What's at PAX Prime in Seattle, has a $25,000 USD prize pool, sixteen of the best players from around the world, and has 4,000 WCS Points on the line? MSI Masters Gaming Arena 2015, that's what! Taking place Sunday August 30th to Monday August 31st, 2015, the best of the best StarCraft2 Pros will compete for the championship worth $10,000 USD, 750 WCS Points. Competition will be fierce, the games exciting and only the best of the best will prevail in the Masters Gaming Arena. The Prize Pool:



1st $10,000 / 750 WCS Points

2nd $4,000 /500 WCS Points

3rd-4th $2,000 / 375 WCS Points

5th-8th $1,000 /250 WCS Points

9th-12th $400 / 125 WCS Points

13th-16th $350 / 125 WCS Points





The Players:

Has

Harstem

MacSed

PartinG

Zest

INnoVation

Polt

FireCake

Hydra

HyuN

Ian

Jaedong

Petraeus

Solar

TooDming

viOLet

* sOs (replaced Zest)



The Groups:





Some people may assume that any group featuring Hydra and INnoVation will be pretty cut and dry. The Korean powerhouses are undoubtedly favoured to advance to the playoffs, but if you've ever seen any series that Has has been involved in, you know that anything is possible. Not to discount MacSed , who's aggressive and relatively unknown style may give him the underdog edge, especially if the shenanigans of Has set the Koreans on tilt. Regardless of how this group plays out, it is guaranteed to produce entertaining and highly unorthidox matches for your viewing pleasure!







Speaking of unorthodox playstyles, Group B features three very distinct and varied styles of Zerg players in HyuN , Ian and FireCake . For a group that will feature a majority of ZvZ, it will be anything but boring. And just to throw a wrench into any possibility of standard play is PartinG , who is capable of anything and has the relative advantage of only having to prepare for Zerg opponents. While PartinG may be favoured to advance, the volatile nature of the match ups.







Let's start with the Solar . With years of experience competing at the highest level in GSL, Proleague, DreamHack and IEM tournaments, he has to be considered a favourite as defending champ. His MSI victory was Zest . The two-time GSL Champion, KESPA Cup Champion and IEM World Champion tips the odds in his favour just by entering a tournament, and not seeing him in the finals would be a surprise. Up against some stiff competition are TooDming and TooDming will need to be in his best form as he competes against two of the players he could have met in Korea. Walking away from this tournament with a championship would make 2015 definitively the year of Harstem , especially considering the caliber of his opponents here. Against two of the best Protoss and Zerg opponents in the world.



*Zest was replaced by sOs due to prior schedule conflict











This group is basically a WCS Premier League bracket. viOLet is the only member of the group who hasn't advanced to the Round-of-Sixteen, but that's only because he hasn't played yet. His performance in this group could be an indication of how far he will go this season. Petraeus has shown lately that he is a top competitor among non-Korean players, and has recent and extensive experience playing against one of his biggest opponents: Polt . Whether or not this becomes a true rivalry, will likely hing on Petraeus pulling of a major upset. Polt probably doesn't think that's going to happen. He probably isn't to worried about advancing, although even the Terran machine has to sweat a little in a group with The Tyrant. Jaedong is known for his ZvZ prowess, which may be enough for him to advance through the group. That doesn't mean he won't want to take his Korean brethren down a peg or two if they meet.

(replaced Zest)Some people may assume that any group featuringandwill be pretty cut and dry. The Korean powerhouses are undoubtedly favoured to advance to the playoffs, but if you've ever seen any series thathas been involved in, you know that anything is possible. Not to discount, who's aggressive and relatively unknown style may give him the underdog edge, especially if the shenanigans ofset the Koreans on tilt. Regardless of how this group plays out, it is guaranteed to produce entertaining and highly unorthidox matches for your viewing pleasure!Speaking of unorthodox playstyles, Group B features three very distinct and varied styles of Zerg players inand. For a group that will feature a majority of ZvZ, it will be anything but boring. And just to throw a wrench into any possibility of standard play is, who is capable of anything and has the relative advantage of only having to prepare for Zerg opponents. While HyuN andbe favoured to advance, the volatile nature of the match ups.Let's start with the MSI Beat IT 2014 Champion:. With years of experience competing at the highest level in GSL, Proleague, DreamHack and IEM tournaments, he has to be considered a favourite as defending champ. His MSI victory was Solar 's last major tournament victory, so he's bound to be looking to deliver here. Speaking of favourites, there'sUp against some stiff competition areand Harstem . Coming off an aborted SSL appearance a decent showing in China's GPLwill need to be in his best form as he competes against two of the players he could have met in Korea. Walking away from this tournament with a championship would make 2015 definitively the year of, especially considering the caliber of his opponents here. Against two of the best Protoss and Zerg opponents in the world.*Zest was replaced bydue to prior schedule conflictThis group is basically a WCS Premier League bracket.is the only member of the group who hasn't advanced to the Round-of-Sixteen, but that's only because he hasn't played yet. His performance in this group could be an indication of how far he will go this season.has shown lately that he is a top competitor among non-Korean players, and has recent and extensive experience playing against one of his biggest opponents:. Whether or not this becomes a true rivalry, will likely hing on Petraeus pulling of a major upset. Polt probably doesn't think that's going to happen. He probably isn't to worried about advancing, although even the Terran machine has to sweat a little in a group with The Tyrant.is known for his ZvZ prowess, which may be enough for him to advance through the group. That doesn't mean he won't want to take his Korean brethren down a peg or two if they meet.



The Event:



MSI Masters Gaming Arena takes place Sunday August 30th to Monday August 31st at PAX Prime in Seattle, Washington .



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Your ESL Staff takes place Sunday August 30to Monday August 31at PAX Prime in Seattle, WashingtonCatch the action live at http://www.twitch.tv/msigamingameu If you have any feedback - bad or good - about anything we are doing in StarCraft II then please let us know in the forum Would you like to get involved with StarCraft 2 in the world's largest biggest and most important eSports league? Apply now! Good luck, have fun,Your ESL Staff Troy , Thursday, 27/08/15 02:48