Hi guys! Now that major regions are having a little break before clashes, I think it’s a good time to take a look on what we have witnessed in this first half of HGC Phase 2.

Europe

Dignitas keep reigning on Europe. And basically, that’s what haven’t changed. Most of the other teams are still getting used to their mid-season roster changes. Method brought back the old Expert band, keeping the good results. Liquid and Leftovers have become strong contenders, we will see how they perform at Western Clash. On the other hand, Fnatic are struggling against top teams, what got them out of the Clash. Former Fnatic QuackNiix isn’t doing any better with his new team, Zealots. In fact, despite having won seven maps, they still have taken no series, holding last position. The other two teams, Granit Gaming and Monkey Menagerie (former Diamond Skin and Tricked eSport respectively) keep trying to avoid Crucible.

Remember when HeroesHearth won 7 out of 8 Open Division cups back in 2017? ePunks Black are topping the OD ladder with 4 out of 5. In fact, they resemble HeroesHearth OD run a lot: a team led by former HGC guys earning back their place. The cup they lost went to TimeToShine, who are currently on 3rd position having played only three cups. The other two teams on the top-4 are the Swedes Skogsapor and the Germans IQ129 with their infamous Murky leading the way.

North America

HeroesHearth keep becoming stronger, they have lost only three maps, and not two to the same team. Following close is Tempo Storm. Despite losing psalm, they are doing great with ViN. The two other Clash teams are the same as last Phase: Team Freedom and Team Octalysis. Tied on victories with Octalysis is Endemic Esports, former Gale Force, keeping the balance with a 14-14 score on maps. Last three teams are LFM, who have just lost Aware, Simplicity and No Tomorrow.

If European OD is mostly ruled by ePunks, North America has two teams trying to get the crown: wrong orc and Freebirds. They have disputed all the five finals, with wrong orc getting three of them. Next team on the ladder is Reborne. Changing two players from Phase 1, they have made it to the semi-finals three times. Fourth team is Necrodancers. But American OD seems to be shaking, with new names getting to second days of cups (top 4) such us Firm Handshake or FemmeFerocity. Also, we can’t lose track of DeadlyKittens core, now playing for PSISTORM, who have just joined OD (they still don’t have many points).

Korea

We all know the greatness of Gen.G, those who got to MSB finals without dropping a single map (and there had a hard time against Dignitas). Well, they haven’t been able to keep that invulnerability back at home. They lost a series against Miracle, but still beat all the other teams, keeping the top spot. Following them are (in this order) Tempest, Ballistix and Blossom. Blossom reinforced themselves with merryday and HongCono, taking them out of their retirement. On the bottom half we have the kingslayers Miracle, the Crucible victors of Supernova, Team Feliz and GLuck.

(Most names come from Google Translate, so may have mistaken some) Cute reading leads the way, followed by Phase 1 ladder 2nd NTL. 3rd and 4th spots go to Construction Idea and Don’t say it to me. We can also find bliss in the top 8, who made it to playoffs last Phase. Phase 1 minimum mark for playoffs was 75 points, and 5 teams have already surpassed that milestone.

China

After being left out of MSB, Super Perfect Time have claimed back the Chinese throne. Getting 2nd spot for third time in a row, TheOne follow them (despite they ended group stage as leaders). Chall Enge have fallen from first to third position. Beyond the Game got 4th position. The newcomer of A-Team did a heroic run in playoffs, rising from 8th to 5th position through the gauntlet. Last three teams were KT, RPG and Team Nut.

Australia and New Zealand

Although there are two weeks left on group stage, top 2 teams have already been decided. The ones going to finals have earned their spots, and they are the same as last Phase: Mindfreak and Crimson. MSB made Mindfreak join the league a week later than the other teams, that’s why they are 2nd at the moment, though not having lost any series. Apart from these couple of beasts, two other teams are gaining power in the region: Aztech and Twisted Vision. Both have secured their spots for 2019. Next pair of teams are Xylophone Dudes (former QM Warriors) and the Crucible winners Pleb2Pro. All in all, they need to be very careful if they want to avoid Crucible this time, because the remaining teams are just one or two victories away. These last teams are the newcomers Impenetrable Hill (they are the winners of first OD week, that victory granted them a spot with the big guys as Downfall had disbanded) and REEality (RICH GANG core).

We Left School for This lead the ANZ OD. They are first with 21 points, 8 over next teams. These teams are Funky Moon and Premier academy teams: Pleb2Pro Open and Crimson Academy. Apart from them, last Crucible participants, Morton’s Monkeys are getting points step by step, but they’re still far away from top contenders.

Latin America

Last places of Copa America North Region went for Complotters and For the Kill Gaming. Above them, on fourth position, Stormborns Gaming ended one position lower than last Phase. Thunder Predator (formerly Thunder Awaken, the North kings through 2017) got back the roster of the former finalists 6Sense. Also, they got the young SleepyBear from their executioners, Fratres. Fratres couldn’t get over their roster changes (also lost Mexicano96) and were left out of the finals, where SleepyBear’s Thunder Predators and Mexicano96’s Ball Breaker Reborn disputed the region crown. Last day of group stage these two teams, already qualified, played a bo3 where Thunder Predator won 2-1. That was but the prelude of the real finals, where Ball Breaker Reborn fell 3-4.

Last Phase South Region was almost a Brazilian monopoly, only Bring it On from Argentina represented the rest of the countries. Now things are going back to the way they were with a Chilean team back on the Copa. This team is QueridesCompañeres, and though they finished in last position, their appearance is good news for the South Region (and with no KLG heirs, full new blood). All in all, four out of the six teams were Brazilian, and this time Bring it On couldn’t make it to the finals as they did last Phase. They finished in fourth position, just above About to Cry e-Sports. Third position went for Sub18. And this time finals were a duel between Dynasty Gaming and Encore e-Sports. With both teams full of well-known players, finally victory fell again on Encore’s side.

Taiwan

Through 2018 season, Taiwanese scene has totally revamped itself. Many big names have retired, being Luna Meow almost the last resort (and even them have made some roster changes) of old Taiwanese era: the times of Please Buff Arthas, Face Check and Soul Torturers are over. With only a week of competition, in the dawn of this new era, Luna Meow seems to be the favourite, defeating two of the a priori strongest teams: Times New Roman (seeded from last season) and For Second (with two former Soul Torturers, hikari and Scroll). The other fearful team, The Avenger, have only played a series against Suicide Squad (currently 0-3) and easily defeated them. The other three teams in this league are: BAOJA (one of the qualifier winners), Arrogância (a Japanese team) and DFF (the other qualifier winner, though they haven’t played yet). Will Luna Meow be able to repeat the 7-0 series score they got last Phase? We’ll see.

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia qualifier for Horizon Clash was dominated by Mirrmaid. Two times Blizzcon veteran Mirr, has led his team through the qualifier without dropping a single game. Now their challenge is beating Taiwan and making it to his third Blizzcon. We know few things of SEA region as games are not being streamed. All in all, it’s surprising the fact of some big names of the region haven’t made it to top-4. With players such as former DeadliKittens Zeys (Inquisition), paeji (Arcadia), meowpork or PIZZASIAO (both on peowmork) being defeated that soon, SEA may be about to throw us some new talent to be an international contender again.

