• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 06:59
CEST 12:59
KST 19:59
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy11[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver5[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Rough Waters10[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Siren's Call8[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End9
Community News
Weekly Cups (Sep 13-20): herO scores triple2BSL Season 2312Weekly Cups (Sep 7-12): SHIN, ByuN, MaxPax double down1StarCraft open world shooter announced at BlizzCon101Weekly Cups (Aug 30-Sep 7): herO thrives amid growing schism10
StarCraft 2
General
How do you feel about the StarCraft shooter announcement at BlizzCon 2026? Blizzard Classic Cup @ BlizzCon 2026 - $100k prize pool Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16) Weekly Cups (Sep 13-20): herO scores triple The Death of Cheese: From a Professional Cheeser
Tourneys
2026 GSTL Grand Finals Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2) Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20) 2026 GSTL Announcement
Strategy
[H] ZvP Mid-Late Game: Stalkers Collossi HT
Custom Maps
[M] (2) Frigid Storage
External Content
Mutation # 544 Double Trouble The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 543 Enhanced Defenses Mutation # 542 The Ascended
Brood War
General
Bot on ladder SC4ALL II: Brood War Player Announcement 3/4 - soO [ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy BSL Season 23 PLAYzone Challenge - open offline tour in Prague
Tourneys
[ASL22] Ro8 Day 2 [IPSL] IPSL is Back With Winter 26-27! PLAYzone Challenge - open offline tour in Prague [ASL22] Ro16 Group D
Strategy
Cliff Jump Revisited (1 in a 1000 strategy) Replay Review Process - What do you do? Simple Questions, Simple Answers Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread EVE Corporation Nintendo Switch Thread Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Diablo IV
Dota 2
Dota 2 Champions League Season 3 Begins April 25! Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Artificial Intelligence Thread All you football fans (soccer)!
Fan Clubs
MarineLorD Fan Club The Creator Fan Club The ShoWTimE Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Diablo Animated Series on Netflix
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
Violent-Cooperative Play and…
TrAiDoS
38 yo Retired SWE loo…
PurE)Rabbit-SF
Can Bots Beat Pros?? Starcr…
namkraft
[meme] I finally understa…
LUCKY_NOOB
Regacy Esports:Our Goa…
regacyesports
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 8914 users

Masters!

Blogs > Mavvie
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
Mavvie
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
Canada923 Posts
October 01 2012 01:59 GMT
#1
Today is a happy day for me. Sc2gears told me that my MMR was just above the Masters league promotion line, so I decided to go for it today. I played about 15 games - I went on a 10 game winstreak, followed by 4 quick losses, then my final win, and then this happened:

[image loading]

Yay! :D

I was so excited and overjoyed; it's basically been my goal ever since I watched Destiny get into Masters with mass queen. I was just a bronzie back then, doing a 4gate expand into double robo colossus blink deathball :D

About 300 Day[9] Dailies, 200 casts by HuskyStarcraft, and countless hours lurking TL, I've finally made it! I'm one of the big kids now

I finally feel like all my hard work has paid off, and that I'm actually a halfway decent player at the game now. I still have troubles with all matchups, but I know how to learn and what to work on. (Not losing my first overlord on Daybreak ZvT is a good idea...hehe)

I'm now totally shocked. Here are some of the people in my division (of only 50 people as of now):
-Nuvo, I believe from intimate ZvX with Stoic
-LiquidRet (OMG!)
-colRyan (another pro, hadn't heard of him before though)
-xSixMkengyn
-NovaWar (ohai!)

Link: http://us.battle.net/sc2/en/profile/3471675/1/uwuMavvie/ladder/leagues#current-rank

I know I'm still very bad at the game and have miles more to improve, but for anyone who isn't yet Masters:
-Read Belial's guides. All of them, more than once. Just because he's banned doesn't mean he isn't one of the best players/guidewriters on TL
-Get practice partners to do the builds you have trouble with against you. This helps a ton. I had to play like 100 games against immortal/sentry 7gate all-in before I could consistently defend it. This is especially true with ZvZ; get someone to ling/bane all-in you every game, and eventually you'll get holding it down to an art
-Practice a lot! It took me >1k games to get into Masters. That's a lot of games, but some people can do it in less. Either way, mass gaming /with a purpose/ is great. Look at your losses, try to learn from them
-Have the right attitude. Whenever you lose it isn't because he/his race is gay or imbalanced, it's because you failed to scout and react to it. Any all-in is easily defendable, and will put you miles ahead.
-Know when to use which styles, and adapt to your league's metagame. At top diamond, here was the metagame I noticed:
Almost every ZvZ was a 2 hatch ling/bane all-in. I'd build 2 spines, get a fast bane nest, and cut drones at ~24, defend the all-in, and then win
Almost every ZvT was hellion/banshee into mech. I would go for infestor/ling double ups into 14:00 broodlords that were usually in time for his 3base deathball push.
Almost every ZvP was 7gate sentry/immortal. This was hard to defend, but I eventually got it odwn
Just learn the common strategies and what to do against them, and you'll be in a great spot.
-Be anal about having perfect mechanics. I never have a unit not hotkeyed unless I missed control/shift, then as soon as it spawns I fix the problem. Egg-rally, egg-hotkey, drone pair in the early game, maynard in the midgame, aggressively expand + tech to hive. Play Zerg the way it's meant to be played
-Adopt a style and stick to it. I started watching GSL last week, and I love Symbol's playstyle. I try to adopt it, especially in ZvT. I can't wait to see more games and learn more styles, pick my favourite, and stick with it.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I'm very happy and am probably fairly incoherent :D

Thanks for reading <3

Also special thanks Belial for your guides + help in the Zerg Help Me Thread, among others

****
Getting back into sc2 O_o
TheEmulator
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
28103 Posts
October 01 2012 02:07 GMT
#2
Nice dude. I am remember the day I made masters. I pretty much jumped from my chair and yelped
Administrator
Mavvie
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
Canada923 Posts
October 01 2012 02:21 GMT
#3
On October 01 2012 11:07 TheEmulator wrote:
Nice dude. I am remember the day I made masters. I pretty much jumped from my chair and yelped

Thanks
Haha that's basically what I did too. I was expecting it, like seriously 10 wins after being above the promo-line. Then 4 losses and I'm like "seriously...", then promotion! "YEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH :D"
Getting back into sc2 O_o
ReturnStroke
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
United States801 Posts
October 01 2012 02:28 GMT
#4
Woo! Grats man that's awesome
LuckyFool
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States9015 Posts
October 01 2012 02:39 GMT
#5
great job, love success stories like this ^^;

hard work and practice pays off!
lubu42
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States314 Posts
October 01 2012 03:23 GMT
#6
Congrats! Hard work does pay off for a lot of people. Keep practicing and maybe you will even hit GM haha! :D Have fun in Masters!
SlayerS_BoxeR <3
TerranosaurusWrecks
Profile Blog Joined December 2011
Canada187 Posts
October 01 2012 03:42 GMT
#7
oh god im jealous, it must feel incredible
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ "Like you can train a n00b, but they will just be a trained n00b."
Zerg.Zilla
Profile Joined February 2012
Hungary5029 Posts
October 01 2012 05:12 GMT
#8
On October 01 2012 12:42 TerranosauresWrecks wrote:
oh god im jealous, it must feel incredible

It's one of the best feelings u can experience
(•_•) ( •_•)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■) ~Keep calm and inject Larva~
Rakso
Profile Joined May 2012
Sweden18 Posts
October 01 2012 08:30 GMT
#9
Congratulations, Im jealous and more motivated to also reach my goals.
hihi glgl
aZealot
Profile Blog Joined May 2011
New Zealand5447 Posts
October 01 2012 09:10 GMT
#10
Congratulations Mawie! Good stuff. I see you returned to Zerg. I hope your brief stay on Aiur was a pleasant one!

Next stop, Grandmaster!
KT best KT ~ 2014
Jombozeus
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
China1014 Posts
October 01 2012 09:18 GMT
#11
-Read Belial's guides. All of them, more than once. Just because he's banned doesn't mean he isn't one of the best players/guidewriters on TL


He really isn't.
Teoita
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
Italy12248 Posts
October 01 2012 09:50 GMT
#12
Gratz
Too bad you didn't do it with the manly race.
ModeratorProtoss all-ins are like a wok. You can throw whatever you want in there and it will turn out alright.
Cycle
Profile Blog Joined March 2011
United States300 Posts
October 01 2012 19:41 GMT
#13
On October 01 2012 10:59 Mavvie wrote:I finally feel like all my hard work has paid off, and that I'm actually a halfway decent player at the game now. I still have troubles with all matchups, but I know how to learn and what to work on. (Not losing my first overlord on Daybreak ZvT is a good idea...hehe)

[...]

-Have the right attitude. Whenever you lose it isn't because he/his race is gay or imbalanced, it's because you failed to scout and react to it. Any all-in is easily defendable, and will put you miles ahead.


YOU are the type of person who deserves to be in master league. Someone who works hard and knows they have to keep working hard. And that this game is YOUR game, and if you are good enough you can win; it has nothing to do with imbalance.
| chKCycle.551 | NA | Master League Random | Checkmate Gaming |
Dalguno
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
United States2446 Posts
October 01 2012 20:32 GMT
#14
Yeah buddy :D

Congrats, one of the best feelings in this game for sure. Way to be brother!
"I'm gonna keep making drones cause I'm a baller, and ballers make drones." -Snute
Mavvie
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
Canada923 Posts
October 01 2012 21:05 GMT
#15
Congrats! Hard work does pay off for a lot of people. Keep practicing and maybe you will even hit GM haha! :D Have fun in Masters!


oh god im jealous, it must feel incredible

Congratulations, Im jealous and more motivated to also reach my goals.

Congratulations Mavvie! Good stuff. I see you returned to Zerg. I hope your brief stay on Aiur was a pleasant one!

Next stop, Grandmaster!


Haha Just play to improve, don't play to win!
Yeah, playing Protoss was super cool. It's interesting to "walk a mile in someone else's shoes," in the most literal sense Back to Zerg though, I just missed ZvZ too much. ^^

#grandmaster #2012Season5

Gratz
Too bad you didn't do it with the manly race.


OH SNAP! TBH though, according to sc2gears I got to ~10 points below Masters with Protoss. So I'm manly enough

Thanks :D

On October 02 2012 04:41 Cycle wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 01 2012 10:59 Mavvie wrote:I finally feel like all my hard work has paid off, and that I'm actually a halfway decent player at the game now. I still have troubles with all matchups, but I know how to learn and what to work on. (Not losing my first overlord on Daybreak ZvT is a good idea...hehe)

[...]

-Have the right attitude. Whenever you lose it isn't because he/his race is gay or imbalanced, it's because you failed to scout and react to it. Any all-in is easily defendable, and will put you miles ahead.


YOU are the type of person who deserves to be in master league. Someone who works hard and knows they have to keep working hard. And that this game is YOUR game, and if you are good enough you can win; it has nothing to do with imbalance.


Thanks! I agree; it's silly when people just blame their losses on the opponent's race, or brush it off and say "whatever, I just can't beat Protoss." No, watch the replay, read a guide, and win your next ZvP! This really applies to all of life, not just StarCraft. School, skiing, music...all things I do and have no "natural talent" at, it's all just work. Not to say I'm good at any of them, but it's really clear that what you put into them is what you get out of them.
Getting back into sc2 O_o
uberism
Profile Joined January 2011
Canada271 Posts
October 01 2012 23:52 GMT
#16
congrats!
Mavvie
Profile Blog Joined May 2012
Canada923 Posts
October 01 2012 23:56 GMT
#17
:D
Getting back into sc2 O_o
sour_eraser
Profile Joined March 2011
Canada932 Posts
October 02 2012 00:26 GMT
#18
OMG dude. We're in same divison too lol
I got promoted 2 days ago from Diamond :D
"What's the f*cking point of censoring a letter if everyone and their mother knows what it stands for.... F*cking morons"
sorrowptoss
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
Canada1431 Posts
October 02 2012 01:25 GMT
#19
Congratulations! You beat me at it!
9-BiT
Profile Blog Joined January 2012
United States1089 Posts
October 02 2012 01:33 GMT
#20
So yeah, why is belial banned again?


Anyways, congrats man! Keep up the good work.
kwark_uk: @father_sc learn to play maybe?
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
09:00
Korean StarCraft League #91
CranKy Ducklings71
CranKy Ducklings SOOP13
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Rex 51
Zoun (SOOP) 20
StarCraft: Brood War
Britney 4599
Larva 1942
ggaemo 170
Zeus 164
Last 125
910 52
ToSsGirL 42
Sexy 13
JulyZerg 9
Dota 2
Gorgc2813
XaKoH 372
Counter-Strike
kRYSTAL_43
Other Games
gofns30093
XBOCT353
Lowko292
crisheroes231
Pyrionflax14
DeMusliM9
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream11817
StarCraft: Brood War
Afreeca ASL 367
lovetv 12
[ Show 11 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• mYiSmile18
• Letter144
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Jankos1884
Upcoming Events
WardiTV Invitational
1m
IntoTheiNu 73
WardiTV73
Rex51
ComeBackTV 37
The PiG Daily
11h 1m
ByuN vs Rogue
herO vs SHIN
Serral vs TBD
Clem vs TBD
CranKy Ducklings
23h 1m
AI Arena Tournament
1d 6h
BSL: Ladder Tournament
1d 8h
GSL
1d 21h
Yamato Cup
2 days
BSL Open Qualifier
2 days
BSL Open Qualifier
2 days
Replay Cast
2 days
[ Show More ]
Afreeca Starleague
2 days
Soma vs Jaedong
WardiTV Weekly
3 days
Monday Night Weeklies
3 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
3 days
Afreeca Starleague
3 days
Leta vs Soulkey
PiGosaur Cup
4 days
Kung Fu Cup
5 days
The PondCast
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Super Anchor Qualifying S3
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
Big Dog Cup 2026 Div 1

Ongoing

ASL Season 22
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Acropolis #5
Acropolis #5 - GSA
Calamity Invitational
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3

Upcoming

Acropolis #5 - GSB
Acropolis #5 - GSC
BSL Season 23
SC4ALL II: Brood War
BSL 23: Non-Korean Championship
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Custodian Cup
Copium Cup
PGL Major Singapore 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
IEM Beijing 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
1win Private Club #2
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.