Tonight (April 4th, Korea time) we will have the first games from the ODT. Please note that there will be 4 sets of bo3\'s to be broadcasted at 2pm and 6:30pm korea time (2 matches each). We will have two star-killer matches, along with as two pushover matches. Let\'s take a look at what\'s in store for us tonight.
2pm Korean
HwaSin T (STX) vs
JiHyun[jOypOp] Z (Samsung) First set: Hitchhiker Second set: Neo Arkanoid Third set: Longinus 2
There really isn\'t too much to elaborate about this matchup. On one hand we have a pure TvZ specialist in Hwasin, and on the other hand we have a truely mediocre zerg who had an underwhelming performance in Shinhan 2. Unless Jihyun has significantly imrpoved his ZvT over the last 6 months, he will not have much of a chance to advance past Hwasin.
ZergMan Z (Samsung) vs
Luxury[GsP] Z (OGN) First set: Neo Arkanoid Second set: Longinus 2 Third set: Hitchhiker
An unfortunate event for both Luxury and his fans, this twin brother of Yarnc runs into one of the worst opponents imaginable. We have not seen any signs of Zergman\'s ZvZ slow down, and he most likely possesses a map knowledge advantage on Hitchhiker (HH was not in the proleague rotation). Many of us have been looking to Luxury to see if he can blossom into something special this season, but it appears that the odds of him advancing are against him.
6:30pm Korean
Midas T (SK) vs TheManiaMST T (CJ) First set: Longinus 2 Second set: Hitchhiker Third set: Neo Arkanoid
The second \"pushover\" match of the night, TheManiaMST made it through the PSL partly due to a benign PSL group. Meanwhile, Midas has been playing against elite player after elite player, and also has the advantage of keeping his game senses sharp though playing rA and Anytime in Superfight. Considering Midas\' considerable experience on both HH and Longinus II, don\'t expect to see a 3rd game for this match.
UpMagiC T (eSTRO) vs
PuSan[S.G] P (MBC) First set: Hitchhiker Second set: Longinus 2 Third set: Neo Arkanoid
Here we have it. The first true clash of big name players for this ODT (and there are many more to come). While Pusan\'s PvT win percentage is much more impressive than the TvP percentage of Upmagic, we must notice that the maps are heavily stacked in Upmagic\'s favor. Hitchhiker is certainly still a map that favors Terran over Protoss, while Longinus II and Neo Arkanoid have done nothing to reverse their histories. Expect at least one non-standard opening from Upmagic, be it a proxy factory or an all-in. A proxy factory seems especially likely on HH.
Aside from the qualifying games, we have not seen much from either player. Pusan\'s extensive experience in Starleagues and ODT\'s could give him an edge in terms of tv-game composure and dealing with rust.
This is a difficult match to predict, as the players\' matchup histories are counterbalanced by the map performances. Definitely the match of the night.
A solid set of 4 games with big names in each of them, tonight is certainly a night worth staying up late for.
Hmm, the only PvT win I've seen on TV has been Much over Nada. Mostly everyone has died to the timing push through the middle before carriers could be ready.
Rock showed some nice decision making in qualifiers, but he still lost b/c he cant control carriers worth crap.
I guess I'm not familiar with the other games played during PSL since they werent broadcasted, and match specific results I dont think were translated (not worth it anyhow).
Has the early push problem been resolved for Toss?
Maybe you could add player races, though (for the future mostly). As much as I see the tag "TheManiaMST", I had to check another topic to see that he was T. I'm sure some others don't know all of these ODT player races either.
On April 03 2007 12:42 thedeadhaji wrote: Many of us have been looking to Luxury to see if he can blossom into something special this season, but it appears that the odds of him advancing are against him.
Doesn't he play against two, possibly three opponents in ODT? Or are his odds slim because he has to get past either zergman or hwasin?
On April 03 2007 12:42 thedeadhaji wrote: Many of us have been looking to Luxury to see if he can blossom into something special this season, but it appears that the odds of him advancing are against him.
Doesn't he play against two, possibly three opponents in ODT? Or are his odds slim because he has to get past either zergman or hwasin?
this is stage 1, where 48 -> 24 in a bo3. Then, the 24 players are reshuffled into 6 groups of 4 players, and there will be an ODT to get the final 12 players.
Great write up Haji! You could have mentioned though, that Pusan is a great cheese master in his own right. There has to be a proxy robo reaver or dt build on one of those maps.
After such a long break... this week is going to rock! I am really looking forward to a lot of the matches too, especially Pusan vs. Up. Tonight it seems to me at least that the matches get progressively more exciting. (Sure Midas wil probably destroy his opponent, but TvT is at the top of my list for potential excitement.)
i think maniaMST is going to cheese Midas hard, if you have seen that guy play. i think it could be closer then people think as long as he throws Midas off his game
EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/KizZBG/odtbanner.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Hwasin.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/JiHyun.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Zergman.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Luxury[GsP].jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Midas.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/noimage.jpg)
TheManiaMST T (CJ)![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Sea.Up.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Pusan.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.pgr21.com/zboard4/data/newvod/2007_1st_Dual.gif)
