The gap between Viper/Hera/Lierrey and the rest was already getting closer and closer before AoE4.
Feels like the AoE4 period (and military for Lierrey) simply sped up the process. Single Elimination Stages seems to be as unpredictable as they never have been. Just look at the TTL Playoffs. Complete Madness.
Mr.Yo for me always feels like an outlier, because his performance seem to be so unpredictable. He looses against bruh in the group stage beats Tatoh 5-0 and wins Liereyy convincingly in the same weeks. He sometimes looks like a middle of the pack Top 10 player for some time and then goes on to win the next S-Tier Tournament.
Maybe its simply the fact that the non chinese community has no idea about anything that goes on in Yo's life. He must have the same up and downs in life that anyone has. E.g. when Lierreyy can barely play because of military or when idno Viper can barely practice because of his wrist, Hera takes time off to try LoL etc... We understand and excuse their difference in perfomance, so maybe its the same for Yo. We just dont know about it.
Conclusion: I wouldnt bet a penny atm on any S Tier Ro16 set atm. Hera, Lierey, Viper, Yo, Villese, Vinchester, Tatoh, Jordan, Daut, Nicov, MbL etc.. On any given day they take sets of each other. Some may still win more overall, but the fact that Viper loses to Villese should not be a big surprise at the moment.
Feels like the AoE4 period (and military for Lierrey) simply sped up the process. Single Elimination Stages seems to be as unpredictable as they never have been. Just look at the TTL Playoffs. Complete Madness.
Mr.Yo for me always feels like an outlier, because his performance seem to be so unpredictable. He looses against bruh in the group stage beats Tatoh 5-0 and wins Liereyy convincingly in the same weeks. He sometimes looks like a middle of the pack Top 10 player for some time and then goes on to win the next S-Tier Tournament.
Maybe its simply the fact that the non chinese community has no idea about anything that goes on in Yo's life. He must have the same up and downs in life that anyone has. E.g. when Lierreyy can barely play because of military or when idno Viper can barely practice because of his wrist, Hera takes time off to try LoL etc... We understand and excuse their difference in perfomance, so maybe its the same for Yo. We just dont know about it.
Conclusion: I wouldnt bet a penny atm on any S Tier Ro16 set atm. Hera, Lierey, Viper, Yo, Villese, Vinchester, Tatoh, Jordan, Daut, Nicov, MbL etc.. On any given day they take sets of each other. Some may still win more overall, but the fact that Viper loses to Villese should not be a big surprise at the moment.