SC2SEA.com - Starcraft 2 SEA eSports Community Site

deL · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 1:32 PM

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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Rosters

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Match 2 - KFC vs VB
Preview

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Rosters

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Match 3 - iRL vs TCP
Preview

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Rosters

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Match 4 - AsG vs ToT
Preview

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Rosters

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Match 5 - FaDe vs HDMD-kT
Preview

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Rosters

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Match 6 - SCT vs ToR
Preview

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Rosters

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Not playing Round 1

+ [ZeroCraft] +

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:

x5_Potter · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 1:38 PM

Sexy Rhuubarb interview!

Another awesome write-up deL! The hype for SEACL is immense

**ToRSpartaz** · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 1:39 PM

Uhm..... This isnt our tier bro.... You have the wrong team. We are in the Champions League with the updated Team. Our Team 2 is in this league....

ChinkZ · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 1:56 PM

Sir I updated our rosters for Team B.. ^_^ i posted it already in the registration page.. ^_^

deL · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 2:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartaz

Uhm..... This isnt our tier bro.... You have the wrong team. We are in the Champions League with the updated Team. Our Team 2 is in this league....

Updated :3

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChinkZ

Sir I updated our rosters for Team B.. ^_^ i posted it already in the registration page.. ^_^

Also updated!

ChinkZ · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 2:16 PM

Thank you sir.. ^_^

FaDeGofire · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 2:25 PM

nice work del

shouldn't fade have two teams in this division? http://www.sc2sea.com/showpost.php?p=54612&postcount=30

deL · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 2:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FaDeGofire

nice work del

shouldn't fade have two teams in this division? http://www.sc2sea.com/showpost.php?p=54612&postcount=30

Hmm maybe, I'll ask Frogmite or someone. Would be handy and take it to an even number haha.

FSBenAD · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 2:31 PM

Excellent write up again Del

Really enjoyable to read.

Thanks.

**ToR.Arnor** · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 2:36 PM

How come Zerocrafts PD team "The Non=Clan-less" isnt listed?

deL · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 2:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arnor@CityHunter

How come Zerocrafts PD team "The Non=Clan-less" isnt listed?

It is! But I don't know if they have an opponent round 1 because FaDe may have 2 teams in this division (though they might be better off dropping some plats into tier 4 and making just 1 team, I have to ask Frogmite).

**ToR.Arnor** · Mon, 9th-Jan-2012, 2:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAdeL

It is! But I don't know if they have an opponent round 1 because FaDe may have 2 teams in this division (though they might be better off dropping some plats into tier 4 and making just 1 team, I have to ask Frogmite).

My mistake I see them now

Thanks!