Iron Squid - Group H Preview

As Sunday’s show was delayed to Monday to allow StarCraft II fans to watch the IPL 5 and then Iron Squid the day after, there are only two days to wait between our two groups of the week. A delight for Iron Squid’s fans who won’t have to be patient. Wednesday’s group is following the current trend: invaded by the Swarm

 

NesTea, a legacy to preserve

He was the legend Paris was waiting for when he finished 3rd last season. Unfortunately for him, he fell to an amazingly well prepared Symbol. The Zerg God was invited as the Top4 finisher of the first season but gave concern with his recent slump. Although he is 29, NesTea is not the kind of man that would give up easily his progaming career. Eliminated from the GSL, it only took him one attempt to make his comeback in Code A. A place he secured for the next season by defeating Heart 2-0. Since NesTea really enjoyed his time in Paris, he spends his training focusing on both GSL and Iron Squid. A well trained NesTea in a group with two Zergs opponents has great chances to advance.

 

Delphi, the one who beasted the Europe

Probably one of the least expected players to enter Iron Squid II, Delphy fought his way fiercely to grab his slot. He managed to qualify by getting in the finals of a very stacked European bracket, he even won it all as he defeated MiniRaser 4-1 in the last series. To win a European event these days, you need a very strong ZvZ. The German Zerg showed that ZvZ wasn’t an issue for him all during the qualifier. This strength will be a true asset in such a Zerg heavy group, which could be that little something that helps him to make it through.

The face up

Although there are chinks in NesTea’s armor, he remains a legend especially in ZvZ. Only the best Zergs in the world (and HayprO) can brag about taking a game or even a series to NesTea, and it would be a real achievement for Delphi to pull the upset.

 

viOLet, one happy exiled

You can say viOLet is living the American dream as he is one of the very rare players that actually managed to become better after leaving Korea. viOLet really blossomed in America and collected several titles on his way to the top. This week-end, he proved again that he is among the best by finishing as the runner up of Leenock in the IPL 5 in Las Vegas. He lost the final series only due to the Winner Bracket’s advantage but it was a 4-4 (7-5 for Leenock if you count the WB series) score when Leenock raised his trophy. viOLet shined in ZvZ and in ZvT this week-end making of him the big favorite to take this group, even if NesTea is there.

 

ThorZaIN, alone against the Swarm

ThorZaIN is back for this second chapter and his group puts him in a delicate situation. It is somehow “easy” since he only has one match-up to prepare for as he is a lonely Terran surrounded by Zergs. Unfortunately, TvZ has been really rough to Terrans lately. ThorZaIN has the capacity to play great games which can give him hope to sneak in the top two of this group. The Swede can still use the recent plays of the Korean Terrans as inspiration to play his TvZ but even their skill were not sufficient to reach GSL or IPL’s finals. This is hell of a challenge for the Terran.

The face up

ThorZaIN is a really good player but viOLet looks so on top of the game at this moment that this could be too much for the Swede. The Korean played very well against Polt, showing he’s one tough cookie to beat in TvZ. ThorZaIN can still rely on his ability to think off great builds to defeat his opponent, as he did on his way to victory in TSL 3, but he will not be easy.

About advancing

Two Koreans and two foreigners, it is quite often an obvious outcome, Koreans owning white dudes. Nevertheless every tournament comes with its upsets and foreigners always manage to take a few series of the Koreans. ThorZaIN is among those who can do it. NesTea always had some kind of weakness in ZvT, which must be ThorZaIN’s target. In spite of this, the LG-IM player remains the favorite to advance as 2nd after viOLet who plays phenomenally.