MDI Global Finals: Preview and Predictions!
The long-awaited culmination of the Season 2 MDI is here, as the Global Finals begin today! Over the next 3 days, the best teams in the world will be fighting for the crown, the glory, and the lion’s share of the $300,000.00 prize pool. This entire Season has been full of action, not to mention the odd upset, so we are beyond excited for the competition this weekend!
This Season, the fabulous people and great minds behind the MDI implemented a number of format changes. Every one of these changes has, in our opinion, been an improvement, making this one of the best MDIs to date. If you want to read more about all of the changes, and a recap of the Season leading up to The Last Stand, check out our overview here.
Now that the final 8th team, Ambition, has been added to the roster as a result of their powerhouse performance during The Last Stand, we have a clear look at the playing field for the Global Finals. There has been some contention in the community about the seeding and the bracket leading up to this weekend, so it’s possible even the first day of matches could surprise us. The teams are all so talented and experienced that it is likely the championship will be won by a matter of seconds.
So who will emerge victorious this weekend? We asked Dratnos to give us his official predictions and analysis:
“Dratnalysis”Here are my predictions for how the weekend will go down:
It’s important to stress that there is a huge amount of uncertainty going into this tournament — unlike any MDI Global Finals in recent history, these teams have largely not faced each other at all so far this season. As a result, their relative power levels are difficult to gauge, especially when you factor in the time and practice that have passed since the MDI Group Stage weekends.
I’ve picked Echo to win the whole thing because of their historical dominance — obviously they’re coming into this Global Finals looking more vulnerable than usual, coming off of a 1-4 record against Incarnation in their Group, but Echo have been so dominant for so long that I think it’s more likely that weekend was the outlier rather than the new normal for them.
Aster.Y are my pick for who will face them in those finals — this team is very unknown in the West but they have been going hard and have the player skill and resources to mount a fully committed effort to the MDI. Their dominance in the China group weekend over several other strong teams makes me think we may be looking at a new powerhouse.
I have Perplexed going out in 3rd, though I wouldn’t fault anyone for having them in 2nd or even 1st. This team has had a phenomenal season with rank 1 in the Time Trials followed by an almost flawless Group weekend.
In fourth, I have Incarnation, who, in their first ever MDI weekend, managed to upset Echo to win their group. While this is an unbelievably impressive feat, Incarnation remains a newcomer who, in this field of titans, I expect to face steep competition.
The list of teams that I have below fourth place include so many teams that could win the whole thing: Complexity, a powerhouse in their own right who had a fantastic group weekend; Obey Alliance, a rebuilt team that showed they’re already back up to speed; Team Name, a group of some of Europe’s top players; and Ambition, who clawed their way into this tournament through the grueling Last Stand.
It’s important to stress that there is a huge amount of uncertainty going into this tournament — unlike any MDI Global Finals in recent history, these teams have largely not faced each other at all so far this season. As a result, their relative power levels are difficult to gauge, especially when you factor in the time and practice that have passed since the MDI Group Stage weekends.
I’ve picked Echo to win the whole thing because of their historical dominance — obviously they’re coming into this Global Finals looking more vulnerable than usual, coming off of a 1-4 record against Incarnation in their Group, but Echo have been so dominant for so long that I think it’s more likely that weekend was the outlier rather than the new normal for them.
Aster.Y are my pick for who will face them in those finals — this team is very unknown in the West but they have been going hard and have the player skill and resources to mount a fully committed effort to the MDI. Their dominance in the China group weekend over several other strong teams makes me think we may be looking at a new powerhouse.
I have Perplexed going out in 3rd, though I wouldn’t fault anyone for having them in 2nd or even 1st. This team has had a phenomenal season with rank 1 in the Time Trials followed by an almost flawless Group weekend.
In fourth, I have Incarnation, who, in their first ever MDI weekend, managed to upset Echo to win their group. While this is an unbelievably impressive feat, Incarnation remains a newcomer who, in this field of titans, I expect to face steep competition.
The list of teams that I have below fourth place include so many teams that could win the whole thing: Complexity, a powerhouse in their own right who had a fantastic group weekend; Obey Alliance, a rebuilt team that showed they’re already back up to speed; Team Name, a group of some of Europe’s top players; and Ambition, who clawed their way into this tournament through the grueling Last Stand.
Interested in making your own predictions? Check out the Echo MDI Pick’ems where you can guess how this weekend’s bracket will unfold, and even win prizes!
The excitement all starts at 10am PST this morning over on the Warcraft YouTube Channel. Can’t tune in but don’t want to miss the action? We’ll be continuing our live updates and coverage over on our Highlights Page all weekend!
