EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/KizZBG/spl2008.jpg)
2008 ShinHan Bank Proleague Grand Final
9 August 17:00 KST
Once again, another ProLeague final. KHAN is here, to no one's surprise. Their consistency across the seasons is quite awesome. Featuring FBH, Jangbi, and Stork under the watchful guidance of Coach January, the Samsung team has been heading PL rankings for season after season.
The OGN kids, after early season struggles, played the maximum number of matches to reach the ultimate stage. After a thrilling seven-setter against T1, they are ready to attempt Lecaf's feat from last year.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/171_Katrina%20SE_thumbnail.jpg)
The inaugural match between Samsung’s battle-tested KHAN squad and the re-emergent KOR/OGN team pits the untested ZvT of Hades against the mediocre TvZ of Leta. Not a particularly crowd-drawing matchup – Leta’s most interesting TvZ was a humiliating loss against YellOw’s 2001 guardian/hydra army composition, whereas Hades hasn’t logged a single ZvT in the majors.
That being said, Hades went undefeated in the minors ZvT before his promotion, defeating WeMade’s Baby and KTF’s Barracks. Leta dispatched sAviOr earlier this year in a straightforward dismantling on Andromeda – something even Sea[Shield] failed to do in France. I’d give Leta the slight tip due to his experience, but since we’ve seen so little of Hades, anything could happen.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/175_Andromeda_thumbnail.jpg)
The teams’ respective aces face off on the Zerg-friendly Andromeda. Luxury’s been posting superior results recently, but the Dinosaur has not yet fossilized. Stork will most likely try to make it a drawn macro game by taking his three bases early; Luxury will either play aggressively as he did against Best or take six multis following more conventional lines of play.
I foresee Luxury winning simply because of the map, but since Stork’s been practicing to snipe a Zerg on Andro, he might win. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take two hours and involve defilers on both sides. I’m predicting the Sparkyz to take an early 2-0 lead.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/176_Hannibal_thumbnail.jpg)
Two of the preeminent teamplay squads go at it on Hannibal. As it goes with 2v2, every game looks different (unless it’s on DMZ). TT/Jihyun have posted more wins, but Zeus/Yarnc have the better win ratio and superior recent performance. Nevertheless, I’m going with the Samsung boys on this one. Call it a hunch. Or a pure, complete hatred of That Bastard Fake YellOw.
Get out, Myungsoo.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/174_Wuthering%20Heights_thumbnail.jpg)
The most annoying player against the ugliest player on the TvT borehouse Wuthering – it’s at these times I most miss Goodfriend and XellOs. We take what we can get, though, and these two players have shown their TvT strength in the past season. Firebathero is the better player, and in such a skill-based matchup, the better player will usually take it.
We’ll have to endure another Sungeun ceremony. Cheers.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/172_Colosseum_thumbnail.jpg)
Chalrenge is damn lucky, and Jangbi is damn unlucky. In this matchup, luck matters quite a bit. Nevertheless, Jangbi is the reputed king of Samsung’s team inters, whereas Chalrenge’s ceremonies far outshine his actual performance. Rays of Jangbi’s brilliance have broken through his shell of nervousness, making him one of today’s eminent executors. Chalrenge is still a mediocre Protoss who’s had a few pies smashed in his face.
Jangbi is at least two tiers above Chalrenge. Chalrenge won’t be able to take out two S-class Protosses in a row. Nobody’s that damn lucky.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/173_Hunters_thumbnail.jpg)
Flower and Juni are the more established 2v2 players of these four. As it’s Hunters, starting positions play a huge factor in what happens – it’s hard to overcome a team that gets both bottom left positions if you and your teammate are crossmap. Flower/Spear have had good chemistry these past two seasons, though, so I’d trust them to take it to the closer.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/159_Blue%20Storm_thumbnail.jpg)
Luxury is almost definitely the Ace card for the Sparkyz, though KHAN has more options. Jangbi and Stork are both possibilities, and the map is fairly even PvZ. Firebathero might be sent as a sniper, but it’s less likely. Simply due to the fact KHAN has more options than OGN, they’re slightly advantaged – knowing this, the OGN boys might do something crazy. Like send Chalrenge. We’ll have to see.
Posit: If Frozean comes out in the Ace match and beats Luxury, will anyone offer to fellate a row of phalli?
Love and luck,
LR
Glad it came to be. Stork vs Lux for 2nd game is a pleasant surprise. Chalrenge's strategy against Bisu was brilliant and executed perfectly, Jangbi better watch out.
