Game 1: Hero vs. Best on Transistor
hero spawns in the top right and Best spawns in the bottom right. Hero goes for a 12 Hatch against Best's 1 Gate Fast Expand. Thanks to the large rush distance, Best only manages to parade his first zealot in an empty show of force that quickly goes awry. On its way back, Hero's first 6 zerglings get a full surround, springing Best into chaos. In a hairpulling frenzy, Best pulls a handful of probes with a zealot to defend the zerglings, losing a few probes in the process.

The game moves swimmingly in Hero's favor as he comfortably expands and drones, each second leaving Best further behind. Hero's accompanying scourge and muta with +1 air carapace competes for air dominance against Best's corsair and reaver army.

Best, now accumulating a fair corsair count makes his move. Crawling deeper into the belly of the beast, Best skirts along the edge of the map cautiously. Best's forces snap into action, unloading the pivotal reaver and two zealots to do what damage they can. However, Hero far ahead of Best, springs his trap in excellent anticipation. In rapid fire sequence, Hero burrows his drones from harm, and swoops in with Mutas and Scourge.


In an instantaneous and almost underwhelmingly gentle plume of smoke, several corsairs die at once.

Best, depite suffering heavy losses, still has a third base and his signature macro to lean on. However, even Best can't outpace a Zerg with a virtually untouched economy. He makes a valiant last stand into Hero's territory, desperate to slow down the Zerg juggernaut.


What was once a noble effort quickly turns to tragedy as the Protoss forces crumble against the overwhelming number of Zerg units. A neverending stream, Best's reserve forces are left to look on in the distance of the fate that awaits them. Hero, running on full steam inevitably overwhelms Best, ripping victory away from Best's sweaty butterfinger hands.

Game 2: Snow vs. Stork on Transistor
In the next match, Stork spawns in the 9 o'Clock and Snow spawns in the bottom right. The game begins calmly as both players opt for 1 Gate Fast Expand. Snow takes the role of the aggressor, but Stork maneuvers his units well, losing only one probe.

As both players steadily build up, tensions can only last so long as trouble is abrewing. Taking the helm is mastermind Snow, making two stunning robotics facilities. Snow's elaborate attack of shuttles, reavers, and his ground army, even when predicted by Stork, manage to set foot into Stork's base. In a wild juggling act, Snow makes the impossible possible:


Victory pulled from beneath Stork's feet, the neverending elevator of units crawls its way to the main base. At a loss for words, Stork concedes, as Snow wins in style.

Winners' Match: hero vs. Snow on Third World
Spawning in the top right in blue is Hero, Protoss dominator. In the opposite corner spawns in red, Snow, micro master. Hero places his second hatchery at his third on the other side. Snow feigns a cannon rush when he's really going 1 Gate Fast Expand, prompting Hero to pull drones. Hero makes a sunken in his main base as he quickly techs to spire.

Hero, abandoning his natural, continues expanding in the remote other side, complimenting his mass muta and scourge army. Snow, not leaving Hero alone, wants to take the battle to Zerg with corsair reaver. Hero has other ideas though, striking first. He charges in head first with mutas as his perfectly spread scourge enshroud the awkwardly placed corsair fleet.


Out of a nearly dozen corsairs, 3 remain. Mutas still intact, the scourge continue to funnel in as Snow is reduced to using an archon to stabilize. Snow's main base is soon overrun by mutas as his counter reaver drop does little to redeem his situation. Snow taps out!

Losers' Match: Stork vs. Best on Third World
Stork spawns in the bottom left and Best spawns in the top right. The game is off to a steady start as both players go fast robotics facility into reaver. Progressing swiftly into the mid-game, some breath-holding reaver plays are made that amount to nothing ultimately. Best takes the first shot, taking a disastrous engagement near Stork's natural. Stork, seizing the moment, quickly charges into Best's natural before meeting the same fate as Best had seconds before. In a slapstick tug of war, Stork ultimately gets the slightly shorter end of the stick.

All of a sudden, Best's reavers make a surprise appearance in Stork's main base much to the probes' dismay.


Stork behind at 25 supply frantically attempts his own reaver highlight. In the attempt he only manages to kill a meager four or five probes and a very red shuttle.

Best moves in for the kill at Stork's natural. Storms, reavers, and speedlots galore, Stork, even with dragoons cutely placed on the high ground only sinks lower.


A last wave of storms and archons killing stacked probes seals the deal as Best wins.

Final Match: Best vs. Snow on Gladiator
Snow spawns in the bottom left and Best spawns in the top left. Best opens DTs against the robotics facility classic of Snow. Attempting to subvert the main army, Best maneuvers his first two DTs around Snow's main army with an accompanying observer. However, Snow one ups Best, successfully spotting and defending the DTs. On the other side of the map, Snow has forced Best to cancel his expansion and has him contained from the top of his ramp.

Best quickly loses his momentum as an emergency evacuation attempt is unable to subvert Snow's watchful eye. With each shuttle ferry intercepted, Best's options grow limited. Biting the bullet, Best does a head-on charge up the ramp. He finally breaks the contain with speedlots, but not without sustaining a painful amount of casualties. Meanwhile, Snow's expansion had been operating the entire time, pulling Snow farther ahead with each precious second. Snow, carefully subduing the raging bull, Best, has him tiwrled around his finger, knowing Best's only option is to attack.


In the resulting battle, Snow comes out on top, sealing his road to the ro8.

hero and Snow advanced to the quarterfinals!