The event marks the first major international competition for the format. Additionally, BlizzCon will highlight a 2v2 tournament where the winners have a chance to be drafted into the CGS as professional players. The tournament was announced relatively recently, and players scrambled to climb the ladders to be eligible for the qualifier event.

Many expect the event to showcase the traditionally strong Warlock/Healer combinations that dominate the top of many 2v2 ladders, but there is still room for 'counter' teams and upsets.

The World of Warcraft arena scene is split into many different Battlegroups (or divisions) between 3 separate leagues: Europe, Asia and North America. The teams competing at the BlizzCon 2007 Season One Global Finals have endured months of ladder play, followed by competitive post seasons and a qualifier tournament. Now only 7 5v5 teams remain - who are the teams to watch?

Team EG
Lineup:
Tiz
Nuvas
Koorban
Valsing
Spinister

Team EG, formerly known as Flow Gaming, finished 1st at the US Regional Qualifier with a 3-1 record against both TFO and Pandemic. Since then, they have been competing in the World Series of Video Games 3v3 tournaments in Louisville and Kentucky.

They run a Warrior/Demo Warlock/Ele Shaman/Priest/Paladin setup that has been mostly unique among top level teams. Previously, they struggled against the more traditional Mage/Shaman groups but have been able to practice several talented teams of that makeup on their home battle group.

The team is looking forward to the event as they feel it will be a more legitimate victory then the US Regional Qualifier if they win, given that they will have to beat the healthy European teams.

Gotfrag recently interviewed Team EG's Elemental Shaman John "Nuvas" Liao for his comments on WoW and the tournament at Blizzcon. You can read about it here.



MoB TurtleBeach
Lineup:
Batt
Karamell
Lucilus
Benevolent
Kalero

MoB TurtleBeach placed 2nd at the US Regional Qualifier running a Warrior/Hunter/Mage/Shaman/Paladin setup. MoB TurtleBeach lost their Holy Priest in the round of disqualifications leading into the qualifiers, forcing their shaman to play a different role then he is accustomed to.

When interviewed in San Diego, the team said that they had recently changed their shaman from an offensive role to the more defensive Restoration spec to make up for the lost healing. The team makeup is expected to be strong against any team not fielding a Mage, though it has few answers to Polymorph.

Since the US Regional Qualifier, they have committed fully to adapting to the setup and now play the lineup regularly. They have also done well with several of their players playing for MoB Gaming at the WSVG 3v3 tournaments.