Spoiler
EU also has better players than NA but yea you're right, "only thing".
Impossible to prove that EU has better players, just MORE players therefore pick of the litter.
Unless you want to get an Iceland server and settle it.
Half the rounds in Greenland, other half in Iceland. That's the most fair it can be. It's possible to prove -> the example Ledger gave + you can analyse the playstyles and habits of individual NA top compared to EU. You'll see the difference in skill-level immediately.
And yes, he was above average.
Explains why I've seen him consistently ranked in the 90+ ranking range in every EU list I've seen... right. The example Ledger gave isn't really a good one as Jackie hadn't really grown into his fullest potential until the 12th. Players consistently get better the more they play so the Jackie one isn't a good example. But like I said, pick of the litter + game based in EU + game company in EU + more.
You kind of counter yourself if you say he got better in NA yet he somehow ranks in EU lists? Anyway yes those reasons you listed are possible explanations for why the EU community is better, or you can maybe also consider NA mentality.
How do I counter myself? He wasn't at his peak in EU and was still ranked as one of the best, and when he came to NA and got better, he was the best (imo)(for a time).
It's hard to judge his peak since the tier of opponents he faced in EU was higher than in NA, maybe he is better now but it's harder to see. Anyways, it's not relevant to the point. He ranks 87 on the Community List, that seems quite above average to me. Still a rather competent player though. He must've had some quite magical late peak vs NA though if he is alright in EU and then suddenly becomes in your opinion the best NA (having played the game a lot already by that point in time).
Above average competitive wise is like 80, it's debatable/different for each person. And wow yeah 2012 is very late and magical.. this is purely anecdotal here but, the first year of playing the game I was AIGHT. It wasn't until the following years after that where I'd get much better at the game. It was like... magic almost..
NA players are not mechanically worse than EU players. It's a cultural difference along with their attitude towards competitive play and their reluctance to evolve. Long story short : You're inept.
Reluctance to evolve... nice meme lmao. Stop playing in molasses medium speed and get to our level.
Not a meme, it's the essence of the problem that plagues NA communities in virtually every competitive game ever, especially e-sports. Nobody is saying that NAs don't have the ability, or aren't as good skill-wise individually mostly. Do some reading about the differing mindsets.
Also how is melee speed relevant? If anything, it favours you not us since quick-blocking is easier on fastest speed than on medium.
Melee speed was about how much time EUs have to react to attacks and chambers
okay but you know EU is not flawless and better at every single game than NA which is how you're acting.
Lets take this analogy.
Its like a nicely washed carIts like Japanese rice vs American rice. Japanese rice will always be held in high regard over American rice because rice originated in Asia. There's people in Asia. And also more people who eat, farm, and cook rice everyday. That doesn't mean Americans are incapable of making good rice, it may not be traditional or exactly Japanese produced, but that doesn't stop us.
Do some reading on contemporary philanthropy and server mechanics.