Hot 6ix GSL Season 1
Code S

Brackets and standings on Liquipedia

VODs on Twitch

by CosmicSpiral

It’s a homecoming and a departure for StarTale_Life. After a year of erratic placements and unstable form, he finds himself on a nostalgic run. He has recently reclaimed the ZvZ prowess that initially made him famous, winning his last nine series with a map record of 22-5. He has achieved respectable results in foreign tournaments, even if he hasn't dominated them. Even his old Taeja allergies are back in full force, though fortunately he doesn’t have to climb that particular mountain to earn a title shot in the GSL. Life will be in his comfort zone facing an opponent with somewhat shaky ZvZ, and he'll have momentum on his side as he tries to recapture the glory of old.

However, this is a completely different Life from the Royal Roader who would end up ruling the fall 2012. His current interviews betray a certain humility that was absent two years ago. In the past, Life would have never said something like “I wonder why I am able to win when I win”. He could admit the role of providence but never relinquish the legitimacy of his wins. The unusually relaxed, supremely confident Life of old treated games in the same bullish manner as he treated opponents. Wins happened when he outplayed someone; losses occurred when he made identifiable mistakes that could be fixed. His championships were built on his ability to control the game. These days, Life talks a lot about mistakes and seizing opportunities. The word “luck” gets thrown around a lot. He no longer contemplates victories with cool composure. After he defeated Maru 3-2 in the quarterfinals, Life allowed himself an embarassed laugh. Even he didn't seem to quite believe he had made it.



The lack of arrogance is no boon for SKT_soO. Life’s abundance of confidence and lack of outward respect were prime flaws to be exploited, especially for a player as underrated as soO. Even now, on the road to reaching his second WCS Korea finals, soO still can't fully detach himself from legacy of the SKT Zergs, a group that has defined mediocrity for years. His failure against Dear was tragic and in many eyes unavoidable. SKT zergs will always let you down, no matter how much faith you put in them.

Such a shadow covers all his great accomplishments: a 13-2 Proleague streak that first established his reputation in Brood War, a semi-final finish in the Jin Air OSL of Brood War, constant Ro16 placements in the hardest league in the world, and finals appearance against Dear in the WCS Korea finals. Only a handful of players can claim to have results so good across both Brood War and StarCraft 2.

How much of that will matter when the history books are written? Fame and glory are not always earned with merit alone; a certain degree of panache goes a long way. That's not something soO has never needed (or wanted?) to master. He’s amazing in the way a chameleon is amazing, seamlessly adapting styles without forging his unique one. He makes intelligent moves and plays by the book, exhibiting little that might set him apart from his peers. He might be more known for the company he keeps: He talks Zerg strategy with a GSL champion Zerg, spars in ZvP with a scene-stealing goofball and a quietly meditative genius, and can say he goes way back with Boxer's original heir.

Yet, even for those who have unremarkable public personas or style of play, overwhelming accomplishments can create a figure and historical story worth remembering. Second place is only a small help in that regard, unless it's repeated to the point of tragedy. There's no substitute for just winning.

Although soO has all the motivation in the world in win tonight, Life has the major advantages going into the match. Life is on an incredible hot streak which includes beating formidable players like Roro, Rogue and Jaedong. In the cases of Roro and Rogue, the games could be accurately describing as a mauling. Life finally showcased roach-based play that incorporated his trademark aggression, utilizing timings and multipronged harass to grind his opponents into paste. soO himself is perfectly capable of repelling those attacks, being well-versed in defensive playstyles. Information supporting him is scant though. soO has not played a televised ZvZ game since the beginning of February, and his record prior to that is sketchy to say the least. On a good day he’ll beat Soulkey when the latter is considered unstoppable; on a bad day he loses to B-teamers due to sloppy execution. It could be that soO is secretly a monster in practice and has been waiting in the bushes to unleash his fury on an unsuspecting Life. But without a shred to evidence to support improvement and 7 games to play, I can only go with clear results.

Prediction: Life 4 - 2 soO

Writers: CosmicSpiral
Photos and images: silverfire
Editor: Waxangel