EPTAlso, since I focus on the higher rounds of GSL, this "quiz" isn't all that difficult for those who actively follow GSL.
First thing I noticed was an interesting trend concerning GSL finals.
These first three questions exclude the Open Seasons (GSLs 1, 2, and 3)
All questions include the World Championship, Super Tournament, and Blizzard Cup as GSL Code S events, and exclude Code A.
Only two GSL seasons featured a final between two previous finalists:
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The World Championships - Marineking vs MVP
October 2011 - MMA vs MVP
October 2011 - MMA vs MVP
In addition, only two GSL seasons featured a final between two players who had both never been finalists:
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The Super Tournament - Polt vs MMA
November 2011 - jjakji vs Leenock
November 2011 - jjakji vs Leenock
Every other season (9 in total) featured one player who had already been a finalist against one who had never. Of these, the up-and-comers only won twice:
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MVP over Marineking in January 2011
Seed over MC in 2012 Season 3
Seed over MC in 2012 Season 3
There has been 1 GSL in which a former runner-up defeated a former champion:
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MMA over Mvp in October 2011
Another interesting occurance had to do with semifinalists. Nearly every single one of the up-and-comers who have challenged previous finalists had not had a result better than the ro8.
There are 4 players who, having been a semifinalist, go on to make the finals; one of whom is unique
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MC
MVP
Nestea
MVP and Nestea were former champions before making the ro4 and subsequently won another championship, while MC was a former champion who subsequently was a finalist
The last of these is the only one who was not a former champion, and did not win in the finals
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TOP
There are 3 players who have improved from a ro8 finish to the finals:
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Inca
Losira
Genius
Losira
Genius
So with one exception, no non-champion semifinalists has ever made the jump to the finals. In fact, there seems to be a bit of a "curse" on GSL semifinalists.
There are 4 players who are repeat semifinalists:
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Jinro
Hongun
San
Byun
Of these, only Byun is still active in the GSL...
Hongun
San
Byun
Of these, only Byun is still active in the GSL...
Among other semifinalists, 3 have at least made it back to the ro8:
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anypro
sC
Oz
Of these, only Oz is still active in the GSL...
sC
Oz
Of these, only Oz is still active in the GSL...
However, there are 2 former semifinalists who are, as of this blog posting, still "alive" in Code S and therefore have a chance to break this "curse":
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DongRaeGu
HerO
Moving on...
There are two finalists who have walked the "royal road": they had never been in Code S before.
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MMA in the Super Tournament
Squirtle in 2012 GSL Season 2
Squirtle in 2012 GSL Season 2
Now for something a little easier.
There is only one player who has made it to the finals more than once but never won.
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Marineking
There are three players who have made it to the finals more than once, and won more than once.
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MVP
Nestea
MC
Nestea
MC
There are a final two players who have made it to the finals more than once, and won only once.
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MMA
DongRaeGu
DongRaeGu
Finally, a little something about the current GSL - There's a good reason for all the hype about this season - when Code S started, it featured a majority of all GSL finalists ever: 11 out of 19.
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Nestea
Marineking
MC
Mvp
Polt
MMA
Leenock
DongRaeGu
Genius
Squirtle
Seed
Marineking
MC
Mvp
Polt
MMA
Leenock
DongRaeGu
Genius
Squirtle
Seed
That got me wondering where the other GSL finalists were.
1 Code S finalist is currently in Code A:
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jjakji
6 are in Code B:
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Rainbow/HopeTorture
Rain
July
Inca
Losira
TOP
Rain
July
Inca
Losira
TOP
Finally, 1 is retired:
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Fruitdealer
My motivation for looking these things up was that I still couldn't shake that old feeling, abandoned by most by now, that GSL has lackluster finals.
Firstly, I have to concede that GSL doesn't exist in a vaccuum, some finalists bring hype from GSTL or foreign tournaments instead of Code S. Additionally, the sheer quality of the games in GSL finals has generally gone up, from the complete smashings we used to see constantly.
I found that I was correct in that few finals feature two "heavyweight" GSL players (previous ro4 or better). However, a surprising number of GSL finalists have remained relevant, and even those who are in Code B or are retirees are from relatively older seasons, making me hopeful for such finals going forward.
The future of GSL should be interesting, with a few distinct storylines:
The eternal question of whether a foreigner can finally match Jinro's achievement of a semifinals, or even reach the finals
Who among the KeSPA players can/will be the first to make a GSL finals or championship
Who among current players can join the ancient trio of Mvp, Nestea, and MC in the multiple trophy club - each got their second trophy by May of 2011, and there have been 9 GSLs since then for others to catch up...(if you don't count MMA's victory in the Blizzard Cup)
