Some thoughts: The maps are Xel'Naga , Metal , Scrap station. That is the order win or lose. I went in thinking "well at least I have metal each series to fall back on." Xel is a bit of a toss up either extremely straight up or that is where some of the gimmick occurs. I also KNEW I didn't want to go into a game 3 vs a zerg with scrap being the deciding map. Koreans notoriously view that map as an EZPZ ZvX map and I tend to agree. You have to respect the muta there and virtually any other opening is just as strong if not stronger with the destructible rock entrance into your natural. That and the extended open middle and you have a tough ass time as a P. That is why at MLG you saw TT1 and other p's going 3 gate expand into a 5-6 gate timing with virtually no plan for late middle or late game... you have to end it there.
Round 1: I was nervous. I didn't want to be. I pride myself on my experience and count on that to carry me through LAN play. That wasn't the case. Traveling so far.. having so many people counting on me and playing in a new environment against foreign opponents made my nerves shot. I got a P the first round that nobody recognized and he scared the SHIT out of me. First game he 4 gate all ins and after I miss 2 FF's while going 3 gate robo I nearly shat myself. Pulling probes and hero microing for my life was the name of the day. Meanwhile I had proxied a pylon near his ramp and was able to make the daring decision to spend 2 of my warp ins on zeals to go for his mineral line. Fortunately that with a few correct FF's and a couple Immortals lead to me securing my ramp and minimizing his mining with a bunch of probe kills and then mining time missed. After that I rolled him and took a big deep breath as I had survived my own nerves.
Game 2 we got cross position on metal and it had me overthinking.. does he macro here or try the same thing? All the while I have been playing this ladder (1.5 days) the koreans HATE standard PvP opting for 4 gate variations. So I played it safe and did the same build. He 4 gated and after I thwarted it pretty hard I decided to head to his base knowing he was blink stalkering. With 2 no range collo and gate way units I got smashed by a ton of charge lots with his blink stalkers but he had no expo and I fell back on mine.. massed up and rolled. 2-0
Round 2: Another Protoss. By now I am calming down and getting my shit together. First game was standard collo v collo but I had faster +1 and a faster 3rd which he attacked into and defending collo vs aggressive collo is good for the defender. So I steam rolled and won.
Game 2 he 4 gated into my good micro+units and was gg'd in 8 or so minutes.
Round 3 The shit thing here is after round 2 they moved me and said I had to wait. I waited 2 hours. I hate waiting... most competitors will tell you they want to play and GET IT OVER. I am not blaming this but it sucked.. was impossible to keep my cool while sitting there thinking I am 1 bo3 away from making history. "
I checked TL and saw that my opponent was indeed a high ranked korean Z. I had the korean Z's pretty well figured out in my day point 5 of laddering.... THEY CAN'T PLAY PASSIVE. It is roach ling aggression 10000000000% and I knew that. So game 1 IdrA suggests I try the 36 probe 5 gate timing that nony had been doing. First time trying it and I slaughtered him in the open field when he was taking his gold but instead of rallying or backing off I pushed forward and got swarmed with no FF's to cover me. Bad decision and doing an unpracticed build cost me the game. Same game a week later and I win 100%
Game 2 on metal was the best game I have played in SC2. I am resting my hat on this game. Cross position metal and I tried a 4 gate with meticulous Pylon chaining down to his side. He ends up ambushing 2-3 sentry and 2-3 zeals and raping with speed ling. I retreat to my expo and he pushes the matter where I execute nearly perfect cannons and hold at my nexus. He STREAMS a bajillion roaches/lings and I barely hold. Thought the game was over but we scrap battle it out and I eventually stabilize. I robo -> obs -> immortal and about that time he returns with aggression. I barely hold again and obs sees he has taken his 3rd (FUCK). So I slap down a second robo and start going collo. After I get 1 collo out start my 2nd and have range going he shows up with 9-10 muta. THis is literally the worst feeling as a P. I had 100% predicted (nearly blindly) that it was pure roach/ling macro/aggression but double robo vs muta ling is death. I sit on 2 collo and pump upgrades / stalkers as I take my 3rd. Each moment of this game is battle battle FF survival and 9-10 P units in yellow health standing on the blue goo of their fallen comrades. Z is making me earn each and every yard I get this game. Eventually I get 3 collo and a decent army so I push out towards his 3rd. He ends up killing my 3rd while I kill his and instead of me trying to end the game I retreated and reinforced. He decided to try and intercept and with the final battle I cut his army into 3rds and reinforced with 4 dt's vs an overseerless army. WHEW I won.
I could do it...
Game 3 I am having thoughts leak into my head that despite going 0-1 vs a top korean Zerg I might pull this out. That game lifted my spirits. Scrap is hard but I can do this. I go 3 gate expand and everything is going "OK" but then I decide "lets fucking DT 4 gate timing him" so I through down the twilight council and just then he slow over scouts and sees it... Ihave to cancel and revert back to 3 gate expand but at this point I have slowed my self down. Everything from there is sad times. I get a decent sentry force and start my expo saturation when I notice he is crumbling the middle rocks with an impossible number of roaches and lings. I try and sever his army in half with good FF's but he just runs past into my main after that his roaches engage my now sentry heavy army and dice it up. I start to realize I had lost and the depression sets in.. GG, I'm out.
After match thoughts: I had only been in korea 1.5 days and with a few misscommunications with Hwanni (we were supposed to train with guemchi, puma and upmagic) as well as having to play on a laptop because IdrA forgot the monitor connecting chord in Arizona I had still done impressively well on the korean ladder. I laddered on IdrA's account and took out 2700+ pro gamers... like Amoeba[S.G] and GanZi. I was crushing PvP, doing well PvZ and getting PvT. I feel like the korean play style is VERY different but incredibly similar across the board so easier to figure out and start to adapt. NA/EU players all vary their play so it's harder to read them as a style/player but easier to out play mechanically.
Being able to sit and spend each day with IdrA discussing strategy is so incredibly invaluable I cannot even begin to describe the growth. I feel like my ability and potential in this game has doubled. I really do feel this trip was the best thing I could do for my future in SC2 and I don't regret a moment of this. I am sad that I do not have the added bonus of an exciting round of 64 to look to but you know what? I came over here on a dream and I sat with a tough group and came 1 fucking game away from doing what Inca, Guemchi, Sangho and other great P's could not: qualify.
I am going to stay here for another week and go home after greg plays in his round of 64 next week. In that time I am going to practice, learn, make connections and continue to plot my development as a SC2 progamer. I know I can do it and this trip has done nothing but make that an absolute fact for me.
Students: I will schedule our sessions the week I get back but not before just because I will probably need a day off due to the travel but also I am not entirely sure when I will get back since greg still has to qualify and then get scheduled for a ro64.
Everyone else: Huge thanks to those that supported me and said I could make it. Bottom line is in this past month I have been 1 game away from a top 8 MLG and 1 game away from the ro64 GSL. Like it or not I am a top non-korean and as I continue to learn/develop I will start producing the results that make that an absolute reality. Winning ladder matches and doing well in practice won't get me there.. I realize that. But stick around, there are few as motivated and equipped as I am. I will do everything I can to be the best and while I do that I want to raise this community up and represent everyone as best I can. Hopefully the supporters can help me make that true! The haters can try and have an open-mind.. I'd love to see a community that backs it's people instead of tries and holds them down.
I will watch this blog and try and answer q's as much as possible <3
PvZ is a crazy rollercoaster and I could really empathize with everything you brought up, especially the 'oh jesus fuck' of mutas arriving when you went blind robo. Good read, and good attempt all the same - no shame in losing here, even if you beat yourself up for the losses.
Cool to hear your thoughts and I'm glad you can take the loss well and make the most of it. Even if you barely missed qualifying you still achieved something there and you'll have grown as a player in skill and experience.
Unrelated questions: is Upmagic practicing SC2 despite Gom saying they can declare you unfit as a gamer? And: can you speak at all on the EG house; will you be returning for it, with teammates?
Good job man that's really impressive. You going back there next month or what ? If you're really 100% about it you should invest some money in it and stay in Korea for a good 6 months.
Great try iNcontrol, I hope to see you there next time (Whenever that is, I guess this is the last one for 2010 heh), and perhaps ready to steamroll in some NA tournaments in the meantime.
On November 16 2010 01:15 rift wrote: Cool to hear your thoughts and I'm glad you can take the loss well and make the most of it. Even if you barely missed qualifying you still achieved something there and you'll have grown as a player in skill and experience.
Unrelated questions: is Upmagic practicing SC2 despite Gom saying they can declare you unfit as a gamer? And: can you speak at all on the EG house; will you be returning for it, with teammates?
EG is getting a house in korea. The date is not finalized.. hopefully sooner rather than later. Specifics are not in stone yet so I cannot comment too far but I can tell you EG wants to use korea as a base to train to be the best and expand our label. From there we will compete in the big western/euro/eastern tourneys.
Your journey sounded amazing and I'm glad you were able to experience it. I'll still cheer for you despite your loss. Wish you luck if you attempt future GSL's
after I heard about the whole holding off the all-in and countering with a proxy pylon thing from artosis, I got super excited and was sure you would make it.
so what does this mean for your future plans? I'm sorry if you've already answered this, but I just really wanna hear you say you're gonna move to korea and own next season haha
well, regardless what you do I wish you the best of luck!
Damn you were soo close Incontrol. Dont you feel like your unorthodox play is sometimes holding you back more than it does you good? Early DT play in a final game for GSL quals is a bit risky dont you think? Same thing vs Drewbie last MLG, you beat him in a straight up game but the game you tried to go for DTS you lost.
Going for DTS when you're up 1-0 or when the score is 0-0 might be a bit safer mindset to approach a series in my opinion. Would love to hear your thoughts on it. I know you're a smart player but it sometimes feel you're putting yourself in position you don't need to be on because you're not trusting your more "standard" play?
Who do you think could make it to ro64 if they came to korea? Who do you think WILL make it to ro64 of the players left? Finally, is there a way to upload the reps??
Congrats man! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, stuff like this really makes this community worth being a part of. Every foreigner should be proud of you. The haters are idiots, you have the balls to follow your dream and it looks like you are well on your way. I can't wait until you get another chance to come back to Korea and compete again.
Did you/do you know it was Moon you were playing against? The post makes it sound like you either didn't know or don't know who he is. Looking at his wikipedia page is quite intimidating... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jang_Jae_Ho
None the less awesome job! Sad to not see you qualify, but really that's an incredibly tough final match, one made even worse because you had to play on scrap.
Sad that you did not make it but gratz for gaining an invaluable experience.
Was following the GSL quali's the whole day and your's and Kiwi's failure to qualify was a total bummer.
How do you think the skill level of players compares between Koreans and foreigners now that you have experienced Korea first hand? Do you think the gap will widen if foreigners don't get their act together fast or there is no gap whatsoever and that the foreigners will be fine even if they don't set up practice houses and stuff
Seeing how abysmal Protoss' performance is, what do you think Protoss players must improve on. Do you see Protoss as the weakest race or the results are just a byproduct of the maps / player qualities? And are you still confident that Huk will give a good showing knowing the maps and that PvZ is his weakest matchup?
On November 16 2010 01:15 rift wrote: Cool to hear your thoughts and I'm glad you can take the loss well and make the most of it. Even if you barely missed qualifying you still achieved something there and you'll have grown as a player in skill and experience.
Unrelated questions: is Upmagic practicing SC2 despite Gom saying they can declare you unfit as a gamer? And: can you speak at all on the EG house; will you be returning for it, with teammates?
EG is getting a house in korea. The date is not finalized.. hopefully sooner rather than later. Specifics are not in stone yet so I cannot comment too far but I can tell you EG wants to use korea as a base to train to be the best and expand our label. From there we will compete in the big western/euro/eastern tourneys.
I hope you guys are able to form a relationship, as did TL, with someone out there if at all possible. Korean managers/coaches with some knowledge of English, and with experience in the progaming scene would really, really improve your practice / living conditions (rather than just having a handful of guys in a house together.)
What's the point of UpMagiC practicing for SC2 when he knows he will never be allowed to compete in the GSL?
Also, I was really pulling for you and Guemchi to qualify. I hope that this experience made you a better player and that when you get back to NA you will smash some faces.
Sick show, dude. Hopefully this hasty, no-practice-and-travel-fatigue impression shows EG's sponsors that it's definitely worth the investment. You and Machine both have a great chance, and IdrA is, of course, already over there.
What I'm trying to say is: GET THE FUCK BACK OVER THERE SOON.
Sad that you did not make it but gratz for gaining an invaluable experience.
Was following the GSL quali's the whole day and your's and Kiwi's failure to qualify was a total bummer.
How do you think the skill level of players compares between Koreans and foreigners now that you have experienced Korea first hand? Do you think the gap will widen if foreigners don't get their act together fast or there is no gap whatsoever and that the foreigners will be fine even if they don't set up practice houses and stuff
Seeing how abysmal Protoss' performance is, what do you think Protoss players must improve on. Do you see Protoss as the weakest race or the results are just a byproduct of the maps / player qualities? And are you still confident that Huk will give a good showing knowing the maps and that PvZ is his weakest matchup?
I think non-koreans compare quite favorably. What I do REALLY notice is the server segregation makes cross realm play hard. NA players are much more macro based and have a huge variance in their play which makes the game completely different. Of course the skill on average is higher on the korean server and top top players are still better than the tops of non-kor but I really feel like if the top non-kors trained in korea they would qualify consistently and start to make head ways in how they do as far as ro32 and onward is concerned. IdrA LITERALLY trains on the fucking ladder. If he had a house of Machine, myself, iNkA etc etc + good korean connections (we are working on that) he would be more than a force to reckon with. And that goes beyond him as well. Training with the korean atmosphere in addition to living with other progamers is incredibly progressive for SC2 training. Nothing compares.
As for protoss players I dunno. I am one of the last people to cry imbalance but I really feel we have it rough at the moment. Zerg can roach/ling aggression with standard macro (no risk to them) and then switch to muta or vice versa at no risk to them. P needs to detect either and respect it 100% or die. They of course can 5 gate all-in but who wants to admit that the standard is an all-in? Who wants a game where a race has to do that? I don't necessarily think it is THAT bad yet.. there is more to be developed but certainly atm it is really hard.
Awesome blog man, I was really really hoping you could make it, I'm a bit of a fan of you lol. Well there's always next season, and hey like you said you were only 1 game away from making it.
Quick question, will the things you learn in Korea greatly improve your coaching? Cause if that's the case then that's another incentive to toss down the bills for a lesson. I was looking for one before in that PM, but I was looking to get Sheth, but Sheth.. yeah.. haha
Nice job InC, you're one of the few pros that share everything with the community and this is very kind. Concerning the game, for a first run, you did absolutely fine imo, the environment were new and so on. Hope you can make it on a future GSL event.
On November 16 2010 01:53 Snuggles wrote: Awesome blog man, I was really really hoping you could make it, I'm a bit of a fan of you lol. Well there's always next season, and hey like you said you were only 1 game away from making it.
Quick question, will the things you learn in Korea greatly improve your coaching? Cause if that's the case then that's another incentive to toss down the bills for a lesson. I was looking for one before in that PM, but I was looking to get Sheth, but Sheth.. yeah.. haha
Absolutely.
I feel my understanding of this game has achieved a new level. I really feel like I am approaching a sick good read on this game. Execution is obviously harder but my coaching is/has benefited tremendously.
According to the text it sounds like you did Great despite not qualifying. Taking out koreans sure aint an easy task.
Questing: Whats the stand on releasing replays? Will GOM Publish any or is it forbidden to upload replays for us to view? And, when is the next SotG coming up? ; )
Are you going to try again next season (whenever that is?) I'd like to see you get to the finals, and, regardless of win or lose, bust out of the booth (screw the door) and eat the trophy.
I kid, I kid*. If you do go back, good luck. If not, you should.
Good effort! Sounds like with a little more time you will be golden Hopefully you have the money and time to make it out there next month! We'll be cheering for you! iNcontroL fighting!
Really good showing dude, can't wait until the EG guys get in to Korea and start practicing hard core. You'll take it down next time .
If you had the choice between dedicating yourself to the GSL and staying in Korea or travelling around to the various events such as MLG, IEM etc; which would you choose? Obviously in an ideal world you'd want to do both, but seeing the way GSL works that probably wont be possible.
Great blog, Inc! Enjoyed reading it and I hope you'll find the opportunity to go back to Korea for future GSLs. I'm glad you learned so much from your failures to qualify.
It's sad to see you and Kiwikaki weren't able to qualify b/c we need more protoss foreigners in this GSL. If we have another TvZ final I swear to god...
Excellent write-up! So proud of the performances of all the non-koreans. Jinro and Haypro qualifying is great. You just being 1 game away is amazing! You're going to try to qualify next GSL as well, aren't you? Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in Korea and look forward to your future games.
Appreciate the blog - I love reading these sorts of stories (win or lose) from a first-person perspective. If you could summarise in a single sentence - what was the best experience of the entire trip thus far?
My housemate and I are planning on a trip to Korea next year and we intend to stop by and spectate one of the GSL events while we're touring. Hope to see you succeed while we're there!!
Inspiring post man. I'm not aiming to be a progamer, but the attitude you apply when using a loss as a learning experience is great. It's an amazingly hard attitude to keep sometimes, no matter what one is training for. I hope to see you going back to S. Korea in the future...you're going to fucking earn it.
Ever since I started listening to State of the Game, Incontrol has become one of my favorite sc2 pros. I have been refreshing my browser constantly today hoping to hear news that he qualified. I have been watching his replays etc and I know he can do it in the future. iNcontroL fighting!!
Geoff I have to admit, I posted elsewhere that I thought you only had a 5% chance to qualify. You proved me way way wrong, getting 1 game away on a day where so many favorites didn't get nearly that close. Great results today (even though I know you probably don't think so), and I look forward to seeing what you can do in the future.
On November 16 2010 01:32 vectorix108 wrote: im sorry you couldnt make it. i was rooting for you! good luck to you in the future GSLs!
On November 16 2010 01:43 barrykp wrote: Seems like it really was the hard luck of the draw Would have been really awesome to see you in the ro64 at least I hope you try again for GSL4
There is no GSL 4. This third GSL is the last and final competition to determine seedings for bigger GSL tournaments in 2011.
Btw Incontrol great read, great writeup and what you accomplished was amazing. You'll go far brotoss.
Awesome writeup! Do you have any plans on entering qualifiers for future GSL tournaments? I know that class S tournaments are pretty closed off, but from what i understand you can still qualify for class A tournaments. Any plans on doing this?
Good read, my friends and I were up until the late AM f5ing to see if you qualified. It's too bad you didn't but I'm sure you will plow your way there soon enough. Once you qualify, I'm hoping to see some ridiculous winners interviews in GSL.
Great Blog post looks like an incredible experience. I love that you tried it and now you aren´t to disapointed. But as you have said many great P´s couldn´t qualify what really shows how hard it can be to get into the ro64.
Seriously iNcontroL, you're a fucking hero to everybody out there too pussy to throw their hat in the ring and just sit back wondering "what if". I also know you're unhappy and want to do even better next time which is what really makes you a hero. I also think, especially to you, this Sean Connery quote is fitting (with no disrespect to uNcontroLable): "Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen."
Absolutely fantastic blog post. I really like getting this kind of insight from the players! I'm quite confident you will have no trouble qualifying next time.
On November 16 2010 01:53 Snuggles wrote: Awesome blog man, I was really really hoping you could make it, I'm a bit of a fan of you lol. Well there's always next season, and hey like you said you were only 1 game away from making it.
Quick question, will the things you learn in Korea greatly improve your coaching? Cause if that's the case then that's another incentive to toss down the bills for a lesson. I was looking for one before in that PM, but I was looking to get Sheth, but Sheth.. yeah.. haha
Absolutely.
I feel my understanding of this game has achieved a new level. I really feel like I am approaching a sick good read on this game. Execution is obviously harder but my coaching is/has benefited tremendously.
What a shame, it sounds fucking clutch. And scrap station sucks.
Next time you'll get there. I've been pleasantly surprised by the capacities of the original bw EG team lately in sc2. I think one of these days one of you guys are going to take down a major tournament, possibly the GSL. :D
Dude, I won't lie, I didn't think you had any chance at qualifying, but after what you've shown I am hugely impressed and think you can EASILY qualify for GSL4. I really hope you'll attempt again, I'm sure you can make it. Plus, you're easily one of my favorite personalities in the e-sports scene and I hope you go super far.
Congrats man, for coming this far. You're literally the closest person to ro 64 among the people who couldn't make it. Still, you're better than InCa, Nada, all those people. Congrats man, again.
Wow, I read the other thread about the qualifiers before this, so I knew Incontrol wasn't qualified, but I was still hooked until the end. After round 2, I kind of forgot that you didn't qualify, but I still had hope.
I figured whether you qualified or not you would come back a much stronger player, and coming so close considering the circumstances has to have you feeling pretty good about your future chances. From my perspective as an outsider it seems like going to train in the Korean environment has been a trial by fire for all involved so far. It's like you are basically forced to improve when trying to keep up with a whole ladder full of gamers who are all willing to put in the work to become one of 64 in the GSL.
If only there was an MLG coming up to bookend your experience. As an observer it would be cool to see the difference between your pre and post korea replays in a tournament setting.
I do have one question however. Obviously you have put in some quality practice and now feel like you have become a much stronger player. Do you think the experience has helped mostly with ironing out the kinks and moving you closer to your potential as a player? Or do you feel that it has actually expanded your understanding of the game to the point where you feel you have a higher skill ceiling than before?
Geoff, let me just say this: You are a hero in my book. The fact that you went over there and tried is already awesome enough on its own. But coming so close to actually qualifying for the Ro64 of the biggest StarCraft II tournament in the world and the only one that could barely stop you by the skin of his teeth was a Zerg who is near the very top of the KR ladder?
My hats off to you sir.
Since I don't post that much and will probably go back to lurking for months after this post, I also wanted to thank you for your contributions to the community, be it coaching, co-hosting SotG, moderating TL and whatever else I might have forgotten.
I'll be sure to keep rooting for iNcontroL in future events, no matter what continent they're being held on.
disappointing final game but overall great job Inc, we were really pulling for you. many didn't think you'd get this close but with some more practice you can definitely do it. just make sure to get there like a week in advance next time!
Bah, I was rooting for you. Good on you for enjoying yourself though, many would love to be in your shoes. Just keep going at it man, I know you don't need my encouragement, but I see you as the next Jinro to break through big time.
Hey inc, do you plan on heading out to Korea for each successive tournament qualifiers? It's clear you can make it, and I think TL is nearly unanimous in thinking you'd be the best addition to the progaming booth since pocari sweat.
This is nonetheless *awesome*. You flew to Korea. You played in the largest SC2 tournament in the world, missing the 64 by inches. Took down some of the top players in Korea on the ladder. Fucking amazing. And all the meanwhile you had hordes of iNcontroL fans spamming f5 in the GSL day1 thread --> "How did he do!!!??! This is killing me!!"
It's great to see you looking at this experience as nothing but positive. In my own gaming, tournament experience, although it is with chess, nothing substitutes playing the best or ones better than you. I've had some grueling defeats. But, the best games I've ever played and taken the most out of were not from wins, but from losses.
Also it's worth nothing: *OGS.INCA DIDN'T PASS QUALIFIERS LAST SEASON* right?
BTW, any plans of having some type of Starcraft 2 event in the Pacific Northwest? Whether that be Portland or Seattle, anything in the works? There's a big fan base up here, but every big event so far has been pretty far away, at least for a poor college kid like me.
Hard luck Fella. I was hoping you would qualify and do well. But it seems nerves got the better of you and I dare say they would lesser mortals too. Use this as a learning experience, (why do we fall Master Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up) (batman reference) You have my utmost respect, (and I'm 44 and cynical and don't give respect randomly) I am more than likely a bit of a fanboy but hey, I don't care lol
Keep plugging away mate, I'm sure you will do alot better next time.
I'm by a no means a hater, but I admit I've never really much cared about your play (however I do find you as an esports personality rather great) but I must admit I'm converted, not because I feel you did well (which I do feel) but because the the mental direction you appear to be taking.
I am also very excited for EG's SC2 team as a whole right, also very nice to see that you and IdrA APPEAR to be getting along quite well, that was one of my two concerns about him joining EG (I bet you can guess who the other is lol)
really nice read. I was really rooting for you - especially after the interviews of Artosis enjoy and use your time their. Maybe we could see you commentate a game in the r64? Would be nice iNcontroL fighting!
On November 16 2010 01:53 Liquid`Tyler wrote: Damn I'm sure you could have won game 1 with a little bit of practice of that build. So close.
Don't you feel a little bit itchy seeing all your foreigner comrades fighting it out in Korea? =D Maybe it's time for a comeback
In any case, thanks for the reply iNcontrol. You didn't reply the part about Huk directly but here is hoping that more foreigners qualify tomorrow and that you'll be back stronger.
I do think the sooner you come back the better because the gap might widen 3 months later with the rate of improvement that the Koreans ( and TL guys) are having especially with MLG ( that arguably has been the fueling the growth of NA SC2 scene) going off-season and that it will be very hard to play catch up.
I was also really sad hearing you missed it. Sat in the thread F5ing and hoping to see you move from the RO8 Bracket to the qualified ppl. :/
On November 16 2010 01:52 {88}iNcontroL wrote: [...] As for protoss players I dunno. I am one of the last people to cry imbalance but I really feel we have it rough at the moment. Zerg can roach/ling aggression with standard macro (no risk to them) and then switch to muta or vice versa at no risk to them. P needs to detect either and respect it 100% or die. They of course can 5 gate all-in but who wants to admit that the standard is an all-in? Who wants a game where a race has to do that? I don't necessarily think it is THAT bad yet.. there is more to be developed but certainly atm it is really hard.
Seeing you only played PvP and PvZ my question might be a little off, still I hope you won't mind me asking. x] You're writing you were getting the PvT on the korean server and seeing how european top level P's seem to struggle against 1basing T's lately (Thor-Rush, Rine/banshee, ...) I was wondering what you think is the best way to handle such pressure. Driving me insane seeing them probes dancing around the auto-repaired Thor not doing anything, while the precious Immo goes down to the 250mm cannons.
Are you planing on attending the next qualifier or does that depend on the EG-house beeing up untill then? Really looking forward to see another foreign team taking the step over to Korea!
Gz for making it that far! Bet you' ll make it all the way next time. :D
On November 16 2010 04:14 GetToDaChopa wrote: It's great to see you looking at this experience as nothing but positive. In my own gaming, tournament experience, although it is with chess, nothing substitutes playing the best or ones better than you. I've had some grueling defeats. But, the best games I've ever played and taken the most out of were not from wins, but from losses.
Had to quote this in case someone missed it, worth repeating.
Also thanks for the great work on State of the Game Geoff!
Thanks for the feedback, very interesting... I think the qualifiers seem at least ten times harder than r064.
I'm kind of sad that you didn't qualify but you did well. I was impressed to read that you managed to hold some of these crazy strats.
I can tell you that PvP is one of the hardest matchups, especially when playing against aggressive koreans. As for The Zerg STREAM tactic, this works very well sometimes, I feel that trading units with the opponent is a very good way to keep the pressure.
So all in all, gg because I think you fought very well.
My advice would be to keep training harder and longer. That seems obvious but korean training style seemed to work wonders on the Liquid players who live with oGs.
On November 16 2010 01:15 rift wrote: Cool to hear your thoughts and I'm glad you can take the loss well and make the most of it. Even if you barely missed qualifying you still achieved something there and you'll have grown as a player in skill and experience.
Unrelated questions: is Upmagic practicing SC2 despite Gom saying they can declare you unfit as a gamer? And: can you speak at all on the EG house; will you be returning for it, with teammates?
EG is getting a house in korea. The date is not finalized.. hopefully sooner rather than later. Specifics are not in stone yet so I cannot comment too far but I can tell you EG wants to use korea as a base to train to be the best and expand our label. From there we will compete in the big western/euro/eastern tourneys.
Awesome! And nice read. Sounds like a hell of an experience!
I really, really hope you'll try and qualify for next GSL. You were so close and you're one of the only foreigners who I actually care about making it into this tournament.
With how close iNcontroL was to making it, I think it's safe to say that with a little more time he'd have qualified. Had he gotten there just a few days sooner... Obviously the reason he couldn't go to Korea a bit sooner was MLG Dallas. We all know JP works for MLG, so it begs the question: Why doesn't JP want iNcontroL to qualify for GSL?
I want to say that my opinion of your prior to this trip was not favorable for a variety of reasons, most dealing with gross generalizations and assumptions.
However, between this post and the interviews between you and Artosis, you have shown you really are a good guy. I don't know if I would agree with you saying you are one of the top non-Koreans, but I would say you are one of the top Americans. I am now a fan and will be rooting for you in the future!
Hey iNcontrol! Really sad that you couldn't qualify for this seasons GSL but from what you wrote it sounds like you could have had it if not for a few silly things (ex. using an unpracticed build).
You've mentioned your growth through this short trip... What was the cause of that? You mentioned Idra as one of the reasons but do you think the Korean ladder is better suited to improve players?
I'm asking this because there has been many individuals, that are not part of any team, who have gone out to Korea to 'train to become a pro-gamer'. Being such small names and likely not having pro-gamer connections do you think the atmosphere of Korea and the Korean ladder is enough to bring them to the level that they wish to achieve or could they accomplish the same thing at home with some persistence?
dam was really hopeful about incontrol and the other liquid guys.... its too bad, it sucks when ur so close and not make it!!!! I think luck has a lot to do with who makes it and who doesnt, cuz of how the brackets are set up... im sure next time incontrol will make it!!
On November 16 2010 01:52 {88}iNcontroL wrote:Being able to sit and spend each day with IdrA discussing strategy is so incredibly invaluable I cannot even begin to describe the growth. I feel like my ability and potential in this game has doubled. I really do feel this trip was the best thing I could do for my future in SC2 and I don't regret a moment of this.
I think this says it all, and really goes to show the value of practicing side by side with another pro, obvioulsy people talk over vent or chat in game, but to be there with the person takes it to another level. Heres to hoping that this blog or your thoughts transmit through the higher ups in EG to not just get the houes done sooner rather than later, but make that their prime focus, with the down time in major tournaments for many pro-games throughout the next couple months. EG has their chance here to show that they take care of their players and put them in the best possible situations around. I really want to see this work for the likes of all the EG players to hvae a korean pro-team style practice setting.
Hey Incontrol, I'm very glad that you have experienced major growth on this trip and it turned out to be a great experience in your life. My question is when will you likely to return back to Korea?
Very glad that you can learn so much from this experience. I think I learned a thing or two just reading your post. Good luck in the next season if you go!
Really really really cool to read. Sorry to hear about not qualifying but also super glad to hear it was close instead of getting rolled. Keep up the great work!
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time when we knew you only had one game left to decide if you qualified or not, and I was sad to hear the news but you know what- There will be PLENTY more GSL in the future and you can only become better so I'll be looking forward to the next time .
Given how few protoss qualified so far ( compared to Terran and Zerg), and the prevailing view that its the least-strong race in korea and the foreign scene, I think you have justified your trip over there - coming so close - especially considering you:
1) Got to the final round 2) Faced a Zerg 3) On Scrap Station final map 4) It was Moon (?).
Very impressive feat, there should be no regrets or shame in any of that.
Dude HUGE props for even attempting this... Being so close to get into the GSL3 you could almost grasp it! It's a big accomplishment for any SC2 player, Im certain that with some more practice you can not only qualify but make it far.
hey incontrol, just wanted to let you know that you have a LOT of fans.
in slasher's ustream chat channel (after MLG party), when they were about to interview someone, people were spamming your nickname like crazy to pick you.
You're living the life geoff, Always stay positive, I remember meeting you in Raleigh after a loss and you were terribly frustrated but you calmed down and said hey back to me. I think that really shows a lot about you're character. I hope you go back to qualify next available chance.
Damn, I was really hoping you'd make it, more so than all the other foreigners now that TLO isn't competing in this one. You have the right outlook though and it's clear you've grown as a player, I really think you'll make it next time.
As much as I had wanted to see you win though I am looking forward to seeing how well Moon does in this tournament. Coming from a Wc3 background it's annoying hearing people talk down on the Wc3 pros as much as they do as I was very active in that scene and there were many skilled players. I know I've heard people shit-talk the Wc3 players on SotG before but I know it wasn't you and a quick google search on the subject found you saying nothing but good things about them http://www.mymym.com/en/article/1070.html
Anyway that middle paragraph was almost entirely irrelevant. Best of luck man, you'll make it next time. iNcontroL fighting!
Aw man! I can't (or can?) imagine how bad you must have felt, or perhaps continue to feel. One game away! And what's worse was you changed your mind in the last match; if you didn't change your mind and lost with the plan you had originally you could have at least felt that you did your best
Well good luck again! Man, 1 match away from the GSL. Such a huge step... but hey, you're determined as a progamer, so you're already living your dream life :D GL HF!!!
gratz on getting that far. I feel if u had atleast 4 more days to prepare in Korea you would have blazed through 2-0. With Idra to practice with your PvZ would dramatically increase..hope to hear more from you in the future. Also your writing is superb! hopefully you write more, great read.
On November 16 2010 01:04 {88}iNcontroL wrote: There are few as motivated and equipped as I am. I will do everything I can to be the best and while I do that I want to raise this community up and represent everyone as best I can. Hopefully the supporters can help me make that true! The haters can try and have an open-mind.. I'd love to see a community that backs it's people instead of tries and holds them down.
I gotta say i admire your dedication and it's extremely nice to see a player with this attitude, i wish you all the best in the future and i hope you'll be able to fulfill your goals in SC2.
Aww man, good job nonetheless! Qualifying to GSL is by no means easy even Tester and now NaDa are no strangers to getting knocked out in qualifiers. Props for trying and honestly good job on getting so close.
@iNcontroL - no one is going to "hate" you for not getting into GSL3, or not getting in top 8 is MLG2, and if they do fuck em. There is a new GSL soon so plenty of time to try again if you wish. Anyone that follows BW and now Sc2 knows that Sc2 is still in flux, there is no "best player"... look at Nada... kicked out in prelims. The "best" player can be knocked out by some random... and Sc2 looks like a long way from stabilising.
At first i wasn't a fan of yours, your build turned me off as it reminded me of the jock assholes I had to enduer though at school but your charm and, imo, some of the funniest and most interesting interviews and articles won me over big time. Keep it up and hey try and do some casting
Anyway, I know your disappointed, and from your letter you sound like you feel you have let US somehow.. Would I have liked to see you get S-Rank? Of course... will I "NOT" be barracking for you at your next comp because of your betray at not winning?
Fuck Yes I will still be barracking for you!!
Look this is going on a bit .. but all I wanted to say is that Sc2 is still in flux and there is no way ANYONE can prepare and consistently beat all comers. We have only scratched the surface of Sc2... there is no shame... get back on the horse and hear the crowd roar when your name is announced for your next live game.
It sounds like you did good, especially for your first time. Obviously it would have been nice for you to qualify but there is a lot of luck in this and vs a good z on scrap station isn't exactly favorable.
We love you anyways as should be clear by the last 8 pages.
Incontrol showed in MLG how solid his play really is and this performance really shows it aswell. Too bad you couldn't make it into the ro64 but there will be more chances. I love to hear you ripping up roach / ling all ins too.
I was so bummed out to see the bracket and you losing the last game. I (like a gazillion others) were frantically refreshing gomtv.net forums, tl.net and the playxp thread as well as twitter for any news on how you're doing. You're a personality e-sports really needs; outgoing and funny not to mention a great player. Keep up the good work, haters are gonna hate but I bet there are way more people that would love to see you do well and support you every step of the way.
Tho I have to agree with Senx's post from page 2, you need to trust your standard game more. I noticed it in your BW games too, whenever you played a player who was considered better than you, you often played really weird. That's of course good in the short term, but it's for your own best good to say "fuck it, I'm not gonna be that player anymore". Play straight up and use more of the oov mindset: "start the game imagining crushing your opponent"
How great it must've felt for oov and Flash nowadays when, while other players have confidence in their awesome new build, or cute micro, they just have to play their game and people shit their pants and get all paranoid from the pure strenght.
Develop monster standard play, save the cheesing for mindgames in the GSL Finals.
I almost wrote you a PM begging you to milk IdrA for all he was worth, and I'm glad you've done so. Please give him a kick in the ass every time he slacks up on practice. It's probably not gonna happen but just in case. Best of luck with the EG house. As a EG fanboy I look forward to a day when you, IdrA, Machine, LZ, and everyone I'm forgetting get to spend a week or more picking each others brain.
Here to your return to the states and MLG tournaments as a better player. Also don't you find it odd you're named incontrol yet can't seem to control your brain? I know I do. Don't think, react.
I was cheering hard for you. Sad that you were so close to qualifying and didn't manage to. Hopefully you can stay till the next GSL and I'm confident with all the Korean training you'll get, you will do as well as Haypro and Jinro.
Just kidding. Congrats and kudos on making it as far as you did. You definitely owe it to yourself to try and qualify for the next GSL, you have the work ethic and potential to go far.
Can you offer any guesses as to why the korean P's who I've seen do 1gate expands PvT have all eschewed the zealot/stalker opening in favor of stalker/sentry openings? Is it something to do with the way korean T's play?
Well damnit. I was actually totally rooting for you. Listening to SOTG I first thought you were a complete dick, but then I realized I totally didn't get your humor, and I then realized that you're funny as hell to listen to. And also one of the most honest guys on the scene, so I was completely rooting for you and I'm sad you didn't make it. As per your comments on SOTG, I'm not gonna say "gz on getting that far". You're gonna kick ass next time around I'm sure.
Can anyone confirm that it was Moon he played against? I was under the impression he was playing Terran?
Edit: Seems like it was, damn Geoff, you have NOTHING to be sorry for and anyone who hates on you is a fool. You lost to the fucking 5th race! Keep ballin' dude.
it is such a bummer that you were just 1 win away from RO64.
You are, in all honesty, my favorite SC2 pro-gamer, because you are bad-ass and funny. (right after the fruit dealer who sold fruit to aide his sick dad.) who isn't bad-ass and funny but is very noble. Bad-Ass > Noble.
Looking forward to see the progress and growth that you've made as a gamer after this experience.
EDIT: oh yeah, when are you going to compete in something again?
Great text! Keep in mind that you have a bunch of fans cheering for you back here ^^ I believe you had a win, as a bunch of great players did not qualify and you did very well
I'm seriously bummed you didn't make it was hoping to see you do well in the GSL.
HelloPrime said in his interview after the match with you that he had really hard qualifier matches and that you were his hardest match among them. Also that he was shaken after your comeback win in game 2. Against the #18 ranked player in Korea that is no small feat.
incontrol you all out own man. Sorry you didnt make the ro64, hope you go to the eg house and own it up in 2011 cuz you're confidence is just intoxicating. Also your artosis interview was just the tits, esp the faces you were making while he was talking map balance, cracks me up still. GL to you and keep delivering these awesome blogs.
Dude I'm so sorry you didn't make it, I was really really pulling for you.
Ignore the haters who say otherwise, anyone with half a brain can see you're a top level player and an awesome guy, and I wish you all the best in your futures as an SC2 progamer.
We're going to be seeing a lot of iNcontroL, I'm sure of it.
Geoff are you planning on focusing more on Korea now? Will you be moving out there anytime soon, or maybe trying to ladder on the Korean server from the US to get a feel for the play-style and practise with some of the guys out there?
Congrats inc, it sounds like you did a hell of a great job over there, certainly did us proud back home. Can't wait to see you make future GSLs. Best of luck with your training.
Way to go iNcontrol very glad to see you taking the positive angle on what could easily be skewed as a heartbreaking experience. I am confident you will emerge even better than before and start crushing babies regularly now! :D
From the bottom of my heart: Thanks. This blog has actually helped make me feel GOOD. I am so lucky to have a community like yourselves surrounding me.. thanks.
A lot have asked what my plans are in regard to korea. I am most certainly coming back out. Most likely for 3 months but it could be longer and it could be shorter. It is hard cause I do have (as you guys know) an amazing girlfriend of which I am very serious with so 3 months is nothing to sneeze at. She knows this is my passion and this is the biggest scene to grow in so she supports but that doesn't mean it's easy. In any case there is stuff to discuss with her whether or not she'd visit, move out or w/e. Tough to say from here but we will see!
Just know that you have quite seriously an INSANE amount of fans.
Definitely not a wild estimation to put you in the top 2 or 3 favorite players for many non-koreans.
We're all rooting for you and will continue to hope and pray for the day where you get on the finals stage and say "I'm going to give the money to my mom... BAHAHAHA JUST KIDDING FUCK YEAH JET PACKS"
Having met you personally and had conversations with you about the game and just bullshitting, I can say you're one of the nicest and funniest people I've come across. I am sad to hear you didn't make it, of all the protoss in that tournament you are the one I was rooting for. It's unfortunate you had to face a powerful zerg in your final set, but knowing you I know the experience has done nothing but strengthen your resolve.
Fuck the haters, I know they are out there. You'll get 'em next time, there is no doubt. Can't wait til your next tournament, I know you'll turn on beast mode for that, and I'll be laughing all the way.
I have to say... I was a bit of a hater when I heard you were gunna try for GSL 3, but Im not going to lie... I wish you could have made it. Either way man, GG's and I know your gunna come out of this and practice 100 times harder... See you in GSL 4!
On the backing of little over a week of training on the Korean play and you came within a game of qualifying? Can't wait to see what happens after you guys get into the EG house over there! Any possibility of replays of those games btw? GL HF for the duration of your stay in Korea! iNcontroL fighting!~
You like metal so crank up "The Crown - Executioner" and start focusing on the next occasion when you will stand tall with your axe, above helpless nerd head! \m/
Incontrol...I just reread this blog - definitely worth a re-read.
Anyways, after you decide that your career in e-Sports/pro Starcraft is over (if that ever happens), get into motivational speaking, counseling, or something to help people. You're fucking articulate as hell and you're funny. Also, this blog can be applied to everyday life, learning from your failures, and how new experiences and motivation can get you anywhere and do anything you want with life. This sounds chiche as hell, but people need to stop and appreciate moments like this when it happens to them.
Truly uplifting.
I had a chance to speak with you only for a moment at MLG DC though I wish I had time to talk with you more. And why all the haters in the past? I have no idea, but I admire how you're never fazed by negative attitudes. In SC2 esports it's so damn important to give support to each member of the foreigner community because I believe if the koreans are allowed to dominate the GSLs/other major tournaments, esports isn't going to get as big in the states and other parts of the world. I really wish every foreigner who participated in these prelims would have made it (you, KiWiKaKi, Artosis, Torch, etc) so we can prove to Korea we can steal a piece of their cake.
Keep doing what you do and I look forward to your blog about qualifying for GSL4/5/6/7/etc.
incontrol, Win or lose, I always enjoy reading your summary of your matches. They're very descriptive. Other players don't really say much about their games other than they lost or won. You give a great blow by blow thats more fun to read/hear than watching the replay. This recap was great and so was the game where your dts got scanned.
Of course, I would much rather see you win than lose. Kick some butt out there!
Was really hoping you pull through to get to Round of 64. But considering you were against one of the top zergs in Korea, you did very well despite only practicing a day and a half in the Korean server. Great job and I am sure you will make it in the next qualifier!
Incontrol, you are awesome. Just letting you know. You winning won't increase my respect for you as an awesome person. Sure, it will make me root for you and be your fan in an esports sort of way, and it would be hilarious to see those skinny koreans freak out about a live bear in their gaming booth, but you are still one of the coolest people in SC2.
Besides, there are tons of GSLs coming up. You can make it!
Wow sweet read. Despite everything you are LIVING THE DREAM
I hope all foreigners competing in korea will use the experience and coaching to eventually go toward developing/helping strong players/teams outside of korea, even if it means more local competition.
On November 16 2010 01:04 {88}iNcontroL wrote: Students: I will schedule our sessions the week I get back but not before just because I will probably need a day off due to the travel but also I am not entirely sure when I will get back since greg still has to qualify and then get scheduled for a ro64.
artosis uploaded a girl gamer toss at the qualifers with 100apm who looked to be doing well. Maybe you can schedule some lessons with her?
On November 16 2010 13:03 privatehuff wrote: Not sure if you addressed this but.. was there any awkwardness with the setup and your viking physique? Those booths look pretty small :/
You did great man! It's a bummer you didn't qualify, but Jinro didn't qualify his first try either. Looks like you got a ton of support behind you as well! Keep it up! Your're an inspiration to all us lesser Toss.
On November 16 2010 13:03 privatehuff wrote: Not sure if you addressed this but.. was there any awkwardness with the setup and your viking physique? Those booths look pretty small :/
They aren't in the booths for the qualifiers :/
I think he meant that the fact that in the qualifiers, the computer set up are right beside each other and it seemed too small of a space for Inc.
It's too bad you didn't make it. It would be great to see you in the GSL televised matches. However, don't forget how far you went. Winning as many matches as you did is quite an accomplishment.
I must say that I'm always impressed when I read what you write or hear your insight on the state of the game. I'm definitely becoming an iNcontroL fan.
ah man i so wanted you to qualify n the GSL! (i sat in college with the qualifiers thread open) i hope you get to go again i think we all know you can do it! wishing you good luck
I am sorry you didn't make it. Pity to come so close, too.
I really hope to see you in GSL eventually. That would be so cool. Stay with it and... next time, all things considered, I think you would do really well.
Inc it was nice meeting you. I'm glad you had a valuable experience yesterday although it's a shame you were so close to making it but I'm sure this event proved to be a great learning point for you in the long run, in many ways.
I was refreshing the GSL thread all last night waiting for your results. After listening to SotG, seeing your interviews at MLG and also the videos that Artosis uploaded with your interviews, I wanted more. I decided to watch all of WCG Ultimate Gamer Season 1 to fill the time, and was sad with you when Kelly was eliminated. I really respect you, and regardless of all the random hate, I hope you know there are those of us that really cheer for you.
I'm excited for your progress, and am cheering for you all the way!
I can only imagine how it felt to wait for 2 hours as the player as i was anxiously waiting 3hours for the results (i really wanted to see you get into ro64).
Nevertheless i think it is fantastic that you got to go there and do better than a lot of 'haters' thought you were and i know that next time you go out (if you do) you'll get into ro64 and then more people will see how well you play.
Thanks for all the updates and for giving us some insight into your journey over to GSL. Best of luck and look forward to seeing more of your play soon!
On November 16 2010 01:04 {88}iNcontroL wrote: Today ends my GSL 3 qualifying run.
Some thoughts: The maps are Xel'Naga , Metal , Scrap station. That is the order win or lose. I went in thinking "well at least I have metal each series to fall back on." Xel is a bit of a toss up either extremely straight up or that is where some of the gimmick occurs. I also KNEW I didn't want to go into a game 3 vs a zerg with scrap being the deciding map. Koreans notoriously view that map as an EZPZ ZvX map and I tend to agree. You have to respect the muta there and virtually any other opening is just as strong if not stronger with the destructible rock entrance into your natural. That and the extended open middle and you have a tough ass time as a P. That is why at MLG you saw TT1 and other p's going 3 gate expand into a 5-6 gate timing with virtually no plan for late middle or late game... you have to end it there.
Round 1: I was nervous. I didn't want to be. I pride myself on my experience and count on that to carry me through LAN play. That wasn't the case. Traveling so far.. having so many people counting on me and playing in a new environment against foreign opponents made my nerves shot. I got a P the first round that nobody recognized and he scared the SHIT out of me. First game he 4 gate all ins and after I miss 2 FF's while going 3 gate robo I nearly shat myself. Pulling probes and hero microing for my life was the name of the day. Meanwhile I had proxied a pylon near his ramp and was able to make the daring decision to spend 2 of my warp ins on zeals to go for his mineral line. Fortunately that with a few correct FF's and a couple Immortals lead to me securing my ramp and minimizing his mining with a bunch of probe kills and then mining time missed. After that I rolled him and took a big deep breath as I had survived my own nerves.
Game 2 we got cross position on metal and it had me overthinking.. does he macro here or try the same thing? All the while I have been playing this ladder (1.5 days) the koreans HATE standard PvP opting for 4 gate variations. So I played it safe and did the same build. He 4 gated and after I thwarted it pretty hard I decided to head to his base knowing he was blink stalkering. With 2 no range collo and gate way units I got smashed by a ton of charge lots with his blink stalkers but he had no expo and I fell back on mine.. massed up and rolled. 2-0
Round 2: Another Protoss. By now I am calming down and getting my shit together. First game was standard collo v collo but I had faster +1 and a faster 3rd which he attacked into and defending collo vs aggressive collo is good for the defender. So I steam rolled and won.
Game 2 he 4 gated into my good micro+units and was gg'd in 8 or so minutes.
Round 3 The shit thing here is after round 2 they moved me and said I had to wait. I waited 2 hours. I hate waiting... most competitors will tell you they want to play and GET IT OVER. I am not blaming this but it sucked.. was impossible to keep my cool while sitting there thinking I am 1 bo3 away from making history. "
I checked TL and saw that my opponent was indeed a high ranked korean Z. I had the korean Z's pretty well figured out in my day point 5 of laddering.... THEY CAN'T PLAY PASSIVE. It is roach ling aggression 10000000000% and I knew that. So game 1 IdrA suggests I try the 36 probe 5 gate timing that nony had been doing. First time trying it and I slaughtered him in the open field when he was taking his gold but instead of rallying or backing off I pushed forward and got swarmed with no FF's to cover me. Bad decision and doing an unpracticed build cost me the game. Same game a week later and I win 100%
Game 2 on metal was the best game I have played in SC2. I am resting my hat on this game. Cross position metal and I tried a 4 gate with meticulous Pylon chaining down to his side. He ends up ambushing 2-3 sentry and 2-3 zeals and raping with speed ling. I retreat to my expo and he pushes the matter where I execute nearly perfect cannons and hold at my nexus. He STREAMS a bajillion roaches/lings and I barely hold. Thought the game was over but we scrap battle it out and I eventually stabilize. I robo -> obs -> immortal and about that time he returns with aggression. I barely hold again and obs sees he has taken his 3rd (FUCK). So I slap down a second robo and start going collo. After I get 1 collo out start my 2nd and have range going he shows up with 9-10 muta. THis is literally the worst feeling as a P. I had 100% predicted (nearly blindly) that it was pure roach/ling macro/aggression but double robo vs muta ling is death. I sit on 2 collo and pump upgrades / stalkers as I take my 3rd. Each moment of this game is battle battle FF survival and 9-10 P units in yellow health standing on the blue goo of their fallen comrades. Z is making me earn each and every yard I get this game. Eventually I get 3 collo and a decent army so I push out towards his 3rd. He ends up killing my 3rd while I kill his and instead of me trying to end the game I retreated and reinforced. He decided to try and intercept and with the final battle I cut his army into 3rds and reinforced with 4 dt's vs an overseerless army. WHEW I won.
I could do it...
Game 3 I am having thoughts leak into my head that despite going 0-1 vs a top korean Zerg I might pull this out. That game lifted my spirits. Scrap is hard but I can do this. I go 3 gate expand and everything is going "OK" but then I decide "lets fucking DT 4 gate timing him" so I through down the twilight council and just then he slow over scouts and sees it... Ihave to cancel and revert back to 3 gate expand but at this point I have slowed my self down. Everything from there is sad times. I get a decent sentry force and start my expo saturation when I notice he is crumbling the middle rocks with an impossible number of roaches and lings. I try and sever his army in half with good FF's but he just runs past into my main after that his roaches engage my now sentry heavy army and dice it up. I start to realize I had lost and the depression sets in.. GG, I'm out.
After match thoughts: I had only been in korea 1.5 days and with a few misscommunications with Hwanni (we were supposed to train with guemchi, puma and upmagic) as well as having to play on a laptop because IdrA forgot the monitor connecting chord in Arizona I had still done impressively well on the korean ladder. I laddered on IdrA's account and took out 2700+ pro gamers... like Amoeba[S.G] and GanZi. I was crushing PvP, doing well PvZ and getting PvT. I feel like the korean play style is VERY different but incredibly similar across the board so easier to figure out and start to adapt. NA/EU players all vary their play so it's harder to read them as a style/player but easier to out play mechanically.
Being able to sit and spend each day with IdrA discussing strategy is so incredibly invaluable I cannot even begin to describe the growth. I feel like my ability and potential in this game has doubled. I really do feel this trip was the best thing I could do for my future in SC2 and I don't regret a moment of this. I am sad that I do not have the added bonus of an exciting round of 64 to look to but you know what? I came over here on a dream and I sat with a tough group and came 1 fucking game away from doing what Inca, Guemchi, Sangho and other great P's could not: qualify.
I am going to stay here for another week and go home after greg plays in his round of 64 next week. In that time I am going to practice, learn, make connections and continue to plot my development as a SC2 progamer. I know I can do it and this trip has done nothing but make that an absolute fact for me.
Students: I will schedule our sessions the week I get back but not before just because I will probably need a day off due to the travel but also I am not entirely sure when I will get back since greg still has to qualify and then get scheduled for a ro64.
Everyone else: Huge thanks to those that supported me and said I could make it. Bottom line is in this past month I have been 1 game away from a top 8 MLG and 1 game away from the ro64 GSL. Like it or not I am a top non-korean and as I continue to learn/develop I will start producing the results that make that an absolute reality. Winning ladder matches and doing well in practice won't get me there.. I realize that. But stick around, there are few as motivated and equipped as I am. I will do everything I can to be the best and while I do that I want to raise this community up and represent everyone as best I can. Hopefully the supporters can help me make that true! The haters can try and have an open-mind.. I'd love to see a community that backs it's people instead of tries and holds them down.
I will watch this blog and try and answer q's as much as possible <3
GET SOME
Thanks for the write up, pretty insightful. Props for going for your dream, GL in future.
Some questions: What's the general BO for that 36 probe NonY thing? Also it seems you like using DT's vs zerg, what would you think their prime use is?
incontrol I know you're gonna make us foreigners proud in the future! You seem like an extremely dedicated individual, you stay with it and you know it's only a matter of time until you're handing out advice to the next hopeful superstar in his first Korean tourney, just like idra did for you.
I can't wait to watch you grow as an SC2 pro! Awesome writeup and best of luck my friend!
P.S. I need more interview videos of you, you're goddamn hillarious
Wow, great post, very good to read. Just wanted to say good luck, and you're right - you didn't qualify, but the fact you came so close with so little time to practise and against such good opposition should give you huge confidence. I'll be pulling for you next time!
GL to you man. I'm eagerly awaiting the next SoTG. I started watching it because of you I'm not that familiar with NA scene becuase I only see big tournaments but I've always been your fan (you as a person). Now after watching you duke it out with Koreans and see your thourght proceses I'm your fan as a player. I'll be rooting for you on all tournaments.
Rather impressive incontrol. I'm glad to see that you went that far, I'm sure it was very tough. In my eyes I've gained more respect for you as a player, and I will support you in the next GSL event. Keep improving.
On November 16 2010 09:46 {88}iNcontroL wrote: From the bottom of my heart: Thanks. This blog has actually helped make me feel GOOD. I am so lucky to have a community like yourselves surrounding me.. thanks.
A lot have asked what my plans are in regard to korea. I am most certainly coming back out. Most likely for 3 months but it could be longer and it could be shorter. It is hard cause I do have (as you guys know) an amazing girlfriend of which I am very serious with so 3 months is nothing to sneeze at. She knows this is my passion and this is the biggest scene to grow in so she supports but that doesn't mean it's easy. In any case there is stuff to discuss with her whether or not she'd visit, move out or w/e. Tough to say from here but we will see!
<3
Dude just get her to learn some Korean and get her with an agent on Korean TV shows, this is like, so common and easy for nice looking foreigners to do and she seems like a crowd person.
If she's in the beauty / miss contest things in USA this could be an auto free pass for such shows. She really only needs to study a little Korean and this pays actually pretty good if viewers like you.
Didn't she make an SC cake or something at some point ? Any talent over there is valued like it makes you a rockstar. Koreans seem to just love to worship things in general..
Anyway, do you know how can you participate in GSL 2011. It says that GSL 2011 is for S class and A class only ( top 96). Is there a way to get into that? or do you have to wait for 2012 or something.
There are other various bnet based tournaments but those are not GSL i think ( although still Gom produced)
Awesome post, iNcontroL. There's a good chance if I've laughed at something SC related in the last few months it probably came from you or Day9 so I was really hoping you'd make it. I'm glad that you found the experience to still be extremely worthwhile and I hope you keep at it. Best of luck.
Thank you for this post I like how harsh you are with yourself, I just hope that you will soon be able to eliminate the weaknesses you yourself say to have and I would love to see you dominate one of the upcoming events. Btw I love your comments on TL, your Part in State of the game and all the other appearances. I am a big fan of watching your interviews (the one you give and make) I think they are very precise and entertaining. Will keep following you in the future
Too bad you didn't make it, I was rooting for you. Let alone to see a fellow P in the GSL, but also because you're hilarious on SotG. I hope you gonna try again some day!
On November 16 2010 18:36 WeeKeong wrote: Good luck in the future!!! You should definitely try and get GOM to let you be a guest commentator one day during the GSL, it would be EPIC!
Congratulations, Geoff. Coming so close to GSL after so little time in Korea, and playing against such a high-ranking opponent is fantastic. It really is a shame you didn't have a bit longer out there before the qualifiers. I'd love to see you playing in the GSL ladder and world championship tournaments that they're hosting during 2011?
I hope you will participate more in the GSL qualifiers (for A code or w/e). I really loved your interviews with Artosis :D I knew you were like very cool and all but when I listened to SotG for the first time I was like damn I can't believe how funny but still spot on most of the times you are.
I hope you do well in upcoming GSL qualifiers (and other events). Kinda hoped u might stick around (as I'm reading you're going back to the US since you didn't qualify ) in Korea for maybe some casting with Tastosis in the GSL. Would it make TastosisControl? or InTastosis
On November 17 2010 00:53 {88}iNcontroL wrote: I will not be casting while I am here GOM contracts and all that jazz... hopefully in the future!
Sorry to those hoping for that. But I will be on the SOTG as it regularly records.
If you need something to do and god forbid it happens, the community would probably very much like player interviews of foreigners should they be knocked out of the tourney. Stupid Artosis and his hogging the winners for himself, dudes so selfish.
Given the short period that you had had in order to train up in the Korean ladder and then managing to take a game of one of the top Korean Zerg in the final round of the qualifer, I'd say you achieved something that is indeed invaluable - the experience itself. As cliche as it may sound, everything that you had endured that day (the emotions, atmosphere, discussions etc.) should definitely be a catalyst for you to improve and become a much, much better gamer - I'm sure that's what your thinking is like as well.
To be honest, when I first heard you (prolly the most recent TL Attacks), I kinda find that you're somewhat obnoxious with your jokes at times, which turned me off a bit (it's just prolly because of my own nature, not your fault lol). BUT(!), overtime, I got over with it and actually found out that you're not only an interesting funny guy that really knows what he's talking about, but also quite a talented gamer. I was rooting for you to go through, and was even F5-ing the shit out of playxp, like a ton of other people, just to get your result lol.
Anyways, I'm glad to hear that you are pumpf-ed up and highly motivated to keep on improving as a gamer, and I hope you never stop, because having you in the scene makes it very entertaining and interesting, I'd say. :D I'm already looking forward to see you get much better results in the future.
GO GET EM NEXT TIME GEOFF! DON'T EVER GIVE UP!!
Oh, and thanks for the write-up. It was a definitely a good read. <3
Great writeup Inc, really sad that you and HuK didn't qualify, but their is always next season, and from what im hearing you guys are improving exponentially. GL man
Would you say that the Korean play style is superior to the NA style, or just different? Seems like it's hard to argue against it being superior given it's the highest level there is.
Found this blog from your shoutout on SOTG. GREAT READ.
I'm insanely jealous you were able to pickup and attempt to conquer a dream. I wish you all the success in your future SC2 adventures.
P.S. please incontrolsmash painuser for that entire DT/Banshee debate, especially saying he'd rather have DT's than banshees LOL. Even as a Zerg player I can find that to be ridiculous.
EPT
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