Jaedong faces Innovation to begin DreamHack playoffs

This article was originally published on GameSpot's sister site onGamers.com, which was dedicated to esports coverage.

Lee earned himself a top spot into the winners bracket by sweeping his group including wins over last year's DreamHack Winter champion Song 'HerO' Hyeon Deok, and DreamHack Stockholm champion Lee 'Leenock' Dong Nyoung. Lee says that although he won his group, there's much work left to be done.

"Even though I'm first in my group, it's just the group stage, and it's too soon for me to be too happy", JD Lee said in a post-game interview. "I'm happy right now, but I've come here with one goal and one goal only and that's to win this tournament."

"Thanks to everyone for cheering today. I will win this tournament, I don't want second place anymore".

JD Lee will go up against WCS 2013 Season 1 Champion Lee 'INnoVation' Shin Hyung, who is looking to rebound after a disappointing performance at the WCG Grand Finals at BlizzCon. Team Liquid teammates Song and Yun 'TaeJa' Young Seo will face each other in the early rounds of a DreamHack event once again, seemingly fated to meet each other this way.

Sweden's hometown favorite Johan 'NaNiwa' Luchessi is the only non-Korean player qualified into the winners bracket. Luchessi will play Lee 'Life' Seung Hyun in the first round of the playoffs, a rematch of the IEM New York City finals in October. Luchessi says that although playing SH Lee will be hard, he's happy to play a Zerg.

"I would like a Zerg [in the playoffs], and I think if I play life it'll be really hard, but still pretty fun I think", Luchessi told onGamers before the bracket draw. "I think Zero is the most fun to play which makes me play better."

Many fans at the event are there just to watch Luchessi play, something he believes he thrives on. "I want to give a good result for the fans of course. I think the more pressure the game will be, I will have more advantage, because I don't feel very much pressure. I just feel fans like to see me play and I like to play here at home."

Mun 'MMA' Seong Won will go up against Jo 'Patience' Ji Hyun to round out the four matches in the winners bracket. In the losers bracket, Choi 'Polt' Seong Hun, Dario 'TLO' Wünsch, Kim 'sOs' Yoo Jin, and Park 'ForGG' Ji Soo will go up against Ko 'HyuN' Seok Hyun, Park 'JYP' Jin Young, Michael 'Goswser' Dobler, and Lee 'Leenock' Dong Nyoung, respectively.

Image Credit: Photo By: Carl Oscar Aaro - DreamHack Flickr