MTW’s performance against nGize today reminded spectators of the glory days before the Asian invasion of WC3L, albeit with a team full of Asians. Long suffering MTW fans have seen successive lineups offer little in the way of success but the team’s latest incarnation could well be its strongest to date.

Early Lead

The tone was set early on with the 2v2 games. Knoff and LiiLD.C were able to eke out a win in game two, with brilliantly orchestrated hit-n-run attacks on Check’s base. Games one and three, though, went to MTW, as they took a match lead they would never lose.

FoV continued in dominating fashion against Satiini, who never had a chance from the start. Fellow elf player, LiiLD.C fared a little better against Who but came up short in the end. The Swede humiliated his opponent in game one, winning with mass huntresses on the usually orc-centered Gnoll Wood. Perhaps spurred on the embarrassment, Who came out fire in games two and three, to seal the game for his team: 3-0.

WinNers made it 4-0 when he outclassed Yane. The American had no chance, despite a favourable racial matchup.

Blank Check

The only black mark on MTW’s day was the woeful performance of one of its star players, Check. He struck the first blow in the “which race is imba on Melting Valley” argument but after taking a 1-0 lead he seemed to give up. Game two on Echo Isles seemed to be a relatively close game but despite a level 6 Warden, Check seemed unwilling or unable to micro in the final fight. From a relatively even food count, he was down by 30 in a flash and the game was effectively over.

If Check seemed to have stopped trying in game two then game three bordered on the ridiculous. It started badly for Check, as his demon hunter chased DeMusliM’s archmage all over the map. Meanwhile, DeMusliM simply crept to level three with his footmen and militia. The downward spiral continued as Check insisted on spending minutes – literally minutes – killing worthless farms and altars, only to have them rebuilt moments later. At the same time, DeMusliM was in his base happily killing wisps and razing moonwells. The game was over ten minutes before Check decided to leave, preferring instead to hide a tree of life in the trees while trying to kill yet more farms.

The new Dark Horse

Check’s poor performance shouldn’t reflect on MTW as a whole, however. They showed today that MYM needs to be looking over its shoulder this season. The Koreans overcame what professional sports pundits often refer to as a ‘potential banana skin’ today. Satiini, DeMusliM and LiiLD.C are all capable players but MTW’s players had that little bit extra.

The usual three horse race for WC3L just welcomed a fourth thoroughbred and its name is MTW.