By Galen Andress

The second of four Pools in Anaheim, Pool B, might well be the toughest, including the most iconic figure in the pro Starcraft scene. EG's Idra holds the top spot in the Pool, and if he wants to get back to the Winners Bracket Semifinals, he will have to get through his teammate InControl, as well as Sjow, Sheth, and perhaps the most iconic figure in the pro StarCraft scene, the Emperor himself, SlayersBoxer.

EG.Idra
Idra provided us with some of the best moments in Columbus. From his amazing win over MC to kick off the action, to his crushing defeat at the hands of MMA in the Winners Bracket Semifinals, Idra's series were always entertaining. His 4th Place finish was also the best among the non-Koreans in Columbus, and his best finish on the Pro Circuit since his debut win in D.C. last Season.

Since Columbus, Idra played in both Dreamhack and Homestory Cup III, with relatively disappointing finishes in both. Although he was able to make it out of group stages in both tournaments, he was eliminated relatively quickly in the bracket stages. Idra was definitely the best foreign competitor in Columbus; will he be able to get through an even deeper Korean field in Anaheim?

EG.InControl
Coming off of an impressive 4th Place finish in Dallas, expectations were high for InControl in Columbus, and he was seeded at the top spot in his Pool. After going 2-3 in Pool Play, InControl

was eliminated in his first round of Championship Bracket play and ultimately finished a disappointing 22nd. InContol has been relatively quiet in the tournament scene since Columbus; can he rebound and earn another Top 8 finish in Anaheim?

Dignitas.Sjow
Sjow has been one of the most consistent performers on the Pro Circuit, finishing in the Top 16 in each of his appearances. In Columbus, he finished 2-3 in his Pool, but played much better than the standings indicate. He only lost to Korean players, with two very close series against MMA and July, falling 1-2 in each series. He was eventually eliminated by Moon in the Losers Bracket.

Since Columbus, Sjow participated in Dreamhack, but was unable to make it out of his group. Although he hasn't had a Top 8 finish since Raleigh, he is always a tough out for any opponent. Can he reemerge in Anaheim?

Sheth
Sheth came into Columbus off of a 17th Place finish at his MLG debut in Dallas. Because Socke and Huk were unable to attend, he was seeded into Pool Play in Columbus, and he made the most of his lucky break. Sheth finished Friday with a perfect 3-0 record that included wins over Kiwikaki, Sjow and Moonan. Although he would go on to lose his next three series against MMA, July and Fenix, Sheth's 14th Place finish in Columbus was very strong.

Since Columbus, Sheth has played in GSL Code A and in the GSTL. He advanced to the Round of 16 in Code A with a 2-1 win over the very talented San before being eliminated by the eventual Champion Puzzle, and went 1-1 in his only appearance during FXO's debut in the GSTL. Sheth has shown that he has what it takes to compete with Korean talent, and he'll have to play his best to get through the very talented field in Anaheim.

Slayers.Boxer
Every professional sport has an icon. Professional basketball has Michael Jordan. Professional golf has Tiger Woods. In the world of eSports, Slayers.Boxer stands above the rest. Boxer has won more televised StarCraft matches than any other player in the history of the game. He has won a pair of OSL titles, an MSL title, and is the only player in history to win two WCG Grand Finals. His innovative strategies and immaculate micro changed the way the game was played forever, and his run of dominance earned him the title “The Emperor” from his Korean Fans.

Boxer made the switchover to StarCraft 2 during the GSL's second season, where he would make the Round of 4. Although his play has been on the decline as of late and he lost his Code A status in the most recent season of the GSL, Boxer is still one of the most talented players heading into Anaheim. Will the Emperor be able to best the competition and regain the throne in his MLG debut?

A Pool with the icon of professional StarCraft, an American StarCraft legend, and three very worthy adversaries is sure to bring us some of the best matches over the course of the weekend. Get yourself a League Membership so you can watch everything go down in HQ, and tune in on July 29-31 to see who comes out on top!