With week 7 in the books, we've now completed the Round Robin portion of the tournament. Eight players from each region have moved onto the playoffs, while the last place finisher from each group will be removed from Grandmasters and replaced. The top player from each of the 3 regions will be declared the winner of Season 2 and claim their spot at Blizzcon in the Global Finals. The winner at Blizzcon will be declared Hearthstone's next World Champion and take home their portion of the $500,000 prize pool.
- The best record of the Round Robin stage belongs to che0nsu at 11-3.
- Fenomeno, winner of Season 1 for Europe, has been relegated. While he's already secured his spot at the Global Finals, he'll need to requalify for next year's Grandmasters.
- Last year's World Champion, Hunterace, finished atop his group for the 2nd straight season with a record of 9-5.
- The playoffs will include three former World Champions with Hunterace, tom60229, and Pavel all advancing.
- With the recent addition of the Doom in the Tomb event, we're sure to see a shaken up meta with 23 cards returning from the Wild format.
Kibler Steps Away
Brian Kibler took to his website today to weigh-in on the Blizzard/Blitzchung situation. Ultimately he has decided to step away from casting any further Grandmasters events. You can view his entire blog here.
Quote from Brian KiblerI won’t pretend to understand either the intricacies of the geopolitical situation in China and Hong Kong or the full extent of Blizzard’s business interests there, but to me this penalty feels like it is deeply rooted in both. The heavy-handedness of it feels like someone insisted that Blizzard make an example of Blitzchung, not only to discourage others from similar acts in the future but also to appease those upset by the outburst itself.
That kind of appeasement is simply not something I can in good conscience be associated with. When I learned about the ruling, I reached out to Blizzard and informed them that I no longer feel comfortable casting the Grandmasters finals at BlizzCon. I will not be a smiling face on camera that tacitly endorses this decision. Unless something changes, I will have no involvement in Grandmasters moving forward.
However, I want to make clear that not everyone involved in GM has this luxury. Do not take your anger out on the other casters, or streamers, or employees of Blizzard. This is not the kind of decision that comes from the rank and file. Most likely they’re just as angry as you are. I know I am.
Twitch Drops is Back!
Twitch Drops will be returning for the playoffs. Get a Saviors of Uldum back for watching 3 total hours. Watch for 6 hours and you'll get another! Blizzard will also give away 1500 random packs every hour. Make sure to link your Twitch and Battlenet accounts before tuning in.
Quote from BlizzardTwitch Drops for Playoffs
When the end-of-season Playoffs roll around, we’ll be returning to the same formula for Twitch Drops that was in place for Masters Tour Seoul. For the Playoffs, if you watch for 3 hours (consecutive or non-consecutive), and you’ll be granted one Saviors of Uldum card pack. Watch for a total of 6 hours, and you’ll get another! Additionally, 1,500 lucky eligible viewers will be randomly rewarded with Classic card packs every hour.
Playoffs Twitch Drops Active Dates:
- October 11, 2 a.m. – 4 p.m. PDT
- October 12, 2 a.m. – 4 p.m. PDT
- October 13, 2 a.m. – 4 p.m. PDT
Link Your Accounts
- Before you can receive rewards, you'll need to link your Twitch.tv and Blizzard Battle.net accounts. Here's how:
- Log in or create an account on Twitch.tv.
- Navigate to the Settings menu by clicking your account name in the top-right corner of the home screen.
- Navigate to the Connections tab of the Settings menu.
- Find the Battle.net section, then follow the instructions after selecting a region and clicking Connect.
- When connecting accounts, be sure that you’re currently logged into the Blizzard account on which you’d like to receive your rewards.
Season 2 Standings
| Americas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Overall W/L | Week 7 W/L |
1.  Eddie * |
10-4 | 1-1 |
| 2. Purple * |
9-5 | 2-0 |
3.  Nalguidan * |
8-6 | 0-2 |
4.  muzzy * |
8-6 | 2-0 |
| 5. Gallon |
7-7 | 1-1 |
| 6. Firebat |
7-7 | 2-0 |
| 7. ETC |
4-10 | 0-2 |
| 8. StrifeCro |
3-11 | 0-2 |
| Americas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group B | Overall W/L | Week 7 W/L |
| 1. justsaiyan * |
9-5 | 1-1 |
| 2. bloodyface * |
9-5 | 1-1 |
| 3. Monsanto * |
9-5 | 2-0 |
| 4. Fr0zen * |
8-6 | 1-1 |
| 5. PNC ** |
6-8 | 1-1 |
| 6. Amnesiac |
6-8 | 0-2 |
| 7. Zalae |
5-9 | 1-1 |
8.  Rase |
4-10 | 1-1 |
| Europe | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Overall W/L | Week 7 W/L |
1.  Hunterace * |
9-5 | 0-2 |
2.  Kolento * |
9-5 | 1-1 |
3.  SilverName * |
7-7 | 1-1 |
4.  Thijs * |
7-7 | 1-1 |
5.  Rdu |
6-8 | 1-1 |
6.  Swidz |
6-8 | 1-1 |
7.  Viper |
6-8 | 2-0 |
8.  Orange |
6-8 | 1-1 |
| Europe | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group B | Overall W/L | Week 7 W/L |
1.  Jarla * |
10-4 | 2-0 |
| 2. Bunnyhopper * |
8-6 | 0-2 |
| 3. Casie * |
8-6 | 1-1 |
| 4. Pavel * |
7-7 | 0-2 |
5.  BoarControl |
7-7 | 1-1 |
| 6. Bozzzton |
6-8 | 1-1 |
| 7. Seiko |
5-9 | 1-1 |
8.  Fenomeno ** |
5-9 | 2-0 |
| Asia-Pacific | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Overall W/L | Week 7 W/L |
1.  che0nsu * |
11-3 | 1-1 |
| 2. Surrender ** |
8-6 | 1-1 |
| 3. Tyler * |
8-6 | 2-0 |
4.  Shaxy * |
8-6 | 1-1 |
| 5. Flurry |
7-7 | 1-1 |
| 6. SamuelTsao |
6-8 | 0-2 |
| 7. Ryvius |
6-8 | 1-1 |
| 8. Bloodtrail |
2-12 | 1-1 |
| Asia-Pacific | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group B | Overall W/L | Week 7 W/L |
| 1. tom60229 * |
9-5 | 1-1 |
2.  glory * |
9-5 | 1-1 |
| 3. DawN * |
8-6 | 1-1 |
| 4. Alutemu * |
7-7 | 1-1 |
5.  FroStee |
7-7 | 1-1 |
6.  Staz |
7-7 | 0-2 |
7.  blitzchung |
6-8 | 2-0 |
| 8. Pathra |
3-11 | 1-1 |
**Season 1 Winner - Qualified for Global Finals
Relegated Players
The bottom placed player from each of the 6 groups faces relegation and is removed from the Grandmasters circuit. They will be replaced by the top money earners in this year's Masters Tour events. With Masters Tour: Bucharest right around the corner, we'd expect some of these relegated players to enter and make an attempt at quickly returning to the Grandmasters. The players losing their spot after Season 2 are Strifecro, Rase, Orange, Fenomeno, Bloodtrail, and Pathra.
Global Finals at Blizzcon
Quote from BlizzardWe’re excited to share that BlizzCon will be the destination for the Hearthstone Global Finals this November! 8 players will duke it out at the Anaheim Convention Center in sunny California for their share of the $500,000 prize pool, the trophy, and the title of Hearthstone World Champion!
Both end-of-season playoffs will qualify one Grandmaster from each region to the Global Finals, meaning three Grandmasters will qualify through the Season 1 Playoffs, with three more qualifying through the Season 2 Playoffs. The final two players will qualify in through China’s Gold Open Series Playoffs, which will take place on July 20 and October 6.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)The player SHOULD have received a light punishment. Indeed, it is not the forum for political statements. I understand that other players have been lightly punished in the past for making political comments. A ban of a certain number of months with Blizzard just saying that it wants to maintain political neutrality in its events would have been okay. Taking away the guy's already-won prize and firing the commentators was way over the line, and stinks of political appeasement. Ever heard of damnatio memoriae?
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Very strange how in hist blog post actually Kibler said that he agree with Blizzard and understand why they punish him. But he just don't agree with size of the punishment. Of course it is important to catch hype train with everyone else. But I think that after this outrage it is obvious, why Blizzard is banning such behavior on their streams. Do you really expect, that they will allow anyone else to make interview, after all this BS which happens? It is absolutely obvious, why such speeches was cut from the start. I expect that they would stop making interviews at all... why they need them? Hearthstone tournament is fine without interviews as well. People can't understand, that Blizzard has nothing to do with HK at all... and it is not their business to decide who is right their or wrong.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)200 iq move from kibler, there is going to be a brawl at blizzcon! mobile diablo triggered biggest fans but this dude xD they should cancel blizzcon imo
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Oh, boy, 192k people saw the title and pressed upvote while only 9,5k actually cared enough to say anything about it. Nice argument
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)I never liked him so this is a win for me. I'm just gonna remain neutral on this issue and focus on the games.
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Posted Oct 11, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)What do you win from a caster leaving due to Blizzard being China's puppet?
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)I like kibler as a streamers or entertainer and im very satisfied about his decision, that its not an anger thing just cant participate it. Totally agree with it!
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Kibler is the boss.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Watch this youtube why china anger about it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRLLW0BSa84
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci3klpkjMkg
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)This is only my FREEDOM EXPRESSION and I try to help. Why get minus vote? This is not same as Blitzchung situation? Sorry, I not try to anger anyone. I just try to give an example.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Perhaps because the CGTN is a state-owned channel and is under the Publicity Department's direct control?
The channel is merely an English reiteration of the Chinese government's statements.
And as far as government statements go, they're everything but fair and unbiased.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)A lot of western news about Hong Kong only one side of story it. They only show violent of Hong Kong police and did not even show how violent when this protester destroy Hong Kong facility and attack Hong Kong people that support China. China government already give warning to US government do not interfere Hong Kong. Hong Kong really got a lot "hidden" story, many people don't know about it. This trade war issue really a lot bad thing for the world.
Example this youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIIHmEhqtpU
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Please don't tell me you actually believe that the U.S magically brainwashed/bribed the Hong Kongers into protesting. That's bullshit.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Enjoy your social credit points.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Unfortunately that's not the full quote of what Kibler actually wrote. It's missing out a few important parts (like that he thinks that Blizzard should indeed have punished blitz and that he surely knew what he's getting into). The main guy is there though: ridiculously harsh punishment that seems to have been influenced by more than just the wish to keep politics out of hearthstone esports
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)1) Feel a little bad ro Feno, not to mention Orange. It's insanely difficult to requalify to GM, as getting a good record with 9 Rounds of Swiss + Playoff over a couple of days is that much harder with 250+ players attneding, even if over half of the GM players would not participate anyway to make the competition not actually lower level.
That aside, qualifying for Finals in Specialist and getting relegated in Shielded conquest shows his inability to adapt to different formats fast enough. The exact opposite goes for Hunterace, that finished top of his group in both formats (even if his last 2 weeks went 0-4)
2) I appreciate Kibler, probably always will, and he may know something we don't about the ban, but I hardly ever got to watch him cast Hearthstone because of the Americas hours. Would still keep watching him playin Day[9] in MTG "What the Deck" for sure.
3) Finally going back to the last drop formula... After 2 weeks of getting exactly 0 packs I can at least know I'll get something extra out of watching (not that seeing GMs adapt to 23 cards returning to stardard would be anything less than epic). Really hope that Hunterace will qualify this time.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)I'm really hoping the majority of players take a stand. Also if you're going to blizzcon, change into a winnie the pooh outfit in the bathroom.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Security of Blizzcon will be extremely high this year, I'm so sure about that... smuggling a Winnie the Pooh, anti-China/Blizzard gear and signs could be very difficult
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)Lol sure, of course it will.
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Posted Oct 10, 2019 (Doom in the Tomb)The majority of the players aren't even on the internet. You're a part of the vocal minority. The majority doesn't give two flying fucks about this. They aren't even invested enough to be on the various forums lol