Previously on eHL:
Part 1: Singaporean success in Cycle 1, week 1
Part 2: The Cycle 1 playoffs are here!
Part 3: Cycle 1 winners' decklists and champion interview
With Deskaliuz forfeiting the tournament, Cycle 2 of eHL began with the three-man Group A, featuring Pinoy hope Machtung against OPLoner from Singapore as the opener.
The Singaporean opened with a beatdown Mage against Machtung's standard hand lock, turning Gul'Dan's life tap to his advantage. With the Mage going on the offensive, the Pinoy had a deadly clock over his head and by the time he managed to establish a decent defense, it was already too late.
A standard mid-range Shaman came from Machtung in game two to tie the score by establishing tempo early on. The same scenario was repeated in the deciding game against OPLoner's somewhat unorthodox control Hunter and the Philippines were off to a good start.
OPLoner soon had to say goodbye to the tournament as he faced group favorite bj0rn of HAT Singapore fame. The standard Druid of the Mana Surge player delivered excellent results and his countryman's Mage and Priest crumbled under the pressure and burst damage of the lethal Force of Nature/Savage Roar combo.
Bj0rn and Machtung thus faced each other for the playoffs spot and an epic three-game battle began. Machtung's Shaman survived the pressure from Bj0rn's Zoolock with ease but was squashed by the weight of Bj0rn's armored Warrior which enjoyed the luck of the draw that day.
A climactic Warrior mirror ended Group A. Bj0rn managed to get ahead in the early game by dealing more damage and establishing a better board control but a couple of misplays such as leaving [card]Ysera[/card] alive for too long allowed the Pinoy to make a recovery. A game-turning Ysera Awakens burst down Bj0rn and Machtung grabbed the playoffs spot from the jaws of defeat.
| [deck linked]326[/deck] | [deck linked]327[/deck] | [deck linked]328[/deck] |
Group B - Celador swipes everyone down
While Group A had a bunch of epic matches that went down the wire, Group B was a more stompy affair. Celedor of the Philippines joined fellow countryman Machtung in the playoffs after just four games, riding an anti-aggro mid-range Druid which helped him slice the opposition.
This was another three man group as Loouux failed to make an appearance so the Pinoy had an easier path to the playoffs. Celedor 2-0'd Nyx's Shaman and control Druid by drawing a clutch Defender of Argus in the second game to stop Rexxar's aggression. The Defender helped Celedor once again against MrOpium's Paladin and set the stage for a flawless run, a feat that was completed by the ruthless bashing of Opium's slow Priest.
Moving on with a 4-0, Celedor is the first player to not drop a single game in the group stage since the start of eHL Cycle 2.
| [deck linked]329[/deck] | [deck linked]330[/deck] | [deck linked]331[/deck] |
Group C - Howi unleashes bubbly justice
The Pinoys were having a ball this cycle and getting two representatives through to the playoffs wasn't nearly enough for them. Enter Howi, the player with the almost perfect run and one of the more entertaining Paladin players.
It's worth noting that Howi made it out of Groups C as group's underdog as it was the Sinaporean player Kero who was labeled the favorite, having placed third in HAT Singapore three months ago. Kero's start was sloppy however, and dropped a two-game series to Thailand's Ellilight. Even though the Singaporean was able to recover in the second series and blanked MasterChard, one short meeting with Howi would send him to the last place.
Howi himself earned fans by using a somewhat gimmicky Bubbledin build which utilized almost every divine shield minion in the game. Using Argent Squire, Scarlet Crusader and even Silvermoon Guardian, Howi was able to maintain a tough to kill board and trigger enormous Blood Knights at the same time. Those interested in copying the deck should really stick to the end of eHL Cycle 2 when group's winners' deck will be revealed!
| [deck linked]332[/deck] | [deck linked]333[/deck] | [deck linked]334[/deck] |
Group D - Thailand finally makes it
With eXoTriGGeR unable to compete, Group D was the first Cycle 2 pool certain to not have a Pinoy winner. It thus became a battle for national pride and Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia - each sending one representative - went for each other's throats.
Thailand's Thaibg started strong with a 2-1 against Singapore's Xinhuan. A Druid mirror in the opener put Thaibg on a good start but Xinhuan's Shaman tied it, forcing the Thai player to pull out a strange deck: A Hogger-wielding Mage.
The legendary gnoll took Xinhuan by surprise and his Shaman couldn't keep up with the momentum created by Hogger. Supported by a barrage of Mage spells, the value of Hogger's army secured the 2-1 for the Thai, putting him just one win away from playoffs.
XoOnG was Thaibg's next challenge and that one proved an easier opponent than the Singaporean. Using Druid only, Thailand's representative prevailed in the Druid mirror and burst down the Handlock of XoOnG, becoming the first Thai to reach the eHL playoffs.
Group D decklists will be uploaded soon.
Scheduled for this week are groups E-H, followed by the playoffs.
