söndag 3 mars 2013

University Star League

Photographer: Jonathan Rieder Lundkvist 


The UniSL was a tournament organized by a group of enthusiastic students at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. They had the brilliant idea to host a tournament for university students in Stockholm. Starting off with nothing, they did something really epic.
If you didn’t see the awesome music video/trailer for the University Star League, please check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRluOqkr-3w.
It all started a few months ago, with group play of a total of 64 players. The second weekend of February, 16 players competed to become the champion of University Star League. I was struggling a bit due to fever, but I managed to play ok anyway.




There was one player in the tournament I was scared of since he defeated me the last time we played. Fortunately, he lost before I had to face him. As it turned out, I only had to face terran players.


My ZvT was decent at that point, but I felt like I had to save some strategies and not reveal my builds too early. I didn’t want my future opponents to have me figured out beforehand. In one game I even morphed like 50 (or more?) banelings just to give the casters something to talk about^^


Photographer: Jonathan Rieder Lundkvist

When it was time for the semifinals, it all became even more epic. Apollo himself joined one of the casters at the casting table. Apollo happens to be one of my absolute favorite casters. He has an amazing understanding of the game and seems to know everything about the players he is casting. Having him casting me winning in a tournament was an honor <3 This was the first time I won an offline event, I’d say I could get used to it!


This was one of the best tournaments I ever visited, not just because I won :). The organizers thought of everything. They took amazing care of the players. It was great for all the visitors as well. There was a stage where you could watch the games and a there were lots of things you could do on the side, such as painting your own n00bz marine or playing in a HotS tournament. And there was a bar. I got my very own n00bz marine to paint too, but I just can’t figure out how to paint it. Any suggestions?




Photographer: Jonathan Rieder Lundkvist





A funny thing is that they chose to put bullet proof glass in the player booths so that it would be easier to see through them.










      Thanks to UNISL for organizing, and thanks to everyone who watched the tournament <3