Europe dominated the other three regions at the Hearthstone Championship Tour Summer Championship, claiming three out of the four spots in the World Championship.
It was Raphael “BunnyHoppor” Peltzer who took home the title itself, defeating Kacper “A83650” Kwieciński of Poland in the final 3-1.
BunnyHoppor and A83650 were joined in the top four by BunnyHoppor’s practice partner Torbin “Viper” Wahl and American David “killinallday” Acosta. Those four players are the first to book their spot in the $1 million World Championship, likely to be held in early 2019.
In the final it was A83650’s Priest that proved to be somewhat his undoing. It lost in game one to Shudderwock Shaman, and again in game three to Big Spell Mage. That set Bunnyhoppor to win the game with his Even Warlock, one of the strongest decks in the meta, against A83650’s Taunt Druid.
Related: Viper: “I always want to talk myself into thinking I am favored”
In the semifinals Bunnyhoppor truly had to prove his metal. He went up against Viper, with both players bringing the identical 120-card lineup. Viper claimed two wins with Rogue and Shaman, but Bunnyhoppor was able to reverse sweep three wins against Even Warlock to win the semifinal.
Bunnyhoppor’s win nets him $60,000 and 20 HC points—though the top four also will receive additional prize money for attending the World Championship. Last year, that was a minimum of $25,000. Before the tournament Bunnyhoppor had admitted this might be his last season to give competing enough attention, as he’s about to receive his PhD. Now he can focus on his studies, safe in the knowledge that he will have a shot at the world title.
Europe is the only region to have produced two Hearthstone world champions. If the players keep performing at this level, Europe will have the whip hand this year too.
For killinallday, his place in the top four will feel especially sweet. In the 2017 season he twice fell barely short of reaching a championship.
