[AZKziek]

Just in, there's some pretty big news for the SEA scene I thought I'd share with everyone.

The IGN Pro League is excited to announce that Team AZK, participants of the Philippine PRO Starcraft 2 League (PPSL), will be competing at IPL: Origins in Atlantic City. The SEA region boasts an immense amount of undiscovered and under appreciated talent; we couldn't be happier to have the best of the region representing themselves at Origins.

To show our appreciation to Team AZK and the PPSL, we here at IGN eSports have decided to make the Philippine PRO Starcraft 2 League the official SEA qualifying event for our event after IPL: Origins. Those wishing to qualify from the SEA region will have the chance to do so through the PPSL qualifiers to be held on November 7th-8th at the Glorietta Activity Center in Manila, Philippines.

We're excited to see what Team AZK, the PPSL, and the rest of the SEA region can do at IPL: Origins and in our future events. Welcome to the IPL, friends.

PPSL Press Release

"Team AZK from the Philippines will be participating at the Biggest North American SC2 Tournament this year; the IPL 3 Main Event in Atlantic City on October 6th - 9th, 2011.

Led by Gus "AZKwitchdoc" Ledesma; and two of Team AZK's Best Grandmasters from the Philippines and Australia, their bringing their A-game to meet North America's best.

Team AZK, The premiere team in organizing Starcraft 2 Events in the Philippines - fully supports IGN, IGN Pro League and their ever-increasing presence in the SC2 scene and are backed by sponsors such as Razer, Nvidia, Western Digital, Palit, Chimei, and Cougar.

Because of IGN's support for Team AZK; the PPSL (Philippine PRO Starcraft 2 League) will be made the IPL 4 Qualifiers for SEA (Southeast Asia) to be held on November 7th-8th at the Glorietta Activity Center in Manila, Philippines. "


Source: http://au.ign.com/ipl/news/2011/08/2...al-competition

SkyBreaker Note: The infraction given to this post was not in any way, shape or form related to this post. It was due to the fact that "AZKziek" was actually Zanooku. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

[ROOT`iaguz]

Intriguing.

10char.

[AxSGRiM]

Gus "AZKWitchdoc" Ledesma and Team AZK fighting!

Quick Comments

AZKwitchdoc:

consider yourself invited to the Philippines for the Main Event

[nirvAnA]

Intriguing indeed!

[cRSenSei]

who is the Australian in AZK who's a top grandmaster ?

Quick Comments

FaDeEvetS:

[NDG.Stitch]

Beast!!!! Gratz AZK and hope the PPSL will be a very outstanding tournament for the players and organizers!

Quick Comments

AZKwitchdoc:

You're also invited to the Main Event in Manila.

[AZKziek]

Originally Posted by sAint

who is the Australian in AZK who's a top grandmaster ?

It goes by our internal rankings, we haven't decided on the best candidate yet.

[Ascel]

That's Awesome, Best of Luck =D

Quick Comments

AZKwitchdoc:

Thanks! why don't you participate as well? we need more SEA players to participate :)

[ROOT`iaguz]

Wait, where does it say oGsMc and Inca are going?

[aLtShortizz]

Isnt the PPSL(IGN Qualifiers) Qualifier conducted just recently? IIRC, witchdoc invited players like MC and Inca to play so that hardly counts as a ''SEA'' qualifier right? Also, alot of SEA's top players did not play in the PPSL qualifiers as it often clashes with the ESL qualifiers. When i took part in the PPSL, i didnt see alot of Top SEA GM players compared to the ESL. Maybe witchdoc can explain how the qualifiers work?

[ROOT`iaguz]

Yea, I didn't know anything about a philipino starleague and I'm actually quite intrigued about the whole thing now that you've been partnered with IGN.

[ROOT`iaguz]

Just had a look at the new thread on tl.net. Seemed nice enough but with F United and oGs turning up, NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE.

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/view...opic_id=258116

[AZKziek]

@Shortizz: There's several qualifiers, not just 1. There's several spots people can earn.

[nGenLight]

I'm amused and angry at the same time.

[Makra]

I wasn't going to comment, but Light's comment makes me think I might be correct in my train of thought about this.

Surely this:

we here at IGN eSports have decided to make the Philippine PRO Starcraft 2 League the official SEA qualifying event for our event after IPL: Origins. Those wishing to qualify from the SEA region will have the chance to do so through the PPSL qualifiers to be held on November 7th-8th at the Glorietta Activity Center in Manila, Philippines.

..means that basically all players outside the Philippines (except those with the spare cash to fly there) will be unable to qualify, thereby excluding arguably SEA's best players from representing our server in the IPL? Would not an Australian team have been a better choice to fulfill IGN's desire to have "undiscovered and under appreciated talent" play at their tournament? No offence to AZK, but when I think of SEA's best players, mostly Australian players spring to mind.

Anyways congrats and GLHF AZK, don't wanna rain on your party or anything. Just curious about IGN's decision.

Quick Comments

	nGenLight:	Exactly, also, SEA Qualifiers? More like oGs + Philipines qualifiers.
	nirvAnA:
	AZKwitchdoc:	You are more than welcome to participate! If i get additional funding; i would love to cover your travel expenses to Manila.

[zendex]

I'll try to help bring out light about this. But please note that I am not part of the organizing body behind this in ANY WAY.

Here's what happend so far and what SC2SEA most likely missed
- PPSL is originally planned to be a huge PH SC2 LAN tournament with $3500 in the prize pool.
- Top PH players (eXo.Enderr, eXo.BLaZeR, Mski.JaBiTo, Mski.Rye, Mski.WaningMoon, Mski.Fate, Pobbes, AZK.def, AZK.noobs, AZK.ziek, Cube.Tantanix, Cube.Payaso, Cube.Dione) managed to qualify and secure their slots.
- At the 2nd qualifier tournament, Sen joined and qualified for PPSL.
- At the 3rd qualifier tournament, French SC2 player, cArn made it through as well.
- For the 4th qualifier, AZK invited both MC and InCa (originally NaDa was invited). Only MC made it through. (I am proud to say that Mski.Chakra aka theDUDE was able to snipe InCa)
- IGN announced their partnership with AZK to make PPSL a qualifier of IPL4 and have 2 AZK players participate in IPL3.

So there you have it. Hope that helped.

Quick Comments

nirvAnA:

[dippa]

kind of surprised ign isn't partnering with an australian team since, you know, they employ people here. ~_~

[Meatex]

ONLY reason IGN did this was because of MC's participation in AZK's tourney.
IPL wants more korean players and this is a way to secure them

Quick Comments

TAScarecrow:

now it makes sense

[zendex]

Originally Posted by Meatex

ONLY reason IGN did this was because of MC's participation in AZK's tourney.
IPL wants more korean players and this is a way to secure them

Wouldn't it have been easier to open an official IPL qualifiers in the KRTW server? :/

[AZKziek]

I want to clarify something that has been going around, IGN approached AZK. There was nothing shifty that went on with AZK, we were approached by IGN and a partnership was created.