WCS
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/Bacchus_OSL.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Plexa/B_Final/1.png)
We started with 16 great players, then we slowly whittled them down to two. Stork and Flash are without a doubt the premier Protoss and Terran respectively. They have already met on the finals stage before, in the GomTV Star Invitational finals. But this time, everything is on the line. They both stand in the position that every progamer dreams about, without a doubt every progamers ambition is to become the best and win an OSL.
It's time to see who can make the at final step to fulfilling their dream.
The map list is as follows;
Game 1 - Blue Storm
Game 2 - Katrina
Game 3 - Troy
Game 4 - Fantasy II
Game 5 - Blue Storm
Game 2 - Katrina
Game 3 - Troy
Game 4 - Fantasy II
Game 5 - Blue Storm
Without further ado, lets read the final chapter of the story of Bacchus OSL...
Game 1 – Blue Storm
Stork is known as one of the most solid gamers around, and for good reason. He rarely cheeses and always plays a straight up macro game. He knows that his mechanics and game sense surpass all other and he can win on that alone. Sadly, in an OSL final 'solid' just doesn't cut it.
This marks the fourth official game on Blue Storm and as Flash and Stork have practiced together its likely that they have played many games on this map together. Their first encounter, the group stage of this OSL, Flash was dominated mercilessly by Stork. In that game Stork showcased why he has (or had) some of the best PvT in the world. Flash, at this stage, was creating his goliath build and showcased it in this game. It did the damage required, but somehow Stork still hung in there and cleaned up.
Flash's approach to the map slowly changed, he played much more to the map that simply forcing his build upon it. Meanwhile Stork has done the exact same build every game. This Final was the tipping point really, Flash abused the map so well it was ridiculous whereas Stork was stuck using his '1 size fits all' pvt build - which got demolished.
Flash sends an early SCV straight to 12 to check for any funky stuff by Stork – then heads to Stork’s main to check. Stork pressures nicely with his goons and causes some minor issues for Flash – and he manages to snipe a rine. Meanwhile, both players have expanded. Stork continues to pressure, killing the odd unit but largely causing no problems for Flash. Stork goes home with his 3 goons, and shortly after Flash is one the move with 3 tanks and an SCV.
Stork adds reaver tech and prepares to follow the standard PvT pattern. Flash on the other hand is sieging up in the valley near Stork’s nat ready to kill probes. Flash is just waiting for his Barracks to float down and grant him vision. Stork becomes aware of the tanks when his goon that is blocking the small choke is hit. Immediately stork retreats his probes, just before Flash’s rax arrives. Stork brings his newly built Shuttle into play immediately and tries to break the tanks with some goon drops – sadly he doesn’t accomplish anything.
Stork’s dragoons try to clear the barracks, and eventually manage to kill it… sadly Stork loses about half his dragoons to tank fire. Flash sneaks an SCV into Storks nat which begins to build a supply depo in the corner of the natural, which is soon sniped by dragoons – but the depo remained, giving Flash vision. He then sends marines/vultures in to gain extra vision and forces Stork to retreat his probes again.
Stork is really behind right now and he knows it. His reaver is now ready and he heads off towards Flash’s nat and scores very little SCV kills. Flash is ready with Goliaths and the reaver, goon and shuttle are quickly eliminated without hassle. Stork knows that time is running out, he is down 1 base to 2, and moves his dragoons around the cliff to his high ground. Flash is not one to get cocky, and retreats his entire force back home and consolidates his position.
Stork has amassed a rather average sized army of Dragoon/Zeal off one base, and prepares to all in Flash’s natural. Flash already has +1 upgraded, and with a reinforced army he prepares to move forward against Stork. Stork has a brand new reaver ready for action and tries to break Flash – and he is horribly raped. The last remnants of Stork’s army are destroyed by some nice Vulture control and Stork concedes.
What happened this game was that Stork used his “one size fits all” PvT build on a map that he has played Flash on three times and paid the price for it. Flash churned out yet another variation on his standard TvP for Blue Storm and crucified Stork. The fast tank pressure caught Stork off guard completely and because of the long travel distance between the nat and the valley, it meant that Stork really couldn’t do anything about it. There was nothing this game that Stork did any differently to any other protoss, and in an OSL final; that’s just not going to cut it.
Game 2 – Katrina
After a rather bland effort from Stork last game, you’d expect that he would change it up considerably for Katrina – a map which has seen 2 base carrier dominate the Protoss repertoire. Stork warps in at 6 while Flash opens at 12 – a nice cross positions game. Flash sends out an early SCV which promptly begins a barracks in the middle of the map (8rax), followed by a second SCV which starts a second Barracks after a supply depo.
Stork on the other hand, plays completely standard and 14nexs. Stork starts his first gateway as the first marine finishes, and it becomes painfully clear that Stork isn’t going to take this. As marines pour from the two barracks, Stork continues to play standard with Core before Zeal followed by a second gate. Flash simply rallies all his marines to Stork, along with a number of scvs and in no time he has a bunker set up.
Stork concedes.
Talk about a let down. This was a text book build order loss, and thus a rather easy point to Flash. Flash, for the second time takes advantage of Stork’s predictability and goes up 2-0
Game 3 – Troy
Stork, down 0-2, obviously must be feeling the pressure right about now. He must be remembering that fateful series in Daum when Iris destroyed him with the same 2fac timing push three games in a row. What’s going in his mind, I have no idea. The look in his eye screams ‘why’, it’s almost like he’s lost the game already. Flash looks jumpy, ready to take the fight to Stork one more time.
I have nothing to add to this game, so then why do I have something to say? Just for some pointless random things I've picked up.
The original three protoss kings, Reach, Nal_ra and Kingdom all won themselves Starleagues. Reach came along first in Sky 2002 and defeated Boxer and has ever since been loved by all. Then Kingdom won MyCube OSL over fellow King Nal_ra. Although Kingdom is now retired, he was an extremely influential and entertaining player. Then, Nal_ra made a second consecutive OSL final and won Hangame OSL. Each of them have made MSL finals, and all have lost an MSL final (all to bonjwa's funnily enough).
Then came along the next generation of Protoss - Pusan, Anytime and Stork. The Neo-Kings started strongly with Anytime taking So1 OSL, similar to how Reach defeated Boxer. However, he then slumped terribly for an entire year. Meanwhile, Pusan placed 4th in So1, then third in Shinhan 2005 then dropped off the scene - definitely no Kingdom. Anytime came back in Fall 2006 to get runner up in Shinhan 2 OSL - then slumped again. Stork rocked 2007, and then failed to covert at the last stage twice; unlike Nal_ra who won the second time.
The repeated theme amongst the Neo-Kings is 'failure to convert'. Each of those three gamers are brilliant in their own right and each have (had) huge potential. Their brilliance inspired an entire generation of Protoss users, yet they only have a number of 2nd placings (coupled with Anytime's So1) to show for their troubles.
What lies in the future for the Neo-Kings i don't know, but what i do know is that Stork's time is up and now Anytime will have to fill his shoes. By the way, does anyone else get the feeling that Stork is weak to "orange"? Think about it, Jaedong -> Lecaf -> Orange, Flash -> KTF -> Orange. Coincidence? I think not.
Flash pressures with his Marines, and forces the Zealot to run – but reinforcements in the form of a Dragoon force Flash to run home. With some nice micro, Flash manages to kill off the Zealot, but not the Dragoon. Flash waits for some factory units to pop while Stork has 2 dragoons hitting the left Assimilators. Once Flash has a tank ready he moves out and chases the dragoons away. Stork has also started an expansion.
Stork decides to show his balls, and with 3 dragoons storms up Flash’s natural ramp, takes out the tank and backs off. Stork starts his robo and a second gate while Flash takes his natural expansion. Flash mines up his ramp and runs his vultures around checking for any hidden buildings. Stork moves up into 3gate with obs tech while Flash continues to mass up vultures and tanks.
Stork, with about 12 goons, moves out across the map just as Flash decides to move out. The armies collide outside 3, and Flash with superior troops count and micro easily defeats the measly army of Stork’s. Flash presses forward, Stork pulls his probes, siege tech finishes and after flailing around for a couple more seconds Stork concedes for the third consecutive time.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Plexa/B_Final/4.png)
Flash and KTF look so happy with this monumental result. Stork simply looks dumbfounded, as his OSL dream has slipped away for the second time. Flash had perfect timing in that last set, and Stork was just left for dead – there is no other way to describe it. Flash was on a different level to Stork and he was playing like an OSL Champion. Stork, was not.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Plexa/B_Final/2.png)
Results
Flash > Stork @ Blue Storm
Flash > Stork @ Katrina
Flash > Stork @ Troy
Flash 3-0 Stork
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Plexa/B_Final/3.png)
Where to from here?
With that defeat, Stork became the only player to ever lose two consecutive OSL finals. As much as I hate to admit it, Stork's time is up. The look in his eye and the look in his games just reek of exhaustion. Stork is burnt out. What does this mean? Well, the golden age of the Protoss is over in my opinion. Bisu and Stork won't ever get back to their levels of dominance, they will linger in the top 6 for a while then drop off. Which is rather sad really.
While the games sucked really badly for this final, it will be an historic final. This, along with GSI and GomTV S3 will inspire a new generation of Terrans. The wheel has come full circle and we are looking at the 2nd Golden age for the Terran race. Flash is leading the way against his bitter rival Jaedong and carving the victory path for future Terrans in the process.
For OGN the question must be what can we learn from this OSL? My immediate reaction is the map pool. Lets have one last look at it;
- Katrina
- Blue Storm
- Troy
- Demons Forest
- Fantasy II
Katrina and Blue Storm are two maps I could do without seeing next season. Katrina invariably to 2base carrier (which now simply gets raped by an uninteresting timing push) on top of that, the more exciting alternative on the map (arbiter) has met with limited success. TvZ hasn't seen that much inspiring play either.. Flash's mech build is actually really boring to watch despite its ingenuity. Lastly PvZ is as bad as PvT as it is just so terribly predictable.
Blue Storm on the other hand has become formulaic. All protoss go 2 base -> reaver -> 3rd base, sometimes gas rushing the Terran. And Terrans [read: Flash] responds with a simply fast goliath/+1 counter which leaves the protoss helpless. Zerg vs Terran basically comes down to godly Mutalisk harass, which is always nice to see - but I'd some variation at the very least. And PvZ tends to favor long games in which the Zerg somehow wins.
Troy is a worthy map, the caliber of games weren't that high; but if you glance over to Mani's excellent list of top games from Bacchus OSL you'll notice 2 of the games were from Troy. This map has untapped potential, unlike the other maps. Fantasy II was a decent filler, but it never really convinced me as a 'real' OSL map because of it being called in for the Ro8.
In my honest opinion, stale map pool = stale gaming. Being a mathematician, that equality means a lot. OGN need to go back to the drawing board and get themselves a DECENT map pool. Honestly, the whole KeSPA/IEG proleague maps have really hurt this years progaming more than they could have dreamed of. Hopefully OGN create 2 new maps, leaving Troy, and taking one of the new Proleague maps (not Katrina v2) and thus creating a fresh exciting map pool.
What else can we take from this OSL? Not a heck of a lot to be perfectly honest. Except that perhaps that despite having a huge talent base is by no means a guarantee that the game quality will be high. With that in mind, let's check out whats in store next season.
Firstly, we have ODT to go through to get ourselves another 12 players to compete against our 4 seeds for the OSL trophy. These players are;
+ Show Spoiler +
So there is the potential for some great games in there, so be sure to check that out. Be on the look out for the return of Casy to the OSL as well as the return of Daezang!
Lastly, I have enjoyed writing for this tournament very much! And i hope you've enjoyed reading it and i look forward to the next OSL where TL will bring you, yet again, premium coverage of the progaming scene.
Until then!
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Plexa/B_Final/5.png)
in fact the bisu vs flash MU was the most epic i've ever seen and I'm sure that the tosses have more to give. Flash has his moment of glory, the time will show if it will last long or if it be 2-3 weeks moments of pure brilliance... i just wonna say that next season we will have again toss as a champ...and it wont be bisu or stork
