DreamHack Valencia prepares for playoffs, Jaedong vs Lucifron as highlight match

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After a long day of group stage competition, the sixteen players surviving ready themselves to walk the final mine. 21,000 EUR are on the line for the top eight.

At the third event of the 2013 DreamHack Open circuit, the foreigners are looking to make yet another stand against the Korean invaders, who took both the Stockholm and Summer competitions and are on a three-championship streak since DreamHack Winter.

Looking from above, foreigners' hope do seem small in regard to what the Koreans are sending in. The Spanish brothers Lucifron and Vortix stand out as the vanguard of Europe as far as recent achievements are concerned and, arguably, have the best chances to survive the first round together with Finnish powerhouse Elfi. They're joined by lower-tier names and up-and-comers alike like Sonder, Dayshi, Harstem and Morrow to make for a diverse European gathering. Two North Americans in HuK and Goswser will also make their stand today, hoping to break the black streak and make a DreamHack top eight.

It will be a tall order for the foreigners to take the tournament home, however. Korea is represented by players such as GSL finalist HyuN, DH Summer champion StarDust, EG's JYP and Summer runner-up and eSports legend Jaedong. The latter will play his third DreamHack playoffs in a row and is paired against Spanish Zerg Vortix in arguably the most expected match for the round of sixteen.

You can tune in to the playoff matches here.