The Ukrainian joins Virtus.pro team-mate Naiman at Blizzcon.
In an expected grand final between George “GeorgeC” Connoly and Artem “DrHippi” Kravets, the Ukrainian player from team Virtus.pro prevailed with 4-2 on the scoreboard to qualify for Blizzcon World Championship. The two players were the most recognized among the eight in the Los Angeles studio, having attended another HCT championship earlier in the year but coming short of a Blizzcon spot.
For DrHippi, the first chance of qualification was snatched under him right in the last second. In the Winter Championship, he lost a back-and-forth best of five against teammate Ole “Naiman” Batyrbekov, as the Kazakhstani became the first player to punch his ticket for Blizzcon.
DrHippi’s run in the Summer Championship was a dramatic one. In the quarter final round, his Dragon Warrior – usually a dominant, perma-banned deck in tournamnets – almost got him reverse-swept by Giorgos “Likeabawse” Papadimitrak. In the semi-finals, Loic “Dizdemon” Poulaic’s Aggro Shaman and Miracle Rogue pushed the series to six games, but DrHippi ultimately took it on the back of a good old Yogg Token Druid.
Meeting Georgec in the grand finals, the Ukrainian took a three-game lead just like in the series against Likeabawse, but once reduced down to his Miracle Rogue, Georgec started to claw back into the series, taking the next two games. Despite facing a tough match against Midrange Hunter in game six, however, DrHippi and his Valeera proved better and will be seen at Blizzcon in November.
