THL World Cup Groups and Day 1 Recap

The THL World Cup is here!  For anyone who didn't catch the stream or VOD, here are the regions and groups!  Stats used below will be from THL Legacy series as it's the closest approximation we have to the new Paragon format.

Northeast

Saku - (12-32) - Season 12: (2-7 / 13-24)
Donde - (21-20) - Season 12: (7-5 / 26-17) 
Khell - (2-3) - Season 12: DNP
Anfal - (10-8) - Season 12: (6-3 / 22-16)
LotusKnight - (22-14) - Season 12: (6-3 / 22-12)
Kols - (31-16) - Season 12: (9-3 / 31-20)
Bluesombrero - (34-17) - Season 12: (6-1 / 16-7)
JRJuggerlaw - (34-37) - Season 12: (5-6 / 22-23)
Shimjim - (4-1) - Season 12: (4-1 / 14-7)
Mattyebs - (14-19) - Season 12: (6-3 / 23-16)

The Northeast region encompasses not only the northeast part of the US (including New York City) but also the Canadian Atlantic.  This region consists of several players coming off positive seasons and a historically strong player in Bluesombrero.  Northeast looks poised to pass several players through to the knockout round.


Atlantic

Mayanadon - (13-8) - Season 12: (5-3 / 18-12)
Catman1950 - (14-14) - Season 12: (2-7 / 14-23)
RageDopple - (3-2) - Season 12: (3-2 / 11-11)
CmaccompH - (4-2) - Season 12: DNP
Ozmanaut - (32-26) - Season 12: (5-4 / 16-17)
Lefty2111 - (31-39) - Season 12: (2-8 / 13-26)
SuperMurloc - (7-5) - Season 12: (6-3 / 22-13)
BlueSpartan - (25-28) - Season 12: DNP
Boozasaurus - (10-15) - Season 12: (4-5 / 14-18)
SirLos - (34-35) - Season 12: (7-3 / 24-18)

The Atlantic region casts a wider net as it ranges from Just south of NYC (Philadelphia and NJ) all the way down to Florida while staying fairly coastal.  On paper this region might be the one that struggles the most.  5 of the players are coming off winning seasons in Legacy but two of those players (RageDopple and SuperMurloc) have much smaller sample sizes overall.  

Great Lakes

Darkseid - (36-35) - Season 12: (5-6 / 17-21)
Snake - (6-4) - Season 12: (6-4 / 23-20)
TrisHS - (5-3) - Season 12: (2-2 / 8-8)
Aviously - (28-13) - Season 12: (6-0 / 18-5)
TwoStarMako - (16-10) - Season 12: (5-5 / 16-21)
TheChronic - (33-30) - Season 12: (9-1 / 25-13)
TerdHerder - (3-6) - Season 12: (3-6 / 16-21)
Shadowranger - (17-11) - Season 12: (7-3 / 18-13)
Thebigted - (11-6) - Season 12: (5-3 / 17-5)
BrushyTuna - (10-9) - Season 12: (6-4 / 18-19)

The Great Lakes region is fairly self explanatory.  All of these players have a location reasonably approximate to one of those 5 huge lakes in the Northern US/ Southern Central Canada.  There are quite a few high powered players here.  In fact, only 2 of them didn't have a winning record last season in Legacy.  I look to this region being potentially one of the strongest as it also is home to one of the most consistent THL players in Aviously.


Pacific

Ace103 - (7-1) - Season 12: DNP
Diamond - (7-9) - Season 12: DNP
Rain - (0-1) - Season 12: (0-1 / 2-3)
Tyfoon - (10-9) - Season 12: (5-6 / 16-25)
iCon - (6-11) - Season 12: DNP
Quaz - (11-18) - Season 12: (2-7 / 13-20)
RonMexico - (6-3) - Season 12: (6-3 / 22-16)
Fuel - (7-2) - Season 12: (7-2 / 21-11)
Billsnyder - (13-15) - Season 12: (3-6 / 16-22)
Itachi - (21-20) - Season 12: (5-0 / 15-3)

The Pacific region becomes a bit more nebulous as it stretches much further than any other.  Everything west of the Mississippi River in the US, including British Columbia and also New Zealand which is a fittingly wild collection of players in the region that might have the most wildcards.  Ace103 is a proven player who doesn't have as much Legacy experience in THL but has the short term results to prove he is legit.

Group Projections:

​Group A:
Saku - (12-32) - Season 12: (2-7 / 13-24)
SuperMurloc - (7-5) - Season 12: (6-3 / 22-13)
​Aviously - (28-13) - Season 12: (6-0 / 18-5)
​Rain - (0-1) - Season 12: (0-1 / 2-3)

Let's just start by saying this.  Avi was going to be a favorite no matter what group he's placed in.  That's not an indictment of his competition, but being real about the quality of player he is.  The other 3 players will be fighting for the remaining spot.  This is where it starts to get more interesting here.  Saku is the most seasoned but doesn't necessarily have the results to lay claim to the top 2.  SuperMurloc has proven himself capable in his short time in THL and Rain, although having only 1 Legacy match to his name, is coming off an extremely strong Hero performance.  Dude can play Hearthstone.  This group might come down to their match and I like Rain's decks into SuperMurloc's lineup.  I'm going to take Rain in that one.

Prediction: 1st Aviously, 2nd Rain

Group B:
Bluesombrero - (34-17) - Season 12: (6-1 / 16-7)
​Boozasaurus - (10-15) - Season 12: (4-5 / 14-18)
​TrisHS - (5-3) - Season 12: (2-2 / 8-8)
iCon - (6-11) - Season 12: DNP

This is a competitive group for sure.  Bluesombrero looks to be the early favorite and he's been crushing this meta.  Rumor has it he was single digit legend (maybe still is?) while we were running the reveal stream.  Booz is an improving player who has yet to put together a winning season in Legacy but should not be overlooked.  Tris has been reasonably successful in limited Legacy time but as a former Hero teammate of his, I can say that when he sets down to prep there aren't many out there who can do it better.  iCon is the true underdog here as he hasn't played as much recently and has historically struggled in Legacy.  It would be bold to pick him to advance in this strong field.

Prediction: 1st Bluesombrero, 2nd TrisHS

Group C:
​
Donde - (21-20) - Season 12: (7-5 / 26-17) ​
​Ozmanaut - (32-26) - Season 12: (5-4 / 16-17)
TerdHerder - (3-6) - Season 12: (3-6 / 16-21)
Tyfoon - (10-9) - Season 12: (5-6 / 16-25)

At initial glance this looks like a 3 way race, but TerdHerder was on the rise to end Legacy Season 12.  He'll have to ride the hot hand to get out of this group.  Now comes the part where I have to do what I hate; Evaluate myself.  Donde is coming off the best season out of the players in this group but has had mediocre career stats.  Ozma has been a solid performer for a long time and should never be counted out.  Tyfoon is a player who is much better than his record indicates and has to be considered a threat to take this group.

Prediction: 1st Tyfoon, 2nd Donde 

Group D:

​LotusKnight - (22-14) - Season 12: (6-3 / 22-12)
​SirLos - (34-35) - Season 12: (7-3 / 24-18)
​TheChronic - (33-30) - Season 12: (9-1 / 25-13)
Diamond - (7-9) - Season 12: DNP

This is another group that appears to be a 3 way race.  Every player who played in Legacy Season 12 is coming off a winning record but only LotusKnight was historically a winning player before that.  TheChronic's last 3 seasons in Legacy: 9-1, 3-6, 9-1.  Literally anything can happen with him.  SirLos recaptured a level of success he hadn't seen since 4 seasons ago.  Diamond is missing recent results to draw upon but would appear one of the larger underdogs in the field.  

Prediction: 1st LotusKnight, 2nd SirLos

Group E:
​
​JRJuggerlaw - (34-37) - Season 12: (5-6 / 22-23)
Mayanadon - (13-8) - Season 12: (5-3 / 18-12)
​Thebigted - (11-6) - Season 12: (5-3 / 17-5)
Billsnyder - (13-15) - Season 12: (3-6 / 16-22)

This is a contender for strongest group in the entire field.  I don't think it QUITE gets there (more on that later) but I can see a case for any of the 4 players here advancing.  JR is the most experienced by a longshot but is only coming off an average season.  Mayanadon has burst into THL and made a name for himself by advancing quickly up the PR ladder and with good reason.  He has two winning seasons out of his two seasons played.  Thebigted is also on the newer side and has been effective in both Legacy and Hero.  He dropped only 5 games in 8 weeks of play in Legacy last season.  Billsnyder started hot but has been moving in the wrong direction after a tough season 12.  A prediction here seems like throwing darts.

Prediction: 1st Thebigted, 2nd Mayanadon

Group F:
​Anfal - (10-8) - Season 12: (6-3 / 22-16)
BlueSpartan - (25-28) - Season 12: DNP
​BrushyTuna - (10-9) - Season 12: (6-4 / 18-19)
​RonMexico - (6-3) - Season 12: (6-3 / 22-16)

Another very powerful group of players here.  Three are coming off successful seasons in their limited Legacy experience and one is a Hero stalwart who led his team to a finals berth in Last Hero Standing.  BlueSpartan has the experience but I don't know if he can be considered a favorite when all the other players in the group have recent results to their name.  RonMexico burst onto the THL scene last season like Michael Vick onto the cover of Madden 2004.  No one knew how to defend him as he scrambled to a successful rookie campaign.  Anfal and BrushyTuna both bounced back from weaker rookie seasons to post strong results.  I like Ron to the lead the charge and I think much like Group A, this comes down to one match of Anfal vs BrushyTuna.   Anfal didn't bring Mage and that means he can't coin out Luna's on turn 4.

Prediction: 1st RonMexico, 2nd BrushyTuna

Group G:

​Shimjim - (4-1) - Season 12: (4-1 / 14-7)
​CmaccompH - (4-2) - Season 12: DNP
​TwoStarMako - (16-10) - Season 12: (5-5 / 16-21)
Itachi - (21-20) - Season 12: (5-0 / 15-3)

This is your group of death.  It's a shame that two of these players won't even make it to the knockout phase because all 4 have the chops to win this thing.  Shimjim and Cmac dont' have as much THL Legacy experience but I'm not convinced that matters.  Cmac is a grinder who qualified for Seoul.  Shimjim is already almost PR capped.  Mako had one of the finest rookie seasons in THL history but has come down a bit since then.  Itachi is a man who's never passed up a good sweep one time in his whole life.  Last season he was so prolific that he almost won the Legacy MVP in 5 weeks worth of work.  Itachi has to be the favorite and then I think it comes down to Shim vs Cmac.  Cmac has the more traditional and safe lineup and I think the consistency gets him the W.

Prediction: 1st Itachi, 2nd CmaccompH

Group H:

​Kols - (31-16) - Season 12: (9-3 / 31-20)
RageDopple - (3-2) - Season 12: (3-2 / 11-11)
​Darkseid - (36-35) - Season 12: (5-6 / 17-21)
​Ace103 - (7-1) - Season 12: DNP

Another polarizing group both in experience and results.  Kols has the most consistently positive results to point to, including a very strong Legacy season in which he topped 30 game wins (a rare feat).  RageDopple is a newcomer who flashed some strong moments in his first half season of THL.  He might have a tough go with the upper tier talent of this group.  Darkseid has been around the longest no doubt.  He is a capable player that will need at least one upset to make it to the knockout round.  Ace didn't play Legacy last season while he (successfully) pursued his entrance to the HS Master's tour.  I'm not worried about his lack of Legacy games.

Prediction: 1st Kols, 2nd, Ace103

Group I:

​Mattyebs - (14-19) - Season 12: (6-3 / 23-16)
​Catman1950 - (14-14) - Season 12: (2-7 / 14-23)
Shadowranger - (17-11) - Season 12: (7-3 / 18-13)
​Quaz - (11-18) - Season 12: (2-7 / 13-20)

This will be an interesting group to watch.  Mattyebs is coming off his strongest Legacy season to date, one in which he nearly doubled his previous win total.  Meanwhile, Catman had a season to forget.  So much so that during the reveal stream none of us thought he played Legacy last season.  I think he would prefer that he hadn't as well.  Despite that hiccup, he's still quite a strong player.  Shadowranger might be the best player in THL that almost nobody talks about.  He quietly wins games and has the best career record of the group.  Quaz is a true dark horse here as he'll need to pick up a big upset or two to contest for the top two spots.

Prediction: 1st Shadowranger, 2nd Catman1950

Group J:

​Khell - (2-3) - Season 12: DNP
​Lefty2111 - (31-39) - Season 12: (2-8 / 13-26)
​Snake - (6-4) - Season 12: (6-4 / 23-20)
​Fuel - (7-2) - Season 12: (7-2 / 21-11)

And we come to our final group.  Three of the four players have only one full season or less of games under their belt but in Snake and Fuel's case, that's just fine.  They're both crazy strong players and Fuel in particular has been crushing Hero for a while now.  Khell is happy to be playing in a meta where Priest is not a meme and he can unironically bring it to bear in a competitive setting.  Lefty is the underdog here.  His previous results will make this group a hard hill to climb.  Khell has upset potential but will it be enough?

Prediction: 1st Fuel, 2nd Snake

​DAY 1 RECAP

We had two players who just literally could not wait to get started.  Boozasaurus and TrisHS brought us the "opening ceremonies" of the THL world cup and it was a fun match to watch.  Check out the VOD for the action (sorry for muted audio at the start).  Tris kicked things off with a 2-1 win in the opener to give himself first blood in this tournament.

Check back every day as I'll be recapping the previous day's matches on the blog and posting our potential stream schedule!  Please remember to fill out the sign up form so we know when you're playing your matches to get you on stream.

Good luck everyone!