Photo: ESL
Four Protoss players qualified for the next stage of Code S. The triumph of herO, Rain, Zest and Trap left players like DRG and Leenock out of the competition, as well as one of the only three Terrans in the tournament.
The Protoss race enjoys a fantastic start to the new year. After occupying the grand finals of IEM Sao Paulo and Assembly Winter, its representatives are on their way on establishing Code S hegemony as well.
The two Code S groups played this week were almost identical. The Protoss players had such a strong showing that the only games they dropped were to each other. Group A become herO[join]'s kingdom as the CJ Protoss continued to ride the wave of his back-to-back IEM victories and is now guaranteed a top 16 finish in Code S as well. Behind him came Rain who had to cut through Solar in the decider match to secure himself a group stage #2 spot.
Group B became with a PvP between the player who'd eventually rule the pool. Zest 2-1'd Trap to show who's the better Protoss which was later reflected in the final standings. The KT Protoss finished first after disposing of Leenock in the semi final, while the IM player had to end the tournament lives of Supernova - one of the only three Terran players in the tournament alongside Maru and Bbyong - and Leenock.
At least one more Protoss will enter the Ro16 next week. On February 12, soO, Panic, Ruin and sOs step in the booth for the Group C matches while two days later, Soulkey and Pet will fight against the Protoss hegemony as they face Sora and Squirtle.
