How are people feeling about the promotions/demotions now that things are a bit clearer?
Last place players in Platinum League:
Saymyname 0-5 (3-12)
Dragonstar 1-4 (3-12)
SongSong 1-4 (4-11)
BadBoy 0-5 (1-14)
These all seem like pretty fair demotions in my opinion. Though the competition was pretty good, with 3/4 of these players winning games against 3 or more of the other 5 players in their division. Showing that even the bottom wasn't completely overmatched.
Now top players being promoted from Gold League:
Valas 5-0 (13-2)
Dracken 4-1 (11-4)
Ganji 4-1 (12-3)
Sitaux 5-0 (13-2)
Again in my opinion all well deserved promotions. Valas only dropping two games, one to second place Vivi and one to third place Margougou. Draken winning 4 sets, including a 3-0 vs second seed F1re. Ganji also winning 4 sets only dropping a set vs second place Running. Sitaux dominating only dropping 2 games overall. Congrats to all and good luck next season in Plat league.
5th place players from Platinum league:
Classicpro 2-3 (7-8)
Bruh 2-3 (4-11)
Slam 2-3 (5-10)
Dogao 1-4 (6-9)
This is where things get very difficult for me, and validate my prior concerns that automatically relegating each of these players is likely too harsh. Classicpro won games against every player in his division: Viper, Jordan, Daut, Miguel and Saymyname. Bruh was in a top loaded division where Hera/Villese/Yo largely dominated and actually won more series (2) than 4th place Barles (1), including a great series win against Yo. Slam also winning more series (2) than 4th place BacT (1). And Dogao in probably the deepest division overall winning 6 games, at least a game vs every player in the division: MBL, Nicov, TaToh, ACCM, BadBoy.
I'm sure each of them would have liked to perform better, but each of them showed the ability to be able to compete in platinum league in various ways. Seeing them be automatically relegated does not feel good to me in my very subjective opinion.
Gold league 2nd/3rd place in division. Players who play each other in a bo5, winner will be guaranteed a spot in Platinum league next season:
Running 4-1 (11-4) vs Sobek 4-1(8-7)
F1re 4-1(10-5) vs Dark 3-2 (9-6)
Vivi 4-1 (12-3) vs KingstoNe 3-2 (8-7)
Sebastian 3-2 (9-6) vs Margougou 3-2 (9-6)
Definitely some good performances in this group, however some mediocre ones as well. The bottom of the Gold league was objectively weaker compared to the bottom of Platinum league. 5th and 6th place players won a combined 9 sets and 33/120 games in platinum league while in gold league they won a combined 5 sets and 22/120 games. Of the bottom 8 players in gold league only Overtaken managed to win a set vs a non bottom 8 player. In platinum league 5 sets were won by bottom 8 players against non bottom 8 players.
To sum this all up, my opinion after watching the group stages play out is that the top 4/bottom 4 of each league were pretty convincing and deserve their respective demotions/relegations. I definitely think the next 4 in each league shows a different story, especially with a more competitive platinum league and a less competitive gold league. I maintain my opinion that it would have been more enjoyable for me to see this next set of players play each other in a relegation playoffs for the last 4 platinum league spots. That being said the league has provided some great sets, with an exciting playoffs ahead. Good luck to all and certainly wish the best for those who do end up promoted to platinum. There's definitely some names there that can do well, and some people who I am not familiar with who could make for a great story line. What do you all think?
Last place players in Platinum League:
Saymyname 0-5 (3-12)
Dragonstar 1-4 (3-12)
SongSong 1-4 (4-11)
BadBoy 0-5 (1-14)
These all seem like pretty fair demotions in my opinion. Though the competition was pretty good, with 3/4 of these players winning games against 3 or more of the other 5 players in their division. Showing that even the bottom wasn't completely overmatched.
Now top players being promoted from Gold League:
Valas 5-0 (13-2)
Dracken 4-1 (11-4)
Ganji 4-1 (12-3)
Sitaux 5-0 (13-2)
Again in my opinion all well deserved promotions. Valas only dropping two games, one to second place Vivi and one to third place Margougou. Draken winning 4 sets, including a 3-0 vs second seed F1re. Ganji also winning 4 sets only dropping a set vs second place Running. Sitaux dominating only dropping 2 games overall. Congrats to all and good luck next season in Plat league.
5th place players from Platinum league:
Classicpro 2-3 (7-8)
Bruh 2-3 (4-11)
Slam 2-3 (5-10)
Dogao 1-4 (6-9)
This is where things get very difficult for me, and validate my prior concerns that automatically relegating each of these players is likely too harsh. Classicpro won games against every player in his division: Viper, Jordan, Daut, Miguel and Saymyname. Bruh was in a top loaded division where Hera/Villese/Yo largely dominated and actually won more series (2) than 4th place Barles (1), including a great series win against Yo. Slam also winning more series (2) than 4th place BacT (1). And Dogao in probably the deepest division overall winning 6 games, at least a game vs every player in the division: MBL, Nicov, TaToh, ACCM, BadBoy.
I'm sure each of them would have liked to perform better, but each of them showed the ability to be able to compete in platinum league in various ways. Seeing them be automatically relegated does not feel good to me in my very subjective opinion.
Gold league 2nd/3rd place in division. Players who play each other in a bo5, winner will be guaranteed a spot in Platinum league next season:
Running 4-1 (11-4) vs Sobek 4-1(8-7)
F1re 4-1(10-5) vs Dark 3-2 (9-6)
Vivi 4-1 (12-3) vs KingstoNe 3-2 (8-7)
Sebastian 3-2 (9-6) vs Margougou 3-2 (9-6)
Definitely some good performances in this group, however some mediocre ones as well. The bottom of the Gold league was objectively weaker compared to the bottom of Platinum league. 5th and 6th place players won a combined 9 sets and 33/120 games in platinum league while in gold league they won a combined 5 sets and 22/120 games. Of the bottom 8 players in gold league only Overtaken managed to win a set vs a non bottom 8 player. In platinum league 5 sets were won by bottom 8 players against non bottom 8 players.
To sum this all up, my opinion after watching the group stages play out is that the top 4/bottom 4 of each league were pretty convincing and deserve their respective demotions/relegations. I definitely think the next 4 in each league shows a different story, especially with a more competitive platinum league and a less competitive gold league. I maintain my opinion that it would have been more enjoyable for me to see this next set of players play each other in a relegation playoffs for the last 4 platinum league spots. That being said the league has provided some great sets, with an exciting playoffs ahead. Good luck to all and certainly wish the best for those who do end up promoted to platinum. There's definitely some names there that can do well, and some people who I am not familiar with who could make for a great story line. What do you all think?