You have reached the finals after a close and action packed full set match. Tell us how you feel.
I found TvP very difficult in practice. I lost a lot of my confidence so I'm ecstatic to be moving on and the fact that it's a chance at a fifth title is the icing on the cake.
You started off by botching a timing attack in Set 1
Once the immortals had broken through, I knew I had lost. I stayed in the game to get warmed up.
Your cloaked ghosts got off great EMPs in Set 2. Was this planned?
Not at all. I was reacting to the situation and it happened to work out.
You tried all-ining repeatedly in Set 3. Honestly, it felt like you were giving up that set.
I knew very well that there was little chance it would work. However, starting off with an all-in meant that I had no other option. To be honest, I didn't have much planned for that set so it was a bit of a hassle. Then again, I believed that going for timings like those would give my opponent the impression that I was well prepared.
That's why you went for a triple orbital strategy in Set 4?
That's correct. I thought an all-in in Set 3 would make my opponent play more safely in the next set.
You got ahead in Set 5 after fending off DT harass. You seemed more than ready
I saw that he was preparing something and guessed it was DTs. Coincidentally, the engineering bay was about to finish. I knew that my opponent had a trick up his sleeve and it felt like DTs.
In yesterday's OSL Ro4, Rain had much trouble against Last's strategies. How did you feel about those games? Did they affect your games today?
I really didn't think much about those games at all. I thought Last played well. His strategies were well thought out. Rain seemed to think that he couldn't lose as long as things went his way.
Rain usually has great use of observers and scouts his opponent effectively
I knew that he liked to make a lot of observers. I was planning to kill all the ones I came across. That's about all I thought of that.
Many people counted you out after your dropped out of OSL. However, here you are once again in the finals
I thought I would have an easy time once I reached Ro8. I think I worked really hard in Ro8. I usually find it difficult to practice for a long time with different players. I also had to deal with enteritis so I was under-prepared for today.
If you had lost today, people would have laughed at ESF players for losing against Rain. Didn't this place a lot of pressure on you?
I guess but Rain has already beaten so many great players that it wouldn't have been that bad. In terms of both macro and micro, he's comparable to the best ESF players.
You said earlier that you wanted to face a Zerg in the finals so does that still stand?
Honestly, I feel like I can take down either player. However, for the sake of record keeping, I hope it's the Zerg who advances. Also, Life is in Startle which is a team with several second placers so he should pose less of a challenge (laugh) (T/N: reference to Squirtle, I guess)
Anything to add?
I want to thank Yoda, Happy, Dreamertt, Yonghwa, Seed and First for practising with me. Seed left for China to attend WCS today. The coach had to accompany him and he was worried that I had to attend by myself. I want to tell him to relax now that I've won. I want to thank my parents and say that I love my girlfriend.
This is your first time advancing to a Code S finals. Tell us how you feel
I feel great. Our team's Squirtle lost to MVP in the finals once before. I won't repeat history.
The Zergling pressure followed by Mutalisk play was impressive in Set 1. It could have become a base race too
I didn't know it was a three racks build. I had never encountered it in practice. In fact, the Mutalisk transition usually ended the game. I was a bit taken aback but the well-timed Baneling nest and its speed upgrade meant that I could attack in and win.
In Set 2, you went for Zergling/Baneling followed by Infestor
Taeja was more aggressive than I expected. Most Terrans play defensively but Taeja was the complete opposite which gave me a hard time. It was almost like being smothered.
You had great tempo early in Set 3 but couldn't finish the game until Hive tech really kicked in
I should have won with the Broodlords. However, I made too many Banelings when I should have made more Broodlords. I couldn't make use of the Banelings so I had a harder time that I should have.
MVP said that he would like to face you in the finals. If MVP wins, he'll have beaten every race in the finals
Not against me, he isn't. Watch out for my ceremonies in-game.
Do you think you can break Startale's second place curse?
Definitely. I'm originally from Zenex anyway. No problem.
Every potential royal roader has been stopped in the finals so far. What do you have to say about that?
I can't lose. Confidence alone has won me games so far. That's why I know that the finals is mine.
You and MVP are both aggressive in style so do you think that works in your favour?
I haven't studied MVP much so I can't say. I'm still going to win though.
In your interview for Ro8, you said you couldn't practise as much as you wanted because of school
I wasn't lying. I don't get to practise at all. Laddering occasionally is all I get to do.
Did people treat you differently once you made it to Ro4?
Not really. However, people keep making fun of me comparing me to someone whom I can't reveal. I wish they would stop (laugh)
Tell us your determination going into the finals
Honestly, it's my first finals and I don't have much to say yet. All I know is that I'm going to win.
Anything to add?
I want to thank my teammates and Hack in particular for practising with me. He was a great help in analysing my opponent. I want to thank all the fans who came to cheer me on. I was able to attend today because my school was so understanding. I want to thank my teacher. Lastly, I want to say thanks to the sponsors RedBull, BenQ, Zowie and Joy Gear
lol MVP tried to make it looked like he was prepared. xD Underprepare against a player that very likely spent many many more hours preparing and still win, so sick.
Not sure what to think about the finals. I don't like most TvZs these days but I think if MVP is in it it should still be good games regardless.
On October 10 2012 22:15 storywriter wrote: Also, Life is in Startale which is a team with several second placers so he should pose less of a challenge
Brilliant.
I'm so thrilled that MVP is in another finals, I'm going to be cheering my heart out for him in the Grand Finals.
On October 10 2012 22:22 canikizu wrote: Play TvP.
Thank Yoda for practicing with him.
?
Haha, I think he discussed strategy with him and the other two terrans (Happy and dreamertt), he said in the winner's interview that all his 3 terran teammates were really good against protoss, so they helped him out a lot.
The coach had to accopany him and he was worried that I had to attend by myself. I want to tell him to relax now that I've won. I want to thank my parents and say that I love my girlfriend.
On October 10 2012 22:29 Dodgin wrote: If Coach Kang left with Seed who did Mvp high five in the booth after the games? The camera didn't show it
It was probably Nestea.
Haha, my guess would be Happy, since Happy often comes to the studio when Mvp is playing a match, but I think I saw Yoda. I may be absolutely crazy, but I think I saw a white shirt flashing quickly in the shot of him giving the high five, and I think I saw someone looking a lot like Yoda with slightly shorter hair in the studio at some point, wearing a white shirt of some kind.
On October 10 2012 22:22 canikizu wrote: Play TvP.
Thank Yoda for practicing with him.
?
Haha, I think he discussed strategy with him and the other two terrans (Happy and dreamertt), he said in the winner's interview that all his 3 terran teammates were really good against protoss, so they helped him out a lot.
Also, given Mvp's condition, maybe Yoda, Happy and dreamertt all practiced specific builds so Mvp would see how the builds would work. Plus Happy played Rain (and beat him) in Ro32. Once you get to Ro4/ro8 where you play a specific matchups/players. Each team will focus a lot of energy helping players prepare.
On October 10 2012 22:29 Dodgin wrote: If Coach Kang left with Seed who did Mvp high five in the booth after the games? The camera didn't show it
It was probably Nestea.
Haha, my guess would be Happy, since Happy often comes to the studio when Mvp is playing a match, but I think I saw Yoda. I may be absolutely crazy, but I think I saw a white shirt flashing quickly in the shot of him giving the high five, and I think I saw someone looking a lot like Yoda with slightly shorter hair in the studio at some point, wearing a white shirt of some kind.
I think they actually showed Happy in the crowd when Life was doing his interview. So Happy was definitely there.
On October 10 2012 22:22 canikizu wrote: Play TvP.
Thank Yoda for practicing with him.
?
Probably gave him ideas. Someone was with him at the studio and it wasn't the coach, might of been Happy/Yoda.
That's how badass he is. He practices TvT for TvP.
Also, given that Mvp is also pretty good with P. Maybe he played P while Yoda/Happy/dreamertt used his own strategies against his P and Mvp could see how Protoss would respond.
On October 10 2012 22:46 Hall0wed wrote: rofl that Life interview is hilarious, every answer is just him saying he will win. Well he hasn't been wrong yet.
I thought about just writing - Life: "I'm going to win" - for the entire interview haha
noone's gonna remember Life's win if he takes MVP down, what remains from this season for future generations is MVP's destruction of Rain and his advancement to his 6th finals in spite of all adversity
On October 10 2012 22:22 canikizu wrote: Play TvP.
Thank Yoda for practicing with him.
?
Haha, I think he discussed strategy with him and the other two terrans (Happy and dreamertt), he said in the winner's interview that all his 3 terran teammates were really good against protoss, so they helped him out a lot.
Also, given Mvp's condition, maybe Yoda, Happy and dreamertt all practiced specific builds so Mvp would see how the builds would work. Plus Happy played Rain (and beat him) in Ro32. Once you get to Ro4/ro8 where you play a specific matchups/players. Each team will focus a lot of energy helping players prepare.
Yeah this sounds very true. Actually, watching someone else do a build is a great thing as well, as they will have minor differences, and you can review those for yourself. Your play becomes stale if you don't study the thought processes of other people's play. Their play will have insights and mistakes; both will be hugely useful to watch.
On October 10 2012 22:29 Dodgin wrote: If Coach Kang left with Seed who did Mvp high five in the booth after the games? The camera didn't show it
It was probably Nestea.
Haha, my guess would be Happy, since Happy often comes to the studio when Mvp is playing a match, but I think I saw Yoda. I may be absolutely crazy, but I think I saw a white shirt flashing quickly in the shot of him giving the high five, and I think I saw someone looking a lot like Yoda with slightly shorter hair in the studio at some point, wearing a white shirt of some kind.
I think they actually showed Happy in the crowd when Life was doing his interview. So Happy was definitely there.
On October 10 2012 22:22 canikizu wrote: Play TvP.
Thank Yoda for practicing with him.
?
Haha, I think he discussed strategy with him and the other two terrans (Happy and dreamertt), he said in the winner's interview that all his 3 terran teammates were really good against protoss, so they helped him out a lot.
Also, given Mvp's condition, maybe Yoda, Happy and dreamertt all practiced specific builds so Mvp would see how the builds would work. Plus Happy played Rain (and beat him) in Ro32. Once you get to Ro4/ro8 where you play a specific matchups/players. Each team will focus a lot of energy helping players prepare.
Reminds me of that KT comic where all skills just feed into Flash
Life sounds as confident as Parting ... and Squirtle ... we all know where that ended up Grats to both, looking forward to the final, both very much play there own style this could actualy be a good TvZ.
On October 10 2012 23:04 GoSuChicken wrote: I feel like Mvp has this, he has much more experience and it seems to my like Life's play is exploitable. That is probably what Mvp is going to do.
GO MVP!!!
I'm afraid I have to dispute this claim. So far, no one has been able to exploit whatever it is that people think is exploitable in Life's play. People in LRs have been talking about how Life will go down when he faces a good player, and now he's beaten (most notably) Seed, MKP and Taeja. I know none of them are Mvp, but I don't think his style is as easy to exploit as people seem to want to think.
i hope for mvp to win this gsl, cement his legacy as the first great starcraft 2 player of his generation, then retire as a 5 time gsl champ and heal his body.
On October 10 2012 23:04 GoSuChicken wrote: I feel like Mvp has this, he has much more experience and it seems to my like Life's play is exploitable. That is probably what Mvp is going to do.
GO MVP!!!
I'm afraid I have to dispute this claim. So far, no one has been able to exploit whatever it is that people think is exploitable in Life's play. People in LRs have been talking about how Life will go down when he faces a good player, and now he's beaten (most notably) Seed, MKP and Taeja. I know none of them are Mvp, but I don't think his style is as easy to exploit as people seem to want to think.
It's a best of 7 though, not many people have beaten MVP in a best of 7, and i fully believe there is no one currently that prepares better then IM (MVP and co).
On October 10 2012 23:04 GoSuChicken wrote: I feel like Mvp has this, he has much more experience and it seems to my like Life's play is exploitable. That is probably what Mvp is going to do.
GO MVP!!!
I'm afraid I have to dispute this claim. So far, no one has been able to exploit whatever it is that people think is exploitable in Life's play. People in LRs have been talking about how Life will go down when he faces a good player, and now he's beaten (most notably) Seed, MKP and Taeja. I know none of them are Mvp, but I don't think his style is as easy to exploit as people seem to want to think.
He is StarTale and is up against Mvp in a GSL final, he doesn't have much of a chance, especially if he is as confident as he says he is.
On October 10 2012 23:04 GoSuChicken wrote: I feel like Mvp has this, he has much more experience and it seems to my like Life's play is exploitable. That is probably what Mvp is going to do.
GO MVP!!!
I'm afraid I have to dispute this claim. So far, no one has been able to exploit whatever it is that people think is exploitable in Life's play. People in LRs have been talking about how Life will go down when he faces a good player, and now he's beaten (most notably) Seed, MKP and Taeja. I know none of them are Mvp, but I don't think his style is as easy to exploit as people seem to want to think.
Don't forget MVP got a whole week of finding holes in Life's playstyle. If there are any whatsoever MVP will find them and abuse the hell out of them in the finals.
On October 10 2012 23:04 GoSuChicken wrote: I feel like Mvp has this, he has much more experience and it seems to my like Life's play is exploitable. That is probably what Mvp is going to do.
GO MVP!!!
I'm afraid I have to dispute this claim. So far, no one has been able to exploit whatever it is that people think is exploitable in Life's play. People in LRs have been talking about how Life will go down when he faces a good player, and now he's beaten (most notably) Seed, MKP and Taeja. I know none of them are Mvp, but I don't think his style is as easy to exploit as people seem to want to think.
This seems awfully familiar, the same argument people put up for Rain.
I think people cling to their myths a bit too much. Mvp has often said he improvised during series, which shows how perceptive he is, but some frame it as him being good at preparing for some reason.
And Mvp can't practice too much, same for Life. Life also doesn't spend all of his time at the team house as far as I know, Mvp didn't use to, but that may have changed. Yet these two players are in the finals. Why? I think it's talent, not just them spending 14 hours a day in a practice house.
On October 10 2012 23:39 Paincarnate wrote: I'm Curious who it is is that people keep comparing Life to...?
Is that capitalisation a mistake or some sort of pun? O_O
Either way; playstyle wise they compare him to July, and player wise they compare him to PartinG (because PartinG was very very cocky before playing against Mvp in S2).
On October 10 2012 23:04 GoSuChicken wrote: I feel like Mvp has this, he has much more experience and it seems to my like Life's play is exploitable. That is probably what Mvp is going to do.
GO MVP!!!
I'm afraid I have to dispute this claim. So far, no one has been able to exploit whatever it is that people think is exploitable in Life's play. People in LRs have been talking about how Life will go down when he faces a good player, and now he's beaten (most notably) Seed, MKP and Taeja. I know none of them are Mvp, but I don't think his style is as easy to exploit as people seem to want to think.
Don't forget MVP got a whole week of finding holes in Life's playstyle. If there are any whatsoever MVP will find them and abuse the hell out of them in the finals.
Doesn't matter how MVP exploits his holes, they don't call Life the Sex Coma Zerg for no reason.
On October 10 2012 23:41 .Wraath wrote: Im not going to lie, I was almost shocked to see MVP had beaten Rain, but I am sure glad he did!
He represents the ESF players exceptionally well and I wish him the best in the finals.
Also, I think Life will crumble under the pressure. Squirtle will have to give him a lot of guidance if he hopes to succeed.
Don't know why people are so surprised about the result. After I watched Rain vs Last, I was quite confident that Mvp would win. I didn't expect it to be this close though.
The GSL finals were decided when MVP beat Rain. Life is going to get dismantled by MVP. Unless his words are sheer bravado, his attitude is going to lose him the match. If you have a stylistic way of playing a race, MVP will break you.
I hope he puts up a good fight though He's super entertaining to watch, even when the infestors come out.
On October 10 2012 23:04 GoSuChicken wrote: I feel like Mvp has this, he has much more experience and it seems to my like Life's play is exploitable. That is probably what Mvp is going to do.
GO MVP!!!
I'm afraid I have to dispute this claim. So far, no one has been able to exploit whatever it is that people think is exploitable in Life's play. People in LRs have been talking about how Life will go down when he faces a good player, and now he's beaten (most notably) Seed, MKP and Taeja. I know none of them are Mvp, but I don't think his style is as easy to exploit as people seem to want to think.
While I believe Life is a strong player, and looks even stronger than when Symbol was 'supposed' to win, Taeja and MKP can hardly be considered cerebral players. They get by on pure talent and mechanics, not on strategy and decision-making. Still very impressive wins by Life, but they are very different from Mvp. PartinG, By.Sun, even Squirtle, were all very stylistic players who no one could figure out and beat until Mvp did it (against the predictions of many). If anyone can figure Life out, it will be Mvp. I'm not saying he will for sure, but he is the best at it and he will figure out a plan.
On October 10 2012 23:45 Grumbels wrote: I think people cling to their myths a bit too much. Mvp has often said he improvised during series, which shows how perceptive he is, but some frame it as him being good at preparing for some reason.
And Mvp can't practice too much, same for Life. Life also doesn't spend all of his time at the team house as far as I know, Mvp didn't use to, but that may have changed. Yet these two players are in the finals. Why? I think it's talent, not just them spending 14 hours a day in a practice house.
I think 'preparing' is kind of misunderstood. By preparing, it doesn't actually mean you have specific builds for each set/ap. 2 rax on Antiga, 3 CC on CK, etc. That would actually be the easiest to prepare because you only need to worry about yourself. Any masters players can do that.
Being 'prepared' means that you know your opponent can do A, B, C or D. And how you would 'react' to each one. Or if you just won a macro game, and is up 2-0. Do you play aggressive or greedy? What is you won by cheese? Or you won by shutting down cheese. That is why some players are 'harder' to prepare for (Mvp is probably a really good example). He can do A, B, C or D or E, F, G, H? So you have to prepare A LOT more.
I was so afraid for MVP that I couldn't bring myself to watch it live as I am sure I would've gone on a mad nerd rage if he had lost, it's so amazing and relieving that he won, especially against rain, makes me even happier, long live MVP ! <3 His smile after winning the last set. Also, after reading life's interviews and seeing how cocky and disregarding he is, I hope he gets completely demolished 4-0.
I don't see why people are saying mvp destroyed rain. Either player could have won and rain just played games against last and obviously learnt from them. Rain will come back next GSL even stronger (though given how good players are it's possible he'll get knocked out earlier). However for the sake of the finals I'm glad mvp won (mvp seems like a nice guy too so good for him). ZvP is the worst right now so I'm glad that didn't happen.
On October 11 2012 00:06 RainMore wrote: I don't see why people are saying mvp destroyed rain. Either player could have won and rain just played games against last and obviously learnt from them. Rain will come back next GSL even stronger (though given how good players are it's possible he'll get knocked out earlier). However for the sake of the finals I'm glad mvp won (mvp seems like a nice guy too so good for him). ZvP is the worst right now so I'm glad that didn't happen.
Mvp defeated Rain is what people said which is true.
Ehh, hype trains are what keeps me coming back to SC2. Disappointed that Rain lost today .
Oh well, I hope he wins the OSL at least (or stays top in SC2 in general).
The worse thing about most hype trains (which I consider a good thing as they keep things interesting) are the ones that get shut down completely (there are lots of players that were hyped up then sort of fell off the scene).
So, I hope Sun/Rain wins the OSL. As for the GSL? It's hard to choose.
Generally I always vote for the underdog (or whoever has won the least money, heh). I kind of want MVP to win more though (he needs to take a break from SC2 and get his injuries healed).
Other than the fact I am a Startale fan, I really want Life to win. Yes, it would be awesome to see Mvp get his 5th win, but I always like to see someone new to take it. The fact Life is so young and playing so good really makes want to root for him. He is the underdog coming into this and I would love to see him take a championship against such a strong player. I really hope Life brings out a ton of good strategies against Mvp, so he can get the championship for himself and Startale.
"Do you think you can break Startale's second place curse?
Definitely. I'm originally from Zenex anyway. No problem. "
Also find it pretty interesting that Life feels Taeja was aggressive; it looked more like Life was repeatedly battering Taeja from all different angles tbh =p
It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
On October 10 2012 22:54 anatem wrote: noone's gonna remember Life's win if he takes MVP down, what remains from this season for future generations is MVP's destruction of Rain and his advancement to his 6th finals in spite of all adversity
Yeah, youngest ever finalist in GSL history walks the royal road and wins against 4 time GSL champion and no one will remember? Life will make history, and it will be just the beginning.
On October 10 2012 22:54 anatem wrote: noone's gonna remember Life's win if he takes MVP down, what remains from this season for future generations is MVP's destruction of Rain and his advancement to his 6th finals in spite of all adversity
Yeah, youngest ever finalist in GSL history walks the royal road and wins against 4 time GSL champion and no one will remember? Life will make history, and it will be just the beginning.
Youngest ever finalist is not really that impressive. 5 time champion in the hardest league on Earth? That's worthy of remembering.
Also it wouldn't be too unlikely for a 13 year old progamer to pop up in the future and take a GSL, what would Life be then?
Also 'royal-roader' isn't exactly the most impressive title either, at least I don't think of it when I see Jaedong, there's not really too much 'epicness' about it.
On October 10 2012 22:54 anatem wrote: noone's gonna remember Life's win if he takes MVP down, what remains from this season for future generations is MVP's destruction of Rain and his advancement to his 6th finals in spite of all adversity
Yeah, youngest ever finalist in GSL history walks the royal road and wins against 4 time GSL champion and no one will remember? Life will make history, and it will be just the beginning.
Youngest ever finalist is not really that impressive. 5 time champion in the hardest league on Earth? That's worthy of remembering.
Also it wouldn't be too unlikely for a 13 year old progamer to pop up in the future and take a GSL, what would Life be then?
Also 'royal-roader' isn't exactly the most impressive title either, at least I don't think of it when I see Jaedong, there's not really too much 'epicness' about it.
MVP hasn't won 5 titles yet. Maybe Life will win 5 too, he sure has more time than MVP to do so.
Also, Life is in Startle which is a team with several second placers so he should pose less of a challenge (laugh) (T/N: reference to Squirtle, I guess)
Also, Life is in Startle which is a team with several second placers so he should pose less of a challenge (laugh) (T/N: reference to Squirtle, I guess)
This just in: MVP is still MVP. He is inside your head, even though your not even a professional player and he never meet or played you. All amazing GSL runs end with him. He is the Omega of the GSL brackets.
Also, Life is in Startle which is a team with several second placers so he should pose less of a challenge (laugh) (T/N: reference to Squirtle, I guess)
And Rainbow (Hopetorture).
And July.
And the whole team in GSTL... twice.
And KSL, IPL, red bull battlegrounds, WCS Korea...
Also, Life is in Startle which is a team with several second placers so he should pose less of a challenge (laugh) (T/N: reference to Squirtle, I guess)
And Rainbow (Hopetorture).
And July.
And the whole team in GSTL... twice.
And KSL, IPL, red bull battlegrounds, WCS Korea...
Mvp proves time and time again that he knows what's up, every little single detail of this game without even trying. I think Life's inexperience is going to hit a hard barrier against Mvp.
On October 10 2012 23:04 GoSuChicken wrote: I feel like Mvp has this, he has much more experience and it seems to my like Life's play is exploitable. That is probably what Mvp is going to do.
GO MVP!!!
I'm afraid I have to dispute this claim. So far, no one has been able to exploit whatever it is that people think is exploitable in Life's play. People in LRs have been talking about how Life will go down when he faces a good player, and now he's beaten (most notably) Seed, MKP and Taeja. I know none of them are Mvp, but I don't think his style is as easy to exploit as people seem to want to think.
While I believe Life is a strong player, and looks even stronger than when Symbol was 'supposed' to win, Taeja and MKP can hardly be considered cerebral players. They get by on pure talent and mechanics, not on strategy and decision-making. Still very impressive wins by Life, but they are very different from Mvp. PartinG, By.Sun, even Squirtle, were all very stylistic players who no one could figure out and beat until Mvp did it (against the predictions of many). If anyone can figure Life out, it will be Mvp. I'm not saying he will for sure, but he is the best at it and he will figure out a plan.
MKP is great at strategic play (in the MLG he won he displayed a lot of different terrans playstyle) and his decision making is not bad in itself, it's more that his stubborness and sometimes impatience influence his decision making too much.
Ad for TaeJa, I did not watch enough games from him to really evaluate his strategic lvl / decision making, but you don't put up as much results if you are lacking in these areas. The real problem for TaeJa was that he is in a foreign team thus he doesn't have a team / coach to help him really prepare for a GSL ro4, which Mvp has.
Wasn't Life the guy who lost against Creator in TSL4 by the way? So he is already a "2nd placer" despite being originally from ZeNEX!
Really excited for this finals, the one that I wanted the most. Life has a really original style of playing zerg. I remember when seeing July play in S2 that I found his style really strong yet he made so many mistakes that it was hard to watch. Life is not like that, he actually is really strong.
Now Mvp's style is completely different from Taeja's. I'm going to root hard for him. Go take one more title Mvp, most entertaining terran to ever play SC2 !
On October 11 2012 02:19 laerteis wrote: This kid is way to naive. Hasn't he witnessed the fate of his overconfident predecessors?
Confidence wins him games? Against MVP confidence will lose him games.
Haha I was thinking this the whole time I was reading the interview. Gotta hand it to Life though the kid has confidence! Don't confuse it for cockiness, he's not saying MVP is bad and he's better, he's just got this raw confidence that he MUST win and I gotta say I love it. That however doesn't change the fact that as you stated, confidence is sometimes an enemy vs MVP. I also thought it was entertaining when he said he hadn't studied MVP much. Bad move Life! Better hit those books and be ready for the big finals test!
His comment about being from Zenex originally was priceless, must say this interview has made me really take a shine to Life
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
On October 10 2012 22:45 Lockitupv2 wrote: I remember what happened last time someone got super cocky and said they would beat mvp.
ye , parting , now code b right ? still a beast pvter
There's something in the air about Life though. As far as Parting, Squirtle and Rain goes, all of them "should" have won their encounters with Mvp but there was always that feeling that it was just not gonna happen. I dunno, maybe it's just in my head, but the type of confidence Life has is different, not to mention he's a different race compared to the other three. Guess there's only one way to find out
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
It's getting less and less every time i hear people say this.
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
It's getting less and less every time i hear people say this.
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
It's getting less and less every time i hear people say this.
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
It's getting less and less every time i hear people say this.
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
It's getting less and less every time i hear people say this.
Still true nonetheless.
No, it was never true and was just a myth stephano spread to build up this image as a gosu player who doesn't practice. It's worked because people still believe it to this day.
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
Stephano used to play 2 hours a day back when he was a War3 semi-pro. He never claimed to play such a few amount of hours in Starcraft 2, that's a myth. Use your head man, how could he, as a non-working and non-studying person whose contacts are almost all related to e-Sports, spend his time differently than practicing most of the time ? Not necessarily 8 hours a day, but anything below 5 hours is naive imo.
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
It's getting less and less every time i hear people say this.
Still true nonetheless.
Life's better than Stephano tho.
I'm not sure if people seriously believe this Stephano thingy that he doesn't/didn't practice (he might not be practicing a lot in match-ups he is good at / understands, but when he is lacking he practices hard) and if you seriously believe that Life is better than Stephano...
For instance, he played a shit ton of games (like as much or more than Kas) when he started SC2 in order to understand the game and stuff. He used to say that he was in the medicine school when he was not so I guess this "I don't practice" thing is also a troll.
On October 10 2012 23:56 mikedebo wrote: The GSL finals were decided when MVP beat Rain. Life is going to get dismantled by MVP. Unless his words are sheer bravado, his attitude is going to lose him the match. If you have a stylistic way of playing a race, MVP will break you.
I hope he puts up a good fight though He's super entertaining to watch, even when the infestors come out.
i disagree...at least for TvP, MVP is best at breaking those who rely on a 'safe build' most of the time - Parting and Squirtle... with Rain he went 2-2 vs rain's standard build since rain > parting and squirtle, but had the foresight to suspect something and bitchslapped the DT -> 3 base build
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
It's getting less and less every time i hear people say this.
Still true nonetheless.
No, it was never true and was just a myth stephano spread to build up this image as a gosu player who doesn't practice. It's worked because people still believe it to this day.
You're not obligated to believe it, doesn't change anything to anyone.
On October 11 2012 04:04 HaXXspetten wrote: ...how does Stephano end up being compared to every single player everywhere?
Because he is the only foreign player who can be compared to koreans but doesn't participate in the GSL, thus some people doubt he could do something here and others are sure he could?
On October 10 2012 22:54 anatem wrote: noone's gonna remember Life's win if he takes MVP down, what remains from this season for future generations is MVP's destruction of Rain and his advancement to his 6th finals in spite of all adversity
Yeah, youngest ever finalist in GSL history walks the royal road and wins against 4 time GSL champion and no one will remember? Life will make history, and it will be just the beginning.
Youngest ever finalist is not really that impressive. 5 time champion in the hardest league on Earth? That's worthy of remembering.
Also it wouldn't be too unlikely for a 13 year old progamer to pop up in the future and take a GSL, what would Life be then?
Also 'royal-roader' isn't exactly the most impressive title either, at least I don't think of it when I see Jaedong, there's not really too much 'epicness' about it.
for sc2 fans it will be epic, and thats really what matters.
im not even trying to be a bw-elitist -- its just that for those whos history is limited to sc2, this is a (somewhat bastardized) potential Bisu vs Savior moment.
dont kill me for saying that. i did say bastardized. and i obviously mean that its at a different (lower) level. but life's setting the stage with his trash talk.
personally i think life will take the first two games and mvp will sweep 4-2.
I love the confidence from Life, at least he can back it up with the consistent skill and results. Either way, both players will set records when they win, Mvp the first 5-time GSL champion, and Life the youngest and a Royal Roader. I know an epic series is at hand here, with the experienced veteran who should lose yet always pulls it off versus the young, confident kid who has been ripping up GSL. This is bound to be a GSL finals for the ages.
I swear MVP is gonna 2 raxes and cheese the shit outta Life in the first 2 or 3 games and then turtle like a bitch until he win the 5th title lol. The guy knows how to fuck with cocky kid like Life
Honestly...this whole Stephano excuse of not wanting to do the GSL because of the format is rubbish. One season of GSL is only about 1 and a half months, and even so that is only if you make it to the grand finals. In this time span, you will play a minimum of 14 games if you win them all, up to a maximum of 23 matches if you take each match to the final game. And again, this is only if you make it to the finals, for all we know it could only be 1 day in Korea for Stephano if he gets knocked out of the RO32. On top of all this, next season is the shortest season because of the semis and grand final being merged into the same day. So if Stephano doesnt man up and take his seed next season, dont expect to ever see him there.
He has mentioned before in an interview that he prefers to quit while he is on top, in contrast to retiring when he is in a slump. Lets put 2 and 2 together now... Not wanting to go up against the best players in the world in their home turf + wanting to quit while "on top" (in the eyes of foreigners who dont follow the Korean scene) = the real reason for his negligence. In all honesty, most foreigners would jump on a code S seed in a heartbeat, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. And if Stephano doesnt want to man up and face his fears, then he will forever be remembered as the guy who pwned foreigners, but didnt have the balls to face the best of the best.
On October 11 2012 05:27 Vasoline73 wrote: Surprised so many people expect MVP to win when Life straight up demolished MKP and Taeja easily...
MVP is better than them. Especially in GSL. MVP's match against Symbol made his TvZ look far stronger than either of them.
Symbol was sick during those matches. His ZvT was very unimpressive.
On October 11 2012 05:00 Incomplet wrote: Honestly...this whole Stephano excuse of not wanting to do the GSL because of the format is rubbish. One season of GSL is only about 1 and a half months, and even so that is only if you make it to the grand finals. In this time span, you will play a minimum of 14 games if you win them all, up to a maximum of 23 matches if you take each match to the final game. And again, this is only if you make it to the finals, for all we know it could only be 1 day in Korea for Stephano if he gets knocked out of the RO32. On top of all this, next season is the shortest season because of the semis and grand final being merged into the same day. So if Stephano doesnt man up and take his seed next season, dont expect to ever see him there.
He has mentioned before in an interview that he prefers to quit while he is on top, in contrast to retiring when he is in a slump. Lets put 2 and 2 together now... Not wanting to go up against the best players in the world in their home turf + wanting to quit while "on top" (in the eyes of foreigners who dont follow the Korean scene) = the real reason for his negligence. In all honesty, most foreigners would jump on a code S seed in a heartbeat, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. And if Stephano doesnt want to man up and face his fears, then he will forever be remembered as the guy who pwned foreigners, but didnt have the balls to face the best of the best.
What did you expect? Stephano is playing because he likes winning money.
On October 11 2012 04:58 ToKoreaWithLove wrote: Has anyone ever played mech against Life?
Also, super happy when mvp won!
Off the top of my head:
Game 3 against MMA in Iron Squid Games 2 and 3 against Sea in WCS Qualifiers Games 2 and 5 against Keen in TSL4 Game 4 against MKP in GSL Ro8 Game 7 against MKP in KSL semifinals
On October 11 2012 04:58 ToKoreaWithLove wrote: Has anyone ever played mech against Life?
Also, super happy when mvp won!
The only thing I can think of was when Keen was going to mech against Life in the TSL 4 Semifinals and Life went 2 base spire and killed him really quick
Mvp will prove you wrong, as he always does to all the doubters
And then you feel like a dumbass for ever doubting the King
Well, it seems that when people doubt Mvp, he wins, but when people expect him to walk all over his opponent, he doesn't do as well. See: MMA vs. Mvp where MMA completely demolished him. So it's not impossible.
I wish rain won because honestly, there is no terran that can beat life right now. We needed a good finals. I predict life will 4-1 MVP. Long live the king.
What did you expect? Stephano is playing because he likes winning money.
This is also just a ploy. He is an intelligent person and knows how to be a "showman" and what to say to please his fans. But there is really no reason to believe what he actually says when it comes to just coming down to money or practicing 2 hours a day. He is very emotionally attached to both the game and his fans. He just doesnt want to lose in front of them because he thinks he will disappoint them. Hence these tweets.
@EGStephanoRC Some people stupîdity makes me regret/hate my choice on going professional on starcraft. Which makes me play worse and worse.
@EGStephanoRC I am ashamed of myself, and you must be too. I am sorry...
What did you expect? Stephano is playing because he likes winning money.
This is also just a ploy. He is an intelligent person and knows how to be a "showman" and what to say to please his fans. But there is really no reason to believe what he actually says when it comes to just coming down to money or practicing 2 hours a day. He is very emotionally attached to both the game and his fans. He just doesnt want to lose in front of them because he thinks he will disappoint them. Hence these tweets.
What did you expect? Stephano is playing because he likes winning money.
This is also just a ploy. He is an intelligent person and knows how to be a "showman" and what to say to please his fans. But there is really no reason to believe what he actually says when it comes to just coming down to money or practicing 2 hours a day. He is very emotionally attached to both the game and his fans. He just doesnt want to lose in front of them because he thinks he will disappoint them. Hence these tweets.
@EGStephanoRC Some people stupîdity makes me regret/hate my choice on going professional on starcraft. Which makes me play worse and worse.
@EGStephanoRC I am ashamed of myself, and you must be too. I am sorry...
Ashamed of himself for what? I doubt he regrets that particular "fiasco" besides the fact that it was a private conversation that became public.
For his play against ForGG in the Dreamhack Valencia.
What did you expect? Stephano is playing because he likes winning money.
This is also just a ploy. He is an intelligent person and knows how to be a "showman" and what to say to please his fans. But there is really no reason to believe what he actually says when it comes to just coming down to money or practicing 2 hours a day. He is very emotionally attached to both the game and his fans. He just doesnt want to lose in front of them because he thinks he will disappoint them. Hence these tweets.
@EGStephanoRC Some people stupîdity makes me regret/hate my choice on going professional on starcraft. Which makes me play worse and worse.
@EGStephanoRC I am ashamed of myself, and you must be too. I am sorry...
Ashamed of himself for what? I doubt he regrets that particular "fiasco" besides the fact that it was a private conversation that became public.
What did you expect? Stephano is playing because he likes winning money.
This is also just a ploy. He is an intelligent person and knows how to be a "showman" and what to say to please his fans. But there is really no reason to believe what he actually says when it comes to just coming down to money or practicing 2 hours a day. He is very emotionally attached to both the game and his fans. He just doesnt want to lose in front of them because he thinks he will disappoint them. Hence these tweets.
@EGStephanoRC Some people stupîdity makes me regret/hate my choice on going professional on starcraft. Which makes me play worse and worse.
@EGStephanoRC I am ashamed of myself, and you must be too. I am sorry...
Ashamed of himself for what? I doubt he regrets that particular "fiasco" besides the fact that it was a private conversation that became public.
Getting knocked out of Dreamhack by ForGG
the first tweet was actually about the whole bling stream thing not him losing anyway, like i said ... Mvp is actually just a god
Life was far and away the zerg I liked the most (and there really aren't many, at all), but not showing respect to MVP has quickly gotten him to the bottom of the list, I hope he gets 4-0ed.
On October 11 2012 06:54 IshinShishi wrote: Life was far and away the zerg I liked the most (and there really aren't many, at all), but not showing respect to MVP has quickly gotten him to the bottom of the list, I hope he gets 4-0ed.
People who show respect to Mvp generally lose against him. Also I seem to recall that people love MC for saying the exact same things, which are not completely serious.
What did you expect? Stephano is playing because he likes winning money.
This is also just a ploy. He is an intelligent person and knows how to be a "showman" and what to say to please his fans. But there is really no reason to believe what he actually says when it comes to just coming down to money or practicing 2 hours a day. He is very emotionally attached to both the game and his fans. He just doesnt want to lose in front of them because he thinks he will disappoint them. Hence these tweets.
@EGStephanoRC Some people stupîdity makes me regret/hate my choice on going professional on starcraft. Which makes me play worse and worse.
@EGStephanoRC I am ashamed of myself, and you must be too. I am sorry...
Ashamed of himself for what? I doubt he regrets that particular "fiasco" besides the fact that it was a private conversation that became public.
Getting knocked out of Dreamhack by ForGG
Which I can understand since he should have won that game. However, those two tweets are about two different circumstances.
On October 11 2012 07:24 Ksquared wrote: MVP to win game 7 with a 11-11 rax
And the heads of everyone involved in the Startale house implodes with disbelief. My money's on MVP making yet another kong. It is kind of his thing at this point.
This is going to be the most exciting GSL finals ever.
Hope the games live up to the hype.
Oh and Life's interview if fucking hilarious. His confidence is such that it doesn't really make you hate him or view it with suspicion. It's pure, unadulterated confidence. (I'll qualify that and say that's the impression I get from the English translation).
On October 11 2012 07:24 Ksquared wrote: MVP to win game 7 with a 11-11 rax
And the heads of everyone involved in the Startale house implodes with disbelief. My money's on MVP making yet another kong. It is kind of his thing at this point.
1 silver does not a kong make, though it would be pretty funny to see StarTale with another silver.
When will startale learn that cockyness agaisnt MVP is the silly. MVP has been the most doubted champion ever whenever he vs some new talent like Parting, Squirtle, and now Rain. Just you watch MVP is the champ. MMA is probably the only person that beats MVP.
Better for an inexperienced 15 year old kid to be overconfident than to be under-confident. I would rather look out for these young up and coming players than those kespa players. They have a higher chance to be the next bonjwas afterall.
On October 11 2012 09:14 babysimba wrote: Better for an inexperienced 15 year old kid to be overconfident than to be under-confident. I would rather look out for these young up and coming players than those kespa players. They have a higher chance to be the next bonjwas afterall.
It's pretty funny to read MVP's interviews. He often says stuff like
To be honest, I didn't have much planned for that set so it was a bit of a hassle.
I really didn't think much about those games at all.
That's about all I thought of that.
He reminds me of some dude in a hipster band. Yeah, man, we didn't really do much work on the album. We just had some coffee and said, you know, let's let things flow and we'll record what we play. We didn't really plan anything. The sounds are just reactions.
He reminds me of some dude in a hipster band. Yeah, man, we didn't really do much work on the album. We just had some coffee and said, you know, let's let things flow and we'll record what we play. We didn't really plan anything. The sounds are just reactions.
"What's your thought process behind Game 7 against Squirtle?" Yeah what? Game 7 against Squirtle? Oh yeah I vaguely remember that. Oh yeah, I was about to miss my favorite TV show and I wanted to get home quickly. So I just said whatever. Dude, total coincidence, but did you hear I won the GSL?
On October 11 2012 09:10 FataLe wrote: The reference to the second place thing is not only to Squirtle, writer. But the entire team.
Soooo many 2nd places. It's kind of sad.
Exactly: Open season 1: Hopetorture GSL March: July 2012 season 2 Squirtle. IPL4: Squirtle HSC: Sound IEM NY: Fruitdealer WCS Kor: Squirtle TSL 4: life Red Bull thing: Bomber
On October 11 2012 09:10 FataLe wrote: The reference to the second place thing is not only to Squirtle, writer. But the entire team.
Soooo many 2nd places. It's kind of sad.
Exactly: Open season 1: Hopetorture GSL March: July 2012 season 2 Squirtle. IPL4: Squirtle HSC: Sound IEM NY: Fruitdealer WCS Kor: Squirtle TSL 4: life Red Bull thing: Bomber
GSTL season 1 2012 GSTL season 1
Throw in a pair of KSL silvers and you've got the complete list!
On October 11 2012 06:10 Dr.Frost wrote: I wish rain won because honestly, there is no terran that can beat life right now. We needed a good finals. I predict life will 4-1 MVP. Long live the king.
It's funny, a lot of people were saying there was no terran that could beat Rain too (also Parting during his Royal Road season)...
I don't know the latest on MVP's condition, but from what he's shown he must be feeling much better than in recent seasons (even better than his last championship run I'd say). So I'm quite optimistic that he'll show us some good game and will be picking him for my liquidbet.
Plus, as mentioned, against stylistic players MVP is usually prepared to pick them apart (Re: the base-trade style in GSL Season 1 against MKP). And that's a preparation thing, so even if his condition isn't as great as I think, he can still game-plan Life like no one else has yet.
On October 11 2012 08:52 Raid wrote: When will startale learn that cockyness agaisnt MVP is the silly. MVP has been the most doubted champion ever whenever he vs some new talent like Parting, Squirtle, and now Rain. Just you watch MVP is the champ. MMA is probably the only person that beats MVP.
MVP will win the finals, because it's GSL and he's MVP.
He shouldn't have beaten Rain. Logic said that Rain would win. MVP doesn't give a shit about logic, he just wins GSL.
It could be a 4-0 or a 4-3 or even MVP 0-3 before he just rolls out 4 wins to take the finals, but some way, somehow MVP will be utterly BS and win. Everyone will be sitting here going 'What the FUCK just happened' as he claims yet another trophy.
On October 11 2012 07:24 Ksquared wrote: MVP to win game 7 with a 11-11 rax
And the heads of everyone involved in the Startale house implodes with disbelief. My money's on MVP making yet another kong. It is kind of his thing at this point.
1 silver does not a kong make, though it would be pretty funny to see StarTale with another silver.
no but being apart of startale makes a pretty strong case.
So correct me if im wrong...but the best way to deal with Life's aggressiveness is to turtle up hard, or cheese? Me thinks MVP has the advantage here, although I really wouldnt mind seeing a zerg champion now that DRG has dropped off. Either way, epic TvZ finals is epic!
Life's style is unbeatable and I'm real curious to see what mvp is going to try to stop it. If you turtle up hard, then Life will just take the whole map. If you try to be aggressive, then life just kills you by being more aggressive. I thought taeja would be ready after he saw the beating MKP took, but he got owned just as hard as MKP even with a week of preparation.
On October 11 2012 10:59 Incomplet wrote: So correct me if im wrong...but the best way to deal with Life's aggressiveness is to turtle up hard, or cheese? Me thinks MVP has the advantage here, although I really wouldnt mind seeing a zerg champion now that DRG has dropped off. Either way, epic TvZ finals is epic!
not saying that isn't the best way to deal with it, but that's a very narrow mindset. every build has different strengths and weaknesses. playing passive against one aggressive build and winning is not necessarily going to work playing against a different aggressive build. At this level of Starcraft they interpret each build new build/playstyle on the fly and as such going into the series with the mindset 'oh he's an aggressive player, I should play really passive/cheese him' might actually come back to bite him.
But these players understand that, they're pro's, afterall.
On October 11 2012 11:02 Canucklehead wrote: Life's style is unbeatable and I'm real curious to see what mvp is going to try to stop it. If you turtle up hard, then Life will just take the whole map. If you try to be aggressive, then life just kills you by being more aggressive. I thought taeja would be ready after he saw the beating MKP took, but he got owned just as hard as MKP even with a week of preparation.
to be honest, i don't think taeja is that much of a prep player, especially as he seemed to come into the series thinking he would take it easily
On October 11 2012 11:02 Canucklehead wrote: Life's style is unbeatable and I'm real curious to see what mvp is going to try to stop it. If you turtle up hard, then Life will just take the whole map. If you try to be aggressive, then life just kills you by being more aggressive. I thought taeja would be ready after he saw the beating MKP took, but he got owned just as hard as MKP even with a week of preparation.
to be honest, i don't think taeja is that much of a prep player, especially as he seemed to come into the series thinking he would take it easily
Taeja and MKP are similar in that they just let their talent and mechanics do the talking, and don't really do that much prep or strategizing.
I have a feeling it will either be a.) Mech but tweaked to be early Spire-proof (1rax expand into 3 naked rax into mech?); b.) weird 1base push out into expand; c.) some old unused build from summer 2011.
On October 11 2012 11:02 Canucklehead wrote: Life's style is unbeatable and I'm real curious to see what mvp is going to try to stop it. If you turtle up hard, then Life will just take the whole map. If you try to be aggressive, then life just kills you by being more aggressive. I thought taeja would be ready after he saw the beating MKP took, but he got owned just as hard as MKP even with a week of preparation.
to be honest, i don't think taeja is that much of a prep player, especially as he seemed to come into the series thinking he would take it easily
Taeja prepped a lot for this series. If you noticed, he did a 1 rax into 3 rax opening on Abyssal City and a CC first into 2 rax on Entombed Valley specifically to deter a 2 base muta rush. The only reason he didn't do it on Whirlwind was because he knew Life went for a very early pool, which meant all his gas timings would be delayed and therefore he could defend with normal turret timings. Also reactored hellion builds are really bad against Life since he overproduces lings and looks for the surround.
Life's baneling bust on Abyssal was a purely reactionary timing made after he saw all the marines in the base; he was expecting a 3CC reactor hellion build, which his muta rush would have hard countered.
On October 10 2012 22:54 anatem wrote: noone's gonna remember Life's win if he takes MVP down, what remains from this season for future generations is MVP's destruction of Rain and his advancement to his 6th finals in spite of all adversity
... No one will remember the first Royal Roader taking down MVP in the finals? Yeaaaah, I know it seems like most people on TL are overlooking Life for some bizarre reason but this is a ridiculous claim. At the least this match will be notorious even if MVP loses, just because he loses.
On October 11 2012 11:02 Canucklehead wrote: Life's style is unbeatable and I'm real curious to see what mvp is going to try to stop it. If you turtle up hard, then Life will just take the whole map. If you try to be aggressive, then life just kills you by being more aggressive. I thought taeja would be ready after he saw the beating MKP took, but he got owned just as hard as MKP even with a week of preparation.
to be honest, i don't think taeja is that much of a prep player, especially as he seemed to come into the series thinking he would take it easily
God I hope Taeja didn't come into the match with that mindset... after watching life this tournament it would be BEYOND foolhardy to even put in minimal prep. But looking at the result it might have been the case... if so, hopefully this opened his eyes...
On October 10 2012 22:54 anatem wrote: noone's gonna remember Life's win if he takes MVP down, what remains from this season for future generations is MVP's destruction of Rain and his advancement to his 6th finals in spite of all adversity
... No one will remember the first Royal Roader taking down MVP in the finals? Yeaaaah, I know it seems like most people on TL are overlooking Life for some bizarre reason but this is a ridiculous claim. At the least this match will be notorious even if MVP loses, just because he loses.
Rofl, everyone has been, and still is, over loooking MVP, not Life.
On October 10 2012 22:54 anatem wrote: noone's gonna remember Life's win if he takes MVP down, what remains from this season for future generations is MVP's destruction of Rain and his advancement to his 6th finals in spite of all adversity
... No one will remember the first Royal Roader taking down MVP in the finals? Yeaaaah, I know it seems like most people on TL are overlooking Life for some bizarre reason but this is a ridiculous claim. At the least this match will be notorious even if MVP loses, just because he loses.
Rofl, everyone has been, and still is, over loooking MVP, not Life.
80% of the posts about the finals are saying Mvp will crush Life because of X, Y, and Z.
If MVP wins this GSL, he will be cemented as the best player throughout WoL, period. I mean, he gets this title anyway barring some spectacular player winning every single major tournament from now till HOTS.
I think MVP is definitely going to take this b/c MVP, unlike many other players, is a thinking player with very solid mechanics (similar to Seed and Nestea during his prime). Life is extremely stylistic with his play, so it's going to be no surprise that MVP will find a way to beat him.
I mean MVP countered Rain's ace cards such as his perfect record of victories with his 200/200 army, DT expand build, use of multiple observers, and the Warp Prism drops. Whenever a player especially Life plays a certain way, you must be damn sure that MVP will find a hole in it!
On October 12 2012 04:17 hansonslee wrote: I think MVP is definitely going to take this b/c MVP, unlike many other players, is a thinking player with very solid mechanics (similar to Seed and Nestea during his prime). Life is extremely stylistic with his play, so it's going to be no surprise that MVP will find a way to beat him.
I mean MVP countered Rain's ace cards such as his perfect record of victories with his 200/200 army, DT expand build, use of multiple observers, and the Warp Prism drops. Whenever a player especially Life plays a certain way, you must be damn sure that MVP will find a hole in it!
The more I watch GSL, the more I believe surprises and upsets are a way of life there.
I think if even MVP can't stop life, then it'll prove that no amount of preparation can stop his (zvt) style and he will be the next zerg bonjwa winning GSL, MLG and IPL 5. I haven't looked forward to a final like this in a while. I really don't think life's style can be stopped (at least his zvt) and wait to see if MVP proves me wrong.
On October 10 2012 22:54 anatem wrote: noone's gonna remember Life's win if he takes MVP down, what remains from this season for future generations is MVP's destruction of Rain and his advancement to his 6th finals in spite of all adversity
... No one will remember the first Royal Roader taking down MVP in the finals? Yeaaaah, I know it seems like most people on TL are overlooking Life for some bizarre reason but this is a ridiculous claim. At the least this match will be notorious even if MVP loses, just because he loses.
Rofl, everyone has been, and still is, over loooking MVP, not Life.
Not really. Everyone's talking about how MVP will win just because he's MVP. He can't lose, he'll crush Life etc etc.
There's also this myth, that MVP always finds a way to win despite being the underdog, which is absurd. In 3 of his 4 GSL wins, MVP was the clear favorite. For a long time he was considered the best TvT player in the world, and was playing TvT finals in a Terran dominated league. He even lost a TvT final where he was the favorite.
The only time MvP won a final where he was the underdog was his last one, and he barely managed after almost allowing a huge comeback.
On October 12 2012 04:25 Canucklehead wrote: I think if even MVP can't stop life, then it'll prove that no amount of preparation can stop his (zvt) style and he will be the next zerg bonjwa winning GSL, MLG and IPL 5. I haven't looked forward to a final like this in a while. I really don't think life's style can be stopped (at least his zvt) and wait to see if MVP proves me wrong.
I think the only way MVP is going to beat Life is if he goes for Mech rather than bio... From last nights series against Taeja, life uses banelings/zerlings A LOT!! and taeja was always low on tanks, i think if mvp were to go mech he might stand a better chance of winning.
On October 12 2012 04:25 Canucklehead wrote: I think if even MVP can't stop life, then it'll prove that no amount of preparation can stop his (zvt) style and he will be the next zerg bonjwa winning GSL, MLG and IPL 5. I haven't looked forward to a final like this in a while. I really don't think life's style can be stopped (at least his zvt) and wait to see if MVP proves me wrong.
i'm sure he will - after all, we've been shown time and time again that degenerate-looking styles can be stopped with the correct response. things like 3base8gate and 1-1-1 are being figured out, and you can hold them with proper scouting. same for life, i feel. the IM team is going to have a field day with life's vods and replays
On October 12 2012 04:25 Canucklehead wrote: I think if even MVP can't stop life, then it'll prove that no amount of preparation can stop his (zvt) style and he will be the next zerg bonjwa winning GSL, MLG and IPL 5. I haven't looked forward to a final like this in a while. I really don't think life's style can be stopped (at least his zvt) and wait to see if MVP proves me wrong.
i'm sure he will - after all, we've been shown time and time again that degenerate-looking styles can be stopped with the correct response. things like 3base8gate and 1-1-1 are being figured out, and you can hold them with proper scouting. same for life, i feel. the IM team is going to have a field day with life's vods and replays
That's why I'm curious to see what MVP is going to do. Every terran knows Life's style, yet every one of them can't stop it, knowing ling/bane is coming 100%. I don't think you can compare it to gateway timing attacks or 1-1-1 because Life is unique and is the only zerg in the world that currently plays like this. I don't think what he does are gimmick builds either and it takes good micro and game sense to attack the way he does, so his style can't be easily replicated by just copying his builds.
The way I see it, if you go ultra aggressive against him, then he goes ultra aggressive too and the mkp series taught me early zerg aggression > early terran aggression. If you try to go a more passive style, then life will just take the whole map and kill you late game with the zerg death ball and would have a ton of bases. If you try to go middle of the road, while playing defensive, but also trying to apply pressure, then he has enough units to crush you when you move out or he does constant ling/bane backstabs into your mineral line. The MVP/Life finals will be a great series to see if life's style can be stopped. I consider Life the best zerg in the world right now since DRG is slumping.
"Ling/bane" is not his style and it has never been his style. No zerg on the IM team can accurately replicate his style anyway because they are all mechanically inferior.
On October 12 2012 08:29 CosmicSpiral wrote: "Ling/bane" is not his style and it has never been his style. No zerg on the IM team can accurately replicate his style anyway because they are all mechanically inferior.
^^ this. MVP has to force Life to engage into his siege line and hope that Life makes a mistake, or hit the timing window while BLs are morphing. I don't see MVP winning in small engagement where it's micro vs micro or multitasking vs multitasking.
On October 12 2012 08:29 CosmicSpiral wrote: "Ling/bane" is not his style and it has never been his style. No zerg on the IM team can accurately replicate his style anyway because they are all mechanically inferior.
You nailed it, no one can mimic life's fluid control of his ling marauding party across the map because no one has the control and the raw quickness he has when he makes a decision and goes for it. You can have all the tape and scouting on lebron James and Michael Jordan but their brute abilities simply out muscle you.
On October 12 2012 08:29 CosmicSpiral wrote: "Ling/bane" is not his style and it has never been his style. No zerg on the IM team can accurately replicate his style anyway because they are all mechanically inferior.
You nailed it, no one can mimic life's fluid control of his ling marauding party across the map because no one has the control and the raw quickness he has when he makes a decision and goes for it. You can have all the tape and scouting on lebron James and Michael Jordan but their brute abilities simply out muscle you.
I think Mvp's skill should not be overlooked. His multitasking is one of the best in the entire game. Remember that during his period of dominance, Mvp pretty much got there on pure skill + game sense. Once Terran started struggling, Mvp stayed up there with skill, star sense, and innovation.
I could say that no one plays like Mvp, having fantastic macro while making great decisions, choosing smart, innovative build orders, microing like a boss, and multitasking like crazy. That's true, because there is only one Mvp, and there is only one Life.
On October 12 2012 08:29 CosmicSpiral wrote: "Ling/bane" is not his style and it has never been his style. No zerg on the IM team can accurately replicate his style anyway because they are all mechanically inferior.
You nailed it, no one can mimic life's fluid control of his ling marauding party across the map because no one has the control and the raw quickness he has when he makes a decision and goes for it. You can have all the tape and scouting on lebron James and Michael Jordan but their brute abilities simply out muscle you.
I think Mvp's skill should not be overlooked. His multitasking is one of the best in the entire game. Remember that during his period of dominance, Mvp pretty much got there on pure skill + game sense. Once Terran started struggling, Mvp stayed up there with skill, star sense, and innovation.
I could say that no one plays like Mvp, having fantastic macro while making great decisions, choosing smart, innovative build orders, microing like a boss, and multitasking like crazy. That's true, because there is only one Mvp, and there is only one Life.
Which is why (ironically) the best way to prepare for the finals may be for Mvp to off-race and attempt to copy Life's playstyle himself. He actually has all the traits to do it: top level mechanics and multitasking, split-second decision-making, very innovative play, star sense, and the ability to smell blood like a shark. And if I remember correctly, Mvp can play zerg at a professional level but doesn't.
On October 12 2012 08:29 CosmicSpiral wrote: "Ling/bane" is not his style and it has never been his style. No zerg on the IM team can accurately replicate his style anyway because they are all mechanically inferior.
You nailed it, no one can mimic life's fluid control of his ling marauding party across the map because no one has the control and the raw quickness he has when he makes a decision and goes for it. You can have all the tape and scouting on lebron James and Michael Jordan but their brute abilities simply out muscle you.
I think Mvp's skill should not be overlooked. His multitasking is one of the best in the entire game. Remember that during his period of dominance, Mvp pretty much got there on pure skill + game sense. Once Terran started struggling, Mvp stayed up there with skill, star sense, and innovation.
I could say that no one plays like Mvp, having fantastic macro while making great decisions, choosing smart, innovative build orders, microing like a boss, and multitasking like crazy. That's true, because there is only one Mvp, and there is only one Life.
Which is why (ironically) the best way to prepare for the finals may be for Mvp to off-race and attempt to copy Life's playstyle himself. He actually has all the traits to do it: top level mechanics and multitasking, split-second decision-making, very innovative play, star sense, and the ability to smell blood like a shark. And if I remember correctly, Mvp can play zerg at a professional level but doesn't.
Mvp: When Zerg is OP, he plays as Zerg, figures it out, and comes back to beat it as Terran.
Honestly, what about Mvp's mech style? It looks pretty strong on its own too. Basically, use Banshees/Hellions to rack up a large drone kill count, while Tanks back home defend against stuff like Roach shenanigans and Ling attacks. Without Marines, Banelings wouldn't be very effective. Mvp is also great with Turrets and Muta defense, so that shouldn't be a big problem for him.
Then, Mvp gets double armory and tons of invincible Thors and moves out, able to kill everything. He also throws in a ridiculous number of Vikings when Brood Lord tech hits.
It looked incredibly scary to play against. Mvp will have to adapt to Life's playstyle, but I'm left wondering whether Life won't have to adapt just as much.
On October 12 2012 08:29 CosmicSpiral wrote: "Ling/bane" is not his style and it has never been his style. No zerg on the IM team can accurately replicate his style anyway because they are all mechanically inferior.
You nailed it, no one can mimic life's fluid control of his ling marauding party across the map because no one has the control and the raw quickness he has when he makes a decision and goes for it. You can have all the tape and scouting on lebron James and Michael Jordan but their brute abilities simply out muscle you.
I think Mvp's skill should not be overlooked. His multitasking is one of the best in the entire game. Remember that during his period of dominance, Mvp pretty much got there on pure skill + game sense. Once Terran started struggling, Mvp stayed up there with skill, star sense, and innovation.
I could say that no one plays like Mvp, having fantastic macro while making great decisions, choosing smart, innovative build orders, microing like a boss, and multitasking like crazy. That's true, because there is only one Mvp, and there is only one Life.
Which is why (ironically) the best way to prepare for the finals may be for Mvp to off-race and attempt to copy Life's playstyle himself. He actually has all the traits to do it: top level mechanics and multitasking, split-second decision-making, very innovative play, star sense, and the ability to smell blood like a shark. And if I remember correctly, Mvp can play zerg at a professional level but doesn't.
Mvp: When Zerg is OP, he plays as Zerg, figures it out, and comes back to beat it as Terran.
Honestly, what about Mvp's mech style? It looks pretty strong on its own too. Basically, use Banshees/Hellions to rack up a large drone kill count, while Tanks back home defend against stuff like Roach shenanigans and Ling attacks. Without Marines, Banelings wouldn't be very effective. Mvp is also great with Turrets and Muta defense, so that shouldn't be a big problem for him.
Then, Mvp gets double armory and tons of invincible Thors and moves out, able to kill everything. He also throws in a ridiculous number of Vikings when Brood Lord tech hits.
It looked incredibly scary to play against. Mvp will have to adapt to Life's playstyle, but I'm left wondering whether Life won't have to adapt just as much.
Life will not play muta/ling/bling against a mech style if he smells it. I think he can deal with the mech style very well since he has great multitasking and always aims for map control. Mvp usually overwhelms his opponent with BFH harassment from every angle until he can build up that deadly raven count. Also Life doesn't commit to too many broodlords, he doesn't like their immobility. He makes at most 6-8 in most games. He'll probably transition into ultralisks first and alternate between the two as necessary. Alternatively he might try a 3 base old-school roach/hydra timing push with a nydus worm.
Life is not the biggest fan of mutalisk play. He did it on Whirlwind because the map is so huge that you can constantly hit the terran unprepared from multiple angles; on Abyssal City it was supposed to counter a perceived 3 CC reactor hellion build and win the game. Taeja's big screwup was not the SCV pull (that was actually a very intelligent decision that could've won him the game if not for some small, intelligent decisions from Life) but showing his marine count when he killed the overlord outside his natural.
If Mvp beats him, it will be because he outplayed him in decision-making. I think that will be the turning point of the series.
The more I read through Mvp and Life's interviews, the more I realize that Mvp is going to win, because Mvp does not underestimate his opponent.
A lot of champions have this nasty habit of becoming overconfident, saying things like "I'll crush him, no problem" only to get crushed themselves. On the other hand, the 5-time GSL finalist, 4-time GSL champion himself will do his best and practice specifically to take down this 14-year-old. That's part of what makes Mvp great. Mvp even said so in his games with PartinG... overconfidence led to PartinG's downfall.
Symbol got confident as the LG-IM Killer. Rain got confident as the Kespa dude owning everyone. Now, it's 14-year-old Life who's been saying "I'll own everyone"... what makes him any different? Tune into the GSL finals to find out!
On October 12 2012 04:25 Canucklehead wrote: I think if even MVP can't stop life, then it'll prove that no amount of preparation can stop his (zvt) style and he will be the next zerg bonjwa winning GSL, MLG and IPL 5. I haven't looked forward to a final like this in a while. I really don't think life's style can be stopped (at least his zvt) and wait to see if MVP proves me wrong.
As with "everyones" style, it will get figured out and countered hard. The reason MVP is so successful is because he has no style, he plays a wide arrangement of openers/strategies and captilizes on mistakes by his opponent. "Style" never lasts.
On October 12 2012 04:25 Canucklehead wrote: I think if even MVP can't stop life, then it'll prove that no amount of preparation can stop his (zvt) style and he will be the next zerg bonjwa winning GSL, MLG and IPL 5. I haven't looked forward to a final like this in a while. I really don't think life's style can be stopped (at least his zvt) and wait to see if MVP proves me wrong.
As with "everyones" style, it will get figured out and countered hard. The reason MVP is so successful is because he has no style, he plays a wide arrangement of openers/strategies and captilizes on mistakes by his opponent. "Style" never lasts.
Mvp's style is winning, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
On October 12 2012 04:25 Canucklehead wrote: I think if even MVP can't stop life, then it'll prove that no amount of preparation can stop his (zvt) style and he will be the next zerg bonjwa winning GSL, MLG and IPL 5. I haven't looked forward to a final like this in a while. I really don't think life's style can be stopped (at least his zvt) and wait to see if MVP proves me wrong.
As with "everyones" style, it will get figured out and countered hard. The reason MVP is so successful is because he has no style, he plays a wide arrangement of openers/strategies and captilizes on mistakes by his opponent. "Style" never lasts.
Mvp's style is winning, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
On October 12 2012 08:50 Silentness wrote: Playing against MVP in a Bo7 is a complete mind fuck. I hope Life has some good builds prepared.
I'd definitely agree, MVP being the master of mind games is part of why he is no successful. Look no further, just the interview here, showed that he sacked a game on a bad map to imprint an image into his opponent's head, and then bust out a clever triple orbital build on the next two games to win.
On October 11 2012 00:52 Noocta wrote: It's so scary that Life is that good while having little practice due to school. I think it's gonna play in his defavour that he don't have as much time as in the summer.
Overall, MVP for his fifth GSL title, and the official status starting with a B and finishing by onjwa that everyone is so afraid to use.
I don't know. Stephano got pretty good as well playing 2 hours a day.
It's getting less and less every time i hear people say this.
Still true nonetheless.
Life's better than Stephano tho.
I'm not sure if people seriously believe this Stephano thingy that he doesn't/didn't practice (he might not be practicing a lot in match-ups he is good at / understands, but when he is lacking he practices hard) and if you seriously believe that Life is better than Stephano...
For instance, he played a shit ton of games (like as much or more than Kas) when he started SC2 in order to understand the game and stuff. He used to say that he was in the medicine school when he was not so I guess this "I don't practice" thing is also a troll.
It's hard to believe Life is better than Stephano when Life is absolutely owning the best players in the world and is in a GSL finals?
On October 12 2012 23:15 Aunvilgod wrote: mechanically Life should have this easily, but Mvp seems to disable his opponents somehow.
I don't really think Life's mechanics are superior to Mvp's. In fact, Mvp's mechanics are probably the most underrated aspect of his game. Perhaps it's because he downplays it so much, or people think he's crippled because of his injuries. If you actually watch his games though you'll see that his multitasking is second to none. And besides mechanics, I think Mvp has Life beat on pretty much every other area.
On October 12 2012 04:25 Canucklehead wrote: I think if even MVP can't stop life, then it'll prove that no amount of preparation can stop his (zvt) style and he will be the next zerg bonjwa winning GSL, MLG and IPL 5. I haven't looked forward to a final like this in a while. I really don't think life's style can be stopped (at least his zvt) and wait to see if MVP proves me wrong.
As with "everyones" style, it will get figured out and countered hard. The reason MVP is so successful is because he has no style, he plays a wide arrangement of openers/strategies and captilizes on mistakes by his opponent. "Style" never lasts.
Mvp's style is winning, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
The hardest style to learn.
I agree with this. No offense to Stephano fanboys (he's a great player) but I was pretty amazed by how Oz just had Stephano's timings down in MLG. Who's to say Mvp can't do that with Life?
On the other hand, Life will have to deal with a very reactive player in Mvp. Mvp reacts well to a handful of situations and can play most any style that is available to T. If Mvp takes the time to study Life, Life's gonna have to rely on his mechanics and fundamentals.
EPT
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