MYM's ThijsNL, the DreamHack Bucharest champion, has advanced to the DreamHack Winter final with a 4-1 series victory over Lifecoach. Thijs will face the winner of Kolento vs StrifeCro later today.
In the first semi final of the day the improbable run of Lifecoach came to an end against world #4 ThijsNL of Meet Your Makers. Thijs dominated the series going 3-0 up with his signature Druid deck, and though Lifecoach was able to claw one back with his Hunter Thijs closed out the series on Warrior to take the 4-1 victory.
Thijs first managed to defeat Lifecoach's unorthodox 'Miracle' Druid in the mirror match in game one thanks to efficient board trading and maintaining effective board control - though an early Wild Growth certainly didn't hurt either. Ragnaros piled in the damage, protected by a Sludge Belcher, and Lifecoach was unable to respond. Shifting to his Priest Lifecoach got a great start with Undertaker and Loot Hoarder before establishing a strong board with a Blademaster and Dark Cultist. Thijs looked to be in desperation mode, using Force of Nature to clear twice, but after sweeping away the board presence of Lifecoach the Priest had no more cards to play and Thijs was able to take over. Using the resurrection rule implemented from the semi finals, Lifecoach made the questionable decision to queue his Priest straight back up, but once again Thijs was able to sweep aside the minions and use Ragnaros to get the damage in and advance to 3-0.
Lifecoach brought out his Hunter to try and reverse sweep the series, using a slower build that included a Ragnaros of his own. The game started out slow but with a topdecked Undertaker on turn four Lifecoach was able to grow it to a 4/5 in just one turn. Between that and a turn six Savannah, the pressure was too much for Thijs. The series came down to a nailbiting game with Thijs' Warrior deck and the game was really decided on a Ragnaros vs Ragnaros coin flip won by Thijs, though Thijs also had the early weapons to clear out the threats.
Thijs will face the winner of the next semi-final, Kolento vs StrifeCro.
