LiBo (left) and TiddlerCelestial (right) after the grand finals

The Chinese mirror between underdog LiBo and BlizzCon CN winner TiddlerCelestial became a Zoolock parade as the entire Bo7 ended in under 40 minutes with a 4:1 win for LiBo. 

The largest cheque in Hearthstone to date has been handed out and the previously unknown LiBo from China is now the most winningest player in the game as he goes home $97,000 richer after just one tournament.

LiBo started his journey to the championship in Group A and advanced in first place after wins over Polish star Lothar and home turf player KowFox. Once in the playoffs, the underdog completely steamrolled his opponents, 3-0'ing western heroes Alchemixt and Ek0p on the back of his Shaman. 

His semi-final opponent, however, was a tougher bite to swallow as LiBo was paired against #1 ranked player Rdu. The two traded set for set and by game the Romanian was leading 3-2, one game away from advancing to the grand final, but this is when LiBo's Shaman came to save the day once again, knocking Rdu down.

LiBo eventually got matched against TiddlerCelestial, one of China's BlizzCon WC representatives. Tiddler escaped Group C, barely beating Swedish player Forsen through better map score, and had to fight through two fellow countrymen on his way to the finals. Unlike LiBo's games, Tiddler's were much more contested as it was a 3-2 against HunterMing and 3-1 against KowFox in the Ro16 and Ro8, respectively.

Strangely enough, the one series of Tiddler that fans expected to go the distance didn't as the Chinese swept clean Tempo Storm's Gaara in the semi finals, overpowering the foreigner with his Druid deck. This set up an all-Chinese final, as Rdu and Gaara were left to fight for the bronze, which eventually went to the latter after a 4-2 series.

If LiBo's and Tiddler's previous matches were defined by their Shaman and Druid play, the grand final was not. Instead, it came down to a Zoolock display of power as Tiddler took game one on the back of his Warlock but was then 4-1'd by LiBo's own Zoo, making for what fans labeled as underwhelming end to the tournament.

WCA standings:

1. LiBo - $97,000
2. TiddlerCelestial - $49,000
3. Gaara - $27,000
4. Rdu - $1,600
5-8. Ekop - $1,600
5-8. Kitkatz - $1,600
5-8. Darkwonyx - $1,600
5-8. KowFox - $1,600