TeamLiquid StarLeague 5 in 
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/hTLFio1.png?1)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0HmQLGi.png)
The Dark Horse who defies expectations against one of the ladder's best players seeking redemption for his failings in brood war. Will it be inauguration or downpour? This is GSL Open Season Three; this is MC vs Rain!
Previous Reports:
Fruitdealer vs Rainbow
Set One: Delta Quadrant
Set Two: Lost Temple
Set Three: Kulas Ravine
Set Four: Desert Oasis
Set Five: Scrap Station
FoxeR vs NesTea
Set One: Shakuras Plateau
Set Two: Lost Temple
Set Three: Scrap Station
Set Four: Jungle Basin
Set Five:Steppes of War
Set Six: Xel'Naga Caverns
Set Seven: Metalopolis
MC vs Rain
Set One: Delta Quadrant
Set Two: Lost Temple
It's make or break time; can Rain make a comeback?
Set Three: Xel'Naga Caverns
MC spawns in the 1 o'clock position; Rain spawns cross map in the 7 o'clock position. With only one possible spawn, early aggression is easier to plan, but it's harder to execute with longer rush distances than most of the map pool. This time, Rain doesn't wall at his ramp and drops his depot in the mineral line instead, reducing surface area. He's clearly worried about a proxy from MC as he scours the map for hidden buildings.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/hIQv3vT.png?1)
Both scouts pass like ships in the night.
Openings look very standard so far, with MC getting one gas into core and Rain grabbing a gas after his first barracks. He starts a second rax while MC's probe is in his base, but when he's chased out the probe with his marine, he cancels it!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ax90j0M.png?1)
MINDGAMES!
Instead, he immediately makes a factory. MC thinks that Rain is rushing with two barracks, but in reality he's going for fast tech. MC responds with a zealot/sentry opening to get up early forcefields for defence. Perhaps sensing that something is amiss, he sends in another probe scout, but a marauder pack spots it and assassinates it before it can see anything.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/6G0zpKf.png?1)
Beware; Marauders lurk in the long grass.
MC goes up to three gateways and starts pumping out sentries. Not deterred, he sends out another probe to scout. Meanwhile, Rain has two gases now and he's finishing a starport for banshees and cloak. His marauders catch the next probe mid map.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/3r5Rt5z.png?1)
MC is yet to start any form of detection.
With a bunker at his ramp and marines at all key locations, Rain has any information locked down. MC has nothing new to go on and keeps making sentries at the sight of large amounts of bio. The protoss takes an expansion to start building up his economy.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/iHLqlKU.png?1)
Close, but not close enough.
Another probe gets close to the ramp of Rain, but he intercepts it with great marauder coverage. MC sees that there's no expansion but he has no idea what is coming. Smelling a rat, he starts a robo facility, but it's too late; the first banshee has already arrived.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/T3tosR5.png?1)
Sharks of the air!
Rain opts not to take out probes and instead focuses down MC's sentries, abusing the complete lack of detection. He kills all 7 of MC's sentries for free and even gets some probe kills before the first observer arrives. MC manages to push the first banshee away to the left, but even as he does...
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/UpzJWGU.png?1)
...Banshee #2 arrives at the main.
Rain starts slaughtering probes and MC pulls back quickly to defend. There's only one observer, so as soon as it leaves the natural, Rain's first banshee swings back in for an assault. While he pulls apart the protoss player, Rain has 5 more barracks starting at home and he takes his natural expansion.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/EUpkB0A.png?1)
Maybe this would be risky if MC could move 5 metres from his base...
MC starts to tech up, getting a robotics bay in his main base. Not to be in any way outdone, Rain starts stimpack, a raven, combat shields and concussive shells, all at the same time. On the positive side for MC, he now has packs of stalkers and observers at every base to deny banshee harass.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/blwvhLA.png?1)
These banshees will find no probes to plunder today.
With nothing to be gained by harassing, Rain pulls his banshees back and has them repaired. Meanwhile, he's sniping observers and probes on the map, using the map control afforded to him by the banshees to lock down everything. Strangely enough, in the first game that he doesn't attempt a contain, he has been the most effective at keeping MC at home.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/6fvzOTl.png?1)
For those keeping track at home, that's 7 interceptions now.
MC has his first colossus up at home now, so his army isn't looking as fragile as before, but he is still lacking those expensive gas units like sentries and templar that he needs. Rain has a big bio army under his skymech now and he's beginning to posture on the map with it.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/c1WAlK0.png?1)
Raven leading the charge.
Rain turns up at MC's base and characteristically drops a PDD a little bit prematurely, not covering the entire battleground. Still, he manages to get his banshees close enough to snipe the first colossus and he begins the assault.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/mipBloz.png?1)
PDD out of position? That's so Raven!
Rain's bio makes short work of the first army of MC, but another colossus pops out to defend the helpless gateway units. Rain immediately barrels up the ramp after it and stops it before it can really do much damage to his army.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/jaYUH4Y.png?1)
You can't escape!
MC is hurting now and he pulls probes against the small bio force remaining. With help from a pair of maverick zealots, he cleans up enough of the ground army to force a pull back from Rain. Meanwhile, reinforcements are parading across the map and Rain gathers himself for another push in.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Z4PGGfw.png?1)
Round two begins. Both sides are much weaker this time.
Rain pushes in again but this time he has less marauders to tank hits and no skymech for support. His fragile marine army does some damage, but MC micros his stalkers perfectly and none die. Rain is pushed back. The attack is over.
Rain halts his parade push and drops the main instead, but MC is on point with his stalkers. Colossi snipe a force attacking the natural and it looks like MC is going to stabilise. However, his economy is badly damaged and he needs to repay the favour in order to be on even footing with Rain.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/FT3d6xB.png?1)
The counter push emerges. When the pylon finishes, MC's comeback will commence.
Rain sees the army coming as he is preparing to take the gold base, so he retreats back to his natural to accumulate his forces. With a handful of vikings finished in the sky, Rain decides he's ready and pulls a few SCVs to buffer for his bio. He pushes through the minerals and it's a tight fight, but Rain has the sheer weight of numbers on his side.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/mgtabtc.png?1)
If only MC had some sentries to forcefield back the bio...
Despite the bad engagement, Rain crushes the army of MC and with what will soon be a one base lead, better tech and an army advantage, Rain is too far ahead to be beaten back. MC GGs, giving Rain his first win in the series.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/qWKlo1U.png?1)
GG! MC 2-1 Rain.
Taking apart MC with ingenious mind games and great tempo-based play, Rain shows that he has what it takes to take games away from MC. If he can bring the same depth and thoughtfulness to his play in the next game, Rain should easily tie up the series and be ready to make a serious challenge for the title. Will he make it happen, or will MC shatter his comeback with excellent micro and solid play? To Be Continued...
