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[GSL] “Mirror” - January Finals Preview
January 28th, 2011 23:32 GMT
Banner by disciple. Pictures from playxp & FOMOS.
Whoever our champion may be on Saturday, it’ll mark another chapter in GSL history. While the process to find our first Terran champion was predictable and anticlimactic, our finalists could not have been any better. MVP kicked off the year with a 9 game tournament winning streak before it was snapped by none other than MarineKingPrime.WE. That loss was quickly erased as MVP came back and took the series 3-1, and never looked back since then. Now sitting at a record of 28-3 for 2011, MVP looks unstoppable as he yearns for his first title of the year.
MarineKingPrime.WE has seen similar success to his career, and has continuously pursued the top in search of his first gold. MarineKing’s unique style led him to peculiar situations that were the best rated games among the epic TvTs exhibited during GSL January. To avenge his loss in the Gainward playxp tournament, MarineKing will look to show MVP that his mobile style has been polished, and that he will not waste a second chance at a GSL title. It could not be any harder of a task. While Lee Jung Hoon may be the king of marines, MVP is the king of all terrans.
Links and Resources:
Semifinals Recap
Semifinals A
G1 ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/images/blackstar.png) 3.5 -  IMNesTea >  IMMvp - + Show Spoiler [Show Recap] +NesTea plays it safe and go pool first, with mvp not pulling any strings and playing standard gas after barracks. MVP upgrades blue flame for his hellions and begins a CC right after, and brings 3 hellions to go harass. Nestea's beautiful positioning of spine crawlers and quick reaction minimizes drone damage taken, and MVP leaves unscathed. MVP pushes forward with a small army with hellions/tanks/marines, but NesTea gets in position to cut off reinforcements. NesTea counterattacks and wipes out the rest of MVP's forces at his main, and indecisive targetting at the other end halts MVP in his tracks. NesTea adds a hatch at his natural while expanding to the gold at the same time. With baneling threats and mutalisk harassment, MVP has a difficult time getting his gold up. Once maxed, NesTea charges in with his muta-baneling army and effectively end the game with a powerful and swift attack. MVP fakes an aggresive bunker at NesTea's natural, but is forced to cancel as NesTea pulls a crazy amount of drones to defend. Seeing that MVP has walled in his natural for a soon to follow fast expand, NesTea immeadiately grabs a third. MVP techs up and grab a banshee in order to gain some map control, NesTea responds appropriately with spore crawlers at his bases. MVP drops additional barracks and breaks down his backdoor rocks, using it as an attacking path for his tank/marines army. Sieging his tanks on the low ground, MVP drops a small amount of marines and begins attacking NesTea's main. NesTea uses his mutalisks to pick off units coming to reinforce. NesTea finally decides to engage but a key siege tank blocking the ramp funnels the banelings into tank splash, and NesTea is unable to hold off MVP's attack. As MVP takes out the key tech structures, one last round of units for NesTea gets blown into pieces before he is forced to tap out. Ignoring the long rush distance on Blistering Sands, MVP goes double barracks and then blocks off NesTea with bunkers at the ramp. The marines make it safely into the bunkers and NesTea's hatchery is now endangered. However, NesTea is able to keep his spine crawler alive while delaying the completion of additional bunkers and held off the rush fairly well. MVP expands with 3 additional barracks to follow, preparing for a combat shield + stim push. The spine crawler is killed with it being in the middle of nowhere, and MVP had little trouble tanking with his marauders and dealing massive damage from marines. NesTea loses his hatchery, and with no banelings leftover, NesTea resigns. Narrow choke with marines = profit. MVP 1 rax FE while NesTea safely goes hatch first on Jungle Basin, both looking to go for the longer game. This time, MVP delays his starport, prioritizing his tank tech and stim for marines. The refineries at the natural are only taken after he had enough minerals for defensive units. NesTea does a great amount of damage with his mutalisk harass, forcing several turrets and supply depots to be canceled, and catching the marines out of position repeatedly. Meanwhile, NesTea grabs the third at the center expansion. With enough defenses at his main, MVP pushes out from his pinned down position and attempt to take a third. The predictable positions of banelings were too obvious and MVP wastes little time to drop a scan and eliminate every single trap NesTea had laid down. A huge blunder by NesTea as his mutas skim by MVP's marines, resulting in a massacre that cut NesTea's mutalisk numbers in half. MVP siege hops down one of the alleyway, and the splash helped kill off enough banelings to ensure the survival of MVP's marines. After shutting down the third and NesTea's potential fourth on the left, MVP claims his own third and now the tanks are in front of NesTea's base. Facing elimination, NesTea desperate tries to push out of his own main entrance, but could not break the soft contain. MVP switches his attention to the right expansion. As the fourth is taken out, MVP moves on to the finals. Typical MVP marine spread
Semifinals B
G1 3.5 - MarineKingPrime.WE < Liquid`Jinro - + Show Spoiler [Show Recap] +G2 2.5 - MarineKingPrime.WE > Liquid`Jinro - + Show Spoiler [Show Recap] +G3 2.5 - MarineKingPrime.WE > Liquid`Jinro - + Show Spoiler [Show Recap] +G4 4.0 - MarineKingPrime.WE > Liquid`Jinro - + Show Spoiler [Show Recap] +
MVP - By The Numbers 1 – Games lost by MVP through his GSL January run. 92 – MVP’s TvT win percentage in 2011's major tournaments. 12 – MVP’s longest game winning streak in 2011, snapped by NesTea in the semis. MarineKingPrime - By The Numbers 2 – Games lost by MKP through his GSL January run. 27 – More televised TvT games MKP has played compared with MVP 3 – Final appearances in major leagues.
3 Things MVP will need to beat MKP 1. Don't underestimate. MVP may be the best player in Sc2 right now, but his GSL run has been extremely cushy. His first two group placements were extremely easy. TesteR is not MC. Against his teammate NesTea, he drew backdoor positions on Shakuras and got to close the series out on Jungle Basin. This final will be his toughest test yet by a mile. If MVP spent his practice time measuring his trophy case, he'll be in trouble here. His preparation cannot be in doubt for this series. 2. Stay ahead. MVP comes into this series as the favorite, and both players know it well. But this is MVP's first ever appearance on this big a stage, and he has only trailed once in this entire tournament. Meanwhile, MKP has experience on this stage and is an exceedingly resourceful player. If MVP drops the opening game or falls behind in the middle games, he may have more difficulty rebounding than will his opponent. 3. Scout, scout, scout. In his semi-final appearance, MKP undid the best laid plans of Liquid'Jinro with some seat-of-the-pants improvisation that Jinro routinely did not catch up on. MVP must be careful to avoid the same mistake. He cannot expect the same unit compositions from MKP, and he cannot expect the same timings. He's best off expecting the unexpected, and making sure he's not going to be surprised. 3 Things MarineKing will need to beat MVP 1. Abuse his mobility. MK’s unique style of TvT has caught many by surprise. It is highly probable that its success will diminish greatly as he shows his hand more and more, so he better make the most of it. MVP has been able to replicate this mobile MMM style with great success as well, so it’ll come down to whoever can maunever his way to victory. 2. Switch things up. No one likes a one trick pony. A quick cheese or high tech play (NaDa RO8 game 2 & Jinro RO4 game 3 comes to mind) grabbed MK wins in earlier rounds, and there’s no doubt that it can ultimately reproduce the same results against MVP. 3. Stay composed. Being the first player to make it back to the finals is tough. 2010 was marred by second placed runs, and that is definitely a factor still lingering in his mind. MK has got to get rid of the notion of potential silver surfer, and focus for his A-game.
Staff Predictions tree.hugger:  IMMvp <2-4> MarineKingPrime.WE - + Show Spoiler +The crucial difference between MVP and MKP is the middle letter. "K" comes before "V" in the alphabet, so I'm going with the king. Also, he's scrappy as hell. : IMMvp <4-1> MarineKingPrime.WE - + Show Spoiler +Too often MKP wins through gimmicks or an opponent's mistake, and not often enough by robust strategy. MVP will rock him. : IMMvp <4-2> MarineKingPrime.WE - + Show Spoiler +MVP has shown he's a class above current Terrans & has won convincingly over MKP in recent games. MKP will improve to take a game or two off of MVP, but he won't be able to overcome this hurdle. : IMMvp <3-4> MarineKingPrime.WE - + Show Spoiler +Both players are going to make a lot of marines. They're going to play MKP's style, with at least a few of the games coming down to weird, non-standard late games, situations where MKP thrives. MarineKing will find a way.
Next: Finals Recap
Lovedrop recaps the IMMvp and MarineKingPrime.WE final taking place in approximately 8 hours ! Expect battle reports, analysis, and our infamous awards for the season ! Thanks for reading !
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MKP Fighting!
EDIT: Also, does MVP have blue hair?
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whoever wins it will be a good game
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When it comes down to it, this is a Terran vs Terran and MVP is the better Terran and it's going to show.
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good write up. MKP to take it
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Yay love these write ups, Think MKP is gona take it just becuase of his unique style.
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While Lee Jung Hoon may be the king of marines, MVP is the king of all terrans. pretty much sums it up
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Nice banner, that's hot. Really looking forward to this! MVP all the way!
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While I really hope Marineking to win this series, I'm afraid MVP will destroy him utterly.. not going to be surprised if the series goes 4-0 for MVP, 4-1 is my personal prediction though. Go Marineking!
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I think MKP's style is becoming very well known, and it seems like he is repeating it over and over. If MVP can adapt to his style (which i think he can), his better macro and micro from sc1 should give him the game.
EDIT: How come MVP gets a bigger name on the banner ?? 
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mvp ftw, him, nestea and mc are no doubt the top players of their races. even if MKP wins by some lame fashion MVP will still be the far superior player in my eyes. very deserving winner.
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MVP - his new age empire will begin with tonight's win over mkp.
He is the best player currently just lacks the official crowning.
But it will happen tonight.
Hell it's about time!
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I expect to see alot of 1 rax expand into mass marines and eventually tanks, seems strong atm close series, 4-3 either way, maybe 4-2.
Marineking has awesome hair yo.
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Despite being a mirror I think this is going to be an awesome awesome awesome final. While MVP is awesome and solid there is something about MK. Call him one trick pony, call him marine king and just that or whatever, I think there is something about MK's gamesence. MK has a unique style but if you think it's just about countering that I think you are dead wrong. It may just be opinion but I think that in 3 years from now, when we look who is SC2's Boxer it is the guy who actua had his nickname for awhile.
I dont think MK is going to lose 2 finals in a row. MVP is super super awesome, but MK is unique. Either way despite being a mirror, I predict GSL4 to be the most awesome finals yet!
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Thank you for the excellent write up. Looking forward to these games.
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On January 29 2011 08:37 Draconicfire wrote:
MKP Fighting!
EDIT: Also, does MVP have blue hair?
Looks pretty black to me.
I hope MKP will win this, even though my liquibet says otherwise ^^
One thing MKP's playstyle ensures is an actionpacked finals.
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Korean hair, that is all.
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Looking forward to this as well. MKP FIGHTING!
On another note, I'm diggin' MVP's jacket :D
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I doubt MKPs style will see less success over time. Its very solid and he executes almost perfectly. Thus I see him as the slight favourite in this matchup.
Although I fully expect MVP to play basically the exact same style and execute well too, so it should be very close.
The series will probably be decided by those matches where one or the other decides to eschew 1rax FEs in favour of blue-flame hellion drops/cloaked banshees, and whether or not they succeed.
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If it's a close series, I think MKP can take it in the final game...but I sense this could be a coming out party for MVP, with a 4-1 or 4-0.
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Dominican Republic913 Posts
MKP deserve this, but MVP too :D
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I can't wait for this.. Go MVP
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MVP IS THE BOSS , GO GO GO MVP!
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MKP must win for the sake of eSports!
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I'm not looking forward to a mirror final, but MKP fighting, anyway!
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i hope mvp fucking rapes foxer; that kid needs to go down! as an aside, mvp looks a lot like a chick friend i know...
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There have been some amazing TvTs this season. Hopefully, this will continue that trend.
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Show MKP who's boss. Avenge Jinroooooo.
I'm hoping he'll win so he can try kicking MKP out of his habit of those he rules.
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I think MKP doesnt have any chanses. MVT is too strong, he had easy group but still///
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MarineKing is going to win this. Second time's the charm!
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Much as I love MKP, I gotta go with MVP here, 4-1 I think, he just looks so frickin strong at the mo, but, if anyone can upset him it'd have to be the King.
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On January 29 2011 09:01 azr wrote:
Korean hair, that is all.
You mean Asian Hair
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MVP can win if he watch Nada games and learned to lift his buildings ^^
Ok seriously... MarineKing needs a crown
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On January 29 2011 08:50 TheDominator wrote:I think MKP's style is becoming very well known, and it seems like he is repeating it over and over. If MVP can adapt to his style (which i think he can), his better macro and micro from sc1 should give him the game. EDIT: How come MVP gets a bigger name on the banner ??
Did you even watch MKP vs, Jinro? I can't believe people still say that MKP is repetitive, if anything he does a much wider range of strategy's than MVP. Plus, while I agree MVP has better "macro" (used in the loosest way possible) it's ludacris to say MVP has better micro, and MKP was Clare on MBCGame Hero, granted MVP was far superior in BW.
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This is gonna be very exciting! MKP fighting!
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I really don't care who wins at this point, I'm just so happy a Terran will finally win the GSL no matter what. Both are amazing players, truly a battle of Titans is coming.
MVP and MKP Fighting!~!~!
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Nice writeup, I will be cheering for MKP because of his microoooo.
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MarineKing!!! Now that you aren't fighting a Zerg for a title, I can come out of the closet saying you're my 2nd favorite SC2 player...go kick some booty!!! <3
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On January 29 2011 09:55 Kazzabiss wrote:Show nested quote +On January 29 2011 08:50 TheDominator wrote:I think MKP's style is becoming very well known, and it seems like he is repeating it over and over. If MVP can adapt to his style (which i think he can), his better macro and micro from sc1 should give him the game. EDIT: How come MVP gets a bigger name on the banner ?? Did you even watch MKP vs, Jinro? I can't believe people still say that MKP is repetitive, if anything he does a much wider range of strategy's than MVP. Plus, while I agree MVP has better "macro" (used in the loosest way possible) it's ludacris to say MVP has better micro, and MKP was Clare on MBCGame Hero, granted MVP was far superior in BW.
Yeah, MKP actually did some well thought out strategies vs Jinro. He knows Jinro likes to 1/1/1 expand a lot, so MKP double expanded (at gold) and made a lot of marines, and Jinro could do almost nothing about it, even if he scouted it.
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been a huge fan of MKP since GSL season 2, cant wait.
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Overall I think Mvp is probably the most "solid" player of the two, but in the end the only thing that matters is if he will win. MarineKing is certainly no slouch, and i think too much focus has gone towards the "marine" part of his name. It's almost like some people think he's little more than a gimmicky player, who only knows how to do one thing. He's legit.
Though my TvT style is a little bit more like Mvp than MK, I like MK better, for some reason. Head says Mvp, heart says MK, but I think there's vanishingly little in it.
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MKP fighting! I love his play... It is so much more unique (stale? no way) and interesting than any other terran play.
Him, MVP, Nestea, and MC are the best right now, and I'm excited for next GSL too!
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Oh my god, such a biased choice of pictures  ! MvP looks sexy as hell (love his haircut) while MKP seems to have acne. In fact, MKP is cute as a bunny!
With these pictures, at the battle of the looks, MKP is losing 4 - 1 to MvP
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MarineKing! So much fun to watch. MVP will probably win though =/
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15:00 KST = what time here in the states? Say MST?
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Oh god its the battle of the titans. WHO WILL WIN?!
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Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the best Terran of them all?
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Gotta go with the King here! GL to both players excited for some sweeeet games.
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I expected the predictions to be more one-sided toward MVP. As much of a MarineKingPrime fan I am, I'm surprised people are actually predicting him to win.
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On January 29 2011 09:41 Babaganoush wrote:
Show MKP who's boss. Avenge Jinroooooo.
I'm hoping he'll win so he can try kicking MKP out of his habit of those he rules.
Jinro's probably closer personally to MKP than MVP. They made a promise, remember? They promised each other that whoever won Jinro vs. MKP would be the one to beat MVP and win the GSL Championship. MKP would be a liar if he lost. Not to mention, as Team Liquid members, we should be CHEERING for MKP. Because if MKP wins, that means Jinro simply lost to the champion, and there's no shame, nay, there's probably a bit more honor in that than losing to the guy that took 2nd.
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On January 29 2011 10:36 legaton wrote:Oh my god, such a biased choice of pictures ! MvP looks sexy as hell (love his haircut) while MKP seems to have acne. In fact, MKP is cute as a bunny! With these pictures, at the battle of the looks, MKP is losing 4 - 1 to MvP
Eh, maybe my Korean cute-o-meter is off, but I'd say MKP > MVP by quite a bit (though not so much in that exact pic).
...I'd also say JD > Bisu, so it might indeed be off 
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United States11390 Posts
On January 29 2011 10:36 legaton wrote:Oh my god, such a biased choice of pictures ! MvP looks sexy as hell (love his haircut) while MKP seems to have acne. In fact, MKP is cute as a bunny!
Or a kitty.
![[image loading]](http://i55.tinypic.com/5usko.jpg)
Awesome writeup.
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PLZ PLZ PLZ gods of SC let MKP win this. Where is brother mack when you need him lol
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i cant wait to watch this, these 2 terrans are monsters
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Let's go MKP. Take your first GSL win.
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MKP leads the way. ALL THE WAY! OORAH!
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I like this matchup!
Last season's finals was rape.
This one looks even.
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At least it is a good mirror, I would be pretty sad if it was a PvP final. ZvZ is still bad, but not as bad IMO. Go MKP! This guy's style is exciting, and I hope to see some good games. My prediction is 4-3 MKP.
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I'm rooting for MKP all the way. This TvT is gonna be awesome with him around.
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This GSL finals might be the best of them all so far! Epic as hell, MKP FHIGHTING!!!
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I love you guys. Awesome write-up as usual. Go MKP! Rooting for you all the way :D
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good writeup! im going for Marinekingprime. hes just.. NUTS with his marine micro!
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Great write up. Not a huge fan of watching mirror match-ups, but I am rather excited to see MVP vs MKP. Hopefully it's an exciting series tonight, only a couple hours away. I really like the Incredible Miracle t-shirt design for some reason. Oh well, waiting patiently now....Go MVP!
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Canada13389 Posts
good write up excited to see this game since in this TvT the styles and approach to the matchup from both sides may differ providing a fresh and interesting experience.
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Who needs anything besides marines anyways? MKP fighting!
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Excellent write up. Looking forward to excellent games.
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Good write up, banner looks real nice, props to whoever made that.
Cant wait for this! Starting in 2 minutes!
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MVP Will be dominating this match I feel like, first half of 2011 is MVP season
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MKP I BELIEVE IN YOU. I BELIEVE. EVEN IF I KNOW IT ISN'T TRUE.
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Australia8532 Posts
A 28-3 record for MVP is simply so ridiculous! That is amazing! I hope MVP doesn't choke.. i feel he is the most deserving in this match up..
also, that photo in this article is way more flattering than the one used in LR threads etc hahaha!
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The pix look legendary... blue haired MVP vs red haired MKP hahaha
How epic
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i think MKP will win this because his TvT is excelllent
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Can someone tell me when is at my time?
Im at timezone +1 UTC
I seriously got lost trying to find out :[
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On January 29 2011 20:27 snapski wrote:
Can someone tell me when is at my time?
Im at timezone +1 UTC
I seriously got lost trying to find out :[
not that it matters anymore, but if you look on the top right of the TL page you can see the KST (korean time). and then just look at your own clock. calculate the difference. gg.
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+ Show Spoiler +I was shocked that Marine King got owned that hard. He seemed to fall apart. Against someone as good as IMMvp those mistakes just cost him one game after another.
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On January 31 2011 21:47 Gaius Baltar wrote:Blizzard Taiwan staelin TL banners for their own game now + Show Spoiler +
WTF! do something about this!
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EPT![[image loading]](/staff/disciple/GSL/9_copy.jpg)
![[image loading]](/staff/Lovedrop/gsl4/finals/side2side.jpg)
![[image loading]](/staff/Lovedrop/gsl4/recap/mvp1.jpg)
![[image loading]](/staff/Lovedrop/gsl4/recap/mvp2.jpg)
![[image loading]](/staff/Lovedrop/gsl4/recap/mvp3.jpg)
![[image loading]](/staff/Lovedrop/gsl4/recap/mvp4.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/afw6z.jpg)
