Terran fans need not fear, at least not for another round. JinAir_Maru, arguably the #1 Terran in the world, lived up to his reputation and cleared his Ro16 group with flying colors. After taking a 2-1 victory over SKT's Dark in his first match, Maru went on to 2-0 Brood War great Stork to earn a quarterfinal spot.
Maru experienced a slight hitch in his first game of the night, where he was defeated by a very impressive Dark in a straight-up macro game. Unfortunately for Dark, he wouldn't be able to repeat that feat as Maru decided he would be activating cheese-mode for the rest of his games. Proxy reapers followed by hellbat drops killed off Dark in game two, while an old fashioned 2-rax bunker rush sealed the 2-1 victory for Maru in game three. Maru then proceeded to bash Stork with the cheese-stick as well, using bunker rush on Sejong Station followed by a gold-base float build on Habitation Station to win 2-0.
JinAir_TRUE escaped from the group in second place, joining his teammate Maru in the quarterfinals. TRUE started off the night on a sour note, losing 0-2 to Stork's all-ins. Out-roaching Dark in the loser's match, TRUE earned a rematch against Stork with a quarterfinal ticket on the line. After splitting the first two games 1-1, TRUE managed to overcome Stork in a very closely fought game three. Though Stork seemed to assemble an unstoppable army at the end, TRUE's decision to go for a last-ditch mutalisk switch allowed him to win in a base trade game.
*Group C was played before Group B in order to accommodate Stork's participation at HomeStory Cup IX
Group B is headlined by two former champions who need little introduction, facing two challengers who will need WCS America-esque upsets to make it to the quarterfinals.
First among the champions in this group is SKT_Rain, winner of the 2012 OnGameNet Starleague and a force to be reckoned with ever since. An impenetrable bulwark of safe and solid play, Rain has cast off the plague of "mediocrity" that afflicted him through most of 2013. Rain reached the OSL finals and won the Hot6ix Cup in 2013 – it's a testament to just how good Rain was at his peak that we can call those "mediocre" results.
Just like his team, Rain's form has had its ups and downs this year. Initially looking shaky in both Proleague and individual competitions, he has now stabilized and become SKT's most reliable player. Just like when he was at his peak in late 2012, the Rain of today has no distinct weak match-up and no openly exploitable weakness. His Round 3 performance was near perfect at 6-1, and SKT affirmed that Rain was indeed back by fielding him in both of their ace matches. With his last loss to a Zerg coming nearly three months ago, Rain looked to be in prime position to seize a quarterfinal spot.
Speaking of resurgent former champions, ST_Lifewill be Rain's co-headliner in this group. Compared to Rain, Life's 2013 was a roller coaster ride that took him to great heights and abyssal lows, sometimes within the span of a single weekend. Like Rain, he has stabilized this year and has actually looked focused and steady in the GSL. A narrow 3-4 semifinal defeat at the hands of soO in the previous season of Code S was a disappointment, but Life shrugged it off to take home the Dreamhack Bucharest trophy without much trouble.
We have to point out as an aside that Life has been rather lackluster in Proleague, but it's well known that Life has never been a good team league player for years now. What might be more important to note is that his "give no f***s" attitude appears to be coming back. We're seeing less and less of the Life who breathes a sigh of relief after winning, and more of the Life who couldn't be less interested in his victory because the outcome was never in question. That's the demeanor of the Life who once conquered the SC2 world.
As for Samsung_Solar and SKT_ParalyzE, they both seem like locks to drop out of the group. Both players – Solar perhaps more so than Paralyze – have shown great potential on various occasions, but neither player can yet be talked about among the top three of their respective race, a right both Rain and Life have earned for themselves. Solar's way from Code A to the Ro16 includes double wins over Byul, which is about the only thing he has going for him in this group. His recent vP record is unimpressive, with losses to Stork, San, Rain and a few closely fought wins against foreigners tarnishing his previously very good online record.
Paralyze got to the Ro16 through Code A by beating Super, Yonghwa, Myungsik and DRG (after an initial loss in the first match), and although several PvP wins bode well for a potential match-up against his team mate, the caliber of opponents he and Solar have faced so far does not quite measure up to the level of Life and Rain.
Overall thoughts and predictions
Barring any surprising first matches, Rain and Life should face off in the Winners' Match to determine who faces soO in the Ro8, while the loser will have to fight for a chance to face Classic. Rain's strong recently strong PvZ leads me to believe that he is the favorite in a match-up against Life, whereas Life's ever solid ZvZ makes a possible match against Solar look not particularly concerning. Furthermore, his win over Classic in the Ro32 implies that his ZvP is no longer as weak as it has been, so perhaps a first place isn't out of the question.
Solar and Paralyze have their work cut out for them. Surprises do happen, and the fact that they are in Code S is enough to tell us that they are worth their salt. But what can the two bring to the table that the seasoned veterans in this group have not already faced and beaten before?
Rain > Solar Life > Paralyze Rain > Life Solar < Paralyze Life > Paralyze
hi my english is not really good so i want to be clear of this part (using a gold-base float build on Habitation Station followed by yet another bunker rush on Sejong Station.)
this mean the first game was on Habitation Station and the second on Sejong Station ?cuz i saw the games and the one in the gold base was the last match.thanks
On June 04 2014 06:56 [sc1f]eonzerg wrote: hi my english is not really good so i want to be clear of this part (using a gold-base float build on Habitation Station followed by yet another bunker rush on Sejong Station.)
this mean the first game was on Habitation Station and the second on Sejong Station ?cuz i saw the games and the one in the gold base was the last match.thanks
lol, Maru, what a fkin cheese, Terran getting sooo 'good', that they need to cheese their way into Ro8, I really hope INnoVation does better than just cheesing, even though his group is much harder than Maru's; and damn, Rain will get team kill no matter which place in 1 or 2 he gets, although i think he has better chance against soO than Classic since ...... its PvP, and if Life gets Classic, then Classic needs to work his ass off practicing
On June 04 2014 07:39 MiniFotToss wrote: lol, Rain will get team kill no matter any place in 1or 2 he gets, although i think he has better chance against soO than Classic since ...... its PvP
There's still a reasonable chance/risk for a 4/4 SKT ro4!
On June 04 2014 07:39 MiniFotToss wrote: lol, Rain will get team kill no matter any place in 1or 2 he gets, although i think he has better chance against soO than Classic since ...... its PvP
There's still a reasonable chance/risk for a 4/4 SKT ro4!
? The winner of group D plays TRUE, while the runner up of group D plays Maru. Soulkey is the only SKT player in group D. 4/4 is impossible.
On June 04 2014 07:39 MiniFotToss wrote: lol, Rain will get team kill no matter any place in 1or 2 he gets, although i think he has better chance against soO than Classic since ...... its PvP
There's still a reasonable chance/risk for a 4/4 SKT ro4!
? The winner of group D plays TRUE, while the runner up of group D plays Maru. Soulkey is the only SKT player in group D. 4/4 is impossible.
And on top of that Zest is in group D, so like, maybe 1 KT and 3 SKT in semis? If Maru gets Soulkey and TRUE gets Zest then it will be Soulkey and Zest advancing, but then again If Innovation kills Zest as revenge for Season 1 then it might be Innovation vs Maru or Soulkey first and Innovation second, so it might be 1/4 Acer 3/4 SKT, or maybe even 1 Jin Air, 1 KT, 2 SKT, cuz if Soulkey loses to Innovation in the Winners Match and loses to Zest again in final match or maybe even to Shine in the first match then there might not be 3 SKT in semis, also if Life gets Classic as opponent, I think Classic will lose
SO basically, it could be 3 SKT 1 KT; 3 SKT 1 Jin Air; 2 SKT 1 ST 1 KT; 1 SKT 1 Acer 1 ST 1 KT; 2 SKT 1 KT 1 Jin Air or 3 SKT 1 Acer, but its really hard to decide, but there will be SKT's in the semis that for sure since there is Rain getting them team-kills.
I really hope Rain wins this GSL eventually though, its his best chance since he looks he most solid out of all the (could be) Quarter-finalists, since unlike Zest he has a whooping 6-1 Round 3 PL record, hell, Rain even beat Zest in PL, he's better than Soulkey, Life, Innovation, Maru lost to Stork 2 days ago, and Rain has much better in PvT than Stork, CLassic lost to Rain in Season 1, and unlike PartinG, Rain doesn't make stupid mistakes that cost PartinG his game against Classic, Soulkey lost to him in Hot6ix last year and he didnt even get out of Ro16 last season, Classic lost to Creator yesterday, and Rain still has a win streak in PL that has not been broken
On June 04 2014 07:39 MiniFotToss wrote: lol, Rain will get team kill no matter any place in 1or 2 he gets, although i think he has better chance against soO than Classic since ...... its PvP
There's still a reasonable chance/risk for a 4/4 SKT ro4!
? The winner of group D plays TRUE, while the runner up of group D plays Maru. Soulkey is the only SKT player in group D. 4/4 is impossible.
And on top of that Zest is in group D, so like, maybe 1 KT and 3 SKT in semis? If Maru gets Soulkey and TRUE gets Zest then it will be Soulkey and Zest advancing, but then again If Innovation kills Zest as revenge for Season 1 then it might be Innovation vs Maru or Soulkey first and Innovation second, so it might be 1/4 Acer 3/4 SKT, or maybe even 1 Jin Air, 1 KT, 2 SKT, cuz if Soulkey loses to Innovation in the Winners Match and loses to Zest again in final match or maybe even to Shine in the first match then there might not be 3 SKT in semis, also if Life gets Classic as opponent, I think Classic will lose
SO basically, it could be 3 SKT 1 KT; 3 SKT 1 Jin Air; 2 SKT 1 ST 1 KT; 1 SKT 1 Acer 1 ST 1 KT; 2 SKT 1 KT 1 Jin Air or 3 SKT 1 Acer, but its really hard to decide, but there will be SKT's in the semis that for sure since there is Rain getting them team-kills.
I really hope Rain wins this GSL eventually though, its his best chance since he looks he most solid out of all the (could be) Quarter-finalists, since unlike Zest he has a whooping 6-1 Round 3 PL record, hell, Rain even beat Zest in PL, he's better than Soulkey, Life, Innovation, Maru lost to Stork 2 days ago, and Rain has much better in PvT than Stork, CLassic lost to Rain in Season 1, and unlike PartinG, Rain doesn't make stupid mistakes that cost PartinG his game against Classic, Soulkey lost to him in Hot6ix last year and he didnt even get out of Ro16 last season, Classic lost to Creator yesterday, and Rain still has a win streak in PL that has not been broken
Innovation has been on fire lately, so don't count him out yet. And he plays Terran, which is Zest and Rain's weakness.
On June 04 2014 07:09 Xinzoe wrote: Rain doesnt make silly mistakes like forgetting hold position on zealot, he wont die to life's godlings
Well he didn't in Round 2 of SPL, I believe it was against TRUE or Rogue, and the map was Frost. He forgot to hold position his Zealot like 3 times.
But, altho he did lose that game, he was GODLY after those mistakes, holding on 3 bases against swarms of Zerglings and Ultras. He even managed to win two decisive engagements, killed all the Ultras and counter attacked, before the Muta switch finished him.
On June 04 2014 07:09 Xinzoe wrote: Rain doesnt make silly mistakes like forgetting hold position on zealot, he wont die to life's godlings
Well he didn't in Round 2 of SPL, I believe it was against TRUE or Rogue, and the map was Frost. He forgot to hold position his Zealot like 3 times.
But, altho he did lose that game, he was GODLY after those mistakes, holding on 3 bases against swarms of Zerglings and Ultras. He even managed to win two decisive engagements, killed all the Ultras and counter attacked, before the Muta switch finished him.
Innovation has been on fire lately, so don't count him out yet. And he plays Terran, which is Zest and Rain's weakness
You cant really say anything about Rain since he likes to whine a lot. Recently he said that he hated PvP, plus he looked pretty solid against Salvation.
Honestly, I think solar is a scary match for Rain. Could be a trap game. I see him coming out of the group reguardless b/c he win if he plays him twice. This should be one of the better groups to watch.
edit: I voted Solar vs Rain on Newkirk one of my favorite games from last year. It was the prepared strategy where Solar built and hid 3 overseers, contaminated Rain's robo nonstop, and hit a strong roach hydra timing because Rain could only get 1 colossus.
Have a feeling that one of Rain or Life is going to disappoint massively and fall out in fourth place. Seems to happen a lot when there's "obvious" favorites.
On June 04 2014 12:04 jubil wrote: Seriously rooting for Solar. He's beaten Rain before, I think he can do it again!
LOL, dont think so, Rain beat Solar TWO times in last season's Code S remember? and his PvZ is untouchable now he is a god currently in PvZ, even a soO will have hard time in beating him, and soO is one of the best ZvPers out there.
On June 04 2014 07:39 MiniFotToss wrote: lol, Maru, what a fkin cheese, Terran getting sooo 'good', that they need to cheese their way into Ro8, I really hope INnoVation does better than just cheesing, even though his group is much harder than Maru's; and damn, Rain will get team kill no matter which place in 1 or 2 he gets, although i think he has better chance against soO than Classic since ...... its PvP, and if Life gets Classic, then Classic needs to work his ass off practicing
Rain's strong recently strong PvZ leads me to believe that he is the favorite in a match-up against Life, whereas Life's ever solid ZvZ makes a possible match against Solar look not particularly concerning
On June 04 2014 12:04 jubil wrote: Seriously rooting for Solar. He's beaten Rain before, I think he can do it again!
LOL, dont think so, Rain beat Solar TWO times in last season's Code S remember? and his PvZ is untouchable now he is a god currently in PvZ, even a soO will have hard time in beating him, and soO is one of the best ZvPers out there.
On June 04 2014 14:13 WTCO wrote: Have a feeling that one of Rain or Life is going to disappoint massively and fall out in fourth place. Seems to happen a lot when there's "obvious" favorites.
Looks like you nailed it, Rain disappointed massively
On June 04 2014 06:50 TeamLiquid ESPORTS wrote: Rain > Solar Rain < Solar Life > Paralyze Life < Paralyze Rain > Life Rain < Life Solar < ParalyzeSolar > Paralyze Life > Paralyze Life < Paralyze
On June 04 2014 06:50 TeamLiquid ESPORTS wrote: Rain > Solar Rain < Solar Life > Paralyze Life < Paralyze Rain > Life Rain < Life Solar < ParalyzeSolar > Paralyze Life > Paralyze Life < Paralyze
On June 04 2014 06:50 TeamLiquid ESPORTS wrote: Rain > Solar Rain < Solar Life > Paralyze Life < Paralyze Rain > Life Rain < Life Solar < ParalyzeSolar > Paralyze Life > Paralyze Life < Paralyze
Rain and Life advance.Solar and Paralyze advance.
TL predictions were amazing in their own way.
As impressive to get it all wrong than to get it all right tho.
On June 05 2014 01:11 Ctesias wrote: The only question here is whether Rain or Life will get first place, and who will get second. I'm going with Rain as first.
i'm so sorry. but you're a bit late. the games already happened and the results... well... are ever so slightly different from what you said.
EPT
JinAir_Maru, arguably the #1 Terran in the world, lived up to his reputation and cleared his Ro16 group with flying colors. After taking a 2-1 victory over SKT's 
Dark in his first match, Maru went on to 2-0 Brood War great 
Stork to earn a quarterfinal spot.![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/GSL/S2_2014/ro16groupc.png)
