Revolutionary Magic by Hot_Bid TeamLiquid: Final Edits
The five month Protoss Revolution began in March (image by zxk3).
It is a week before the GomTV MSL Final, and the fans were crowning a double champion. Savior had just dominated Nada in a Shinhan3 OSL Final that everyone, including Savior, had hyped and focused on quite a bit more. The Maestro, winner of two straight MSLs and in his fifth straight MSL Final, would walk over “his Protoss opponent.” The classification that was very telling. The Bisu/Ra semi was a mere formality, after all, they were just two Protoss, classified by their race and matchup, nameless except for their inevitable place next to the Zerg champion on the podium. No Protoss since Garimto had beaten a Zerg in a Starleague final. Reach and Ra had multiple chances and had always lost in unspectacular fashion.
It is a week before the GomTV MSL Final, and something was happening in the jungles of Thailand. We will never truly know why Bisu went on vacation a week before the Finals. There were two possible thought processes:
"I am a huge underdog in a really difficult series. I suppose I will try my best and whatever happens, I will be proud of how far I came."
"My name is Kim Taek Yong, commander of the Protoss, the prince who was promised, Dark Templar reborn. Leader of a disrespected race, victim of an imbalanced matchup, and I will have my vengeance in this MSL Final or the next."
Knowing what you know now, is there still any doubt as to what Bisu was thinking when he took that vacation?
Dominance has two requirements. Midas and recently Flash are good examples of players having a lot of one quality (mechanics) but very little of the other: the "magic" or "X-factor." It is that indescribable quality that you as the fan do not see but rather feel when watching a player who has it play.
Just as you can't dominate without it, you can't win with magic alone. Non-PvT Reach and to a lesser extent Garimto are examples of players whose great experience can take them far but not far enough. They do not currently have the technical skill to match the modern elite players. You simply need both qualities.
When mechanics and magic did converge, they produce players like 2004 Iloveoov, 2005 July, 4-badge Nada and Shinhan3 Savior. The convergence not only produced champions, but dominant ones.
A player’s confidence begins as a snowball rolling down a hill. It is a stream from a mountain peak or a baby tyrannosaur hatching from an egg. It is easily melted, diverted or even killed by the smallest of events at infancy. It needs to be nurtured and given time to grow. One bad experience at the wrong time in a player’s career and their magic will forever be lost, their confidence irreparably damaged. Dominance is unforgiving, and thus it is rare. To achieve it players must be not only be among the elite in technical skill but must walk a confidence minefield, vulnerable to circumstance and bad luck.
The "magic" must be nurtured, preferably in Thailand.
Yellow is the poster child for the sad story of being so close, literally with his fingers around the magic but never able to hang on. I firmly believe that had Yellow won that first Coca-Cola OSL Final against Boxer back in 2001 their places in history would be reversed. We would be talking about Zerg and Terran completely differently today. The two most significant players in Brood War history came to their biggest crossroads at the most fragile point in their careers. We did not know it then, but player-wise it was easily the most influential, historical moment in ProGaming history. So much came down to one game on Neo Hall of Valhalla. It is what made Boxer "Boxer" and Yellow "Yellow." One player left that game with the magic, one player did not.
It is forged in deciding Game 3s and Game 5s. As ProGaming developed, as parity reigned and "great" win percentages hovered in the 60%’s, that special quality became more and more elusive. It was just impossible to be consistent, especially for Protoss. Looking through the list of champions, there has never been a dominant Protoss, one who had the magic. Until now.
The series that shocked the world.
Bisu is the most talented Protoss to come along in the history of professional Starcraft. His macro is the best. His micro is among the best. He has no weak matchups. He has one extremely strong matchup that is so far above every other Protoss in terms of quality and consistency that it’s laughable. Bisu has perfect, relentless scouting. Bisu successfully pushes the line between victory and defeat like no other player outside Savior.
But most of all, Bisu posseses the highest Protoss multitask ability. It is not even close. I have said this countless times but I will re-iterate. The "Beesuit Build" itself is not special. The build that beat Savior, the build that is basically a modified Protoss FE that slightly delays its storm and intermittently cuts probes for early DT/Corsair, is only good because Bisu does it. Other players have tried it and failed where Bisu succeeded. His Corsairs do not die. His DTs act like there is someone watching them at all times, finding holes that no other player can find. You could just drop the "-Build" part of that designation altogether and simply call it "Bisu," because it's all him.
But forget those last two paragraphs. What is special about Bisu is that in addition to his best-ever talent, he is 8-1 in elimination games in 2007, with the lone loss coming to Flash in the Daum OSL Ro8. It is part luck, part skill, part concentrated power of will, but somewhere along the line, Bisu got "it." He has the confidence now that he never did before, and with every successful do-or-die game win, his confidence and his magic grow.
Bisu is the Protoss chosen one. But worst of all for his opponents, he is finally starting to believe it.
TeamLiquid is also starting to believe it.
You could see it in his comeback against Light in GomTV1, in his almost too good to be true 6-0 tear through GomTV1 semis and finals. You can see it in him calling Hwasin “insurance” in the Daum OSL group selection and then humiliating him with Scouts. Most of all, you can see it his clutch stasis against Stork in the decisive GomTV2 finals game 5.
Protoss dominance had arrived. Bisu, the Revolutionary, changed the game.
It is a week before the July-GoRush GomTV2 MSL quarterfinal. The winner would go on to face Bisu in the semifinals. The match was a mere formality, after all, they were just two Zerg.
On July 19 2007 12:24 Dahlia... wrote: What is Bisu/July's recs against one another?
I really think he wins 3-1/3-2 against Bisu if he got through GoRush.
as far as i know they haven't played each other in a televised game
i will have to disagree with you. July might have done better against Bisu than GoRush did due to stronger ZvP, but I still think Bisu would've won that series.
Nice article. It almost convinced me to root for Bisu more :O
It's probably just me, but it seems like Bisu doesn't do quite as well against super aggressive rush type builds (probably because they're super aggressive and rush/cheese...) He's lost vs Oversky (w/the famous 3hatch ling) and Flash (with the Bio Rush). Is this because of a flaw in his builds? Or lack of proper scouting? Of course, he's probably won plenty vs aggressive people, I just don't know about them...
all great players lose to all-ins sometime, it's just a fact of brood war
i really don't think it's some flaw in bisu's style
these guys practice 10 hours a day, they think of almost every possibility that can occur in a game. every time they lose to something the next time they are a lot less likely to lose to the same thing.
i know Bisu lost twice to a bio build from Flash. it happens, but i don't think it's some sort of big gaping hole in the way he plays.
Bisu has been my favorite player for years i have a keen eye for spotting protoss talent i wont lie. Im going to show a post of mine from a year ago in the boxer balance suggestion thread.
TheGreatOne United States. October 10 2006 15:02. Posts 254 PM Profile Buddy Quote edit
No offense to boxer he is my favorite player of all time but this idea is pure outrageous. I honestly can say to myself I dont see much of a problem with pvz. This could just be that its my best mu and I find it easy actually. Just like the big zvt boom I forsee a big pvz boom. Before july/gorush/savior many zergs had a insanely hard time zvt and it could be considered imba but now it seems just fine with the outbreak of quick hive/3 hat muta/defiler usage. Bisu[shield] a fine example of what im saying he plays pvz the way it should be played. I think most tosses will catch on how to play pvz good look at kingdom hes starting to shine pvz. But anyways this idea is crazy you cant change such a standard concept just to fix a tiny balance problem in the first place. If anything would be changed it should just be DA raised with higher energy or lower 75 maelstorm. Shield upgrades should be changed to lower costs and I think the nexus should be strengthened since it dies so fast tvp and zvp. Also maybe reaver AI should be fixed could help a lot. I see no trouble with lurkers as most people see as the main problem its just for the longest time toss had trouble with lurkers since they were so used to mass hydra/hydra-ling things like that.Pvz is a tiny bit in favor for zerg but its just like for tvz and pvt nothing drastic. Also for the longest time maps were so bad for pvz and it screwed toss forever. Just my 2 cents
Maps definitely had something to do with it during some tournaments. But the effect of new-aged PvZ, not just Bisu's style specifically, is undenyable. I don't care what maps you come up with, the old Protoss Kings (Reach, Kingdom, Ra) could never do what new tosses (Bisu, free, Anytime, even Stork and others to a lesser extent) are doing now. It's just incredible. The matchup has been reinvented!
great read, bisu's style is bittersweet, he gives me hope as a budding protoss player in an imba world, but i know i will never be able to pull of the bo's and multitasking he has....
On July 19 2007 17:29 TheGreatOne wrote: Bisu has been my favorite player for years i have a keen eye for spotting protoss talent i wont lie. Im going to show a post of mine from a year ago in the boxer balance suggestion thread.
TheGreatOne United States. October 10 2006 15:02. Posts 254 PM Profile Buddy Quote edit
No offense to boxer he is my favorite player of all time but this idea is pure outrageous. I honestly can say to myself I dont see much of a problem with pvz. This could just be that its my best mu and I find it easy actually. Just like the big zvt boom I forsee a big pvz boom. Before july/gorush/savior many zergs had a insanely hard time zvt and it could be considered imba but now it seems just fine with the outbreak of quick hive/3 hat muta/defiler usage. Bisu[shield] a fine example of what im saying he plays pvz the way it should be played. I think most tosses will catch on how to play pvz good look at kingdom hes starting to shine pvz. But anyways this idea is crazy you cant change such a standard concept just to fix a tiny balance problem in the first place. If anything would be changed it should just be DA raised with higher energy or lower 75 maelstorm. Shield upgrades should be changed to lower costs and I think the nexus should be strengthened since it dies so fast tvp and zvp. Also maybe reaver AI should be fixed could help a lot. I see no trouble with lurkers as most people see as the main problem its just for the longest time toss had trouble with lurkers since they were so used to mass hydra/hydra-ling things like that.Pvz is a tiny bit in favor for zerg but its just like for tvz and pvt nothing drastic. Also for the longest time maps were so bad for pvz and it screwed toss forever. Just my 2 cents
On July 18 2007 20:51 Hot_Bid wrote: It is part luck, part skill, part concentrated power of will
A fan of Fort Minor?
"Remember The Name"
This is ten percent luck, Twenty percent skill, Fifteen percent concentrated power of will, Five percent pleasure, Fifty percent pain, And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!
Anyway, nice write-up. ^^ Too bad he lost that ProLeague game; especially against a nobody (pretty much). o_O
On July 18 2007 20:51 Hot_Bid wrote: It is part luck, part skill, part concentrated power of will
A fan of Fort Minor?
"Remember The Name"
This is ten percent luck, Twenty percent skill, Fifteen percent concentrated power of will, Five percent pleasure, Fifty percent pain, And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!
Anyway, nice write-up. ^^ Too bad he lost that ProLeague game; especially against a nobody (pretty much). o_O
haha was an inside joke about that Fort Minor song being about ProGaming
part of the lyrics from that song:
"But fuck em, he knows the code It's not about the salary It's all about reality and making some noise Making the story - making sure his clique stays up"
it sounds like "making the story, making sure his clicks stay up"
Am I the only Protoss player who doesnt like either Bisu or Stork that much? I love much and free though. Also love anytime when he doesnt slump and Jangbi when he shines. I dont know if it has to do with Bisu killing Savior in that MSL final... maybe I havnt gotten over it yet. For some reason I dont enjoy watching them play at all as much as many other Protoss
On July 25 2007 11:44 TheGreatOne wrote: wow i didnt think there was a protoss in the world who didnt like bisu..why not love a pvz machine?
Must be because he killed my Savior If it was gorush in that final or july then maybe I would feel differently :S But I guess Bisu is ok. Ive realy enjoyed some of his games vs Midas etc. But I just like Much PvT and Free PvZ so much more :S
i also hate bisu.. im sorry. even though he is a hope to protoss.. it kinda bugs me people give him so much credit for his dt play. im sorry but anytime will always be #1 for use of DTs in all matchups but whatever. go toss right?
On July 26 2007 20:17 koryano321 wrote: i also hate bisu.. im sorry. even though he is a hope to protoss.. it kinda bugs me people give him so much credit for his dt play. im sorry but anytime will always be #1 for use of DTs in all matchups but whatever. go toss right?
I agree ._. Anytimes final last year vs Nada was more impressive than anything Bisu has done even though Anytime lost :S Maybe its not as big an achievment but I was more impressed by his play atleast.
when i think of anytime... i think of his season before that where he went on to win the osl... that series was so insane.. loved it, remember anytime vs yellow? hahahaha
On July 19 2007 17:00 Hot_Bid wrote: all great players lose to all-ins sometime, it's just a fact of brood war
i really don't think it's some flaw in bisu's style
these guys practice 10 hours a day, they think of almost every possibility that can occur in a game. every time they lose to something the next time they are a lot less likely to lose to the same thing.
i know Bisu lost twice to a bio build from Flash. it happens, but i don't think it's some sort of big gaping hole in the way he plays.
People should really keep in mind the openings(And this goes double for weird maps like Monty) in BW have a very poker-like quality to them. Bisu was kind of calling Flash's bluff in the game on Hitchiker.. In the BW players mind a situation like that is lose/lose. He either built the forge ahead of time and cannoned up only to see flash FE, or he took the chance. I dunno it makes sense to me at least; ]
Good article, but as we have seen with every dominant player it is only a matter of time before the aura is broken down and the intimidation other players feel lowers itself allowing them to play naturally. I am probably in the minority here but its only a matter of time to me before Bisu starts losing his ASS off PvZ. I keep anticipating it in every series vs a Zerg he has, hasnt happened yet but it really will eventually.
How many people do you think actually got that, without having explained? Then again, inside joke.
I understood it because i used to play Bw with a friend like 2 yearsa ago who rewrote all the lyrics to that and turned it into something about BW. I wonder what happened to Jeff.
I don't say Bisu is bad, because he is indeed very very good. But lets see how long this "reign" holds.. I mean, until now he is not even KeSpa #1. By the way, Bisu or sAviOr will not go to WCG.. because 1 is eliminated before OO;
On July 09 2009 04:05 Abstruse wrote: so this is the thread that started the "Bisu FIGHTING!" regime....interesting...
Why did you bump this with such a useless post?
Even though it is delayed, I never read this, and t'was a god read. Really a good remembrance to the first time we all experienced the magic of wearing a bee suit.
Actually, I am grateful this was bumped. I never read this (also beacuse I barely began following StarCraft progaming in mid-2008) and it is a very good article which rings true to this day (although Zerg are on the rampage again).
Bisu[Shield] is what got me into the Pro-Starcraft scene...Since then I've learned so much more about this game...The mechanics, the great players from the past, rivalries, It makes you appreciate how great this game really is. Kim Taek Yong Fighting continues!
NET United States. August 16 2009 20:22. Posts 15 PM Profile Quote Bisu[Shield] is what got me into the Pro-Starcraft scene...Since then I've learned so much more about this game...The mechanics, the great players from the past, rivalries, It makes you appreciate how great this game really is. Kim Taek Yong Fighting continues!
Same as me!!!!! I used to do random cause I had no real race, but after watching Bisu, I started going protoss~
Bumping because this article was from 2007 and it was right on! This is still why Bisu is the best and will remain to be with close runners up Flash and Jaedong. It is also interesting to see the predictions in the comments afterward.
Good Game Bisu~ You'll be forever loved and will always be the one who got me into esports. Thank you for the cheers, the tears, and all the rest~ It's been fun staying up all night, LR-ing, translating live interviews, and cheering against everyone you played~ Good Luck wherever you take your talents next~ <3
EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/Bisutrophy.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/bisusleep.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/TLFE/bisugraph.png)
. Damn savior.
