Bo3 Assembly Controversy - BratOK [T] v Stephano [Z] - Starcraft 2 in HD

[theintoxicant]

a professional doing what it takes to give him/herself a better edge at success. sounds about right to me.

[shaytardification]

Termeeeenus xD

[ModestMousekateer]

In certain pro sports, it is a strategy to lose certain matches in order to progress in a different direction, or else to get better draft picks for the following season. This seems to be a similar strategy. Whether it is honourable is a different story.

[nikkenwannab]

Yes it is dispicable that they are throwing matches but on the other hand I think these where the three funniest pro games I have seen in a while. Especially enjoyed the first game with the nuke rush.

[TowerSavant]

Didn't Stephano go on to upset versus Sen anyway?

[Spacebacon0]

I say that if they can make throwing the game this funny then they should be allowed to

[neofrankyboy1988]

I liked this match !!

[jfgwapo]

If given an opportunity, I think everyone will choose the easiest way to the top. I think that is what happend here. Mybe it was the fault of the organizers, or maybe some players lack self-confidence. BratOK and Stephano gave us a very entertaining game though.

[Strafka]

I find it fun that the two best rated comments express but point of views. I myself have to go with the fact that it's the tournament organisers fault.

[kassidynet]

Definitely a fault on the organisers. As for the players throwing the games, they know the outcome of winning or losing a game, it is invariably going to change the goal, and in the same way that sacrificing battles within a same game can win you the match overall, they've applied the same logic to throwing this set for the best tournament outcome. In addition, they still played an amusing set, rather than throwing it with a gg at start. Fair play to them.

[Zmoldir]

Its just poor sportsmanship. This kind of behaviour is extremly unprofessional and insulting to the sponsors and viewers, let alone the fans.

Of course the organisers were stupid to arrange the tournament in such a fashion, but bratok and stephano lost a fan in me now.

[Riiaider]

I would agree with rangas05. If they are advancing in the tourney what do you expect the player quality to decline? lol Very unprofessional to see from "professional" gamers. Also unfair to the fans that watch it. The games were semi amusing but its a shame to see they are both good players. Stephano had an amazing series with dimaga

[jkruger316]

They ruin it for everybody. Blind brackets from now on!

[dirint]

Its obviously a peaceful protest of the game players to make a realization that the organizers had a stupid way of strategizing things, and hence showed that through there gameplay instead of confronting things personally. I love the way they did this.. not only was it amazingly entertaining, but it had a hidden agenda that made everyone realize how stupid the setup of the tournament was. :D

[rangas05]

All this means is that neither BratOK or Stephano think that they're good enough to beat Sen. They no confidence in themselves, which really means that they aren't very professional. It's practically a professional foul that they threw their games. There should be some kind of recompense for both of these guys if they think that leaving early or throwing a game is the right way to go about playing SC2. It's a sport and it's very rare that you'll see other sports teams throwing games.

[TheMunqq]

all about strategy ^^

[AnomiEj]

Sc2 pro's just have to go the furthest they can in a turnament...it's how it works. Enormous mistake of the organisers, that's all... Btw, Instead of saying no, stephano could've quit the game, right? Why didn't he?

[rdg515]

The double ghost operation was sweet.

[eviloatmeal]

Heck, in Korea they not only encourage metagaming of this caliber, they make it a freaking ceremony in every GSL season. Players picking their opponents for the brackets and so on.

[xDremix]

anyone who throes a game is a bitch. Grow some balls and actually try regardless of who you are playing against or will play against.

[eviloatmeal]

A progamer plays to win, even if winning means throwing a game. Being a professional means you're no longer just playing Starcraft, but participating in metagame of global proportions. This is no different than a Korean competing in a European online tournament or going to the US to cash in on "easy" prize money. From the other perspective - a professional gaming scene is a business of entertainment, and grudge matches and "death groups" are part of the entertainment.

[bbarrus82]

Why play at all? If you want to lose the series, just immediately gg at the start of Game 3 and call it good.

[MesieurGod]

I really loved those games, specially last one. Indeed, 2 days ago I was thinking on doing that to someone. Now, I will definetely do it xD

About they being proffesionals and all that stuff; They get payed for winning, if they have to loose to get a better spot in the tourney I agree them. What I dont agree is the organization of the tourney...

Btw, i cant stop whaching you!!

[Delpifo]

the problem is with the organizers of the tournament, like cricket pointed out. Its just wrong that the players are given incentives to throw games to avoid tougher competition in the following rounds. It doesnt really matter that they will eventually have to face someone better, because alot of tournaments have pay outs for several placements below the winner. Winning early matches should instead give u an easier path to the final rounds, not the other way around

[dirty8frank]

I'd blame the tournament setup more than the players. People are selfish and so will do things like this if given the chance. The tournament should have seen something like this as a possibility and not announced who'd play who in the next round until all current matches are played. I don't like the idea of what these two players were doing but understand it completely and don't really blame them.

[ballakobe24]

They can quit calling themselves pro gamers if they aren't good enough to actually have a chance of winning tournaments. If they throw games to dodge actual top players then they should be dropped from their teams and lose any sponsors they have. They are PATHETIC for this.

[demonslayerSC2]

i dont care but that was the best thing i have seen thats not a movie xD

[geeraija]

I think it's pathetic from both players to throw the games. Ultimately it's the fault of the tournament organizers but they still could've agreed before the matches to play to their full potentials. With this move they basically made the statement that they will never be amongst the best of the best. You cannot be afraid of anyone if you wanna make it to the top and to win the whole thing they'll have to play Sen eventually anyways. They've cheated on the viewers and ultimately themselves.

[hungrytomato]

@geeraija

It's poor tournament organization. I think we agree there. But the players are playing the optimal strategy. Of course it makes sense to throw the game to play a weaker player. Not pathetic at all. And you can't agree to play to your best potential when there is a conflict of interest.

[shadowslayer81]

I say that pro gamers should use everything they can to win, and if that means throwing a game, so be it.

Plus they look like they are having a lot of fun, so there's that too.

[dylf14]

no

[aNamelessDread]

I think it's fine. If the rules don't forbid it, they should do whatever they can to increase their odds of getting as far in the tournament as possible. The games were, as everyone agrees, inconsequential, and it was fun watching two pros cheese each other. Incidentally, we need to see more of Stephano's games. Either he or Nerchio may soon be the best non-Korean zerg, although Sen probably holds that title for right now.

[hellogoodbye194]

Completely fair, they want to win the tournament and playing sen isnt going to make that easier. Its assembly's fault for messing up the brackets to the point where its preferable to lose.

[wordey123]

It'll be a race to see who can resign first. Tournaments fault for settin it up that way.

[ecokrazy]

Hey Cricket, Thanks for the cast. I wanna note I haven't watched yet (paused @ 1:19) but one suggestion I wanted to make was that you should discuss map mechanics. For example, with Shak-Plat, as you know, players can not spawn directly north or south of each other. I just learned this a few days ago, and I think it would be really cool to get info like that for all the maps you cast on. If everyone thinks this is a good idea please thumbs up for Cricket to see.

[CricketStarcraft]

@ecokrazy I have noted the spawning points countless times on casts of shakuras. This wasn't so much about the maps or the players, but more about the actual controversy. I think pointing it out every cast would be redundant. I do try and state important facts like that once every three times.

[Gabberz123]

@CricketStarcraft

Totally agree with you. I'm sick of hearing about the spawn locations from every caster every time this map is played for the past 6 months :P lol

[zzzchibchubchub]

i'd call it smart play by the players. increasing your odds of winning is only smart lol and they didnt cheat in any way

[dirty8frank]

@zzzchibchubchub It doesn't increase their odds of winning. Eventually they'll have to play Sen or someone of his caliber. It doesn't help them win but rather only helps them advance a little bit farther in the tournament than they would otherwise.

[zzzchibchubchub]

increasing your chances of advancing in the tournament is still smart

[bubba18sar]

Sorry.. I thought it was Nestea.. I made my comment before the end.. Stupid me!

[bubba18sar]

I remember this.. neither one of them wanted to play Nestea in the tournament so they were both trying to blow the game. Funny to watch.

[asmatic77]

hmmm at least we saw a collection of cheese play :d

[lithiumdeuteride]

Any tournament structure which rewards losing is a failure. I blame the tournament organizers, not the players.

[Xykenify]

I am 2nd...? really?! Damn... ^^;;; well to not disapoint Cricket I will say this '' keep making videos I love them, I'd like to play a few games with you, keep it up ''

[tjtomax]

i liek being first comment :D