Silver Playhem player strikes again!

This blog post is going to be long and I don't post TLDR, because if You don't have time now, You can read it later, that's what I always do at least. Another thing is that I spent about 4 hourse to analyze those games and write about them. Also, my games that are analyzed here are on my stream channel as VODs (hopefully ). Stream link. Replays are ready to download from here. I've used spoilers to avoid wall of text and so many images at once for those with lower bandwith
Ok, let it be this way, TLDR: just read Spoiler number 6

Round of 64 - TvP on TalDarim Altar LE vs HandsomeTimo
Let's start with that after my lose in my first Playhem versus DT play I wanted to play really safe. Also I prepared for my opponents playstyle by cheking that he opens DTs/Robo versus Terran

I always open gasless expand so I didn't do anything special, except that I wanted my engi bay really quick.
In his base I saw this:

So I was nearly sure that my preparation for DTs is not going to be waste of minerals. Of course it could be some other fast tech, but still double gas is huge investment for him. I was feeling safe and ok, but thrown down engi bay before 3rd rax. I know that he couldn't have DTs at 5:10, but better safe than sorry Another thing was that cross spots is really long distance so I was ok before warp ins.

At 6:30 some Stalkers arrived at my ramp, but it wasn't anything special. Also worried about DTs I sent some marines to patrol near edges that are viable for high ground warp ins.
8:40 some army attacked, I've lost one bunker, but fortunately killed some sentries and forced him to back away. After seeing Immortal I was a bit scared about what made watching GSL painful - some kind of Immortal bust! Fortunately I killed those sentries so it would be weakened.

Scan at 11:10 revealed this:

So I knew it really can go into DT play, yay for my preparation :D

Also I forgot about reactor on Factory Additionally I started building ghost academy in case of HTs instead of DTs.

While scrolling to my engi bay for upgrades I saw Zealots running to my mineral line. I was surprised, my marine didn't saw a pylon? Is he blind? Later I saw the thing I really dislike - Warp Prism. Still, I managed to hold it without many losses.

After landing my 3rd I saw another WP so this time no surprises Wasted some scans because of gaps in turret placement, but I didn't wanted to build too much.
Now I felt safe with my economy, I knew he lost so much gas for those DT drops and I moved out. It ended really quick and without pain (for me, at least).

I should have started building second starport in case of colossus switch and also I should drop more.

Round of 32 - TvT on GSL Metropolis vs MagicKiller
I didn't have time to check his game history (not that it will really change anything), but I felt safe because I think I have improved (from last time) with my helion drop.

Without knowing how does he play I wanted to really wall off, even for a price of a bit delayed Orbital and I've done it! I was proud of myself :D I should've checked his gas (how much he mined) because it could've been gas first, but at least, I've scouted him.
I've scanned him at 6:33 and saw that he went 3rax.

I wasn't sure how to feel about this - he could've played very aggressive and I was teching. On the other hand I knew my helions can destroy him (except for marauders).

While I was moving my medivac to his main he caught my marines out in the field. He had superior force, but he was away from his mineral line so I moved slowly back with my marines to give helions some time!

6, 3 and 2 kill helions? Wow, at this stage of the game being 11 SCVs behind? (I'm not counting killing scouting SCV since we both lost them) I was ahead!
Of course I overextened and lost all helions and medivac, but who had SCVs? :D I did! He pushed my ramp, but stimming bio without medivacs into 3 sieged tanks is not a good idea.
I transitioned into marine/tank and pushed him after establishing my natural and starting my 3rd.
Nothing to analyze here, he just had worse macro. I could've postioned my tanks better (as always), but as long as I won, I was happy

Round of 16 - TvP on ESV Cloud Kingdom vs Thegreatest
Again TvP, again on Cloud Kingdom which I really like I've found some old game in his match history and he liked colossus so I felt pretty good.

At 4:40 I saw double gas, I don't know much about various gas timings for Protoss, I just know they need gas, but for 2 gates taking both geysers? I felt safe, because I knew he will tech and won't really attack soon.

Later I saw 3rd gate so just 3gate robo, nothing special in my opinion

I was able to take out his observer so minor victory for me :D I'm not good at spotting them so when I saw it in turret range I was like "thank You!"
After sending SCV to his natural all I saw were Stalkers and Sentries. Nothing extra special, but it meant that it's not zealot archon that I hate and that he PROBABLY went for colossus.
I started my stim really late in my opinion - I moved out at 12:10 and it wasn't even in 1/4 of beging done. Same thing with combat shield, but at least I was near completion of +1.

Don't throw away Your army like that:

I know, only one colossus, but I was so impatient I haven't destroyed those rocks and he had some nice time forcefielding me. I was able to go back home and not lose everything. Go go viking production!
Scan at 15:30 reveals low colossus count and only +1 attack.
At his 3rd I positioned my vikings so they had easy time picking of colossi:

Wasn't that great?

He let his nexus finish which I destroyed pretty fast. Next target? Natural! Picked of fast too! His last try was sending three archons, even without EMP it was easy fight.

I should've scouted for templar archives, drop him more (this way I could scout) and get +2/+2 faster.

Quarterfinals - TvP vs Slayer
Game 1: IPL Darkness Falls
I was happy with my result so far, last time I lost in quarters so it wouldn't be a shame to lose there again Another Protoss, I had time to check him, he favoured fast colossus so I was prepared and even trained for that in previous games :D
I don't really like this map, base feels small and ramp is far away for me.

I've scouted him in last position (of course, how can I scout him in first with my luck?) and saw 1 gas.

When I wanted to move with 2 marines to get xelnaga tower I was greeted by 2 stalkers and 1 zealot. Bunker finished JUST IN TIME

But still he moved around it with stalkers and I had to do some crisis management which really cuts into my macro :<

Scan at 8 revealed Robo finishing and 2 gates opening, so he probably had natural up.
When first medivacs arrived I moved out (it even synchronized with stim!) to see what I can do. He was building a 3rd! Lets just force a cancel. I moved to his natural, killed probes, leaved nexus and pushed into his main. That was GREAT for me!
I killed 32 probes total with that attack, stopped +1/+1 (unpowering it only, but still) and destroyed robo so his colossus production was stopped.
Let's move out again!

I just marched into his natural and main and killed him, nothing to see here, move along

Game 2: TalDarim Altar LE
I felt confident playing on TalDarim, but wasn't sure to go gasless expand again or maybe something fancy. I went 1 gas expand which was near my typical playstyle
I was really STUPID not scouting his natural after seeing nothing in his main, now as I watch a replay it was nexus first. Also my wall of on TalDarim is bad.

I moved out with small force only to be greeted with cannons :<

I wasn't sure what was his plan.
Scan at 11:50 revealed colossus den and upgrades going. Typical Protoss, right? I wanted to move out (+1, stim and medivacs), but without vikings I wasn't in good position, especially with those cannons.
I moved out as I was maxed and with +2/+1 for bio and +1 for vikings.

Why haven't I attacked his 3rd? Why I stood in storms and died from colossus? Why was I just BAD this game? I don't know, but I know he rolled over my army and destroyed me. GG

Game 3: what map I like? Why not some ESV Cloud Kingdom for another TvP :D
This time nothing fancy, let's go TRIED and proved to work gasless expand.
He moved 1 zealot to check my expo, I wasn't afraid with 2nd bunker going up, I even scanned 3gate robo.
I saw some stalker and zealot at my nat ramp, what can it be...

OH MY GOD IS IT SOME KIND OF IMMO BUST? I hate You dude! Pulling SCVs isn't bad especially for immortals and especially when having mules :D Both bunkers went down, but I knew his agression is over for now, his next immortal came with some stalkers and zealots, but it wasn't the same.
Scan at 12:30 revealed his nexus JUST going up at natural so it was over from now, unless I really fuck this up like last game.
This time I'm not running into forcfielded ramp :D No no no!

Also, hello colossus
When I felt it's time I moved out (+2/+1 for bio, +1 for vikings). He even let me freely move into his nat, good for me!

This time I survived storms (not that much as last time) even with standing in them :D I heard that bio works in small groups so I think 2 marines, 8 marauders and 4 medivacs is ok to kill Protoss

WHAT? I'M IN RO4? HOLY COW :D I'm awesome!
Guess what? TvP
Semifinals vs MUFFNUGGETZ
Game 1: GSL Antiga Shipyard
I know Antiga is T favored (at least vs Z, but why not build like 5 tanks and siege them in the middle?), but I don't like this map in any matchup.
What can I do? Gasless expand
Best worker split ever :< It's not game ender, even if it won't mess build order, it just messes with my mind.
What can I say about this game...

That I have to learn not to build bunkers so far away from command center or at least build more than one. And scout for proxy pylons. No matter how much I would like to write about this game, it was just 4gate.

Game 2: I WANNA GO TO THE FINALS LETS GO ESV Cloud Kingdom!
I tought that he will now go for something more macro oriented since he is one game up and he wants to be safe. I went 2 rax...this game lasted only 7:42.

Yes, I'm not going into the finals. I should've played safer gasless expand or if I wanted to be agressive I could've tried old 3rax. No, I wanted to be creative and good. GG, gl in finals

At that moment I was mentally destroyed. I've lost my chance to be the best for one day. Yes being the best in silver matters in life!
I wanted to log off, but after uploading replay I saw that I have opponent. What? 3RD PLACE MATCH LOL :O

Match for 3rd place vs vitalyaMAGiC
Game 1: GSL BelShir Beach (Winter)
Was that MMA who just run helions into DRGs main in that awesome series? I wanna be that guy! Can I be that guy playing first time on BelShir? Versus Zerg? I rarely see Zerg in silver on ladder, if I see them, they are all-in all time.

Ok, no matter what helion openning into 4tank/combat shield push!
Why he doesn't have natural going or drone running to natural? Why does he do this:

and why does he have pool started?
Still, helion opening, but lets get bunker, just in case.
It wasn't just spider sense :D 6 lings running to kill my marine is something fishy. Baneling bust? He had gase when I scouted his pool so probably Bbust or roach rush.

I knew it! But what does the knowledge do when I have 2 marines and 2 dead helions? At that point we started that dance where SCVs don't want to dance, marines want to guard the entrance to the club and lings are on cocaine and want do dance with everybody, especially with people who don't want to. Let's call the helion police!
Few minutes later, wasted mining time and supply blocks I'm alive.

I'm even roasting some drones, he killed 7 SCVs, my helions 5 drones, not bad. At that moment I felt like we both are behind. He is behind because he could've droned like mad and I've lost mining time and was supply blocked so many times.
At 13:10 I'm out on the map with 3 tanks, 17 marines and combat shield nearly done. One tank less and 4 minutes too late than it should be done, I'm sure I can win this game. Not with this push, but this push is going to not drone.
Can I win 3 tanks/1marauder/12marines vs 16 roaches? I was thinking he is going to smash me. Don't know how, but 7 marines survived and they were stupid enough to obey my order and push his natural... 4 roaches cleaned my attack, but I forced some mining time in his nat. Time to expand myself!
I just don't know how, I was holding, without bunkers, slowly catching up with macro. I wasn't even scared of mutas, he just couldn't have them.
Another move out, again without medivacs. 5 tanks and some marines. This time creep was pushed back, but burrowed roaches under tanks! First tank died, 2 tanks in red, one in orange and one yellow. How is it even possible? He ggs as I move to his nat. He probably was out of units.
Probably my best TvZ ever

Game 2: GSL Antiga Shipyard
Why Zerg would choose Antiga? I don't know, I wanted to play something fast and a bit cheesy since I was game up. Helion into Banshee, is it called ForGG build? I know I'm bad at it :D

After I scouted his pool again I didn't mass helions, I just thrown them 2 by 2, forgot my cloack and he rolled me over. Really, no more analysis of this game, I just played badly, because of trying to be cool with banshees. It was as bad as losing to 4gate with my 2rax stupidness.

Game 3: MLG Shattered Temple
My girlfriend said to me that I have to get 3rd place. I wanted 3rd place. Shattered has rocks so Zergs are not happy!

Nothing creative this time, helions -> 4tanks/combat shield.
Fortunately I saw his overlord so I knew where he is (like it would matter) and was able to see if he is doing some pool first again, he did. It was strange to me, was he cheesed too much on ladder?
Also, I don't like this spawn since I have addon in my wall.
While moving to xelnaga my marine was caught by some lings, so I was stuck with one marine and building bunker. Pretty scary to be honest.
With my helions I scouted he has natural up, he doesn't have speed yet and I wasn't able to get to main.

Siege tech done made me feel really safe, it always does I moved my CC to natural before OC, but I wanted it there badly.


Just before 10 minutes I decide it's time to go. Four tanks? Check! Combat shield? Check! Natural pretty safe? Check! Time to go!
Unfortunately I met some lings and banes on my way to xelnaga. I had to pull back and try to survive lings in my nat with only one (dead) tank and some marines.

My heart was beating like crazy, I was sure more lings will come. I even let him get to my main mineral line. Brave SCVs fought lings, his reinforcements ran into my bunker and...MIRACLE, I was alive.
I scanned his nat/main at 11:10 and saw both gasses at natural. For me it means only mutas or infestors. Time to tutrle up, get 3rd and turtle some more.
I started my turrets late, but I wasn't afraid, in my mind I was so safe right at that moment.
Three minutes later his nat shown me Spire.

I was in good position, I had turrets up, I had marines and my front was sieged.
I was stupid enough to give away supply depots and get supply blocked forever. He took one supply depot there, I rebuilt it in other place and he took another somewhere else. Really good muta harass even without killing any units.

After scanning JUST as his hive finished I decided to move out. If he wanted to go for brood lords he would have to defend with them. Ultras? No ultras are bad and this map is in my opinion bad for them, unless You are really ahead.

Quiz time! Who is going to win this fight?

I was like OH LETS SIEGE TANKS BLINGS INCOMING OMG ITS TOO LATE LINGS ARE ON MY TANKS, but I've won it. Why? How? He attacked with banelings into my tanks so marines survived. Screw creep! I'm going for natural!
After killing his Hive I was nearly sure I've won, but he had gold and his 3rd. I was afraid I'm going to lose already won game. I've turtled more, I knew he loved his Hive. This time I won't die!
I sieged my tanks at that gap in front of gold base. Oh boy, best decision ever!

AFter killing his army off I moved to his main, ignored his gold, now he had only lings and banelings so lets destroy pool and nest! I even caught some banelings morphing and sieged at his ramp and saw "wp" on chat.

I leaned back and felt pain in my head, I felt my heart working on high speed and I felt dizzy.

I took 3rd place in Playhem Daily for Bronze and Silver after really good games. And it was just my 2nd time playing in tournament!

I've done it.