EPT
![[image loading]](http://pds3.egloos.com/pds/200707/16/86/d0047586_01072526.jpg)
Preface
Playoff Proleague is a different thing to the regular season. Every match counts towards not being eliminated and thus coaches regularly try things to ensure that they will win each set. The Bo7 has lots of room to show the regular proleauge heavy hitters as well as some of the less regular players.
Nothing is more exciting in Proleague than the concept of the Sniper. The sniper is a player sent out on a particular map expecting one of the big players to show up on the map. They are sent specifically to neutralize a strong player that would normally just win the point over. When the Sniper takes out this big name its insane - its a great feeling if you support that team. It also creates quite the controversy and discussion in Korea (and tl.net)
2006 Sky Proleague Round 1
After weeks of proleague the final four teams were decided, KTF, MBC, CJ and SKT. So in the first round of playoffs KTF and MBC were set to do battle. The lineups?
KTF - MBC HERO
1. Nal_Ra (P) vs July (Z) on Arcadia
2. Hery (T) vs Sea (T) on Peaks of Baekdu
3. Ever)Z(aQua (Z) / Eji (P) vs Saint[z-zone] (Z) / Bisu[Shield] (P) on Iron Curtain
4. Goodfriend vs Shark on New Cultivation Period
5. Chojja vs Light on Rush Hour 3
6. Yellow / Reach vs Thezerg[Alive] (Z) / JuniToss (P) on Full Moon
7. Ace match on 815 III
![[image loading]](http://image.fighterforum.com/showImage.asp?realFile=FFPHOT20060715200952002.JPEG)
After 3 sets, July, Sea and Saint/Bisu had brought home the bacon and MBC were up 3-0. However, KTF had a strong lineup to end the game. Goodfriend, Chojja and Yellow/Reach were heavy favourites and an Ace match looked likely. Cultivation Period was a good TvZ map as it very balanced and had an interesting design.
Shark was a relative newcomer - he had played a couple games in 2005 but ultimately nothing he had done had held much significance. Thus, his nomination for the 4th set took the community by surprise. Goodfriend on the other hand, was expected to be played on this map, and had a rather good record on it too. He was also preforming very well and held a strong TvZ record and thus was the favourite to take the set.
This is their game;
![[image loading]](http://image.fighterforum.com/showImage.asp?realFile=FFPHOT20060715200952009.JPEG)
With Shark's victory over Goodfriend he secured a 4-0 victory over KTF and earned MBC the right to fight CJ. The lineups?
CJ vs. MBC
Iris vs. July@Peaks of Baekdu
Xellos vs. Shark@New Cultivation Period
Autumn/Oversky vs. Bisu and Saint@Mang Wul
Savior vs. Pusan @815 III
Sea.Jy vs. Light[Alive] @ Rush Hour III
Mingu/Rage vs. TheZerg[Alive]/Sea @ Iron Curtain
Ace @ Arcadia
So for the second time Shark was sent out as a sniper on Cultivation Period. This time his opponent was the more accomplished Xellos. Once again Shark was the underdog, but people were weary of his sniping capabilities from the previous week. July won his set against Iris, and now it was up to Shark to extend the advantage MBC had.
![[image loading]](http://image.fighterforum.com/showImage.asp?realFile=FFPHOT20060722214512003.JPG)
+ Show Spoiler +
Sadly, no one uploaded the vod 
that makes me very sad
so, here is a Battle report of the said game
The map is Cultivation Period with Xellos constructing at 6 and Zerg spawning at 3.
Xellos opens BBS, likely to defend against 1hatch play which Shark could very well rip out. Shark went 11 pool with gas into expo at his nat. Shark researches speed and amasses some lings. Xellos on the other hand continues to produce Rines. He slowly moves out (without medic support, he has no academy). The moment Xellos reaches the middle of the map Shark scurries in with 12+ lings and Xellos is visibly shaken.
Xellos fights off the lings and hurries and attack back at Shark. Shark reads Xellos like a book and lures him into a perfect Ling flank slaughtering Xellos's rine army. Speedlings rush into Xellos's empty main and he GG's
![[image loading]](http://image.fighterforum.com/showImage.asp?realFile=FFPHOT20060722214512007.JPG)
that makes me very sad so, here is a Battle report of the said game
The map is Cultivation Period with Xellos constructing at 6 and Zerg spawning at 3.
Xellos opens BBS, likely to defend against 1hatch play which Shark could very well rip out. Shark went 11 pool with gas into expo at his nat. Shark researches speed and amasses some lings. Xellos on the other hand continues to produce Rines. He slowly moves out (without medic support, he has no academy). The moment Xellos reaches the middle of the map Shark scurries in with 12+ lings and Xellos is visibly shaken.
Xellos fights off the lings and hurries and attack back at Shark. Shark reads Xellos like a book and lures him into a perfect Ling flank slaughtering Xellos's rine army. Speedlings rush into Xellos's empty main and he GG's
Epilogue
The sniper remains one of the most exciting positions in Proleauge today. We saw some surprises in the CJ-MBC clash last week (Kwanro vs Pusan on Baek and Iris vs Bisu on Katrina). When Kwanro preformed his Sniping duties against Pusan - he arguably saved his team. The value of the sniper can never be underestimated.
Your blogs are awesome.
