Looks like this year's StarCraft 1 BlizzCon exhibition match will pit Last, the champion of the first season of the KSL, against Rain, the winner of ASL5, in a Best of 5 series on November the 2nd at ~6:30PM PDT.
The top StarCraft: Remastered pro players in the world will step up at BlizzCon for a one-of-a-kind show match on the biggest stage in esports. In this “KSL vs. ASL” event, the reigning Korea StarCraft League (KSL) champion, Seunghyun “Last” Kim, and the current AfreecaTV Star League (ASL) king, Yoonjong “Rain” Jung, will face each other in a best-of-five exhibition match that should settle all debate on who is the world’s top StarCraft player. The battle will take over the StarCraft II stage at BlizzCon on Nov. 2 circa 6:30 p.m. PDT, following that day’s WCS Global Finals matches, and will be livestreamed on BlizzCon.com.
This isn’t the first time StarCraft: Remastered has been featured on a BlizzCon esports stage; Lee “Jaedong” Jae Dong and Kim “Bisu” Taek Yong played a throwback match in 2017. Bisu won that one-off, but this year’s StarCraft showcase comes with a little more heat, as Last and Rain bring the pride and reputations of entire leagues with them. Jaedong’s rooting interest in this one should be fun to sort out: he lost to Last in the inaugural KSL finals and was bounced out of ASL’s fourth season last year by Rain.
Which Korean StarCraft league will come out on top, and gain bragging rights for (at least) the next year? Tune in to the KSL vs. ASL show match at BlizzCon.com on Nov. 2 to find out.
Why not also take the winners of KSL season 2 and ASL season 6 and do a 2-round exhibition match? If Last also happens to win both then we're good, and we could have a round-robin if Last wins KSL again and someone else wins ASL, but it'd be very nice to have something like a mini blizzcon for BW.
On October 18 2018 20:59 Colouss wrote: Why not also take the winners of KSL season 2 and ASL season 6 and do a 2-round exhibition match? If Last also happens to win both then we're good, and we could have a round-robin if Last wins KSL again and someone else wins ASL, but it'd be very nice to have something like a mini blizzcon for BW.
Would be nice indeed. But here's the thing: KSL Season 2 has just started, and Blizzcon I believe starts in last week of October or first week of November. Also, if ASL Season 6 winner is FlaSh (I just believe in FlaSh), then idk. From what I saw in the comments and posts before is that he's afraid of heights. That's why he was probably afraid every time he takes an airplane. There was a turbulence on the plane that he was riding.
Which Korean StarCraft league will come out on top, and gain bragging rights for (at least) the next year? Tune in to the KSL vs. ASL show match at BlizzCon.com on Nov. 2 to find out
If Flash continues to only play ASL, ASL will continue to be the OSL equivalent. Even if Last beats Rain, ASL will still be the most prestigious tournament, but nice try Blizzard.
Maybe next year we can get a bigger tournament with all ASL/KSL winners + some foreigners.
On October 19 2018 04:29 Cele wrote: Thats a neat showmatch idea, pitting the current asl vs ksl champ. Like it way better than a generic jd vs bisu (or comparable) showmatch.
this reminds me of the OSL vs MSL winner that was done back in the day. Only difference is that this is at blizzcon, and likely once a year, assuming they bring it back next time as well.
On October 19 2018 04:29 Cele wrote: Thats a neat showmatch idea, pitting the current asl vs ksl champ. Like it way better than a generic jd vs bisu (or comparable) showmatch.
bisu vs jaedong do you even.... its no where near legacy of that than rain vs last despite that cool showmatch for sure
if the top 4 for ASL and the top 4 for KSL were completely unique players (sadly rain was in both top 4), we could even do a proleague style 4 1v1s and an ace match for KSL vs ASL. I think that would be awesome too.
On October 19 2018 04:29 Cele wrote: Thats a neat showmatch idea, pitting the current asl vs ksl champ. Like it way better than a generic jd vs bisu (or comparable) showmatch.
this reminds me of the OSL vs MSL winner that was done back in the day. Only difference is that this is at blizzcon, and likely once a year, assuming they bring it back next time as well.
those never happened.
you're probably getting confused with the gomtv classic showmatch between the winner of season 2 (jaedong) and season 3 (bisu) with the infamous "ITS CALLED HOLD POSITION BRO" call by SDM on andromeda when bisu failed to hold position his zeals on the ramp.
On October 19 2018 04:29 Cele wrote: Thats a neat showmatch idea, pitting the current asl vs ksl champ. Like it way better than a generic jd vs bisu (or comparable) showmatch.
this reminds me of the OSL vs MSL winner that was done back in the day. Only difference is that this is at blizzcon, and likely once a year, assuming they bring it back next time as well.
those never happened.
you're probably getting confused with the gomtv classic showmatch between the winner of season 2 (jaedong) and season 3 (bisu) with the infamous "ITS CALLED HOLD POSITION BRO" call by SDM on andromeda when bisu failed to hold position his zeals on the ramp.
Should be a even show match of top players and scbw talent so it’ll be cool to spread the popularity of the game at a high exposure event like blizzconn.
On October 19 2018 06:53 FlaShFTW wrote: if the top 4 for ASL and the top 4 for KSL were completely unique players (sadly rain was in both top 4), we could even do a proleague style 4 1v1s and an ace match for KSL vs ASL. I think that would be awesome too.
I'm not trying to fanboy Flash here, but it's really a slap in the face for him. Not only he wins 3 ASLs in a row, but ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IS NEAR HIS LEVEL OF PLAY. Ask anyone, any pro about this and they will say the same thing. Just throwing that phrase: "[...] exhibition match that should settle all debate on who is the world’s top StarCraft player." is absolutely ignorant. Flash is THE BEST player post Kespa era PERIOD. Theres nothing to 'debate' here, Blizzard...
I'm not trying to fanboy Flash here, but it's really a slap in the face for him. Not only he wins 3 ASLs in a row, but ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IS NEAR HIS LEVEL OF PLAY. Ask anyone, any pro about this and they will say the same thing. Just throwing that phrase: "[...] exhibition match that should settle all debate on who is the world’s top StarCraft player." is absolutely ignorant. Flash is THE BEST player post Kespa era PERIOD. Theres nothing to 'debate' here, Blizzard...
It's a bit silly but honestly anyone who actually follows BW knows it's just a thing to hype up the match. No one's forgetting about Flash (as proven by literally the first few comments).
I'm not trying to fanboy Flash here, but it's really a slap in the face for him. Not only he wins 3 ASLs in a row, but ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IS NEAR HIS LEVEL OF PLAY. Ask anyone, any pro about this and they will say the same thing. Just throwing that phrase: "[...] exhibition match that should settle all debate on who is the world’s top StarCraft player." is absolutely ignorant. Flash is THE BEST player post Kespa era PERIOD. Theres nothing to 'debate' here, Blizzard...
yeah I was also a little but suspicious of that wording but it is what it is. They just want to build hype for the match, to be fair it will be very exciting, Last has proven that he has greatly fixed his TvP and Rain needs a good PvT challenge to prove that even though his PvZ is very weak, his other two matchups are still solid rocks.
I understand why this showmatch is being set up the way it is.
THAT SAID, do you think it would get more publicity/hype if they simply made it an FvJ showmatch (in an ideal world where both could do it, etc. etc.)? Which would be better to represent BW at Blizzcon?
As fun as it is, we used to watch FvJ so much because both of their skill levels were so phenomenal, it meant one had to eliminate the other to win tournaments. They both could have made it there on merit again - but JD lost to Last, and Flash lost to Snow, who lost to Rain. I approve of using the current tournaments, and the players who proved themselves recently, to play at Blizzcon.
I'm looking forward to this, but I wish there was some prize money or a really cool trophy or something. A showmatch makes sense if they're doing famous/popular players to promote a new game, but this is the winners of 2 very competitive, prestigious tournaments.
I hope next year they make it something formal, so they can put some prestige/money on the line.
Should be a good show match. It’s funny how they never invite flash to blizzconn but I doubt he wants to leave Korea or wherever he lives anyway. Rain will probably be victorious vs last, last is good but rains pvt is in a whole nother level from what I’ve seen recently. Should be ggs.
On October 23 2018 17:13 Yanokabo wrote: Should be a good show match. It’s funny how they never invite flash to blizzconn but I doubt he wants to leave Korea or wherever he lives anyway. Rain will probably be victorious vs last, last is good but rains pvt is in a whole nother level from what I’ve seen recently. Should be ggs.
FlaSh is very scared of flying so he doesn't want to fly if he can from what I remember.
On October 23 2018 17:13 Yanokabo wrote: Should be a good show match. It’s funny how they never invite flash to blizzconn but I doubt he wants to leave Korea or wherever he lives anyway. Rain will probably be victorious vs last, last is good but rains pvt is in a whole nother level from what I’ve seen recently. Should be ggs.
FlaSh is very scared of flying so he doesn't want to fly if he can from what I remember.
Scared of flying? Lol. How is he gonna spend that 400k usd prize money he’s made in his career if he can’t take any trips to the bahamas. No wonder his skin is always that pasty color. Shame as he seems like such a smart guy and a natural star, blizzcon and American events would welcome someone like him with tons of love and adoration. There are also events in Europe and Russia that he could participate in although not that many anymore I guess.
I think rain smashes last personally but I’d never love to be proved wrong. Rain has showed impressive pvt not seen since the jangbi/stork golden days.
Leggo this is gonna be a great match. Sorry to losers Jaedong and flash who couldn’t be here lol. Can’t wait to see the cast tastosis? Hope the maps are good
On November 03 2018 10:52 LighT. wrote: Serral is freakin amazing
Yeah seriously, I haven't felt any kind of emotional response to SC2 in a while, but watching Serral play is pretty incredible. Excited for some BW now.
On November 03 2018 10:52 LighT. wrote: Serral is freakin amazing
Yeah seriously, I haven't felt any kind of emotional response to SC2 in a while, but watching Serral play is pretty incredible. Excited for some BW now.
Agreed. Nice to see BW too in Blizzcon. Rain vs Last is gonna be good too. Foreign SC2 is just this insane now. Wish we can see foreign BW thrive like that.
On November 03 2018 11:18 BigFan wrote: Hopefuly we get some nice long macro games, but also some cheesy games too. I want to see bio, a deep six or something!
On November 03 2018 11:18 BigFan wrote: Hopefuly we get some nice long macro games, but also some cheesy games too. I want to see bio, a deep six or something!
I just want good games that keep me awake. =D
Rain thinks it'll be onesided, I wonder for whom?
he actually said the reverse, that it won't be one-sided since we all have a desire to win.
On November 03 2018 11:18 BigFan wrote: Hopefuly we get some nice long macro games, but also some cheesy games too. I want to see bio, a deep six or something!
I just want good games that keep me awake. =D
Rain thinks it'll be onesided, I wonder for whom?
he actually said the reverse, that it won't be one-sided since we all have a desire to win.
Lol third world really is a pretty retarded map.... Maybe it's time Terran float over buildings and start building Goliaths on the other side of the map.....
I'd like to see a map like Third World that has a trigger that after the game timer hits 15-20 minutes the gates blocking the bridges drop down and make it a full land map
Bleh, that map pool. If that was blizzard trying to showcase BW they didn't pick the maps to do it on. I don't mind third world but If you did have to have sparkle I'd have had it in the first maps, not the last, it's an anticlimax to know who's going to win going into the last game.
Did they really need to use ASL5 maps? It's not like they needed to handicap Flash. I'm sick of watching FS and CB just as anyone else, but last year's showmatch was better.
My guess is that they wanted to use the KSL and ASL5 map pool. Given, I would've also liked some more standard maps to showcase how amazing late game TvP can be.
I personally really enjoyed the concept of mixing ASL & KSL maps from the respective seasons that those two won. We'll probably never see Sparkle again, but imo Third World is such an underrated map. I'm really glad we got to see another game on it. I'd personally love to see a Neo Third World at some point. Such a cool concept. The only thing I found odd was that they had two ASL maps back to back with Third World and Sparkle. I really enjoyed Season 5 of ASL, even though it was far from well balanced. However, if you look throughout Starcraft's 20 years of competitive history, you'll find a lot of seasons with map pools that heavily favor one race or another. This was just a show match between ASL & KSL so I think the map choices were pretty good for what it was supposed to be, I just think a KSL map should have been Map 4 instead of Sparkle after Game 3 on Third World.
I really don't think that it's maps that lost Last the series. I think Rain was sooo happy to be back in front of a foreign crowd again and it seemed like it was kind of a trip back to his sc2 days on myinsanity for him. Last on the other hand looked like being outside Korea for the first time in his life was really hard for him.
Also lol @ Rain playing in 640x480 in window mode. I guess that's one way to make sure that the old graphics still look like they did on 1.16.
On November 03 2018 22:44 Lorch wrote: \Last on the other hand looked like being outside Korea for the first time in his life was really hard for him. \.
the diverse mappool was a deliberate measure to ensure as many playstyles would get used as possible
the purpose of this showmatch has always been to draw attention to the game as no casuals will ever take the time to enjoy regular asl / ksl broadcast days
EPT
2018 Blizzcon Invitational
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/JxW0Fnv.jpg)
