Sparky

Coach @_VARREL R6

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

To all the Japanese 🇯🇵 followers, I’ve posted Episode 2 of the Round Breakdown Series last night while everyone was asleep. You can find the full video here 👇

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

OSAKA MAJOR ROUND(S) BREAKDOWN EP.2

A mix between a breakdown and a review this time, with extra details. A lot had to be left out, but covering everything would make this an hour-long video and I can't commit to longer-form content right now.

G2 vs GEEKAY

🔊🇬🇧
🔤🇯🇵

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

@FreshOnDesk I had to speed it to 1.4x, and just rewatching it i can list a bunch of things i left out, this could've easily been 1hr long, i feel you man 😂

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

OSAKA MAJOR ROUND(S) BREAKDOWN EP.2

A mix between a breakdown and a review this time, with extra details. A lot had to be left out, but covering everything would make this an hour-long video and I can't commit to longer-form content right now.

G2 vs GEEKAY

🔊🇬🇧
🔤🇯🇵

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

@Torakuroo The replay folder is not public

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

Giving points for winning a regional league and making EWC part of the official circuit, but awarding no points for EWC placements, is a huge flaw. It lets teams that are strong regionally but uncompetitive internationally gain an edge over everyone else. Adding EWC points would make the system consistent and reward every team as it does at any other event. I don’t think anything else needs to change.

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

@Kooliburra Don’t tell them, let me collect my Breaking News impressions

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

this cant be real😂

At what range does a shotgun stop being a shotgun?

c9 vs weibo

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

@Jxrds__ I know very well how far my shotgun goes, but if we need to make the game realistic then we need to bring back a whole bunch of shit and remove a whole bunch of shit. And that’s not happening, so that shotgun is shooting too far with too much damage.

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

To add context, I think they are unable to fully bring new things to the table while they are being countered by a proper team, which signals a lack of depth, which makes it super hard if you wanna play against a Brazilian team. I also think NA has more depth to their play, which I is why I think they struggle less against Brazil. They can change things up while EU struggles a bit more with that.

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

Good point, and I think it's realistic. Some teams are easier to counter once you know them well, like VP and G2. Falcons and Geekay seem more comfortable both regionally and internationally because of their playstyle. G2 and VP look good now, but that doesn't mean they were playing worse regionally. Their playstyle is easier to read after facing them repeatedly, and that's what makes them uncomfortable at home, that’s also why I think EU struggles against BR, they lack some depth imo.

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

I did mention (4) that EU could find its identity during the Major, and it looks like they have. Whether they were hiding things or simply learned from their mistakes, the rebound was quick. That said, I still think Brazil has a bigger edge over EU than over NA, while EU has an edge over NA. The playoffs seeding is going to be crucial for both NA and EU.

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

Thank you for all the DMs! Since a few questions came up repeatedly, I’ll answer the main ones here for the sake of logistics.

1) Regional player restrictions: From a political standpoint, I don’t think import restrictions are fair, since they limit what players and teams can do. At the same time, I recognize that the format may need some form of restriction, such as a cap of two imports per region. Because both things are true, I can’t responsibly commit to one side, so my opinion remains somewhere in the middle.

2) Why I seemed vague when discussing teams: As a competitor myself, I apply a policy of reservation toward other teams when I appear on shows. I didn’t go into depth on certain points out of respect for those teams, not for lack of knowledge. Anything I say, however obvious, could be used to gain an advantage against them, and I don’t think that is fair, regardless of the size of the advantage or how remote the chance of it materializing.

3) Why was I so bullish on NA? That’s probably because we scrim NA teams every day and see their playstyle working first-hand, so I may be biased. I also believe they invest the most time in understanding the game from a micro perspective and in bringing interesting nuances to their play. Again, I don’t think it’s fair to elaborate on that. The same applies in reverse to the teams I was bearish on: I’ve likely scrimmed them extensively and understand their ins and outs, while the public, or even teams from abroad, may not have that depth. Regardless, I maintain a vague policy to protect that.

4) What do I have against EU Siege right now? This deserves some expansion. When I said everyone looked “uncomfortable,” I meant that many teams seemed to be trying to catch up with what teams in other regions were doing, especially in using power operators and speeding up their playstyle, and that many of them looked uneasy doing so. More generally, I also see a poor understanding of the current meta. As a result, some teams are becoming easier to read, since forcing a style that isn’t natural to them makes their habits more predictable. I believe these problems could come back to bite them if their identity isn’t restored to a clear place soon enough. Whether that happens remains a question mark, because even if they do restore it, I believe the current EU meta is not competitive enough internationally, and it's too figured out by everyone else. Naturally, the points raised by the other guests regarding roles, IGLs, and everything else are equally valid.

Once the dust settles after the Osaka Major, I’ll gladly come back to everything I kept vague and break it down in detail. Thank you again for the thoughtful questions and the support.

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

@FpsTactician Man my yearly polar express appointment is almost up

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

@Skurzaj At this event, I think it comes down to consistency compared to other teams. I'd have to break down every team to be specific, but secondarily it's about what they're doing, not how well they're doing it. Their approach is working for them.

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

EU was rough going into the Major, but they've looked great since it started. Meanwhile, everyone else seems to be underperforming.

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

@NEMESSYYSS My speakers are at 60%, and the video volume at 20% and i can hear everything, i think its on your end

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

By popular request!

OSAKA MAJOR ROUND BREAKDOWN EP.1

C9 vs 100T

🔊🇬🇧
🔤🇯🇵

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

If you want me to go even more in depth into things, please let me know via DMs.

[Sparky @Sparky9j]

Crazy nade lineup from Falcons. They spot the office player and call him with Dokkaebi, hoping to lock him in the pickup animation. He doesn’t answer, but the nade lands a kill anyway 😂