Gather around in front of your screens tonight at 20:00 CEST, where the much-anticipated Heroes Lounge EU season 9 draw show will take place! 56 teams have made the cut by fighting their way to a spot in the top 8 of their respective divisions. These 7 divisions are divided into 4 tournaments in which these teams will face off against other teams to become the winner of their play off.
Tonight, we will see which teams will face off in the group stages where the teams will randomly be placed in one of four groups per tournament. The top teams of each group stage will make it to the knockout stage later this month. Join the teams, see if they will get a favorable group and what matches to look out for. Our draw show host Kharis will be accompanied by a handful of exciting guests from the Heroes Lounge community, that will provide inside information about the different qualified teams. All of this and much more at https://www.twitch.tv/heroes_lounge.
For more details of when the games are going to played, please check out our schedule page!
We look forward to seeing you.
Starting at 20:00 CEST
The Rare Cup draw – Division 6 and division 7
The Epic Cup draw – Division 4 and division 5
The Legendary Cup draw – Division 2 and division 3
The Mythic Championship – Division 1
In this blog we will take a quick look at the teams who will be competing, and some of the heroes we can expect them to play.
[Division 4 - 1st] Broes before heroes 
Overview
Broes before Heroes are currently in their first season in lounge, and have made an impressive start by finishing top of the division with 8 wins out of 10. By finishing top of the pack, they will certainly be early favourites to win the Epic Cup.
Analysis
Broes before Heroes have had some good success with Thrall as their most played hero. Kael’thas has been unstoppable for the Broes, winning all 6 of the games where he has appeared. They have also pulled out Valeera on occasion, winning 2 out of 3 games. Interestingly they have had Abathur banned against them a surprising 12 times!
[Division 4 - 2nd] Asgard Support 
Overview
Asgard Support are a newly formed team for Season 9. Their team description is “Lost at draft gg let them win”, but they clearly didn't follow that mantra for 7 of their games as they have achieved an impressive 2nd place finish
Analysis
Asgard have played 10 games on Sylvanas this season with mixed success, but showing they are certainly a fan of her rework. They have whipped out Maiev 5 times with an 80% success rate, punishing the people who didn't think they needed to ban Maiev in Division 4!
[Division 4 - 3rd] Fridry Hunter 
Overview
Fridry Hunter are another team that will be enjoying their first adventure in Heroes Lounge. They started the season strongly winning 6 out their first 7 games, but 2 losses late in the season has cost them pole position.
Analysis
The Hunters have stayed fairly meta throughout the season, their most played heroes being Tyrande and Kael’thas. They have a 100% win rate in their 4 Maiev games, another team who are taking advantage of people who don’t ban Maiev in Division 4! Chromie has been drafted by them 4 times, with a 50% win rate
[Division 4 - 4th] Magical Liopleurodon 
Overview
Magical Liopleurodon are currently competing in their 3rd lounge season, and this is the first season they have managed to make the Cup. Last time they missed out narrowly due to map wins, perhaps rueing that they missed a game and only played 9 that season. They have made up for that this season, winning an impressive 7 matches
Analysis
The Liopleurodons have shown a clear preference for the big green warlock Gul’dan, summoning him into the nexus on 11 occasions with a respectable 63% win rate. Just behind him on 10 picks is Raynor, who has certainly given their enemies some pepper. Falstad and Johanna have been a key factor in this teams success, both having a 77% win rate from 9 picks.
[Division 4 - 5th] Team Moon Moon 
Overview
Last seasons Division 5 champions have continued their good form from last season by winning 7 out of their 9 matches (missing out on one due to a scheduling mishap) leading them to a 5th place finish. A poor showing in last seasons Epic Cup, only winning one group game (against the eventual winners Addicted to Champagne) will surely motivate the team to a better performance this time round.
Analysis
Team Moon Moon don't always stick to the meta, their most picked being Junkrat, Stitches and Stukov. Junkrat has a strong 88% win rate over 9 games, but this is probably just a fluke and is definitely not worth banning by the other teams. We have also seen a single appearance from D.Va, which didn’t end in a GG for TMM.
Interestingly, Anub’arak has been banned for all 21 maps TMM have played this season (18 times by TMM, 3 by opponents).
[Division 4 - 6th]Team Simple Geography 
Overview
Team Simple Geography barely missed out on the playoffs last season, inferior map wins costing them dearly. They have 2 more map wins this time around, ensuring them a 6th place finish and a spot in the Cup.
Analysis
Throughout the season Team Simple Geography have shown a passion for Jaina clocking in with 9 picks and an impressive 88% win rate, prompting other teams to ban her out 10 times in response. In terms of healing they have pledged their allegiance to the Night Elves, Malfurion or Tyrande being their healer of choice for 17 maps this season.
[Division 4 - 7th] Only Fools and Heroes 
Overview
Only Fools and Heroes are currently in their second season with Lounge. They finished 2nd in Division 7 last season, and went on to reach the knockout stage of the Rare Cup before facing a defeat which knocked them out.
Analysis
This group of Fools and Heroes have a whopping 13 games on Imperius, showing a lot of favour towards a hero who doesn’t get too much attention otherwise. The standout hero for them is Zul’jin who comes in with 9 picks and a very impressive 88% win rate, which has attracted 9 bans from people who definitely don’t want axe.
[Division 4 - 8th] The Art of Warfare 
Overview
Another newly formed team, The Art of Warfare managed to clinch a Cup spot with a vital 2-1 win over Sloth Sanctuary in round 10.
Analysis
The Art of Warfare have picked Alexstrasza 16 times! This is almost three times as much as their next most picked hero, I believe this is the definition of a comfort pick. Following up with 6 picks they have Chromie and Mephisto, the latter coming up with an impressive 83% win rate.
[Division 5 - 1st] Lobster Revenge 
Overview
Presenting Season 9 Division 5 champions, Lobster Revenge. This team, making their debut in the Lounge this season managed 8 out of 10 wins with 17 map wins in total. They just pipped CoB Antimeta to 1st place thanks to them winning the match between them in Round 8
Analysis
Lobster Revenge claim to make weird drafts work, and they certainly live up to that based on their hero picks. Stitches is their most played hero with 7 picks and 71% win rate. Throughout their season we have seen cameos from heroes such as Medivh, Nazeebo, Morales, Valeera, Tassadar, Butcher, D.Va, Li Li and even a Gazlowe pick! You may question how useful these heroes are in Lounge, but you certainly can’t argue with the results as this approach led them to pole position.
A special mention that Lobster Revenge have picked an astonishing 51 different heroes this season in Lounge, the most of any team in the Epic Cup.
[Division 5 - 2nd] CoB Antimeta 
Overview
Seasoned Lounge team CoB Antimeta can be happy with a 2nd place finish this season, narrowly missing out on 1st. They have been in Lounge for several seasons, but this time round will be the first time they have reached the playoffs/cup.
Analysis
CoB’s most played hero is Tyrande with 10 games, paired with an excellent 80% win rate. Garrosh and Zeratul have shown to be very pivotal heroes, high win rates on both heroes causing them to banned out 10 and 11 times respectively.
[Division 5 - 3rd] Jammed Comms 
Overview
Another debut team this season, Jammed Comms managed a 3rd place finish. They missed out on a higher finish due to map wins, but the two matches they lost were to the eventual winners and runners up in the division, so 3rd place seems fitting for this team.
Analysis
Jammed Coms have shown a clear preference for Sylvanas picking her up no less than 10 times, which has prompted 7 bans in response. This team are certainly not sticking to the few meta heroes when it comes to their frontline heroes, Arthas and E.T.C. their most played warriors with 8 games each. Some people would argue E.T.C is a weak hero, but this is certainly not the case in the hands of Jammed Comms - he has a flawless 100% win rate in the aforementioned 8 games.
[Division 5 - 4th] JustFriends 
Overview
Now in their 3rd season with Lounge, JustFriends will be competing in their first playoffs. They have had a positive season up to this point collecting 7 wins out of 10
Analysis
Be warned teams of the Epic Cup, if you come up against JustFriends you should certainly fear their Arthas. The former Lich King is currently 10 wins out of 10 this season, his charge through Division 5 being banned out 10 times by other teams who dare not face him. Tyrande is another hero with a flawless record, picking up 7 wins for the Friends.
[Division 5 - 5th] CLN SpacePhungi 
Overview
Last seasons Rare Cup runners up have had another successful season so far after moving up from Division 6.
Analysis
SpacePhungi have impressed with their Raynor and Kael’thas play this season, picking them up 9 and 8 times respectively and achieving almost a 90% win rate with both. They have won all 6 games they have played on Rehgar, who is their 3rd most played healer.
[Division 5 - 6th] Jaina The Frost Mage 
Overview
It is fair to say Lounge veteran team Jaina The Frost Mage have had a good season. They dominated the first chunk of the season, winning an impressive 6 games in a row. Unfortunately only 1 more win in their last 4 games saw them drop off from the top positions of the division.
Analysis
ZERO Jaina picks this season for Jaina The Frost Mage. There is an argument that they should change their name to Kael’thas The Fire Mage, as they did pick him 8 times with an impressive 87% win rate. Johanna is their most picked hero with 11 games and a 81% win rate.
[Division 5 - 7th] Treehouse Gaming 
Overview
These beloved sloths are competing in their 4th season in Lounge as this team. They had a poor start to this campaign only winning 1 of their first 5 games, but a magnificent run of 5 straight wins pushed them straight up into the playoffs. They competed in the Cup in Season 7 and will be hoping that experience will come in handy this time round.
Analysis
Jimmy has dominated Treehouses picks this season, being drafted in 11 times with a 63% win rate. Some good win rates on Hanzo, Arthas, Leoric and Ana shows that they have been important parts of their rise up the Division. Misha has climbed her way into the Treehouse once this season, helping her team to a win.
[Division 5 - 8th] LGhouseoffail 
Overview
Lounge first timers LGhouseoffail have had a good start to their life in lounge, clinching their playoff spot with a round 10 win against Handsome Squad.
Analysis
Stukov is the most played hero for LGhouseoffail, coming in at 11 picks. In response he has been struck off (imagine someone saying this is a way that makes it sound like Stukov) from draft 7 times. Two heroes that we don’t often see highly picked in the current meta are Sonya and Greymane, but this hasn’t stopped LGhouseoffail. They have picked them 10 and 9 times respectively, with good win rates for both.
So there we have it folks, the groups are ready to be drawn and we await some exciting Epic Cup action.
The games will take place between the 10th and 21st of June, so keep an eye on the Calendar and in the #stream channel in Discord for any casts.
.png){kind=small}
