? According to the ingame date the season won't change over till the 13th, after these qualifiers.
Most, if not all, people practice through ladder and we won't get a single chance to even play on these maps before the qualifier.

Quick Comments

	Metalcore:	you can play them in customs. Just saying.
	AlopexToT:	+1

[Baldie]

Originally Posted by fray`Wally

Can we please petition to play on this season's map pool? According to the ingame date the season won't change over till the 13th, after these qualifiers.
Most, if not all, people practice through ladder and we won't get a single chance to even play on these maps before the qualifier.

Word from Blizzard - "Our plan is to release the patch and maps earlier than the season rollover so that players can get a chance to practice on the ladder. We understand its not ideal timing and it will be a weird season roll over but you should have your hands on the new maps soon!"

Quick Comments

	syfRize:	April 5th, if anyone's wondering.
	SLCN.Wally:	ok, awesome thanks for the response

[SLCN.NXZ]

Originally Posted by Baldie

Word from Blizzard - "Our plan is to release the patch and maps earlier than the season rollover so that players can get a chance to practice on the ladder. We understand its not ideal timing and it will be a weird season roll over but you should have your hands on the new maps soon!"

WE WANT MAPS

[EnDerrPH]

Originally Posted by Baldie

Word from Blizzard - "Our plan is to release the patch and maps earlier than the season rollover so that players can get a chance to practice on the ladder. We understand its not ideal timing and it will be a weird season roll over but you should have your hands on the new maps soon!"

It's 2 days away til WCS Season 2 and map is still the old ladder maps. Looks like Blizzard's plan won't work out because we won't have enough time to practice.

[Baldie]

Hi all. Will get an answer to you tomorrow on maps and some final details for weekend. I've been pretty flat out with a whole bunch of projects so I apologise if my communications have been slow up until this point.

Registrations into the tournament close midnight tonight AEST so now is the time for any last minute registrations. Any issues with particular registrations will be dealt with in private emails. Please look out for an email from me tomorrow in case I need something from you.

Thanks everyone and happy Easter!

[SLCN.Wally]

Originally Posted by fray`Wally

DynSL_Metalcore: *
you can play them in customs. Just saying.

unfortunately the only people I could play customs with are either not my level or are going to be my competition for the qualifier so it wouldn't be ideal at all.

Thanks for the response, maps are too painful to get used to so a week or so of getting used to them should be fine.

[Eddie]

How awesome was WCS season 1 finals!

This could be your chance to be our SEA representative on your path to being the next Polt, Hyrda, Bunny, Showtime or PiG! Good $'s on offer for placing top 8 in our qualifier, yet alone premier league.

Our WCS qualifiers are this weekend! Signup here

[EnDerrPH]

Blizzard's decision on applying the patch 4-5 days before the actual qualifiers is really frustrating as a Z player.

[x5.Crescendo]

Good luck to everyone competing! Can't wait to see how this plays out!
Get decent sleep the night before and don't forget to wake up on time


Edited to

[SLCN.Wally]

Hi yes wally here, can we consider not playing the new maps. blizzard being typical blizzard hasn't changed teh maps or patch over and there is only 1 more day till the qualifier.

Maps are pretty make or break for zerg especially and it's going to be a pretty ******* major disadvantage for us especially playing vs terran if we don't know the maps very well. Thanks baldie : )

[Baldie]

Hi all so official word from Blizzard is we will be using the new ladder map pool because it is what will be used for Premier and thus all WCS lead in events follow the same map pool. It is just an unfortunate chain of events which has lead to minimal lead time for ladder practice.

Apologies for the inconveniences but with a global WCS program it's extremely difficult to make all conditions work for everywhere.

[Baldie]

Bracket Day 1: http://battlefy.com/aclpro/wcs-seaso...6504f5/bracket

[Elusory]

If you like colours:

http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft...ia_SEA#Bracket

[Frustration]

Predictions (Do not take my predictions offensive as they are my own opinions)

Players :

Frustration
Azure
DemiLove
Lobo
PSiArc
Wally
Albion
Law
Probe
Fenner
Alopex
Blysk
KingKong
NXZ
EnDerr
Vivid

I would say If kingkong has been practicing he would be a clear favourite to take 1 of the top 2 seeds, but also joining him it will be a tough run but either Demilove or ender, but there is also dark horses who could come through such as myself, Nxz, Blysk, Alopex, Psiarc and wally.

All players have a good shot but its going to probably be decided on who is playing better on the day.

So my Predictions KingKong Demilove advance to day 3!

[SLCN.Wally]

wow a good thread by you, I'm proud.

I agree, I think it will definitely be kingkong if he has been practicing. Demi has been playing really well lately so I expect either him or enderr to make it through second. After that it becomes really confusing as everyone is all the same level and it will be hard to predict who goes on.

I have a curse of never making it past ro16 no matter who I verse I don't see myself winning anything, nxz,lawrence, alopex and psiarc are my picks for the next 4.

[Eddie]

Bit hard to predict without seeing the brackets, but i think on recent form, DemiLove, EnDerr and PSiArc might be hard to beat.

[Baldie]

#WCSANZ Season 2 StarCraft II Round of 16 bracket has been released! Get hyped for tomorrow as 16 will become just 2: http://bit.ly/WCSANZS2D2

[ROOTProbe]

rip

10 char

[Eddie]

Really cool we get to see 2 new guys make it through to challenger
Great for the scene.

[billbill]

really enjoyed days 1 & 2. (Got a little weird near the end, I won't touch that but sense a storm approaching heh)

[Baldie]

Thanks to everybody who participated, watched, social media'd and spread the word about this weekend of competition. Really excited about fresh blood into Challenger in NXZ and Blysk - congratulations!

Really looking forward to next weekend and seeing who will represent us in Season 2!

[Baldie]

Bracket for today: http://bit.ly/WCSANZS2D3

First series: PiG vs NXZ
Second series: Iaguz vs Blysk

Stream is live with show starting from 1PM AEST (www.twitch.tv/aclprosc2)

[Baldie]

Congratulations to our first Season 2 Oceania/SEA WCS Premier player - NXZ - taking out PiG 3-2! We wish you the best of luck overseas!

[SLCN.Wally]

R Y A N J O N E S



asdf

[asdfSchnitzel]

THE HALLOWED ONE, THE MASTER OF STRATEGY, THE KING OF RACECARS, THE SULTAN OF KIDS, THE SLAYER OF PIG, THE ONE AND ONLY RYAN JONES asdf

[Baldie]

Congratulations to our final Season 2 Oceania/SEA WCS Premier player - Iaguz - taking out Blysk 3-0! Go make us proud Gimli!

[Baldie]

VoDs from Challenger are online with time stamps in the description

PiG vs NXZ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4OSmwyIwXg

Iaguz vs Blysk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UW6Kte1YXI

[Law]

Highlight video of NXZ vs PiG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GMZ7OwQ_Dc

Quick Comments

syfInsano:

That was too good, sick video Law