Liquid Plays '09 - Page 10

after failing an attempted bunker-rush with SCVs to counter fast nexus, flash opts for a 6 fact vulture all-in in a last-ditch effort to win the game. What follows is not only one of the most exciting moments in SC this year, but also some of the best micro I've ever seen:




Although both sides had amazing micro, Bisu comes out on top and wins the series. his mine-sniping is easily one of the best plays of the year.

Action starts 2 minutes into the 30 minute slugfest with Pure going 14 nexus and Leta using a cute supply depot block with bunker rush. Pure does an equally cute pylon block at Leta's choke to stop marine reinforcements, and effectively kills the 2 marine bunker to save his nexus.

The game progresses to a standard macrofest with Leta quickly grabbing a his natural and Pure grabbing his third. Game remains relatively passive with Pure quickly grabbing a fourth and fifth expansion while Leta grabs his third. Pure techs to arbiters while in an unorthodox move, Leta gets a covert ops with his science facility. Protoss then proceeds to start expanding again by taking 11 on Leta's side and the middle for a 6th and 7th expansion; simultaneously, Pure manages to effectively harass with dark templars and a recall that snipes Leta's third expansion.

22:40 into the game, things are looking pretty grim for Leta as his natural and third are mining out and Pure is at almost 7 expansions. Leta needs to secure his 4th and Pure knows he has the economic advantage. Trying to kill Leta's lifeline and vital expansion, Pure engages Leta's 4th at 12 with arbiter/zealot/goon...and Leta turns the tide of the game by locking down 3 arbiters and forcing Pure to retreat. Securing his position, Leta proceeds to wipe out Pure's expansion on his side of the ridge (at 11) and nuke Pure's 5th expansion at the bottom right (with some tricky ghost placement, at that). Down to 5 expansions against Leta's 4, Pure is caught with his pants down as he was in the middle of transitioning to 4 stargate carriers. We suddenly have a game on our hands as Leta is nearing 200/200 3/3 army and Pure hasn't completely got up his carriers yet. Watch the rest of the game to see how tank/goliath/lockdown plays out against upgraded carriers in the rough terrained Heartbreak Ridge.

This game was unique in that Leta planned AND effectively used an obscure unit: the ghost. From the lockdowns to the ghost positioning in his nuke, Leta thoroughly made use of the gas heavy unit. In a matchup that has largely strategically stagnated since Flash's quick upgrade style killed carriers (and resulted in the more preferred quick arbiter style), it's nice to see some unorthodox play. Who knows? We might even see it becoming more standard like we are seeing maelstrom becoming more popular in PvZ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXbuG4SeoBg#t=14m35s

Mine hidden under engineering bay kills a ton of hydras, and then epic face