Yeah, people usually acknowledge that Free is good but in all seriousness, he has one of the best PvZ:s out there. PvZ to me is the matchup which separates the really good protoss users from the mediocre. This elusive matchup is always in the way for protoss to become truly dominant and few players have managed to not look like underdogs in PvZ, regardless of their opponent. Bisu, Free, Movie and Stork (I'm a dumbass and probably left someone out) is basically how good PvZ gets.
So, the reason for this blog entry is because I just watched Free vs Effort in the latest proleague game between Woongjin Stars and CJ Entus. Free played a really good textbook PvZ game, on how to kick a zergs ass. His mechanics and micro are extremely impressive alot of times in this matchup and it feels good to not think that protoss is at disadvantage in a PvZ game, which is what Free[gm] does to you.
I feel like he could become really awesome but he has been on the verge for quite some while. PvZ is what holds every protoss back except for Bisu, but Free plays this matchup without fear or second thought. He switches the game on zerg with sick timing attacks (like in the video below vs Effort), and expands like he's alone on the map.
donno why your linking that game, it was a terrible game. After free took a massive advantage effort refused to leave and just flapped around for 15 minutes, and despite free being up two bases, he couldn't end the game with a simple roll over. Truly a mediocre game...
On January 03 2010 04:15 Chill wrote: I actually think that's a terrible game. I don't see how you can justify free's skill based on that game...
THANK you. I was shaking my head when I was watching it last night, and everyone was screaming about how good it was. I cant believe anyone thinks that wasnt a bad game.
I think Free vs Jaedong a few months ago (crazy game that free won with use of reavers + archon's if I'm not mistaken) is a bigger testimony to his skill.
On January 03 2010 04:22 FlamyDeath wrote: I think Free vs Jaedong a few months ago (crazy game that free won with use of reavers + archon's if I'm not mistaken) is a bigger testimony to his skill.
Edit: might have been in the ClubDay 2008 MSL..
This. The one where Free had about a bajillion archons.
On January 03 2010 04:07 Foucault wrote: Bisu, Free, Movie and Stork (I'm a dumbass and probably left someone out) is basically how good PvZ gets.
Kal. On his good days.
And Jangbi on his good days too.
But that game was terrible. Free's macro was on par with a zerg when he was up a base. Free should of been able to finish off effort a long time ago. I mean effort didn't even make a single lurker to turtle. Jangbi had a hard time finishing effort, but that is because effort turtled like a mofo.
To be honest I think both this game and Efforts game vs Jangbi where he also lost showed more how Effort is the superior player compared to the others. In both games he got ridiculously set back early, but in both games he showed some sick macro and management and kept himself in the games much longer than other Zergs would have and at times it looked like he just might could make a comeback out of the games. Actually I think Effort would probably have won the game if he had just moved his rallypoints and not lost a gazillion lings just running past lots\archons and saved his min only and the 3extra hatches that was there.
Props to Free for a brilliant DT block in the ramp allowing him to go on a rampage at Efforts 3rd and later getting into the middle of his rallypoints, and props to jangbi for a brilliant DT sneak, but if these games showed us anything its that neither of these players could take down Effort in a late management game without getting huge early advantages. His management style and lategame is just on another level.
In all fairness it was terrible because Free pulled some brilliant maneuvers early on. Of course Effort made some tactical mistakes, but most Protoss players would not have dismantled him so thoroughly.
But yeah, it was a terrible game. It was over after like 10 minutes. Everything else was just Effort being desparate.
The game that comes to my mind as highlighting Free's PvZ the most is that famous dismantlement of Jaedong.
EPT
