EPTThough I don’t play sc2 all that often (an old laptop), I watch it tirelessly. I’ve never been to any large eSports event before either- a real dearth of them in Australia unfortunately- so I was eager as a reaver, as the saying goes, to experience one.
Well, a few weeks ago I visited the GOM studios in Seoul. I was only in Korea overnight, passing through on my way to Tokyo from London (Korean Air flights are relatively cheap). I spent the night out near the airport in Incheon at a little hostel called the Lazy Bird (top notch, I’d recommend it to all passing through). Arrived at Incheon KST 4 pm. Because the GSL begins at 6:10 pm, and I knew that my hostel would take some finding, I ran like some demented idiot, sweaty and bleary-eyed through the airport terminal looking for my bus. After following very precise directions from the hostel’s website -basically, ‘get off when you see a construction materials shop’- I arrived at about 5:30.
Check in, dump bags, quick Nivea for Men shower and I’m off on the AREX line for Seoul.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/WiZx2.jpg)
Where thankfully the streets have names
I had also copied down the directions to GOM studios from Sinjeon stop, which were far more precise: out of station, exit three, go straight, first right, tally-ho; enter site, cross basketball court, second floor, thar she blows!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/qZx1t.jpg)
Gom nom nom
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/OCJPo.jpg)
Yes, i am professionally trained
I’d missed the first set but they let me in with little fuss, and I joined the throng inside, titillating with a nervous joy. I didn’t know who was playing that evening, so I was quite thrilled to recognise Nada’s adorable little face in the right-hand side player’s booth. The games themselves were not so remarkable; I recall Nada ably holding off Puzzle’s colossus rush but that’s about all really. What impressed me more, and though I’d seen the results of this on the GOM stream, was the professionalism of all involved. I was seated right next to Tastosis, sneaking peeks at their imposing profiles and less imposing converse all-stars.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ix1Un.jpg)
Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0NWR1.jpg)
Now you know
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/IRp96.jpg)
Fanart
After the final set I went with the crowd as it dispersed into the frigid night air. Standing outside for a little while, cigarette in hand, I was struck by the beauty of it all: ah, such joie de vivre! The excitement of a new and foreign land, the dash through half thronged streets, the yammering stamp of feet, and the final flurry of lights; there is nothing so tangible as this online, and I dearly hope that this won’t be last time that I have the opportunity to revel in such intimacy with the great and global sc2 fraternity. Peace and happy gaming unto you all.
