by Fionn and stuchiu

Afternoon Games: 04:10 GMT (+00:00)

KT_Crazy vs. Woongjin_Flying

On one hand we have Crazy, the KT sniper for ZvZ. On the other hand we have Flying, the craziest Protoss player Kespa has produced, always coming out with a wacky build tailored to his opponent. While Crazy has acquitted himself well so far in Code A, Flying seems to be a more complete player in the matchup, having a plethora of unique builds while also having a strong late game.

Prediction: Flying 2 - 0 Crazy


STX_hyvaa vs. LG-IM_YoDa

Hyvaa is an interesting player, who is becoming famous for all-ins and aggressive play despite the fact that he is still quite capable of playing and winning macro games. Unfortunately for him, he has not had much success in winning long macro games against the Terran race. So this match will come down to two questions: 'Can hyvaa concoct an all-in that can kill Yoda?', and 'will Yoda play up to his usual level or will he show the same abyssmal form he had during the ro16?'

Prediction: Yoda 2 - 1 hyvaa


CreatorPrime vs. Azubu.SuperNova

Creator, what happened to you?! Once in the running for top 3 Protoss in the world, ever since the switch to HotS Creator has fallen hard. His famed PvT took the biggest hit as it seems like he just can’t deal with Terran aggression anymore, and he has time and time again been run over by bio medivac timings. This bodes badly for him as Supernova has returned from the dead in HotS. After almost getting a Nestea award, he was quickly banished out of the GSL and decided to use his time in Code B to only play the HotS beta. Since then, his form has returned and he is back on the rise having taken out DRG in his second round. He looked like his old self in the match, forcing DRG to multi-task heavily on defense with unique, aggressive builds. While he still lacks the macro and fine control to back it all up, once Supernova gets the ball rolling, his rapid fire attacks are often too much for his oponetn to handle. Because of the their recent strengths and styles, I have to go with Supernova here.

Prediction: Supernova 2 - 0 Creator


Evening Games: 09:10 GMT (+00:00)

Samsung_Shine vs. FXOHurricane

In a battle between one of the eSF's most promising Code A talents and KeSPA's one hit knockout specialist, the edge in the late game goes to the eSF player. Hurricane, formerly Tear, is a player that should have been in Code S long ago, showing strong play in the GSTL, but never capitalizing on his chances in individual leagues. Alongside Gumiho and Leenock, Hurricane represents the Protoss side of the FXO Triforce, hoping to finally surpass his past faults and make it into Code S for the first time. Shine, who is more like the guy you meet on ladder that goes, 'YOLOSWAG ALL-IN GOTTA GO FAST', is a specialist at cheese and aggressive openings. While Shine is the player coming down from Ro16 of Code S, Hurricane should be the favorite here if he can withstand the one hit power of Samsung's xXxYOLOAllInMaster69xXx.

Prediction: Hurricane 2 - 0 Shine


CJ_EffOrt vs. STX_Trap

Effort really sucked against against Protoss in Wings of Liberty. Any time you saw Effort get matched up against a Protoss, you could pretty much turn off your stream and come back ten minutes later to see him distraught in his booth. He has been better in HotS, going 2-0 in his first two Proleague matches against Protoss, but I'm not convinced. Effort should be one of the stars of KeSPA in SC2, being a former OSL champion and considered one of the best mechanical and talented players in Brood War, but none of that will ever happen if he can't fix his match-up against Protoss. Trap, servant to Lord Innovation at the STX mansion, is a decent player, holding a 16-8 record all-time against Zerg in WoL and HotS. Effort is probably the much more skilled player than Trap in terms of mechanics and decision making, but did I mention he really sucks against Protoss?

Prediction: Trap 2 - 1 Effort


KT_Flash vs. ST_Avenge

I'm sure GOM would say they love all their players the same, and that the outcomes of games really don't matter as long as the games are good and the fans are entertained. But, when it comes to Flash vs. Avenge, you better bet that Mr. Chae is holding an Avenge voodoo doll in his control room, hoping that he doesn't beat Flash and further dent the image of his God persona. Losing to Innovation and Parting in the Ro16 of Code S is perfectly fine. Both are world class players and two of the most popular figures we have in the Korean scene. Avenge, on the other hand, is a relative unknown Protoss from Startale who has been doing very well of late in GSTL. Flash is the favorite, and he really should beat the inexperienced Avenge, but this isn't going to be a cake walk. Flash is an extremely talented player, but he is by no means unbeatable or at the same God level he was during the end days of Brood War. Parting and Innovation might have taken some of the glimmer off the hype of Flash, but a loss to Avenge might destroy it entirely.

Prediction: Flash 2 - 1 Avenge


ST_Life vs. MarineKingPrime

If MarineKing saw Life and Mvp hanging from a cliff, both lunging their hands out for MKP to save them, who would the Prime Terran save?

He'd probably let both fall. Life and Mvp have been the bane of MarineKing's existence in SC2, stopping him from winning or challenging for GSL titles over and over, countering MKP's style in TvT and TvZ. Mvp's stonewall defense was too much for the uber aggressive MKP in TvT, and Life's uber-ling aggression in TvZ is too much to handle for MKP who likes to play extremely greedy against Zerg.

For MKP to win this, he's going to have to bring out something new. He has to play differently and learn from all the previous matches he had against Life. If he tries to play like he has the previous times Life has crushed him, the outcome will be the same if Life is anywhere near average condition. A MarineKing victory would be one gorilla off his back, with only a BoX victory against Mvp still needed before he dies, but Life is simply the paper to MarineKing's rock until seen otherwise.

Prediction: Life 2 - 0 MKP