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Broodwar was born in the streets. While Starcraft is fun to play and fun to watch, in an arena like the TSL, It doesn't matter if you win or lose it's how you play the game just doesn't apply. When the Pokerstrategy.com TSL qualifiers R1 and R2 got going last weekend, everyone knew that it was crunch time. From participants to fans, the atmosphere was electric as we sat around on IRC waiting for the results to roll in.
This was no ordinary sparring match, and with $10,000 on the line, nobody was looking to play nice. Although we're all definitely waiting for the Ro16 to start, the qualifiers are in many ways where careers are made and broken, and indeed, upsets can occur in many forms.
Some notable whoopsies were
NrT.FlaF 2-0ing 
G5[Media] and to a lesser extent 
iG.Casper managing to hold off the first TSL's BBQToss 
mouz.Dreiven. A smaller, albeit interesting highlight is newcomer 
LRM)MikOeL giving 
ToT)XiaOzI( a good run for his money.Of course, it is this Saturday that the gloves will really be coming off. No matter how long you've played Starcraft, no matter how many fans or titles you have, making this TSL's Round of 16 is everyone's dream. As possibly the last large scale tournament that Broodwar is going to see, making it to the last stage is an achievement that is more than bragworthy.
While fans will no doubt be rooting for favourites like
NonY, 
Ret, 
Mondragon and newcomer Kolll, R3 also has its share of underdogs, including the previously mentioned Flaf. A stage as big as this is sure to create some upsets, and if R2 was any indication, the big dogs better bark hard or risk getting sidelined.While it's true that players are made in practice and on ladders, it's events like these that truly test your mettle. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, more is said than done. Yet with the Ro16 in sight, the saying is over, and indeed, actions now speak louder than words. 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2, the details may change, but the results will be clear - some will fall and others will move on to foreign Broodwar's biggest stage.
So, is this weekend going to be pretty? Not likely. Is it going to be good Broodwar?
For sure, and we hope that you'll join us to watch it all go down blow by blow as streamed by our four casters. Here's to a weekend of the best this game has to offer!
To hold you over till the action begins on Saturday, here are two brand new interviews courtesy of the TSL coverage team. We hope you've enjoyed what you've seen of the TSL so far, and urge you to hang around as we bring you more of the very best in Starcraft. Good games, everyone, good games!
Payam "
[Pan]KabaL" Toghyan convincingly defeated 
Avi-Love 2-0 in order to advance to the final qualifier. We spoke to him a bit after his victory...+ Show Spoiler +
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Congrats on your victory today! How do you feel?
[Pan]KaBaL:
Hi! I feel veryyyyyy happy! I was so nervous before the match, I didn't sleep at all last night, so getting this win is a big relief and I'm happy that my nerves didn't affect my gaming. My heart was pounding really hard before the match lol, but once the games started I felt comfortable.
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Did you do anything in particular to try to overcome your nerves? Or did you just find that getting into the rhythm of playing was relaxing?
[Pan]KaBaL:
Well the first few seconds of the game I was still panicking, my hands were shaking, but I just told myself to relax, took a deep breath, and started playing.
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
I noticed that in the first game you came in with a Reaver/Goon timing attack. Was that planned, or did you improvise it during the game?
[Pan]KaBaL:
It wasn't planned. I was still debating over FEing or not. A few players suggested that I should Reaver rush on Fighting, and when I saw O hurt his eco alot in the early game, I figured it would be the most optimal build.
But it wasn't planned - I was looking to freestyle it according to the flow of the game, either Sair/DTt or Reav
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
In the second game you FE'd and played relatively standardly. Did you expect to win after you blocked his 9pool speedling, or if not, when did you realize you'd won?
[Pan]KaBaL:
Well I was kinda nervous when I saw he 9pooled and my scouting probe kept dying, cus I saw he allin rushed
BW-datoby yesterday with the same opening, but after I scouted him with my Sair I saw he was playing standard and his build was slower than usual. My DT rush hurt him in the early game and when my Sairs took out so many ols I gained a big advantage. But yea his failed 9p gave me an eco advantage even though I played really sloppy that game, the eco advantage was too much for him to overcome.
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
How did you prepare for the series? You mentioned seeing his allin yesterday.. did having access to the Q1 reps help you out much with playing him?
[Pan]KaBaL:
Well I already knew what his style was - Avi likes going early Ling/Lurk into a very fast Hive, so my plan for the series was to Sair him in order to take him out of his comfort zone.
I was saving a b.o in particular which I didn't get to use. It was specifically to counter Avi's standard style. The reps of the games he played vs datoby yesterday weren't really helpful because I mostly know how he plays
Also at the beginning of the week I hit a nasty slump and I decided to stop 1v1ing so I could mentally recover. I mostly played 2v2 all week and just took it easy.
I started practicing yesterday when I saw who my opponent would be.
thx to
CaStrO Target 
KiLLeR Shad for the practice games ^.^PokerStrategy.com TSL:
You're up next against
mouz.Strelok in a bo5. What're your thoughts about that match?[Pan]KaBaL:
My PvT is one of my strongest mu's so I feel more confident than todays match. Strelok is a very good player though.. anything can happen.
I'm looking forward to a tight series!
hopefully=]
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
OK, let's wrap it up a bit... who do you think will win the TSL?
[Pan]KaBaL:
Hahahaha
I wouldn't be playing if I didnt think I had a chance : D
So me!
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Haha, I wish you luck with that then! Any last shoutouts or messages to your fans?
[Pan]KaBaL:
Shoutout to all of team Pandemic and to all my supporters
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Alright, thanks for the interview, and good luck next week!
[Pan]KaBaL:
thx
Marius "
mTw.HoRRoR" Overhageböck told us about how he managed to reinvent his style, defeated 
LRM)KenZy, and how he's feeling even stronger than ever before. Read on for more info!+ Show Spoiler +
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Congrats on your win! How do you feel about the games?
mTw.HoRRoR:
Thanks, I feel like all the practice was worth it. It is liberating when you finish 2-0 after all the pressure.
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Your opponent was
KenZy, the second TvZ for you so far this TSL, were you confident about your chances going in?mTw.HoRRoR:
Yea I was confident because I trained TvZ the whole week especially the last 2 days. Yesterday I had some problems but I was able to do better today. My TvZ isn't too weak at the moment.
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Last TSL you came quite close to qualifying, losing just barely to
Draco (the eventual runner up). Now, here you are again, with your next round opponent being another strong Protoss player in NonY - how do you feel about your next game, and your opponent?mTw.HoRRoR:
It will be hard to succeed against NonY but I have got one week left to practice as much as possible. My goal is it to qualify for the top16 and I will do everything to fulfill it. NonY is a very strong protoss player but I also have enough very good protoss practice partners.
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Speaking of practice, how will you be preparing for the series?
mTw.HoRRoR:
Mostly I will practise the maps fighting spirit and tornado because I haven't played that many games on them. I guess infernal will be my main practice partner because he has to face a terran too, so we will just play a lot of games.
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Looking back at your games in TSL last year, and contrasting them with todays games, there's a clear stylistic difference. You mentioned in your previous interview that you had gone from playing a very aggressive drop/proxy style to a more standard game - is this simply a philosophical decision or is it a sign that you are more confident in your mechanics, and your overall game?
mTw.HoRRoR:
When you play such a style like proxy factory and so on you have to be unknown. In the past my opponents underestimated me and I was the underdog. That is why these tricky builds worked. Nowadays most of my opponents know myself and my style of playing so I had to change it to a standard style. But the advantage of this is that my opponents don't know what I will be playing.
I can play tricky builds and standard play as well.
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
So, a more complete player today than last time around
We are nearing the end of the interview - any last shoutouts you would like to make (practice partners, friends, clan mates, sponsors - whatever)?
mTw.HoRRoR:
Thanks for all the practice especially at aCe, Gan and CloseR. I wish all the German participants good luck and I hope they will advance too. GoGo!
PokerStrategy.com TSL:
Thanks for the interview, and best of luck in the next round!
+ Show Spoiler +
+ Show Spoiler +
Announcement Thread
Hype Thread
Results & Interview
R1 Replays
R1 Results
Q2 Replays
R2 Results
[Pan]Kabal, mTw.Horror
EG.iNcontroL, mTw.Infernal, mouz.Dreiven, Avi-Love
IdrA[Media]
This TSL is sponsored by PokerStrategy.com, the world's largest poker school and community. With hundreds of Poker VODs and an assortment of learning material in 18 different languages, PokerStrategy.com offers the chance for aspiring Poker players to learn from a beginner to a professional level.
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