With current extremely sad meta (incl. tournaments) upcoming HCT (and Chose your Champion voting) is all about coinflip, topdecking, luck and proper queuing. Nevertheless, I tried to make some spreadsheet predictions (at least for group phase), based mainly on players' lineups (without deep analysis of tech choises and special cards included by every).
Can go in anyone's favor, depending on pairing. On my opinion the most consistent lineups have Neirea, Purple and JasonZhou. I'm pretty sure that we'll see at least one of this guys in finals.
Who to Choose as a Champion???
I would highly recommend to chose a guy, that you personally want to support and root for. In this case you'll have maximum fun from watching HCT and minimum salt in case your favourite will fail. Just remember, this game and current meta (and lineups) all are about pure luck, good queuing and in-time top-decking of tech cards included (Golakkas, Silences, AOE, Oozes etc.).
Analysis-wise I can suppose, that guys brought similar lineups: DocPwn, Tom, ShtanUdachi (and Kolento at some point) will have a problem in their bans, because their decks almost guaranteed lose to either Priest or Warlock.
But my approach mitigates any personal skill (or luck), and all of participants are great players (some more world-renown and much more experienced in tournaments), so every game and match can go either way, anyone can be a winner and anyfin can happen%)
With current extremely sad meta (incl. tournaments) upcoming HCT (and Chose your Champion voting) is all about coinflip, topdecking, luck and proper queuing. Nevertheless, I tried to make some spreadsheet predictions (at least for group phase), based mainly on players' lineups (without deep analysis of tech choises and special cards included by every).
my spreadsheet
Group A
Nzotlock) - DocPwn (TRogue, Cubelock,DragHPriest, JDru)HPriest, Nzotlock) - Tom (Trogue, Cubelock,HPriest, Jdru)Winners
Hoej (A.Dru, Murpal, H.Priest,
Nzotlock) - Orange (Hunt, TRogue, HPriest,Nzotlock)Losers
DocPwn (TRogue, Cubelock, DragHPriest, JDru) - Tom (Trogue, Cubelock, HPriest, Jdru)
Similar lineups. Doesn't really matter who will advance to Decider match, since both have similar high chances to lose to Orange.
Advances: Hoej and Orange
Group B
DragHPriest) - Jason (AgDru, TRogue,HPriest, Nzotlock)Nzotlock) - Samuel aka AcneBoy (AgDru, Zoolock, TRogue, HPriest)Winners
Jason (AgDru, TRogue, HPriest,
Nzotlock) - Samuel (AgDru, Zoolock, TRogue,HPriest)Losers
Muzzy (AgDru, TRogue, Cubelock,
DragHPriest) - Kolento (TRogue, HPriest, JDru,Nzotlock)Decider
Samuel (AgDru, Zoolock,
TRogue, HPriest) - Muzzy (AgDru, TRogue,Cubelock, DragHPriest)Advances: JasonZhou and Muzzy
Group C
Cubelock, HPriest, Jdru) - Ant (AgDru, Murpal, TRogue, SpitefulPriest)Nzotlock) - Purple (AgDru, TRogue, HPriest,Nzotlock)Winners
Ant (
AgDru, Murpal, TRogue, SpitefulPriest) - Purple (AgDru, TRogue, HPriest,Nzotlock)Losers
Shtan (TRogue, Cubelock,
HPriest, Jdru) - Sintolol (DragComboPriest, BigSpellMage, JDru,Nzotlock)Decider
Sintolol (DragComboPriest, BigSpellMage, JDru,
Nzotlock) - Ant (AgDru, Murpal, TRogue,SpitefulPriest)Advances: Purple and Sintolol
Group D
HPriest) - OmegaZero (AgDru, Murpal, HPriest,Nzotlock)HPriest, Nzotlock) - Frozen (Cubelock, DragHPriest, CtrlMage, JDru)Winners
Surrender (AgDru, TRogue, Cubelock,
HPriest) - Neirea (AgDru, TRogue,HPriest, Nzotlock)Losers
OmegaZero (AgDru, Murpal,
HPriest, Nzotlock) - Frozen (Cubelock,DragHPriest, CtrlMage, JDru)Decider
Surrender (AgDru, TRogue, Cubelock,
HPriest) - OmegaZero (AgDru, Murpal,HPriest, Nzotlock)Advances: Neirea and Surrender
Playoff Stage
Can go in anyone's favor, depending on pairing. On my opinion the most consistent lineups have Neirea, Purple and JasonZhou. I'm pretty sure that we'll see at least one of this guys in finals.
Who to Choose as a Champion???
I would highly recommend to chose a guy, that you personally want to support and root for. In this case you'll have maximum fun from watching HCT and minimum salt in case your favourite will fail. Just remember, this game and current meta (and lineups) all are about pure luck, good queuing and in-time top-decking of tech cards included (Golakkas, Silences, AOE, Oozes etc.).
Analysis-wise I can suppose, that guys brought similar lineups: DocPwn, Tom, ShtanUdachi (and Kolento at some point) will have a problem in their bans, because their decks almost guaranteed lose to either Priest or Warlock.
But my approach mitigates any personal skill (or luck), and all of participants are great players (some more world-renown and much more experienced in tournaments), so every game and match can go either way, anyone can be a winner and anyfin can happen%)
My arena stats!