EPT
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/GSL/S1_2014/codeabannerthing.jpg)
For many, Group H was one of the groups to watch. Trap had just won MLG, RorO was still one of Samsung's better players, and Bbyong was slowly becoming one of the more popular terrans in Proleague. Even the lesser name in the group, aLive, had a good shot of advancing. Unfortunately for viewers the group turned into a dud.
Trap advanced in 4 straight games that didn't last long. It didn't really display Trap's skill either as both 
aLive and Bbyong seemed to just roll over for the free agent. Trap and aLive played two macro games, but aLive was never able to find holes in Trap's play and lost with each big engagement. Bbyong fared no better as a proxy oracle blindsided him on Foxtrot. Game 2 looked close, but Trap's ability to leave enough for defense while sending the bulk of his army on the counter with no hesitation sealed his place in Code S.Despite that loss, Bbyong advanced in second place by defeating
RorO twice. Their first encounter of the night on King Sejong Station showed Bbyong's strong mech play. His slight alteration to the norm seemed almost Mvp-esque, as he churned out more banshees than normal to act as a counter to RorO's predictable swarmhosts. It was a bop, but Bbyong's intelligent tweaks prove that he has evolved from a mechanical wonder to a terran with more guile. On the second map, Overgrowth, RorO was never able to get a grip on the game as he lost 3 overlords in the first 5 minutes. This setback allowed Bbyong to rally units forward and end the game with ease.Their final series, however, may have redeemed an evening full of dull games. In games 1 and 2, Bbyong decided to go bio as he attempted to bludgeon RorO to death with drops and harass. It was a marathon of multitasking that pushed both players to their limit. They would split the first two games for the first tie of the evening, setting up a final game on King Sejong Station. Bbyong would repeat his choices from their first meeting on the map by going mech, but RorO opted to use roach hydra viper instead. Despite RorO's best attempts, he could never find the right engagement to whittle down the mech army enough for a game ending push. Bbyong methodically took his time, content to let his hellions roast a total of over 120 drones before finally moving out. That attack would be the Samsung ace's death knell ensuring another terran in Code S.
Samsung's
Stork had a similarly easy road to Code S. He displayed marvelous PvP, outclassing both Trust and YongHwa not just with ease but also in style. Whether he was defending Yonghwa's warpgate rush, Trust's attempted double gas steal or playing a straight up macro game with storm drops, Stork never broke a sweat and handled every situation calmly. With 15 protoss opponents waiting in Code S, Stork's impressive mirror matchup could come in very handy. What was a really one sided first series was quickly made up for by the slugfest that Yonghwa and
FanTaSy put on. Neither seemed to be playing their best, Fantasy looked to be in a decent spot in game 1 before Yonghwa's mass colossus attack at 3/3 simply rolled over him. He put himself in an even better spot as Yonghwa was stuck three upgrades behind and inevitably having to all in. Poor positioning and ghost control almost gave Yonghwa a victory as he killed his opponent's army but couldn't quite finish the game. A few minutes later, Yonghwa gifted the game back to Fantasy with equally poor control and Fantasy didn't let go of it anymore. He put himself on the back foot again immediately in game 3 however, when his proxy widow mine drop was scouted and cancelled. Hanging on by a thread all game and barely surviving because of his constant drops, Fantasy eventually couldn't hold Yonghwa's attack and was forced to surrender. CJ's Trust, who had almost been forgotten about at that point, came back to sweep both Fantasy and Yonghwa 2-0. His opponents perhaps didn't play their best, but reaching Code S is still a great achievement for him. Trust will definitely need to improve his PvP if he wants to compete with top class protoss players like Stork, but the flexibility he showed over three series hints at his potential.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/DarkLordOlli/Code_A_HL.jpg)
Hot6ix Code S Season 3 Players
Seeded from Season 1 (8):
Classic, ParalyzE, ZestMarusoO, TRUE, Solar, SoulkeyCode A Winners (24/24):
Avenge, PartinG, MyuNgSiK, Dear, Rain, Hush, Hurricane, Terminator, sOs, Stats, Trap, Stork, TrustDongRaeGu, Dark, Shine, EffOrt, RogueCure, TY, Flash, INnoVation, Reality, BbyongProtoss
16Zerg
9Terran
7
