GSL 2013 Season 1 Up/Down Matches

Wild Card Recap

Brackets and results at Liquipedia

by: Waxangel

Results from community Live Report Thread by Shellshock1122.
+ Show Spoiler [Wild Card Results] +


Safe Cards
- Code S veterans ByuN and Symbol take the final two spots in Code S.

In the wild card matches between the five of the third place finishers in regular Up/Down groups, it was the two Code S veterans snatching yet two more spots in the GSL's premier league over three other hopefuls. One time GSL semi-finalist ByuNPrime made it through in second place, while Symbol qualified for his fourth Code S tournament in a row.

The group played out extremely tightly, with only Shine being eliminated 0 - 3 in the early going while the other four players looked to be in contention going into their fourth and final matches. With just three matches in the group remaining, Jaedong and Symbol found themselves with 2 - 1 records, Center with a sliver of a chance at 1 - 2, and ByuN in poll position at 2 - 0. Three wins would clinch a spot in Code S, and ByuN would take the first shot as he went up against the already eliminated Shine. However, as in previous Up/Down groups, Shine played well despite having nothing to play for, swarming over ByuN with brood lords.

Next up was Jaedong, who had a chance to finish 3 - 1 and qualify with a victory over Center. It looked like KeSPA would finally get their first player qualified through the Up/Downs after Jaedong dealt a massive blow with an early baneling bust, but the former Hwaseung ace couldn't hold on to his lead. A couple of wasteful, overeager engagements from Jaedong put the ex-TSL Terran right back into the game, and he closed the game out with an effective pre-brood lord push.

That result made for another peculiar scenario going into the final match of the night of ByuN vs. Symbol. A Symbol loss would cause a three way 2 - 2 tie, with tie-breaker matches being required due to the circular Jaedong > Symbol > Center > Jaedong relationship. A ByuN defeat would also cause 2 - 2 "tie," but as ByuN had defeated Jaedong and Center earlier on, he would advance anyway due to head-to-head tie break rules. It meant Symbol would be playing for everything, while ByuN would be playing for nothing.

It was actually ByuN who looked more uncomfortable and nervous than Symbol, having been disproportionately punished for his involvement in the ESV scandal—he did not look happy to be put in a remotely similar situation. To the chagrin of Jaedong fans, ByuN did end up losing the match, overpowered by Symbol's hive play and unable to secure a fourth base. With that, ByuN and Symbol confirmed themselves as the final two entrants into Code S.

Notes:

Center: Center really should have beat Symbol in the first game of the night after scorching a gazillion drones with a hellion runby. However, he played Symbol's desperation base trade about as poorly as possible, his attention somehow was never where it needed to be as Symbol connected with giant baneling hits. Center looks like he's shaping up to be a decent player, and comparable to some of the other free agents on the market. Unfortunately, marketing is an issue for Center as it is for most peninsula-bound Korean players.

EG.Jaedong.RC: A typical day for Jaedong, winning ZvZ's and playing well in ZvT's before losing due to mistakes. A massive blue flame hellion runby lost him a game against ByuN, while poor muta-ling-bane engagements saw him blow a lead vs. Center.

MVP.Shine: The honorable Shine continued his streak of winning Up/Down games when already eliminated. Congrats on joining team MVP!

Writers: Waxangel.
Graphics: Meko, hawaiianpig
Editor: Waxangel.