I would love to write you all an epic hype article, for this amazing tournament that is coming up, but first I have a confession. I’ve only watched two Broodwar tournaments. So, I can’t tell you about the greats of that game, how it felt to see Boxer fall at the hands of iLoveOov, about the rise and spectacular fall of SaviOr, or about the epic rivalry between Flash and Jaedong.
What I am qualified to tell you about is Starcraft II. I’ve followed Starcraft II since early beta, and I don’t know if I’ve ever been as excited about a tournament as IEM Toronto. There are countless reasons for this: Korean legends, foreign hopes, and the ever passionate Toronto audience. The fight for the title of best Terran in the world may well be fought at this very tournament. For now though, I’d like to focus on the truly awe-inspiring feat that one player has achieved in order to qualify for IEM. One player in this tournament has a record of 50-11 in maps since July 1st, an 81.97% win rate. He is 26-3 in matches, 89.66% win rate. That is an incredible feat for any player, but for this player it seems to be destiny itself. I’m referring of course of the end of the Dark Age. Flash has returned, and though I may not be qualified to tell you of the glory he brought in years passed, I have beared witness to his dominance over the past two months, and it has been a sight to behold.
Like most people, I didn’t bat an eye at the beginning of this chapter in the Saga of Flash. On July 2nd, when he 6-0ed his bracket to qualify for GSL Code A, it was to be expected of a player of his calibre. Despite his impressive start in WCS, Flash has generally appeared to be Code A material for most of his SC2 career. Still, not dropping a map was a good sign. Then came the IEM Shenzen qualifiers a week later. As he was 2-1ed by the relatively weak player Action, it seemed things were the same as always.
While there was some excitement as Flash crushed his Code A group 4-1, it wasn’t until Proleague Playoffs that most of us TRULY saw that Flash was playing better than he had in over a year. Despite losing to Maru in the round of 4 against the Jin Air Green Wings, Flash took home key wins against Terminator and sOs, the former WCS and IEM champion. In the much anticipated finals between SKT and KT, Flash took down Parting through perfectly scouting and reacting to his blink tech, before closing the game with relentless bio pressure.
The proleague championship breathed new life into the fallen God. In the weeks following he would crush through the IEM Toronto Korean Qualifier, Kespa Cup Qualifier, and IEM Toronto Asian Qualifier with a record of 14-1, only dropping a series to his teammate KT Zest. Following this run, only one question remained: was this one week of post proleague afterglow? Flash seemed to answer that in his Code S Group.
Ancient Brood War lore speaks of the early days of Flash. Cheeser they called him. Either defeating supposedly “better” opponents such as Bisu through gimicky aggression or greedy 14cc builds; at first few suspected that this would be the future best player in the world. Flash channeled his 2007 form in game one against Dark, as he went for a quick 2-rax. It was immediately scouted by an overlord, a troubling prospect for most, but not so for Flash who proceeded to win the game without losing a single unit. As he smashed through his group without dropping a map he converted many a non-believer, dispelling any doubt from our feeble mortal minds: Flash has returned.
Entering IEM Toronto Flash is the hottest player in the world. He has defeated several of the world’s top player over his unprecedented winning streak over the last two months. Flash has succeeded under the immense pressure of code S, and in the proleague finals. IEM Toronto is his tournament to lose.
Everyone is gunning to take him down. Some such as Scarlett in his group are in desperate need of WCS Points. Others, such as MC (also in Flash’s group) are in it for the money. But, gazing upwards towards the group stages from the deadly mire that is the so-called “open” bracket, one player is likely hungriest of all to defeat the invigorated Flash. Eager to charge headlong towards his eternal nemesis and finally claim his glory, Jaedong, “the Tyrant”, cometh.
Enjoyed this little blurb? Hyped as hell for the return of Flash? Join us at Calgary Barcraft Sunday August 31st at Red Rock Bar and Grill in Crowfoot to see the thrilling conclusion to this epic tournament!
And if you are joining up, PLEASE let us know on facebook, the higher that “going” number is, the more our sponsors will get behind it!
Nice article. I still hope to come to the barcraft but it seems less and less likely. Stupid work and responsibility getting in the way of starcraft :/
On August 26 2014 14:53 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: Nice article. I still hope to come to the barcraft but it seems less and less likely. Stupid work and responsibility getting in the way of starcraft :/
I got my fingers crossed for ya buddy. We need some #Passion up in here!
Also, if you're interested it sounds like we're running a little MTG afterwards. Likely M15 draft. Could join up for that at least maybe?
On August 26 2014 14:53 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: Nice article. I still hope to come to the barcraft but it seems less and less likely. Stupid work and responsibility getting in the way of starcraft :/
I got my fingers crossed for ya buddy. We need some #Passion up in here!
Also, if you're interested it sounds like we're running a little MTG afterwards. Likely M15 draft. Could join up for that at least maybe?
Ehh.. the problem is I might be moving to Edmonton for work in the next week if I get this job. If I'm in Calgary I'll come 100% (even though I don't play MTG), but I probably won't be.
Was about to order tickets, then saw the price. Going to have to pass, and watch online. I really wished it was like NASL so it wasn't part of an expo, not like I'd do anything else there...
On August 26 2014 15:23 musai wrote: Was about to order tickets, then saw the price. Going to have to pass, and watch online. I really wished it was like NASL so it wasn't part of an expo, not like I'd do anything else there...
Oh dang. I did not realize how much the tickets were to this thing. $115 is WAY to much to play if you're only going for the tournament. I could see this massively hurting attendence for IEM. Looks like no super hype crowd like last time...
On August 26 2014 15:16 FrostedMiniWheats wrote: Yep, this tournament has tons of potential.
I'd say IEM Cologne or Katowice are the leading candidates for tournament of the year.
This might beat both of those.
The fanboy in me wants Leenock to shock the world and god mode the shit out of everyone
katowice is like sooo far and above the best tournament of the year
it produced such an absurd amount of epic games -- we might never see that kind of OVERALL tournament quality ever in sc2
A tournament with an amazing FINAL could top it tho, since people tend to weigh the later rounds disproportioantely highly
I think you're talking about Cologne. Cologne had far better games than Katowice. Cologne was the best sc2 event there's ever been in terms of overall game quality.
On August 26 2014 15:23 musai wrote: Was about to order tickets, then saw the price. Going to have to pass, and watch online. I really wished it was like NASL so it wasn't part of an expo, not like I'd do anything else there...
Oh dang. I did not realize how much the tickets were to this thing. $115 is WAY to much to play if you're only going for the tournament. I could see this massively hurting attendence for IEM. Looks like no super hype crowd like last time...
Wow that price is kinda brutal. Still, those who go will give it their best cheering I think. Probably should be okay.
On August 26 2014 15:16 FrostedMiniWheats wrote: Yep, this tournament has tons of potential.
I'd say IEM Cologne or Katowice are the leading candidates for tournament of the year.
This might beat both of those.
The fanboy in me wants Leenock to shock the world and god mode the shit out of everyone
katowice is like sooo far and above the best tournament of the year
it produced such an absurd amount of epic games -- we might never see that kind of OVERALL tournament quality ever in sc2
A tournament with an amazing FINAL could top it tho, since people tend to weigh the later rounds disproportioantely highly
I think you're talking about Cologne. Cologne had far better games than Katowice. Cologne was the best sc2 event there's ever been in terms of overall game quality.
On August 26 2014 15:16 FrostedMiniWheats wrote: Yep, this tournament has tons of potential.
I'd say IEM Cologne or Katowice are the leading candidates for tournament of the year.
This might beat both of those.
The fanboy in me wants Leenock to shock the world and god mode the shit out of everyone
katowice is like sooo far and above the best tournament of the year
it produced such an absurd amount of epic games -- we might never see that kind of OVERALL tournament quality ever in sc2
A tournament with an amazing FINAL could top it tho, since people tend to weigh the later rounds disproportioantely highly
I think you're talking about Cologne. Cologne had far better games than Katowice. Cologne was the best sc2 event there's ever been in terms of overall game quality.
hard to share that view. katowice had many moments that are worth remembering, whereas everything that comes to mind when i think of cologne is polt's incredible resistance in a time when toss was considered OP. Katowice had the mine hits of jjakji, the Carriers of sOs, the incredibly close game between herO and Hyun, where herO's blink micro went up against hydras in a base trade. the tournament was incredible apart from the finals. a crazy tournament
i hope Toronto can match the expectations, what a line up!
thx for the article flash hype!!
e:and of course katowice included the departure of Nani. this has nothing to do with the game quality but still it made the tournament more exciting for sure.
You should honestly go back and remember some Cologne stuff. Jaedong vs Patience, Polt vs Rain/Classic, game 3 of HerO vs Innovation, etc.etc. Not to mention HerO vs Polt was one of the craziest finals we've had all year. It even started with a freaking draw. Katowice had some flashy stuff but nothing trumps Cologne in terms of overall quality.
EPT![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/lichter/ProLeague/2014/finals/flashmvp.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/lichter/ProLeague/2014/finals/flashkick.jpg)
![[image loading]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/478103_10151350310178304_405559233_o.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/6eeCQdl.jpg)
