Some are like that of the New York Yankees, and others more like the Chicago Cubs'. It's the legacy of Russian chess players compared to that of Russian Dota players.
Imagine inheriting such a reputation for disappointment and failure. Through no fault of your own, except perhaps being unable to overachieve, you become completely overshadowed by it. Alone, you might have become known for something else, or at least mercifully ignored. As a part of the group, you are just continuing a long history of mediocrity.
That's what it was to be an SKT Zerg.
As one of the oldest and most storied teams in Korean esports history, SK Telecom T1 has enjoyed great success in both individual and team tournaments. Boxer, the icon of Korean StarCraft himself, was the founding member of the team. Players like iloveoov, Midas, and Fantasy ensured that SKT would remain a Terran powerhouse. As for Protoss, SKT's acquisition of Bisu from MBCgame allowed them to enjoy the later half of the revolutionists' magnificent prime, while Best and Rain provided them with homegrown strength.
In the case of the Zergs... Where do we even begin?
First there were Zerglee and MuMyung who played during the "2v2 is still a thing" era of Proleague, where they selflessly gave up the glory of 1v1's to play the 2v2 portions of matches (some would say they were being hidden). Their lack of results in individual tournaments should come as no surprise, with a significant portion of their time practicing for team games.
Then came GoRush, a championship winning player from team GO (Greatest Ones) whose stint with SKT could be described as "disappointingly just-alright." Not long after that came the signing of another proven champion Zerg in July who proved to be yet another flop for SKT. July even managed to give SKT a stinging parting gift when he left for STX Soul a couple of years later, making an unexpected run to the EVER OSL finals and defeating SKT's Best.
But wait! There's more!
HyuK and soO at MLG Dallas -Photo: silverfire
With the removal of 2v2 from Proleague in 2008, the infamous Hyuk - s2 - soO - Thezerg era began. They proved to be adequate, but no more than that. It did not help them that in two consecutive Proleague finals against bitter rivals KT Rolster, the Zergs collectively failed to win even a single map as SKT took home double silvers.
As a result of a collision between this quartet's stark mediocrity and SKT's tragic Zerg history, the idea of the "T1 Zerg" was finally codified as one of the community's most popular jokes, eSports media's favorite storylines, and go-to scapegoat of the frustrated SKT fan.*
To be honest, it was all a bit unfair. Fans love a good story, and if there's some exaggeration in the telling, then so be it. Fantasy played nothing like Boxer when he began to distinguish himself, but as a product of SKT he received immense amounts of hype as the Emperor's heir. soO and his class of T1 Zergs also had their reputations embellished – just not in a positive direction.
*This is a very condensed version of the story.
*****
SKT_soO had it the worst. In Brood War, he was the SKT Zerg who came the closest to dispelling that legacy of disrepute after spending years as an understudy to HyuK and S2. He seemed to finally put all the pieces together in mid 2011, becoming that reliable – and some may dare to even say dominant – Zerg that SKT had always wanted in Proleague. He even attained some individual competition glory by reaching the semi-finals of the Jin Air OSL.
Just as soO was hitting his stride, KeSPA announced their official switch to StarCraft 2. With that one, fell swoop, Blizzard and KeSPA hit the rewind button on soO's career, sending him right back to being a middle-of-the-pack, Ro16 ceiling-ed, Proleague rotation player. Oh, and then he had to relearn the game again one year later when HotS came out.
But soO kept at it – what's another year of perseverance when you've already put in four? Even with his KeSPA compatriots beginning to retire around him and rumors circulating about soO's unhappiness with the game, he continued to put in the effort, improved his play, and patiently took on each new opportunity; Code B, Code A, Code S Ro16, top 12 MLG, Code S Ro16 again. Now, after almost a year and a half of StarCraft 2, soO has finally reached a place he has never been in his career: The grand finals.
With the switch to StarCraft 2, HyuK becoming a coach, S2 and TheZerg retiring, and soO looking to have become quite a good player (again), the SKT Zerg storyline has somewhat pattered out. Much of the buzz surrounding the Code S finals has been about unexpectedness of the card, Dear and soO's playful trash talk, and iloveoov appointment as acting SK Telecom head coach. But with the prospect of SK Telecom T1 having their first Zerg champion, the old narrative couldn't help but come out again. When Korean website Inven.co.kr asked him about the situation, soO replied:
"We were all a little bit lacking in skill. It's not that we were overshadowed by the Terrans and Protosses... ...I know [I could be the first Zerg champion for SKT]. I can't believe it myself. All the Zergs who went through T1 up to now have had it rough, I'll wash away their pain."
soO's story is still primarily a personal one. It's about never having a chance to shine for years but finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. It's about an individual's struggle to attain a lifelong dream. But that's what everyone else is fighting for, too. Those stakes are the same for Dear as well.
If there's one thing that could make this mean more to soO, makes him want it more than his equally championship starved opponent, it's that he's just doing this for all the SKT Zergs. For all those who came before him, he can wash away a dark legacy. For all those who come after him, soO can make sure they have the start he didn't, one unhindered with the weight of the past.
soOjwa is going to win it. I knew he was the best player on SKT this whole time. I've been cheering him on the whole way! Fusilero and I knew this day would come! 4-0!
On October 18 2013 12:59 Shellshock wrote: soOjwa is going to win it. I knew he was the best player on SKT this whole time. I've been cheering him on the whole way! Fusilero and I knew this day would come! 4-0!
On October 18 2013 12:59 Shellshock wrote: soOjwa is going to win it. I knew he was the best player on SKT this whole time. I've been cheering him on the whole way! Fusilero and I knew this day would come! 4-0!
please no anything but a 4-0
It would have been a 4-3 if he was facing a fan favorite to complete his Sniper transformation but since it's a relatively less popular player in Dear it'll just be a stomp. Sorry
On October 18 2013 12:59 Shellshock wrote: soOjwa is going to win it. I knew he was the best player on SKT this whole time. I've been cheering him on the whole way! Fusilero and I knew this day would come! 4-0!
please no anything but a 4-0
It would have been a 4-3 if he was facing a fan favorite to complete his Sniper transformation but since it's a relatively less popular player in Dear it'll just be a stomp. Sorry
How is Dear not popular? Did everyone miss the STX road to the finals? Dear is a very talented protoss.
On October 18 2013 12:59 Shellshock wrote: soOjwa is going to win it. I knew he was the best player on SKT this whole time. I've been cheering him on the whole way! Fusilero and I knew this day would come! 4-0!
please no anything but a 4-0
It would have been a 4-3 if he was facing a fan favorite to complete his Sniper transformation but since it's a relatively less popular player in Dear it'll just be a stomp. Sorry
How is Dear not popular? Did everyone miss the STX road to the finals? Dear is a very talented protoss.
Yeah it surprises me, too, because I think he's a very good player. I just remember how ridiculously underrated he was when he went to MLG, as well. Idk though. His popularity just didn't seem to take off like it should have.
On October 18 2013 12:59 Shellshock wrote: soOjwa is going to win it. I knew he was the best player on SKT this whole time. I've been cheering him on the whole way! Fusilero and I knew this day would come! 4-0!
please no anything but a 4-0
It would have been a 4-3 if he was facing a fan favorite to complete his Sniper transformation but since it's a relatively less popular player in Dear it'll just be a stomp. Sorry
How is Dear not popular? Did everyone miss the STX road to the finals? Dear is a very talented protoss.
Yeah it surprises me, too, because I think he's a very good player. I just remember how ridiculously underrated he was when he went to MLG, as well. Idk though. His popularity just didn't seem to take off like it should have.
He just needs to trash talk some of the popular players.
On October 18 2013 12:59 Shellshock wrote: soOjwa is going to win it. I knew he was the best player on SKT this whole time. I've been cheering him on the whole way! Fusilero and I knew this day would come! 4-0!
please no anything but a 4-0
It would have been a 4-3 if he was facing a fan favorite to complete his Sniper transformation but since it's a relatively less popular player in Dear it'll just be a stomp. Sorry
How is Dear not popular? Did everyone miss the STX road to the finals? Dear is a very talented protoss.
Yeah it surprises me, too, because I think he's a very good player. I just remember how ridiculously underrated he was when he went to MLG, as well. Idk though. His popularity just didn't seem to take off like it should have.
He just needs to trash talk some of the popular players.
Soo is the perfect Zerg for these times, when the metagame has condensed so tightly, and every game seems to play out the same way. He's mechanically excellent, very good in the mid-to-late game, and rarely takes build order risks.
I can very well see him beating Dear 4 straight macro games using the most standard composition of units possible.
On October 18 2013 13:46 BisuDagger wrote: I'm actually psyched for this finals. Where's the rest of you SC2 fans? Come out of the wood works and get hyped up!
There's an SKT Zerg in it, we already know the result
Whenever a Toss player makes the finals...I am happy but sweetly melancholy at the presentiment they face. Of course I watch and am upset for an hour or two after the Toss player gets battered and bruised, completely unable to display the talent/skill they used to reach the finals...
But something is different this time: I have no fear for Dear. As I watched his games and witnessed his playstyle, I realised he is one of the rarest people in the entire history of starcraft; a finals winning TOSS player!
On October 18 2013 13:46 BisuDagger wrote: I'm actually psyched for this finals. Where's the rest of you SC2 fans? Come out of the wood works and get hyped up!
On October 18 2013 12:59 Shellshock wrote: soOjwa is going to win it. I knew he was the best player on SKT this whole time. I've been cheering him on the whole way! Fusilero and I knew this day would come! 4-0!
please no anything but a 4-0
It would have been a 4-3 if he was facing a fan favorite to complete his Sniper transformation but since it's a relatively less popular player in Dear it'll just be a stomp. Sorry
How is Dear not popular? Did everyone miss the STX road to the finals? Dear is a very talented protoss.
Yeah it surprises me, too, because I think he's a very good player. I just remember how ridiculously underrated he was when he went to MLG, as well. Idk though. His popularity just didn't seem to take off like it should have.
He just needs to trash talk some of the popular players.
Needs more manner Nexus
no PLZ That was one of the most painful GSTL games ive ever watched. T_T
On October 18 2013 13:46 BisuDagger wrote: I'm actually psyched for this finals. Where's the rest of you SC2 fans? Come out of the wood works and get hyped up!
Aaaaah no.
This kind of post doesn't make you look cool. Etiher you are a Dear fan or someone every will hate on these forums. I hope its the first one cause otherwise its people like you who make it miserable for the wonderful SC2 staff who put in so much effort into what WILL be a great finals.
Been quite a while since I followed anything from GSL (due to the time its being Live), but now its being Live at a primetime for me. Can I watch this Live 720 without any payment?
As a protoss player, I always always seem to cheer for the zerg, I think I need a shrink. Go soO
What a cool story! I didn't know any of this, got a bit of chills reading it. This is the first I've really heard anything about soO (joining the scene in SC2 and all), but now I really hope he gets to finally achieve the success and break this curse. soO fighting!
I'm Very conflicted... As a Protoss player I want Dear to win... As an SKT fan I wan soO to winbut always as an SKT fan I should now better then to hope for a zerg to win anything O.o
I hope WCS Korea production team would do pieces like this, lesser known (not flash, jd or bisu) Kespa players still look faceless to an avarage SC2 watcher, eventhough there is a ton of of history and storylines to tell from their BW careers.
Awesome article Wax, got me even more hyped for the finals!
On October 19 2013 01:47 Mindflow wrote: I read the article to get myself hyped for this finals but sadly it didn't work. GL. First finals ill be missing in awhile
sOO is the next Nestea of WCS. Dear is the new MKP of protoss. What more could you ask for!?!
On October 18 2013 13:46 BisuDagger wrote: I'm actually psyched for this finals. Where's the rest of you SC2 fans? Come out of the wood works and get hyped up!
There's an SKT Zerg in it, we already know the result
StarCraft 2 is a new game. If IrOn (aka MC) can become one of the best players in the world, then an SKT T1 Zerg can win a tournament.
Sorry, but SKT Zergs are gonna have to wait for the next one or something. Dear has this in the bag. Not only will this fallen team rise up again, so will a Protoss. A Protoss!!
On October 18 2013 13:46 BisuDagger wrote: I'm actually psyched for this finals. Where's the rest of you SC2 fans? Come out of the wood works and get hyped up!
There's an SKT Zerg in it, we already know the result
StarCraft 2 is a new game. If IrOn (aka MC) can become one of the best players in the world, then an SKT T1 Zerg can win a tournament.
Times have changed.
Said s2 and Hyuk as they wondered why they couldnt get shit done in SC2
On October 18 2013 13:46 BisuDagger wrote: I'm actually psyched for this finals. Where's the rest of you SC2 fans? Come out of the wood works and get hyped up!
There's an SKT Zerg in it, we already know the result
StarCraft 2 is a new game. If IrOn (aka MC) can become one of the best players in the world, then an SKT T1 Zerg can win a tournament.
Times have changed.
Said s2 and Hyuk as they wondered why they couldnt get shit done in SC2
We gotta give skt zerg a chance.. I mean one of the best sc2 player was a Woojin terran.