StarCraft 2
Although the appearance and popularization of other eSports such as League of Legends or Dota 2 have robbed it of some prominence both in the media and at the betting level, StarCraft 2 continues to be one of the most interesting games we can bet on. Not in vain is it the best-selling real-time strategy game of all time -on the day of its launch it sold more than 1 million copies worldwide-, which allows Philippines to get an idea of its popularity. the sequel to StarCraft, another hit in the video game industry.
Despite the overshadowing of other eSports, StarCraft 2 betting remains very popular, so we have prepared this guide to reveal all the secrets you need to know before starting to bet on StarCraft 2.
How to play StarCraft 2
StarCraft 2 is a real-time strategy game where two players face off on a map. Each player can choose one of the three factions in the game (Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss), and the objective is to annihilate their opponent. To do this, the player starts the game with some workers and buildings and from there must gather resources to build the strongest army and improve their structures. This makes the start of the map crucial to its outcome.
Normally, games are played best of three maps. There are six maps commonly played: Abyssal Reef, Daybreak, Overgrowth, Proxima Station, Bel'Shir Vestige, and Newkirk Precinct TE. In the vast majority of cases -and in tournaments where we can bet on StarCraft 2- it is played one versus one, although we can also find two versus two matches. In that case, the Deadwing, Frost, and Whirlwind maps are used. Three versus three matches are very rare.
StarCraft 2 Betting
Just like in any other sport, and eSports are no exception, StarCraft 2 betting is divided into match betting and long-term betting. In the first case, we see that, as usual, the most popular StarCraft 2 bets are bets on the winner of the match or money line. This is the most recommended market for beginners in betting on StarCraft 2, since the player bets and if their selection is a winner, they receive the prize.
However, we encounter uneven matches in which betting on the favorite is not very profitable and betting on the underdog is almost throwing away money. In those situations, we can look for alternative markets in match betting and this is where handicap bets and map winner bets come into play, betting only on one map. The handicap is usually 1.5, so we are betting that a player wins without conceding a map (-1.5) or that all three maps are played (+1.5).
When it comes to long-term betting, tournaments take the cake. On the one hand, there are the Global StarCraft League and the VSL Season 1 League, and on the other hand, there is the World Championship, which has several qualifying events around the world. We can bet on both the world champion and the winners of these qualifying events, which allow Philippines to accrue points towards participation in the world championship.
Where to bet on StarCraft 2?
Any licensed betting house in Philippines can offer bets on StarCraft 2. However, not all of them do, so below we provide a list of betting houses that offer bets on StarCraft 2.
StarCraft 2 Betting Strategy
Unlike other eSports, we are in an individual sport where the key to the result lies in the player's skill. What remains the same is that to be successful in our bets, it is essential to know how the game develops, especially if we are going to play in markets such as handicap or map. It is also useful to know the players and their profile well, as the success or failure of your bets depends on their way of playing.
The face to face is also very important, as a player have the measure of another, despite not being one of the most prominent participants in the tournament. In fact, depending on the type of player we are talking about, the game will unfold in one way or another. Thus, if two very defensive players are going to face each other, we have equality assured, while a duel between two aggressive players is completely unpredictable. There are countless strategies, which makes resolving the game difficult.
Finally, it is important to consider the maps on which the game will be played, as there are six of them and each has different characteristics. It won't be difficult to find out which maps the game will take place on, and from there to know on which maps the players feel most comfortable, to evaluate how the handicap or map bets are looking and whether you are interested in participating, etc.
StarCraft 2 betting favorites (2p)
As of today, South Korean player Rogue is the best player in the world of StarCraft 2. He is the winner of the latest major tournaments, although if we look at the rankings on the StarCraft 2 website, he appears in 4th position... of the South Korean ranking. This ranking is divided into two parts, Circuit and Korea, and if we look at the classification of the Asian country, a world power in StarCraft 2, we see Maru, Classic, and Stats ahead of Rogue in a ranking that changes constantly.
The Circuit ranking is composed mainly of players from other countries, with the Finnish player Serral at the top. Behind Serral - who has been able to defeat Rouge - are German player ShoWTimE, American player Neep, Mexican player SpeCial, and South Korean player TRUE, who closes out the top 5. This ranking is very interesting, as it allows Philippines to see the form of the players or their results against each faction, information that is useful for your bets.