Recap: Jaedong vs Stork HSC IX Showmatch

An exhausting day of Starcraft 2 has passed as Homestory Cup Day 3 came to an end! Hyped throughout the day, SC2 and BW fans alike eagerly awaited day 3 to wrap up so we could get a taste of the legendary Brood War match up we have all missed. While many were nervous we would get a rematch of the Jaedong vs forGG series, most fans were just filled with excitement and anticipation.





On a four player map well known for being the most popular Brood War map of all time, the two players spawn on the right side of the map also meaning a close spawn position and the advantage(arguably) for Stork. Stork even lucks into that close spawn position advantage as he decides to open up a PvZ matchup with a PvT 1gate core timing build. This would indicate early, aggressive play over a more economic 2 base turtle style that forge expand forces you into during the early stages of the typical PvZ.

The madness ensues as Stork produces just one zealot before starting pure goon production as his stargate is under construction. On the other side we have Jaedong opening unorthodox too. Jaedong goes 9 overpool into a hatchery at the natural. Immediately following are 6 scouting lings before continuing to drone again.

The gas gathering begins for Jaedong finally as the scouting lings have an unfortunate encounter with goons. This would lead to a few lings being killed off. As Stork's build continues to remain odd he pushes out with 2goons, a zealot, and a sair. With 1 gateway's worth of production rallied to Jaedong's natural, the push kills off the natural. Staying calm, Jaedong's speed finishes up just in time as ling production from his third base and scouting lings storm Stork's army and kill the push.

Jaedong immediately goes into attack mode only building lings. Stork was really late to reply as he has lings in his main now and attempts to cannon the natural. A final wave of lings clear the natural defenses and Stork must GG.




If Game 1 was any indication of the rest of the series, then we could expect Stork to have completely forgotten the PvZ matchup. Only time will tell in Game 2. Stork does give the viewers some relief as he goes for the more standard forge expand and adding two cannons to block his main’s ramp.

Jaedong, on the other hand, was the one who opened up with a very strange build. First he has a 3 base expand opening which would leave you to believe it could be a 5 or 6 hatch timing. However, Jaedong takes a 4th base at 1 o'clock. Still, that could mean a 6 hatch timing with a poorly placed hatchery. Instead, Jaedong actually drones at the fourth base opting more for greedy, economic play.

Well, any protoss player can appreciate a zerg that goes that greedy. 6 hatch timing is no longer an option. Stork's forge expand build will allow him solid economy and time to macro out an army. Still, Jaedong applies pressure at the north side of Stork's natural and kills of a few probes and two corsairs.

Losing two corsairs definitely hurts the protoss army. However, speedlots finish up and push Jaedong back to his 3rd base. Stork kills the third and attacks the natural which would be defended by lurkers. Stork retreats not having any detection at hand. Now, this is the point where Stork breaks a PvZ rule and doesn't use his sairs to scout the map and continues to let Jaedong get away with a free mining base at the 1.

While lurkers held Stork back for a short while, it wasn't going to be enough. Stork takes a third and Jaedong retakes his. After several minutes an archon, templar, goon, zealot army is too strong and pushes Jaedong back until GG was typed.




Game 1 was Stork build order gone bad. Game 2 was Jaedong's build order gone bad. So who will fail with a change up strategy?

Stork opens up forge expand for a second game. Meanwhile, Jaedong opens up 3 base 4 hatch muta. WHAT? That's right. Jaedong goes muta, meanwhile Stork goes to Sair/fast speed lots with a high templar tech follow up. Every point to Stork's build is meant to deal with muta opening. This ended up being the case as Jaedon'gs poor care taking of mutas left them dead quickly.

On four base muta, the transition is to go 6hatch hydra after getting some economic damage done to the protoss player. Well, the opposite effect happened. Jaedong loses his hydralisk den, further denying his ability to amass an army. Still, Jaedong bravely meets Stork into battle in the middle of the map. At this moment a hero was born. Through air and ground, a single archon controlled by Stork racked up 27 kills and even escaped from battle with more than half health.

As it seemed Stork would take down the third, Jaedong rallies back hard with lots of lings and clears out the army. This time hive tech finishes and cracklings join the battle field. Among this, Jaedong loses his fourth twice and can't seem to gain an extra mining base. Stork’s trouble remain tough to as his fourth is continually denied to. Both players are playing the hearts out as a dark swarm at Stork's natural allow lings to tear down the nexus.

No matter the lost bases, Stork had been macro-ing really well and has a powerful army march up the ramp next to Jaedong's natural at the 8 o'clock. Jaedong casts plague on the front line of units and runs lings in to tear down everything possible. Stork, with a giant grin he's had all night and perseverance, wills his army completely up the ramp and finally takes down the natural. Also, you could see on the minimap zealots had raided and destroyed Jaedong's fourth. With no more larva left for production Jaedong types gg.

Stork wins 2-1!


I'd have to say this series was an excellent display of talent both players have for SC1 and their beautiful natural mechanics. It was a powerfully entertaining series and the casting for the games were on par with the moment as the beloved Incontrol hosted great commentary for SC2 and Brood War fans alike. If you haven't seen the games, it is truly worth the time.

If you are looking for more Brood War to keep the SC1 hunger alive, catch the LoveTV Starleague 3rd/4th place match coming to you the Thursday, Jun 12 1:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00)