A very merry StarCraft 2 weekend: get ready for the NASL Finals
Today at 11 AM PST (that’s 7 PM in the UK, for those of you counting on your fingers), the finals of the North American Star League commence. To help you enjoy what should be a world-class tournament, we’ve prepared a guide on everything you need to know and a collection of all relevant links.
On paper, the highlight of the day may be a match between MC and BoxeR—an historic meeting of the young, current SC2 master and the former Brood War champion. Start popping that corn (or preparing creative methods to watch at work), and read on for more details.
Still a prince: an interview with StarCraft 2 icon Lee Jung Hoon, aka MarineKingPrime
In any sport, there’s a loser for every winner. Every time a champion is showered in champagne (or Diet Coke, if they’re underage) and raises a trophy to a screaming crowd, there’s a player who stands silently to the side, humbled, overshadowed and defeated. Lee Jung Hoon has been this player four times. At 17 years old, he’s a StarCraft veteran, one of the best Terran players in the world, and he’s incredibly successful. His fans rank among the most passionate, his games as the most exciting. Jung Hoon is well-mannered, exciting, emotional, a little bit shy, all while maintaining his status as one of the most dynamic figures of StarCraft 2. Yet he’s never won a major tournament.
StarCraft 2′s biggest upsets
In the still-early life of competitive StarCraft 2, we’ve seen hundreds of incredible, memorable matches. Many professional players’ fame or infamy has been earned by toppling the giants who came before them. That shift in attrition, that expert pivot of micro-management or creativity in a single match can surge a single player’s reputation—when an unknown kills a Goliath (no, not that one) he becomes an Internet champion, epitomizing the wonderful parity that’s emerging with competitive SC2. Everyone loves to root for the underdog and watch a good upset—here are StarCraft 2′s top four.
The 5 StarCraft 2 players you should be watching – America & Europe
StarCraft 2 has revitalized one of PC gaming’s best facets: the feeling of fandom. Live match streaming and YouTube broadcasting has spawned networks of bottomless competitive footage–if you haven’t cheered at your keyboard for your favorite player as he makes an impossible Baneling Bust to turn the tide of a tournament, you’re missing out. To encourage you to get involved, we’ve identified our five favorite “foreign” (i.e., not from Korea) SC2 professionals that deserve your spectating, fanmail and low-level worship.
