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[WCS EU] Mvp Wins S1 Championship & Recap

Forum Index > News
168 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 Next All

[WCS EU] Mvp Wins S1 Championship & Recap

Text byTL.net ESPORTS
Graphics byshiroiusagi, ESL
May 26th, 2013 21:52 GMT

2013 WCS Europe

WCS Europe Season 1 - Premier League




Mvp wins WCS Europe!
Defeats Stephano 4 - 1 in final


Ro8 Rumble
The best of the bracket phase


TLO takes fifth
Earns last EU ticket to season finals


Brackets and standings on Liquipedia

The Once and Always King

by Waxangel

Almost exactly one year ago to this date, (T)Mvp limped into the GSL Code S finals. For the first time in his career he was not the prohibitive favorite to win. Plagued by nagging wrist injuries and with the players around him improving by leaps and bounds, it seemed like the reign of King Mvp was coming to an end. Instead, he proceeded to win his fourth GSL title.

All VODs on ESL.EU

A familiar story then, this WCS Europe season. Mvp had dropped down to Code B in Korea, looking the worst he had ever been in his career. Many saw his decision to enter WCS Europe as seeking refuge, unable to hold his own in the brutal Korean scene. As it turns out, he was just seeking new lands to conquer.

4

(T)LG-IM_Mvp

Grand Finals
(T)Mvp <Bel'Shir Vestige> (Z)Stephano
(T)Mvp <Akilon Wastes> (Z)Stephano
(T)Mvp <Newkirk Precinct> (Z)Stephano
(T)Mvp <Star Station> (Z)Stephano
(T)Mvp <Daybreak> (Z)Stephano
1

(Z)EG.Stephano.RC


(T)Mvp vs. (Z)Stephano was a dream match long in the making, and it partially lived up to its considerable hype. The two best players of the Korean and non-Korean scenes in Wings of Liberty going head to head: how would they match up? At first, the answer seemed to be "very well." Mvp deigned to play a straight up, marine-medivac-mine macro game against Stephano's muta-bane-ling in game one, and was thoroughly beaten by the French Zerg's swarming tactics. However, Mvp returned the favor in game two, playing a methodical mech style that had been his trademark since 2011, slowly squeezing Stephano to death until he gasped out a surrender.

It was even up to 1 - 1, but after that things quickly spun out of control in Mvp's favor. Stephano thought that nydus tactics could be a good idea in game three, and it seemed like he was right—until Mvp plopped down a vision giving supply depot just as Stephano looked to take advantage of an unguarded corner of Mvp's base. Nydus attack thwarted, Stephano found himself quickly run over by Mvp's counter all-in attack of hellbats and marauders.

Mvp successfully went for the throat again in game four, going up to a 3 - 1 series lead. His hellbat drop opener cleverly masked another hellbat-marauder attack until it was too late. Stephano put together a truly inspired defense to almost hold out, but an over-extension on defense allowed Mvp to reload and finish him off with a second attack (somewhere in Korea, Squirtle woke up in a cold sweat).

One game away from defeat, Stephano fearlessly decided that an aggressive attack was his way back into the series. Seeing Mvp open up with a rarely seen banshee build, Stephano put together a roach-queen combination for a massive, front door busting nydus attack. Unfortunately for Stephano, Mvp read his intent and had tanks in place to thwart the attack. On the other end of the map, his hellions backdoored Stephano's mineral line, causing severe casualties. In any other game, the failed attack and lost drones alone would have been enough for a GG, but facing elimination, Stephano played it out just a little bit longer before giving the final surrender.

Overall, it was the typical Mvp series we've come to expect from him since he fell from his all-dominating peak in 2011. He had a solid macro game base, used to mask a variety of unpredictable all-in builds and two base timings. Or maybe, it's the other way around? In any case, it's undeniable that Mvp knows how to play an incredible number of styles, and knows exactly how to combine them to maximize his chance of victory.

It will be strange seeing Mvp as Europe's "representative" at the WCS Season 1 Finals in Korea, after being the face of Korea's GSL for nearly two years. Even if he isn't playing for Korea, he's still doing his country a final service and sending his successors an important message: Keep working hard and one day, all this could be yours.


Round-of-Eight Rumble

While Mvp vs. Stephano couldn't be matched for hype, some of the best entertainment to be had was earlier on in the Ro8 bracket.

[image loading]

In terms of drama, it was hard to match (T)Mill.ForGG's comeback from behind against Spain's (T)K3.LucifroN in the Ro8, taking three straight wins after falling behind by 0 - 2 early on.

As for best moments... well, this entire section is mostly an excuse to post the following moment from the (Z)Stephano vs. ForGG semi-final. For the most part, Stephano looked to be ForGG's superior in the series, picking him apart in macro games and only dropping a map to ForGG's 11/11 bunker rush. He probably didn't need or even intend to crush ForGG with some incredible widow-mine friendly fire, but it definitely gave the tournament a much needed highlight spot.


Of course, everything is better served with a DIMAGA reaction...

[image loading]

While not necessarily a "highlight" in the true sense, the (Z)DIMAGA vs. (T)Mvp series featured an incredibly long game on Newkirk Precinct, which mostly consisted of Mvp being 80 supply down but somehow surviving through the power of turtle mech. It seemed like DIMAGA should have won a few dozen times, but somehow he ended up running out of money while Mvp weathered the storm. It's our "I know how this is going to end but I can't believe it's actually happening" game of the year thus far.


A Little Consolation

On top of deciding the WCS Europe Champion, there was also that business about deciding which five players would get tickets to the combined WCS Season 1 Finals in Korea, to be held in June. The semi-finalists automatically won spots, but the Tie-8th place players were left to play out a mini-tournament to decide who would take 5th place.

[image loading]

In a somewhat surprising turn of events, it ended up being Liquid's (Z)TLO who won the ticket to the season finals, earning at the very worst an additional $5,000 as well as some valuable WCS points. Although TLO wasn't able to get over his Ro8 hump this season, that's some very nice consolation indeed.

Losing out was Karont3's (T)LucifroN who found himself getting bowled over by a succession of cheese/aggressive attacks from TLO. From 6 pools to nydus attacks, TLO went at it with a no-holds-barred attitude that he lacked earlier in the tournament. Seeing that it was successful against Lucifron—the player he called the best in Europe—perhaps TLO should consider using that approach more often.

Writers: Waxangel
Graphics: ESL
Editor: Waxangel.
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TL+ Member
matthy
Profile Joined January 2013
66 Posts
May 26 2013 21:56 GMT
#2
MVP MVP MVP!
Fuell
Profile Joined February 2011
Netherlands3111 Posts
May 26 2013 21:57 GMT
#3
King of Wings does it again!
fOu/Zenith/NEX/WeRRa/SlayerS
derpface
Profile Joined October 2012
Sweden925 Posts
May 26 2013 22:00 GMT
#4
Yay. Gratz Mvp!!! Felt so good to see Stephano lose too!!!
gg no re #_< no1 Hydra and Leta fan >_#
ToKoreaWithLove
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
Norway10161 Posts
May 26 2013 22:00 GMT
#5
That was fast, Wax! Really happy to see Mvp winning again.

Is his neck problems cured? He looked both very fast and very precise versus Stephano, esp. that micro battle in game three.
ModeratorFather of bunnies
GoodSirTets
Profile Joined June 2012
Canada200 Posts
May 26 2013 22:01 GMT
#6
The king in exile
High Diamond/ Low Masters :^)
Muruniiduk
Profile Joined March 2013
Estonia3 Posts
May 26 2013 22:04 GMT
#7
MVP was great.
Also dem Dimaga reactions when he played :D
Tsitaat
ACrow
Profile Joined October 2011
Germany6583 Posts
May 26 2013 22:06 GMT
#8
Wax, no mention of de MVP Jürgen Jung Hyun? I'm disappointed!
Congratulations to MVP, he showed why he is the best player in SC2 history to date!
Get off my lawn, young punks
oMny
Profile Joined March 2011
Austria1 Post
May 26 2013 22:06 GMT
#9
Very nice played by TLO. And the best to Mvp for his incredible games and strategies.
Destructicon
Profile Blog Joined September 2011
4713 Posts
May 26 2013 22:08 GMT
#10
That widow mine backfire on ForGG's medivacs broke my heart, I felt so sorry for him after putting on such a good fight in that last game, only to have it coming crashing down like that.

However I am so happy to see Mvp somewhat back to his old dominating form and really happy we get to see him face off against the best of the world, hoping for a Mvp - Innovation grand final.
WriterNever give up, never surrender! https://www.youtube.com/user/DestructiconSC
RookUK
Profile Blog Joined August 2012
United Kingdom283 Posts
May 26 2013 22:13 GMT
#11
Wow, I'd thought we'd have to wait until tomorrow for this. Thanks for getting such a nice writeup done so swiftly.

Amazing tournament, amazing winner.
skulloo
Profile Joined September 2011
United Kingdom10 Posts
May 26 2013 22:15 GMT
#12
I missed it where is the link to VOD
Terran for Life :)
bsdaemon
Profile Joined July 2012
618 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-05-26 22:20:13
May 26 2013 22:18 GMT
#13
Someone uploaded ForGG and Stephano's reactions in YouTube too.

Taboo
Profile Joined June 2011
Romania32 Posts
May 26 2013 22:21 GMT
#14
Very nice tournament. GG Europe.
poogpoogs
Profile Joined September 2012
11 Posts
May 26 2013 22:22 GMT
#15
that explosion was the best bit of the entire series
ZenithM
Profile Joined February 2011
France15952 Posts
May 26 2013 22:27 GMT
#16
Very nice play from Jürgen, looking forward to the German dominance of foreign SC2.
Shinkaii
Profile Joined April 2011
22 Posts
May 26 2013 22:29 GMT
#17
Since ForGG can't take first place and his TvZ not being as good as his TvT he was doomed to lose against Stephano but my god he must have hated blizzard on this action, he maybe would have won the series and beat MVP who knows :D
Gratz to MVP, return of the king
capiston
Profile Joined February 2011
France372 Posts
May 26 2013 22:31 GMT
#18
On May 27 2013 07:18 bsdaemon wrote:
Someone uploaded ForGG and Stephano's reactions in YouTube too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRm6jugJ1VE

I just can't stop watching this, even if I feel very sad for ForGG atm... He seems so disappointed
TaeJa | Maru | DRG | MKP
Evil_Sheep
Profile Joined September 2010
Canada902 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-05-26 22:52:40
May 26 2013 22:33 GMT
#19
Nice to see not just Mvp but Stephano revived and looking back to near their best. Both multi-time champions seem to thrive on confidence, and as they progressed through the bracket, you could see their confidence return and their level of play improve. Somehow it's a shock to see two of the best sc2 players of all time reach the finals but it was a great spectacle and storyline.

The EU fought valiantly but in the end, their defense was a bit of a disappointment. Only 4 koreans began the ro32, far from the best their country has to offer, but 2 made it to the semifinals and one took home the trophy. There's plenty of rising talent and young blood in Europe but in the end they weren't able to make a dent in the Established Order of Koreans and long-time EU stalwarts like Stephano and Dimaga. Hopefully their performances will improve as WCS continues.
Azelja
Profile Joined May 2011
Japan762 Posts
May 26 2013 23:01 GMT
#20
Woooohooooo, Mvp!

So, oh sooooo incredibly happy for him <3 If only he wins it all now... Hey, one can dream, right? :D
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