In Korea, Swarm Season Continues - Life and Symbol advance from Group A.
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 ST_Life and Code S regular Symbol advanced, sending an inconsistent GSL player in CreatorPrime and a first time Code S player in LG-IM_ByuL back down to Code A.
As expected, the Blizzard Cup champion ST_Life smashed through the group easily, going 4 - 0 and wasting no time reaching the Ro16. After outplaying Symbol in an initial ZvZ series, he was faced with a potentially difficult challenge in WCS runner-up Creator. However, instead of playing an orthodox style, Life chose to go back to his old ways and took out Creator with two unusual builds. In the first game on Daybreak, Life caught Creator off guard with a two-base roach timing for a quick victory, despite researching roach speed late by mistake. Life then finished off Creator on Cloud Kingdom with a two base mutalisk build. Although the mutalisks did little, Life gained the upper hand by switching immediately to infestors while Creator wasted money on two starport play. Though Life showed a few moments of poor micro, he used his roach-infestor composition well enough to take the victory.
- Creator and Symbol go down to the wire for final Code S spot
The final match of the night saw CreatorPrime face the still teamless Symbol for the second spot in the Ro16. Both players came in on even footing, with losses to Life and wins against LG-IM_ByuL (Symbol, through solid ZvZ play, Creator, with his trademark three-base timings).
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.
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
Feeling pretty similar, not sure whether MC is in form or not. However, it's the last GSL season and MC tends to take his play to the next level with GSL while posting some questionable losses in other tournaments, so it should be interesting to see how the Curious vs MC matches play out.
I agree that the zergs will make it through. Idk if Curious will lose that first match to MC, though. Baby hasn't looked very impressive in SPL so I have basically no expectations of him in this group. Does someone want to make the LR thread for this today? I have lab that starts before the broadcast will end so I can't.
Why do you think Curious will lose to MC one time they play but beat him the other? Obviously it could happen.... but one of the must be the favorite, right? and then also the favorite an hour later?
On January 23 2013 09:28 TeamLiquid ESPORTS wrote: Life also improved to 12 - 0 in GSL group stages.
That makes it sound like he's never lost in group stages. Why not say he's on a twelve game win streak in GSL group stages instead?
He has never lost in the ro32 Code S
just a bad fact check T_T
The fact was right about the 12-0. Just have to specify ro32 since ro16 has groups now. I think it's an interesting tidbit because each time he has looked completely untouchable in the ro32 as well. Remember last season? Ryung got absolutely crushed and everyone thought he was one of the weakest players to make ro16 and he ended up being a semifinalist that season.
On January 23 2013 09:28 TeamLiquid ESPORTS wrote: Life also improved to 12 - 0 in GSL group stages.
That makes it sound like he's never lost in group stages. Why not say he's on a twelve game win streak in GSL group stages instead?
He has never lost in the ro32 Code S
just a bad fact check T_T
The fact was right about the 12-0. Just have to specify ro32 since ro16 has groups now. I think it's an interesting tidbit because each time he has looked completely untouchable in the ro32 as well. Remember last season? Ryung got absolutely crushed and everyone thought he was one of the weakest players to make ro16 and he ended up being a semifinalist that season.
But he didn't say Ro32, he said GSL Group Stages .
Even if Leenok doesnt win this season, I'm sure he'll have another chance though. I doubt GSL will switch over to Hots right when it releases, there will still be to many issues with gameplay and balance.
On January 23 2013 14:29 Survivor61316 wrote: Even if Leenok doesnt win this season, I'm sure he'll have another chance though. I doubt GSL will switch over to Hots right when it releases, there will still be to many issues with gameplay and balance.
Mr. Chae has already said that this is the final WOL season.
Boss Toss will deliver. Lost to Grubby because he was over confident, and Grubby used that against him. That's why I knew Grubby would win that match. He was so confident he was chatting with Grubby in-game lol.
On January 23 2013 15:33 Zdrastochye wrote: Stand aside Curious, that second spot belongs to MC. Leenock, what are you doing over there? Get over to the winner's podium already.
nothing stops curious from ro16. at least it has been the case for 4 seasons
You can't really say code z yet, life and symbol were (most definitely) the best in their group and i think leenock is the best in his group.
These first two groups are stacked with the sickest zergs, but I think in the later groups less zergs are going to make it out more terrans are gonna come out in the next groups (we've got some sick terrans inc, teaja mvp innovation mkp ryung) and squirtle and parting are most definitely gonna come out of their groups and I always hope for HuK
I think its gonna be an even split with the participant list (7z 7t 2p)
On January 23 2013 14:29 Survivor61316 wrote: Even if Leenok doesnt win this season, I'm sure he'll have another chance though. I doubt GSL will switch over to Hots right when it releases, there will still be to many issues with gameplay and balance.
Well, you are perhaps not so keen on reading GSL announcements from Gomtv?
On January 23 2013 16:42 Misacampo wrote: leenock the best player to not win a gsl...?
MKP would like a word with whoever wrote that.
You can argue that Leenock has had more success than MKP. When I wrote it, it was by no means intended to crown the better player between the two, but there is no denying that Leenock has been "the guy that should have won" several times.
On January 23 2013 16:42 Misacampo wrote: leenock the best player to not win a gsl...?
MKP would like a word with whoever wrote that.
You can argue that Leenock has had more success than MKP. When I wrote it, it was by no means intended to crown the better player between the two, but there is no denying that Leenock has been "the guy that should have won" several times.
so did MKP, e.g. in Seasons 1/2/3 this year he was a pretty top contender but choked in ro16 x3 haha. T_T same for his finals vs. nestea
On January 23 2013 16:35 StatikKhaos wrote: You can't really say code z yet, life and symbol were (most definitely) the best in their group and i think leenock is the best in his group.
These first two groups are stacked with the sickest zergs, but I think in the later groups less zergs are going to make it out more terrans are gonna come out in the next groups (we've got some sick terrans inc, teaja mvp innovation mkp ryung) and squirtle and parting are most definitely gonna come out of their groups and I always hope for HuK
I think its gonna be an even split with the participant list (7z 7t 2p)
thats a pretty even split! (in a world where 7=2 anyways)
For the sake of my racism (hating of the zerg race) I pray that somehow MC and Baby get out of this group.... but due to the tragedy known as fungal (that roots opponents - so idiotic - allowing chain fungaling) I am sure the 2 zergs get out of this group no problem.
EPT
Creator 
ByuL
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.
.
MC♥
