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.
china gold series xD
for BRIAN
#KIBLERFORPRESIDENT
seriously. This guy is amazing!
Yeah thats my opinion too. The rules are known, every thing is ok, but one performance, and blizzard just ruined the guys career in hs.
I think you misunderstand what freedom of expression is, here this might help
Considering all of Bli$$ard's games are online I'm fairly certain all of their players are on the internet.
I'm all in on boycotting Blizzard till they remove the ban and re-instate Blitz's winnings.
Blizzard should have made a statement saying that the views expressed by Blitz were his and his alone and Blizzard has not taken a position on the Hong Kong situation. Adding to that the rule that states to not make political statements that could be deemed offensive.
Kibler was absolutely right in saying Blizzard had the right to call Blitz out for his use of their stream and competition to make that statement but the punishment was far too extreme. Blizzard is paying the price now and will continue to as long as Blitz is banned and without his winnings.
In the US if that was said then Blitz would be protected by our constitution.
Boycott Blizzard. Boycott any fan site that supports Blizzard in their actions against Blitz. Make your voice heard and force positive change in the world.
Competitive Hearthstone is still a sleep-aid, no matter who is streaming or how many packs they try to give out.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/30/black-power-salute-1968-olympics
For anyone who is interested in GM Amnesiacs opinion:
https://twitter.com/Amnesiac_HS/status/1182393382892642305
Also Caster ThatsAdmirable had something to say:
https://twitter.com/ThatsAdmirable/status/1182429866576138240
https://twitter.com/coL_Sottle/status/1182435206629773312
funny how Kibler perma-bans people from his stream instantly if they bring up a political view different from his and has supported making an example out of people who have views he disagrees with, but now when Blizz does it it's bad.
bye Kibler you wont be missed
He actually will be missed and a big blow to Blizzard that he stepped away from the GM's.
Also Admirable :( i liked his humor .
https://twitter.com/ThatsAdmirable/status/1182429866576138240
I strongly support Kibler's opinion and his brave decision.
Historically, changes are made from people deciding to fight for their rights, freedom or improving someone's condition.
At the same time we have to recognize that Blizzard was caught in a very unfortunate spot: Blizzard had a really rough time in the past year and after last Blizzcon their stocks dropped 50% of their value. They are doing the best they can to grow as company (admitting some mistake) and trying hard to lunch themselves in the mobile markets with Diablo and Call Of Duty. China represents a huge market for them and Blizzard reacted so that they won't see the doors closed to such a big effort. Indeed If you look what happened between China and Apple you'll understand what Blizzard is worried about..
I think Blizzard overreacted with the player and should reconsider some choice but what you guys would do in their position? Would you risk losing an entire market that represents your opportunity to recover from the past? Blizzard doing well, also mean they have more money to invest in games, R&D and pulling out better content.
Again, this a really difficult situation to handle and their first attempt to fix it wasn't taken well. I am a person on the side of the values but guys you have also to understand what Blizzard is facing right now. They are seeing potential hundreds of millions of $ at risk for one person reaction to a political situation.
Agreed. I really think the outrage is way out of proportion personally.
Blitzchung used an official Blizzard tournament to advertise his personal political stance. That is not acceptable and deserves a punishment whether his stance is ,,right,, or ,,wrong,, and Kibler did acknowledge this. People take this as Blizz saying ,,Ye we don't support freedom and human rights so you can't say that stuff on our broadcast,, which is obviously not true.
Maybe the penalty was too severe...but you can't expect a company to risk loosing millions of dollars from the China market just because of one player that broke the rules.
Maximum respect for Kibler
Equating protesters to the CHINESE GOVERNMENT, jesus the amount of ignorance on this subject is baffling, though this is clearly willful ignorance.
Over 90% of his community use foruns and meta sites/videos, you can see in HSreplay that the player base had less than half of active players theses days, blizzard supporting China was their biggest mistake, a company supporting a scum communist country, so ironic
No, they don't. The internet community is a severe minority. The casual community has always been a majority