article by John Sung

DC LAN in Annandale started early with top members James “MygraiN” Horsey, Jake “NoRegreT” Umpleby, and team coach Erik “EndOfLine” Faden warming up to prepare for the onslaught they would bring on the unsuspecting competition.

With half the player bracket spread out across the dimly lit PC bang the chill atmosphere set the tone for the rest of the day. We were here to have fun, to meet and talk to our friends, and to enjoy a game we all love… even if it meant getting absolutely demolished by some of the best players in the country.It was obvious who was going to be amongst the finals of this Bo3 double elimination bracket for both Legacy of the Void and the Heart of the Swarm tourney. When MygraiN, sitting behind me, casually reached grandmasters with a proxy, I was prepared to type “gg” before my games even started.

But DC LAN isn’t just about winning a tournament. Richard “A9arnn” Ngo came all the way from New York to organize the event. Kerouac drove three hours to pick up Scion (who knocked MygraiN into the losers bracket- LotV) and even contributed $100 to the prize pool. Others who donated were Akasha ($20), A9arnn ($50), and KJ “Freeedom” G.($50). The passion for starcraft is still alive and the experience of meeting new people with that same passion is what keeps the community thriving. Events like DC LANis exactly what starcraft needs.

pics by Troyseph

The remaining slots in the brackets filled up as more players arrived throughout the day. PSISTORM Gaming team owner Freeedom and All-In’s Tyrant Junior, along with Tossim (all high masters) increased the already daunting skill gap between the casuals and the proficient. The final brackets concluded with NoRegreT and EndOfLine facing off in the semifinals of the losers bracket- HotS. NoRegreT would go on to take the tourney beating MygraiN in the finals and the grand finals with a score of 3-0.It was no surprise when NoRegreT would also take the LotV championship facing against Tyrant Junior in the semifinals and, again, MygraiN in the grand finals. Stating he beat David “Lilbow” Moschetto in a match who’s ranked #34 in the world, any local tournament at this point is child’s play for PSISTORM Gaming’s NoRegreT.