In the first DreamHack event of the year in Hearthstone another new face took victory—though he isn’t a face new to card games.
After three days in Bucharest, it was former Magic: the Gathering pro Stanislav Cifka who triumphed as the first DreamHack champion of 2015. Cifka defeated reigning world champion James “Firebat” Kostesich 3-1 in the final after an impressive run through the qualifiers.
In keeping with the theme of 2015 so far, players from the qualifiers dominated the playoff stage. In the round of 16 where the eight invited players started the tournament, only Kostesich and Cloud9’s Aleksandr “Kolento” Malsh made it to the quarterfinals.
Overcoming Dima “Rdu” Radu in the round of 16, Cifka also defeated Radu’s team captain Jakub “Lothar” Szygulski in the semi finals.
After needing five games to win his series against Radu, Szygulski and Malsh, Cifka’s most dominant performance came in the final itself. Aside from one astonishing turn three kill by Kostesich’s mech Shaman deck it was relatively smooth sailing for the Czech player.
Cifka took home $4,000 for first place as well as 50 Hearthstone World Championship points. His first points of the campaign, the victory leaves him in joint 11th place in the European standings.
