EPTGSL Season One
Code S
Hello Dark My Old Friend
Ro32 Group G:
Dark, MMA, Dear, Seed
Brackets and standings on Liquipedia
Hello Dark My Old Friend
by munch
The Korean Starcraft 2 scene has undergone significant turmoil in the 2015 season. The new WCS system enforced the return of those plying their trade abroad, enriching an already saturated talent pool, while the reset of all seeds for Code S has shaken up the status quo. Group G is a perfect example of that chaos coming home to roost.
The Returning Champion
After a mediocre start to 2014, autumn saw
MMA return to form. Dual titles from WCS EU and Dreamhack: Moscow granted him an unlikely invitation to Blizzcon, where he earned second place. As the second oldest member of the Round of 32, MMA will need to channel all his experience to progress to the next round. But this theme has always been the story of his career. MMA has taken in the highest zeniths and the lowest nadirs—the giddy heights of triumphs in the GSL and Iron Squid I, the crushing depths of the SlayerS debacle. Despite the setbacks MMA has always bounced back. More than anyone, he symbolizes the resilience it takes to be a successful Starcraft progamer. Historically, MMA has been regarded as a strong TvZ and TvT player while struggling against protoss. However, this seems to have shifted recently. His Blizzcon performance showed an increased amount of TvP finesse with victories over Stardust and Classic; his struggles against Life were indicative of a player who notched a 38% win rate against Korean zergs in the latter half of 2014.The Rising Padawan
As the final recruit into the vaunted house of SlayerS,
Dark has always been associated with potential. Throughout 2014 he was constantly described as the secret powerhouse in SKT training sessions. That potential hasn't ripened into solid results yet. Although he successfully retained a spot in Code S for all 3 seasons, he was unable to push on to the playoffs, with his highest finish coming in Season 2 in the Round of 16. A 6-3 record was notable, but hardly reflective of a player of such repute. Oh, how things have changed. Dark’s start to 2015 has been impressive. Successful qualification for the Korean dual leagues, combined with becoming SKT’s ace in Proleague, has marked him as one of the leading threats in Korea. It had poor Terminator practically begging Leenock to swap him out of Dark’s group during NSSL Ro16 selection night. But this is a dangerous time for Dark. Drop out of both leagues now and the bubble will quickly burst. Advance and a long awaited SKT zerg crown is one step closer.
The Dark Horse
It’s been two and a half years since
Seed’s GSL championship. One season after his triumph, he was knocked out in the Round of 16. The next, he fell in the Round of 32. Following that, 2013 would mark the start of a long barren streak. A brief sojourn in WCS America at the end of 2014 granted him his first Premier spot in 2 years, but that too ended at the first hurdle.With the region lock, Seed retreated to his native Korea. The Dignitas Protoss was recruited to the MVP Proleague roster, and with that, found a welcome spot in Code S. Choya’s Lazarus Pit has worked wonders this season for his charges, and his…unconventional motivational methods may certainly be a factor. In Olimoleague #19, Seed fell to Trap in the quarterfinals 2-0. Not too big a deal—the Jin Air protoss is certainly not one to be taken lightly; Trap would proceed to fall to Choya himself in the semifinals. Whether Seed took heart in his coach winning is unclear.
Seed comes into this group with no pressure and no expectations. He has trawled the abyss of the Korean scene for long enough, and has finally re-emerged in the tournament which made his name. Whilst none of his recent results suggest that he'll progress, it would be folly to write him off completely. The title of GSL champion is not one awarded lightly.
The Fallen Star
No one’s quite had a rise like
Dear, and no one’s quite had a fall like him either. Twin championships back-to-back in 2013 marked him out as the protoss to watch and despite a crushing loss to Jaedong at Blizzcon, he started 2014 in the same serene form. Then came the fatal switch to Mouz and Dear utterly dropped off the map. Going from Code S champion to Code B dropout within two seasons is a precipitous drop unmatched in GSL history. Much like his fellow members in Group G, Dear has dragged himself back from the brink. Regaining his spot in Code S at the end of 2014, he’s back in the first season of 2015. His opening match against herO in Proleague showed that his ability to hit timings hasn't diminished. While his play has not been as sublime as it was in his prime, a Dear on form is a Protoss to be feared. Predictions
Dark has recently shown off a fresh take on ZvT with corruptor-focused compositions in Proleague. The downside of this preference is a loss of mobility, and MMA’s heavy drop-harass style could be perfect for taking advantage of a non-mutalisk composition. However, Dark’s army positioning in recent matches has been superb, always reading his opponent’s moves with uncanny predictability. With MMA’s recent struggles in the matchup, I feel Dark will come out on top in the opening match. Seed has barely played in any recent LAN competitions, so our knowledge of his play is sketchy at best. However, he’s looked poor in Proleague whenever fielded (an 0-3 score so far this season) so I’ll have to pick Dear on the other side of the group.
From here, I’ll go with Dark and MMA to progress. Dark’s recent performances have suggested he’s a cut above anyone else in the group, and MMA’s TvP should carry him through the losers bracket.
Dark > MMA
Dear > Seed
Dark > Dear
MMA > Seed
MMA > Dear
Dark and MMA to advance.
