EPTSacsri wins DreamHack Valencia
There was a time when the European scene was in flux, when a contingent of Koreans left their home country to try their luck in WCS EU. This coincided with an increased Korean participation not only in WCS, but at DreamHack, HSC, and other EU tournaments as well. Throughout the past two years, several have become adopted sons of the continent as they joined local teams, practiced on the local ladder, and competed in local events. The names StarDust, ForGG, MC, jjakji, and even recent additions like First, YoDa and Patience, are often at the top of the list whenever DreamHack comes around. Inevitably, any expatriate hoping to make a name for himself would have to dethrone at least one of its stalwarts.
MC's Delight
For the third time in a row MC tried his luck at conquering DreamHack, and he was finally able to break his Round of 8 barrier and make it all the way to the finals. It was his first time making it this far at this competition--a surprising fact for one of the scene's most accomplished players--but his path proved to be less than simple. He faced formidable opponents such as the recent Redbull Battlegrounds champion Bomber, the Foreign Hope and hometown contender VortiX, and the ex-DreamHack champion Leenock.In MC's first match against Bomber he attempted a DT drop strategy to minimal success, yet was able to draw even in the next game with a proxy stargate using oracles and voidrays. In the final game, MC once again went for DTs yet this time he was able to deal enough damage in order to pull off an eventual win. Reaching the Ro8 once again, he would face the local favorite VortiX and sweep him aside to reach the semi final. VortiX brought his 'A' game to DH Valencia yet it was not enough to defeat the Boss Toss. After a quick two nexus opening with early oracle pressure on Deadwing, MC took game one with an excellent display of how the defenders advantage can bite your opponent in the back. Game 2 played out in similar fashion: a quick forge fast expand into stargate. MC's army control along with his perfect forcefield placements proved to be VortiX achilles' heel as he was rarely able to get any good engagements on his opponent's side of the map. After many intense back and forth battles, MC gathered his scattered army and demolished VortiX's hydra-ling army with colossus, sentries, and stalkers.
The final obstacle in MC's path was Leenock, the young veteran Zerg player who had not had many successes since the release of HoTS. His semi final run in Valencia is a good sign that he still has the talent and determination, but things have yet to fall in place for him so far. The Ro4 would be as far as the Leenocktopus could reach, however, as he too would fall 0-2 to MC. After a long back and forth game 1, the two players ended up in a basetrade. The overwhelming forces of MC however proved to be a bit too much for Leenock and MC took a nervy first map. It would be a far more routine affair for the Boss Toss in game 2, as his 7 gate immortal push caught Leenock with his pants down, and he ended the series with a display of micro that we've come to expect from him.
Before his semi final against the Yoe Flash Wolves Zerg, MC seemed confident. When asked who would win their match, MC beamed that it would be him. No matter what, though, the winner of their Ro4 match was going to be become the champion, he said. It didn't matter who their opponent was, as he insisted that no nameless player would ever win DreamHack.
A Worthy Sacsrifice
Previously playing for SK Telecom T1, twenty-two year old Lee Yeh Hoon left his team, his comfort zone, and his home to join the ranks of Swiss StarCraft 2 team mYinsanity at the end of May. His career to this point had been an aimless one, unable to make it to individual tournaments and unworthy of being fielded in Proleague. His chances were few and his prospects were dim, but for many the necessary sacrifice in order to succeed is a price to steep to pay. But Sacsri knew that if were to have any hope of seeing his likeness on the big screen and his name etched on trophies, he had no choice but to leave everything he had ever know.Being the kind of player that not many know of, but probably should, he showed promise as he beat Finnish player Welmu in a showmatch with a score of 5-1. Soon enough, Sacsri found himself qualifying for WCS Europe Challenger League by beating TargA and HasuObs, both dangerous players that have beaten more storied Koreans before Sacsri. However, these were paltry accomplishments compared to his peers. People knew that he was good as he rose up the EU ladder, but he had yet to earn to booth time to prove it to the world. His qualification for DreamHack Valencia would be that chance.
With high hopes from his teammates, Sacsri went into the event looking for more than just prize money and good games – he wanted the recognition that he deserved. But it was no easy task to take on – many top tier Korean and European players lined up to stand in his way, and the pressure was high as his newly acquired teammate StarDust already had two championship titles under his name. Sacsri was in it to win it, and he displayed his iron will by smashing his way into the round of sixteen, where he faced off against the French Zerg Stephano. It was a well planned series as he took game one with quick mutalisks, hitting before Stephano had a chance to be aggressive or prepare adequate defenses. The flock of mutas proved to be too much as the Frenchman waved his white flag easily. In the second game, they both ended up with brood lords, infestors, and hydras, but Stephano made too many hydras and paid the price. In the end, Sacsri took out the Frenchman 2-0.
This was already the most successful tournament in Sacsri's career, but he was not done yet. A quarterfinal match against the surprisingly successful StarBuck--who was famous for his creative and inexplicable builds--could have been a potential minefield, but he once again navigated it with surprising ease. A very intense first game ended with Sacrsi’s units overwhelming the Slovenian after limiting his economy, while the second game was quickly decided as Sacrsi attacked with a two base roach timing and managed to kill or the harvesters before spines could appear.
Up to that point, Sacsri had only beaten foreigners in the knockout rounds, so his path to the semis was still fraught with doubt. His first really stumbling block would be StarDust, his new teammate and mentor, and it would be his first time on the backfoot as StarDust claimed the first game off the back of an unscouted oracle opening and a defense of the counter all-in. Sacsri would prove his mettle though, as he won the next two games to make the final. A devastating runby put him in excellent position, and he finished it off with corruptors, zerglings and hydras that left StarDust with no chance of holding. With a spot in the final at stake, Sacsri went for broke and took the gold as his natural on Overgrowth, while StarDust decided to counter that with a 2 base colossus all in. Unfortunately for the reigning WCS EU champion, his sentries were caught dawdling in the middle of the map by speedlings, and his attack floundered. Though StarDust would try to claw his way back into the game, Sacsri and his overwhelming numbers could not be denied a place in the final.
What's in a Name? - The Finals Recap
It was a final that some anticipated but few truly believed could happen. After several disappointing tournament outings, MC was back in a final. After leaving his home for a chance at greatness, Sacsri was on the grandest stage for the first time in his life. The two players meeting to decide the winner of DreamHack Valencia could not have been any more different. The most seasoned, most successful, and most popular player in Europe was confident of victory, but the once mysterious Sacsri had quietly built an impressive tournament hit list. He would have to take inspiration from the once faceless players such as duckdeok and Pigbaby before him, and show that all it took to become a fan favorite was an impressive championship run and a little bit of personality.Game 1 - Merry Go Round LE
As the curtains rose and the players were introduced, it seemed like both players had decided to feel each other out first and go for very safe and standard openings. MC chose a forge fast expand and a stargate while Sacsri opted for hatch-pool-hatch. Though MC opened with an oracle, it was used more for scouting and added defense rather than harassment, revealing that Sacsri was preparing for a 3-base timing push with zerglings and hydras. It hit at around the 10 minute mark, and though he would not find a way into any of MC's bases, he was able to take down the forge before it had completed +1 attack. On the bright side for the Boss Toss, he was able to keep his third base alive during this assault, but he was now behind in upgrades and had no opportunity to apply pressure. Sacsri had all the time in the world to tech to vipers, infestors and adrenal glands, and it was the perfect counter to MC's mostly blink stalker army. No amount of blink could save MC, and he surrendered the first map to his opponent.
Game 2 - King Sejong Station LE
Once again, both players decided to go for safe openings. MC's choice was a gateway expand, while Sacsri felt confident enough to double hatch before pool. This slight advantage swung even further in Sacsri's favor when he was able to catch two stalkers in the middle of the map, denying MC any map presence or scouting information. Just like last game, Sacsri decided to play with initiative as he built a swell of lings and roaches in an attempt to cancel the Protoss third, but MC was once again able to hold despite letting lings into his main. Sacsri would not be dissuaded however, as he sent wave after wave of units in multi-pronged attacks in hopes of destabilizing the Protoss. Unfortunately for the mYi Zerg, he was unable to break MC before enough immortals and sentries were out, and his attack failed. With no tech and no transition behind him, MC's counter push could not be stopped and the series was tied at 1-1.
Game 3 - Nimbus LE
With a breath of fresh air and the series having turned into a best of three, MC switched things up with some early oracle pressure. It looked like the perfect build order for the Boss Toss as Sacsri went double hatch before pool once more, but he was only able to kill three drones. Unsatisfied with his paltry gains, MC warped in 5 gateways behind this for another big attack. With zealots and two oracles, he was easily able to erase Sacsri's third base as no amount of zerglings could have held. Though the damage was limited to the third, MC had already started colossus tech at home for the killing blow. With no third base, Sacsri struggled to gather enough troops to beat back the protoss army, and MC's second timing attack with colossus proved to be too much. Momentum was now his as he led 2-1 with only a win separating the President Protoss from another title.
Game 4 - Catallena LE
With match point and good serving of confidence, MC smelled blood. It had been a long day and it seemed like he wanted to end things early; his choice of build to try and close things out was a 4gate after expand. Unfortunately for him, Sacsri was able to sniff out something suspicious and had built enough lings to investigate. Spotting the gateways building with an artosis pylon, Sacsri was able to focus it down to unpower everything. It was a huge wrench in MC's plans, and he would have to play the rest of the game from a disadvantage. Unlike game 1 however, the game ended up going long as Sacsri decided to use swarmhosts to build on his favorable position. He sieged MC's side of the map constantly, pressuring MC into building colossus on two bases and taxing his already weak economy. There was a glimmer of hope for the Boss Toss as his killer instinct drove him to eliminate Sacsri's third, and though he was able to take it down, a batch of freshly morphed broodlords rained upon the Protoss army to wipe it from existence. With no army, no economy, and no hope, MC had no choice but to gg and take it to a game 5.
Game 5 - Overgrowth
Regardless of the outcome, game 5 of the finals was going to be the last match of the tournament. A winner was going to be decided, and the ultimate match of the evening turned out to be one of the better games of the weekend.
The pattern of the series continued as MC opened with a forge fast expand against Sacsri's quick 3 bases. A scouting overlord became a little overzealous, however, as it wandered beyond safety allowing MC to kill it. This lead MC to make a snap decision: 7 gates and a robo. With no overlord close enough to scout it, it seemed like a good decision to go for the all in. Chronoboost was cast repeatedly on the robo and MC soon had three immortals and a line of sentries ready, and it was time to head out. Little did he know, however, that Sacsri had taken the watchtower on his side of the map, allowing him to spot the attack as it left the Protoss natural. Sacsri knew that he had to strike before MC's army was at his doorstep or in a choke, so he prepared a surround in the middle of the map. Before MC could even react, the mYi Zerg's lings and roaches had wrapped around his army in parts, and no amount of forcefields could adequately save it. The third immortal ensured that the warp prism was late, denying quick reinforcements and immortal micro, and his army was dust. Sacsri counter pushed, but MC miraculously held with a handful of stalkers in his natural.
With one army defeated, MC was not to be discouraged as he amassed units for a second push. Knowing that Sacsri was in similarly dire straits in terms of tech, despite the fourth base, MC was on the clock to try and hit before his opponent could call upon better units. Fortunately for the Boss Toss, he was able to hit his timing. He eliminated the scarcely defended fourth base, but it he hungered for more. The third lay vulnerable, and he was able to take it as well at the cost of most of his army. Neither played had much left in army supply or economy, and it was a battle to see who could bleed out first. DreamHack Valencia came down to one final push on Sacsri's natural, but it was a trap lying in wait. The wide open mouth to his base was a tempting bait, and it drew the Protoss army in before being surrounded on three sides. MC cast his forcefields in a desperate attempt to protect his precious sentries and halve the zerg army, but it would not be enough. His forces were devoured, and there was nothing left of him. Against all odds, Sacsri had won Valencia.
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
The dark horse, the one they called a “no-name”, without any premier European events prior to this tournament, had just beaten the seemingly unstoppable MC. With incredibly close games, the finals showed everything from two-base-swarm hosts and hyper aggression towards expansions to mass-blink stalker and soul trains. Drones were pulled, probes killed, casters screamed, and the audience exploded at every important move in these back and forth games. Sacsri lifting his star-shaped trophy was as symbolic a gesture as we had ever seen in a championship celebration: it as a declaration that his time had come, and this was his moment.Lee Yeh Hoon finally made a name of himself – the underdog who withstood the overwhelming force known as MC to become a champion. Just two months into his European adventure, he's caused a commotion worthy of a name. What the future will hold – only time will tell, but as Lee expressed before he went into the ring against his opponent: “I am going to make sure that in this final, on this stage, everyone knows my name”.
And as he smiled to Valencia's applause and popped his winner's champagne, they all cheered his name: "Sacsri".
I truly believe he should have won... Nonetheless, grats to Sacsri. 
