I'm on the clock as I hadn't realised half of each of the four groups was happening today with them wrapping up tomorrow. With that said, here are the predictions for the other two groups in the R16. If you spot any errors or omissions please let me know.
Group C
The only group with two Koreans features all three races. Oddly MaNa is the player entering the fray with a clean record (cleaning up an ill viOLet and Bunny); Polt didn't lose a series, but lost games to both Jim and Kelazhur; Hydra lost to MorroW before beating him in the re-match (along with knocking off iAsonu), while Swarmhoster FireCake arrives on the back of beating puCK twice.
Polt vs FireCake - the odds are less overwhelming (66%) than they should be, as Polt is 25-1 against foreigners for the past year or so in BO3s (losing only to Kane back in January); FireCake's last win against a notable Korean Terran was beating MMA a year ago, so conclusion is obvious here
Hydra vs MaNa - the Korean is an overwhelming favourite (71%), so is there hope for MaNa? Given Hydra's 21-0 record vs foreign Protoss' I don't think so
Losers Match
MaNa vs FireCake - despite this being the Frenchman's best match-up, MaNa is the favourite (61%); FireCake beat MaNa just a month ago at the Fragbite Masters and the Polish players PvZ of late isn't that impressive, but given how predictable the Frenchman is I'll go with MaNa regardless
Winners Match
Polt vs Hydra - the Zerg is just as much a favourite (71%) as he was against the Polish player above and Polt has been awful against Korean Zergs (2-8 in his last ten BO3s); Hydra's record in the match-up isn't perfect, but includes beating Polt a couple of months ago so I'm happy to stick with the odds
Finals
MaNavs Polt- the Korean is a slight favourite (59%), despite Polt having an excellent TvP record and MaNa struggling against Korean Terrans, so I'll stick with Captain America here (if this goes via Aligulac then Polt faces FireCake again and wins)
Both Aligulac and I (and Team Liquid) see the Koreans going through, albeit we come at it in a different way.
Group D
An all-foreign group featuring all the races. Welmu arrives with a clean sweep over HuK and iaguz; Kane is here via his Cuban vacation after beating Happy and TargA; Bunny overcame an ill viOLet along with MajOr; Has is here after beating NaNiwa in a re-match (along with knocking off Suppy).
Welmu vs Bunny - the Dane is favoured (63%), which seems low given his 20-2 record against Protoss this year, so it's easy to stick with the favourite
Has vs Kane - the Canadian is a slight favourite (55%), but given the fact he's just back from vacation with no time to prepare (he's also said publically he'll lose out here), I'll give this to the cheesy Protoss
Losers Match
Welmu vs Kane - Kane is again a very slight favourite (50%), but the Canadian's impressive ZvP record is largely built off the back of weaker NA competition so I'll go with Welmu here; if this is the Finn vs Has Aligulac has Welmu winning
Winners Match
Bunny vs Has- the Dane is an overwhelming favourite (74%), despite both players being excellent in the match-up (Has restricted to his limited scene); I don't see an upset here though, as Has-cheese seems much more effective against Protoss
Finals
Welmu vs Has - the link to the numbers are above (60%), with Welmu having far more impressive results
Both Aligulac and I (and TL) see Bunny and Welmu moving forward.
This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)
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