Like most of my topics, I'll throw a half-baked potato at you guys and hope it spurs the conversation I wish I had time to flesh out...
So Nand Torfs rocketed to X-Wing fame in 2016 by taking a proven list to new heights. He jump-mastered the married mercs and made me miserable they won Worlds. Don't get me wrong, his showing and (from what I've seen of his) personality is the definition of what makes this game and community great.
He deserved to win Worlds... Nand is my World Champion (2016). Then, in 2017, a challenger emerged.
Justin Phua shocked the system by doing the most simple, yet effective thing: He took the World's list from 2016, Nand's list, and updated it to the reflect the nerf. Genius (0). In retrospect, who wouldn't do that? Answer: No one else did it. If I recall correctly, no one else even took double-Jumps to Worlds - and if they did, they didn't get very far. Attani was rampant, we know -- and Jumpmasters were represented in spades. But not like Justin's list..
Get on with it...
Justin Phua wins Worlds 2017. Another great representative of this community did a thing and deserved it. Tactical meta-call, but nothing fancy, and a genuine fella..
Here's my point, convoluted as it is:
First, Nand didn't just get second at Worlds 2017, he created a very unique list that was the meta call. THE META CALL. Watch his streamed games. His opponents, all different, thinking human beings playing very similar lists were dispatched in nearly similar fashion, right down to rock placement and the approach. He was largely uncontested after the cut -- until the final table. Nand is a genius, or has a crackpot team in Belgium that rivals the NonRonConPaulsBasementPowerPointCon. I'm just still so impressed with his list and his showing.
Side Note: Someone look up the number of Jess Pavas at Worlds 2017. I wager it's not a lot (though, I do know there was at least one other in the cut). Nand again shows his ability to see things I don't: Where is Jess is now? Everywhere. I'm not giving Nand credit for FSR, but I'm definitely giving him credit for showing us the potential of that PS 3 T-70.
Second, Justin was Nand's foil. Literally the only person capable of beating Nand that day. Who in their right mind would have taken Tel to Worlds? Furthermore, who would make him nearly 50 points?! A great strategist, that's who.
It's like a weird game of rock-paper-scissors: Justin beats, Nand beats meta, meta beats its head off the wall because Attani wasn't even at the final table.. you all practiced that **** for months!! And celebrated when the nerf only killed off one Attani list... Nand's 2017 list. I keep coming back to this weird circle of life.
And finally, wtf are these guys going to bring to Worlds 2018?
tl;dr Nand sees the matrix and says, "I can do that". Wins Worlds 2016 with something we all knew was going to be there and had sooo much time to tool against. Nand is now welcome into the matrix. He steps inside, meets Paul Heaver, and sees the meta from the inside. Builds his Mirand, Biggs, Jess list. Emerges like the T-800 at Worlds 2017 and just owns. Justin sees Nand come out of the portal, slips inside the matrix and finds Nand's work, but he looks closelier. He came out with some sick shades and a list that I believe could win worlds again (if no FAQ is introduced)...
