[OSL] Heroes and Villains

Big thanks to Daigomi for the banner

There’s nothing better than OSL opening week; you have the freshness of a new intro, old veterans back in the tournament, new guys trying to make it big and some crazy moves to impress the fan girls. Group A got off to a disappointing start for Jaedong fans, Casy fans and BackHo haters alike, check out Manifesto’s brilliant recap for all the gory details. Group B however, promises to have some extra spunk. With Best, Nada and Savior all gunning it out for two places who couldn’t get excited!

Also, we’ve got a nice preview for the upcoming OSL Groups so all you hopeless liquibetters out there might be able to score a couple points

. I’d also just like to reiterate that damnnn the new intro is looking great – total turn around from the Bacchus opening and well, I for one couldn’t be happier with the opening. Pachi was inspired to make a couple banners for us too, see if you can spot them.

Game One: Nada vs Best

	Set 1

BeSt	< Hwarangdo >	NaDa

For me, this is the most anticipated match of the night. Best is the next big protoss, there is no doubt in my mind. Whereas Nada is the one player you can't possibly hate. And well, if you hate Nada, read this then come back and still tell me you hate him.

On a new map like this, these games are pioneering and i know that Best and Nada both have the talent to introduce this map for us.

+ Show Spoiler [Game Comments] +

Best just stole my heart with this game. He controlled the game from start to finish and NaDa really never looked like he was in a position of power. That Dark Templar drop worked wonderfully and throughout the game his troop positioning clamped NaDa into a passive state. Best's macro was also fearsome, but props to NaDa for sticking at it and trying to win in a lost situation.

Best moves up to #2 on my fanlist

Game 2: Savior vs Spear

	Set 2

sAviOr	< Hwarangdo >	Spear

This could be the day that all Savior fans are dreading. The day when Savior can't qualify for the OSL. OGN must have been kind, and given him an easy target for the first game - the hopelessly unknown player from OGN, Spear. That being said, Savior really hasn't been looking good as of late...

+ Show Spoiler [Game Comments] +

There are no words to describe that game... just

T_T

That was such a pathetic build by Spear - one which could have easily been stopped by any competent Zerg. But Savior, what did you do... the decision to proxy hatch had some potential, but changing his mind and expanding to his natural probably cost him the game - if that base was up earler those sunks would have been right on time

Game 3: Winners

	Set 3: Winners

BeSt	< Andromeda >	Spear

+ Show Spoiler [Game Comments] +

This was a game where all the little things ended up turning into one big advantage. Best dominated Spear in ever facet, except possibly equaling his macro. He denied Spear's scout, he upgraded to +3 (spear had +1), he storm dropped, he sniped observers and he won the game. This was a great theoretical PvP game showing the difference in doing the little things right. By the way, Best looks great with his new glasses.

Game 4: Losers

	Set 4: Losers

sAviOr	< Andromeda >	NaDa

+ Show Spoiler [Game Comments] +

This really sucks. I hate to see these former champions fight it out for survival in the Losers game. Its sad to think that they were the pinnacle of progaming just over a year ago. Anyway, this game shows how the swarm have out grown Savior - he tried to play a contemporary style but he just doesn't understand it like his 3hatch. Nada, on the other hand, executed a very nice timing rush and left Savior for dead. So for many Savior fans, the nightmare has finally come true.

Game 5: Tie-Breaker

	Set 5: Tie-Breaker

NaDa	< Troy >	Spear

+ Show Spoiler [Game Comments] +

Spear looked like a floundering fish flipping about on a boat after being lurched from the sea. He tried to cheese Nada and go allin countless times, but Nada is just too good for that. This was a pseudo-vintage Nada who brought Vulture harass and mass tanks into the TvP mainstream. The dual vulture harass in spear's main was nothing short of art while Nada's timing and decision making were spot on

Recap

Best > Nada @ Hwarangdo
Spear > Savior @ Hwarangdo
Best > Spear @ Andromeda
Nada > Savior @ Andromeda
Nada > Speak @ Troy

Best and Nada advance to Round 2!

- 19:30 KST Wednesday

Lets take a look at the next group up for playing. While no names come out of the page and hit you in the face demanding attention, this group can safely be labeled as the group with the most potential. Go.go, the Bug Terran, has shown formidable talent recently and has the potential to grow into a Terran of mass destruction, on the other hand we have MBC's rising Zerg star, Hyun, who has really flourished into the premier Zerg role over at MBC and has the potential to do great things. Aside from those two we have Much - who still has the potential to make one last strong assault on the OSL. And lastly Rumble, who im not too excited about (stick to 2v2 please).

	Set 1

Much	< Hwarangdo >	HyuN

Here we have the rematch from the MBC vs CJ playoffs. Hyun will be eager to avenge his loss again Much on Blue Storm and im sure Much will be eager to put this rising star in his place. While I think Much has a lot left to give, I think Hyun is by far the stronger candidate. Much is on the way out, his recent games are a testament to this whereas Hyun in on the rise and I am extremely excited about his play. While on paper Much looks like the stronger bet, don't count Hyun out, he almost toppled him last time and now he's even stronger.

	Set 2

Rumble	< Hwarangdo >	go.go

As much as i hate Go.Go, its very hard to argue against someone getting such good results. Rumble on the other hand is consistently depressing as he never makes it past the group stage of the OSL. This time around, I really don't see Go.Go losing to a player like Rumble. Hwarangdo is a new map, but Casy's revival of the Vulture build may influence Go.Go here and we could see a repeat against Rumble. I don't think Rumble is up to stopping anything Go.Go dishes out to him and hence Go.Go has gotta take this game.

Set 3: Winners

< Andromeda >

My primary candidates for this match are without a doubt Go.Go and Hyun - and that should be an excellent match. Ignore the stigma against Go.Go and you have two of the best rookies out there fighting for a spot in the OSL. Both of these players are playing better than they ever have before and what that means is that this is going to be a hotly contested hard fought fight - an instant gg. Calling a winner here is so difficult, because rookie matches are harder to call but I'm a sucker for Hyun

so i think Hyun will take it, but Go.Go taking it will be no surprise.

On the other hand, we could see Much and Go.Go fighting it out here - and sadly, i don;t like Much's chances. While he is a PvT machine, Go.Go has shown that he was tango with the best in TvP. Go.Go's recent skill increase should be enough to overcome Much who, as we know, is on a decline. Therefore Go.Go is the heavy favorite here to take it.

Set 4: Losers

< Andromeda >

The losers match, how many titans have fallen here? My bet is we get to see Much and Rumble duke it out - which is an easy bet to call. Rumble has never been know for anything other than his legendary 2v2 skills with Canata whereas Much has pulled out some historic PvZ's and has enough talent in his left hand to mop the floor with Rumble. Much should walk all over him.

If Hyun and Rumble meet, well, Hyun is the favorite but it is ZvZ and anything can happen. Rookie ZvZ is particularly hard to call simply because of the random nature of their games. However, i still think Hyun has enough skill and desire to win than Rumble - so sorry Rumble, but i see you going 0-2.

Set 5: Tie-Breaker

< Troy >

My primary candidates for Troy are Go.Go and Much - a game which should be good. Much has the upper hand here, the inherent Protoss advantage on Troy should more than make up for his skill decline in recent times. But with almost perfectly balanced TvP results Go.Go does look like a favorite. I really think that Go.Go will (sadly) defeat Much and go on to advance.

The other possibility thats quite likely is Hyun vs Much - a rematch of the first round. And well, this is difficult to call. Zerg has a history of being weak on Troy but Hyun is the better player. The question is, can Hyun transcend the imbalances on Troy and defeat Much? I really don't know. I have to give someone the advantage though, and thats gotta be Hyun. The ball is in his court, not Much's. It's up to him to step up his game and tackle the imbalanced and defeat the map - and then defeating Much will come naturally. I think Hyun is up to it, but i could be very wrong.

So if you're wondering who to liquibet for my picks are Hyun and Go.Go with Hyun/Go.Go advancing.

- 18:30 KST Friday

After a group full of potential, OGN rewards us yet again with a star studded group. Here we have two former OSL Champions, an MSL Champion and Frozean. Sparks are set to fly from this group - although it could be a big disappointment due to intra-team squabbles. Nevertheless, I'm just excited to see July go up against Mind - it should be great... but it won't be.

	Set 1

FrOzean	< Hwarangdo >	Anytime

I have a habit of underestimating Frozean, but can i really be blamed for that? He has a history of being extremely inconsistent and getting 'lucky' wins against superior opponents (hello Jaedong). When posed with the problem of innovating a new map, i don't think he is quite up to it yet and hence will play a very standard game here - which comes as no surprise really. Either that or he'll try some phony cheese rush which will just lead to a mass of -_- faces from fans.

Anytime on the other hand is one of my least favorite progamers in existence. But, i have learned to accept that he is without a doubt one of the most talent Protoss players in the world today. The bottom line is, Anytime hates losing and Frozean isn't going to get in his way. Anytime is a veteran now, and he does know how to innovate maps - he and Pusan after all did solve the mystery of the FD. He should be able to adapt and make the most of this map and play to the map - which will be the pivotal difference between the two combatants. Anytime should be able to walk away from his match a happy man and one step closer to Round 2.

	Set 2

July	< Hwarangdo >	Mind

This match would have been one of the highlights of the evening, and im sure many people expect it to be the match to watch. Yet this is going to be one of the silliest rapes in a long time. July is in the middle of contract troubles with SKT, with talk of him moving to Soul. This can never be good for a player of his caliber. Being in this weird state of limbo can only have an adverse effect on his gameplay and thus he won't be preforming to the level that we expect of him. Which is actually really realy sad

Mind is slowly becoming stronger and stronger, and this should allow him to easily stomp the in-limbo July. I would love to see a close match between the two, but its just not going to happen. Mind is a far superior player to July and is going to crush him easier than Boxer crushed Yellow. Its going to be just that bad.

Set 3: Winners

< Andromeda >

This match should be Anytime vs Mind - an appropriate rematch. This should be the highlight of the evening and the map couldn't be better. Anytime is renown for his strong macro play (coupled with innovation) while Mind is use to setting up timing pushes to cripple macro hungry protoss. What a combination

Whatever results, the game should be intense, hard fought and close. However, I have to tip my cap towards Mind to take it - this kid is hungry and he hasn't had any OSL success to date. His desire for victory supersedes that of Anytime's and he should be able to win.

The alternative here, well.. there isn't really an alternative. July and Frozean are a lesser caliber of player to these two.. but yea, if July 4 pools Mind, then Anytime will crush him.. if Frozean installs oblivion and hacks against Anytime.. well he'll still lose

But even if he did make it Mind will crush him.

Set 4: Losers

< Andromeda >

The losers match will between Frozean and July. I dont beleive i'm going to say this, but i think that Frozean is going to win this game. July has no skill to fall back on in this 'limbo' state that he is in- this means that he is going to playing exponentially worse every day. Frozean has all the benefits of a loving supporting team behind him and he should be able to edge out July... Really depressing.

Set 5: Tie-Breaker

< Troy >

This set will likely be between Anytime and Frozean - which should be a laughable game. Anytime is a PvT monster, its a fact. Troy is a good map for Protoss against Terran, its a fact. Everything is turning up Anytime in this game and well, that means Anytime is the strong favorite to win over Frozean. The only way Frozean's going to win this game is if Anytime has a heart attack as he steps into the booth.

Alternatively, we could see Frozean vs Mind which will be equally as rape. Mind is a great TvT player, arguably the second best in the world. Frozean... is lacking in pretty much all areas of TvT, TvZ, TvP, life and genitalia. Mind is going to stomp him like a snail.

At the end of the day, Mind and Anytime are in a whole different class to Frozean and July - and they should walk away victorious relatively easily. My votes are Anytime and Mind, with Anytime/Mind advancing.

So there you have it, enjoy another week of top quality OSL action and don't forget to tune in 19:30 KST on Wednesday for Group C and 18:30 KST on Friday for Group D - both groups are set to be exciting and well, down right awesome. Have a great week guys

Plexa

[OSL] Heroes and Villains

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