Blizzard Entertainment
The final weekend of HGC league play has concluded, and it’s time to look ahead: to the Playoffs next weekend, the Crucible beyond that, and the HGC Finals at BlizzCon in less than 40 days’ time. Here are the headlines from this past weekend in the HGC, as well as a preview of what’s to come.
L5 Secures Second Direct Ticket to HGC Finals
The stakes in South Korea were incredibly high for both L5 and Tempest: both teams needed to go 3-0 this past weekend in their final matchups if they wanted a chance at securing the final guaranteed spot at the HGC Finals for their region. L5 defeated Raven without dropping a map, and Tempest did the same against Team BlossoM.
On Sunday, these two titans met for a sudden-death best-of-five. After the first game on Battlefield of Eternity, it was clear that L5 was the stronger team at this crossroads. With a perfect 3-0 against Tempest, L5 will join MVP Black in representing Korea at the HGC Finals. In this key match, L5’s Jeong Ha ‘Jeongha’ Lee played Sonya in every game, tallying L5 at 7-0 with the Barbarian in Phase 2 headed into BlizzCon.
Copa America Finals Concludes
The Copa America Finals wrapped up late Sunday evening with the Red Canids winning the four-team bracket in Sao Paulo. Early Saturday, the now three-time Latin American representatives fell to the lower bracket after losing 3-2 to 6Sense from Mexico (the only team from the northern region).
On Sunday, Red Canids had their rematch against 6Sense, walking away with a 3-1 victory. Now $5,000 richer, the Red Canids will begin preparing for the HGC Finals.
Playing Ducks Headed to Crucible
While most matches this past weekend were simply meant to determine playoff seeding, the Playing Ducks, who narrowly avoided the Phase 1 Crucible, are now guaranteed to play in the Phase 2 Crucible after their 3-0 loss to Fnatic. The Ducks and Team Good Guys will be looking to defend their spots in the HGC against the best the Open Division has to offer.
The Open Division in Europe is incredibly stacked at the moment, with returning veteran players and new rookies looking to make a name for themselves in contention. The Crucible will be a true test for the Playing Ducks, who will be drawing on nearly an entire year of HGC experience to defend their place in the European HGC among the rest of the best Heroes of the Storm teams in the region.
Playoffs Are Upon Us
That’s it! The playoffs are locked and loaded for next weekend for our teams in Korea, Europe, and North America. One match will be played per day in each region. You can find more information on the HGC Playoffs and matchups on our schedule page. Check back later this week as we explore the first-round matchups and potential upset scenarios that await in the HGC Playoffs.