NASL Division 2

Ah April. Snow is melting, birds are starting to come back, and the Starcraft scene is swinging into full gear. The TSL3 Ro16 began this weekend, with three utter dominations and a single series that went beyond three games. In addition, NASL starts in two days, and my previews for that have already started (although to be fair, two or three of those previews will be after the first games have been played). And thus really begins the biggest year in foreign e-sports, and the preview of Division 2. (TSL will come either tomorrow, or after the rest of the ro16 has been played)


NASL Division 2:

Terran: 


FXO.qxc NASL profile: I probably shouldn't be allowed to write this entry because qxc is one of my favourite players. He will dominate any game that he plays in, with his constant attacking style. As can be noticed in his TSL matches today, his games are really all about him. If he plays perfectly he can and will destroy anyone. However when he is off is game he will kill himself, throwing good drops after bad. But he will always be a figure to watch.


dignitas.Sjow NASL profile: Surprisingly, Sjow is a figure who I haven't seen a lot of games from, one of those problems that NASL will fix. He has posted a number of good results in MLG, coming 12 in Dallas. In addition he is a major player in the European online scene, having taken home the money in a number of smaller cups and matches. While perhaps not the most dominant player at NASL, I have faith that he will play good and consistant throughout the season.




oGs.Ensnare NASL profile: Another player who I look forward to watching progress, Ensnare is one of the Koreans at the tournament, and therefore a big dog. His main claim to fame is taking third in the first open season of GSL, but since hasn't made it past the round of 16. He is a Code S player who has retained his spot through two seasons, but he has been unable to advance much beyond there. While I believe he will tear through the weaker players in this division, I don't see him being able to dominate the entire pool.




Protoss:


coL.CrunCher NASL profile: Oh Idra, why do you insist on dragging so many players into the spotlight. CrunCher has posted exactly three good results: Winning one of the TSL Qualifiers, taking Top 6 in the FXO invitational #2 above a number of solid Korean players, and the infamous Idra incident *WARNING TSL3 RO32 SPOILERS AHEAD* Where Idra claimed that he would be a walkover. And then he beat Idra 2-1 finishing the screw over of my TSL brackets. Really he has only a couple good results, and I don't expect him to place at the top of this division.




FnaticMSI.TT1NASL profile: Probably one of the, if not the top Protoss in America, TT1 is a beast. He took second in the 2010 MLG National Championship, and recently went to Korea for the GSL WC where he posted a amazing performance, being one of the starts of the foreign team. He has an immense amount of momentum going into NASL, and I think he will carry it through. In addition he has joined the Fnatic/Root gaming house in florida.


Duckload.White-Ra NASL profile: The mainstay of the Western Starcraft scene, White-Ra has been gaming since times immemorial. He was one of the largest Brood War names outside Korea, and is one of the Starcraft names currently in Korea. He has a list of accomplishments a mile long, and is one of the strongest gamers out there. Like many of the his Protoss buddies, he has proven that he can take games off Koreans. The better question will be who can take games off him?


EG.iNcontroL NASL profile: What a controversial figure. Incontrol is another major figure in e-sports, largely because he is one of the commentators for this very event. Many people didn't like him playing in an event he is casting (not sure I agree or disagree, a topic for another post) and his lack of results. A lack he only recently filled, taking a solid 4th in MLG Dallas, losing to only a few players along the way. But can he continue to compete with the best? If he is casting five hours a day IDK, I'm don't think he will be able to keep up to his peers, and stay up to par.




Zerg:


CN!MoMaN  NASL profile: Who is that dashing French figure, with the epic NASL video? Damned if I know who he is, but that vid was awesome, so he gets a pass. Liquipedia tells me that he placed well in those weekly European tournaments in 2010, but has no posted results for 2011. Can he stand against the field arrayed against him? I'm not very confidant he can, but we shall see in the coming days. But with no moment and no big wins, it will be a uphill battle for him.






aTn.DarKFoRcE NASL profile: Clearly I need to pay more attention to the weekly European scene. because I have only seen a couple of Darkforce's games as well. He was able to win the Dreamhack BYOC qualifiers, and has done very well in the weekly events as well.  He seems to have more momentum than MoMaN, but I'm not sure he can hack it with the best (although a little birdie told me that European players are having a field day in the TSL3, so that weekly competition must be pretty cutthroat)




ST_July NASL profile: I must say that I am damn excited for the qxc vs July match. Because this is the Korean, Zerg version of that Hyper-aggresive style. As Tastosis will tell you, it isn't if July will attack you, but when and with what. He has proven that he is one of the best in Korea, doing very well in the GSL WC as well as GSL Season 5, where he did very well. He is one of my lead horses for this division.






Top 3:
ST_July
FnaticMSI.TT1
Duckload.White-Ra


Bottom 3:
CN!MoMaN
coL.Cruncher
EG.iNcontroL




Dark Horse:
aTn.DarKfoRce