by: Zealously



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, FXOLeenock. Many times has he been considered one of the best (and has certainly been the most hyped) players in the GSL, and has been in the conversation for the very best (Zerg) player in the world. Though he has countless Code S appearances and multiple premier tournaments under his belt, Leenock has yet to obtain the GSL trophy that has been within his grasp before.

His first opponent is TY (aka BaBy) from KeSPA's Eighth Team. TY was given a seed into the fifth Code S season of 2012 as a KeSPA player, but went out in somewhat disappointing fashion after losses to Life and Vampire. His performances in the most recent Code A, however, show us that TY can't be written off yet, as he defeated Brain and more notably Flash and Symbol to advance straight back into Code S.

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 ST_Curious – the Gatekeeper. The Code S Reader. The guy who can be the best Zerg in the world as long as it's only the Round of 32, immediately suffering mental breakdowns that make him crash and burn each time he reaches the Round of 16.

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.

SK_MC – the Boss Toss. The two-time GSL champion comes into WoL's final season surrounded by speculation and doubts. Somewhat lackluster (in comparison to past results) performances across the table lately have made MC look decidedly mortal, and even a little lost.

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.