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The last four competitors in the MSL are all Zerg.
 ZerO is the stronger than his clone SoulKey. Zero's ZvZ in the past ten games is 5-5. His overall ZvZ percentage is 50%. Does that mean things are bleak? Not at all. Of all ZvZers, Zero shows the most hope for innovation in this matchup. He was the first played I saw to use Queens in ZvZ effectively, and his attempts to rebuild the matchup could account for his relatively poor record, since trying new things is always a risky endeavor.
great has been a solid player for a long time now. He doesn't particularly shine, but he is an opponent that always needs to be taken seriously. This season he must be hoping to prove that he is not just a proving ground for S class players. His ZvZ record is 6-4 in the past ten games, and his overall ZvZ record is 55.13%, the best results of any of his matchups. His standard, somewhat predictable play seems to be his downfall, but if he breaks out of his box he could become a force to be reckoned with. (edit: apparently I'm somewhat wrong on this account. Of the legendary ZvZs this last year, Great has been a part of at least one, and some say he is quite an interesting player!)
Jaedong hardly needs a description. His ZvZ was dubbed JvZ long ago, and hasn't been questioned yet. His style is somewhat straight forward, and like most S-class player's mirror matchups, he gains his advantages from simply being better, faster, and stronger. Jaedong's is 7-3 in his last ten ZvZ games, and has a staggering 76.47% overall ZvZ record. In a matchup which used to be called luck, Jaedong has standardized many safe builds which effectively even the playing field and allow the better player to win. Of all the players, Jaedong has the least reason to innovate because of his already intensely strong game.
Hydra has become an incredibly strong player this year. His temperament reminds me of Flash and he plays a very straight up game. His ZvZ in the last ten games is 9-1, even better than Jaedong's, and his overall ZvZ is a fair 57.13%, making it technically his worst results.
But there's a wrench in this machine. For the past week or so there has been no OSL. There has been no Proleague. The only responsibility these four players have is the MSL, and the only matchup left to play in the MSL is ZvZ. If there was ever a time to change ZvZ, it's right now. The motivation is there, especially for Zero, to do something bold. Don't miss the final rounds of this MSL. It's gonna get real.
(FYI Great vs Zero is tonight! In case you couldn't tell since the 'upcoming events' on the sidebar is only showing events no one cares about  )
BetterTwin vs Great
Lee Scowl vs ChinZerg
Fighting~! ^^
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I'm super pumped for this! This is gonna be like Avalon MSL finals but 10x Better!!! Hoping for some really exciting play from both zero and great!
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So much zerg :p They are swarming over all the msl. I think execution > strategy so no matter what anyone throws at jaedong he will probably just come out on top.
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In one ZvZ:
Hive-tech. This ZvZ could potentially be a game-breaking series filled with innovative gameplay.
In the other ZvZ:
The greatest battle of mechanics yet. Jaedong, the JvZ master, vs. Hydra, the one who overcame disadvantages in BO with pure muta micro.
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Hydra won his last round 3-0 in a ZvZ to get here, while Jaedong has to play a ZvP and it was a close 3-2.
Zero went 3-0 in his ZvP, while Great went 3-2.
Will this affect each players confidence? I think especially hydra is at a mental advantage, because this is more ZvZ, and he's had so much success lately in his ZvZ. Meanwhile, Jaedong had Snow try to tell him he wasn't god and only just managed to deliver a counterpoint. Zero is a player who probably won't take too much from his 3-0 in ZvP, as he is confident in that matchup and now he's being forced to play something different. Great, however, might be a little shaken from his hard road into the ro4.
Things to think about! My favourites are Zero and Jaedong, but neither are going to be getting a free pass from their opponents.
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United States4324 Posts
great's totally not a standard Zerg. He was one of the first to experiment with spore builds and then Hive builds in general.
Just thought I'd point that out.
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Ah, sorry. I don't follow him, so I just said that because nothing about him has ever stood out to me. I know he was in one of the epic ZvZs that occurred in the last ZvZ, but I never saw him do anything again so :S If you can elaborate more on Great that would be lovely 
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CSL + school + SC2 has been eating at my SCBW time..... This would be soooooooo worth watching if I could.....
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Rooting for Zero. That kid deserves a starleague win
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ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
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im sorry but Jaedong is no longer king of ZvZ or Bo5s. Hydra to overtake the dong and show the world who the next bonjwa is
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I hope Hydra wins. 
He's got tough competition.
Let's see those 5 pools!
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I think this is a really great point.
On February 10 2011 07:14 Chef wrote:
But there's a wrench in this machine. For the past week or so there has been no OSL. There has been no Proleague. The only responsibility these four players have is the MSL, and the only matchup left to play in the MSL is ZvZ. If there was ever a time to change ZvZ, it's right now.
I think we can expect some really interesting games!!
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Heh, someone hasn't watched many ZvZs featuring Great . One of the first Zergs to semi-consistently go to Hive tech and/or 3 bases whenever the situation allowed him to (eg. great vs JD @ Medusa).
There are tons of threads lying around about the innovation of Hive ZvZ but to generalize it in a nutshell I would say Great prefers a more economic, spore-based teching pattern (3 base spore -> hive) compared to the Woongjin Zergs who like their 2 base hive.
Certainly he isn't the boringly standard opponent (in this matchup at least) that you claim him to be 
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On February 10 2011 07:16 Megaliskuu wrote:
I'm super pumped for this! This is gonna be like Avalon MSL finals but 10x Better!!! Hoping for some really exciting play from both zero and great!
Lol were you bein sarcastic.... ZvZ FTLLLL..
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On February 10 2011 08:15 DoctorHelvetica wrote:
Rooting for Zero. That kid deserves a starleague win
That he does.
Sort of bummed it's all zvz, although admittedly they have been getting more interesting on average recentlyi.
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hoping for zero or JD to take it all. zero definitely has spent enough time in the A class to deserve a title, and JD has been denied his 6th starleague title far too many times.
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Hong Kong20321 Posts
COME ONNN I MSIS U BROOD WAR WTFFF its been so longg i would watch a billion zvzs now
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yea this super long break for lunar new years sucks :\
round1 of winners league wasnt even over yet! wtf
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i'd rather watch a billion zvzs than a billion tvts
i think the latter would take me years... T___T
gogogogo hydra :DD avenge snow !
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EPT![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/174.jpg)
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![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/610.jpg)
