EPTRo8: Group A Preview
Zest, PartinG, 
MMA, 
Revivalby Waxangel
After the qualifiers and round-of-sixteen of the GSL Global Tournament were played out online, it's finally time to go live from the GomTV studio for the round-of-eight. We kick things off with Group A, which features reigning Code S champion Zest going up against three dangerous challengers.
Countdown:
Initial Match 1: Zest vs. PartinG
It's been nearly three weeks since
KT_Zest triumphed 4-3 over soO to claim the Code S Season 1 championship. While there is no question that his form was magnificent during his run to the title, we still have to question whether or not he will have any staying power. After seeing what happened to players like jjakji, Seed, and Dear in the past, we have plenty of reason to be wary about players who come out of nowhere to win Code S, no matter how red-hot they were for a couple of months.Zest's 1-2 record in Proleague following his Code S win is not encouraging, but it's hardly anything to draw conclusions from. The GSL Global Tournament is Zest's first real post-Code S test, and it's his first opportunity to show that he will not become another one and done champion. So far, he's looked absolutely fearless in the face of adversity and remarkably calm under pressure. Yet, we could say the same about many other fallen champions before him.
Zest's first opponent will be
SKT_PartinG, who has fought his way through the online qualifier and Ro16 to finally earn a spot on the live stage. Though Zest and PartinG are players on rival teams, it might do Zest well to aspire to the example PartinG has set. Other than MC and perhaps Liquid's HerO, no other Protoss has played at an elite, championship level for as long as PartinG. First grabbing our attention in early 2012, PartinG has ranked among the the top Protoss players in the world ever since. Despite possessing stellar micro and a knack for all-ins that make him seem like MC 2.0, PartinG has found himself stagnating over the last year. Though most other players would be perfectly happy to have reached the quarterfinals four times in the last five OSL/GSLs, PartinG is a player who has higher aspirations. He once won $125,000 in the course of a few weeks in 2012, seizing twin championships at the WCS Global Finals and World Cyber Games. Those are the standards he aspires to, and he has a great opportunity to prove himself in the Global Tournament.
Both PartinG and Zest are excellent at PvP and it's very difficult to say who has the edge. Both are extremely adept at mind games and more than willing to take risks to gain an easy win. Both are great at putting together and managing late game armies as well. If I had to give one player the edge, I'd say that PartinG does have a slight advantage in the department of small scale micro. That's not to say Zest's micro is bad – it's just that PartinG might have THE best early game PvP micro of everyone in the world. It feels like anything could happen in a best of three between these two players, but I favor PartinG by a hair because of his micro.
Initial Match 2: MMA vs. Revival
Before entering WCS Europe Season 1,
Acer.MMA made some ominous comments to the Korean media suggesting that 2014 could be his last hurrah. His stated goal for 2014: win every WCS Europe championship. Though a 2-4 to MC in the WCS Europe Season 1 finals has already forced MMA to revise his goals, he has a chance to win a worthy consolation prize at the Global Tournament. Though the prize money and WCS points might not compare to the WSC Premier League, he'd earn a massive amount of respect for triumping over the top players from all three regions.Unfortunately, MMA finds himself entering the GT as one of the underdogs. In WCS Europe, his notoriously mediocre PvT did not seem much improved, while his famed TvZ didn't seem to have the same ferocity as before. If the MMA who shows up in the booth is the same MMA who lost WCS Europe, then he is certain to lose in the Global Tournament as well. It's been two weeks since MMA's loss to MC at WCS Europe. It may not be the longest time to practice, but it's still enough to make a difference. We hope to see an even better MMA in this group.
Though the two Protosses on the other side of the bracket will worry MMA the most, his first opponent is no walk in the park either.
CMStorm_Revival has brushed off a long slump that plagued him in the latter half of 2013 – and aside from some consistency issues – he has come back with a vengeance. Putting a shaky start in WCS America behind him, Revival left an impression on us all with a dominating 3-1 victory against reigning two-time WCS America champion Polt in the quarterfinals. Even though Revival barely lost 2-3 to former teammate Oz in the semis, he was still able to grab a spot in the Global Tournament after eventual champion HyuN declined his invitation. Facing fellow semifinalist Alicia in a 3rd place match, Revival was able to take a 2-1 victory and gain entry to the GT as a WCS America representative.
Long ago, we would have considered MMA a strong favorite against Revival. However, Revival has shown much improved ZvT form in recent months. Not only did he win 3-1 against Polt at WCS America, he very nearly defeated jjakji 3-2 at the IEM World Championship. Only a once-in-a-career mine barrage prevented Revival from taking the win in Katowice. This could be a much closer match than many people expect.
Winners match and beyond
Back during the WCS Season Finals of 2013, the players from WCS Europe and America bucked expectations and proved to be quite competitive with the players from WCS Korea. However, we're unlikely to see that trend continue in this group.
The problem is match-ups. MMA's TvP did not look particularly good in WCS Europe, and he's likely to struggle against the Code S duo of Zest and PartinG. Similarly, Revival's ZvP has looked like his shakiest match-up in WCS America. I do think that MMA and Revival have a fighting chance, but I have to go with the Code S duo to advance to the semifinals.
PartinG > Zest
MMA > Revival
PartinG > MMA
Zest > Revival
Zest > MMA
PartinG and Zest advance
