EPTI'm not actually going to blizzcon, but since I live about 30 minutes away, I had the unique opportunity to go see the osl finals. I even managed to bring a couple friends who knew nothing of the progaming scene since the only friend who would have gone *because* it was sc was in vegas this weekend.
I was at a friend's birthday party until after midnight, so I didn't actually get to the hotel until about 1:30. I was a bit worried about finding seats (lol) and wanted to show up early to try to catch the end of the showmatches and see some of the progamers.
We got there and amazingly got second row seats, right next to the lone yarnc fan. I was excited and didn't know what was happening. Then I saw aers chat and realized all of the cj progamers had already left to get some sleep. Then we listened to day9 do some standup while waiting for the games.
At 2, the broadcast started and the tension built as the commentators screamed from the back of the stadium to introduce the match. Two times, silouettes turned into top tier zergs who fearlessly marched into the crowd. A few hat throws later the interviews began.
The interviews happened with nothing special said. LosingID8 translated them, but it was basically the progamers giving exactly the responses we'd expect. Then here we were waiting for some kpop to stall our finals when to our amazement THE GAMES STARTED WITHOUT ANY KPOP!@!! The atmosphere in the conference room was at an all time high.
FIVE
FOUR
THREE
TWO
ONE
START
The cheers that followed were one of the best things of the night. yarnc came first to a small group of about 5 people cheering. Then I got to join in for a massive cheer LEE JAE DONG. It had begun.
WARNING: OSL SPOILERS BELOW
+ Show Spoiler +
The games. Without day9's commentary, I'd have been completely lost the first game as jd 10 hatch 9 pooled. He defended the 9pool easily and starting massing lings. Yarnc was building a wall of lings at his base when BAM jd snuck 3 lings through the last hole before it could be sealed.
This, along with the first cheer, was the greatest moment of the night. The resounding OOOOOOOOOOOOOH as jd pulled a game winning move is unforgettable.
From there jd ovewhelmed yarnc with lings and it was all over. We had a good time laughing at korean commercials before game 2 started.
The cheer was almost as amazing the second time after years of watching it, but never getting the chance to actually yell out the player's name.
Game 2 wasn't nearly as exciting. jd basically kept applying pressure at the ramp and yarnc made 4 scourge to snipe the first mutas that failed.
After that game, you could feel the crowd starting to lose its energy. People were taking mini naps between the games and the whole aura of excitement was gone. Everyone knew the series was over at that point and people were just staying for the formalities.
Game 3 was just not as exciting. jd just won it with superior muta micro and that was that, a golden mouse for him.
As soon as the game ended, everyone started to pack up and the loss of the crowd's energy made the ceremony's start and chariots of fire just not as epic as it was to me when I watched jd take his osl win.
So that's it, the osl curse is broken.
Even with the games being a slight disappointment, the experience was wonderful. I missed out on a few things like seeing the exhibition match and seeing the cj players, just being there for the osl finals was well worth it.
When else am I going to be able to watch a starleague finals from the second row with 100 other people?
Best thing this summer so far
This, along with the first cheer, was the greatest moment of the night. The resounding OOOOOOOOOOOOOH as jd pulled a game winning move is unforgettable.
From there jd ovewhelmed yarnc with lings and it was all over. We had a good time laughing at korean commercials before game 2 started.
The cheer was almost as amazing the second time after years of watching it, but never getting the chance to actually yell out the player's name.
Game 2 wasn't nearly as exciting. jd basically kept applying pressure at the ramp and yarnc made 4 scourge to snipe the first mutas that failed.
After that game, you could feel the crowd starting to lose its energy. People were taking mini naps between the games and the whole aura of excitement was gone. Everyone knew the series was over at that point and people were just staying for the formalities.
Game 3 was just not as exciting. jd just won it with superior muta micro and that was that, a golden mouse for him.
As soon as the game ended, everyone started to pack up and the loss of the crowd's energy made the ceremony's start and chariots of fire just not as epic as it was to me when I watched jd take his osl win.
So that's it, the osl curse is broken.
Even with the games being a slight disappointment, the experience was wonderful. I missed out on a few things like seeing the exhibition match and seeing the cj players, just being there for the osl finals was well worth it.
When else am I going to be able to watch a starleague finals from the second row with 100 other people?
Best thing this summer so far
