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[GOM] The Green Theme
December 18th, 2008 13:10 GMT
With the first two quarterfinals decided, and the next one being decided Sunday, it's time to look at the results of the last week (check out Tadzio's amazing battle-reports for more in-depth coverage of the games), and what we can expect from the coming matches.
So far, the GSL has had some very interesting Ro16's of comparable, if not superior, quality to the other starleagues. This week that has gone up a notch, with two very important and interesting matchups.
The first game is between Kal and Mind. Kal has had a position on the power rank for the last few months now, but has had trouble getting far into individual leagues. Kal is quickly losing his position as a great up-and-comer, and is being replaced by new players who do perform in starleagues. However, it is undeniable that he is still a consistently strong player, especially in TvP.
Mind, on the other hand, has long since lost his reputation as a the next big thing. Having not achieved anything in the previous MSL or OSL, the GOM is Mind's last chance to make something out of this season. However, Mind has had some difficulties with TvP recently, winning only five of his last ten games, and dropping matches to less established players like Movie, Jaehoon, and SangHo.
This match is thus a very important match for both players. Both players need to reach a quarter-final, and possibly even a semi-final again; both players need to prove that they are still up there with the strongest players in the game. Unfortunately for Mind, the odds are stacked against him. The first two games will be played on Medusa and Neo-Requiem, two maps which have a terrible TvP balance (6-17 and 11-32 respectively), and only Sin Chupung-Ryeong offers a better chance for Mind, being 3-0. However, it is uncertain whether the Terran edge on Sin Chupung-Ryeong is due to the fixed balance of Chupung-Ryeong (which was 10-19 TvP), or simply the result of a lack of stats.
Looking at it then, Mind seems to be at danger of dropping out early again this GSL. However, if there is one Terran player that has the creativity and strategy to fight against the odds of a map, it is Mind. Mind stormed his way to an MSL win by beating sAviOr on old Blue Storm twice, a map with a similarly bad balance, and hopefully he can do the same thing here.
The second match of the day is will determind who plays against the winner of the first match in the quarter-finals. KTF's Neo-Reach, Tempest, is taking on the micro beast Free. Where the previous match of the day is characterized by two quality players who have had a bit of a rough time recently, this match is characterized by two players who have both done really well recently, trying to continue their streaks. Free blasted his way to the MSL semi-finals this season, losing only to the eventual winner in a tense 3-1 match, while Tempest came out of nowhere to make it to the Ro16 of the same MSL.
More recently, both Tempest and Free have taken down big Zerg players in GOM with Tempest beating defending champion Jaedong, and Free beating everyone's favourite, sAviOr. Tempest's problem, and also his greatest weapon, can be seen through these statistics however: he is untested in PvP. In the Clubday MSL, Tempest beat fantasy and Ruby to qualify for the Ro16 where he eventually lost to Firebathero. To reach the Ro16 in the GSL, Tempest has beaten XellOs and Jeadong. The only evidence we have of Tempest's PvP skill is from a few results in the Proleague, results which make it impossible to judge his strength. Tempest beat BeSt in the last PvP he played (a fantastic game), but before that he lost to Zues and Pure.
In contrast, Pretty's form is fairly straightforward. After a fairly long losing streak in the match-up, Free has recently beaten TT, Bisu (once in their Bo5, and once again in the proleague), and BeSt. Free is in good form in this match-up, and he is well practised. It will be difficult for Tempest to break him.
The game I'm looking forward to the most is the second game on Medusa. While the map has generally not delivered the most interesting PvPs, Tempest's game against BeSt on Medusa demonstrated how aggressive play on PvP may benefit the aggressor, while Pretty has shown that he isn't scared of playing a straight-up match either, especially as this allows his dragoon micro to shine. It will be fascinating to see which Protoss player can best exploit the position of the naturals on the map.
Thanks to lilsusie we have some amazing new interviews this week. The first interview is with the little monster , Flash, followed by everyone's favourite ninja toss, Bisu; and finally we have an interview with one of the legends of Protoss, GARIMTO. Click on the button below to watch those.
No new players are open to questions, but I'll keep the link up in case it gets updated before the matches.
An that's that for this week. I think we can all congratulate GOM on still delivering quality matches week after week. I loved watching GOM last season, and this season has improved on last season a ten-fold, with the potential for an absolutely amazing line-up for the final 8. If only we could have a few Zerg players...
Until next week!
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Thanks for the write-up! Really enjoyed the reading.
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Netherlands6142 Posts
If I'm not mistaken though Mind pulled of some awesome ace games off late. I reckon he'll take at least one game vs Kal.
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damn i thought iwas gnna be first xD
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i think we can erase the zerg icon from the draw
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Ugh, I would like to see some Terrans in the next round but I think:
Best>Skyhigh, Bisu>Flash, pepe>Jangbi, and randomness in Mind<>Kal.
Despite the fact that Flash is still decent, Bisu has been walking all over everyone lately and the maps really don't help.
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Man Bisu vs Hoejja was so great. Sorry zerg, maybe next time.
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On December 19 2008 06:32 Fontong wrote:
Ugh, I would like to see some Terrans in the next round but I think:
Best>Skyhigh, Bisu>Flash, pepe>Jangbi, and randomness in Mind<>Kal.
Despite the fact that Flash is still decent, Bisu has been walking all over everyone lately and the maps really don't help.
pepe>jangbi?
So you pick a guy with 25% TvP, 25% overall, basically never getting time on his team, over a guy wih 65.91% PvT, 59.02% overall, on really P favoured maps?
Why is it the everybody is disregarding Jangbi?
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On December 19 2008 06:06 freelander wrote:
i think we can erase the zerg icon from the draw
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zeus not zues, fix that. i hope hope hopeeee tempest makes it out alive, beating free 2-1, 2-0 is too much to ask for. i dont know, i want to see something out of tempest and yet, moreso times than not, he fucking fails his fans. prime example was that one PL game vs juni. he had the game, he so fucking had it but he just didnt control his units and the WORST decision making ive ever seen.
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pepe>Jangbi
o_o are you serious ? pepe has no chance versus Jangbi...
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On December 19 2008 06:51 Fwmeh wrote:Show nested quote +On December 19 2008 06:32 Fontong wrote:
Ugh, I would like to see some Terrans in the next round but I think:
Best>Skyhigh, Bisu>Flash, pepe>Jangbi, and randomness in Mind<>Kal.
Despite the fact that Flash is still decent, Bisu has been walking all over everyone lately and the maps really don't help. pepe>jangbi? So you pick a guy with 25% TvP, 25% overall, basically never getting time on his team, over a guy wih 65.91% PvT, 59.02% overall, on really P favoured maps? Why is it the everybody is disregarding Jangbi?
No, he's just stupid, no one disregards Jangbi, that title belongs to fOrGG.
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PEPE will rape JangBi because JangBi is incosistent and well poeple hate that XD.
BiSu vs Stork Final making Stork having another Second Place XD
Flash vs Tempest to see the ultimate TvP XD
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All of these 4 games were pure rapes. And I was really impressed by Bisu play and not that much unfortunately with Flash. Good that Rock played in a completely retarded way.
I hope that Tempest will advance over Free and maybe Mind will be able to eliminate Kal. The threat of all Protoss semis is very high again.. sigh...
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I hope pepe wins his next match, I'm really rooting for him in this, he seems to be doing really well for being a relative unknown
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The Bisu vs. Flash match is gonna make my head explode. Gogogo!
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Damn you Tempest for turning what would be an awesome matchup - free vs jaedong - into yet another PvP borefest.
Pepe vs Jangbi is going to be straight up boring rape. Something along the lines of Jangbi macroing up and just A-moves into Pepe's base.
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Why does everyone underestimate FlaSh......
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On December 19 2008 12:11 Linx_101 wrote:
Why does everyone underestimate FlaSh......
Everyone overestimated him for a while earlier this year =\
Also, Bisu has been playing incredibly...
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Flash will make it to the finals.
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On December 19 2008 09:03 never_Nal wrote:
PEPE will rape JangBi because JangBi is incosistent and well poeple hate that XD.
BiSu vs Stork Final making Stork having another Second Place XD
Flash vs Tempest to see the ultimate TvP XD Jangbi hasn't been inconsistent in a long time, tbh.
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i love it how the zerg icon on the bottom has fallen over in bloody red
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On December 19 2008 12:11 Linx_101 wrote:
Why does everyone underestimate FlaSh......
He inexplicably fails against zergs that people expect him to dominate. Lux, Yarnc, and GGPlay for the entire duration of their deciding game until the last 30 seconds. Although, what posts make you think that people underestimate Flash?
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lol at zerg mod..hahaha..
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Tempest is cool 
haha bob
maybe add some blood on psi blades^^
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i've lost all interest in the GSI now that there are no more zergs =( freaking sucks...
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I think free vs Tempest has potential to be a great series if Tempest plays his best. They're both similar to Reach in their own ways, but I actually think free is moreso due to his excellent control supported by good macro. Tempest messes up sometimes, and then he looks more like a PuSan/BeSt with tons of units, but losing them carelessly. Hopefully he can fix that, but I'd say free is the clear favorite, given his micro/harass abilities, and experience.
Kal vs Mind might be interesting if they both play their best. As you say the maps are quite bad TvP, but I think Minds TvP is right below Flash at the moment. He just happens to play Protoss maps week after week in PL. Kal is as always a question-mark due to his consistency.
Anyway great writeup, thank you!
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On December 20 2008 00:48 sperY wrote:Tempest is cool haha bob maybe add some blood on psi blades^^
I did, just not enough to show up when zoomed out. =/
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Flash > Pretty in the finals ...believe me 
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On December 20 2008 07:50 SonuvBob wrote:Show nested quote +On December 20 2008 00:48 sperY wrote:Tempest is cool haha bob maybe add some blood on psi blades^^ I did, just not enough to show up when zoomed out. =/
;/
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KIM TAEK YONG U CAN DO IT
I THINK THAT FLASH IS HIS HARDEST OPPONENT, INCLUDING STORK
CMON CMOOOOOOON!!!!
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I think GTR and myself are the only people who cheer for Tempest.
I am so excited about these games. Kal vs Mind should be a damn good game. Go Mind and Tempest, I hope either of them can make it to finals
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Damn, I'm a little disappointed Flash and Bisu are going to clash. I would have loved to see them at the finals.
I'm going for Flash though, he's one of my favorite players. I absolutely love his style.
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Sweden5462 Posts
where can i find these vods with commentary?
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EPT![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Daigomi/Banner__Gom_Classic_v1n.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Daigomi/Banner__Gom_Classic_Results_.jpg)
Flash vs 
Rock
HoeJJa![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Daigomi/Banner__GOM_Classic_Bracket_.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Daigomi/Banner__GOM_Classic_This_wee.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Daigomi/Banner__GOM_Classic_Communit.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Daigomi/Banner__GOM_Classic_Intervie.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Daigomi/Banner__GOM_Classic_Question.jpg)
![[image loading]](/staff/SonuvBob/brackets/gom_bracket_fixed.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5951/nozergax9.jpg)
