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Avalon MSL Preview
Now that the field is down to sixteen players, the true Avalon MSL begins. Before we start, make sure to check out the awesome MSL Intro featuring music by Pink. I wrote a little bit on the history of the song in a previous newspost. I like this intro more than I like the OSL one. The players look badass, the music is kind of catchy, and video is well produced.
Current Avalon MSL Round of 16 Bracket
+ Show Spoiler [Avalon MSL Round of 16 Bracket] +
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/AvalonMSL/MSLAvalonRo16.jpg)
Bracket by SilverskY
Before you freak out about the ridiculously lopsided bracket, remember that the MSL reorganized its Ro8 bracket structure. The Round of 8 will re-seed the players based on their KeSPA rank:
KeSPA July 2009 Ranking (MSL Ro16 Players)
+ Show Spoiler [KeSPA July 2009 Rankings (MSL Ro16 Pla…] +
This means that Jaedong will not be on the same side of the bracket as Bisu or Flash if he makes the Round of 8. Other than that, anyone can be on anyone's side of the bracket, depending on how many higher KeSPA seeds qualify.
The individual leagues recently have been splitting Bo3s into separate days, playing the first game on day one and then games two and three (if necessary) on another day. While this makes some sense to help game quality, heighten drama, and give players more equal practice time between rounds, it's still fun to watch a full series on one day. But the MSL has taken this a step further, splitting quarterfinal Bo5s into three separate days:
Match day 1
A vs. B game 1
C vs. D game 1
E vs. F game 1
G vs. H game 1
Match day 2
A vs. B game 2~5
C vs. D game 2~5
Match day 3
E vs. F game 2~5
G vs. H game 2~5
A vs. B game 1
C vs. D game 1
E vs. F game 1
G vs. H game 1
Match day 2
A vs. B game 2~5
C vs. D game 2~5
Match day 3
E vs. F game 2~5
G vs. H game 2~5
For the viewers, this is kind of annoying, but four games in one day isn't vastly different than five, so it's not a huge change. But to the players, it could mean quite a bit, as it's more time to practice for each game. For example, remember fantasy's TvZ valkyrie build that owned GGPlay so thoroughly back in the Incruit OSL? He wouldn't be able to do it more than once if he showed it in game one, because his opponent would simply go home and figure out how to counter it before game two. But don't worry about fantasy, because players who have strong preparation and build orders derive greater benefit from this format.
EffOrt vs 
UpMaGiC+ Show Spoiler [Statistics] +
Effort is still on a ridiculous tear, sporting the best ZvT record out of anyone over the past few months (yes, better than Jaedong). Including offline prelims, he's 22-2 in 2009, and those two losses were in series that he won 2-1 anyway. You have to go all the way back to 2008 (against Flash) to find a ZvT loss that mattered. Up, on the other hand, has been extremely inconsistent and often flat out bad against Zerg. We all know Up is unpredictable and does weird builds, and this gives him a puncher's chance against almost anyone, but he's simply outclassed here. Don't let the 1-1 H2H record fool you, Up's win was back in 2008. Effort doesn't just beat you, he beats you. He doesn't use cheese, gimmicks, or tricks. He simply "out standardizes" you, a combination of smarts and speed and CJ precision, unafraid to 9-pool often to ensure that he gets to midgame. There are no holes in Efforts armor, and even the maps are balanced ZvT. You are either better than Effort or you aren't, and Up isn't. No amount of tricky mech builds will change that. Effort, 2-0.
Iris vs Hwasin+ Show Spoiler [Statistics] +
Hwasin hasn't played much TvT, but we all know he'll bring his patented Hwasin "good but not great" level of play. Iris used to be a TvT specialist, but recently he's appearing less and less in CJ's PL lineup, and has started to lose to a few second tier Terrans. Neither player is in particularly great form for TvT, and both would be a pretty big underdog to Flash or Leta. But against each other, they are far more evenly matched, with a slight edge toward Iris on reputation more than anything else. Iris, 2-1.
Kal vs Jaedong+ Show Spoiler [Statistics] +
Jaedong has the best ZvP right now. Even though Kal showed flashes of PvZ brilliance before, and advanced out of the super hard PvP dragon group in the Ro32, his PvZ has been mediocre recently. All things equal, Jaedong should roll. But Jaedong's biggest threat isn't Kal: it's his own schedule. Jaedong has GOM, the OSL, and Proleague commitments. The split day format helps a little, but there are only so many hours in the day to practice. Still, Jaedong is the huge favorite. Kal better bring an innovative new strategy or some well planned cheese, because if he tries to go standard against Jaedong, he's going to die. Jaedong's loaded practice schedule gives Kal one game, but that's it. Jaedong, 2-1.
Bisu vs fantasy+ Show Spoiler [Statistics] +
This is by far the most interesting matchup in the Round of 16. Back in March, Fantasy 3-0'd Bisu on three T>P maps, robbing the fans of a titanic Jaedong-Bisu OSL Finals clash. Weird and epic things happen when teammates play each other. Just ask Savior and Iris, Boxer and Oov, or Jaedong and Forgg. I can't wait, because I think Fantasy and Bisu are by far the most entertaining players of their respective races. I truly have no idea what's going to happen. Bisu 2-0? Fantasy 2-0? Anything is possible. A logical person would predict Bisu to win on the more balanced maps. But they don't call the next great SK Telecom Terran the "bracket terrorist" for nothing. Fantasy pulls out two great games and ruins life for thousands of crying fanboys. Fantasy 2-1.
It's another typical Tuesday in the SK Telecom House. The clock reads 3:00 AM. Coach iloveoov is sleeping soundly, mumbling about macro as he snores. Bisu, in full DT costume, slips silently into the room. His eyes lock onto one thing: the folder on oov's desktop, labeled "replays of secret builds fantasy will use against Bisu in the Avalon MSL Round of 16."
Bisu smiles, and quietly begins to take a step forward. He checks his watch, and begins setting the alarm for the next day. He starts folding one piece of laundry, his clothing bag open and ready. He takes a second step forward. He boils some water. He makes a perfect diagonal fold on a piece of paper. He readies some paintbrushes for a watercolor portrait of himself. He finishes folding the laundry. He takes a third step forward. He finishes setting the alarm. He puts ramen into the now boiling water. He puts the folded piece of clothing into his bag. He makes a second box fold in the paper. He takes a fourth step foward. He mixes the watercolor paints to get his porcelain skin tone just right. He takes a fifth step foward...
Suddenly, a loud CLICK sound, and something pops up from under the floor boards. It races toward Bisu and explodes, doing 125 damage. Bisu can only take one more hit. There's still three feet between him and Oov's computer. He hasn't finished folding his clothes, and his self portrait is only half done. His ramen sits on the counter, cold and forgotten. Bisu hesitates, then takes another long step. He checks his email as he copies the replays onto his 14cc gb Flash drive, and turns quickly to exit the room, when...
BOOM!
Fantasy bursts into the room, crashing directly through the wall, riding a large red SK Telecom motorcycle. Before Bisu can react, Fantasy jumps off his bike and hits him with a large foam bat, labeled "3/3". Bisu screams, crumpling to the floor.
Fantasy, waving his bat, yells "YOU gonna f**k on ME??"
Bisu is too hurt to answer, but it's probably a rhetorical question. Nobody fucks on Fantasy. Fantasy hits him with the bat again. And again. Bisu's screams become weaker and weaker.
Coach iloveoov is still sleeping. The clock reads 3:45.
The next morning, nobody asks about Bisu's fresh bruises or the gigantic, nerd-on-a-motorcycle sized hole in the Terran coach's wall. But when Fantasy walks by, Best and Mujuk cower in fear. Doctor.K, busy bandaging up Bisu's swollen, black and blue face, jumps up and screams, "I'm just trying to help, man, please. I'm not here to fuck on you. I hate Stork and Jaedong. They got lucky. Protoss is imbalanced. I'm sorry. Please. I have kids man, I have kids."
Fantasy ignores him and walks straight into the practice room. He says "hello" to Boxer, and fetches the Emperor a glass of water.
The Protoss players don't say a word. But they know. They all know.
Bisu smiles, and quietly begins to take a step forward. He checks his watch, and begins setting the alarm for the next day. He starts folding one piece of laundry, his clothing bag open and ready. He takes a second step forward. He boils some water. He makes a perfect diagonal fold on a piece of paper. He readies some paintbrushes for a watercolor portrait of himself. He finishes folding the laundry. He takes a third step forward. He finishes setting the alarm. He puts ramen into the now boiling water. He puts the folded piece of clothing into his bag. He makes a second box fold in the paper. He takes a fourth step foward. He mixes the watercolor paints to get his porcelain skin tone just right. He takes a fifth step foward...
Suddenly, a loud CLICK sound, and something pops up from under the floor boards. It races toward Bisu and explodes, doing 125 damage. Bisu can only take one more hit. There's still three feet between him and Oov's computer. He hasn't finished folding his clothes, and his self portrait is only half done. His ramen sits on the counter, cold and forgotten. Bisu hesitates, then takes another long step. He checks his email as he copies the replays onto his 14
BOOM!
Fantasy bursts into the room, crashing directly through the wall, riding a large red SK Telecom motorcycle. Before Bisu can react, Fantasy jumps off his bike and hits him with a large foam bat, labeled "3/3". Bisu screams, crumpling to the floor.
Fantasy, waving his bat, yells "YOU gonna f**k on ME??"
Bisu is too hurt to answer, but it's probably a rhetorical question. Nobody fucks on Fantasy. Fantasy hits him with the bat again. And again. Bisu's screams become weaker and weaker.
Coach iloveoov is still sleeping. The clock reads 3:45.
The next morning, nobody asks about Bisu's fresh bruises or the gigantic, nerd-on-a-motorcycle sized hole in the Terran coach's wall. But when Fantasy walks by, Best and Mujuk cower in fear. Doctor.K, busy bandaging up Bisu's swollen, black and blue face, jumps up and screams, "I'm just trying to help, man, please. I'm not here to fuck on you. I hate Stork and Jaedong. They got lucky. Protoss is imbalanced. I'm sorry. Please. I have kids man, I have kids."
Fantasy ignores him and walks straight into the practice room. He says "hello" to Boxer, and fetches the Emperor a glass of water.
The Protoss players don't say a word. But they know. They all know.
Canata vs PianO+ Show Spoiler [Statistics] +
Canata, 2-1.
Calm vs fOrGG+ Show Spoiler [Statistics] +
Through a stroke of ridiculous luck, also known as Much choking horribly, Forgg is into the Round of 16. Make no mistake, Forgg is neither creative nor skilled. His last TvZ win was back in 2008 on Rush Hour 3. Ladies and gentlemen, your Arena MSL 2008 winner. Calm, on the other hand, played brilliantly in his group and is performing very well in Proleague, with recent wins over Flash and Fantasy. He's yet to gain a distinctive style, and often looks kind of sloppy, but his builds and execution in the Round of 32 were among the best I've seen in a while. Calm, 2-0.
Pure vs ZerO+ Show Spoiler [Statistics] +
These two played each other this past week in Proleague. Pure played standard, and Zero destroyed him. Even though Zero just lost a Bo3 to Tempest in GOM, he's still the favorite here. If Zero wasn't so ridiculously streaky, he'd win this easily. Fortunately for him, since the Bo3 is split into two days, it protects Zero from his own inconsistent self. Also, Zero is 2-0 in his OSL group and is busy practicing for Bisu on Heartbreak Ridge, the same map on which he'll play Pure the next day. That's like asking the head cheerleader to the prom, and the next day offering to buy dinner for your friend's fat WoW playing sister. Zero, 2-0.
Flash vs Kwanro+ Show Spoiler [Statistics] +
Did you know that Kwanro has better stats than Flash over the last few months in this matchup? To be fair, Flash's losses are to Calm, Yarnc, Effort, and Jaedong, while Kwanro's wins came against Shine, Casy, and Frozean. Still, Flash's TvZ isn't as good as people think it is. Will Flash bust out the goliaths-into-mm build that he's been using in Proleague? Or will he revert to Scrooge McFlash and 14cc against one of the most aggressive Zerg players ever? Kwanro is scary because his style and skill level varies so wildly. He's the crazy Kwanro Zerg that can do crazy Kwanro things. Flash cannot take him lightly, especially when he also must practice for GOM, Proleague, and OSL. Still, I can't see Flash losing here, even though there's a bigger chance for upset in this series than in the Up-Effort or Kal-Jaedong sets. Flash practices just enough. Flash, 2-1.
Next:
Game 1 of all Bo3 Sets, Day 1
Set A:
EffOrt <Carthage 3> UpMaGiC Set E:
PianO <Byzantium 3> CanataSet F:
Flash <Byzantium 3> KwanroSet H:
Pure <Heartbreak Ridge> ZerOGame 1 of all Bo3 Sets, Day 2
Set B:
Iris <Carthage 3> HwasinSet C:
Kal <Heartbreak Ridge> JaedongSet G:
Calm <Outsider> fOrGGSet D:
fantasy <Byzantium 3> Bisu
