EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/KizZBG/odtbanner.jpg)
A ton of games are being played on the 12th so DJEtterStyle and I have some facts and opinions for you all to chew on before you watch.
This may be the best day of ODT ever, and that of course is because it is completely flooded with Protoss players! That’s right, of the 8 competitors we have playing today, 4 are Protoss. We have the new breed of power tosses in Stork and Anytime, a new comer in Jangbi, and an old school favourite in Kingdom.
But enough of my yammering, let’s get to the games.
Group E-1
2pm Korean
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/noimage.jpg)
815[Hyo] Z VS Stork P ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Stork%5Bgm%5D.jpg)
First set: Neo Arkanoid
Second set: Hitchhiker
Third set: Longinus 2
This is a very tough game to call. Stork has not been in the lime light lately and has always been criticized for not living up to his hype. Boxer himself is quoted as saying that Stork was the best of the 3 emerging tosses a while back. (This was during the Anytime/Pusan/Stork times) But after a nice performance at the prelims, he’s looking good. Stork didn’t run over Reach in his prelim final just to lose in duel league!
815 on the other hand is a relative unknown to most fans. One thing to note though, is that he is known for his ZvP and basically specializes in the matchup for team building purposes over at KTF. This kid is dangerous and may very well be one of the worst draws that any Protoss player could have gotten. We shall see.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Shark%5Bgm%5D.jpg)
First set: Longinus 2
Second set: Neo Arkanoid
Third set: Hitchhiker
Now this is an interesting matchup. Both of these players made it through both MSL and OSL prelims. Shark faced a tough elimination in his Survivor group despite winning his first game against Xellos. Freedom on the other hand is a former WC3 player that took up SC and holds a shiny TvZ record of 10-5 according to Kespa. (Props to SonuvBob for sharing this in the liquibet comments.
) Now it stands to reason that most if not all of those games were against marginal opponents, but Shark isn’t exactly Savior here.This certainly looks like a match that either player is capable of taking.
Group E-2
6:30pm Korean
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/fOrGG_V_.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Kingdom.jpg)
First set: Hitchhiker
Second set: Neo Arkanoid
Third set: Longinus 2
This may be an emotional one. Seeing Kingdom in the OSL again would bring joy to many nostalgic fans, but it seems that it wasn’t meant to be. ForGG is a midas-esque TvP monster. His recent shape is great, sporting multiple wins against top form players like Bisu. Let’s not forget to look at the map pool as well, which would dishearten any toss fan in this matchup.
Kingdom has the odds stacked against him. Will this series have a fairytale ending?
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Anytime%5Bgm%5D.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Jangbi.jpg)
First set: Neo Arkanoid
Second set: Longinus 2
Third set: Hitchhiker
Here we have yet another interesting matchup. PvP is a rare sight in Duel league to begin with, but these players matchup in an odd way. Anytime, to be frank, has some pretty crappy PvP. He’s known for losing PvP in games where he has an advantage economically, and basically not having the same smooth transitions that he shows in the other 2 matchups. Jangbi on the other hand is young and inexperienced. There is a great deal of debate amoung TL members as to his proficiency in PvP, but his lack of stage experience is decidedly his weak point.
This is an opportunity for both players to showcase what they can offer in the rarest of all pro SC matchups. This is a match you shouldn’t miss.
Today's Survivor Preview comes to you from the ever witty and informed, DJEtterStyle
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/KizZBG/survivorbanner.jpg)
Group E:
April 12 – 6:30pm Korean
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Sea.Up.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/noimage.jpg)
@ Longinus 2
I’ll be honest: I’ve never even heard of Sea.Pure. He could be the hottest Protoss talent in the world, or he could just be some kid who managed to make the Survivor League. I’m going with the latter. Up’s recent drubbing of Pusan shows that his TvP is something to be feared, and he’s already been practicing on Longinus. This should be the easiest call of the evening.
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/GoRush.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Shine%5BName%5D.jpg)
@ Longinus 2
This match is difficult to predict. On the one hand, I’m positive that GoRush’s ZvT is stronger than Shine’s TvZ, but on the other hand, the map is Longinus 2. GoRush, however, seems to be one of the more flexible Zerg players out there, and he’s already shown some strong play on Longinus. So I’m going with GoRush, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Shine take the game if he manages to deny GoRush that all-important double-gas expansion.
TvZ on Blitz X has shown itself to be remarkably balanced, meaning that, if all goes according to my plan, we will be treated to a close, exciting match between Up and GoRush. While Up’s TvZ has always been a bit suspect, he has enough builds and strategies up his sleeve that he should be able to hang in there against GoRush. This one’s too close to call!
If this game ends up being Shine vs. Pure, I have no doubt that it will prove as potent as any sleeping pill I’ve ever taken, but maybe that’s just because I insist upon taking them with alcohol. Anyway, Blitz offers Terran players a pretty big late game advantage, what with its elevated, constricted middle and three geysers. Add that to Pure’s inexperience, and Shine shouldn’t have too hard a time pulling out a win.
GoRush, I guarantee, has been training incredibly hard on both Longinus 2 and Blitz X so as to avoid a final game against a Terran on RLT. While I have faith that Up will advance no matter what, GoRush could run into trouble—big, insurmountable trouble—if he is forced to face a Terran on RLT.
So there you have it. Enjoy watching the games live or reading the live reports. This is going to be a spicy one.
Well done like always.
