[Code S] Grand Finals WCS Korea Season 1 2013 - Page 372

I know there was all the 'why no macro game' complaints, but I don't think it was for lack of trying.

Games 1 & 6: Yes they were both proxy rax. But Game 1 was a great mind-game, and Game 6 showed why you don't try it twice after getting your opponent to commit to drone scout every game after the first time you try it.

Games 3, 4 & 5: It seems that Soulkey had recognized the greedy 3CC build with minimal army that Innovation frequently played, so he had a couple variants of timing counters ready. Ling/Bling Run-by (G3), Speed Roach/Bling (G4) and Roach/Bling followed by Speed Roach/Bling (G5). Short games with timing attacks might not always be the most fun, but strategically they were a brilliant prepared response to not just a macro build, but to the very greedy macro build that Innovation used too frequently.

A friend pointed out to me that these Roach/Bling timings happened a lot less in WoL because terrans played a lot more of a siege tank style, which defended them. The big note is that Innovation used very similar openings that wasn't overly safe 3 games in a row. To the 'macro' criers: there is no reason to put yourself behind by allowing your opponent to freely do a very greedy macro build. A chink in the armor of that build type was found, and exploited.

Games 2 & 7: These two games featured Innovation going for the Hellbat drop into macro style that is commonly seen in the current meta. The only problem? Soulkey's drop defense style shut it down extremely hard. Ling/Roach, then Hydra after defended with nearly no losses (G2), and Ling/Roach then Muta after defended with minimal losses (G7).

Oddly, after the initial drops failed to be cost efficient, both games were decided by micro mistakes/attention that snowballed the game. Soulkey's move of Roach/Hydra across the map without Hydra speed upgrade completed, and then Innovation's 3 Medivac drop after the Muta pack had already been confirmed on the map (and not boosting them to safety the moment he saw the Muta on the minimap).

Final Thoughts: Thus after a good night's sleep to gather my thoughts, Innovation was not innovative in his play style through the sets. 2 proxy rax (succeeded, then failed hard), 2 Hellbat drop expand builds (succeeded, then failed on repeat), and 3x3CC early builds (succeeded, then busted hard on both repeats). By the 3rd time he tried the 3CC build, he should have made some sort of adjustment to be better prepared for almost expected roach/bling all-in.

I really have to applaud Soulkey's prepared reaction builds to what he was seeing. He made a couple of small mistakes of army movement in games 2 and 3 (lings dying before banes done, and roach/hydra @ opposing natural) that nearly cost him the series. He deserved the win.