EPT
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eSTRO vs. Samsung KHAN
Round 2, 2008-2009 Shinhan Bank Proleague
3 January 2009 (mod, please edit title :D)
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1set:
SangHo < Neo Harmony > 
great2set:
hyvaa < Sin Chupung-Ryeong > 
FrOzean3set:
UpMagiC < Neo Requiem > Stork4set:
Really < Colosseum II > JangBiAce game: < Medusa >
While
NonY is off playing at PGL, his teammates take on Proleague giants KHAN. Upset in the making? I certainly hope so!+ Show Spoiler [predictions] +
A weird matchup for this map, and one that I'm not super excited for after suffering through the snoozefest that was Kal vs. Yarnc (the 5set from a few weeks ago). great has been the most successful Samsung Chogu this season, but that's not saying much - and his ZvP is really untested. SangHo, on the other hand, has been putting up unexpectedly impressive results for eSTRO, especially in PvZ. I think he can trump Harmony's map balance and what looks to be a snipe from KHAN to give eSTRO a 1-0 lead.
I'm not a FrOzean hater, but I'm picking against him here because I have great faith in hyvaa. Don't be fooled by hyvaa's underwhelming PL record - he's had some wicked tough opponents. Also, he used queens before Jaedong made them cool - kind of like listening to The Shins before Garden State.
This is definitely the match's pivotal set. Samsung may well be staring at a 0-2 hole when Stork enters the booth, and they'll need him to be his usual self (i.e. not the OSL-hangover Stork we've been seeing recently). Up probably has something up his sleeve for TvP on Requiem, but I don't think it will be enough. I'm thinking Up was hoping to catch a Zerg here rather than a nearly cheese-proof Protoss.
If this goes to the ace, eSTRO is in huge trouble. Playing against a Protoss-heavy team on a Protoss-friendly map means that sending their usual ace Really would be a disaster. KHAN would be foolish to trot out JangBi in consecutive sets - especially because we can expect the 4set to be a huge, draining macro war. JangBi's appearance in the 4set makes me think it's Stork's turn to close out the match for KHAN, and eSTRO has no good answers. Without any killer ZvP players, their best bet is to throw out Ryan[shield] and hope for some lucky scarabs.
+ Show Spoiler [results] +
SangHo < great
great takes early economic advantage and holds on for the win. Long but unremarkable game.
hyvaa > FrOzean
hyvaa does a great job of exploiting FrOzean's ability to throw any advantage. Entertaining if you enjoy seeing Zergs beat mech.
Up < Stork
Neo Requiem at its best: exciting, micro-oriented low econ play from both sides. This was a fun game. Recommended viewing.
Really < JangBi
Really decides to be cool and not wall on Colosseum...disaster ensues. One-sided destruction by reaver. WTF, Really.
eSTRO 1 < 3 KHAN T_T
great takes early economic advantage and holds on for the win. Long but unremarkable game.
hyvaa > FrOzean
hyvaa does a great job of exploiting FrOzean's ability to throw any advantage. Entertaining if you enjoy seeing Zergs beat mech.
Up < Stork
Neo Requiem at its best: exciting, micro-oriented low econ play from both sides. This was a fun game. Recommended viewing.
Really < JangBi
Really decides to be cool and not wall on Colosseum...disaster ensues. One-sided destruction by reaver. WTF, Really.
eSTRO 1 < 3 KHAN T_T
How to watch:
Daum player [guide]
Daum Sports stream [guide]: click here
Corinthos' VLC stream: http://75.126.18.2/index.php?p=ogn (thanks Doso)
Doso's relay stream: http://chwimmer.de/stream/relay.m3u (use only as a last resort!)
Gotta give the edge to Samsung tho, as they probably have the better options for the ace game.
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