EPT
1) [Oops]Spoon (T) ("Shim Sung-soo") > Saferzerg (Z) ("Kim Geun-baek") - Shin Gaema Gowon (NOTE: "shin" is the Korean word for "new" or "neo." OGN made a conscious decision not to go with the usual "neo" tag this time because the map name is of Korean origin)
2) [pG]Liquid`Nazgul (P) ("Victor Goossens") < Classic_NT (T) (aka Zodiac - NOTE: NOT to be confused with the gosu Zodiac who famously fought Boxer to a standstill.) ("Kim Yeon-guk") - Shin Gaema Gowon
3) Classic_NT (T) < [Oops]Spoon (T) - Guillotine -> [Oops]Spoon qualifies for the next Duel Tournament
4) Saferzerg (Z) > [pG]Liquid`Nazgul (P) - Neo Bifrost
5) Saferzerg (Z) > Classic_NT (T) - Nostalgia -> Saferzerg qualifies for the next Duel Tournament
[Oops]Spoon and Saferzerg move on and get to take on the big boys in the Duel Tournament.
A disappointing series of matches. Low quality overall and mistakes and missed opportunities abounded. Perhaps not so surprising given that 3 of the 4 players in Group A were complete newbies to the OGN CL scene. Only Spoon had previous CL experience and I don't think it was any coincidence that he finished first - and with relative ease.
Our boy Nazgul gave it a shot, but he just wasn't himself today. His first match on Gaema Gowon was lost in like 5-6 minutes. Got M&M + tank rushed early. Had lots of goons to counter and even the OGN casters thought Naz would stop the rush easily. But, it looked like Naz made some control mistakes and the goons melted like weird-flavored ice cream. His 2nd game v Saferzerg was better fought and lasted a good 20 mins, but it was an uphill battle for Victor almost from the start. Got boxed in his main while Saferzerg was
busy Sauron expanding everywhere. Nazgul took his rear natural, but by the time Nazgul built up his lot/goon/temp forces to break out, Safer was waiting with at least four-five dozen units of lings/hydras/lurks. No chance.
In all honesty, I thought Nazgul should have won his opening match. The OGN commentator Kim Chang-sun (formerly a top player himself with the id [B-Blade]Leader) even went so far as to say that if Nazgul had won the first match he predicted a first place finish for our Dutch warrior. But, Nazgul didn't play anywhere near his usual level. Made all sorts of tiny, but costly mistakes. Not just the control fuck-up with the goons in his first match, but in his 2nd match letting his temps get decimated and missing the opportunity to do some damage with a zealot drop against Saferzerg's expansions, virtually none of them defended very well (Saferzerg was also playing very poorly, btw. Almost even let Nazgul back into the game.).
A lesson learned I think for everyone, especially Nazgul. Experience counts in TV matches. Winning is as much a state of mind as it is about pure skill. Anyone wonder why Boxer's so tough, especially when the stakes are high? It's not just his skill - it's the ability to relax, concentrate and play like he usually does during practice, even in front of large crowds and TV cameras.
But, anyway, time to move on. Good luck next time Nazgul!
Coming up this Friday, March 7:
Group B:
TheMarine (T) v Crystal[Inca] (Z)
Shin Jung-min (?) v ProNT_Sonjjang (P)
next time...
