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[Code S] Ro4 Preview: Life vs herO - S1 2015

Forum Index > SC2 General
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1 2 Next All

[Code S] Ro4 Preview: Life vs herO - S1 2015

Text byTL.net ESPORTS
Graphics bylichter
March 18th, 2015 05:42 GMT
2015 GSL Season 1

GSL Season One
Code S



Life vs herO
Bitter Lemons, Better Demons

Brackets and standings on Liquipedia

Bitter Lemons, Better Demons


by munch and CosmicSpiral

In our diverse scene, it’s natural for us to categorize players as cheesers, has-beens, or kongs. It’s much rarer for a player to cut out his own niche, separate themselves from the pack via elevated play. herO, though, has done just that. Since his breakthrough at Singapore, herO has been the beating heart and soul of IEM. The competition has brought out the very best in him—his back and forth blockbuster against Rain at San José, the tightest of victories against Hyun at Katowice. However, IEM is also where we've seen the very worst of herO—the unfettered greed, the refusal to change his most egregious faults, the famous intolerance to proxy builds.

It was fitting that, for the second year in a row, herO was unceremoniously dumped out of Katowice last weekend by a friend. Informed by everything he had learnt in years of shared friendship and practice, Bbyong easily dissected herO’s play. The specter of sOs hung over herO as again, he was confronted by someone who read his every move: Bbyong's timings were synchronized flawlessly and herO's builds were anticipated intuitively. It sums up both players perfectly that one adapted and gained every advantage he could, while the other stubbornly stuck to his old ways. It must have been galling for herO to watch Zest parading the IEM trophy on the Katowice catwalk. Zest, the embodiment of protoss success last year, had conquered the little corner of the scene that herO had made his own. However, make no mistake: victory on home soil remains herO's driving ambition. In every interview he has insisted that while he’s thankful for his overseas success, he really wants a Korean individual league title.

Fortunately herO comes back to prepare for his first GSL semifinals while Zest returns to an empty schedule. Facing another cerebral player in Life, it’s time for herO to shed his predictable style. At times herO has shown us some of the most exacting PvZ play ever seen, culminating with a career winrate of over 70%. Life, on the other hand, has shown some weakness in this matchup, even during his current streak of dominance. It’s worth remembering their group stage matches in the NSSL. Life was originally beaten by herO’s standard style in their opening series but switched it up in the rematch, easily taking an aggressive 2-0 in the rubber match. If herO goes for his bread and butter play, Life will run roughshod all over him again. If he tries something bold, he might get his dance with the devil.

The Bitter Lemons of Failure

For a short period of time, KT.Life was slated to make the greatest run in SC2 history. At the end of February, he stood in an unprecedented position: if conditioning, willpower and destiny aligned, he would win 3 premier tournaments within a week. Winning multiple medals in a short time period is not unheard of (e.g. Flash's 2 synchronous MSL and OSL runs in 2010), but prearranged scheduling usually ensured that a player could only attend 1-2 within a month. Thanks to a confluence of factors, Life's peak form happened to crystallize just as GSL, NSSL, and IEM Katowice approached. He was performing exceptionally well in the first 2, making the semifinals in both, and was judged the favorite of the latter by casters and community alike. Admittedly the chances were small. Competition in all 3 was still fierce, opponents would have additional motivation to stop him, and the stress would be unimaginable. But the prospect lingered around him like Pigpen's pall. Who else had the skill and the stoicism to pull off a miracle?

Ironically, that stoicism might have become a serious problem. Life has always been a player who gladly scuttled overarching approaches in favor of gut reactions, and most of his famous comebacks were triggered by a willful disregard for standard play. His best play marries killer instinct with utter commitment, instantly changing his initial plan when he infers an exploitable weakness. However, his recent losses to Dream and INnoVation demonstrated a queasy stubbornness that bit him in the ass. In what should have been the closing game of the NSSL semifinal, Life over-committed to a game-ending attack that was arguably unnecessary; when Dream finally fended off the last scraps, he rode his upgrade lead to victory. During his first match at IEM Katowice he forwent scouting past the early game, losing to the same hellbat timing push twice. In isolation these seem to be separate events with well-known causes. Life is infamous for his aggression and any zerg can be caught unawares by a timing attack. But these are somewhat odd in his case. Generally the KT Zerg is very careful with his scouting and ramps up his aggression in concert with the opponent's vulnerability. In the past he would be content with retreating once critical damage was dealt, soon to return with an attack that would undoubtedly kill.

Only Life knows what triggered this galvanization (his time in the KT house is the likeliest suspect), so fans should hope he has come to his senses. Swinging between full-blown assaults and waiting for the mid-lategame is a dangerous approach, and a player of herO's caliber can punish extremes easily if he gets a read. Considering how the CJ Protoss has made a career out of Zergs, Life's 2-0 victory in NSSL is a slight fluke. Don't expect herO to die to slow zerglings in embarrassing fashion this time around. In a 7 game series, Life may need to show he can handle a non-static macro game to earn herO's deference. Then he can start playing mind games.

Prediction:

Much hoohah has been made about herO's debilitating weakness to cheese, especially in the form of proxy buildings. Besides absurdly early pools and slow zergling attacks, that concern is moot in PvZ. Instead herO will want to avoid scuffles in the midgame, where Life can use his multitasking and game sense to disrupt the Protoss' plans. If herO does initiate an attack, it ought to be as part of a well-executed timing. Meanwhile Life should aim to create as much chaos as possible before the map gets split. His SH play is not the most mobile in the world, and his lategame prowess relies more on picking apart air armies with strong viper usage. Dealing with herO's legendary warp prism harass will be a pain if he lets the CJ player reach 4 bases. Normally my suspicions of Life's play can approach paranoia, but in the soothing words of a fellow editor: "After sOs proxy gated herO twice and herO didn't scout the third game, I knew from then on herO was an idiot."

Life 4-2 herO

Writers: munch and CosmicSpiral.
Editors: CosmicSpiral.
Graphics: lichter.
Photo: GOMeXP.
Stats: Aligulac
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TL+ Member
xrayEU
Profile Joined April 2010
Sweden571 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-03-18 05:43:53
March 18 2015 05:43 GMT
#2
I can get behind that!
Life 4-2 hyyyyyype
Seeker *
Profile Blog Joined April 2005
Where dat snitch at?37022 Posts
March 18 2015 05:55 GMT
#3
I'm just happy Zealously didn't write this one. It would have been way too biased in favor of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
ModeratorPeople ask me, "Seeker, what are you seeking?" My answer? "Sleep, damn it! Always sleep!"
TL+ Member
wstubzi
Profile Joined February 2015
New Zealand224 Posts
March 18 2015 05:56 GMT
#4
I would put my money on herO taking this personally.
OtherWorld
Profile Blog Joined October 2013
France17333 Posts
March 18 2015 06:09 GMT
#5

"After sOs proxy gated herO twice and herO didn't scout the third game, I knew from then on herO was an idiot."

Name of said editor so we can pitchfork him plz. Since sOs didn't 2-gate him in that third game it was not being an idiot but winning the mindgames for once.
Used Sigs - New Sigs - Cheap Sigs - Buy the Best Cheap Sig near You at www.cheapsigforsale.com
MiniFotToss
Profile Joined December 2013
China2430 Posts
March 18 2015 06:30 GMT
#6
On March 18 2015 15:09 OtherWorld wrote:
Show nested quote +

"After sOs proxy gated herO twice and herO didn't scout the third game, I knew from then on herO was an idiot."

Name of said editor so we can pitchfork him plz. Since sOs didn't 2-gate him in that third game it was not being an idiot but winning the mindgames for once.

by thecrazymunchkin and CosmicSpiral, i'm afraid its two people
lichter
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts
March 18 2015 06:43 GMT
#7
actually it'd be difficult to find any person who hasn't lamented herO's bungling of 2gates
AdministratorYOU MUST HEED MY INSTRUCTIONS TAKE OFF YOUR THIIIINGS
fezvez
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
France3021 Posts
March 18 2015 06:43 GMT
#8
herO feels surprisingly mortal during the first 10-15 minutes of the game. Life, quite the opposite.

I think that Life is going to die from overexhaustion, and he is going to bomb 1-4
Gwavajuice
Profile Joined June 2014
France1810 Posts
March 18 2015 06:53 GMT
#9
I think the writers totally missed the way Life played his series against Dear, it was very different from what he did in Blizzcon : no chaos, no runbyes, no zergling everywhere.

Just an overwhelming max roach hydra viper timing backed up with perfect macro. It's not ST.Life anymore it's KT.Life with a real strategy, a real preparation against crazy good team mates and a coach conming in the booth after each game. It changes a lot of things. You can't just talk abut his games against INno and Dream, cause it was TvZ and Life played it like he plays since 2013 (with the execption of his proxy hatch builds vs Taeja in Blizzcon).

His ZvP is really totally different now. Seeing this new Life playing againt herO will be really interesting.
Dear INno and all the former STX boys.
ZAiNs
Profile Joined July 2010
United Kingdom6525 Posts
March 18 2015 07:14 GMT
#10
On March 18 2015 15:53 Gwavajuice wrote:
I think the writers totally missed the way Life played his series against Dear, it was very different from what he did in Blizzcon : no chaos, no runbyes, no zergling everywhere.

Just an overwhelming max roach hydra viper timing backed up with perfect macro. It's not ST.Life anymore it's KT.Life with a real strategy, a real preparation against crazy good team mates and a coach conming in the booth after each game. It changes a lot of things. You can't just talk abut his games against INno and Dream, cause it was TvZ and Life played it like he plays since 2013 (with the execption of his proxy hatch builds vs Taeja in Blizzcon).

His ZvP is really totally different now. Seeing this new Life playing againt herO will be really interesting.

I don't think you can really claim is ZvP is totally different based on one series. It wasn't just Life, it seemed there were a couple of weeks where Viper timings were super trendy.
Ej_
Profile Blog Joined January 2013
47656 Posts
March 18 2015 07:33 GMT
#11
herO 4-2
"Technically the dictionary has zero authority on the meaning or words" - Rodya
Shuffleblade
Profile Joined February 2012
Sweden1903 Posts
March 18 2015 07:37 GMT
#12
On March 18 2015 15:53 Gwavajuice wrote:
I think the writers totally missed the way Life played his series against Dear, it was very different from what he did in Blizzcon : no chaos, no runbyes, no zergling everywhere.

Just an overwhelming max roach hydra viper timing backed up with perfect macro. It's not ST.Life anymore it's KT.Life with a real strategy, a real preparation against crazy good team mates and a coach conming in the booth after each game. It changes a lot of things. You can't just talk abut his games against INno and Dream, cause it was TvZ and Life played it like he plays since 2013 (with the execption of his proxy hatch builds vs Taeja in Blizzcon).

His ZvP is really totally different now. Seeing this new Life playing againt herO will be really interesting.

How many of Lifes ZvPs have you seen to know he always plays roach/hydra/viper nowadays? Any good enough player to be in proleague can bust out different builds depending on the situation, a couple of different games doesn't say much. Following your logic every single player but for Marineking and Rain changes their whole playstyle every month.

On another note herO was doing the right thing not scouting in my opinion, as a player you don't do things for no reason. The real battle vs cheese in a series is not getting tilted by it. Its alright to lose to cheese and its alright to not scout but its not alright to become paranoid and tilted. Anyone calling herO an idiot obviously doesn't know how mental fortitude and pressure effects the play. If herO is such an idiot then go beat him at a strategy game called sc2.
Maru, Bomber, TY, Dear, Classic, DeParture and Rogue!
Daeracon
Profile Joined March 2011
Sweden199 Posts
March 18 2015 07:43 GMT
#13
Great write up. I have such a hard time predicting this match, both are titans, but SC2 is so difficult to predict. I feel a bit stronger for Life's chances though. I think I agree with the 4-2 to Life prediction.
You can't use your breaks to get over a hill
Gwavajuice
Profile Joined June 2014
France1810 Posts
March 18 2015 07:46 GMT
#14
On March 18 2015 16:37 Shuffleblade wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 18 2015 15:53 Gwavajuice wrote:
I think the writers totally missed the way Life played his series against Dear, it was very different from what he did in Blizzcon : no chaos, no runbyes, no zergling everywhere.

Just an overwhelming max roach hydra viper timing backed up with perfect macro. It's not ST.Life anymore it's KT.Life with a real strategy, a real preparation against crazy good team mates and a coach conming in the booth after each game. It changes a lot of things. You can't just talk abut his games against INno and Dream, cause it was TvZ and Life played it like he plays since 2013 (with the execption of his proxy hatch builds vs Taeja in Blizzcon).

His ZvP is really totally different now. Seeing this new Life playing againt herO will be really interesting.

How many of Lifes ZvPs have you seen to know he always plays roach/hydra/viper nowadays? Any good enough player to be in proleague can bust out different builds depending on the situation, a couple of different games doesn't say much. Following your logic every single player but for Marineking and Rain changes their whole playstyle every month.

On another note herO was doing the right thing not scouting in my opinion, as a player you don't do things for no reason. The real battle vs cheese in a series is not getting tilted by it. Its alright to lose to cheese and its alright to not scout but its not alright to become paranoid and tilted. Anyone calling herO an idiot obviously doesn't know how mental fortitude and pressure effects the play. If herO is such an idiot then go beat him at a strategy game called sc2.



Okay I ll rephrase it :

In 4 games vs a Protoss, Life didn't research speedling once. If you have followed Life since 2012 this fact alone should surprise you.

The old Life would never had done this. It shows that he actually prepared a ton against his opponent and was able to get away from his usual bread a butter strat to gain efficiency. He sacrificied his favorite unit to become better.

That's a fact worth mentionning imho.
Dear INno and all the former STX boys.
boxerfred
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
Germany8360 Posts
March 18 2015 07:50 GMT
#15
Life all the way to the finals!
IoWnNoOb
Profile Joined May 2013
3 Posts
March 18 2015 07:55 GMT
#16
please.... no pvp final >_< Go life !!!!!!
SixStrings
Profile Blog Joined August 2013
Germany2046 Posts
March 18 2015 08:11 GMT
#17
Protoss 4:1 Life
Keeemy
Profile Joined November 2012
Finland7855 Posts
March 18 2015 08:25 GMT
#18
I think it's gonna be a tough game for Life, but he can do it. Les goooooooooooo
Hello
ThePacifist
Profile Joined March 2015
Korea (South)46 Posts
March 18 2015 09:24 GMT
#19
PVP in IEM, TvT in NSSL... I really hope that Life will reach the Finals.
A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemy.
phodacbiet
Profile Joined August 2010
United States1740 Posts
March 18 2015 10:03 GMT
#20
On March 18 2015 15:53 Gwavajuice wrote:
I think the writers totally missed the way Life played his series against Dear, it was very different from what he did in Blizzcon : no chaos, no runbyes, no zergling everywhere.

Just an overwhelming max roach hydra viper timing backed up with perfect macro. It's not ST.Life anymore it's KT.Life with a real strategy, a real preparation against crazy good team mates and a coach conming in the booth after each game. It changes a lot of things. You can't just talk abut his games against INno and Dream, cause it was TvZ and Life played it like he plays since 2013 (with the execption of his proxy hatch builds vs Taeja in Blizzcon).

His ZvP is really totally different now. Seeing this new Life playing againt herO will be really interesting.


This is very similar to how Flash developed imo. Flash gained prominence as a very cheesy terran in BW, over time he became a mechanical God with genius decision making. KT probably patched every single flaws in Life plays and made him more well rounded, but this doesnt change the fact that once inawhile Life can still bust out his scrappyness. I hope Life do a mixture of both and not just become another macro Zerg clone.
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