The LiuLi Cup is back with another major online event, inviting 16 top players to compete for $10,000 in the 2025 grand finals (held in 2026). The tournament will be held from February 10th to the 16th, with a 16-player group stage (4x GSL-style groups) leading into a single-elimination playoffs.
Players:
Match days: Tuesday, Feb 10 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00): RO16 Group A Wednesday, Feb 11 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00): RO16 Group B Thursday, Feb 12 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00): RO16 Group C Friday, Feb 13 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00): RO16 Group D Saturday, Feb 14 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00): Playoffs RO8 Sunday, Feb 15 11:00am GMT (GMT+00:00): Playoffs RO4 [unparsable timestamp format]: Playoffs 3rd place match + Grand Finals
On February 11 2026 09:11 TeamMamba wrote: Poor lambo losing in the cursed foreigner decider match
Creator still looks clueless in late game pvt
To be fair, most Protoss players look clueless in late-game PvT right now.
If a Protoss wins in the late-game, it's usually because they already won in the mid-game, and the Terran is going through an extended death animation.
On February 11 2026 09:11 TeamMamba wrote: Poor lambo losing in the cursed foreigner decider match
Creator still looks clueless in late game pvt
To be fair, most Protoss players look clueless in late-game PvT right now.
If a Protoss wins in the late-game, it's usually because they already won in the mid-game, and the Terran is going through an extended death animation.
I like Classic's lategame a lot. Though it's a bit similar to TvZ lategame now that P can't let T split the map, otherwise they lose. But Classic has really good tempo-play and even Clem hasn't found a way to reliably split the map vs him.
On February 11 2026 09:11 TeamMamba wrote: Poor lambo losing in the cursed foreigner decider match
Creator still looks clueless in late game pvt
To be fair, most Protoss players look clueless in late-game PvT right now.
If a Protoss wins in the late-game, it's usually because they already won in the mid-game, and the Terran is going through an extended death animation.
I like Classic's lategame a lot. Though it's a bit similar to TvZ lategame now that P can't let T split the map, otherwise they lose. But Classic has really good tempo-play and even Clem hasn't found a way to reliably split the map vs him.
Classic usually doesn’t let the games get to that point. He usually tries to win before that stage of the game.
Pretty sure toss win rate at the late stage is like 10%. Literally feels like the brood lord infestor days.
Dont let your opponent get there, but when they do it’s unwinnable
On February 13 2026 07:30 TeamMamba wrote: Another day of watching painful pvt late games
Is it just me or watching mass libs ghost is boring as hell?
Once Terran has that comp set up, it’s just an additional 10-20min slow death for the toss even if they are up 2-3 bases
Why solely blame the Terran for Protoss lack of awareness? herO was dead trying to force mass Zealot Stalker into lategame Terran army over and over and over. There was no Storm, no Stargate transition, not even a Mothership to use recall and throw the Terran army out of position.
On February 11 2026 09:11 TeamMamba wrote: Poor lambo losing in the cursed foreigner decider match
Creator still looks clueless in late game pvt
To be fair, most Protoss players look clueless in late-game PvT right now.
If a Protoss wins in the late-game, it's usually because they already won in the mid-game, and the Terran is going through an extended death animation.
I like Classic's lategame a lot. Though it's a bit similar to TvZ lategame now that P can't let T split the map, otherwise they lose. But Classic has really good tempo-play and even Clem hasn't found a way to reliably split the map vs him.
Classic usually doesn’t let the games get to that point. He usually tries to win before that stage of the game.
Pretty sure toss win rate at the late stage is like 10%. Literally feels like the brood lord infestor days.
Dont let your opponent get there, but when they do it’s unwinnable
Depends on your definition of lategame. Classic regularly wins 20+ minute games where all bases on the map are taken (mostly by him though xD). I would call that lategame by all definitions of the word. Just because the terran didn't manage to split the map and secure 5-6 bases, that doesn't mean it wasn't a lategame.
What doesn't work currently is that the Protoss sits back, builds up an ultimate army and then tries to win lategame by trading better than the opponent. But that style was boring to watch anyway so I'm not too sad it's not viable anymore.
On February 11 2026 09:11 TeamMamba wrote: Poor lambo losing in the cursed foreigner decider match
Creator still looks clueless in late game pvt
To be fair, most Protoss players look clueless in late-game PvT right now.
If a Protoss wins in the late-game, it's usually because they already won in the mid-game, and the Terran is going through an extended death animation.
I like Classic's lategame a lot. Though it's a bit similar to TvZ lategame now that P can't let T split the map, otherwise they lose. But Classic has really good tempo-play and even Clem hasn't found a way to reliably split the map vs him.
Classic usually doesn’t let the games get to that point. He usually tries to win before that stage of the game.
Pretty sure toss win rate at the late stage is like 10%. Literally feels like the brood lord infestor days.
Dont let your opponent get there, but when they do it’s unwinnable
Depends on your definition of lategame. Classic regularly wins 20+ minute games where all bases on the map are taken (mostly by him though xD). I would call that lategame by all definitions of the word. Just because the terran didn't manage to split the map and secure 5-6 bases, that doesn't mean it wasn't a lategame.
What doesn't work currently is that the Protoss sits back, builds up an ultimate army and then tries to win lategame by trading better than the opponent. But that style was boring to watch anyway so I'm not too sad it's not viable anymore.
True now its the terran doing that, so much better Fwiw i think toss needs some adjustments in the midgame/early lategame and terran to its lategame strength wise.
I heard somebody mention that, one of the reason Terran lategame is so good against Skytoss is the improved Viking, they literally can shoot down everything flying (and Colossus) in a matter of secs unless you catch them with some huge Storm. Viking clear the Sky, Libs zone the Ground, Ghost for EMP with Bio support is just a hell to deal with. If we can nerf Viking range by 1, I think Skytoss would be a much better option lategame against Terran.
On February 14 2026 00:25 tigera6 wrote: I heard somebody mention that, one of the reason Terran lategame is so good against Skytoss is the improved Viking, they literally can shoot down everything flying (and Colossus) in a matter of secs unless you catch them with some huge Storm. Viking clear the Sky, Libs zone the Ground, Ghost for EMP with Bio support is just a hell to deal with. If we can nerf Viking range by 1, I think Skytoss would be a much better option lategame against Terran.
Pleeease don't make skytoss the answer. Also I disagree, the lategame struggles started this patch with Ghost +25 hp (not 1-shot by disruptor) and storm nerf. Well, storm is in some cases a nerf in others a buff, but in lategame I think a clear nerf with terran having plenty upgraded medivacs in lategame that just heal up any storm damage.
Yeah, the bracket looks good. First Clem's protoss vs. Maru, and if Serral meets Clem, Maru, or Reynor, it will not be before the finals or the third-place match.
On February 14 2026 00:25 tigera6 wrote: I heard somebody mention that, one of the reason Terran lategame is so good against Skytoss is the improved Viking, they literally can shoot down everything flying (and Colossus) in a matter of secs unless you catch them with some huge Storm. Viking clear the Sky, Libs zone the Ground, Ghost for EMP with Bio support is just a hell to deal with. If we can nerf Viking range by 1, I think Skytoss would be a much better option lategame against Terran.
Pleeease don't make skytoss the answer. Also I disagree, the lategame struggles started this patch with Ghost +25 hp (not 1-shot by disruptor) and storm nerf. Well, storm is in some cases a nerf in others a buff, but in lategame I think a clear nerf with terran having plenty upgraded medivacs in lategame that just heal up any storm damage.
Unfortunately it has to be, because Protoss anti-air sucks without Stargate units. Unless you want to have some Stalker upgrade that increase their air-range +2, you have to make Skytoss at some point to deal with Libs. I think PvT late game has already been in Terran favor for years even before the Ghost patch, but Terran doesnt rely on lategame because they can win outright in mid and early game. Now, its a bit harder to win that way, so Terran would just turtling on 3-4 bases when they dont have a good early game.
Btw, Classic losing 2 games to Cure proxying bring back that 2018-Maru feel.
EPT
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/misc/liuli2025groups.png)
