It’s the third week of the OSL, and the quartet of games this evening is as good as it gets. There’s not a single mirror matchup, and every game has the potential to be tense and exciting. Here’s why:
OSL Ro16 Week 3 May 25 18:30 Korean
Group A
Savior (Z) vs. By.Flash (T)
@ Fantasy
This game embodies all that is good about StarCraft. The most-prestigious StarCraft tournament in the world? Check. A champion against a prominent rising star? Double check. A Terran? A Zerg? Triple and quadruple check. All that’s missing is a map with consistent starting positions; crafting one of the starting positions in the image of Gaema Gowon is not a decision I would have made.
To ignore that addendum, however, this really is the most exciting game we’ve had in a long time. Even though Savior has lost a few tough games lately, to say nothing of the dreaded OSL Curse, he is still Savior. He’s even managed to scrape together a miniature winning streak, going 3-0 in the past two weeks. Flash, on the other hand, hasn’t been “nigh unbeatable.” He’s literally been unbeatable. In televised games, Flash is 6-0. Beyond that, he hasn’t lost his composure once. In every single game, he’s looked unshakable, dominating his opponent from start to finish. Five of his games, however, have been against Protoss players. I’d be concerned that he was another Midas-esque TvP specialist if not for his brief interview during the OSL selection ceremony.
OGN: A lot of fans don’t know about you so much, what is your best matchup? Flash: I am best at TvZ. OGN: So then if you were to play versus Savior, do you think you can win? Flash: Yes, I think I can win (LosingID8, source).
And Flash hasn’t changed his tune. After the second week of the OSL, Flash said, “I am going to face Ma Jae Yoon (SaviOr[gm]) next but I am confident that I can win now” (joohyunee, source).
So here’s my logic (try to follow the progression): Flash has looked really, really strong in all of his games, but he’s yet to play a TvZ. But if his TvZ is even better than his other matchups, then Flash is actually God Himself. I voted for Savior because my conscience prevents me from doing otherwise (unless a Protoss player is involved), but I think Flash, regardless of the starting positions, is going to emerge the winner.
Group B
Bisu (P) vs. DarkElf (T)
@ Monty Hall
Despite being the least-attractive fake woman in the OSL, DarkElf has displayed some pretty strong TvP as of late, taking down Anytime and Reach since the beginning of 2007. Further, Monty Hall offers Terran a significant late-game advantage, given that the two island expansions overlook four additional expansions (to say nothing of the sheer number of vespene geysers).
Then there’s Bisu. I can’t imagine anyone arguing that he isn’t the best player in the world at this point, but his PvT is beatable. After his game against ChRh on Monty Hall, I’m prepared to say that any semi-competent Terran is a threat to Bisu, and DarkElf certainly fits that description. My money is on Bisu, but if DarkElf plays for the late game, he could take this one home.
Group C
Iris[gm] (T) vs. Shark[gm] (Z)
@ Python
Last week, I said that Shark didn’t have the skill to win the OSL, and I stand by that statement. But what he does have is the opportunity to cruise into the Ro8. With his win last week and nothing more than a slumping Iris and a balanced map standing between him and a 2-0 record, Shark could nearly cement his place in the single-elimination tournament without even needing to beat Reach, which, as we all know, is impossible. Iris, given his consistency, is still my pick to win this game, but Shark knows how important this game is; I’m expecting him to elevate his play accordingly.
Group D
Sea.Up (T) vs. Stork (P)
@ Hitchhiker
This has the potential to be the best or worst game of the evening. Up could use some insane strategy to try and counter Stork’s generally amazing play as of late—or he could be a lazy bastard and abuse the fact that the map is Hitchhiker. Another fact to consider: while Stork is 17-4 as of late, Up is an impressive 7-0 vP since the end of 2006. This game is simply too close to call.
On May 24 2007 17:08 PTC-Hurricane wrote: When are these being played? Thread says may 18 o.o
Good catch. I've updated the post with the correct time, which you can also see in the nifty calendar at the top-right of the site. I use the previous weeks' news post as my template for the current week, so typos of that nature happen from time to time.
All that’s missing is a map with consistent starting positions, specifically one that isn’t the same as Gaema Gowon.
This sentence confuses me =/ Did you mean to say MongHwan instead of Gaema Gowon, or are you implying that the Gaema position is imbalanced?
Gaema's imbalanced. You're right about the sentence, though; it's confusing. I will fix it. I was in a bit of a rush trying to get this post up, so I just spell-checked it and hit the post button--not my typical style.
SO KEEP ANY MORE TYPOS THAT YOU SPOT TO YOURSELVES.
All that’s missing is a map with consistent starting positions, specifically one that isn’t the same as Gaema Gowon.
This sentence confuses me =/ Did you mean to say MongHwan instead of Gaema Gowon, or are you implying that the Gaema position is imbalanced?
Gaema's imbalanced. You're right about the sentence, though; it's confusing. I will fix it. I was in a bit of a rush trying to get this post up, so I just spell-checked it and hit the post button--not my typical style.
SO KEEP ANY MORE TYPOS THAT YOU SPOT TO YOURSELVES.
Flash is good, but you are talking about IPXZerg here. I am pretty sure him losing isn't going to happen, but it would be in my eyes one of the biggest upsets of all time.
I know bisu will win that is all...
Iris lost against odin so I am really worried for him. He really needs to win this and show people he isn't a slumping joke. :/
I really think UpMagiC has the potential to be the next best terran. Even though he lost to GGPlay last match he honestly looked to have better play than him throughout the game. He just couldn't get past the expo containment to get the win. I like stork a lot, but my gut is pulling for UpMagiC. Outside of Tester he carries estro at this point, and without him they don't win proleague matches. I really think and hope UpMagiC wins this, and I have to say although savior is my favorite player of all time and favorite zerg UpMagiC would be my favorite terran.
if that f#$*@&(*#ing bisu wins one more time against savior........he'll be my new favorite, ^^, but not yet. still i think he will destroy that elf guy, given his TvP performance against nada in WWI a few days ago, although nada is sort of in his slump again, so who knows. My money's on the champ.
gaema position is imba imo because a terran can waltz right around your nat and go into your main. will be even easier for Flash if Savior gets that position. Not to mention all your expos are in one place, which imo is also not good tvz, because the ball just has to use less mobility which is bad...not to mention the expansion pattern on fantasy is predictable as you can only go to another base for the most part. that is why Flash has good odds of winning
Savior knows how to play on imbalanced maps, so I wouldn't worry about that too much. Against which players did Flash win so far? I don't know that kid. I expect Savior to rape him. It's OSL, I'm sure he'll give his best.
Reach said earlier that hes yet to beat Flash while training with him. Also if Flash's TvZ is better than his TvP like he says, then savior is fucked. Flash's TvP is so good.
fantasy's gaema position has been toned down in comparison to the real gaema gowon. the ramp is closer and there isnt unbuildable terrain around the ramp that blocks a 3rd hatchery on low ground/creep. once your nat hatchery creep is fully extended you can build sunkens that cover the ramp
EPT![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/KizZBG/ongamenetbanner.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/sAviOr.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/By.Flash.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Bisu.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/DArKeLf%5BS.siR%5D.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Iris%5Bgm%5D.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Shark%5Bgm%5D.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Sea.Up.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Stork%5Bgm%5D.jpg)
