It’s the first stage of the OSL Ro8! I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m having a hard time reconciling the fact that fate has forced Stork and Reach to play each other. Other than that, though, I couldn’t be more excited about the matchups.
OSL Ro8 Set 1 June 22 18:30 Korean
Savior (Z) vs. Iris (T)
@ Python
I took one look at this game and said, “Savior—no doubt in my mind,” but after a little more thought, I realized that there definitely is room for doubt. Iris, though he has slumped a bit as of late, is still 7-2 since May. Then there’s their last series against each other to consider, the series in which Iris showed the world that he can elevate his play according to his opponent and the stakes. And neither could be higher.
But there’s no question that Savior is the favorite. Beyond any statistics, Savior has looked incredible in both the OSL and the MSL, and his only losses have been his TvZ against GoRush and a failed, but spectacular, cheese attempt against Light. On a map like Python that, as Sea said, “forces standard play,” I have a hard time thinking that Savior will lose this one. But I said the same thing before their Bo5 in the previous OSL...
REACH (P) vs. Stork (P)
@ Monty Hall
I am not excited about this match. No one should be—no one! This match means the beginning of the end for one of the Protoss heroes of this OSL. In my heart, I want nothing more than for Reach to win the whole damn tournament, but I just don’t think he’s playing well enough to take down Stork.
Bisu (P) vs. Flash (T)
@ Hitchhiker
I’m really scared about this game. As Bisu showed last night against Hwasin, he can be beaten PvT, and Flash is currently 7-0 in the matchup for his televised career. Further considering that the map is Hitchhiker, this game holds the potential for a massive upset. I’ll go so far as to call Flash the favorite for this game and Bisu the favorite for the series.
Hwasin (T) vs. GGPlay (Z)
@ Fantasy
Hwasin had a Bo5 against Bisu last night; I just don’t think he’s practiced much for this game. Then again, did he really need to? Hwasin is 40-19 career TvZ, and he’s 6-0 since his 2-3 loss to Savior in the MSL. GGPlay, however, is no slouch ZvT, and Fantasy, being a big, open, macro-oriented map, definitely favors GGPlay’s style of play. Fantasy is currently 3-0 ZvT, which is by no means conclusive, but it does hint towards the map being, at the very least, acceptable by Zerg standards. GGPlay is my pick to walk away with the victory, based only upon the map and Hwasin's focus on TvP as of late.
I agree w/ what said about the Reach / Stork match - that's what I thought when I saw the bracket >< It's going to have to be one or the other.. it sucks that theres only like 3-4 Protoss in the whole MSL from here, now 2 of the top hopefuls have to battle it out and 1 will be left out in the cold
and of course, I think Savior > Iris Bisu > Flash Ggplay > Hwasin
I have no idea what you guys are talking about. The pictures are totally right. Ignore that "Last edit: 2007-06-21 10:44:23." It doesn't mean anything.
Awesome report DJ. I had a hard time coming to terms with the lose of Reach or Stork next round too, but if the winner of that series wins the tourament, it'll all be worth it.
Well, I'll try contributing my thoughts on this upcoming Ro8:
sAviOr vs. Iris - Contrary to my belief regarding the last time they met in the previous OSL (in which sAviOr won the Bo5 3-2), I think Iris may stand a chance against sAviOr, especially since the map is Python and probably IMHO the most balanced map yet. Unless Iris crumbles to sAviOr's early muta harass and/or falters later to defilers, Iris should take this game but I'm putting my money on sAviOr for the series.
Reach vs. Stork - Oh boy....I don't know about Mantoss' PvP....not exactly his best MU but I'm not one to lay an opinion on that since I don't see much PvP from him anyways and plus, it's MANTOSS. On the other hand, we have the baby dropper aka Stork. His PvP in PL has been impressive (one of them was against Bisu, I believe) and he showed great reaver micro in his eventual lost to Much the first time they met. I'm rooting for Mantoss' mudang storms to knock the stuffing out of Stork and his gay economy but I've already put my vote in for Stork =/ Good luck to you, Park Joong Suk.
Bisu vs. Flash - Well, well, well.....I'm pretty sure Bisu is wanting to exact revenge on Flash for the loss he got last time they met in ODT. I'm not surprised, though, that Flash won since it was on a horribly made map called Neo Imbanoid (thanks to Organ for this). I'll put some faith in Bisu, though, since it's Hitchhiker (favorable to P, anyone?). However, Flash is no slouch TvP, among his wins a convincing win against Pusan in PL. As long as Bisu remembers to provide goon cover if he goes carriers, I think he has a good chance to win here. Otherwise, Flash might steal this one from him. But, all in all, Bisu for the series. Oh, and by the way, don't expect Bisu to pull that probe hop antic that he used against Hwasin last night; pretty much useless on HH I think.
Hwasin vs. GGPlay - The red sniper returns to redeem himself after his whack play last night vs. Bisu! He better win against GGPlay, especially since this was originally his "one MU wonder". He soundly beat July in the final stages of ODT and he went 2-3 against sAviOr in the previous MSL. GGPlay, on the other hand, hasn't been consistent lately. His game against Up was amazing, especially noting the way how he handled that proxy fact and had beautiful muta control. But then there's his shameful loss to Clon (whom I'm proud of since that was his first 1v1 win)....but hey, we're dealing with ZvT for him so that's irrelevant. Anywho, GGPlay has a knack for breaking up proxies so as long as Hwasin plays straight up and doesn't let his nerves interfere, I have him winning tonight and continuing to win the series.
EPT![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/KizZBG/daumstarleaguebanner.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/sAviOr.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Iris%5Bgm%5D.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Reach.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Stork%5Bgm%5D.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Bisu.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/By.Flash.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/Hwasin.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/images/liquibet/players/GGPlay.jpg)
