Yes I am well aware of the "calm BW reminiscence pun", sit back down~ Also resizing images, what's that? >_<
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
In many ways
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
The
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
What would one say about
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/cuPUI.png)
+ Show Spoiler [Alternatively:] +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/cGksQ.png)
Sorry I got nothing, if you want jokes go here: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=106518
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/cGksQ.png)
Sorry I got nothing, if you want jokes go here: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=106518
This, it turns out, would be a stroke of strategic genius to lower the guards of everyone who expected
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
The Singles league Ro16 impasse.
For those of us who weren't awake or aware of BW pre 2009, there was a phenomenon I would like to coin "the Ro16 impasse", it dictates that for a 2v2 player to achieve anything of note post the 2008 transition following the abandonment of 2v2 all together, he has to qualify past the Ro16. Many players would soon fall victim to this curse, among them
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
Right away
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
+ Show Spoiler +
瞒天过海 (Deceive the heavens to cross the ocean) A risky third accessible by ground only via the open middle high ground, keep in mind that
Calm would completely skip lurkers this game, such a simple and easy to counter strategy that no one expected it.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/MI4iJ.png)
The terran moves out at with a squad and a firebat, spire is just finishing, and there are just 6 lings on the map.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/bvqQx.png)
空城计 (Empty Fort) - Just one sunken colony to his name with nothing else in sight, giving a false sense of danger making the terran think a zergling attack is imminent.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ZvRJN.png)
Picks off the medics positioned for a potential zergling attack with mutas and cleans up the rest.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/qgJgO.png)
Hive off 1 sunken, an exposed third, while the terran is posturing for a mass mm push, and no lurkers.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/E1b8k.png)
树上开花 (Decking a tree with false blossoms) Stalling the terran with just mutalisks while.taking a completely undefended fourth next to the exposed third.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/3rFEV.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/FiOcm.png)
无中生有 (Creating something from nothing) - Showing only a squad of mutas at once, posturing that he is transitioning to lurkers while greater spire is morphing. The terran is reluctant to attack with out waiting on scans.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/zrIGL.png)
偷梁换柱 (Replace beams with rotten timbers) Continually snipes medics instead of trying to kill marines, leaving his opponent with 2 squads of marines with no support then cleans up the whole ball with just mutalisks.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/AIcKq.png)
打草惊蛇 (Stomp the grass to scare the snake) Terran responds with 3(!) port stealth wraiths to mass mutalisks, still thinking that the zerg is doing a 2 base muta all in. Instead he morphs an ultralisk tavern.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0xrja.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/5jEpx.png)
调虎离山 (Entice the tiger to leave its mountain lair) Morphs guardians any ways while showing nothing on the front lines, letting the terran's bio move out onto the map.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2POYg.png)
Starts sunken sim-city at home.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/zXefM.png)
笑里藏刀 (Hiding a knife behind a smile) Here comes the wraiths, but wait, who put those scourge, that overlord, and that devourer there. It would turn out that the overlord was there since the beginning of the game.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/NIkxv.png)
Beautiful cloning.
围魏救赵 (Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao) Positioning makes guardians completely inaccessible to the bio ball, this also stopped the terran from just marching across the map and killing his completely exposed bases.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/B5BST.png)
Terran matches across the map to find where there once was no defenses, there is now a fortress.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/IR7wG.png)
Ultralisks pop at the exact right time
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ZcZzp.png)
声东击西 (Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west) Terran turtles out a massive army, preparing to engage the ultralisk army outright with science vessels, instead he goes for a pure Ultralisk backstab.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/UbZqd.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/GxxgK.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/AcrE1.png)
Calm is a zen master, instead of celebrating his victory, he contemplates his actions and the future.
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/MI4iJ.png)
The terran moves out at with a squad and a firebat, spire is just finishing, and there are just 6 lings on the map.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/bvqQx.png)
空城计 (Empty Fort) - Just one sunken colony to his name with nothing else in sight, giving a false sense of danger making the terran think a zergling attack is imminent.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ZvRJN.png)
Picks off the medics positioned for a potential zergling attack with mutas and cleans up the rest.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/qgJgO.png)
Hive off 1 sunken, an exposed third, while the terran is posturing for a mass mm push, and no lurkers.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/E1b8k.png)
树上开花 (Decking a tree with false blossoms) Stalling the terran with just mutalisks while.taking a completely undefended fourth next to the exposed third.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/3rFEV.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/FiOcm.png)
无中生有 (Creating something from nothing) - Showing only a squad of mutas at once, posturing that he is transitioning to lurkers while greater spire is morphing. The terran is reluctant to attack with out waiting on scans.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/zrIGL.png)
偷梁换柱 (Replace beams with rotten timbers) Continually snipes medics instead of trying to kill marines, leaving his opponent with 2 squads of marines with no support then cleans up the whole ball with just mutalisks.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/AIcKq.png)
打草惊蛇 (Stomp the grass to scare the snake) Terran responds with 3(!) port stealth wraiths to mass mutalisks, still thinking that the zerg is doing a 2 base muta all in. Instead he morphs an ultralisk tavern.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0xrja.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/5jEpx.png)
调虎离山 (Entice the tiger to leave its mountain lair) Morphs guardians any ways while showing nothing on the front lines, letting the terran's bio move out onto the map.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2POYg.png)
Starts sunken sim-city at home.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/zXefM.png)
笑里藏刀 (Hiding a knife behind a smile) Here comes the wraiths, but wait, who put those scourge, that overlord, and that devourer there. It would turn out that the overlord was there since the beginning of the game.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/NIkxv.png)
Beautiful cloning.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/RqjRi.png)
围魏救赵 (Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao) Positioning makes guardians completely inaccessible to the bio ball, this also stopped the terran from just marching across the map and killing his completely exposed bases.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/B5BST.png)
Terran matches across the map to find where there once was no defenses, there is now a fortress.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/IR7wG.png)
Ultralisks pop at the exact right time
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ZcZzp.png)
声东击西 (Make a sound in the east, then strike in the west) Terran turtles out a massive army, preparing to engage the ultralisk army outright with science vessels, instead he goes for a pure Ultralisk backstab.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/UbZqd.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/GxxgK.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/AcrE1.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
+ Show Spoiler +
In an all important ace match,
Leta opts for an early supply depot block on the natural, and opts to go for an early expand of his own.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/LXl7H.png)
Diligent scouting from
Leta, confirming the lair timing.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/egNL4.png)
While the scv is still in the main,
Calm puts down a hydralisk den in plain sight at the natural.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/wdtsg.png)
Leta is a formidable opponent and scans right on top of the natural, revealing both the hydralisk and the den.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/uFdIP.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/JU3sJ.png)
The face of a man who isn't impressed.
Leta starts bunkers and missile turrets.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/zdHnM.png)
Calm uses the knowledge that his opponent knows about his "hidden strategy" and morphs 2 lurkers while taking two expansions at the same time.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/YwKHD.png)
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/yqlV0.png)
I was quite convinced at this point that Calm was infact Ocelot
Calm shows two lurkers and starts harassing Leta's mineral line, protecting them with zerglings, the first scan does nothing.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/F9HD6.png)
Leta cleans it up with another scan and starts adding missile turrets in fear of more attacks.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/45Dc5.png)
SCV goes up the ramp to meet 2 lurkers and some zerglings. These are ALL of
Calm's military units on the entire map.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/9J0Yq.png)
Leta waits for two squads of bio and cleans up the ramp, mean while
Calm has been droning on 4 bases. By the time Leta stims across the map, Calm already has 2 new lurkers and easily defends his bases.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/J3nWE.png)
Leta, thinking that
Calm is well entrenched and heading on hive tech, waits for his tanks and science vessel to pop out before moving out. In reality Calm has stayed on lair tech this whole time.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/cd8Wx.png)
Calm spots the movement with a single well placed ling, threatens for a back stab. Delaying leta's forces repeatedly.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/P4eIT.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/RmL7N.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/xFBRv.png)
Calm is a master of the art of running away and getting hit.
Calm baits
Leta way from the 3rd / fourth which are completely undefended, and threatens a flank, forcing Leta down into the open.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/dWvBE.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/okmsu.png)
It's a trap! Or is it?
Leta is too afraid to commit to going up any of the ramps, yet every second he wastes the zerg is building lurker ling off 4 bases with macro hatchs. Leta can't take a third with out pulling his forces back to defend. He stays in the same spot even though the zerg's army is no longer there.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/kzclu.png)
Leta decides to commit to heading into the natural, Calm sets up a rear flank and leaves lurkers to cut off reinforcements. Now Leta is completely boxed in between the convergence point of the zerg supply routes.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/K9NKZ.png)
Leta fights valiantly but is inevitably forced to retreat, taking heavy losses on the way home.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/yWDTw.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ZQV7K.png)
By now defilers are coming out, Leta's 2 base push was completely negated,
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/vI8E8.png)
Swarms seal Leta's fate.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/HtyEX.png)
Coaches swarm to touch this man's magnificent brain.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/C4s5c.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/LXl7H.png)
Diligent scouting from
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/egNL4.png)
While the scv is still in the main,
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/wdtsg.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/uFdIP.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/JU3sJ.png)
The face of a man who isn't impressed.
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/zdHnM.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/YwKHD.png)
+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/yqlV0.png)
I was quite convinced at this point that Calm was infact Ocelot
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/F9HD6.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/45Dc5.png)
SCV goes up the ramp to meet 2 lurkers and some zerglings. These are ALL of
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/9J0Yq.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/J3nWE.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/cd8Wx.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/P4eIT.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/RmL7N.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/xFBRv.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/dWvBE.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/okmsu.png)
It's a trap! Or is it?
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/kzclu.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/K9NKZ.png)
Leta fights valiantly but is inevitably forced to retreat, taking heavy losses on the way home.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/yWDTw.png)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ZQV7K.png)
By now defilers are coming out, Leta's 2 base push was completely negated,
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/vI8E8.png)
Swarms seal Leta's fate.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/HtyEX.png)
Coaches swarm to touch this man's magnificent brain.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/C4s5c.png)
Did I mention ZvT is historically
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
Breaking the Ro16 impasse, Avalon MSL
2009 was Calm's year of glory, boasting a 67%(!) win rate with 62.86% against terran, and 78.95% against protoss. Even his worst match up historically, ZvZ, reached 60%. We can never be so sure about what happened during these years to this man's brain to make him such a formidable opponent who utterly crushed his competition.
Calm's first deep run into a starleague was in the Avalon MSL of 2009, in the Ro32 he was faced with a group consisting of
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
+ Show Spoiler [ Calm vs Zero] +
Watch the mini map, Calm hid his zerglings from the sight of the overlords.
In the Ro16, Calm would face off against a slumping
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
+ Show Spoiler [Calm vs ForGG] +
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZzUkcIlxVs
Outsmarting an Alien
Calm has finally done broken the Ro16 impasse, yet his trial has just begun, out of the frying pan and into the fray he would have to face up against
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
+ Show Spoiler [Calm vs Effort] +
Dictating a Tyrant
And who else but to test Calm's true skill and wits as a player next, than the undisputed best zerg of 2009,
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
+ Show Spoiler [Calm vs Jaedong] +
No amount of explanation can do this justice, you just have to see the games yourself.
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
The Brain meets the Brawn.
After the great obstacles of
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
Yet because the finals was a ZvZ, and that the players had little star power compared to the players that Calm defeated on his way, it became one of the least hyped finals in history. The apex of Calm's career was robbed of attention because ironically he had defeated the best players before the finals.
Spotlight:
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
Kwanro with a 5 pool and 2 pulled drones for offensive sunken versus a 12 hatch from Calm.
Yes you read that right.
Does anything need to be said?
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
The star that shines the brightest...
You know, I've come to understand why people hate
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
To everyone's surprise he dropped out of the 2009 Nate MSL group Ro32 to a then PvZ Pae-wang
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
A reclusive intellectual
Calm has since posted mediocre results across the board, never recapturing his former 2009 glory since his defeat (his record is a respectable 51% since losing to flash on Jan.1, 2010). Nevertheless he is continuing to serve STX and in mentoring a new generation of players as playing coach in SC2. Here's hoping that he can lend his brains to a new generation of zerg upstarts~