Gaming
esports
Pick the Winner at Red Bull Battle Grounds Finals
Show the world you know your Starcraft and fill out the Bracket Pick-‘em Challenge!
Who will win this year's Red Bull Battle Grounds?
© ESL
Red Bull Battle Grounds finals are less than a week away, and the final four teams are set in stone. Fans have been interacting with Battle Grounds throughout the qualifiers and playoffs, answering fan questions and speculating on matches (we see you, Topher!). But for the finals, we’ve kicked it up a notch. For our Grand Finals event, we’re bringing you the Red Bull Battle Grounds Bracket Pick-‘em Challenge.
To get started, head over to the bracket page to sign up and fill out your bracket. You’ll have the ability to pick winners, as well as how many games each team will win. The Upper Bracket is comprised of Best of Five series, while the Lower Bracket is Best of Three. Players will get three points for every match that they pick the correct winner in, and two additional points for correctly guessing the game score of that match.
A sample bracket, sans Grand Finals
© ESL
Who’s going to win? It’s too early to say for sure, but here are some things to consider while filling out your bracket.
Thoughts and Factoids
-Violet and Masa were untouchable at the Toronto qualifier, and unlike their opponents they’ve been able to focus solely on Battle Grounds in the months since. This means they’ve had more time to prepare than any other pair at the finals. No one knows what kind of builds they’ll bring and no one knows how strong they’ll be on this kind of stage. They may not be favorites on paper, but it would be a mistake to write this team off.
-DRG and True looked indomitable throughout the playoffs, losing only one life and winning most of their games handily. However, the single life that they lost, they lost to HuK and MC. DRG is clearly one of the most skilled players at the event, but what’s also clear is that he hasn’t played as much Legacy of the Void as the other competitors. True doesn’t have much on his resume at all. He’s essentially an X-factor on a team that will be relying on mechanics more than anything else. Depending on how well they prepare, the two could be overwhelming favorites to win.
True is the biggest X-factor in the Grand Finals
© Cameron Baird/Red Bull eSports
-MC and HuK are both veterans of the scene, and many may argue their time has passed: MC came out of retirement to play in this tournament series, and HuK casts more than he competes these days. That said, the two looked great throughout playoffs and everyone who watched the Battle Grounds playoffs knows they have confidence to spare. The pair are anything but underdogs coming into the Grand Finals.
-Bomber and MMA are the biggest mystery of this event. They’ve also both been considered the best players in the world at different points in their respective careers. If they’re well versed in Legacy of the Void and have a few strong builds prepared, they will be hard to beat. Whether or not that’s the case, and also whether or not they can function as a cohesive Archon, is what will decide this pair’s placing at the Grand Finals.
---
Do you think you know what will happen at the Grand Finals? Fill out a bracket and see how you stack up against the competition! Tune in to RedBullBattleGrounds.com on September 19th, and follow along to see how your predictions fare.
For more Red Bull Battle Grounds and Starcraft 2 news, follow @redbullESPORTS.
