GSL 2013 Season 1 Code S
Group A Recap
Ro32
Group B Preview
Leenock, BaBy, Curious, MC
Brackets and results at Liquipedia
Ro32: Group A Recap
Results from Live Report Thread by Dodgin.
+ Show Spoiler [Results] +
Creator vs ByuL
Creator
ByuL
Creator
ByuL
Creator <>
ByuL
Creator wins 2-0!
Symbol vs Life
Symbol
Life
Symbol
Life
Symbol <>
Life
Life wins 2-0!
Winners' Match
Creator
Life
Creator
Life
Creator <>
Life
Life wins 2-0!
Losers' Match
Symbol
ByuL
Symbol
ByuL
Symbol <>
ByuL
Symbol wins 2-0!
Final Match
Symbol
Creator
Symbol
Creator
Symbol
Creator
Symbol wins 2-1!
Life and
Symbol advance to Code S Ro16!
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
Creator wins 2-0!
Symbol vs Life
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
Life wins 2-0!
Winners' Match
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
Life wins 2-0!
Losers' Match
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
Symbol wins 2-0!
Final Match
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
Symbol wins 2-1!
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
In Korea, Swarm Season Continues
-
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
IEM Katowice hinted that change might be in the air after the Infested Terran nerf, with just one Zerg reaching the top eight, and none reaching the final four. However, the trend of 'Code Z' continued in the GSL for at least one more group, continuing a string of Zerg victories following the Blizzard Cup and an all-Zerg final in the previous Code S season. Still, it wasn't so much an indication of racial balance as it was of the difference in GSL experience within that particular group. Two time GSL champ
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
As expected, the Blizzard Cup champion
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
- Creator and Symbol go down to the wire for final Code S spot
The final match of the night saw
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
Creator took a convincing win in first set, which came on the new GSL map of Icarus. Symbol decided to go for mass hydra-roach drops in the mid game, but Creator caught whiff of his opponent's tactics. Instead of preventing the overlords from delivering their payload, Creator instead presented an inviting landing zone to his opponent, behind which his forces lay in wait. The trap worked perfectly, with Symbol's troops massacred without a chance of retreat. However, Symbol came back strong in the second game, shrugging off Creator's Dark Templar harassment while going for drops once more. This time his attacks proved to be much more effective, and Creator was forced to fold.
It all came down to one last game on Akilon Flats to decide who would go survive in Code S, and who would be banished to Code A. Symbol chose to play the game standard, taking four bases and teching to infestors. Creator appeared to be obliging Symbol in playing a macro game at first, but sneakily cancelled his third nexus in order to go for a two base all-in with blink stalkers, immortals, and sentries.
What ensued was an early candidate for best game of 2013, as Creator charged headlong into battle while a surprised Symbol desperately tried to hold on defense. A nonstop battle took place for nearly ten in-game minutes, as Creator continued to warp in new rounds of reinforcements almost as fast Symbol could hold them off. After several momentum shifts, Symbol finally stabilized on defense, while Creator finally mined out his main, allowing Symbol to repel the attacks for good. Out of steam, Creator had no choice but to surrender the Code S spot to Symbol after a hard fought battle.
Ro32: Group B Preview
With Wings of Liberty slowly but surely coming to a close, there is a distinct feeling that every player in Group B comes into the round of 32 with something to prove. The first is FXO's Zerg ace and team league anchor,
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
His first opponent is
![Terran (T)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Ticon_small.png)
TY was once known as a Terran prodigy in Brood War, being drafted into WeMade FOX at the tender age of twelve. While it is fair to say that he became a top player, he never managed to win a major tournament. Now a grizzled veteran instead of a wide-eyed rookie, TY comes into WoL's final season intent on proving that it is he, not Flash or Innovation, or any of the new up-and-comers, who is the best KeSPA Terran, and that the fans were wrong to count him out.
The second match-up of the night is between two Code S veterans, where one has had more consistency while one has had higher peaks. First, there's
![Zerg (Z)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Zicon_small.png)
Curious' story is one that hardly needs re-telling by now. Recently, the Startale Zerg has been overshadowed by the younger and more successful Life, and Curious comes into the final season wanting to prove that he still has the potential to be a championship contender if he can just, for once, get past the mental block that keeps him from advancing to the quarter-finals and from realizing the potential he so obviously has.
While Curious has an uncanny knack for getting back into Code S and past the first round with great though not flashy play, his lack of championships mean that he isn't as surrounded by fame and glory like other players in Code S. His opponent, however, is a player that everyone knows and has an opinion about.
![Protoss (P)](https://tl.net/tlpd/images/Picon_small.png)
On one hand, he went out to Grubby 2-3 at IEM Singapore, a disappointing loss for any candidate in the race for the Protoss Presidency. On the other hand, he fought his way out of one of the toughest Up&Down Groups, beating Flash, Jaedong and YongHwa along the way. Putting it mildly, MC has been giving fans mixed impressions lately. At the very worst, the Boss Toss no longer cuts it. But much like Mvp, one can only doubt MC at his own peril, and so the de-throned Protoss President is given the benefit of doubt. Even so, he must set his eyes on the greatest prize there is, the Protoss throne, to prove that he can't be done away with so easily.
Overall thoughts and predictions:
Looking at form, the overwhelming favorite in this group is Leenock. Although he went out in Blizzard Cup and Iron Squid II, both of those losses were to Life. Outside losses to the Blizzard Cup champion, Leenock has been on quite the tear lately, demolishing most players in his way.
And while the infestor change may have changed the Zerg match-ups, Leenock has never been completely reliant on them before, and there is no reason to believe he will be in danger now. All-in-all, Leenock has not shown weakness in a match-up recently, and in a group where he can potentially play all three, it's hard to call him the underdog in any of them.
For second place, TY, Curious and MC all have the potential to advance. TY beat a strong Zerg in Symbol on his way from Code A to Code S, and Team Eight still trusts him as their ace in Proleague, even if his record hasn't been so hot (5 - 9). He has shown some rather impressive plays from time to time in Proleague and while him advancing out of this group on the back of solid micro/macro would not be a massive upset, he is still the unmistakable underdog coming into Group B.
MC, at best, will regain his footing for the umpteenth time and crush his way out of the group like he has crushed everyone who has doubted him ten times before. At worst, he still has the potential to micro his way out of the group – as he showcased stellar battle micro in his Up&Down Group that won him games that others would have lost from the same position. I wouldn't be surprised to see him bring out innovative strategies or devastating all-ins, but I also wouldn't be surprised if he shows a glimpse of brilliance that fades away just as quickly and stumbles like he has before.
And then finally, We have the Code S Reader in Curious. As long as we're in the first round of GSL, you can never underestimate Curious. He has brought out devastating play many times before, crushing favorites and made everyone wonder why those guys were the favorites in the first place. I think it's fair to say that the Round of 32 is, more than anything, Curious' home ground. This is where he has shown that he is confident and this is where he has played the best games of his career, and as such it is hard not to give him the edge.
Leenock > TY
Curious < MC
Leenock > Curious
Curious > TY
Curious > MC
Leenock and Curious advance.