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Can we call Jaedong the 5th Bonjwa?

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samsammy
Profile Joined December 2005
United States76 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-04-21 02:49:03
April 21 2009 02:42 GMT
#1
http://www.ygosu.com/?m=starlife&m2=manual&idx=1913 Original Korean user article
Writer Topgun

Bonjwa - Originally a term used in martial arts novels to indicate a unbeatable martial artist, the SC community uses it to describe a SC player who was unbeatable at his prime.

1st Bonjwa - Boxer
2nd - Nada
3rd - iloveoov
4th - SaviOr
5th - ???

Can we call Jaedong the 5th Bonjwa?
- By Topgun (Translated by samsammy)
[image loading]


Although the 5th Bonjwa theory went down with Bisu's recent losses, after Jaedong's win the SC community has started once again talking about who the 5th Bonjwa is.
If you look at Jaedong's current career

2007.01.07 Sky Proleague 2006 2nd half MVP
2007.08.12 Seoul eSports Festival Champion (vs Jangbi)
2007.12.22 Ever OSL 2007 Champion (vs Stork)
2008.03.08 GomTV MSL Season 4 Champion (vs Kal)
2008.03.19 Kespa 2007 Year's best player, Zerg best player, Highest win rate
2008.07.26 Arena MSL 2nd place (vs ForGG)
2008.08.10 TGSambo-Intel Classic Season 1 Champion (vs Flash)
2009.04.04 Batoo OSL Champion (vs Fantasy)

- Both leagues added up 3 champion titles, 1 2nd place title

Jaedong has currently conquered both leagues, and recently in the Batoo Finals he accomplished a reverse sweep against Fantasy, and won two OSL's, which only a few players in SC history were able to accomplish (Garimto, Boxer, Nada, July, Jaedong).
He is also showed immense "force" in the winners league playoff, Finals by making 4 kills and 3 kills.

Due to this the SC community is now saying things like
"Lim Lee Choi Ma Dong!' [Each word represents the players last name, or nickname, or part of the first name of the 4 bonjwa's, there really is no pattern to it actually - in this case Dong is from Lee Jae "Dong", indicating he is the 5th Bonjwa]

Now can we say with JD's career and stats, that he is a 'Bonjwa'?
[image loading]


Using Savior, "the 4th Bonjwa"'s case, i will explain and give the ultimate reason why JD can not 'yet' become the 5th Bonjwa.
[image loading]


The picture above, or what we Koreans call "Jjalbang" describes the "holy war" which occurred between Savior and Nal_Ra. To be truthful, although it was called the "holy war", the score was one-sided, almost to the point of pure massacre. But why was it that this kind of rivalry formed between Savior and Nal_Ra?

This is because at the time, besides Nal_Ra, there weren't any pro-gamers who actually challenged Savior. People who watched SC at the time probably know, at the time great terran players like iloveoov, Nada, midas, Xellos and also all the protoss players like Reach, Kingdom, Pusan and Nal_Ra all fell down in front of Savior.

Even what was known to be Savior's weakest match up ZvsZ was proven wrong when Savior beat s.s.mSilver, the "gambler".
All in all, it can be said at the time, there was simply NO pro gamer out there who was able to beat Savior.

In Nal_Ra's case, although he had a history of taking championship from both leagues and had a very high win rate, at the time there were pro-gamers out there who seemed like they could win Nal_Ra anytime, and there were pro-gamers who had leading scores against Nal_Ra. This would be the reason why Nal_Ra was unable to enter the Bonjwa line. Same goes for Bisu and July.


[image loading]

[image loading]

[image loading]


Then what does Jaedong, currently the player most closest to the title of the "Bonjwa" need the most? Is it a better record? A win ratio above 70percent? This is probably not so. Like the pictures I posted above, there ares still pro-gamers out there who people consider can beat JD (Flash, Bisu, SkyHigh, free, etc). In other words, JD is not "unbeatable." It is too quick yet, therefore, to say JD is the 5th Bonjwa.

[image loading]


But I am not saying JD does not have the possibility of becoming the 5th Bonjwa.
Depending on how he does now, he can beat the pro-gamers above and grab the "Bonjwa" title as his. Like how Savior did in the 2006 Shin-Han Starleague Season 3, vs Nada.

Everything, depends on Jaedong's hands
More anger plz-
MoRe_mInErAls
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
Canada1210 Posts
April 21 2009 02:43 GMT
#2
Yes. Yes we can. There is no debate.
Jyvblamo
Profile Blog Joined June 2006
Canada13788 Posts
April 21 2009 02:45 GMT
#3
No. No we can't. There is debate.
funkie
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Venezuela9376 Posts
April 21 2009 02:47 GMT
#4
no after CJ vs Hwaseung.
CJ Entusman #6! · Strength is the basis of athletic ability. -Rippetoe /* http://j.mp/TL-App <- TL iPhone App 2.0! */
n.DieJokes
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States3443 Posts
April 21 2009 02:47 GMT
#5
On April 21 2009 11:43 MoRe_mInErAls wrote:
Yes. Yes we can. There is no debate.

Seconded
MyLove + Your Love= Supa Love
erin[go]bragh
Profile Joined December 2008
United States815 Posts
April 21 2009 02:48 GMT
#6
I think it's possible. He isn't right now, he wasn't before, he probably won't be for a while.


He's got the potential. He has the mechanics but he's missing something. That little bit of Star power than makes him more than just a mechanically sound Zerg.

I don't want to insinuate he's somehow a stupid player but he's missing that meta game sense Savior had. Right now I see him as more of a terribly efficient robot. If someone could somehow clone JulyZerg and Jaedong together into one Zerg, then you'd have quite a bonwja!

Interesting read though, thanks for translating! It's nice to see what the Koreans think.
JulyZerg! by.hero, effOrt, KTY.
Rostam
Profile Blog Joined December 2008
United States2552 Posts
April 21 2009 02:48 GMT
#7
It amazes me how quickly the conversation swung from "Is Bisu Bonjwa?" to "Is Jaedong bonjwa?". Isn't a bonjwa supposed to dominate for an extended period of time? A month before the OSL finals, would any sane person have claimed Jaedong was dominating the scene?
BW forever || Thall
pubbanana
Profile Blog Joined June 2005
United States3063 Posts
April 21 2009 02:50 GMT
#8
NO!!!!!
Wachet, stehet im Glauben, seid männlich und seid stark.
iLoveKT
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
Philippines3615 Posts
April 21 2009 02:51 GMT
#9
NO!!!!
Woo Jung Ho
NovaTheFeared
Profile Blog Joined October 2004
United States7224 Posts
April 21 2009 02:53 GMT
#10
I agree with the conclusions. Too early and too many players crowding the top. Jaedong will need more time as the undisputed #1 to claim the bonjwa title.
日本語が分かりますか
aznanimedude
Profile Joined April 2009
United States199 Posts
April 21 2009 02:55 GMT
#11
jaedong has certainly proven he is capable of owning and manhandling even the best players.
and his matchups are unquestionably among the best in the Zerg line much less progamers overall.
-the hands down BEST mirror matchup player out there
- the top 4 in the ELO of every matchup (vP, vZ, vT)
- 13 straight wins until the debacle that was a 5 pool on a heavily terran favored map
but his inconsistency is worth noting too
when he is in his game, i believe he is indeed a force to be reckoned with
but he's also known to just have WTF JAEDONG moments, and other moments that just leave you wondering.

so imo it's still up to debate
which is exactly why he is not considered bonjwa, because there must be no doubt for him to be classified as such, it has to be sound, unanimous, and obvious
HOI POLLOI
3 Lions
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States3705 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-04-21 03:01:53
April 21 2009 02:55 GMT
#12
Isn't a literal bonjwa one who dominates and wins 2 MSL's and an OSL? So only Nada, Oov, and Savior fit the criteria?

edit: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=61602
Carnivorous Sheep
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Baa?21243 Posts
April 21 2009 02:58 GMT
#13
The article makes such a retarded argument. Just because people can "beat" Jaedong so he can't be considered bonjwa? I love how he conveniently overlooks stuff like Chojja beating Savior in a MSL in the midst of his "bonjwa domination." He's trying to make it sound like JD needs 100% winrate against everyone or something. Stupid argument imo.
TranslatorBaa!
MoRe_mInErAls
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
Canada1210 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-04-21 02:59:47
April 21 2009 02:59 GMT
#14
The only literal bonjwa is (Z)sAviOr. The title was given to other players because some fans just had to capitalize on the 3 MSL 1 OSL correlation, oh and (T)BoxeR too because he was special.

(Z)sAviOr is the true bonjwa. He gave the term its meaning.
Icysoul
Profile Joined December 2007
Canada254 Posts
April 21 2009 03:01 GMT
#15
3 msl and an osl. I don't want jaedong to be a bonjwa, bonjwa after a period of time falls from grace, i don't want to see jaedong to ever do that.
p4NDemik
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States13896 Posts
April 21 2009 03:03 GMT
#16
If anyone out there is going to fit the bill soon, it's going to be JD, not Bisu/Flash etc. imo.

Currently though, he needs to go 2 more seasons in a row of being the reigning champ in either the OSL/MSL for me to consider him being bonjwa. No doubt the odds are stacked against this happening.
Moderator
sagrado_corazon
Profile Joined March 2008
United States100 Posts
April 21 2009 03:04 GMT
#17
As much as i like (Z)Jaedong I must say no this time.
integral
Profile Blog Joined February 2009
United States3156 Posts
Last Edited: 2009-04-21 03:06:00
April 21 2009 03:05 GMT
#18
there are some ridiculous posts in this thread, there is obviously debate
3 Lions
Profile Blog Joined October 2007
United States3705 Posts
April 21 2009 03:06 GMT
#19
In my opinion, the progaming scene is completely different now compared to the time of the previous Bonjwas. The skill level of all players is so great that it is impossible for anybody, even Jaedong, to dominate on the level that Savior, Nada, and Oov did.

Back in times of Shinhan 3, Savior was favored against everyone he came up against. It really felt like nobody was at the same level as he was. However, nowadays there are some strong players who could take down Jaedong in a Bo5 imo (Flash, Bisu). Jaedong obviously is the best zerg, but he is not dominating enough to be called a Bonjwa imo.
Nightmarjoo
Profile Blog Joined October 2006
United States3360 Posts
April 21 2009 03:07 GMT
#20
Imo except for zvz, Jaedong is too inconsistent. When he wants to, he goes and completely dominates his opponents. But then there are still days where he decides he doesn't care, and loses games through carelessless, or somehow just gets raped. I don't think a bonjwa can have bad days like that. Jaedong's losses can't really imo be called flukes, they're quite legitimate. So aside from zvz he's not unbeatable, atm.

He's a zvz bonjwa though :O
aka Lyra; My favourites: July, Stork, Draco, MistrZZZ, TheStc, LastShadow - www.broodwarmaps.net - for all your mapping needs; check my stream: high masters mech terran: twitch.tv/lyrathegreat
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