EPT
1. SoA.Eji (P) ("Cho Byung-ho") > V_Gundam (T) ("Cho Jung-hyun") - Avant Garde II
2. Nal_rA (P) ("Kang Min") > Crystal[Inca] (Z) ("Jung Jae-ho") - Avant Garde II
3. Nal_rA (P) > SoA.Eji (P) - Gaema Gowon -> Nal_rA qualifies for next Duel Tournament
4. V_Gundam (T) > Crystal[Inca] - Neo Bifrost
5. SoA.Eji (P) > V_Gundam (T) - Neo Forbidden Zone -> SoA.Eji qualifies for next Duel Tournament
The Protoss rampage continues this week with BOTH toss users qualifying. Nal_rA played very close to perfect in both his matches, showing fantastic unit control and strats. Most of all, (and I know this may sound a bit hokey, but it's the best way to describe it) he played with a kind of calm serenity that seemed to make everyone, including his opponents, feel that he was going to win no matter what. Scary stuff, if you're the other guy. No wonder people like Elky and Nada have put Kang on their "Avoid If At All Possible" list - Kang's rightfully considered by other pros to be among the best players never to be in a Starleague (yet!) and he showed us today why. Man, this guy's good. (One final note worth mentioning: Kang practiced with Chojja in preparation for his meeting with Crystal[Inca] on Avant Garde II. Kang played all defense for 99% of the game v Chojja, making no move to even break out and expand. Chojja had to be wondering "what the HECK is he up to?" Well, Kang suddenly explodes with an 8-Reaver doom drop that wipes out Chojja on the spot. Kang planned it all along. Nal_rA is not just good - he's DIFFERENT.)
Eji has had more success in the KPGA thus far, but this outing shows he's coming into his own in OGN play also. Did a nice job of bouncing back from a crushing loss v Nal_rA to out-expo and outgun Gundam to take the final spot into the Duel Tournament. Poor Gundam: the guy's now officially in a slump.
So that makes it six Protoss users who have advanced into the Duel Tournament so far from this Challenge League. If IntoTheRain makes it next week, it'll be 7. Hmm, maybe there really is something to this "Hero Toss" phenomenon afterall... But, then again look what happened last Challenge League/Duel Tournament (11 toss users in the Challenge League - NONE of them made it into Starleague, omg). Time will tell obviously, but personally I'm almost actually starting to believe that Reach may have almost single-handedly shown the Protoss race a way out of their depressing predicament.
[EDIT] Put up a short explanation of how the OGN tournaments work in the new Articles section. For those interested, check it out.
[EDIT 2] More info on Nal_rA up there. I can't wait to see this guy playing in Starleague...
in the NEXT [not the ongoing] major league??+
me babo. it's orange season in korea and they are so delicious, it was hard to resist, but i guess i payed the price. lol
