EPTSymbol vs Patience
Symbol has only played online games vs Protoss recently, taking part in the Dingit Invitational where he defeated Jim, MC and Stardust. Going 8-2 on map score against the aforementioned Protoss players. These are impressive results, especially 3-1 over MC who recently signed for CJ Entus.
The two played against each other in WCS Asia in April, where Symbol lost 3-0. Since then Symbol has joined Afreeca Freecs, who Patience also joined a month earlier than Symbol. So it is safe to assume that both players practice has increased in quality since they joined Afreeca.
Patience has been very active in online cups as well as a game in Pro-league against Byul, the CJ zerg lost against Patience on Lerilak Crest. Patience played Scarlett only a few days ago in Douyu Cup #34 losing 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Scarlett went on to lose 2-3 in the final. Patience also played in Leifing Cup against Solar, Impact and XiGua. With an overall map score of 2-5 Only beating XiGua 2-1. While i believe Solar and Impact to be better players than Symbol it is hard to look past the poor results in this match up.
This is going to be a very close match, adding in the Teamkill aspect this may well be a strange and exciting series. I predict Patience to take in 3-2, he is overall the better play in my opinion and despite poor results in online cups, when it comes to the real thing he will be able to perform.
Symbol 2-3 Patience
Soulkey vs Ryung
This is the series i am looking forward to the most, I'am a big Ryung fan and ZvT is my favorite matchup. I am expecting an awesome series between the two.
Soulkey has been looking dodgy at best in his ZvT of late, losing to Gumiho, Keen, Forte twice and Ryung himself across multiple online cups. 3-1 Losses to fellow MVP Terrans Gumiho and Forte in Dingit Invitational as well as a 3-2 Loss to Ryung back in march. Soulkey may of been the best Zerg in the world in the past, but it seems like those days are well and truly behind him.
Soulkey's team, TCM Gaming will struggle to match MVP for quality practice and he will probably have to rely on his own practice partners. With MVP able to provide players like Pet, and Departure for practice they are not in the best place themselves, however still better than TCM.
Ryung has been impressive in proleague, able to defeat SoO on Frost, with an impressive drop heavy style he was able to pull SoO apart and after denying the Zergs expansions was able to push through and end the game in an impressive fashion. This is the key to Ryung's game, if Soulkey is able to react well enough to Ryung's harass and weather the storm he will be i with a chance. Ryung and Gumiho play a similar style and with Soulkey struggling against Gumiho its likely the style is one that he struggles to beat.
According to NoRegret Ryung is the hardest working MVP player, and given his improvement over the last Pro-league rounds its clearly paying off for him. I think Ryung's Rise will not be stopping any time soon, and he will take this series 3-1.
Soulkey 1-3 Ryung
jjakji vs MyuNgSiK
jjakji has been bench warming on KT for most of 2016, only playing in official game in round 2 of SPL, losing to GuMiho. It is incredibly hard to predict just how good jjakji is, however he does have one trick up his sleeve. His Protoss teammates are as good as it gets, with both Zest and Stats able to practice with him its likely he will be very well prepared for this series.
MyuNgSiK is a difficult player to read, and has had more outings for SKT than jjakji has for KT, with a 0-2 record in SPL round 2. Including a loss to GuMiho like his opponent. In last season of code S he played against TY, Bunny and then TY again. Losing 2-0 and 2-1 against TY, and defeating CJ Bunny 2-1 to earn his second shot against TY. These are somewhat dated results, but still show he is capable in the matchup. Whille he doesn't have two of the best Terrans to practice with, he still has INnoVation and Dream. Two very capable players.
I think MyuNgSiK will take this series, with his strange builds and generally higher level play. However jjakji is certainly in with a shot, having Stats and Zest as practice partners is a huge boost for a player like jjakji.
jjakji 2-3 MyuNgSiK
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Checkout my piece on potential Roster changes in Pro-League for round 3:
http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/509720-proleague-shopping-list
