SPL final spoilers ahead. You have been warned, and why would you be reading this anyway if you're trying to avoid the results?
I don't blog much, but I think this is the one time I'd like to share my happiness. None of my friends play Starcraft, and they're mostly causal players so I don't think any of them would understand, which is why I'm sharing this on TL and not FB or some other social medium.
I don't think I've ever cried over good news; The times I've received great news I've never been that happy that it brings me to tears. I might be speechless, I might have a big stupid smile on my face for days, but I'd never cry tears of happiness. That changed today when SKT won, I broke down and I couldn't help myself. The finals was an emotional rollercoaster for me. We had a great start, when Bisu and Fantasy won I was flying so high I exited earth's atmosphere and headed out to space. I was brimming with confidence, the same kind of confidence I had the year before when we were up 2-0. But KT is resilient, and they brought me back to earth by winning the next two sets. I thought to myself, 'it's happening again…'
Not like this, not again, we can't lose again to KT. Sun wins his set and I start to regain hope, but it quickly fades with Best losing to Hoejja (who played a perfect game btw). It all seems too familiar and my faith is fragile at this point. Bisu and Flash come out and I am fearful. I know Bisu will have something prepared, but couldn't be certain he would win, especially against Flash. I mean what are the chances Flash would lose twice in one day? I sat there and I prayed, I was desperate for SKT to win, desperate not have my heart broken again. It wasn't even about losing to KT, it was about getting to the finals three times only to lose right at the end. That would be too much to bare and losing again would completely break me. The last time we lost, I was disheartened and demoralised for days, it's hard for my friends to believe how much this game and team affects my life.
When Bisu sent out that early probe, I prayed again. When Flash reached the back door of Bisu's main, I gave in to the fear and sadness, I felt terrible, how can it end like this?
When Bisu's zealots suddenly charged into Flash's natural and wrecked all his tanks, I stood up and moved my face closer to the monitor as if it would give me a better view. I couldn't believe it, my jaw almost hit the ground and I couldn't keep my mouth closed for the rest of the game. 'Do it, Bisu!' I cried. When Flash conceded I was shocked, they had done it, SKT had finally defeated KT and won this season's Proleague. I started crying, I couldn't help it. Maybe I was more shocked than happy at that point, I don't know. All I know is I couldn't contain any of my emotions. It was a huge relief as well, especially after all the uncertainty that crept up when KT started fighting back. It was the first time I had cried because something good (for me) had happened, it was a strange feeling to say the least.
For me, there could be no better end, it was an epic struggle between the two teams, and KT fought courageously. Their Zerg line is to be commended, and they showed once again why they are to be feared, holding it down for KT and bringing it to the final set. And while I'm full of elation, I know that there are fans out there that are sad and devastated that their team lost. There's probably nothing I can say to soothe your pain, but I just want them to know what I think of their team. KT is a fantastic team, and I wouldn't want anyone else as our rival. They deserve the win just as much, and I'm sorry there could only be one winner. Just know that your team has bested us in the last two years, and overall in the regular season over the lifetime of our rivalry. And if it makes you feel any better, KT has caused me much heartache and grief. I sincerely hope you feel better soon.
If this really is the last pure BW PL, I am glad I had the chance to experience such a magnificent spectacle and that I shared it among some very passionate fans. I wouldn't want it any other way and I count myself lucky to have found and been apart of something so special. BW (and TL) will always be a significant and memorable part of my life <3 My only regret in all this is that I couldn't watch it live in Korea, and that I couldn't meet and tell any of the SKT players and staff how happy I am for them and how happy they made me feel. Maybe in another life.
And now that all the adrenaline has left me, I feel like I can now head to bed and rest peacefully. I know I'll dream with a smile on my face tonight
Thank God Evil Empire is back. Almost stopped hating them for a second there =P.
Well deserved win though. It was a great series. Maybe now that the league destroyer didn't win a final, PL will stay purely a BW affair for yet another season.
I had tears in my eyes after 2nd game and final game. Second game because Flash showed such brilliance even in his loss, and Fantasy just playing like he is out of his mind! They were OTHERWORLDLY in 2nd game!
Then 3rd game was just plain NASTY, such a down to the wire game, have we seen such epic, base trade zvz in the finals?
Watching 5th game, I felt that Stats was now in position of his former opponents, where he wrecked other protosses on Outlier. just really interesting turn of events.
6th game, I couldn't keep my disappointment towards Best the whole game. Ko God Min played amazingly, but I felt as if Best did absolutely nothing. By this point, I was sure that KT would win, I couldn't keep my faith in Bisu vs Flash, even with Bisu being my favorite player.
Then this game was just ... what made this final the best final in my memories (I have watched every single finals of course). As a P player, what Bisu did in that game is inhumane. It is impossible. How does he do that? Does he have 4 hands? I feel as if what he did there was even MORE impressive than Jaedong's dual muta micro on Blue Storm. Teching, not geting pylon blocked, keeping that HERO PROBE alive for the LONGEST time, production of zealots seamlessly, impeccable micro and decisions, it was absolutely brilliant. Oh and them manner pylons!! He really got into Flash's mind.
But then Flash is Flash. If he played ANY OTHER PROTOSS, he would have won convincingly, his marine micro was disgustingly good, and kept mentally strong even with so many harassments. As the commentator said during the game, Flash and Bisu would have won at that point if they had met ANY OTHER PLAYER. Let it be Stork, or Fantasy. But because they met each other, we were able to witness such an amazing game. I honestly thought it was over when Flash camped behind Bisu's main. I was disappointed with Bisu when he threw away the reaver, meaning he pretty much just threw the game. I was worried that he took 3rd at that timing because that gave Flash the absolute timing attack, which I would say worked.
Regular protoss would have tried to defend with the speedlots and type GG. Bisu said he thought he lost for sure, but he had many zealots so he might as well try. If you see his lots running on minimap, he runs towards 11 O clock then turns to Flash's base. That split second decision, coming from a very special player that Bisu is, got him the victory. IT was really ALL or nothing.
Amazing game. I look forward to another proleague like this!
P.S. I really DISLIKE KT COACH. What a JERK move putting the blame on Flash. He SAID he doesn't blame Flash, but he pretty much did. You could see Flash crying at that moment. He backed off that playing Flash on Chain Reaction was NOT coaching staff's decision, but because Flash wanted to. Saying shit like we supported him and helped him and not blame him is icing on the cake. That was completely a douch move and I wish Flash leaves KT now.
Head coach should back off the player regardless of the result. It was in the end, coach's decision to make him play in the ACE match. Putting the pressure and blame and backing off from the heat as a head coach is immoral.
Even though I'm sad KT lost it was a great finals to finish things off. Flash vs Bisu was the proper way for proleague to end, unlike last year's anticlimactic ace match when BeSt was sent out. Flash vs Fantasy was the best game all year. In my brief 3 years of actively watching pro Brood War the Flash vs Fantasy semis is arguably my favorite BoX series of all time and I was worried I'd never see such high level TvT again but yesterday left me fulfilled. BW always and forever #1.
reposting my reply from the other blog: "wow, just wow"
i so love this final esp. seeing bisu won twice. i <3 bisu. i'm just so sad for flash. i like flash too but he got 0-2 in the finals
bisu almost tears when he stepped out of the booth... and when coach park hugged him... so touching. i hoped bisu's osl sacrifice was all worth it. i hope there's another osl for bisu.
man i dont think i have been so happy in a long time. after game 4 i was so frustrated in beliving kt would be repeating last year i turned off for a game to prevent my frustrations from taking the better of me. coming back into middle of game 6 i was reliefed, because even if kt won that game skt would go into ace with a map advantage(fuck neo chain reaction tho). when bisu decided to proxy in game 7 and it was scouted, i was hoping for it to not end like this. but somehow bisu managed to make a game of it. then we reached the lowpoint of my day when flash got into a good position sieging bisus main, and after the 2. wave of tanks was going to reinforce i was ready to just fuck it and walk away. then i see a massive zealot counter flash did not prepaire for, and flash gging shortly i had to drop a tear of joy. finally skt had managed to defeat kt and i could not be more happy.
i must commend kt and skt for producing one hell of a final. fantasy showing brilliant TvT vs flash, HoeJJa showing some of the most beutiful ZvP i have seen in a long time and bisu managing to pull it out in the end.
i really hope the sc2/bw proleague never comes true, it would be a shame for this beutiful game to end. but if this is the last proleague, i am glad it ended with such an amazing final(and ofcause skt winning!)
Man, this was the first BW pro scene I've watched and wow it was so epic. The mirror matchups were amazing. The ace match was so intense. Wow, just wow! I wish I found out about the pro scene 10 years ago.
On April 09 2012 05:13 aznball123 wrote: Man, this was the first BW pro scene I've watched and wow it was so epic. The mirror matchups were amazing. The ace match was so intense. Wow, just wow! I wish I found out about the pro scene 10 years ago.
You should check out the last OSL if you liked the final. Fantasy vs Jangbi was an amazing final as well. You can always check out http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=190074 for alot of the greatest games over the lifetime of BW as well. The good thing about BW is there is so much documented content which have been preserved
Same feeling here. I pull an all nighter and miscalculated, so I spent more than 30 hours awake to watch SKT. I was fucking happy for bisu, fantasy and sun, but when BeSt lost I started to doubt. I knew best was dead after first 10 mins when he expected hidra bust but hoejja spammed drones, hatches and got hive. Then, after a really favorable start, bisu was about to lose, I could see best losing and breaking my heart like last year. But he got his shit together, used the most memorable reaver micro in the most important stage he could, and won.
I cried like a little girl when bisu wan and specially watching the final video after the finals. It had a farewall vibe, hope it wasn't. And like you, I'll never tell anyone in real life why this was among the happiest weekends in my life. Thank you, fanta and bisu. Unlike you though, I'm still hoping i'll meet them some day, even if SKT no longer exists.
You summed up the feeling in that final game very well. I don't really have a team anymore, I just have my boys JD and Sea left. With them not playing I was just a bitter anti-Flash shell. Still, even with his losses he showed such amazing play it's so hard to hate him.I'm really happy the finals were as amazing as they were. Had them on my monitor and was sitting in bed with my popcorn cheering (family is visiting so I'm not sure they were as happy as I was )
I was lucky i have a friend who lives fairly close and plays and watches BW. Another one watches SC2 but has a general idea of BW and i also got nother 2 friends who were at least curious (or just wanted food) to come over and all watch the great spectacle that is a BW final. Couldn't have asked for a better one to watch at my house.
When Bisu got his zeals into Flash's main i was like 'NO FUCKING WAY' and then the GG came up from Flash. Though i didn't cry, i have to say i was fucking ecstatic and now my fb will have 'seven days of bisu pics' as my profile picture Even re-watched the last game cause it was that fucking epic.