It's time again. It seemed like only a short while ago I was fervently cheering on SUPERSTAR and throwing away my liquibets on MC. But here we are at the finals already. Six players are already in for the up and downs; their success in Code A: October has already been secured. Now it's time to decide who will be remembered and who will become a footnote. For the first time in six months the Code A finals will be decided in a non-mirror match. The icing on top: neither race is Terran! Can't really go wrong with TvZ. Hell, over half of the defining matches of our game are TvZ.

So pick your favorites and get ready to cheer your hearts out for the two competitors who are trying to make their maiden voyages into Code S. These two GSTL all stars are ready to break onto the biggest tournament in the world tonight. Let's take a look at who they are.




Secret Protoss is the most apt description of our up and coming player from FXO. He has been a mentor and a coach on every team he's played for and, unfortunately, has been overshadowed by the other players he helped. By looking at his results there wasn't really much to say before October. His previous best win streak was one and at worst he lost four games straight. There wasn't much to celebrate outside of the practice house.

But the record will mislead you.

Every match this season, he has proven that he truly belongs in the elite echelon. Even in the cases where he didn't win the game! Time in the booth and playing against teammates in practice seems to have taught him well. During these long, unsung months, Oz was building a valuable cache of experience. He has earned himself, at last, a shot at Code S. His victory here will be all the more sweet over Curious. fOu may go by a different name, but he still has the chance to the crushing all-kill they suffered in GSTL.

After showing up Sage in every possible way in the semi-finals, Oz has only one last thing to prove. If he can take the Code A crown, he will not only be his race's greatest hope, but one of the best players in all of Starcraft II.





First, I want to talk about Curious' slightly related GSTL success. He was a total badass in the GSTL and there's just no way that doesn't rub off somehow when he's competing in individual leagues. Curious is the number one threat to everyone sitting in those cushy Terran chairs during the drawing next month.

Oz may be the Cinderalla story we all want to see culminate with a victory in the finals but Curious is the indomitable machine. He has left a trail of dead nerds in his wake, taking every series this tournament 2-0 except in the semi-finals. He won 3-0 there. In fact, the last time this guy lost in an individual match was against Maru in the qualifiers quarter finals. I don't remember how that happened so I'll assume the real Maru was present and distracted Curious.

How can you.. what can I.. I don't even.. Curious man. Curious. All-kills and 14 win streaks. This guy is made out of sheer awesome and terror. In a lot of ways, I can see Curious taking the series without losing a single game. His ZvP comes across as solid and refined. His win rate is awesome. The only thing that makes me cautious is that he progressed through Red October without a Protoss encounter until tonight's game. Even so, I have complete faith in his ability to be a total B.A.M.F. and you can quote me wildly on that.

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I've heard every caster say how favored Crossfire is for Protoss. Yeah, if Zerg lets them be. If Curious is caught out in the narrow corridors near malicious sentries or if Oz can delay it to late game Collosus play and negotiate the trip to Curious's natural without being picked apart by corruptors, then he'll take the game... but I just don't see that happening. There are too many opportunities and the third base for Oz is a bleak choice between taking the gold and an almost as distant natural third. Curious can lock down map control with mutalisks and no expansion is a bad expansion for Zerg here.

Prediction: Curious


Curious <Bel'Shir Beach 1.2> Oz
ZvP: 2-0 (100%)
.. it's too soon to tell. That's the best I can give you. I like the changes for balance. The map seems a lot less Zerg favored now than before but after only watching two games I honestly have no idea how the architecture alone will decide engagements and compositions. Heavy stargate play could prove to be a grand stroke for Oz but Curious won't be made a fool on Zerg beach.

Prediction: ?


Curious <Tal'Darim Altar LE> Oz
ZvP: 141-157 (47.3%)

Say what you want but Blizzard copies really good maps. Tal'darim has one of the closest ZvP win rates in the entire pool and it's almost entirely down to skill to decide the victor. While I can't say I've seen either play this matchup on TDA recently, I can't help but think Oz will have something planned. Whether it's a Sage-esque Stargate/Harass heavy approach that we've seen out of HerO and others lately or a traditional deathball or bust composition, I'm betting it all on Oz here.

Prediction: Oz


Curious <Daybreak> Oz
ZvP: 3-11 (21.4%)

Don't ask questions. This is how it's going down.
Prediction: Curious


Curious <Xel'Naga Fortress> Oz
ZvP:10-9 (52.6%)

Going against the record again, I'm going to say that Oz has something planned here. I don't know what; I don't know how. But I do know that his win over SUPERSTAR was so convincing that I think he will be solid on Xel'Naga Fortress no matter who his opponent is.
Prediction:Oz

Curious <Metalopolis 1.1> Oz
ZvP: 17-20 (45.9%)

I've heard casters say Metalopolis is for Zerg map. A lot. I'm going against them here. 2 base timings, blinking up and force fielding the ramp to the main, stargate play: All and all there are too many ways for Protoss to bring the pain on Metal. And if it were any other pair going against each other I would say Protoss has it. But we're not talking anypro. We're talking Curious. He's going to have something planned.
Prediction: ?

Curious <Antiga Shipyard 1.1> Oz
ZvP: 7-5 (58.3%)
More often than not Antiga is decided by a game of drones. Who will be greedier and survive the other players punishment will decide who will win if my predictions are off and it makes it to the ace match? I think the money is in the bag for Curious. It's a large, easily controllable map for Zerg and if as long as he is diligent in scouting then Oz will be at a disadvantage when Curious takes the gold base. Barring an early ending to the final game, Zerg will take this macro map and the championship.
Prediction: Curious

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I love an up and comer but Curious is just unstoppable. He's going to take the season of Protoss glory, stomp on it and infest the remains into a teaser unit for the next expansion.