CMStorm_PoltdefeatedLG-IM_ByuL by a final scoreline of 4 - 1 to capture the WCS America Season 3 title. The championship is Polt's second in a row after sweeping Jaedong at the Season 2 Finals, making him the only player in WCS 2013 to capture two titles.
Though Polt entered the tournament as the defending champion and one of the top favorites to win, many feared things would be more difficult than in Season 2. With the start of a new school year, Polt had resumed his usual schedule as a full-time student at UT Austin, while several more Korean pro-gamers had broken through the qualifiers and entered the WCS America pool. Indeed, Polt's grand final opponent ended up being one of those newcomers in ByuL—a skilled but often overshadowed player on the star-studded LG-IM—who had already proven himself a worthy opponent in a 1 - 2 loss to Polt in the Ro16. While ByuL performed admirably in the first grand finals of his career, in the end he was forced to admit defeat to the multiple-champion Polt.
Ironically, Polt's road to the WCS America finals was filled with 100% Korean opponents, having run up against and defeated Revival, Sage, Apocalypse, Heart and ByuL (x2). With Blizzard being harshly criticized for failing to understand the repercussions of opening the gates of WCS AM to a deluge of Korean progamers, Polt had earned the the nickname of "Captain America" for being the only Korean competitor to follow Blizzard's original intent by moving to the United States and integrating into the local scene. In that way, Polt's victory is more than just a personal achievement, but also something of a saving grace for a tournament that is often derided as being only American in name.
The victory gives Polt his fifth major title over the span of his three year career, while the $20,000 first place prize makes him the 4th highest earner of all time at approximately $240,000 total (reference). In terms of sheer consistency at playing at the top level, Polt seems to have no rivals except for perhaps Mvp and MC, and has forced himself into the discussion of the all time greats of StarCraft 2.
Game One – Polar Night: ByuL took his only victory of the series in straight-forward fashion on Polar Night, executing a 3-base muta/ling/bane-bust that literally and figuratively rolled over everything Polt had tried to build. The first game also revealed ByuL's overall series strategy, as he would go on to use the same, standard mutalisk-based-composition for the rest of the series. ByuL 1 - 0 Polt
Game Two – Frost: Polt showed that he is capable of nothing short of magic in game two, coming back from a terrible position to earn his first win of the series. After his reaper opening, Polt quickly set the tone for both the game and the remainder of the series when he succeeded at inflicting some painful damage at ByuL's base with effective harassment. However, Byul would show that he too was capable of performing great harassment, using his mutalisks to prevent Polt from ever really saturating his fourth base.
The game would transition into a back-and-forth-struggle between both players with Polt always lagging a bit behind despite his good start, never being able to completely saturate a fourth base. At times Polt seemed to be at the verge of breaking under ByuL's continued pressure, but his continued resilience would eventually pay off. As the match went deeper into the end-game and the expansions grew further apart, Byul had more and more trouble against Polt's relentless attacks on multiple fronts. The positions were eventually reversed, with ByuL struggling to defend against Polt's constant pressure. Unfortunately ByuL, he could not find a way to swing the game one last time and conceded defeat. Polt 1 - 1 ByuL
Game Three – Akilon Wastes: Game three again followed the familiar marine-medivac-mine vs. muta-bane-ling pattern, with both players getting comfortable on their three bases before turning the center of the map into a deadly maze of widow mines and burrowed banelings. Byul continued to show his prowess with mass mutalisks, using a flock of several dozen to heavily contest Polt as he tried to establish a fourth base. However, it wasn't all good muta-micro from ByuL, and it took just a few moments of recklessness for his mutalisk count to be severely cut down.
Polt would end up taking the upper-hand due to the mobility of his more easily replaced bio-army as opposed to the much more expensive ultralisk-brood lord composition that ByuL had transitioned into. When Byul finally succeeded at moving his slow and deadly army across the map to Polt's final and most precious expansion, it ended up being the Zerg who was swarmed from all sides by a mass of cheap units in the final engagement of the game. Polt 2 - 1 ByuL
Game Four – Derelict Watcher: Already known as a frequent contributor to highly entertaining games, Polt teamed up with ByuL to play a truly EPIC TvZ in game four. The game was reminiscent of the once-upon-a-time-rivalry between Polt and Stephano as the game did not end until both players were in the process of mining out every location on the map, with the outcome of the game unclear until the final minutes.
Polt faced trouble in the early phases of the game as his pack of hellions was chased down, surrounded, and killed off by ByuL's speedlings, enabling the IM Zerg to saturate himself on four bases and establish an outrageous economy. The game soon turned into a sequence of never-ending-battles with Byul’s fourth base becoming the epicenter of the conflict. Wave after wave of marines supported by widow mines and medivacs poured into the base, but Byul was steadfast in defense and kept Polt at bay.
With his fourth base still being contested, Byul found the breathing room to launch a series of counter-attacks on Polt’s own fourth base, changing the game into a multi-task-battle with both players trying to hang onto their vital expansions. With skirmishes constantly flaring up all around the map, Polt was slowly but surely able to regain the economic advantage by taking the more efficient engagements. As the isolated corner bases started coming into play, ByuL finally began to run out of steam after trading blows with Polt for the entire game. Unable to muster the forces to push Polt's final base, ByuL had to admit defeat after at the end of his valiant effort. Polt 3 - 1 ByuL
Game Five – Bel'Shir Vestige: Polt and ByuL set themselves up for yet another macro game in game five, but the key-difference from game four was that Polt came out ahead in the early hellions vs speedling war. He managed to claim total map-control after winning the initial encounter against the lings, and a follow-up attack with marines and medivacs killed precious drones and forced more defensive units from an already struggling ByuL.
Once ByuL was able to get his flock of mutalisks out to begin harassment, Polt's defenses were already too firmly set for any damage to be done. Quickly running of options and opportunities, ByuL engaged Polt's army as it moved out into the field, only to trigger a barrage of widow mine shots straight into the heart of his dense ball of mutalisks. At that moment, ByuL realized he had been bested for good by the Terran from Texas, and called the final GG of the season. Polt 4 - 1 ByuL
Zerg has to get off of Mutaling bane somehow. Mix in some roach timings like Jaedong did. The one game ByuL went Infestor, Brood/Ultra at the end. He only made like 5 broodlords and 3 infestors with 5 ultras. And when he hit Fungals, he was in an easy spot to push the army. Imagine if he had made 8 broodlords and 5 infestors. Polt would have lost that game.
Polt showed how good he is despite Byul high level and multi-tasking. The game 4 was really Epic and the look of both ByuL and Polt face at the end of this match show how intense this game was. Really awesome and congratulation to Polt
Polt is so awesome I've never seen anyone play like him. I've examined every aspect of his game everything is so decisive he knows where to attack and when and knows when his opponent is on the back foot.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around his opening its amazing! Still #1 Fan POLT FIGHTING
I stopped watching starcraft a little while ago, found dota more exciting but that game 4 put my hope back into entertaing games. Go watch it, hands down the best game ive seen in LONG time
This was an epic finals. 4-1 as a score does not even come close to telling the story of the razor's edge both players were walking in every game. Byul had legitimate chances to win every game and either just barely missed the killing blow or Polt made a miraculous defense before counterpunching for the same on Byul's side. A truly great series.
Polt back to back WCS AM champion. Huge achievement ! I hope he'll do well in season finals. Maybe be the first player to win a regional finals and the following season finals.
On October 21 2013 21:59 Jazzman88 wrote: "Dense ball of mutalisk ball" cracked me up.
This was an epic finals. 4-1 as a score does not even come close to telling the story of the razor's edge both players were walking in every game. Byul had legitimate chances to win every game and either just barely missed the killing blow or Polt made a miraculous defense before counterpunching for the same on Byul's side. A truly great series.
I think it was rather just that Byul didn't really have that great lategame while Polt is just a tactical genius. He just kept trading, never really striking gold, but always just trading in his favor until when Byul started making small mistakes he pounced.
On October 21 2013 21:59 Jazzman88 wrote: "Dense ball of mutalisk ball" cracked me up.
This was an epic finals. 4-1 as a score does not even come close to telling the story of the razor's edge both players were walking in every game. Byul had legitimate chances to win every game and either just barely missed the killing blow or Polt made a miraculous defense before counterpunching for the same on Byul's side. A truly great series.
I think it was rather just that Byul didn't really have that great lategame while Polt is just a tactical genius. He just kept trading, never really striking gold, but always just trading in his favor until when Byul started making small mistakes he pounced.
Honestly, Zerg players seems a bit lost in the late game in ZvT nowadays. Hive tech is somewhat in a weird state right now. Viper are hard to use against Bio, Broodlords are too slow against Bio Mines ( tank army were easier to abuse ). Ultra are good but you need infestors with them and the transition from Muta play to infestor ultra is a lot harder than WoL transition from infestor ling to ultra infestor ling.
Give them time to find a way I guess. They already started to learn how to deal with bio mines with ling muta, and that's why they are heavily sticking with it right now.
Great finals, congrats to Polt!! I watched the first 4 games and they were indeed epic. I managed to catch the entire Byul v Jaedong before and it was very scary how easily Byul dismantled the great Dong.
I think part of Byul's weakness was not bringing more BO's or allins to the bo7 series against Polt, an amazing Terran who can perfect one or two builds beyond belief and ride that structure all throughout a finals. I would love to see a Life v Polt now, two players at the top of their game in a bo7.
On October 22 2013 00:05 nimdil wrote: Is IM still sponsored by LG? I thought that they stopped sponsoring IM and were supposed to pay something to the team.
Yeah but we are supposed to pretend that they are still sponsored by them until they come back
I hope he pulls out both an 11/11 and some random mech strat just once each in the season finals or blizzcon against a Z just to give his opponent maybe pinch themselves to make sure it's not a dream
On October 21 2013 21:59 Jazzman88 wrote: "Dense ball of mutalisk ball" cracked me up.
This was an epic finals. 4-1 as a score does not even come close to telling the story of the razor's edge both players were walking in every game. Byul had legitimate chances to win every game and either just barely missed the killing blow or Polt made a miraculous defense before counterpunching for the same on Byul's side. A truly great series.
I think it was rather just that Byul didn't really have that great lategame while Polt is just a tactical genius. He just kept trading, never really striking gold, but always just trading in his favor until when Byul started making small mistakes he pounced.
Honestly, Zerg players seems a bit lost in the late game in ZvT nowadays. Hive tech is somewhat in a weird state right now. Viper are hard to use against Bio, Broodlords are too slow against Bio Mines ( tank army were easier to abuse ). Ultra are good but you need infestors with them and the transition from Muta play to infestor ultra is a lot harder than WoL transition from infestor ling to ultra infestor ling.
Give them time to find a way I guess. They already started to learn how to deal with bio mines with ling muta, and that's why they are heavily sticking with it right now.
There are a few key moments the Zerg has to be careful about. 3-3 and if the Terran sneaks in another base somewhere. At this point they often lose their Mutas, due to the explosion of power in the Terran army. Infestors are not needed for Ultras since the Muta buff and Overseer speed made it insanely easy as the detection doesn't fall behind anymore. As long as you have enough Mutas they will deal constant and more then enough damage to the Bio and you can easily dodge mines with them and only have to retreat after 1 or 2 critical hits. If you had been ahead enough to get enough ultras or even fight on creep for a few transfuses you will get the Medivacs and then its goodbye with cost efficiency for the Terran. Infestors new Fungal mechanic is also really bad for dealing with fleeing units and the biggest issue is that they only have limited anti air options, and the Medivac cloud is the only thing that keeps the Terran alive lategame. (god have mercy if they find out they have an energy upgrade for those things in TvZ, they would basically build 3 medivacs for the price o 2 if they lost their cloud)
So yes Infestors are a nice addition (especially for denying new bases with ITs), but they are not what you want to mass against a Terran if you go for Ultras. Since the real issue are the Medivacs nothing else. Wouldn't help if Zergs would keep their red ultras alive and transfuse them healthy again. I do it by burrowing them, so I don't have to switch groups or anything and every scan is as if you killed 5 Marines.
But I am deeply impressed by ByuL, I knew already how indestructible Polt is so I was prepared for that.
For those who didn't yet watch the game, they were amazing, watch them! Also, Polt is showing that perfecting one single build down to the smallest detail is the way to go, as opposed to knowing a lot of builds, but not as refined. I also wonder about the zerg late game, since Byul managed the mid game almost perfectly in thos games. Can Zerg have a way to incoporate the 30 muta flock into a late game comp? I think sacking those mutas gives up too much of the zerg potentness as they are the real threat (cf polt in the post games interview :"just follow the mutas" ) but I know they aren't enough to fight a 3-3 bio force. Also, I wonder if the real reason why nobody use infestor nowadays is that the style of ZvT is so taxing on the multitasking front that microing such an unit may be too much in addition to all that is happening. Maybe some zerg can enlighten me ?
On October 22 2013 01:49 Elitios wrote: For those who didn't yet watch the game, they were amazing, watch them! Also, Polt is showing that perfecting one single build down to the smallest detail is the way to go, as opposed to knowing a lot of builds, but not as refined. I also wonder about the zerg late game, since Byul managed the mid game almost perfectly in thos games. Can Zerg have a way to incoporate the 30 muta flock into a late game comp? I think sacking those mutas gives up too much of the zerg potentness as they are the real threat (cf polt in the post games interview :"just follow the mutas" ) but I know they aren't enough to fight a 3-3 bio force. Also, I wonder if the real reason why nobody use infestor nowadays is that the style of ZvT is so taxing on the multitasking front that microing such an unit may be too much in addition to all that is happening. Maybe some zerg can enlighten me ?
On October 22 2013 01:49 Elitios wrote: For those who didn't yet watch the game, they were amazing, watch them! Also, Polt is showing that perfecting one single build down to the smallest detail is the way to go, as opposed to knowing a lot of builds, but not as refined. I also wonder about the zerg late game, since Byul managed the mid game almost perfectly in thos games. Can Zerg have a way to incoporate the 30 muta flock into a late game comp? I think sacking those mutas gives up too much of the zerg potentness as they are the real threat (cf polt in the post games interview :"just follow the mutas" ) but I know they aren't enough to fight a 3-3 bio force. Also, I wonder if the real reason why nobody use infestor nowadays is that the style of ZvT is so taxing on the multitasking front that microing such an unit may be too much in addition to all that is happening. Maybe some zerg can enlighten me ?
1st. Will watch, seems ByuL pretty good. 2nd. Typical Korean ladder way, seriously. 3rd. Tbh i think 25+ mutas with ling bane and occasional infestor is pretty much perfect late game comp for zvt, especially since it handles the late game economy of terran so nicely with it's mobility, but that's just my rather noob opinion. 4th. Infestors... suck if are not used to lock down units for ultras to shred.
On October 22 2013 01:49 Elitios wrote: For those who didn't yet watch the game, they were amazing, watch them! Also, Polt is showing that perfecting one single build down to the smallest detail is the way to go, as opposed to knowing a lot of builds, but not as refined. I also wonder about the zerg late game, since Byul managed the mid game almost perfectly in thos games. Can Zerg have a way to incoporate the 30 muta flock into a late game comp? I think sacking those mutas gives up too much of the zerg potentness as they are the real threat (cf polt in the post games interview :"just follow the mutas" ) but I know they aren't enough to fight a 3-3 bio force. Also, I wonder if the real reason why nobody use infestor nowadays is that the style of ZvT is so taxing on the multitasking front that microing such an unit may be too much in addition to all that is happening. Maybe some zerg can enlighten me ?
You mean Polt is showing that is ONE way to go?
Yes, one way to go among many, but THE most efficient way to go.
On October 22 2013 02:00 lolfail9001 wrote:
1st. Will watch, seems ByuL pretty good. 2nd. Typical Korean ladder way, seriously. 3rd. Tbh i think 25+ mutas with ling bane and occasional infestor is pretty much perfect late game comp for zvt, especially since it handles the late game economy of terran so nicely with it's mobility, but that's just my rather noob opinion. 4th. Infestors... suck if are not used to lock down units for ultras to shred.
4: why is that ? if you fungle medivacs for the mutas to kill or the marines for the banes, it still seems worth it, not counting the fact that infested terran harass can still be good in late game low econ slugfests
On October 21 2013 21:59 Jazzman88 wrote: "Dense ball of mutalisk ball" cracked me up.
This was an epic finals. 4-1 as a score does not even come close to telling the story of the razor's edge both players were walking in every game. Byul had legitimate chances to win every game and either just barely missed the killing blow or Polt made a miraculous defense before counterpunching for the same on Byul's side. A truly great series.
I think it was rather just that Byul didn't really have that great lategame while Polt is just a tactical genius. He just kept trading, never really striking gold, but always just trading in his favor until when Byul started making small mistakes he pounced.
Honestly, Zerg players seems a bit lost in the late game in ZvT nowadays. Hive tech is somewhat in a weird state right now. Viper are hard to use against Bio, Broodlords are too slow against Bio Mines ( tank army were easier to abuse ). Ultra are good but you need infestors with them and the transition from Muta play to infestor ultra is a lot harder than WoL transition from infestor ling to ultra infestor ling.
Give them time to find a way I guess. They already started to learn how to deal with bio mines with ling muta, and that's why they are heavily sticking with it right now.
There are a few key moments the Zerg has to be careful about. 3-3 and if the Terran sneaks in another base somewhere. At this point they often lose their Mutas, due to the explosion of power in the Terran army. Infestors are not needed for Ultras since the Muta buff and Overseer speed made it insanely easy as the detection doesn't fall behind anymore. As long as you have enough Mutas they will deal constant and more then enough damage to the Bio and you can easily dodge mines with them and only have to retreat after 1 or 2 critical hits. If you had been ahead enough to get enough ultras or even fight on creep for a few transfuses you will get the Medivacs and then its goodbye with cost efficiency for the Terran. Infestors new Fungal mechanic is also really bad for dealing with fleeing units and the biggest issue is that they only have limited anti air options, and the Medivac cloud is the only thing that keeps the Terran alive lategame. (god have mercy if they find out they have an energy upgrade for those things in TvZ, they would basically build 3 medivacs for the price o 2 if they lost their cloud)
So yes Infestors are a nice addition (especially for denying new bases with ITs), but they are not what you want to mass against a Terran if you go for Ultras. Since the real issue are the Medivacs nothing else. Wouldn't help if Zergs would keep their red ultras alive and transfuse them healthy again. I do it by burrowing them, so I don't have to switch groups or anything and every scan is as if you killed 5 Marines.
But I am deeply impressed by ByuL, I knew already how indestructible Polt is so I was prepared for that.
Hum, I can agree with that. Although, Ultra are still the only Hive tech choice that seem to matter against Bio in ZvT. And they are easy to prepare for in that case. Zerg players definitely need to be more cautious of their Ultras. They are beefy enough to be reusable for long period of time.
On October 22 2013 01:49 Elitios wrote: For those who didn't yet watch the game, they were amazing, watch them! Also, Polt is showing that perfecting one single build down to the smallest detail is the way to go, as opposed to knowing a lot of builds, but not as refined. I also wonder about the zerg late game, since Byul managed the mid game almost perfectly in thos games. Can Zerg have a way to incoporate the 30 muta flock into a late game comp? I think sacking those mutas gives up too much of the zerg potentness as they are the real threat (cf polt in the post games interview :"just follow the mutas" ) but I know they aren't enough to fight a 3-3 bio force. Also, I wonder if the real reason why nobody use infestor nowadays is that the style of ZvT is so taxing on the multitasking front that microing such an unit may be too much in addition to all that is happening. Maybe some zerg can enlighten me ?
You mean Polt is showing that is ONE way to go?
Yes, one way to go among many, but THE most efficient way to go.
infested terran harass can still be good in late game low econ slugfests
I agree that its probably the best way to go in a tournament of this format where you play matches in the same day but for a gsl style format, i feel that having a single build will get you stomped out sooner than later.
On October 22 2013 01:49 Elitios wrote: For those who didn't yet watch the game, they were amazing, watch them! Also, Polt is showing that perfecting one single build down to the smallest detail is the way to go, as opposed to knowing a lot of builds, but not as refined. I also wonder about the zerg late game, since Byul managed the mid game almost perfectly in thos games. Can Zerg have a way to incoporate the 30 muta flock into a late game comp? I think sacking those mutas gives up too much of the zerg potentness as they are the real threat (cf polt in the post games interview :"just follow the mutas" ) but I know they aren't enough to fight a 3-3 bio force. Also, I wonder if the real reason why nobody use infestor nowadays is that the style of ZvT is so taxing on the multitasking front that microing such an unit may be too much in addition to all that is happening. Maybe some zerg can enlighten me ?
You mean Polt is showing that is ONE way to go?
Yes, one way to go among many, but THE most efficient way to go.
infested terran harass can still be good in late game low econ slugfests
I agree that its probably the best way to go in a tournament of this format where you play matches in the same day but for a gsl style format, i feel that having a single build will get you stomped out sooner than later.
On October 22 2013 01:49 Elitios wrote: For those who didn't yet watch the game, they were amazing, watch them! Also, Polt is showing that perfecting one single build down to the smallest detail is the way to go, as opposed to knowing a lot of builds, but not as refined. I also wonder about the zerg late game, since Byul managed the mid game almost perfectly in thos games. Can Zerg have a way to incoporate the 30 muta flock into a late game comp? I think sacking those mutas gives up too much of the zerg potentness as they are the real threat (cf polt in the post games interview :"just follow the mutas" ) but I know they aren't enough to fight a 3-3 bio force. Also, I wonder if the real reason why nobody use infestor nowadays is that the style of ZvT is so taxing on the multitasking front that microing such an unit may be too much in addition to all that is happening. Maybe some zerg can enlighten me ?
You mean Polt is showing that is ONE way to go?
Yes, one way to go among many, but THE most efficient way to go.
infested terran harass can still be good in late game low econ slugfests
I agree that its probably the best way to go in a tournament of this format where you play matches in the same day but for a gsl style format, i feel that having a single build will get you stomped out sooner than later.
I think he went with one build cause he didnt have the practice time to fine tune many builds.
On October 22 2013 02:10 Elitios wrote: 4: why is that ? if you fungle medivacs for the mutas to kill or the marines for the banes, it still seems worth it, not counting the fact that infested terran harass can still be good in late game low econ slugfests
Fungal is only good if you manage to chain it, it is not WoL and chain fungal is only easy if you actually catch medivacs in fungals. Next, you are making an assumption of good amounts of mutas, banes and infestors being affordable on 8 gas economy when you are constantly trading.
Polt is incredible for being so consistent. Picking up a single championship is impressive, but over the course of BW/SC2 history there have been so many players that make one good run and then just kind of disappear afterward. Polt has had his ups and downs, but it's still impressive to see him play so well for so long.
And man, Blizzard should be so thankful to Polt for bringing at least some element of America-ness to WCS America. Not that he completely absolves them of the choices they've made about regions/residency for the WCS system, but I think his victories have helped triage a lot of the negative feelings people have toward the tournament. I think there'd have be a lot more grumbling and pitchforks (and a lot less viewers) if the finals had been something like Byul vs. Heart, for instance.
Polt's resilience, the power of Terran 3/3, and Byul's loss of focus whenever he tried to make a hive transition really defined this series. Oh, and the fact that both these players have some of the biggest stamina for long engagements I've seen and Polt just does it better.
I feel like the game two recap didn't quite capture the excitement of the game.
That was a truly great game as well. (Also wrong map name)
It had the entertaining element of Billy, and then a ridiculous come from behind victory from Polt.
Byul's mutalisk attacks were on point. He came in and destroyed barracks addons crippling Polt in the early game. And denied and killed Polts 4th base several times over while putting up his own 5th and possibly 6th bases.
It looked really bad for Polt until he all of a sudden killed all of Byuls mining bases at the same time.
That game was in my pov a more exciting game than game 4 because it was not quite as drawn out and affected by fatigue.
On October 22 2013 01:49 Elitios wrote: For those who didn't yet watch the game, they were amazing, watch them! Also, Polt is showing that perfecting one single build down to the smallest detail is the way to go, as opposed to knowing a lot of builds, but not as refined. I also wonder about the zerg late game, since Byul managed the mid game almost perfectly in thos games. Can Zerg have a way to incoporate the 30 muta flock into a late game comp? I think sacking those mutas gives up too much of the zerg potentness as they are the real threat (cf polt in the post games interview :"just follow the mutas" ) but I know they aren't enough to fight a 3-3 bio force. Also, I wonder if the real reason why nobody use infestor nowadays is that the style of ZvT is so taxing on the multitasking front that microing such an unit may be too much in addition to all that is happening. Maybe some zerg can enlighten me ?
You mean Polt is showing that is ONE way to go?
Yes, one way to go among many, but THE most efficient way to go.
infested terran harass can still be good in late game low econ slugfests
I agree that its probably the best way to go in a tournament of this format where you play matches in the same day but for a gsl style format, i feel that having a single build will get you stomped out sooner than later.
I think he went with one build cause he didnt have the practice time to fine tune many builds.
Nah, Polt usually keeps doing the same build as long as it works. Look at his GSL final vs MMA.
Great article! i will have to look up the vods of the finals some time this week. I really agree with that point in the of Polt being "a saving grace for a tournament that is often derided as being only American in name."
Just a little error, both games 2 & 4 are being listed as Derelict Watcher. I don't remember what map 2 was, but it wasn't Derelict. Maybe it was Yeonsu?
EDIT: Oh, it was Frost. It's titled correctly in the list of games, but not in the descriptions.
I watched the games live and I am just astounded at how Polt can slowly claw his way back from an inferior position with a worse economy. It was fight after fight where he'd just manage to hold off the zerg while trading more efficiently, until his cheap marines gradually wore down the zerg's expensive mutalisks. It was amazing to watch.
EPT
CMStorm_Polt defeated 
LG-IM_ByuL by a final scoreline of 4 - 1 to capture the WCS America Season 3 title. The championship is Polt's second in a row after sweeping Jaedong at the Season 2 Finals, making him the only player in WCS 2013 to capture two titles.
![[image loading]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/captainamerica1.gif)
Good writeup!
