Battle.net

This past weekend saw 64 of the United States’ best players compete for the right to represent the USA in the WCS North American Championship. Held alongside MLG’s Spring Championship, this weekend was full of exciting StarCraft II action. But the games are even more exciting when you know the faces behind the keyboard. We’ve contacted five players from the USA of particular interest going into this tournament and asked for their thoughts!

Chris “Quantic.Illusion” Lee

What were you doing when you were sixteen years old? Illlusion from team Quantic Gaming is spending his teenage years smashing players left and right, becoming one of North America’s most impressive Terran players.  His major tournament debut was at MLG Providence 2011, where he took 24^th place over well-known players like Sheth and Kawaiirice. His breakout performance came at IPL4 – defeating top Korean pros like Zenio, Ryung, and Oz established him as the fastest rising star in the USA.

Shiro: The Battle.net Invitational tournament has been replaced by the World Championship Series for this year, with the Global Finals taking the place of the BlizzCon tournament. What are your thoughts on this new format?
Illusion: I haven't attended a Blizzcon before so I can't say much but I know the public is a little bit disappointed with the lack of Blizzcon this year. That being said, Anaheim has high expectations and it excites me to see what's in store for everyone!

Though the claim has been made that the North American region lags behind the others in terms of competition, this bracket seems to be full of stiff competition. How does the player pool look to you? Who are you looking out for in particular?
The general consensus is true but that doesn't mean it's true for everyone. I'm exactly scared of anyone but I know there are people out there who are really skilled in the NA scene. There are many but I think IdrA will shine in this tournament, he is a great player in practice and has been working hard as of late - I think everyone will turn their heads after this event.

Many have said that they miss the “national champion” concept that carried so much weight in the Brood War years through WCG – something Blizzard has tried to create through WCS. Does the thought of competing to represent the USA on the world stage give this tournament extra weight?
I'm always representing USA in any tournament I go to so I don't feel any extra pressure; I hope to satisfy the crowd with my play.

What are your personal expectations going into this event?
I want to win.

What would a win at this tournament mean for you?
I can rightfully claim the best player in North America and that my tournament results aren't a fluke.

Your rise to prominence has been rapid and dramatic, to the point that people have called you America’s next big hope. What was it like to suddenly find yourself in such a position?
I was glad to finally get the recognition I felt I deserved. I certainly didn't see it coming so fast though. I had been practicing every day for at least 8 hours which is really tough to do for even a week. I'm happy people can look up to me and say that I am the best American player - I won't claim it right now but I can surely represent America as a top player.

Much of the interest focused on you has centered on your age – you’re one of the youngest Western players to have so much success against the current crop of pro-gamers. Now that you’re contracted by a large team like Quantic, a career as a pro-gamer must seem more realistic than it did even a year ago. Where do you see yourself the next few years down the line?
I see myself still involved in pro-gaming, possibly in Korea permanently. I hope to have won some tournaments by then and have gained a fan base as large as IdrA's, Mvp's, Nestea's, etc.

Kevin “coL.qxc” Riley

Whether due to his casual, straightforward attitude, his unconventional strategies (such as the popularization of late game “qxc-reaper” squads), or his ceremonies, the “Bandana Terran” qxc has always been a character fans love to cheer for. At the height of his career, he performed an all-kill of the Korean team Incredible Miracle during his short stint in Korea, which culminated with the defeat of four-time GSL champion IMMvp. Unfortunately for fans, school took precedence and he had to take time off to graduate from college. Now that he’s finished, he’s back to full-time StarCraft II – and the USA Nationals will be the first test of his skill.

Shiro: The Battle.net Invitational tournament has been replaced by the World Championship Series for this year, with the Global Finals taking the place of the BlizzCon tournament. What are your thoughts on this new format?
qxc: It's nice that many more players are able to participate. The previous blizzard invitational system was not clear to the players and made entering and participation much harder because of this unclearness.

Though the claim has been made that the North American region lags behind the others in terms of competition, this bracket seems to be full of stiff competition. How does the player pool look to you? Who are you looking out for in particular?
I haven’t looked at the player pool nor am I concerned with it. 

Many have said that they miss the “national champion” concept that carried so much weight in the Brood War years through WCG – something Blizzard has tried to create through WCS. Does the thought of competing to represent the USA on the world stage give this tournament extra weight?
Ish. I'm more interested in beating Europeans and Koreans than anything else. If I can represent USA and do that at the same time then even better.

What are your personal expectations going into this event?
I expect to win.

What would a win at this tournament mean for you?
Not nearly as much as winning a tournament that allowed other non NA foreigners and Koreans in it. But it would be a great step toward my more overarching goals.

This and MLG will be your second LAN tournaments (after the CSL last weekend) since graduating from Harvey Mudd last month and going full-time. How has your practice been since graduation? Do you foresee yourself being more successful at this event as a result of having a month to prepare without school?
My practice has been much better than usual. I hope to perform well but I'm still not sure how my skill is compared to the rest of the community.

Now that you’re full-time, what are your plans for the future? Will we see the Bandana Terran in Korea again?
I would like to return to Korea at some point - but not until I've done better outside. I've started playing full time and will be participating in a lot more events here on out

Geoff “EG.iNcontroL” Robinson

Professional player, community figure, and amateur bodybuilder: iNcontroL is one of the most recognizable figures in the StarCraft II community. The champion of the 2007 World Cyber Games USA in Brood War, he’s no stranger to national championships. Since transitioning to StarCraft II, iNcontroL has become one of the leading figures in the community as a regular host of the popular show “State of the Game” and a caster for events like NASL and DreamHack. Though he has not yet matched the success he had in Brood War, iNcontroL has doggedly continued playing and has already begun to show stronger results than he did in 2011. Success at this tournament would be exactly what he needs to reestablish himself as a powerful American player.

Shiro: The Battle.net Invitational tournament has been replaced by the World Championship Series for this year, with the Global Finals taking the place of the BlizzCon tournament. What are your thoughts on this new format?
iNcontroL: I prefer the new format. We used to have a "Olympic" like tourney called WCG and it was great: it had a lot of a nationality feel to it. That tourney has fallen from grace and now Blizzard has picked up the torch with WCS. BlizzCon was cool but it was always kind of downplayed in terms of competition due to the festival that went on at the same time. I cannot wait to see the best of each country go at it.

Though the claim has been made that the North American region lags behind the others in terms of competition, this bracket seems to be full of stiff competition. How does the player pool look to you? Who are you looking out for in particular?
The NA scene is constantly underrated…While I don't think the NA scene has as many "tourney winning" caliber players it does have a lot of people that can beat anyone and make for a tough tourney. That said, I am not in a place to look at a tourney and fear only a few individuals – I need results before I can consider some people more of a threat than others. As it stands now, everyone is equally standing in my way and I will regard them as such.

Many have said that they miss the “national champion” concept that carried so much weight in the Brood War years through WCG – something Blizzard has tried to create through WCS. Does the thought of competing to represent the USA on the world stage give this tournament extra weight?
Playing people from your own country holds a certain level of respect and elevates things greatly. Winning big tourneys is a dream for many but being able to represent your country transcends this game and goes somewhere deeper. Everyone wants to be a champion but a champion of your people is something even greater.

What are your personal expectations going into this event?
My personal expectation is top 8. Anything less than that and I will be disappointed.

What would a win at this tournament mean for you?
A win now would mean the great effort and tireless work I have contributed has finally paid off. Being a personality and a known character is nice but I am determined to be a champion.

You struggled quite a bit in 2011, but you’ve seemed to be on your way back up this year. What’s changed for you this year?
I am at peace with my status in the community and I have learned how to manage both my fame and my work. I am happy and content but hungry for more. Last year I was in flux and trying to figure out how to manage myself.  

You’ve been a national champion before – the winner of WCG USA 2007.  What was it like to represent America at the 2007 World Championship in Seattle, and what would it mean for you to be able to do so once again?
Winning in 2007 changed my life. I firmly believe it's the only reason I am here today as an EG player and person of note. Being the national champion is a mark that can never go away: for that year, you were THE guy. To return to that pedestal would be a dream come true.

Tyler “Liquid`NonY” Wasieleski

Few entered StarCraft II with as many expectations heaped onto them as Liquid`NonY. Considered one of the greatest foreign Brood War players ever, NonY was the winner of WCG USA 2008 and the second Team Liquid Starleague, played for a Korean pro-gaming team, and the only foreigner to ever make the finals in a Courage tournament – the qualification round to become a licensed Korean pro-gamer. Unfortunately, NonY has struggled to live up to these insurmountable expectations – due in part to a lack of practice and motivation caused by depression. But as of this February of this year, NonY’s back and looking to prove himself: marking his determination by changing his ID from “Tyler” back to his old Brood War alias. For NonY, this tournament is his chance to be the champion his fans know he could be.

Shiro: The Battle.net Invitational tournament has been replaced by the World Championship Series for this year, with the Global Finals taking the place of the BlizzCon tournament. What are your thoughts on this new format?
I love it. I have been outspoken against past formats for being vague and unfair. The WCS is a spectacular improvement. I also love this approach to a global competition and I hope the fans love it too!

Though the claim has been made that the North American region lags behind the others in terms of competition, this bracket seems to be full of stiff competition. How does the player pool look to you? Who are you looking out for in particular?
This player pool is respectable for a national competition. I think it's possible for one or two players to advance to Raleigh without much of a challenge but most players will encounter some difficulty. Claiming the national title and $12k will take some serious talent.

Many have said that they miss the “national champion” concept that carried so much weight in the Brood War years through WCG – something Blizzard has tried to create through WCS. Does the thought of competing to represent the USA on the world stage give this tournament extra weight?
Yes I definitely value this aspect of the competition. I think it's an important honor and I hope the SC2 players take it seriously like the Brood War players did. I hope the fans take it seriously too. It adds meaning and drama to the competition

What are your personal expectations going into this event?
I’m mainly focused on advancing to Raleigh.

What would a win at this tournament mean for you?
It would be my first major tournament win in my SC2 career, a major milestone. Winning in front of the Anaheim crowd, which I know will be incredible, would be an unforgettable experience. I would be extremely proud of holding the national title. 

You’ve elected to opt out of the MLG Open Bracket and will only be playing in WCS this weekend. As someone who’s competed in every MLG thus far, why have you decided to focus solely on WCS?
I have had very little time to practice leading up to this event, mainly due to moving from Texas to California. MLG's open bracket is so difficult and tiring that I thought it would be wiser to focus solely on WCS. I would be very disappointed if I don't make it to Raleigh, even with my limited practice.

You were the champion of WCG USA 2008 and made it to the Ro8 of the World Finals in Germany before being eliminated. What was it like to represent your country at the event, and what would it mean for you to be able to do so again?
I feel like the world has high expectations from the US in general and SC2 is no exception. We have definitely underperformed. I know we have the talent to become one of the best SC2 nations and it is about time we show it. If I was a representative, I would value the opportunity and do my best to make Americans proud. I took the position seriously when I had it before and I would cherish the extra responsibility if I get it again.

Greg “EG.IdrA” Fields

While IdrA has established himself as a “bad boy,” of StarCraft, he's also worked hard to establish a reputation as one of the strongest macro Zergs in North America – a reputation that carries all the way back to his Brood War days, where he won WCG USA 2009 and was one of few foreigners to play for a Korean pro-gaming team. Recently, though, IdrA’s been in something of a slump. For whatever reason, his play hasn’t been up to his usual standard. The last time this happened, he returned in a big way to win two major tournaments in a row. Can IdrA find his old fire and conquer this tournament? For him, anything but first place might as well be last place.

Shiro: The Battle.net Invitational tournament has been replaced by the World Championship Series for this year, with the Global Finals taking the place of the BlizzCon tournament. What are your thoughts on this new format?
It's awesome.  With the downfall of WCG gaming hasn't had a legitimate olympics type event for quite a while, and that kind of competition is very exciting for everyone, having national pride on the line along with all the regular stresses and rewards of a tournament is great.  I think that if the World Championship Series is run well it will fill that role better than WCG ever really did. 

Though the claim has been made that the North American region lags behind the others in terms of competition, this bracket seems to be full of stiff competition. How does the player pool look to you? Who are you looking out for in particular?
North America does not have a lot of really top tier international players, but I don’t feel it's much worse than any other single country.  We have a handful of international caliber players and just as many, if not more, 2nd tier foreigners who can be quite dangerous to play against.

Many have said that they miss the “national champion” concept that carried so much weight in the Brood War years through WCG – something Blizzard has tried to create through WCS. Does the thought of competing to represent the USA on the world stage give this tournament extra weight?
Yes, definitely.  As a Brood War player, WCG was basically the sole event we prepared for every year and doing well in it held a ton of weight - largely because of the pride of being the best in your country and representing it against the rest of the world.  Having that same motivation makes WCS one of the more meaningful events for me this year. 

What are your personal expectations going into this event?
I'm going to win it. 

What would a win at this tournament mean for you?
It's the first really comprehensive American only tournament we've had in sc2, live at a huge event with a great prize pool.  It's a chance to cement myself as the best American player and to move on and represent the US in the rest of the competition. 

For a long time, you were considered to be the best player from the United States by many. Recently, you’ve struggled to perform to the high standard you hold yourself to. However, your career has often been very up and down – with big successes like IEM China and Orlando punctuated by lows like Raleigh. What was it that brought you back up before? Could we see a similar resurgence here this weekend?
Various factors: too much travel and too many tournaments and inefficient practice methods as well as bad mindset. I feel like I've fixed a lot of problems and am playing very well right now.  I'll be disappointed if I don't win.