Sink or Swarm - Zerg trio of Losira, DRG, and Symbol take both Code S spots and wild card spot in Up/Down Group C
It's shaping up to be a more traditional season of Code S, with Terran and Zerg at each other's throats while Protoss lurks behind in the shadows. The three-Zerg Croup C saw the entire swarm contingent finish in the top half, with LG-IM_LosirA and MVP.DongRaeGu taking Code S spots while Symbol joined Shine and Jaedong in the wild card group.
While many fans will have been encouraged to see DongRaeGu show some of his most consistent form in months, the true star of the night was LG-IM's Losira, who leaped from Code B to Code S in a single bound. Up and Down are precisely the words that describe Losira's career, as he reached the GSL finals and slowly declined into Code B, then had a revival with the queen-patch only to drop down to Code B once more, and is now back in Code S for the first time in over a year.
LosirA started off poor, losing to teammate First after taking much damage to some basic phoenix harassment. However, Losira showed much better play to take the next four games in a row, defeating Bbyong with a baneling bust, punishing Grubby with an early pool, and winning two solid ZvZ's against Code S players Symbol and DongRaeGu. Losira's 4 - 1 record on the day matched his previous best in the GomTV studio, a near all-kill of TSL back in June of 2012. While finishing first in the group (on a head to head tie-break with DongRaeGu) is encouraging for Losira heading into Code S, a few questions remained as he declined to play macro games in most of his non-mirror matches. In a few weeks time, we will see how closely Losira has returned to his once finalist level form.
- Grubby crushed 0 - 5 in his GSL debut
While Grubby was voted most likely to come in first, second, and even third place, the popular support of the fans wasn't enough to power him to a single win in the GSL. A couple of the losses were just flat out brutal, such as one to Losira after falling hugely behind to an early pool attack, or having a one-base phoenix attack defended perfect by First. Grubby may actually have played his best game against DongRaeGu, in a macro game on Antiga where he eventually was overwhelmed by DRG's infestor-roach attacks. On the other hand, a best game isn't much of a best game when you barely set foot on creep the entire game.
Though hopes might have been up after MaNa cleared his Up/Down group a couple of seasons ago, Grubby's 0 - 5 is a more realistic result. Even NaNiwa, the best performing GSL foreigner of 2012, went 0 - 10 before he finally had his two Code S Ro8 runs. First time success is hardly the norm for foreigners in the GSL, so while it wasn't a good result for Grubby, it wasn't a particularly bad one either. As for what that implies about the state of foreigners...
- Quick Hits on the Rest
MVP.DongRaeGu: DongRaeGu played like most people think DongRaeGu should play, outclassing most of the opposition. DongRaeGu looked great in the Blizzard Cup against championship class opposition, and we'll have to wait until Code S to see if he can consistently play at that level again.
Symbol: Code S is the least Symbol can do to improve his employment prospects, and he'll regret he didn't get through last night. Symbol is on a 0 - 7 ZvZ streak in the GSL at present, and there's already two Zergs confirmed for the wild card group in Shine and Jaedong.
LG-IM_First: First will feel a bit aggrieved to be sent back down to Code A after going 2 - 2, and also being denied a chance to play his fifth game (it wouldn't have mattered due to head-to-head tie break rules). Having made it through the Code A qualifiers three times in a row, First is definitely too good for Code B, but is having trouble showing he belongs in Code S either.
CJ_Bbyong: Proleague got all the hype around the end of the year, but the chain eliminations of KeSPA players in the Up/Downs is reminding everyone that the GSL is still the toughest, most prestigious competition in the world. Still, with Fantasy and sHy stepping up to the plate (by their PL performances, both are vastly improved since we last saw him in the GSL), the elephants might have reason to trumpet by the end of the Up/Downs.
Surprising many by being the SlayerS member not to switch over to League of Legends, Genius is now on a secure team in Azubu and has been handed the ace spot in Korea with Violet living in the United States. Azubu picked up a lot a talent in the past few weeks, but Genius is the key to making them a relevant force in Korea. If he can get himself motivated, have Iris and Nada take away his FIFA Online and LoL, and remind himself that it's never too late to get revenge on DongRaeGu in Code S, he might be able to get back to the championship level he was at during this time last year.
Genius in Season One of 2012 was at his absolute best, highly motivated to take a championship and showing it by making it to the finals in impressive fashion. He lost in the finals to teammate DRG, putting up a valiant effort but not being able to knock off the strongest player in the world. He fell into a slump after that, missing GSTL games for MVP and eventually leaving, moving to Slayers during the point where their ship was starting to sink. He's last in this group because we really don't know what we're going to get from Genius in a group five strong players with some credentials to their name. It would be nice to think that Azubu will bring back the Genius that danced his way to the Code S finals, but you have to remember that Azubu does have the top two LoL teams in Korea...
Byun should have won the third season of 2012. Seed was a great story, albeit now in Code B, and he slapped around MC in the finals, but the winner of the season should have been Byun. All the way up till the climactic moments of the fourth game of the semifinals against Seed, Byun was without a doubt the best player in the tournament. He had innovative TvP, brilliant strategies, and was able to find the perfect openings in a player's defense to exploit them. Byun, up in the fourth game of the semifinals and on the verge of making his very first finals, decided that taking all his SCV's and doing an all-or-nothing attack when he was in a good position was the best idea, throwing away the game to Seed and letting the guy known for comebacks get another one on his record.
After pulling his workers and losing in the semifinals, Byun has not been the same. He's still a good Terran and is regarded as one of the better Terran players overall in practice, but he just isn't at the same point he was during the summer of 2012. His aggressive TvP builds that left Protoss baffled in the early game got figured out, and he has been left as a shell of his former self that was in championship contention in the third season. Byun, when at his peak, is still one of the most brilliant players we have in the scene, but a lot like Genius, it's been too long since we saw that brilliance in action.
Continuing on in the Inconsistency Group of Death 2013, we have the guy that every SC2 pundit in existence thought was going to be a champion two years ago. We are now in 2013, and we are still waiting for Bomber to take his first Code S title after he was expected to in the middle of 2011. Drawing connections to this Up and Down group, the last time Bomber looked like the best player in the world and on his way to a GSL championship was all the way back in July of 2011 against Byun. Bomber was up 2-0 in their quarterfinal series, Artosis was having an orgasm over how godly Bomber was playing, and even noted that no one had ever been able to get to this level before in TvT. Bomber was rolling, Byun was shaken, and it seemed like there was nothing that could stop Bomber from taking the title.
Well, except Bomber himself. The then Startale ace crumbled like a soggy cookie atop a house of cards built by a 4-year-old, turning from the best player in the world to a Code B level scrub in a matter of seconds. Byun fought back with some good play, but the loss was all on Bomber's shoulders, throwing away a golden opportunity to become champion and never getting back to that point in his career. Bomber might look like a young 19 year old kid, but he's actually 24 (non-Korean age) and has gone past the point of a rookie having growing pains. He isn't getting any younger, and if he ever wants to win a Code S title, it's going to have to happen sooner or later.
Out of the three bottom players Bomber has shown the most promise of late, pulling off some great results in foreign tournaments, but if there is one rule in Starcraft 2, we know it's this: Bomber will break your heart sooner or later. [Editor's note: We're deeply conflicted on whether Bomber will decide to disappoint now, or get to Code S and disappoint later]
The inconsistency just won't end, will it? To be fair to Hero, he is head and shoulders above the three members below him in this group, having actually won NASL and Dreamhack Winter in December. A forced to be reckoned with in any foreign tournament he enters, Hero is still searching for that first GSL finals. He has the talent to make it there, but even after foreign championships and Code S semi-final appearances, fans will always question the emotional Protoss' ability to keep his composure when the pressure is on. The furthest he's ever gotten in Code S was in the second season of last year, facing off against Squirtle who was on an eleven game win streak at the time in the GSL. Hero got embarrassed, losing in a blow out series and lengthening Squirtle's epic streak.
He has been a constant Code S fixture for most of 2012, but he hasn't been able to consistently get far in the knockout rounds like his teammate Taeja. His PvZ - once his strongest match-up - has now become the bane of existence, losing countless games in Code S in where it looks like he should come out the victor. His PvT has been very solid of late, and his PvP is no longer a cringe worthy experience when he plays. All in all, he has a great chance of making out of this group in his current form, but it all depends on the condition of the night with a group that holds so many inconsistent players.
My prediction of NsOsvember wasn't the greatest, following in the footsteps of Supernovamber in 2011 with another disappointing first round exit. The amazing thing is, even with his faults in Code S and a loss to Mvp in Code A this season, he is still hovering around a 70% win rate in Korea, being one of the top aces in Proleague this season for Woongjin Stars. Bbyong and Trap both failed to make it out of their Up and Down groups, but sOs shouldn't be bunched in the same group as those two. Out of all the KeSPA players participating in the Up and Downs this week, the only one who can match sOs' current skill would be Fantasy, who is playing tomorrow.
His skill hasn't been consistent in transferring over from Proleague to GSL, but maybe the Bo1 format that the Up and Down matches bring will be a benefit to him. He's been able to prepare well for his matches for Stars in Proleague, carrying an 8-3 record this season, and will be a strong favorite to at least take one of the top three spots in the group. With how sub par KeSPA has performed so far in the Up and Downs the past two seasons, sOs is one of their best and last hopes to break through into Code S next season.
Yeah, I'm picking him because he's Zerg. When the best two Terrans in the group are both wildly inconsistent and the top two players in the group are Protoss, who currently only have four players in next season's Code S, I think I'm going to go with the Zerg. That's not to say that Byul isn't any good, because he definitely is, but after seeing Zerg dominate over and over in the GSL for the past two months, it's time to bet with the percentages and just ride the infestor until the energy finally dies out. Only having to practice his ZvP and ZvT, Byul will already have an advantage over the rest, not having to play his worst match-up that is at a 40% win rate.
Moving to LG-IM will also be a gigantic help, getting to practice with some of the best players at every race. Fnatic, while once strong, had a big downfall in the months leading up to Byul's departure, every single top player falling out of the GSL and posting weak results in Korea. Alive, Moon and Oz continued to slide in performance, Byul left to search for a new team, and eventually found a new home with the most decorated Starcraft 2 team in the world. It might take time for him to get acclimated to his new environment and benefit from his new training situation, but he's a Zerg, so it should be okay.
Happy for Losira, It's been about 14 months since he was last in Code S. Hopefully Grubby doesn't fall into Code B immediately, a lucky draw in Code A R1 will be needed.
These predictions seems really random to me. I never really thought of Byul as a good player, but granted, he has surprised me, and many others before.
sOs at 2nd isn't as risky, I can agree with it. He's been playing pretty well lately.
Still want Byun and Genius to go through, but I agree with them being least likely.
This group will honestly come down to two people: Bomber and Hero. If they turn up as the championship contenders they can/could be then they'll wreck. But with these two, its hard to tell.
Byul first? Good luck with that. Such a balanced group imo, if Byun, Bomber and Genius actually show what they're capable of (or should be, in Genius' case).
(bomber) He isn't getting any younger, and if he ever wants to win a Code S title, it's going to have to happen sooner or later
No shit sherlock. I assume its supposed to say sooner rather than later.
Haha!
I like this one as well. ^_^
Well, except Bomber himself. The then Startale ace crumbled like a soggy cookie atop a house of cards built like a 4-year-old, turning from the best player in the world to a Code B level scrub in a matter of seconds.
I assume it should say built by a 4-year old. Otherwise, that description seems really confusing to me. O-o
That would be so sick. The most entertaining Code S group this year was an all Zerg group.
Yeah I dont know about Shine but the other 4 would be high level ZvZ players although Symbol has kind of struggled in the matchup lately like the write up said. I think anyone would have a chance to come out top 2
Well, except Bomber himself. The then Startale ace crumbled like a soggy cookie atop a house of cards built like a 4-year-old, turning from the best player in the world to a Code B level scrub in a matter of seconds.
I assume it should say built by a 4-year old. Otherwise, that description seems really confusing to me. O-o
Well, except Bomber himself. The then Startale ace crumbled like a soggy cookie atop a house of cards built like a 4-year-old, turning from the best player in the world to a Code B level scrub in a matter of seconds.
I assume it should say built by a 4-year old. Otherwise, that description seems really confusing to me. O-o
In fairness, I don't trust the center of gravity of a 4 year old.
(bomber) He isn't getting any younger, and if he ever wants to win a Code S title, it's going to have to happen sooner or later
No shit sherlock. I assume its supposed to say sooner rather than later.
Haha!
I like this one as well. ^_^
Well, except Bomber himself. The then Startale ace crumbled like a soggy cookie atop a house of cards built like a 4-year-old, turning from the best player in the world to a Code B level scrub in a matter of seconds.
I assume it should say built by a 4-year old. Otherwise, that description seems really confusing to me. O-o
In fairness, I don't trust the center of gravity of a 4 year old.
Hero and Bomber easily, sOs is good and all but he's only decent at PvT and PvP, and excelling in PvZ doesn't help him much in this group except for a wild card slot
another theory that might work is random number generator. assign a number 1 through 6 for each player in the order they were listed by gom (P)HerO = 1 (T)ByuN = 2 (T)Bomber = 3 (P)Genius = 4 (Z)ByuL = 5 (P)sOs = 6 Starting with 6 place generate a random number from 1 to 6 and do it for each place with no repeats. Test results: 6th: ByuN 5th: Bomber 4th: sOs 3rd: Genius 2nd: ByuL 1st: HerO Guaranteed success. Just watch. (note -- for some reason I got like 5 2s in a row so maybe the generator was confused and was trying to replicate the grubby polls with ByuN taking every place in the group)
To be honest if HerO plays his best he should stomp this group and his only trouble should be with Bomber, although that all depends on which form of Bomber shows up..
I'm thinking Hero and ByuL with Genius going 3rd, but I haven't been following how the pro league players are doing (except Flash and Jaedong) so hopefully I'm not wrong.
On January 09 2013 09:04 Fanatic-Templar wrote: I like Genius. He reminds me of the elder days of Protoss, back with HongUn and anypro and the followers of the Way of the Ray.
Don't forget Guinea pig who started the void ray colossus death ball on shakuras plateau in the gsl during the 2011 season. Also the bestfou man good times
On January 09 2013 09:50 wptlzkwjd wrote: Exactly how bad does a "particularly bad" debut from a foreigner have to be? Don't know how much worse it can get for 0-5...
This wasn't technically a debut, but Naniwa's 0-5 at the Blizzard Cup was so bad that he started a shitstorm and lost a Code S seed. So, yes it could have been worse for Grubby I guess :p
Hilarious near the end of the Byul post. But i agree with the toss picks at least. Hero can be random at times but i believe he will either get a Code S spot or a WildCard. My dream lineup for making out this group is Liquid Hero, Startale Bomber, or Azubu Genius. Gambling with Genius but i love the guy i want to see him make it to at least Wildcard's.
when you think bomber is not a good player, he would show some incredible play and skills, like on ipl5. when you rebuild the faith on him, he would let you down again and again...bomber rule: never trust this guy
"Yeah, I'm picking him because he's Zerg." WTF? -.- Well i think sOs's gonna finish at first place without any problem.I think he's just to solid at every match up at the moment to fuck up...second place should go to HerO despite the fact that he's PvP is a joke...third place could go for Bomber,maybe Genius but it's a gamble.
On January 09 2013 15:50 Zerg.Zilla wrote: "Yeah, I'm picking him because he's Zerg." WTF? -.- Well i think sOs's gonna finish at first place without any problem.I think he's just to solid at every match up at the moment to fuck up...second place should go to HerO despite the fact that he's PvP is a joke...third place could go for Bomber,maybe Genius but it's a gamble.
Its more like your post is a joke. I assume you dont watch much starcraft
On January 09 2013 15:50 Zerg.Zilla wrote: "Yeah, I'm picking him because he's Zerg." WTF? -.- Well i think sOs's gonna finish at first place without any problem.I think he's just to solid at every match up at the moment to fuck up...second place should go to HerO despite the fact that he's PvP is a joke...third place could go for Bomber,maybe Genius but it's a gamble.
Its more like your post is a joke. I assume you dont watch much starcraft
Such creative post right there...I watch a hell of a lot Sc2,maybe u should do the same before posting.I assume you're not into Proleague?Maybe you're just to lazy to even look up some statistics...
On January 09 2013 15:50 Zerg.Zilla wrote: "Yeah, I'm picking him because he's Zerg." WTF? -.- Well i think sOs's gonna finish at first place without any problem.I think he's just to solid at every match up at the moment to fuck up...second place should go to HerO despite the fact that he's PvP is a joke...third place could go for Bomber,maybe Genius but it's a gamble.
Its more like your post is a joke. I assume you dont watch much starcraft
Such creative post right there...I watch a hell of a lot Sc2,maybe u should do the same before posting.I assume you're not into Proleague?Maybe you're just to lazy to even look up some statistics...
Lol i know hero pvp stats and using a proleague data to back your argument is even more of a joke. Its not like he has played tons of pvps in pl and how are you going to explain him getting 3rd in wcs asia by winning against top protoss players??
and them have them all go 2-2 in that group so they have to completely replay! actually agree with most of the predictions, only think hero and byul should be swapped - we need more toss in code S anyway!
On January 09 2013 15:50 Zerg.Zilla wrote: "Yeah, I'm picking him because he's Zerg." WTF? -.- Well i think sOs's gonna finish at first place without any problem.I think he's just to solid at every match up at the moment to fuck up...second place should go to HerO despite the fact that he's PvP is a joke...third place could go for Bomber,maybe Genius but it's a gamble.
Its more like your post is a joke. I assume you dont watch much starcraft
Such creative post right there...I watch a hell of a lot Sc2,maybe u should do the same before posting.I assume you're not into Proleague?Maybe you're just to lazy to even look up some statistics...
Lol i know hero pvp stats and using a proleague data to back your argument is even more of a joke. Its not like he has played tons of pvps in pl and how are you going to explain him getting 3rd in wcs asia by winning against top protoss players??
I can see we're truly heading nowhere with this...i'm talking about recent results and forms from my point of view,how i seen recent games and what you're doing is arguing just for the sake of arguing without any form of explanation. There's a good saying to this that come to my mind right now:Arguing on the Internet is like running in the Special Olympics even if you win,you're still retarded. So with this i leave you now.Good day.
Bomber's first with 4-0, isn't he? Good prediction whatsoever. I doubted Byul, but he's gotten better at IM it seems. Kespa players still struggle in the up&downs though, but Fantasy might be able to break the curse tomorrow.
Bomber's first with 4-0, isn't he? Good prediction whatsoever. I doubted Byul, but he's gotten better at IM it seems. Kespa players still struggle in the up&downs though, but Fantasy might be able to break the curse tomorrow.
EPT
LosirA <Bel'Shir Vestige> 
First
Bbyong <Abyssal City> 
Jaedong
man good times
