EPTQuick recap of the games:
+ Show Spoiler +
Stephano vs. Mvp
Game 1 - Long macro game. Mvp plays extremely passively in the beginning; Stephano gets up 5 bases and insane creep spread. Mvp tries crazy drop harassment, but Stephano's Mutalisk fleet deflects all the drops. Mvp has a large Widow Mine/Bio force, but Stephano plays perfectly and constantly denies Mvp's 4th base. Finally, Stephano's Ultralisks roll over Mvp. Stephano 1-0 Mvp
Game 2 - It's Akilon Wastes and Mvp goes Mech. Even though Stephano defends against Mvp's Hellbat drops extremely well, Mvp just gets more and more ahead due to the 4-base layout of Akilon Wastes. Mvp pushes out with a huge mech army, and Stephano's Roach/Hydra army loses horribly inefficiently to Mvp's mech. Finally, Stephano switches to Mutalisks and cleans up Mvp's Tanks. Mvp begins Thor/Viking/Raven production and manages to repel Stephano's air force, and then Mvp goes to kill Stephano. Stephano 1-1 Mvp
Game 3 - Mvp goes for a Hellbat/Marauder style. Stephano attempts a Nydus Worm; Mvp has the star sense to put a Supply Depot right where the Nydus was going to pop out and he reacts immediately. Stephano's large Roach force sits there uselessly while Mvp pushes out with a scary Hellbat/Marauder force. Stephano 1-2 Mvp
Game 4 - Mvp essentially does a 2-base all-in. He goes for Hellbat/Bio/Medivac composition and throws down tons of Barracks after his expansion. He pulls SCVs too, and kills off the 3rd base of Stephano. However, at this point, Stephano is ahead in economy (about 50 workers to 37) and upgrades (2-2 vs. 1-0 for Mvp). Mvp has the larger army, and he pulls more SCVs and keeps pressuring Stephano. With absolutely phenomenal bio splits, Mvp neutralizes the Banelings of Stephano and overpowers the Roaches. Stephano 1-3 Mvp
Game 5 - Stephano once again tries for Roach/Queen play with a Nydus at Mvp's third base. This game, Mvp goes for Cloak Banshees, and he fortifies his natural extremely well. Meanwhile, Mvp's Hellions go into Stephano's bases and fry a huge amount of drones. Stephano attacks Mvp's natural with his Roach force, but the defensive position, Banshees, and Tanks are simply too much. Mvp crushes Stephano's attack while taking a huge economic lead. Stephano 1-4 Mvp
In every game, Mvp went for a different style.
1) Bio/Widow Mine
2) Mech (extremely Tank-heavy)
3) Hellbat/Bio
4) Hellbat/Marauder/Marine 2-base all-in
5) Banshee/Mech
Game 1 - Long macro game. Mvp plays extremely passively in the beginning; Stephano gets up 5 bases and insane creep spread. Mvp tries crazy drop harassment, but Stephano's Mutalisk fleet deflects all the drops. Mvp has a large Widow Mine/Bio force, but Stephano plays perfectly and constantly denies Mvp's 4th base. Finally, Stephano's Ultralisks roll over Mvp. Stephano 1-0 Mvp
Game 2 - It's Akilon Wastes and Mvp goes Mech. Even though Stephano defends against Mvp's Hellbat drops extremely well, Mvp just gets more and more ahead due to the 4-base layout of Akilon Wastes. Mvp pushes out with a huge mech army, and Stephano's Roach/Hydra army loses horribly inefficiently to Mvp's mech. Finally, Stephano switches to Mutalisks and cleans up Mvp's Tanks. Mvp begins Thor/Viking/Raven production and manages to repel Stephano's air force, and then Mvp goes to kill Stephano. Stephano 1-1 Mvp
Game 3 - Mvp goes for a Hellbat/Marauder style. Stephano attempts a Nydus Worm; Mvp has the star sense to put a Supply Depot right where the Nydus was going to pop out and he reacts immediately. Stephano's large Roach force sits there uselessly while Mvp pushes out with a scary Hellbat/Marauder force. Stephano 1-2 Mvp
Game 4 - Mvp essentially does a 2-base all-in. He goes for Hellbat/Bio/Medivac composition and throws down tons of Barracks after his expansion. He pulls SCVs too, and kills off the 3rd base of Stephano. However, at this point, Stephano is ahead in economy (about 50 workers to 37) and upgrades (2-2 vs. 1-0 for Mvp). Mvp has the larger army, and he pulls more SCVs and keeps pressuring Stephano. With absolutely phenomenal bio splits, Mvp neutralizes the Banelings of Stephano and overpowers the Roaches. Stephano 1-3 Mvp
Game 5 - Stephano once again tries for Roach/Queen play with a Nydus at Mvp's third base. This game, Mvp goes for Cloak Banshees, and he fortifies his natural extremely well. Meanwhile, Mvp's Hellions go into Stephano's bases and fry a huge amount of drones. Stephano attacks Mvp's natural with his Roach force, but the defensive position, Banshees, and Tanks are simply too much. Mvp crushes Stephano's attack while taking a huge economic lead. Stephano 1-4 Mvp
In every game, Mvp went for a different style.
1) Bio/Widow Mine
2) Mech (extremely Tank-heavy)
3) Hellbat/Bio
4) Hellbat/Marauder/Marine 2-base all-in
5) Banshee/Mech
Where to begin? I am still shaking from the intensity of those games. Game 1 made me fear Stephano's prowess. Game 2 sent shivers down my spine, and I thought, "The King has returned." Game 3 displayed Mvp's amazing experience and game sense. Game 4 was absolutely intense - I could not even breathe! Finally, Game 5 showed us why Mvp outclasses Stephano.
It's been too long. IEM Cologne seems so far away, yet today's victory marks Mvp's 9th premier tournament win. With each passing year, Mvp cements his legacy as the best.
I am aware that WCS EU was significantly easier than WCS KR, and Soulkey and Innovation will surely give Mvp a hard time at the WCS Season Finals. However, Mvp has expressed confidence in himself, and I see no reason why I should doubt him. Life is good. Mvp won another tournament and has surpassed MC in winnings.
In the LR thread, there is an ongoing discussion of whether or not WCS EU and WCS NA should include Korean players. As for me, today I am just a fan. A fan who watched his favorite player win a prestigious tournament. With the WCS system, Mvp got an opportunity. Instead of wallowing in Code B, Mvp had an opportunity to catapult himself back to the top, and he seized that opportunity.
For that, I am extremely grateful to WCS. Right now, I am not focusing on the foreign scene or the Korean scene; I am thinking of a single player. A single man who has so thoroughly captured my interest that I simply cannot care about StarCraft II without him.
Mvp certainly worries me with his health problems and slumps, but it truly is rewarding to be an Mvp fan.
Fight on, Mvp, fight on.
