IEM Shenzhen Hearthstone kicks off tonight



Just a few points behind, Rdu (left), will attempt to retake the #1 in GosuRankings from Amaz (right). Photo: GosuGamers

Hearthstone is ready to storm the IEM stage as Season IX begins tonight. $10,000 are put on the line for the competitors in Blizzard's CCG.

If DreamHack is about to host its third big Hearthstone event this weekend, for their eSports colleagues at IEM this will be the first real major attempt at producing a HS content. The European brand is getting a chance to up their game as compared to their small, four-man debut at Katowice in March and are offering a piece of the five-figure prize pool to sixteen competitors from Europe, North America and Asia.

For IEM Shenzhen, ESL have extended invitations to five familiar faces of western Hearthstone. Lined-up are Cloud 9's powerhouses Gnimsh and StrifeCro, Liquid's centerpiece Amaz, TSM's founding Hearthstone player Massan and DreamHack Summer champion Rdu of MYM - a very recognizable roster for the majority of Hearthstone fans.

The opening event of Season IX, however, aims to be much more than just a clash of familiar faces, however. IEM Shenzhen will aim to put the western champions against the best the eastern scene has to offer. Attending will be players from Asia, whose goal at the event will be to prove that their local scene is not that far behind those considered the leaders of competitive Hearthstone.

So far, though, when it comes to winning tournaments against Europe and North America, Asia has always finished behind. The first such clash - the 2p-hosted NA vs CN Masters - saw the Americans prevail with a 4:3 overall score over the Chinese team. The second iteration - EU vs CN Masters - on the other hand, was a brutal 4:0 slaughter by the Europe crew.

The Western Hearthstone proved the strongest in the first OGN Invitational, held between March and May this year. Not really known for their skill in TCGs but rather in real-time strategies like StarCraft, the Korean opposition of Yellow, GoRush and Gerrard was blown away by their Western colleagues and Janne "Savjz" Mikkonen took the $10,000.

Starting tonight at 03:30 CET, Asia will try to redeem itself. The sixteen players will be split in four double eliminaiton groups, with top two advancing to the 8-man single elimination playoffs. On Friday, the $4,000 winning champion will be crowned.