EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/pachi/banner/MSL_080914.png)
pachi brings out the funk
The Sponsor
The new MSL season is just around the corner, and with a brand new sponsor entering the professional gaming arena, it will be interesting to see how the season kicks off. ClubDay Online, sponsor of the MSL, is an MMO dancing game that hopes to draw on the professional image of Starcraft to support its own game. What does this mean for the MSL? Well, hopefully we'll get an innovative and fresh season that breathes some new life into the MSL.
+ Show Spoiler [ClubDay Online] +
The Maps
Looking at the maps, the vibrant, if somewhat careless, attitude of ClubDay definitely shines through. Tiamat, Coliseum, and Othello have all been scrapped and replaced with brand new maps. The maps will be Athena II, Byzantium II, Destination and Medusa. Most of you already know Athena from the Arena MSL that just passed, and Byzantium was used in the MSL qualifiers, and although both of these will be getting minor updates, it is Medusa and Destination that I am most interested in.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/187_Medusa.jpg)
Medusa is a radical three player map that is being used in both the OSL and the MSL this season. The map is almost entirely flat, with only a safe expansion behind the mains being on higher ground. The center is open, and running distances between bases are short, as there are few obstructions. What makes the map interesting is not so much what it has, but more what it doesn't have. There are no "multiple-routes", no higher grounds, or island bases, nothing which most maps use to distinguish themselves with. Instead, it just has what is needed for a good game: chokes, expansions, and a large battlefield. My only worry with the map is that it's lack of features might allow the players who takes the advantage to retain that advantage too easily.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/188_Destination.jpg)
Destination is a large open map that aims to bring the epic back into the MSL. Where Medusa is hoping for aggressive bloodfests, Destination is looking going for long games. With bases far apart and easily securable expansions, Destination is a complete macro heaven. With that said, expansions are generally further apart than what we are used to, and as the middle might prove difficult to hold, keeping expansions might not be that easy. It will be interesting to see how players cope with the map, and hopefully it will deliver us some quality games.
The Games
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/207.jpg)
vs ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/185.jpg)
The OpenDay MSL starts with the defending MSL champion, ForGG, taking on up-and-comer Leta on the Terran friendly Athena. Although ForGG is undeniably in peak form at the moment, his TvT has historically been his worst match-up. However, in recent times he has shown tremendous form, beating both Flash and Hwasin in extended matches. Facing up against this is Leta who has won 12 of his last 13 games. This incredible burst started somewhere at the end of last season, and Leta has just been able to keep winning important games for OGN. These wins include games against Kal, Bisu, and fittingly, ForGG. In his first Starleague, it will be interesting to see how Leta performs against the reigning champion.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/129.jpg)
vs ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/174.jpg)
In the second match of the day we have Iris vs Zero. Zero was first seen in the GomTV MSL 4, showcasing some of the worst games I have even seen in a Starleague. Uninspired play, and dreadful unit control led to thrashings by both Mind and Sea. However, in this season's survivor Zero got his revenge by knocking Mind out of the MSL, and also beating last season's biggest improver, Backho. He will be up against the always threatetning Iris, known for his ultra-aggressive Terran play, and while I am very interested in Zero's improvement, his first impression has been burned into my mind, and I have difficulty seeing him beat Iris on Byzantium. With that said, we might be in for a surprise.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/175.jpg)
vs ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/209.jpg)
Free vs Dongrae is of somewhat less interest than the second game, so most interesting for me will be to see how the map plays out. Terran cannot dominate the middle of the map comfortably, and the three easily defended resource spots should give Protoss the advantage. However, the close base distances might make blitz attacks and early pushes more dangerous from Terran, and if Terran can secure the early position, Protoss might not be able to break out. It will be interesting to see how the matchup develops, and how these players attempt to cope with the new map.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/147.jpg)
vs ![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/135.jpg)
In the second game, Nada is going head to head with the Maestro, on a map that allows both players to show their stuff, Destination. After the slow first day, the MSL might be blasted open with a macro masterpiece between two of the greats of Starcraft. What will happen? Well, it's difficult to call on a completely untested map with two unpredictable legends at work, but I'm betting on a victory by sAviOr, as I believe that the map will give sAviOr enough time to tech to defilers which will hopefully allow him to secure the game. With that said, mutalisk harassment will probably be ineffective on the map, due to the spacing between the ledges and resources, and the travel distances between the bases, so Nada might have a window of opportunity early on.
There you have it. Two groups will be slugging it out in the next five days, with newcomers facing the pros, greats facing greats, and new maps waiting to be explored! Welcome to the new MSL, and enjoy the TL coverage of this exciting event!
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/maps/25_Azalea.jpg)
