The StarCraft II World Championship Series (WCS) Spain Nationals took place on May 26 in Madrid. The tournament featured the top 16 Spanish players – all winners of the open qualifiers, all fighting for two available slots in the Europe Finals. It was sure to be a stiff competition.

The Rise of the Durán Brothers

During the first day of the event, brothers Pedro “LucifroN” Moreno Durán and Juan “VortiX” Moreno Durán began their journeys from very opposite sides of the board. LucifroN's path to victory seemed unstoppable when he won with resounding 2-0 scores against Álvaro “Trehor” Campos Nieto, Jorge “ToXiC” Rodríguez Castrillo and Hanuel “NaRa” Lee. However, the same can’t be said of his brother VortiX. After his initial victory against  John “Sirckcraft” Francesc Rios Oliveros, the zerg player was defeated by  Enrique “AlaStOr” Guillermo Macias Moreno with a score of 1-2, sending him to the Consolation Bracket. Thirsty for revenge, VortiX began to climb his way up the bracket by winning 2-0 against his first opponent there, Moisés “HoBBiT” Abascal.

Onward to the Grand Final with a Steady Hand

On the second day of the tournament, LucifroN and NaRa battled it out in the first semi-final of the Winner’s Bracket. Both players contributed to one of the best matches of the morning. Eventually, LucifroN would continue onward with a 2-0 score, securing his spot in the Winner’s Bracket final. There, he fought AlaStoR in a quick but exciting match, earning himself a place in the Grand Final and a coveted slot in the Europe Finals.

Climbing the Consolation Bracket, Seeking Revenge

VortiX made his intentions clear during the morning: he wanted to face AlaStOr again and come out on top this time. He was willing to take on as many opponents as needed to succeed.

First, he defeated Oscar “EmPiReS” Martín Noguerol in Round 3 of the Consolation Bracket, going through to the next round after a clear victory. There, he faced NaRa (who’d been previously defeated by VortiX’s brother, LucifroN) in one of the most exciting rounds of the lower bracket. It was clear from the beginning that neither of them was willing to make it easy for the other. In the end, VortiX was the more focused of the two and made it through to the next round.

The zerg player also defeated Ruben “LoL_vs_xD” Pons Serrano with relative ease, securing a spot in the lower bracket final. It was there that the focus of his revenge finally appeared: AlaStOr.

It was the moment of truth. Would VortiX manage to overcome the player who had sent him to the Consolation Bracket? It didn't seem so at first. ALaStOr quickly took the lead after an impressive play in the first match. Far from being discouraged, the younger Durán brother made an equally impressive comeback, winning the next two matches and achieving his objective: defeating ALaStOr, the player whose impressive performance had become the biggest surprise of the tournament. VortiX earned himself the second slot in the Europe Finals, and moved on to face his brother in the Grand Final to determine the Spanish champion.

The Grand Final

Everything was in place for an exciting Grand Final between two of the best players on the Spanish scene, and the two brothers certainly didn't disappoint us in the first match. After a lengthy exchange of blows (with the clock almost reaching the 30 minute mark), LucifroN turned the tide with a well-timed marine drop into VortiX's base, claiming a victory that had not been completely expected during much of the match.

The second match, however, was over more quickly, as VortiX failed to present any real opposition to his brother. He would reveal at the end of the tournament that his defeat in the first game had greatly affected his mentality, and that he had trouble focusing on the second match. In the end, it was his older brother LucifroN who was crowned the Spanish champion.

Overall, the top Spanish players delivered an impressive weekend loaded with emotion and excitement. Congratulations to the Durán brothers, who will go on to represent their country in the Europe Finals this coming September!