EPT
Writers: Destructicon, Soularion
Graphics: Meru
Editor: lichter
http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/2014_Global_StarCraft_II_League_Season_3/Code_S
The baneling train rolls on. Despite some troubles in ZvT in the past few weeks,
TRUE proved his mettle as he advanced in first place ahead of TY and Dear. Though Dear was initially able to take out 
PartinG in what looked like a resurgence from the former champion, the SKT T1 protoss bounced back in their rematch to claim his spot in the Ro16.![[image loading]](/staff/lichter/code_s/2014/season3/codesro32grpg.jpg)
TRUE began the night with a Leenock-esque aggressive ling/bane style that simply ran over a TY. The KT Terran just didn't look prepared for TRUE's style of zerg, and last season's Ro4 contestant claimed the 2-0. It wasn't all bad for TY, however, as he displayed an aggressive drop style of his own, capitalizing on multiple early overlord kills to keep TRUE stuck on three bases. In a fantastic display,
TRUE managed to comeback with great bane/ling/muta zoning, killing TY with an amazing engagement at his own highly-contested fourth.In a fairly funny PvP, Dear got the better of a semi-mirror build situation. While PartinG got a MSC, Dear decided to skip it and get faster phoenixes instead. PartinG's harassment with his MSC left him without enough energy for photon overcharge, and he was overrun by Dear's miniscule advantage. Seemingly on tilt, PartinG made several mistakes in doubted tech paths during game 2. With smart immortal drop harass into a strong push,
Dear took an easy win to head towards the winner's match.It was an evening devoid of cheese so far, and it didn't take long for someone to attempt something interesting. Curiously, it wasn't TRUE. For the first time in the night, Dear decided that a proxy 2gate strat on Overgrowth was a sensible choice. With a safe scout and pool first, TRUE was in a position to hold it easily. TRUE, being TRUE, decided to go for a ling counterattack alongside his famous proxy hatch. Without much trouble, Dear managed to scout it and hold on despite being disadvantaged. On the back of some decent harassment, TRUE double expanded and began to move into closing the game out with superior econ and macro. The game stabilized somewhat, but Dear was still able to muster up a low-econ archon/stalker push. It was for naught; with solid zergling surrounds and a well-timed counterattack, TRUE took the strangest game of the night.
Up 1-0, TRUE went for a three hatch before pool while disrupting the toss with a gas steal. The game became quite normal on the back of it, with Dear getting an early third. While Dear pushed forward with sentries, TRUE managed to snipe out a few units with great zergling control. With another expert surround, TRUE managed to force out Dear's push and take a massive lead. He got a bit overaggressive with counterattacks while going for ultras, giving Dear a window of opportunity to strike. With amazing forcefields and a massive stalker army, Dear secured the comeback to force a third game. As he tried to do in game 2, TRUE pulled off a proxy hatchery in game 3. In response, Dear walled off the natural to the main and was able to minimize damage. With two zealots, Dear managed to cancel an overeager third and build another fast third himself. Feeling confident, Dear attempted a push similar to game 2, but TRUE was prepared for a much stronger, faster counterattack. Dear was caught off guard and had to warp home, giving TRUE some time to breathe. He transitioned into mutas and simply swarmed the protoss third, leaving Dear in shambles. With fantastic timing and strange play,
TRUE got through into the Ro16 despite resistance from both Dear and TY.The loser's match would provide us another battle of the telecom giants in the form of TY vs PartinG. On Overgrowth TY chose to power hard off the back of a CC first into fast 3rd CC, while PartinG moseyed on with a standard build. TY used his early economy to hit a very strong SCV pull timing as PartinG's 2/2 was researching. TY smashed through the army of PartinG and forced the GG, taking an early lead. Unperturbed, PartinG adapted to TY's style on Deadwing, not only matching his greed. As the clock ticked until TY pulled the boys, PartinG was able to keep tabs on TY's movements with an oracle, giving him enough time to squeeze out storm. With forcefields to delay the push, PartinG held easily and TY had no choice but to gg.
It was difficult to imagine either of these two players dropping out so soon in the season, but their fates were determined on Catallena. PartinG decided to control the tempo of the game by going DT's off two bases and use it to expand. TY was preparing for PartinG's usual blink build and was caught off guard by the DTs. Things looked grim for TY as his concussive shells and combat shields were cancelled, but stim was able to finish. He moved out and was able to pick off PartinG's third and maneuver into the natural and main for some probe kills. Throughout it all PartinG remained composed and he rebuilt his economy, retook his 3rd and teched to Colossus. TY tried to make something happen by harassing further, however without a 3rd or Vikings he was effectively all-in and was forced to tap out after
PartinG deftly shut down all the harass attempts to reach the final match of the evening.In a rematch from earlier in the night, previous GSL champion Dear faced the always-relevant PartinG. PartinG's build of choice was blink + oracle, but Dear responded well with great forcefields to get a strong advantage. He attempted a counterpush, but PartinG barely managed to hold. Dear now had a superior economy, and both players tried to take a decisive advantage with their blink. Even though PartinG's +1 attack was earlier, he just didn't have enough stalkers to overwhelm the Samsung protoss. Down 0-1, PartinG was close to his first Ro32 elimination in all of Heart of the Swarm. Undeterred, PartinG showed incredible chutzpah by electing a proxy stargate to save his season. Dear barely avoided scouting it, but the oracle was unable to deal major damage. It was enough to give PartinG the lead, and his follow up blink all-in was able to seal the deal despite the herculean efforts of Dear.
In the deciding match, on Overgrowth, Dear opened with faster two gateways while PartinG resorted to in-base DTs. Dear's attack was held, and PartinG picked up his natural, leaving Dear to go back in with his army. His push did almost nothing, and PartinG nearly got a mothership core snipe, leaving PartinG with a decent econ advantage. Hoping to claw back into contention, Dear chose to build an early templar archives while PartinG added on charge and a more normally timed templar archives. The new Samsung signee tried to be cute with storm drops, but PartinG was able to sniff out the warp prism and take it down with adventuring stalkers. With none of his ruses working, Dear was left in the dust.
PartinG's strong push soon after was just too big to hold, and the Samsung protoss had to surrender his Ro16 ticket to his SKT T1 opponent.After appearing like a strong contender for the next round, Dear has to be disappointed with the outcome of the evening. His climb back into relevance has hit bump in the road, while the consistencies of TRUE and PartinG were rewarded once again. For TY, his continued failure to translate his Proleague success into individual league stardom continues to confound. Could it be that BoX series just isn't his forte? As his KT brethren continue to rise in Code S, he must find a way to keep up or he'll soon be left behind.
Players in the Ro16 (14/16):
sOs, Stats, Rain, Zest, PartinGEffOrt, Soulkey, soO, DongRaeGu, TRUE
Cure, INnoVation, Maru, RealityNext: Code S Ro32 Group H
Solar vs AvengeFlash vs Dark
Sad that TY went out in fourth, but when Dear plays like his old self he is the weakest of the four![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/1NuGXvx.png)
is still the best ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/MsxcOXX.png)
