119 of the best players in the world - that is the number associated with the online qualifiers for the 2012 MLG Winter Arena. The qualifiers are scheduled to be held January 31st - February 8th, and the Arena itself - February 24-26.
The Winter Arena event will consist of a total of 24 players, eight of which already seeded in thanks to their performance at MLG Providence. Those are Leenock, Naniwa, DongraeGu, MVP, HuK, MC, HayPro and Idra and they will be joined by the top eight from each of the three regions. Below is a full player list for the online qualifiers that begin next week. The number in the parentheses shows the seed that each player has been awarded and which can be subject to change.
MLG Winter Online Qualifiers player list
Korea/Taiwan
NA/LA
Europe
(1) MMA
(1) Slush
(1) Ret
(2) Bomber
(2) Kiwikaki
(2) Sjow
(3) Boxer
(3) Rain
(3) Socke
(4) Losira
(4) Sheth
(4) Thorzain
(4) MKP
(5) InControl
(5) Orly
(6) TheSTC
(6) Machine
(6) Merz
(7) Ganzi
(7) Drewbie
(7) Violet
(8) July
(7) Tyler
(8) Grubby
(8) Nada
(9) KawaiiR.
(9) HasuObs
(10) NesTea
(10) Vibe
(10) Adel
(11) Noblesse
(11) Demuslim
(10) Bigs
(12) Polt
(12) Sase
(10) Bischu
(13) Major
(13) TriMaster
(10) Cloud
(14) WhiteRa
(13) qxc
(10) DieStar
(15) Keen
(15) Artist
(10) Feast
(16) Choya
(16) Mihai
(10) Goody
(17) Oz
(17) Ddori
(1) Jimpo
(18) HwangSin
(18) Illusion
(10) Lalush
(19) ToD
(19) Agh
(10) LiveZ
(20) sC
(20) Thisisjimmy
(10) Monchi
(21) Alive
(20) wbc
(10) Nightend
(22) Alicia
(22) DDE
(10) Pomi
(22) Clide
(23) OptikZero
(10) Tarson
(22) Curious
(24) State
(10) Titan
(22) ForGG
(25) Inori
(10) Welmu
(22) FruitDealer
(25) LzGamer
(10) Xlord
Korea/Taiwan
NA/LA
(22) Genius
(22) Gumiho
(27) Spades
(22) Happy
(22) Hyun
(28) Hawk
(22) Inca
(22) Jjakji
(29) Gowser
(22) Killer
(22) Lucky
(30) Axslav
(22) Moonglade
(22) Parting
(31) Ostojiy
(22) Puzzle
(22) Rainbow
(32) Attero
(22) Revival
(22) Ryung
(32) Morrow
(22) San
(22) Seed
(34) Naama
(22) Sound
(22) Supernova
(34) Stalife
(22) TheBest
(22) TOP
(43) Catz
(22) Vrius
(22) Yoda
(37) TT1
(22) YuGiOh
(22) Zenio
(38) Killer
(38) Minigun
Have in mind that distribution to a server does not reflect players' nationality but only which qualifier they will attend.
The prize pool for the Winter Arena totals up to $26,000 with the winner bringing home $10,000. The top 16 finisher at the Arena will get seeded directly into the pool play of the Winter Championship.