GSL Code S RO16: Group D

Group D is stacked. The top two zergs in the world, NesTea and DongRaeGu. Don't forget about perennial fan favorite MarineKingPRIME and also the very talented protoss mainstay in MVPGenius. Would NesTea join his teammate MVP down in the depths of code A? Would MarineKing continue on en route to yet another second place?

Match 1
NesTea versus DongRaeGu, need I say more? These two players are widely considered the best players of their race on Earth.

Game 1 on Crossfire has both players open hatchery first, DRG would go gas before pool, and NesTea pool before gas. DRG is the first to opt for a roach warren while NesTea puts down a baneling nest and adds his 2nd and 3rd gas. DRG begins his first roaches at 6:20 and NesTea takes his 4th extractor.

DRG pushes the front of NesTea with roaches and lings. NesTea has 4 spines as defense. The lair of NesTea completes at 8:20 and a spire is added as soon as he can.

+1 weapons finish for DRG as NesTea continues to add spines up to a total of 7 now. DRG begins baneling production and attempts to all in when they complete with ling, roach, baneling. Mutas pop just as the attack hits and NesTea places a 3rd base down at the 5 o'clock position.

The natural of NesTea falls but as it does NesTea is able to run into the main of DRG with a small force of lings and kill quite a few drones. The attack finshes with NesTea in the lead with double the drone count of DRG.
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The game is essentially over with NesTea having double the supply as well.

Game 2 takes place on Dual Sight. NesTea opens hatch first as DRG goes for gas into pool for a speedling expand. Both players get their baneling nests down and NesTea begins his ling speed soon after.

NesTea moves a spine down to his natural and morphs 3 banelings as DRG morphs 4 banelings outside of the natural of NesTea. DRG relentlessly pokes at the natural with his small army of lings and banes, and NesTea with good control loses nearly nothing.

DRG brings in some more banelings in an attempt to continue the attack, but the roach warren finishes for NesTea and he begins +1 missle attacks. A spire is placed down by DRG at 8:45.

NesTea attempts a counter attack with 7 half-health banelings left-over from the last fight and some lings. DRG gets a nifty baneling hit off killing 3 of the banes while the others die soon after, doing no damage.
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DRG gets a third base as he starts 7 mutas and +1 air attacks. Nestea counters by going infestor as he puts his pit down, he also is up to 6 queens.. meanwhile, DRG cleans out the map of overlords.

DRG puts down a roach warren and infestation pit of his own as NesTea gets his 3rd base at 13 minutes. 5 infestors now out for NesTea, but he loses one of his queens to the muta flock before he can get a decent fungal off.

DRG sends a healthy group of lings into the base of NesTea and his mutas accompany them. NesTea lands a clutch fungal on the mutas though and DRG loses much more than he kills.

In the center of the map NesTea loses some infestors to the mutas as he makes his way towards the 3rd of DRG with roaches, infestors, and some queens. The infestors are now out for DRG aswell and as the fight begins DRG gets some good looking fungals off, but it isn't enough as NesTea begins to push the natural.
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This is a bit of an overextension though and he loses a big chunk of units as he tries to fight on two fronts; queens v roaches on one and roaches v roaches and spines on the other. He's forced to retreat. After the attack DRG puts down a 4th and NesTea works on saturating his 3rd.

Both players continue to build their army with NesTea putting down a hydra den as DRG adds to his force of roach, infestor. DRG starts hive as he moves into the center of the map. NesTea is there waiting with his roach, hydra infestor army, however, and a battle ensues. DRG gets a great concave and NesTea slips up not attacking with all of his roaches at once. Bother players come out of the fight with similar supply, though.
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During the battle NesTea is able to secure a 4th and get it going at 5 o'clock.

Hive finishes for DRG as both players have 2-1 upgrades with +2 armor on the way. DRG scouts the 4th of NesTea and maxes out. NesTea starts +3 missle attacks as DRG pushes into his 4th. Again DRG lands some good fungals in addtion to getting a good angle during the attack.
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NesTea looks to be reeling, but 2 reinforcing infestors force DRG to pull back for the moment with his remaining roaches. NesTea gives chase to the retreating army, but the reinforcements of DRG collect with his main army and force NesTea to back down. DRG takes a base at 3 o'clock.

DRG again looks to push the 4th of NesTea. However, they actually end up meeting in between the 3rd and 4th of NesTea. This time DRG looks to have the clear advantage with quite a bit more roaches and a few more fungals. NesTea GG's as he does not have enough to reinforce.

Game 3 has NesTea opening with a 10 pool followed by a quick gas. DRG goes hatch first. NesTea makes 8 lings and sends them across the map as DRG's pool is just placed down. NesTea gets a queen followed by ling speed and pulls drones from gas, beginning his attack.

After dancing around the drones for a moment with his lings, NesTea attacks and DRG defends while losing 6 drones.
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NesTea continues to make lings and hide them in his base as DRG looks like he's stabilized; he begins ling speed. The lings now flooding out of NesTea's main are spotted and DRG begins a spine at his natural. The lings of NesTea come in as the spine finishes and DRG defends without losing anything major.

Both players are on 11 drones as NesTea continues to make lings and attack. DRG defends well as NesTea gets a baneling nest back at home. The lings of NesTea are chased all the way home by DRG, but NesTea hides 5 banelings in the 3rd of DRG, as his lings are returning home NesTea goes for a flank with the banes. DRG dodges but the threat is not over. Another spine pops at DRG's natural and a 3rd is begun as NesTea attacks again. NesTea loses 4 of his 5 banelings but is able to run the remaining 1 as well as all of his lings into the main base of DRG.
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NesTea targets down the main hatch while morphing a few addtional banelings nearby. With the baneling defense he is also able to take down the spawning pool, forcing DRG to remake it at his natural.

NesTea now has the drone lead 16-14 as the spawning pool dies. NesTea makes more lings and sends them across the map, but DRG sends his on a counter attack towards the newly placed natural of NesTea forcing a cancel. NesTea charges down the main ramp of DRG into the natural trying to target as many drones as possible and he is able to get a nice number of kills. The game calms down as both players try to recover.

The natural of NesTea is again placed down and DRG expands into his own main. Lair is begun for NesTea and tries to tech up to spire while getting his 3rd and 4th gasses. DRG begins a lair of his own at 14:30 and he gets a scout on the nearly complete spire of NesTea. After scouting the spire DRG makes 8 banelings near the natural of NesTea and prepares to attack.

The attack goes ok, killing some drones, but a few mutas pop and the attack ends with DRG on the shorter end of the stick. At home DRG gets his evo chamber and starts to make queens out of both hatcheries. The mutas are held off for now, and NesTea gets a 3rd base.

Lair finishes for DRG and he opts for the infestation pit and burrow. NesTea switches to roaches with +1 missle attacks on the way as DRG places down a 3rd of his own. It's quickly scouted by mutas and they begin attacking it. DRG pulls his 4 defensive queens to try and defend, but NesTea's roaches then come in to join the fight. NesTea is able to focus down a couple of queens before the infestors of DRG make their way over and NesTea pulls back. DRG sends 5 burrowed infestors across the map in an attempt to harass the 3rd of NesTea.

The infestors are spotted by an overseer and a spine is able to take 1 out, but the remaining 4 still get into the base and spit out a ton of infested terrans. The hatchery is focused down. Meanwhile NesTea attempts to attack intot he natural of DRG with his roach, muta force. Some good fungals coupled with the spines and lings already there allow DRG to hold as he tries to place his own 3rd down again.
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NesTea retains a 30 supply lead but DRG's third hatchery is now slightly ahead. NesTea spots the 4 infestors left at his 3rd base and removes them with some roaches. As that is happening a small group of lings make it into his main, though and they manage to kill all of NesTea's queens along with some drones. Somehow the third base of DRG manages to fall in the chaos.

NesTea is now in the lead on all accounts, though by slim margins at 25 minutes. He takes the center of the map. Both players then try to take their center expansions. NesTea's finishes first though now DRG has managed to take the high-ground advantage. NesTea begins hydra production as he transfers drones to his 4th. A huge amount of the transfering drones are caught by two fungals, killing 10 in total.

DRG starts hive as NesTea burrows 7 infestors and moves them along the right side of the map. They are spotted by an overseer and a few die to spines as they make their way into the natural and the 3rd of DRG. NesTea spits out all of the infested terrans he can at both bases; the natural is defended but the 3rd falls.
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DRG takes this as his cue to attack, and the army of NesTea, with no infestors now, in the center of the map is easily killed. DRG continues to push his advantage now and he waltzes into the base of NesTea, and after the loss of the infestors he simply cannot recover. DRG takes the series.

This was by far the best ZvZ series I have ever seen. Both players reacted just as they should have and the result was breathtaking to watch. I would be hard pressed to think of a better game than the final game of the series.

Match 2
Would MarineKingPRIME and MVPGenius be able to deliver as amazing a series as we just had between NesTea and DRG? Lets find out.

Game 1 starts out on Dual Sight with MKP opening barracks and a gas, while Genius goes standard with 1 gas. A reactor goes down on the barracks of MKP and he begins a command center as Genius adds an expansion. MKP gets his 2nd gas and Genius goes up to 3 gates. As the nexus of Genius finishes MKP puts down a factory and places a tech lab on it. The third gas for MKP is taken and he begins siege mode, shortly after he adds 2 more factories.

Genius adds a forge for +1 armor and a twilight council preparing to go zealot charge with a multitude of sentries. Marineking adds 2 reactors to his new factories and starts to upgrade blue-flame. MKP moves out with 4 hellions and his marine, tank army with more reinforcing units trailing behind. He nears the base of Genius and Genius force fields the ramp buying himself some time. The push comes, but Genius gets a nice engagement due to force fields that allow his zealots to quickly wipe out most of the hellions.
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The rest of the army dies soon after. MarineKing is, however, able to sneak 3 hellions into the main of Genius and net himself 20+ worker kills evening the playing field. Both players at 43 workers as archons hit the field for Genius.

MarineKing continues to run around with his hellions; he sends a group to the army, the natural, and the main of Genius over and over and gets decent trades each time bringing his workers killed up to 32 now. Genius takes a 3rd as he gets a robo support bay at 14:30 along with +2 armor and +1 weapons. In what I can only believe is a mistake Genius does not begin psi-storm research. He has a number of templar in his army but MKP has nothing to feedback.

The supply is now heavily in favor of MKP, 165-131, after continued hellion harass. MarineKing again pushes the natural of Genius and sieges up seeming to be in a dominant position. The hellions juke around getting some nice hits off on the zealot, archon ball. In this moment Genius realizes that he forgot storm and morphs 4 waiting templar into 2 archons. After that he charges in and somehow breaks the siege ling with a few forces remaining. MKP, however, retains a comfortable supply lead.
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After the attack MKP loads up a blue-flame drop and heads to the main of Genius. He kills some more workers, totaling 44 now, and his supply lead grows to nearly 60. He takes a 4th at 11 o'clock.

Genius tries to move out with a warp prism full of zealots towards the main of MarineKing as MarineKing tries to attack the 3rd of Genius with a majority of his army. The third base falls though Genius does manage to do some damage with the warp prism. It is not nearly enough, though. The armies clash for a last time near the 4th of MKP, and while the fight is close, MarineKing takes the first game.

Game 2 will be on Daybreak. Genius opens standard with 1 gas and quickly expands as MKP goes 1 rax expand and quickly gets a 3rd command center before gas. Genius then gets 2 more gates and a robo while MKP adds 2 more barracks and 2 gas.

A forge and a twilight council for Genius and MKP goes for an early ghost academy. No factory, so no medivacs for MKP. He pushes out to the center anyhow while landing his 3rd command center at the normal location. After scouting the army of MKP, Genius throws down the robo support bay. MarineKing has 1-0 upgrades as Genius is working with 1-1.

Starport for MKP at 12 minutes and 2-2 for Genius is near completion. Colossi now on the way as well as thermal lance. Templar archives also half done at 13:30.

The armies meet in the middle slightly before the medivacs get there, but MKP is able to get a ridiculous EMP off hitting all of the sentires and a few zealots. This forces Genius to pull back for a moment before coming back down his ramp and forcing an engagement. The fight happens but the first two medivacs as well as a reinforcing group of marines and marauders manages to flank the colossi requiring Genius to run away, though he loses a lot of units in the process.
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After the fight MKP puts down 2 addtional starports to go up to 3 total and he scouts the 3rd of Genius at the normal location.

He decides to press the issue as he has a far superior army to that of Genius. While the battle is close MKP ends up losing all of his infantry due to bad positioning, clumping them up in a narrow choke.
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He is still able to kill most of the army except for 2 colossi and some sentries.

After that mistake MKP decides to take a 3 medivac drop into the main of Genius which is now undefended. He shreds through the production and takes out the main nexus before getting out with nearly all his units.

MarineKing has bases all over the map, a decent viking count, and a replenished army. He sees an opportunity to attack the 4th location of Genius in the center. Psi-storm is finished but the templar at the location barely do not have enough energy. The attack hits and goes well for MKP, while the templar do gain enough energy during the fight, the storms are not enough. MarineKing kills the 4th base and takes the series.
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Match 3
The winners match would show a ZvT between DRG and MKP.

Game 1, Daybreak. DRG goes hatch first as MKP 1 rax expands followed by 2 gas for reactor hellions with 2 factories, 1 with a tech lab for blue-flame. He makes tanks out of the tech-lab factory while still producing hellions out of the other. DRG goes standard with a macro hatch and 2 evo chambers. he gets +1 carapace and ling speed.

MKP adds an armory and a 3rd command center at 8:15. A baneling nest starts for DRG with +1 attacks now on the way as well, in addtion to a roach warren.

MarineKing pushes up the natural ramp with hellions and 2 tanks forcing DRG to make a lot of units. The result is a queen kill and a bunch of dead zerglings but no economic damage. +1 mech weapons now for MKP as well as +1 normal weapons. DRG makes a few roaches to combat the hellions.

Spire now for DRG at 10:00 and 2-2 on the way. MKP adds a 3rd factory to help bolster his tank and thor numbers, but he continues to make infantry as well as add stim and a starport. DRG takes a 3rd and 4th base as his mutas pop. The mutas get into the main of MKP where there are no turrets and they get a number of SCV kills. A thor pops and the mutas retreat as a small ling force hits the 3rd of MKP and a number of SCVs die there aswell. 17 workers killed. DRG then tries to return to the main and magic box two thors waiting around there. While he does kill the two thors a third shows up and DRG retreats losing a good number of mutas. It was an even trade.
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+2 air weapons starts for DRG as he continues to make mutas and harass with them where he can. MKP goes for thor, hellion marauder with +2 weapons for marauders and mech units on the way. DRG gets roach speed and begins missle attack upgrades. MarineKing clears the center debris and tries to hold the center. Both players near maxed supply.

DRG morphs a lot of banelings and MKP steps onto the edge of the creep near the center. MKP works his way to the natural ramp and begins his attack. A small group of banelings near the 3rd of MKP takes out a lot of workers. MKP's attack is easily cleaned up by the superior army of DRG and he follows MKP back to his base where he awaits reinforcements at the bottom of the natural ramp before charging up the ramp and killing his opponent.
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Game 2 is fought on Antiga Shipyard. Hatch first for DRG with MKP going 1 rax expand followed by double gas into reactor hellions. DRG gets a roach warren at 6:00 and 5 roaches soon after. The roaches chase the hellions away allowing DRG to get his 3rd hatchery down. Lair soon after at 8:00. MKP gets tanks with siege mode on the way with stim also incoming.

MKP gets a third command and turns it into an orbital at 9:00 as DRG scouts double e-bay from MKP. DRG counters with a double evo chamber and both players start 1-1. Stim finishes for MKP as his 3rd command center lands. 2-2 and combat shields begins. 11 mutas on the way for DRG with +1 air attacks on the way.

Combat shields finish and a double drop heads out for MKP, one medivac on each side of the map. DRG places down his 4th base at 9 o'clock but the drop spots it and MKP drops at the 4th as well as the 3rd. DRG defends it well and takes minimal damage.

Hive on the way for DRG at 14:00. His creep spread has already reached the middle 4th base location of MKP and he places some spines on the high ground in the center of the map. MarineKing tries to move his command center to the creeped-up 4th base location and has to scan to remove the tumors. DRG attempts to push him back as he does, but baneling speed has not finished yet. MarineKing holds for now.
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The spines go down in the center as DRG looks for an attack path. MarineKing is able to kill a good amount of DRG's standing army as he baits the units into siege tank fire while waiting for reinforcements. He takes the center for himself. The greater spire for DRG begins at 16:00 and he also tries to take the top-left expansion. MKP tries to harass the 9 o'clock base of DRG, but a fungal and some lings easily clean it up.

MKP takes a double drop to the bottom left main base and forces a cancel on a newly planted DRG expansion there. There are bases all over the map for DRG now as he begins 5 broodlords. 3-3 is nearly complete and +2 flyer attacks have just begun. MKP has 3-3 finished with +2 mech weapons on the way. No ghosts of vikings yet, though.

It looks pretty grim for MKP once the broodlords hatch. He is able to catch some of them with a small group of marines and take out 4 of them. More are on the way, however, to reinforce. The marines are cleaned up and DRG's army looks to be becoming overwhelming.
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MKP tries to drop 2 tanks at the 9 o'clock base of DRG but it doesn't stop DRG from assaulting the center of MKP's base. There are some fungals on the units trying to defend the center expansion. 9 broodlords now on the field for DRG. His army is nearing unbeatable. MarineKing gives it one more shot in the center; DRG proves to be too much.
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DRG played some great games and defended all that was sent his way. Well played.

Match 4
Genius against NesTea will be the 4th match. Can NesTea hang on? Or is there going to be a fight through Code A in his future?

Game 1 is on Daybreak. Nestea opens with a pool first and a hatchery at his 3rd base; he looks to take a quick third. Genius forge expands and techs up to stargate while NesTea gets his first two gases. Genius makes a voidray first as NesTea techs up to lair with a roach warren and an evo chamber on the way. Ling speed begins soon after.

A second voidray for Genius as NesTea gest roach speed and +1 carapace. Genius pushes the center of the map and tries to get a proxy pylon down at the natural ramp of NesTea. Genius now has a well-rounded army of zealot, stalker, sentry, and two voidrays. A few more rounds of stalkers warp in and Genius tries to attack.

Burrow finishes for NesTea and the big push comes. NesTea uses the burrow after losing significant health on his roaches. Genius mistakenly loses a voidray to a spore crawler, and takes great damage on the hull of the other. NesTea pulls his drones as he unburrows and is barely able to clean up the attack. Genius goes home and NesTea takes a nice lead.
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Genius gets a third base and a twilight council after the attack fails, but the third is scouted right away. NesTea decides to wait instead of attack it and he gets a 4th base instead. A robo bay goes down for Genius and NesTea walks up the natural ramp of Genius to find an army waiting there. The posture around for a bit with noone really commiting. NesTea burrows his roaches and hangs out there for a while. He sends a small force down to the third of Genius during this time.

NesTea unburrows. He snipes off a forge that is nearly done upgrading +2 weapons.
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During the time he is attacking the forge he continues to assault the 3rd and he is able to destroy the nexus before pulling back.

14 mutas pop out as NesTea begins double upgrades from his spires. Genius sees the mutas and gives up.

Game 2 takes place on Entombed Valley. Nestea opens with a 6 pool. Genius sends a scout to NesTea's base and ends up scouting him first alerting NesTea to his location. Genius scouts the pool as it finishes and the first 6 lings are started. Genius places a cannon in his main mineral line. NesTea gets to the base of Genius and attempts to target down the cannon. He gets a couple of probe kills before being chased away by some nice mineral-walk micro.
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NesTea is able to kill the pylon and the forge near the natural. He has been droning behind the attack, only producing the initial 6 zerglings. Next, NesTea gets his 2nd hatchery as Genius gets up his normal tech of gateway, cyber core, and 2 gas.

Genius adds 2 more gates bringing him up to 3 and he spends his chrono on probes. Eventually, Genius plants down a nexus and remakes his forge near it. He also goes stargate.

NesTea begins Lair and gets his 3rd and 4th gases. A voidray pops for Genius as he moves it towards NesTea's main to pick off some overlords. NesTea again goes for double spire upon his lairs completion. Genius has 4 phoenix and a voidray out already. He sends his phoenix around the base of NesTea, finding a queen to lift and kill, and scouting the double spire. He continues to build his phoenix count. The air units continue to annoy NesTea as he tries to get his 3rd hatchery up.

Genius gets +1 air attacks as the first mutas pop for NesTea, 1-1 is nearly complete for them. Genius meanwhile continues to pick off overlords when he can as both players mass up air units. In addition to the mutas NesTea is up to 10 spinecrawlers at his front. Genius moves through the center of the map and on to NesTea's creep; his +1 air attacks and +1 ground attacks are about to finish. NesTea's 1-1 air attacks also will be finishing soon.

The mutas of NesTea are caught near the natural of Genius by his phoenix; he takes out all but 3 of the group. During this time Genius also moves into the third base location of NesTea and forces a cancel with little trouble. After the third dies NesTea tries to retake it in addition to hiding a base at the bottom right of the map. Genius moves up the 3rd base ramp of NesTea at this time and towards the spinecrawler wall. He attacks it from the side taking out 6 of them before moving back.

Genius finishes up blink for his stalkers and warps in a good number of zealots outside the natural of NesTea. His army appears to be overwhelming as he pushes up the ramp, blocking out a group of zerglings with force fields. He easily takes out the spines and the mutas and NesTea concedes.
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Game 3 is on Bel'shir Beach. NesTea opens 14 pool with an expansion and GEnius goes for a Forge and a cannon before his Nexus. 2 gas for Genius after his gateway and before his cyber core. NesTea takes an early third. Third gas for Genius followed by a stargate. NesTea's first to extractors finish at 6:30. A voidray hits the field for Genius followed by a phoenix.

+1 missle attacks and ling speed along with burrow, are in transit for NesTea, as he also gets 2 addtional queens. Genius takes a third base and gets a robo facility as he harasses with his air units. Blink and +1 along with an observer are started. NesTea puts down a spire as Genius gets quite a few drone kills with phoenix harass in NesTea's main.

NesTea notices that the phoenix energy was just used to kill a lot of drones and decides to attack. 4 queens and his roaches slowly make their way across the map. NesTea attacks the third of Genius and isn't able to do much damage. He attempts to burrow and escape but the nearby observer of Genius prevents that from happening.

Genius continues phoenix harass as NesTea pushes the third again. With some nice position NesTea is able to use a small force of zerglings to kill probes and attack the nexus while keeping the army of Genius at bay with his roaches. Genius, now with immortals in the mix, and colossi on the way, tries to defend. NesTea attacks near the natural ramp, but is force fielded away and Genius gets quite a bit of kills before NesTea's entire army can engage.
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Genius holds off the attack but the small group of zerglings from earlier is just barely able to destroy the third nexus.

Colossi are now out with thermal lance as NesTea beings mutas and +1 air and melee attacks. NesTea goes for a 4th but as he does Genius attacks into his 3rd. NesTea sends his mutas to the natural of Genius in an attempted counter attack and he cancels his 4th base. Genius kills the 3rd with no real engagement as NesTea's mutas do ok damage in the main and natural of Genius before being chased away by stalkers and phoenix. Both players are now reset on 2 base with NesTea having a significant worker lead and being up 20 supply.

Genius beings +1 air weapons and continues phoenix production. Both players settle down as they walk around the map. NesTea flies his mutas up towards the natural of Genius and tries to do a bit of damage, but they are caught by the phoenix and a small air battle ensues with NesTea getting the best of the engagement. Meanwhile a lot of roaches are taken out near the northern watch tower by blink stalkers and colossi.
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Genius tries to take a third at the more central base location and NesTea forces a cancel witha group of lings. Genius again tries, and again the base is cancelled by NesTea. This time he loses his zerglings in the process. Genius then decides to push the third of NesTea and with stalkers, colossi, and phoenix he is able to take it down. NesTea simply cannot hang with the army of Genius at this point as he has only mutas left.
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Match 5
So with NesTea down to the depths of Code A who would rise up to take the final spot in the round of 8?

Game 1 Would be played on Bel'shir Beach with MKP going 2 rax and Genius opening standard with a single gas. Reactor on the first barracks and a tech lab on the second for MKP. Genius adds 3 more gates to go up to 4.

Genius puts down a pylon near the southern watch tower as Concussive shells finish for MKP. Genius walks up the natural ramp of MKP with his first set of units and is greeted by 2 marauders and handful of marines. This nets MKP a quick stalker kill. Genius turns-tail and runs. MarineKing kills the proxy pylon and pulls all of his SCVs to join his army in one big attack.
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Genius pulls his probes and the two fight it out. MKP takes the upper-hand and the game.
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for Game 2 Genius picks Antiga Shipyard. MKP goes command center first as Genius scouts it and chrono boosts out a zealot. MKP gets 2 rax in his main and Genius takes his expansion before his cyber core. The single zealot rolls into MKP's base and is quickly chased away. MKP then adds 3 more barracks bringing his total to 5 before gas. He then pushes out with the marines that he has and takes 2 geysers. With 3 scvs along for the ride MarineKing hits the natural of Genius. Genius pulls a few probes and loses all of his sentries but the attack is relatively even for both players.
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After the attack MKP gets his addons and begins his factory tech. Genius goes 2 forge, and snags a robo support bay to begin colossus production. Medivacs are on the way for MKP as he puts down his 3rd base at 11:00. Genius gets a twilight council at this time.

MKP flies his factory into Genius' base as he moves across the map with his army. Genius chases the factory with his whole army allowing MarineKing to sneak in and try and snipe off the twilight council. He unfortunately has to pull back with the building at only 100 life due to colossi coming to help the defense. 2-2 is now on the way for Genius with blink nearly finished.

4 colossi out for Genius now as he pushes the center. MKP really doesn't have the units to deal with it. His vikings die quickly and Genius chases down the rest of his army and ends the game.
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The final game takes place on Dual sight with MKP going for a 1 rax expand and Genius opening standard with 1 gas and an expansion when he can afford it. MKP then adds his 2 extra barracks and his 2 gas. Genius gets 2 more gates and his robo as well as his 2nd assimilator.

Stim and combat shield begin for MKP while he places a bunker at his natural. He also opts for an early ghost academy at 7:30. Genius gets quick colossi and manages to scout the first round of ghosts popping out of the barracks of MKP with his observer. MKP attacks into the natural of Genius as Genius gets a nice spread of his sentries. Both players stand there for a moment until MKP decides to fire off the first EMP.
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The EMP hits and the fight begins. Genius does just fine with the defense, and in all likelihood actually comes out ahead.

Genius goes up to 7 gates as his colossi come out and he continues his double upgrades. MarineKing gets +1 weapons along with his first 2 medivacs. After his 5th and 6th medivacs pop he begins viking production and pushes again towards the natural of Genius. A small skirmish occurs and after an EMP MarineKing retreats knowing it is an unwinnable fight at this time.

Genius takes map control in the center with his 3rd colossi out as MKP puts down his 3rd command center. 2-2 is on the way for Genius and he looks to be waiting for it to finish so he can hit a timing. Now a 4th colossi comes out, but MKP seems to have a decent viking count as of now. He chases Genius from the center and takes it for his own.

5 colossi now for Genius with 2-2 finished as Marineking sits in the center and protects his newly acquired third. Genius sneaks a pylon up near the 3rd command center of MKP and shortly after moves the rest of his army up that direction to assault the base. He holds MarineKing's army inside of his natural and wipes out the third base with little trouble.

Both players max out with 3-3 on the way for Genius and +1 ship weapons along with 2-2 on the way for MKP. MarineKing sacs some SCVs and starts moebius reactor and 2 ghosts along with 3 more vikings. Meanwhile, Genius gets his templar archives as 3-3 finishes; +1 shields and psi-storm begin. A small engagement in the center has MarineKing killing 1 colossus and severely injuring another while taking a few hits to his viking count.
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Both players retreat home for a moment as MKP starts 3-3 and Genius takes a 4th base at 5 o'clock. MarineKing shimmies his way down to the 3rd of Genius and Genius is forced to give up the base as it would be an unfavorable engagement for him. He does, however, move his army near the center to intercept as MarineKing retreats.

Genius finds the retreating army and the fight takes place with Genius in a much better position now, the infantry of MKP melts to storms and colossi.
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That's the game, and the series.

So the round of 8 is now decided, and we see only 1 zerg player, DongRaeGu, in the mix. Protoss seems to be having a resurgence after quite a few down seasons with 4 in the round of 8. 3 terrans round out the group. Here's to good games in the coming weeks.

GSL Code S RO16: Group D

Completed

Ongoing

Upcoming