SK Gaming
SK.ReMinD
SK.Lyn
SK.Soju
SK.HoT
SK.Insomnia
SK.XlorD
SK.Miou

Former 4Kings.Intel and human ace ToD and his superior, the immortal World Elite star, Sky. If either human moves the way of SK Gaming, competitive team based Warcraft will be left with an unassailable and unbeatable superpower.

ToD's departure effectively castrated 4kings.Intel as an international contender. The first W3CL finals in five seasons without the British based organisation was proof enough of the cataclysmic change of fortune since season XI, where the team placed a disappointing second and duly lost their title to one of the best all Asian line ups ever assembled.

WE.IGE.Sky – WE.IGE.Lyn – WE.IGE.ReMinD - WE.IGN.Soju – WE.IGN.ReiGn

Three of the former now preside in season XI winners, SK Gaming. Who effortlessly took apart Meet Your Makers without the need of the winner bracket nor the two versus two for that matter. The NGL whitewash the following week reinforced the point. The gulf between the (W3CL)LAN finalists was quite surprising and the gap between the top teams and those in the lower end of the W3CL is even more startling.

Player transfers and the collapse of fnatic has left a number of teams visibly struggling. Does the prospect of another repeat of this seasons WC3L finals, at least teams wise, look all too surprising? mTw.PokerRoom replaced players and are arguably stronger, 4Kings.Intel are weaker, Mousesports.Wazap have stagnated and none look strong enough to compete with either Beijing eSports Team and World Elite; MYM and SK's position at the top of the tree are substantially more secure and indisputable.

The Problem

SK has two of the best Night elves currently playing, the best two versus team in the world, the best Orc in the world, the best European Night elf and two more than capable human players. They've depth and talent in abundance.

Of the three other teams in contention, they're in their own way, lopsided or at a significant disadvantage. Either being too race heavy, or not obtaining enough skill and depth. Most importantly, both MYM and BeT lack even one world class human player.

The Solution

Why Sky and ToD? Well it essentially applies to Sky first and foremost, but ToD's recent departure from 4Kings.Intel leaves Sky's options more limited. Sky as it stands is the best human player in the world. He's also without a doubt, one of the most skilled players currently playing, regardless of race, regardless of map or opponent. Anyone ranking him outside of the top three, either under rates his worth or dismisses his skill because of his race.

Sky's 2007 Achievements

Team:
1st Starwar VI
1st WC3L 11
1st NGL-One Season 2
2nd RTB Proleague
3rd WC3L 12

Individual:
2nd WSVG China
2nd WC3 World War S2
2nd WCG
2nd PPS
3rd WC3 World War S3
3rd Blizzard WWI
3rd Lenovo IEST 2007
5-6th MGC
8-16th CEG 2007
Group Stage Digital Life
Group Stage CEG Wuhan 2007
Group Stage IEG 2007

Given the right conditions, Sky is, ridiculously dominant. His performances at the World Cyber Games and the WC3L LAN finals are nothing short of mind blowing. He's not a online player, but for MYM, that isn't an issue. Granted they had three of the top four players to emerge from the WC3L regular online season, and Moon wasn't one of them. Getting Sky to the LAN finals of a team based event shouldn't be a significant worry.

If MYM signed Sky, it would cost them roughly in the region of $5,000-$10,000 (or so I'm led to believe!) to prize him away from World Elite. But more importantly, they would have at their disposal, in form, the two best players in the world and considerably bridge the gap that is now developing between SK and the rest of the Warcraft world.


For SK, ToD is the more affordable and appropriate option. He's European, has played with SK before and is without a team. Sky would be an expensive alternative but the most talented player to replace Insomnia without a shadow of a doubt.

This as a consequence gives both MYM and BeT some breathing room if either decided to strengthen their squads with the aforementioned players. Both present reasonably viable destinations for both ToD as well as Sky, and both organisations have the finical backing to sign such players.

The locations and language barriers haven't proved an issue in the past, so all that is stopping the moves, would be the almost certain unwillingness that WE would've in selling their best player and ToD agreeing terms with any respective team.

What is clear though, either MYM or BeT needs to stop SK establishing a monopoly in Warcraft III and the prospect of Moon and Sky fighting alongside each other is one thought that even SK fears. It's time for the national treasure of China to decide the fate of team based Warcraft III and I urge him to consider the saying; if you can't beat 'um, join 'um.