The first qualifiers for WCS Europe and America in the 2014 season are over. 13 players made it to the Challenger Leagues of both regions. Here is what you need to know about them.
WCS Europe Challenger League
[hasuobs] – #31 in World Ranking
- For the first time not part of Europe Premier League
- Third Challenger League participation (#9 in Season 1, #25 in Season 3)
[grubby] – #44 in World Ranking
- For the first time not part of Europe Premier League
- Third Challenger League participation (#1 in Season 1, #25 in Season 3)
- Only played IEM Singapore since October
[elfi] – #75 in World Ranking
- Always part of Europe Challenger League (Season 1: #17, Season 2: #33, Season 3: #25)
- Played Premier League once (Season 2: #17)
[jjakji] – #79 in World Ranking
- Switched to Europe for this season, instantly qualified for Challenger League
- Finished #6 in WCS Korea Season 3
- Youngest player in WCS Europe Challenger League so far (19 years)
[strelok] – #91 in World Ranking
- Only succesful in Go4SC2/Zotac-Cup recently
- Third participation in Challenger League (#33 in Season 1, #25 in Season 2)
- Oldest player in Challenger League so far, 28 years old
[krass] – #234 in World Ranking
- Lowest World Rank so far
- But always part of Europe Challenger League (#25 in Season 1, #9 in Season 2, #33 in Season 3)
- Twice even part of Premier League (#25 in Season 1 and 3)
- Eliminated Socke and Dimaga in qualifier
WCS America Challenger League
[violet] – #58 in World Ranking
- Acknowledged professional gamer in USA
- Comeback after four months of inactivity in tournaments
- Third participation in Challenger League (#1 in Season 1, #13 in Season 2)
- Twice part of Premier League (#13 in Season 1 and 2)
[xigua] – #115 in World Ranking
- Fourth best chinese player in World Ranking
- Second participation in WCS America Challenger League (#25 in Season 2)
- Participated in IEM Shanghai (July, #21) and IEM Singapore (December, #13) but did not win a single map against a non-chinese player
[toodming] – #198 in World Ranking
- Won first chinese WCS Qualifier
- First participation in WCS
- Won all-chinese NEO Star League in August
[courage] – #233 in World Ranking
- Second winner of chinese qualifier
- Never played WCS before
- Participated in IEM Shanghai in July 2013 and beat [sting] there
[select] – #254 in World Ranking
- Third participation in Challenger League America (#25 in Season 1, #33 in Season 2)
- Best tournaments in 2013 were two fifth places in Red Bull Training Ground 1 and 2 in June and July
[sarovati] – #259 in World Ranking
- Promising young player, showed up in November for the first time
- Won Breakout Invitational
- Never played in WCS before
[bails] – not in World Ranking
- Second participation in Challenger League America (#33 in Season 1)
- Did not appear in any major tournaments since Season 1 in June 2013
- One of the youngest players – 17 years old
- Eliminated [ruff] (#226) and [illusion] (#198) in qualifier