Gregory 'IdrA' Fields emerged from the final of the IEM VI Global Challenge Guangzhou with a 3:1 victory over Samuli 'Elfittaja' Sihvonen and the title, along with the $6,500 for first place. Both players have now qualified for the IEM VI World Championship, which will be held in 2012.



The 'Gracken' (IdrA) was the favourite coming into the final, thanks to his semi-final victory over team-mate Ho Joon 'PuMa' Lee and the fact his opponent was the underdog surprise finalist Samuli 'Elfittaja' Sihvonen. Still IdrA's path to the final did not go unblocked, seeing him escape a three-way tie for second in his group due to having lost to both Elfi and Jinro and only managed one win overall.

Elfi impressed many as he handled IdrA 2:0 in the group stage, Strelok 3:1 in the quarter-final and scraped by HasuObs 3:2 in the semi-final.



IdrA claimed his first event victory since April's IGL S1 win. Since then he has placed 4th at MLG Columbus and 5th-6th in IGL S2.

Elfi's last significant placing was a Ro8 finish on home soil at Assembly Summer.

(Photograph copyright of ESL)