The OGN StarChallenge seems to be confusing many people since it is a new addition to the OSL qualification process. See GTR-2-Go's Results and Standings thread for a detailed look at the tournament and an explanation of each player’s path. If you’re a “need to know” kind of person, just understand that this is as important as the 3rd/4th place OSL match, because the winner will walk away with the last free seed to the next OSL.
OGN StarChallenge Final
July 23
18:30 Korean
Rock (P)
vs.
Jaedong (Z)
Maps:
Game 1 @ Monty Hall
Game 2 @ Hitch Hiker
Game 3 @ Fantasy
Game 4 @ Python
Game 5 @ Monty Hall
This matchup is very interesting for one main reason. Both Rock and Jaedong have been playing incredibly well in the StarChallenge League. Rock has pummelled monsterous opponents like forGG, Flash, and FireBatHero. Jaedong has taken apart Sea, inter.mind, and Yooi. The problem...? They are all Terrans!
In fact, other than the ZvZ that Jaedong played against Luxery, Rock and Jaedong have played nothing but Terran opponents for the whole tournament and the two must now face off for the last seed, playing PvZ!
To add to this, neither player seems to have ever been any good at this matchup. Jaedong has one of the worst ZvP records of the big-name Zergs at 54%. His ability to win in this matchup has always been suspect, constantly suffering qualification round loses to Protoss players which kept him out of the OSL and MSL this past season.
Let’s not be too harsh on Jaedong though, because he looks like a virtuoso when compared to Rock who bats a dismal 37% career average PvZ. Rock hasn’t been without his moments. He has pulled impressive victories against the likes of Jy and Julyzerg in the past, but overall he is an incredible dog against just about any Zerg thrown at him.
Looking at the maps, this becomes even more confusing, because this tournament has given an incredible draw to Rock. Hitchhiker and Monty Hall (played twice) have been incredibly kind to Protoss players in this matchup. Fantasy also sports a winning PvZ record, though the sample is incredibly small, and Python is just about even over more than 20 televised games. If a top 5 Protoss were playing on this map pool against a Zerg like Jaedong, even the most thoughtful Liquibetter would not hesitate to vote P>Z.
This match will certainly be anything but predictable and we can all count on seeing the best from these 2 as they battle to avoid the snarling, merciless beast that is the Duel Tournament.