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Violet ISL Round of 32
by unknown · 2012-11-26
Ah, here it comes again. When the ISL gets serious, and players become heroes. Zergs dominate, with 16 infested coming to the fray. Terran collapse has been slightly overrated; they are still 2nd most populous with 9. Protoss round out the rest with 7 men of Aiur here to try to be the first to achieve a championship for their race. With Violet looking down from the heavens, this will surely be one of the more electrifying tournaments to date.
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* Group A : ZvZ Fiesta
The champ. Is. Hereeeeee! HidE returns to defend his first ISL title, and he does so in his statistical best match-up, one that he has not lost in since meeting Mafia Zerg in the ISL 7 finals. And then there is Echoic . Echoic is the lowest salaried player left in the tournament, and he starts off against perennial choker Hatred . Hatred should have the upper hand here, but none will contest Hide in this group. His first victim, Tali الغول is pretty good at the Zerg mirror, but he will be food to the Butcher.
Predictions
Echoic < Hatred
Hide > Domorin
Hatred < Hide
Echoic > Domorin
Echoic > Hatred
* Hide and Hatred advance
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* Group B : The Group of Death
Hide's cohort Badger headlines this group, an insanely dangerous Zerg himself. Right next to him is the TvZ machine Blungy , in his perfect group as he faces 3 Zergs. Blungy starts off against a shaky ZvT player in CrazyHydra . While CH has been strong in ZvT as of late, he recently lost to Blungy, and I expect much of the same. Stephano , surprisingly, is the last Mad Cow player in the tournament. He might get some tips from former champion Huss , but he's still the dark horse of the group.
Predictions
Blungy > CH
Badger > 0rison
Blungy < Badger
CH > 0rison
CH < Blungy
* Badger and Blungy advance
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* Group C : Stats Stats Stats
Group C has the most stats out of all the groups, with a monstrous 291 in between the four. They are also the least experienced group. The first match will be an absolute slobberknocker, with the one of the great Protoss hopes Riven facing off against arguably the best Terran, Xello . That game will be an absolute clinic on how to play high level PvT, a battle that could really go either way. StaRbouNd has had somewhat of a slump in TvZ as of late, something that JustnBiebr can take advantage off. Buggedman will have trouble facing off against the other duo though.
Predictions
Riven < Xello
Consonance < Bird 2
Xello > Bird 2
Riven < Consonance
Consonance < Bird 2
* Xello and Birdman 2.0 advance
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* Group D : The Poor Man's Group
Group D is, statistically speaking, the lowest paid group remaining, with each player pulling an average of $822. It starts off with a WTM teamkill, as Kalkaros faces off against Setä . Seta should have the upper hand here, and that leads us to last season's silver medalist Mafia Zerg . Mafia goes up against the always steady, but rarely spectacular, tamp3r . In all honesty, this is Mafia's group to lose, as the other 3 will most likely just be duking it out for 2nd place.
Predictions
Kalkaros < Seta
Mafia Zerg > Tamp3r
Seta < Mafia Zerg
Kalkaros < Tamp3r
Kalkaros < Seta
* Mafia Zerg and Seta advance
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* Group E : Protoss Hell
CMCS2's silver medalist Kolll enters his quest for a championship in a pretty decent group for him. He starts off in his best match up of ZvP, and will most likely destroy Tatatata . Harmony and yDnew will have an intense, gutsy battle for the other advancement spot, and it could really go either way. I will side with Harmony in this instance, I just think he's ready to put Music on his back and carry them to victory, in Proleague and the ISL.
Predictions
Kolll > Tatatata
Harmony < yDnew
Kolll > yDnew
Tatatata < Harmony
Harmony > yDnew
* Kolll and Harmony advance
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* Group F : Protoss Hell part 2
Protoss just are not having luck in these groups, and it is Abadan 's turn. A premier player for Aiur, he goes up against the ZvP god BIRDMAN , an extremely unlucky occurrence. While Abadan has beaten Birdman once, it will not happen again. Lightning strikes twice sometimes, but no Protoss will ever beat Birdman twice. Boram vs Don Bilbo will be fairly straightforward. As of late, Don Bilbo has been a wrecking ball, destroying everything in 2.2 with an immaculate 33-0 record. He will be moving on.
Predictions
Birdman > Abadan
Boram < Don Bilbo
Birdman > Don Bilbo
Abadan > Boram
Abadan < Don Bilbo
* Birdman and Don Bilbo advance
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* Group G : Protoss Hope
Nal_rA headlines this group, and is sure to make it out. The King has gone 27-3 in his last 30 matches, an unbelievable 90% winrate. The battle for second will be very tight here. .iloveoov has been a long time stalwart of the higher echelons of Shakuras. chauvinism has been incredible in Proleague, currently its 4th best player. I will be giving the edge to Oov, as he is a full 3 points of experience higher than Chauvinism. TORRES is the forgotten man in the group. I highly doubt he can pull anything and get into the next round.
Predictions
Cyclicly < Nalra
Oov < Chauvinism
Nalra > Chauvinism
Cyclicly < Oov
Oov > Chauvinism
* Nalra and Oov advance
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* Group H : The Group of Life
TORRES and 1 are going to win this group, hands down. While my new ace Wizard is in this group, along with the trolling HEI , it will take an act of God, or Mango and Release sending out their players with no care for condition, to not have Noble and 1 advance. Easiest group to pick, hands down. If Wizard gets out, I'll be really stoked though.
Predictions
Noble > Wizard
Hei < 1
Noble > 1
Wizard > Hei
Wizard < 1
* Noble and 1 advance
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Well, not many people to thank, as I mostly typed this one up by myself. Vier, I picked Oov to make it out, he better do so now. Ascent sent me all of his predictions, and we agree on 4 groups. It's going to turn out that he's right on all his picks though. Anyways, the usual, and good luck to all! I understand this was an early write-up, but I won't have any time this week to do so. Now just hoping that no one tanks in condition so I'm right in my picks!
-----
* Group A : ZvZ Fiesta
The champ. Is. Hereeeeee! HidE returns to defend his first ISL title, and he does so in his statistical best match-up, one that he has not lost in since meeting Mafia Zerg in the ISL 7 finals. And then there is Echoic . Echoic is the lowest salaried player left in the tournament, and he starts off against perennial choker Hatred . Hatred should have the upper hand here, but none will contest Hide in this group. His first victim, Tali الغول is pretty good at the Zerg mirror, but he will be food to the Butcher.
Predictions
Echoic < Hatred
Hide > Domorin
Hatred < Hide
Echoic > Domorin
Echoic > Hatred
* Hide and Hatred advance
---
* Group B : The Group of Death
Hide's cohort Badger headlines this group, an insanely dangerous Zerg himself. Right next to him is the TvZ machine Blungy , in his perfect group as he faces 3 Zergs. Blungy starts off against a shaky ZvT player in CrazyHydra . While CH has been strong in ZvT as of late, he recently lost to Blungy, and I expect much of the same. Stephano , surprisingly, is the last Mad Cow player in the tournament. He might get some tips from former champion Huss , but he's still the dark horse of the group.
Predictions
Blungy > CH
Badger > 0rison
Blungy < Badger
CH > 0rison
CH < Blungy
* Badger and Blungy advance
---
* Group C : Stats Stats Stats
Group C has the most stats out of all the groups, with a monstrous 291 in between the four. They are also the least experienced group. The first match will be an absolute slobberknocker, with the one of the great Protoss hopes Riven facing off against arguably the best Terran, Xello . That game will be an absolute clinic on how to play high level PvT, a battle that could really go either way. StaRbouNd has had somewhat of a slump in TvZ as of late, something that JustnBiebr can take advantage off. Buggedman will have trouble facing off against the other duo though.
Predictions
Riven < Xello
Consonance < Bird 2
Xello > Bird 2
Riven < Consonance
Consonance < Bird 2
* Xello and Birdman 2.0 advance
---
* Group D : The Poor Man's Group
Group D is, statistically speaking, the lowest paid group remaining, with each player pulling an average of $822. It starts off with a WTM teamkill, as Kalkaros faces off against Setä . Seta should have the upper hand here, and that leads us to last season's silver medalist Mafia Zerg . Mafia goes up against the always steady, but rarely spectacular, tamp3r . In all honesty, this is Mafia's group to lose, as the other 3 will most likely just be duking it out for 2nd place.
Predictions
Kalkaros < Seta
Mafia Zerg > Tamp3r
Seta < Mafia Zerg
Kalkaros < Tamp3r
Kalkaros < Seta
* Mafia Zerg and Seta advance
---
* Group E : Protoss Hell
CMCS2's silver medalist Kolll enters his quest for a championship in a pretty decent group for him. He starts off in his best match up of ZvP, and will most likely destroy Tatatata . Harmony and yDnew will have an intense, gutsy battle for the other advancement spot, and it could really go either way. I will side with Harmony in this instance, I just think he's ready to put Music on his back and carry them to victory, in Proleague and the ISL.
Predictions
Kolll > Tatatata
Harmony < yDnew
Kolll > yDnew
Tatatata < Harmony
Harmony > yDnew
* Kolll and Harmony advance
---
* Group F : Protoss Hell part 2
Protoss just are not having luck in these groups, and it is Abadan 's turn. A premier player for Aiur, he goes up against the ZvP god BIRDMAN , an extremely unlucky occurrence. While Abadan has beaten Birdman once, it will not happen again. Lightning strikes twice sometimes, but no Protoss will ever beat Birdman twice. Boram vs Don Bilbo will be fairly straightforward. As of late, Don Bilbo has been a wrecking ball, destroying everything in 2.2 with an immaculate 33-0 record. He will be moving on.
Predictions
Birdman > Abadan
Boram < Don Bilbo
Birdman > Don Bilbo
Abadan > Boram
Abadan < Don Bilbo
* Birdman and Don Bilbo advance
---
* Group G : Protoss Hope
Nal_rA headlines this group, and is sure to make it out. The King has gone 27-3 in his last 30 matches, an unbelievable 90% winrate. The battle for second will be very tight here. .iloveoov has been a long time stalwart of the higher echelons of Shakuras. chauvinism has been incredible in Proleague, currently its 4th best player. I will be giving the edge to Oov, as he is a full 3 points of experience higher than Chauvinism. TORRES is the forgotten man in the group. I highly doubt he can pull anything and get into the next round.
Predictions
Cyclicly < Nalra
Oov < Chauvinism
Nalra > Chauvinism
Cyclicly < Oov
Oov > Chauvinism
* Nalra and Oov advance
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* Group H : The Group of Life
TORRES and 1 are going to win this group, hands down. While my new ace Wizard is in this group, along with the trolling HEI , it will take an act of God, or Mango and Release sending out their players with no care for condition, to not have Noble and 1 advance. Easiest group to pick, hands down. If Wizard gets out, I'll be really stoked though.
Predictions
Noble > Wizard
Hei < 1
Noble > 1
Wizard > Hei
Wizard < 1
* Noble and 1 advance
---
Well, not many people to thank, as I mostly typed this one up by myself. Vier, I picked Oov to make it out, he better do so now. Ascent sent me all of his predictions, and we agree on 4 groups. It's going to turn out that he's right on all his picks though. Anyways, the usual, and good luck to all! I understand this was an early write-up, but I won't have any time this week to do so. Now just hoping that no one tanks in condition so I'm right in my picks!