The Golden Badge winners club logically enough consist only of the brightest and most dominant players the Korean BW scene has ever seen. It won't do his accomplishments any justice, if I say Bisu doesn't belong to this exclusive club, but unlike the bonjwas before and the God after him , Bisu never managed to establish his own long lasting reign of dominance. His career, following glorious triumphs and disappointing losses, is marked by the huge expectations towards him by everyone in the community and just like all great champions, Bisu was challenged to prove his worth in every tournament he attended. This ultimately resulted in some of the most significant and memorable moments of the MSL.
Bisu's meteoric rise to stardom happened during the 2007 GOMTV Season 1 MSL.By that time Kim Taek Yong was considered already a prodigious young protoss player with a solid performance in the Proleague for his team - MBC. With a loss to the protoss legend nal_ra, followed by wins over the terran powerhouses Iris and Canata, Bisu managed to make it through a very hard group in the Ro16. The Ro8 was not easier for Bisu thou as the current MSL format meant he was put in a group with two more terran players - the rising stars Hwasin and Light, as well as the MSL runner up - the zerg player Silver. Bisu managed to overcome the challenge in fine style and was up for a rematch in the semifinal against the fan favorite nal_ra. The community was massively rooting for the Dreamer as his potential win meant he would face his nemesis savior in a much waited second part of their Holy Wars. The underdog shocked everyone though, as Bisu easily bested nal_ra 3-0 in their encounter. It seemed like everything was set for a 4th title in the 5th consecutive final appearances for savior.
The starcraft fan's memory is a funny thing though, the scene is so dynamic that months and years feel like a long time, events from just 3-4 years ago are considered legends. In the end people will always remember how Anytime denied Boxer his golden mouse, how the legend of fall in the OSL was born or how Flash managed to beat Stork for about half an hour to take his first OSL title. We all remember the event, but no one remembers the date. There's one exception though and thats 3.3.2007.
[insert pic]
The actual games and the PvZ revolution which resulted from Bisu's win over the maestro have been much discussed. Even if we detach ourselves from the significance of the metagame shift which was the aftermath of these games, the Bisu vs Savior final of GOMTV MSL Season 1 is the most famous and arguably the most important match in the history of BW. It marked the end of the so called Golden Age and the beginning of the last chapter in the scene's development.
Outplaying a bonjwa in a Bo5 against all odds is surely the most bombastic way for a newcomer to make his mark in the scene. Following the historic trend of succession, the new posterboy of the scene Bisu was to show that he is not just flash in the pan. The upcoming GOMTV MSL Season 2 was eagerly awaited by the community - it was going to be the answer if there was a new protoss super star in the making or the maestro was going to reclaim his throne. Still, Bisu was not alone leading the protoss race renaissance. After advancing out of his group and defeating Bisu in the process, the CJ captain OverSky enlisted the army, leaving his Ro8 bracket spot vacant. In the resulted Wild Card tournament, the protoss Commander Stork managed to get his second chance at the title. Meanwhile on the upper side of the bracket, a shocking result has been produced as the TvZ specialist firebathero bested the maestro himself in a thrilling Bo5, making sure that the MSL finals streak of savior won't be extended.
After another win over Light in the Ro16, the reigning champion Bisu was up against the "Red Sniper" Hwasin. Ever since the decline from power of iloveoov and NaDa, no player was able to recapture the brilliance of the bonjwa terrans for quite some time. Still, it's fair to say that in 2007 Hwasin was playing the best starcraft of his life - even managing to take the 2007 korean WCG over Stork. Bisu was able to overcome the challenge though, managing a 3-2 victory in a knife edge series, keeping his back-to-back MSLs run alive. The following semifinal against GoRush was a mere formality as Bisu's PvZ was wrecking all zerg opposition for a while after the 3.3. Revolution. So in order to be the first ever protoss player with back-to-back MSL titles, Bisu had to the defeat the Commander Stork. All attention of the community was focused on this final as both players had a completely different approach to the race they were playing - it was the energetic style of Bisu, focused on his trademark multitasking versus the calm and deeply methodical play of Stork.
[insert pic]
If Bisu vs Savior was a bombshell, Bisu vs Stork was even better still. Fans and tournament organizers couldn't not have hoped for a better final - the two protoss stars traded wins in epic games setting up the stage for a 5th and final game worth of heroic songs and bard poems. In a nail bitting and balls sweating 50 minutes long game, Bisu was finally able to force Stork into submission. The first protoss back-to-back MSL champion and KeSPa #1 was a reality, after many years of struggle and lack of success, there was finally a protoss hope.
Sure enough, Bisu got his chance to seal his bonjwa claims and finally establish himself as the undisputed best player in the world. Full of confidence, during the Ro16 of GOMTV MSL Season 3 he was able to win yet another close match with his terran rival and so called "insurance" Hwasin. It was really a match Bisu was supposed to lose, but just like all great champions before him, he was able to somehow pull through. Up until the final, the bracket was a breeze for Bisu as this MSL turned out to be the swan song of a couple of old starcraft legends - nal_ra and XellOs - two players long past their prime. So after smashing Kwanro and easily overcoming XellOs in the semifinal, Bisu was yet again in a match for the title, breaking all records about protoss player performance in the MSL. At this point though the comparisons between the Revolutionist and the other warriors of Auir were irrelevant, all that mattered was if Bisu will become the 5th bonjwa. The other side of the tournament bracket was a real dog fight, with savior and stork trying to earn their chance for a revenge against Bisu. Surprisingly, it was the young terran player Mind, who made it to the final, a fantastic feat considering he had to overcome two bonjwas, iloveoov and savior, along the way.
The golden badge was forged, all arrangements for Bisu's bonjwa coronation were made. The Revolutionist, holding his hands high, kissing his 3rd consecutive MSL trophy - all was perfect and completely logical. But so was the real outcome. In true Cinderella style, the dark horse Mind denied Bisu his birth right, completing his extraordinary tournament run. Bisu's weakness, his PvT, was exposed, as Mind played perfectly against him, adapting his style to the stale and predictable play of the Revolutionist. As shocking as this defeat was, Bisu's bonjwa claim and MSL dominance were not yet put to rest. With his pride hurt, during the next MSLs group selection ceremony Bisu decided it will be best to quickly reestablish his authority in the scene by challenging the fresh royal roader and rising zerg star - Jaedong. Just like in the cases of his triumphs against Savior and Stork, Bisu crashed and burned against Jaedong with flare and style. He lost an epic game on Blue Storm and soon after was eliminated. Jaedong on the other hand proceeded to win the tournament, beating the reigning champion Mind and soon to become his arch-nemesis Flash along his way. Feeling the prize slipping from his hands, during the group stage of 2008 Arena MSL Bisu desperately tried to get his revenge on Jaedong, but the Revolutionist's play was weak and uninspiring, all the flare of his ground breaking PvZ against savior was gone. It became painfully obvious that Bisu can't establish long lasting dominance against the new heroes of the day - Jaedong and Flash. After just 2 group eliminations, people considered the protoss champion finished - he was in a deep slump, his career was shaping to be one of missed opportunities.
[insert image]
Clubday msl. fail fail fail fail etc will write later.
On December 04 2009 09:45 Whiplash wrote: Unfortunately current trends seem to be pointing in this direction... Who will raise the Protoss banner and lead in his place?
On December 04 2009 09:45 Whiplash wrote: Unfortunately current trends seem to be pointing in this direction... Who will raise the Protoss banner and lead in his place?
Stork?
nope, it'll be one of the new Protosses.. or Bisu will rise again I hope, he has that capacity. Remember when everyone thought he was gone forever, before he started raping everyone again? It was good to see him dominating..
I stayed up all night for this match.. and I just felt like shit today hopefully this is enough of a shock to wake him up out of his mini-slump
On December 04 2009 09:45 Whiplash wrote: Unfortunately current trends seem to be pointing in this direction... Who will raise the Protoss banner and lead in his place?
Hm...I started watching Starcraft in the post-Flash era. Bisu was hitting his peak, Jaedong was becoming the best player in the world and things were looking more chaotic by the day. However, despite starting later than you, I don't share your opinion of Bisu. I assume that this post is prompted by his recent losses in all three major venues of Starcraft, against all three races, against players that should not even be considered his equal. However, just before that, was there really any evidence that he was anything but the best Protoss in the world? His teammate on SKT1, Best, and his roommate in WCG, Stork (lol parallel construction), are both clearly good protoss but even now, I wouldn't favor them in a Bo5 against Bisu. Clearly, Bisu is not at his best. However, he's mini-slumped before. But he's gotten out of them. Let's face it: unlike Jaedong, Bisu is not the most consistent guy in the world. Bisu fans know that. All I'm saying is, don't write him off yet.
The Protoss banner must be held by someone. Best and Stork are coming back from what appeared to be mini slumps of their own. There's new blood in Movie and Violet. But I believe...trust that Bisu is still the best.
On December 04 2009 10:08 Ecrilon wrote: Hm...I started watching Starcraft in the post-Flash era. Bisu was hitting his peak, Jaedong was becoming the best player in the world and things were looking more chaotic by the day. However, despite starting later than you, I don't share your opinion of Bisu. I assume that this post is prompted by his recent losses in all three major venues of Starcraft, against all three races, against players that should not even be considered his equal. However, just before that, was there really any evidence that he was anything but the best Protoss in the world? His teammate on SKT1, Best, and his roommate in WCG, Stork (lol parallel construction), are both clearly good protoss but even now, I wouldn't favor them in a Bo5 against Bisu. Clearly, Bisu is not at his best. However, he's mini-slumped before. But he's gotten out of them. Let's face it: unlike Jaedong, Bisu is not the most consistent guy in the world. Bisu fans know that. All I'm saying is, don't write him off yet.
The Protoss banner must be held by someone. Best and Stork are coming back from what appeared to be mini slumps of their own. There's new blood in Movie and Violet. But I believe...trust that Bisu is still the best.
I'm not saying Bisu is bad right now. Of course he isnt. But I guess you missed the time when he was the best. In 2007 he was unbeatable, man
And no, I formed this opinion about Bisu long ago, but I think its best to share it now, after his losses, when his fans reacted the exact same way as they always do
This was good Disciple, but I don't agree with Bisu being in the same league as oov/NaDa/sAviOr. Winning 3 MSLs was good, but those guys are bonjwas, and Bisu, is not. Not only did those three change the game (which Bisu arguably did, I'll agree) but those three were feared among all. I don't think the same can be said for Bisu. Even as early as Daum, people weren't 100% confident in him - if you were to look back on other players like oov/NaDa/sAviOr, people didn't question their ability to beat players - they were challenged, but people still knew they were going to win.
^ It wasn't a DEEP slump, but it was a big slump for someone his calibre.
Anyway Disciple, i feel the exact way about savior, exact maybe 1.5 years back i had the same opinion. His overcoming the best terrans on the best terran maps, which pretty much gave the zerg race hope, is what i find one of the most amazing things about him.
Savior could be the sole starter of the now-zerg rampage, his ZvT techniques became widely used, he created a new standard. His ZvP led to bisus build back in the finals. Jaedong carried this on, and translated new 2 hatch ZvT builds, with the same principle, but abusing micro. He popularized ZvP builds that countered anything and everything a protoss could throw at it.
Anyway, as i said, i thought this around 2 years ago, and luckily now i have the 2nd/3rd best zerg in the world, on the same team as savior, playing his style, for me to look forward to, but always in the front of my mind savior doing well is going to be there.
On December 04 2009 10:26 vx70GTOJudgexv wrote: This was good Disciple, but I don't agree with Bisu being in the same league as oov/NaDa/sAviOr. Winning 3 MSLs was good, but those guys are bonjwas, and Bisu, is not. Not only did those three change the game (which Bisu arguably did, I'll agree) but those three were feared among all. I don't think the same can be said for Bisu. Even as early as Daum, people weren't 100% confident in him - if you were to look back on other players like oov/NaDa/sAviOr, people didn't question their ability to beat players - they were challenged, but people still knew they were going to win.
I meant that ppl should look for Bisu's accomplishments in the past, and dont wait for them to come in the future. Thats why I'm putting him besides oov/nada/savior
He is 21. What are you talking about? Just because he started earlier doesn't mean he won't win anymore, just wait for another Club Day. You're downplaying his potential to avoid disappointment, but there's seriously no permanent decline in his skill right now.
EPT
hopefully this is enough of a shock to wake him up out of his mini-slump
