But it's also much more then that. Despite the rather modest prize pool MLG crew's efforts made it into, bar none, the toughest international tournament in the world. The unique and inspiring GSL exchange program allows us to see the best of the best from the progaming world of South Korea, sometimes even those who, perhaps, might be even better then your average Code S player- such as the #1 GGDB ranked 15 and 1 DongRaeGu or 41-15 MMA who had the luck of being knocked out into Code B by none other then Code A champion.
The widely criticized pool and open bracket system also yields certain benefits. The pool play allows those who would probably not be here otherwise- such as the Europeans Sjow and Naniwa - to take this trip and not wager their entire plane ticket price on a single best 2 out of 3. The open bracket, albeit tough serves it's purpose too. While it is the most grueling, exhausting gaming experience one can endure, it pushes you to your limits, tests every aspect of your skillset, and in the end... propels you into stardom. You can be damn sure that if someone managed pass that stage they are one of the best players in the world variety. And if they manage to win the whole thing, well, "it's okay" too. This is the college leagues of StarCraft 2, this is where the talent scouts come to see aspiring athletes play, it is that league that has the potential of turning you into a pro, even if you fail to make the big bucks.
It is all that that makes you shed all doubt that an MLG champion is indeed the best player in the world. While it might lack the finesse of GSL or the player sniping of GSTL it embraces the different aspects of the game - ability to think on your feet, adapt to your opponent on the fly, vary your playstyle and display creativity- and the endurance of utmost proportion.
It is a belief of many that the best StarCraft 2 player in the world is in Korea right now, preparing for his third GSL final. But that belief is false. What NesTea strives on is preparation and knowledge of your opponent- which, with how cramped up all MLG matches are would not have been possible in Ananheim. Let's just take a minute and look at NesTea's performance outside of Korea.
L - SagaCity Invitational - DDoro
L - StarWars Killer - LoveCD
L - Team Liquid StarLeague #3 - Goody
2-2(50%) in South Korean Teamleagues- way below his usual 68% winrate.
| Naniwa vs HuK, Saturday 02:30 CET, Red Stream |
Now that we've debunked that myth let's get on with the matches! And what a perfect start that is - a rivalry - if not a blood one then at least for the title of best foreigner protoss. On the coattails of HomeStory cup MLG starts off the night with a repeat of the former's finals- HuK vs Naniwa. Both won MLGs, both have taken sets off of MC, both have 64% PvP winrate and both are tied in sets- 1-1. Huk does have however a slight edge in individual games being ahead 2 at 6-4.
| Red Stream Matches | GGDB | TLPD | Money Lines 03:25 PST |
 Naniwa | 176-68 (72%) | 300-147 (67.11%) | 2.180@PinnacleSports.com |
 HuK | 150-71 (68%) | 195-101 (65.88%) 19-19 (50.00%) | 1.725@PinnacleSports.com |
So what is the bottom line in this match up of the champions? Well, on one hand since his HomeStory and DreamHack back to back victories HuK has lost his GSL match to MC and what's worse MC in an unexpected turn of events got completely crushed by HongUn, which in turn might have caused an oGs-wide PvP crisis. With oGs house in pvperil one might question how well HuK was able to prepare, and the answer undeniably is - very well. If years of following esports showed us anything it's that large victories are usually followed by slumps; and downfalls - by influx of motivation. Drawing from this conclusion one might think that this is working against Naniwa - for his last major tournament was a silver at the HomeStory cup, but one would be wrong. The very reason Naniwa has all but disappeared from the tournament scene is that he was readying himself for MLG - and his stint in Korea for GSL Code A and GSTL experience.
It seems then that the two are absolutely evenly matched, almost identical opponents. And that may very well be true - and more then that these two have all the chances in the world to meet in this tournament more then once - perhaps in the finals - for they are clearly one of the favorites to win it all.
| DongRaeGu vs TheLittleOne, Saturday 02:30 CET, Blue Stream |
The #1 GGDB ranked player, the GSTL MVP for 2 seasons running, the king of ZvT is facing off a foreign terran 0-5 in his last 5, and that before his carpal-tunnel induced "vacation." This is then, a polar opposite of the previous match up. Unfortunately for his countless fans TLO, on paper, does not stand a sliver of a chance. But where logic tells you "no" there is always still hope. With victory over Losira still under his belt, the crazy and creative German terran has been out of the public eye for the longest time. And with access to one of the best foreigner teams as your practice partners, the best progaming house in Europe and unlimited supply of TheStC's replays, one might wonder, maybe he does have a chance?
| Blue Stream Matches | GGDB | TLPD | Money Lines 03:25 PST |
 DongRaeGu | 15-1 (94%) | 20-6 (76.92%) | 1.168@PinnacleSports.com |
 TheLittleOne | 73-65 (53%) | 127-115 (52.48%) 4-4 (50.00%) | 5.480@PinnacleSports.com |
| Idra vs Slayers_BoxeR, Saturday 03:30 CET, Red Stream |
The Emperor is here! The guy who couldn't go to the last MLG and sent his protege instead to casually win it all is here, finally, on his own. Many do not give Lim Yo Hwan credit, citing his Code A Round 1 exit and weak stats(2-9) in TvZ. All this however is very misleading. 8-1 In his NASL group, early exit to none other then MC, 5-3 personal record against Sen and a 2-0 demolition of IdrA in NASL. And what about his Korean losses? Nestea, twice, Zenio and DongRaeGu. Not exactly the kind to roll over. It is clear then that BoxeR is up to the challenge, but is IdrA? Surely his latest accomplishments include an IEM Cologne spot that he earned after besting DDE and Fenix but his last FOUR major tournaments ended in a ZvT exit- Tarson @HomeStory, MMA @ Columbus, Boxer, Sjow and NaDa @NASL and DDE @ Tactic3D. And with DeMusliM being the sole terran left on team EG after LzGamer went back to Zerg will IdrA be able to get enough practice to get back into shape?
| Red Stream Matches | GGDB | TLPD | Money Lines 03:25 PST |
| SlayerS_BoxeR | 22-18 (55%) | 21-23 (47.73%) 18-16 (52.94%) | 2.340@PinnacleSports.com |
 IdrA | 103-52 (66%) | 184-106 (63.45%) 16-10 (61.54%) | 1.637@PinnacleSports.com |
Other match at that time includes:
| MMA vs Drewbie, Saturday 03:30 CET, Blue Stream |
| Blue Stream Matches | GGDB | TLPD | Money Lines 03:25 PST |
| MMA | 41-15 (73%) | 28-5 (84.85%) 35-28 (55.56%) | 1.194@PinnacleSports.com |
| Drewbie | 91-65 (58%) | 194-152 (56.07%) | 4.970@PinnacleSports.com |
