I agree that Ed is a very competent and credible leader fronting possibly the most professional parties in Westminster (despite the stunts and gaffs). However I feel like you are parroting smears on Polanski and to and extent Corbyn.

The hypnosis breasts incident was instigated by a Sun journalist and repeated every time he reaches any headlines by the right wing press. For a story that was largely fabricated.

The Corbyn party I feel you have more of a point as they seem quite unorganised and split (and they have so much overlap with Green that there isn’t all that much point). But didn’t they cut association with the guy questioning trans rights?

Just to add as well, there are other leftist options in the country who are doing quite well and currently seem pretty competent, though they are not English.

How are your predictions going? Mine are going ok with only two wrong, but I’m not as confident in putting XG to win currently.

I wasn’t all that confident in the brood pick, but Satanic made it look very strong late game. XG really needed to hit an earlier timing. Looking forward to seeing PV in the semis!

I also like the trend toward offlane save hero with centaur, phoenix or undying being picked up. I might have to try that sort of play style myself.

So far today it looks like there have been some of the fastest games of the tournament. I was expecting the games to be more closer and more competitive than the groups. Maybe nerves and pressure are having more of an impact than I thought.

Nigma games feel much more tense, because you are waiting for them to throw at some point. Nice to see they are breaking this pattern on their first game. Mainstage Nigma does always seem to perform better!

Is it?

There are so many different rumors and speculations about who it is that just adds to the anonymity.

In theory, winning would mean you have an easier elimination match as you will be placed up against a 1-3 team or someone else that has lost. Looking at the matchups though I don’t think there are any easy matchups, apart from maybe Wildcard. But I think that is down to how competitive it is rather than the tourney structure.

Only watched on and off, but ya gotta trust in the late game void + enigma. PV do have the experience advantage in this kinda situation at the high level too.

What a smooth performance on the game 3 Nigma v Aurora. Perfect strategy and executed very well. Almost refreshing not to have a nail biting 60 minute game for once!

I do love Ghost’s story of first playing in SEA, then China and now EU/MENA. Shows just how international the pro scene has become. And how much players can benefit from being multilingual.

Sumail was a joy to watch back on his storm spirit again. He may have been around for a while, but you have to remember he is still fairly young. Winning TI at 16 was bonkers.

I was assuming that the best games would be at the end of the group stage and the first few rounds would be stomps, but I was very wrong. Super hyped for the rest of the tourney if this is how things start!

Ghost is looking pretty strong at the moment. Maybe it is just the 4 protect 1 kinda thing they often do, but the rest of the team just doesn’t quite look as hot.

The wonderful ambiguity of the English language. Never has caused any issues before I am sure.

My thinking was that he sits facing it, like you would sit in front of the TV. But instead of the tele, he is just staring at red, white and blue like a true patriot.

TfW have also implemented this in every station in the South Wales metro area. Works pretty well and it is so much cheaper than paper ticketing.

Not sure why this won’t be able to be used in England too. Sometimes I think that some in government just push for the new shiny tech thing (be it AI, GPS…), without considering how applicable it would be.

Out of curiosity, how would you describe someone coming in using an illegal route and not claiming asylum? No idea how prevalent this group would be, but this I think is the type that is the target of fearmongoring. From what I gather, the sketchy gig economy-type companies are what fuels this.

I would’ve preferred to see GG play, but I’m sure Yakutou can put on a performance too.

Hopefully having more Chinese teams gives the scene over there a. it of a boost after it has dropped off for a while.

Okay

This is a pretty scary statement. It seems like the Conservatives (the official opposition) see Reform as their opposition and are just trying to counter their policy by trying to sit further right. This seems bonkers to me and will only normalise this sort of discourse, also pushing other parties further right.

I do wonder if we had a voting system and parliament which encouraged party collaboration we would have such issues.

Good news! Reversing the mayoral and PC changes were just in the news last week! https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/10/ministers-propose-voting-changes-for-mayoral-elections-in-devolution-bill

Seeing as they are following in the footsteps of the Welsh voting reforms with this news, I would hope that if all goes well then they will follow with the PR changes too. Although looking polling at how Labour are expected to fare in the Sennedd, maybe they will consider it not in their interests.