EPT
Mani will be taking a break from reporting for a while, so I’m going to be covering for him. Also, as per request last week, all pics have been converted to a more manageable format (jpeg) for those of you with bandwidth issues.
Let’s get to the games.Game 1 – Nada vs. Much
Hitchhiker
The action started early with Much (11) proxy gating in front of the entrance to Nada’s (5) nat with his 5th probe. Nada responded in a very extreme way...
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/staff/ManaBlue/ShinHan3_OSL_2_1/nada_much.jpg)
Nada pulls almost every one of his SCVs to kill Much’s proxy gateway.
Much managed to get a zealot out before Nada took down the gateway. The Genius Terran brought his workers back to mine again, but he already seemed behind as Much replaced the gateway at his main and laid down a core and assimilator.
Nada’s factory came late and his lack of units allowed Much to comfortably expand to the 12 o’clock mineral only while he teched to reavers. Nada read his opponents build well, making a wraith to take down the shuttle, but Much was still able to force Nada to cancel his expansion at the 6 o’clock mineral only. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Much now had obs and a pack of ranged goons walking up the unguarded Terran ramp. Nada had no siege and was run over easily.
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Much > Nada
Quite simply, Nada’s SCV rush on the proxy was one of the most awful blunders I’ve seen in a televised game all year. He traded hundreds, if not thousands, of minerals in mining time for a 150 mineral gateway. Once Much had harassed and killed a handful of SCVs on top of that, there was no chance for Nada at all. Nada made some nice undermanned defenses throughout the game, but the reality is that he lost the game in the first 2 minutes when he pulled all those SCVs. There’s no way he could have won a practice game doing that, is there? Nada’s got to be careful. Another bonehead move like that and he might be stripped of the title “genius”.
Game 2 – FireBatHero vs. Upmagic
Arkanoid
Upmagic (11) opened with a cute 2 rax build, floating them to the center for an early infantry attack. FireBatHero (7) played a standard fast CC into 2 factories. Upmagic managed to break all of the neutral buildings on the way to FBH’s main, but was stopped from doing any damage to his opponent’s base. Strangely, as the game progressed and both players expanded their factory counts and got their nats up and running, Upmagic gained momentum. He got his third economy up before FBH and defended well against goliath drop harassment.
Once Upmagic got a dropship force in the air, his attacks were relentless. Constantly changing targets, he attacked both of his opponent’s natural expansions repeatedly. FBH’s few drops were dealt with easily as Upmagic’s economic advantage kicked in.
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/staff/ManaBlue/ShinHan3_OSL_2_1/upmagic_FBH.jpg)
FBH reels from a constant barrage of tank/goliath drops.
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Upmagic > FireBatHero
Upmagic embarrassed FBH with superior skill. His infantry rush strategy included a fast CC of his own, which allowed him the flexibility to poke at his opponent while maintaining the ability to play a long game. I am really impressed with Upmagic. His builds throughout duel and the group stages have be gutsy, fresh, and entertaining to watch. He’s my favourite Terran in this tournament by a long shot. Considering how many there are, that’s really saying something.
Game 3 – Light vs. Midas
Reverse Temple
Light (6) and Midas (2) opened with the same fact/CC build that included an identical rine/vult poke in the opening. Incredibly enough, the 2 armies missed each other as they walked on opposite sides of the map’s center walls.
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/staff/ManaBlue/ShinHan3_OSL_2_1/light_midas.jpg)
The two Terrans start the game as complete mirror images of each other.
As soon as they entered each other’s empty mains, they realized what had happened and fought to maximize the damage of their attack while minimizing that of their opponent. At first it seemed that Light had gotten the better of the exchange, but as we saw Midas pull SCVs from his gas and get his nat going, the macro monster was in his element. Both players expanded at the same time, but Midas had a clear SCV numbers advantage.
There was some toying in the center of the map with wraiths and tanks, but as the game progressed, the two seemed stagnant. They were working off the same economic base, but Midas had far more tanks and began to muscle in. He took control of the center of the map, denying Light of his mineral only, and harassed Light’s factories. Light attempted to drop his way to victory, but Midas’ keen game sense allowed him to meet Light’s units wherever they headed.
Once Midas broke through Light’s small force at the 12 o’clock main, the game was his.
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Midas > Light
I have the same sentiment as Tasteless did when broadcasting his commentary for the Midas vs. Draco group stage game in this past WCGs. Midas, with an equal or arguably inferior economic situation, somehow managed to magically create more units than his opponent. I really have no explaination... forget about Oov, this kid is the real cheater Terran. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.
Game 4 – Casy vs. Child
Longinus
Casy (6) opened with a 2 rax, while Child (2) opened with a sloppy hatch first. Casy was able to walk a group of marines past the lone sunk at Child’s nat and attempt to bunker up beside the Zerg main mineral line. Casy didn’t get his bunker finished, but he killed a ton of drones.
Rather than replacing those drones, Child built up a bunch of lings and ambushed Casy’s next MnM group. However, he had a completely hammered economy and the Terran was comfortably expanding to his natural.
After a short time of building up infrastructure and deflecting a horrid slowlord drop from Child, Casy walked over his Zerg opponent just like everyone expected him to.
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/staff/ManaBlue/ShinHan3_OSL_2_1/casy_child.jpg)
Child gets completely stomped by Boxer Jr.
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Casy > Child
This game was a joke. Casy is great and Child played like a shmuck, which only made it look worse than it needed to be. Complete gongshow material here.
Game 5 – Iris vs. GoRush
Longinus
Iris (6) 2 raxed into a Gundam-esque one base build while GoRush (3) played a standard 3 hatch into spire. Iris had no difficulty defending against the mutas at first, but they delayed him long enough for GoRush to get a ling/lurk force up and a hatchery at the 12 o’clock gas expansion.
By the time Iris moved out his expansion was coming up late and his army was met by powerful numbers of lair units.
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/staff/ManaBlue/ShinHan3_OSL_2_1/iris_gorush.jpg)
GoRush shows us his macro hat.
There wasn’t much playing to be done after this. Some more muta harass from GoRush, some ineffective drops from Iris and suffocating dark swarm attacks that kept the Terran from holding his mineral only.
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GoRush > Iris
GoRush played a nice game, defending the early Terran pressure with ling/muta and massing at the right times to meet the Terran push. This was as close to a textbook ZvT as you’re ever going to see. Iris, as usual, showed uninspired TvZ. I wonder if he’ll ever get a handle on playing this matchup with the big boys.
Game 6 – Yooi vs. Hwasin
Hitchhiker
Hwasin (11) and Yooi (5) opened with similar fact/CC builds. The difference in their play became evident when Hwasin took to the sky for some dropship harass. Yooi had his units in poor defending positions as he fired on the neutral building at the top area of his main. Hwasin managed to harass Yooi’s nat gas and SCVs quite well before he was fought off. Yooi then went back to work on the neutral buildings. Hwasin took this opportunity to drop Yooi’s nat again, this time getting all the SCVs pulled.
Hwasin took his macro advantage and expanded to the 2 o’clock expansion (that Yooi had been trying to clear the way toward pretty much all game) and attacked Yooi’s main fiercely with a massive tank drop.
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/staff/ManaBlue/ShinHan3_OSL_2_1/yooi_hwasin.jpg)
Hwasin wastes no time and takes advantage of Yooi’s already slowed production.
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Hwasin > Yooi
Terrible play from Yooi. He was oblivious to what his opponent was doing and didn’t bother to defend himself or scout at all. His preoccupation with the upper right expansion from so early in the game was silly. This is a classic example of a lack of game sense.
Recommended VOD of the week.
Midas vs. Light: It was a long TvT and I actually watched the whole thing intently. Light makes some nice moves early on and seems to give Midas a run for his money, but it’s worth seeing this game just to witness Midas’ macro management. This kid blows me away. Where do all those tanks come from?!!?!!?
The group stages are already showing some strong performances from players like Much, Casy and Hwasin who all hold 2-0 records in the tournament. Let’s see if the other expected favourites like Oov can join them in the next game day. Those matches will be played this Friday. Until then, you’re welcome to check out these games, which are still seeded on the tracker.
