EPTUp until that point, Huk had performed well at MLG going 4-1 in group play. Earlier that weekend, as his game played on the main stage, I had cheered as blink stalkers danced skillfully around DRG’s army and winced with every sentry lost to zerglings as finally Huk valiantly fell 2-1 to DRG. It was then on the 3rd day of MLG that I saw Huk fresh off another victory over Sjow. I was sadly unable to watch this triumph as his match was not broadcasted and his computer was surrounded by fans. I, being vertically challenged, was left without a view. Huk was being his well-mannered self as he smiled for endless fans and took pictures graciously and without complaint. I clutched my handsomenerd shirt in eager anticipation, and when it was finally my turn I shook his hand and gave him my shirt to sign. I could barely look him in the eye as I mumbled, “Thanks, I’ll be rooting for you,” as I hurried skittishly away.
Minutes later, a voice boomed over the PA system, “LiquidHuk and SlayersGanzi, please report to Station 1.” I hurried as fast as I could and planted myself in prime front row real estate to hopefully observe a masterful PvT demonstration. Moments later, Huk strolled casually onto the platform with his trademark pillow in hand. He disrobed his leather OGS gracket and sat down. After prepping his early game hotkeying, he engaged in some pre-game banter with Ganzi. Huk struggled to explain to Ganzi through the language barrier that the loser of this match was out of the tournament to the smiles and laughter of the crowd. When the MLG attendant asked him what map he would choose, he told her calmly that she could choose for him. Clearly flustered, she did not know what to pick and said, “It’ll be my fault if you lose,” to which Huk deadpanned “Yeah, it will be your fault.” I could not help but crack a wide banana grin; it was easy to see why Huk was a fan favorite.
With both players ready to begin, the Bo3 series opened on Metalopolis with Huk at the 9 and Ganzi at the 3. The back and forth teasing continued with Ganzi providing some fan service: “after this game, u go airport, u cry.” Huk took it in stride with a “TT I cry now,” but the mood turned serious as the game began to get underway. Starting with a stalker and sentry off 2 gas and 1 gateway, Huk secured a fast nexus. His probe was denied scouting by marines. As he worked up his gateway count, no CC seemed to be landing, and another ramp poke revealed a bunker. My brow furrowed in concentration as I thought back to my nooby master level games: a secret expo? No, not at this level of play… a banshee? And soon enough a banshee flew into Huk’s main but was deftly parried by stalkers and an observer. Unfortunately the banshee escaped with its life and a couple probe kills. The immortal probe scout still saw no expo, and I tapped my foot in nervousness. A marine, tank, banshee timing? I could never stop those in my ladder games… how would Huk defend? 3 banshees then darted into Huk’s main, but it was merely a brief scout. Huk had beec macroing diligently but the approaching Terran force would strike fear through the heart of any son of Aiur. The battle for the natural commenced as zealots, sentries, and stalkers mixed with immortals clashed with the invaders. As the dust cleared, the Terran army emerged victorious and Huk gg’d. He seemed to briefly ponder the setback before diving into the 2nd set. On Shattered Temple, Huk and Ganzi both macro’d up on 2 bases each without too much incident when a Terran push came. Instead of pushing with his entire army together, Ganzi loaded up 2 medivacs of marines and marauders to drop into the main while a small remaining force attacked the front. Huk recognized the two pronged attack and sent his zealots and sentries into the fray against the force at his natural. With guardian shield and well-placed forcefields, the front was easily secured; however, inside his main, Huk’s stalkers took heavy damage. A final warp-in managed to repel the drop, but had it already done a cost efficient amount of damage? Soon after 3 high Templars were warped in for Huk and storm finished researching. Moments later, a large MnMnM force marched into the natural for Ganzi. 1, 2, 3 brilliant storms left Ganzi’s army in the orange and red. With such storms, a victory was easily secured I thought happily, but it was not to be. The Terran force was just too much for Huk to handle, and every last Protoss unit was slaughtered.
A “gg gl” from Huk and that was it. I could not believe it, my favorite player out of the tournament. Just two short games of a best of 3 and it was all over; I imagined Sundance rushing to the scene, “Just kidding guys! It’s a best of 5! A best of 7! A best of whatever until Huk wins more games than the other guy!” For a few brief moments, Huk was motionless with his head in his hands but displaying the utmost class, immediately reached over and shook Ganzi’s hand. As the crowd slowly dispersed, I stood rooted to the spot.. Huk watched the replay of the latest bitter defeat and stopped shortly after the initial dual pronged attack. Maybe it had done more damage than it initially appeared. I was at a loss; in the eyes of a noob starcraft player like me, Huk had done almost no wrong yet was rolled over by an overwhelming Terran army. He began packing up his gaming equipment as I still stood by. Looking back I wish now I weren’t too shy to shout some words of encouragement, a “Get ‘em next time, Chris” or anything of the sort. As Huk turned to leave the platform, I gave a few timid claps of appreciation. He turned towards the remaining fans and me, gave a half-hearted smile, and said quietly, “It’s okay” and left the scene.
Win or lose, I will always be the #1 fan of one of the funniest, nicest guys in the Starcraft 2 scene. Watching Huk win Dreamhack and finish off the Prime team were some of the greatest moments I’ve had the pleasure to watch as a fanE. Thanks for making one fan’s MLG experience unforgettable. HUK FIGHTING
Sorry, this was so long tl;dr Huk is awesome and a shoutout to Ghostclaw for doing a great job with liquipedia and being just a nice guy :D
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