Dark and Stats, Proof of the Continuing

OrangeGarage

Korea (South)319 Posts

April 09 2016 02:09 GMT

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Dark and Stats, Proof of the Continuing Starcraft Story

It’s flashy. And it’s desperate. The two players are from two teams which have one of the most well known rivalry in all of eSports. The first individual league finals to be held with LOTV has one of the best storylines.

The finals are held on the 9th at Sejong University in Gwangjin Gu, Seoul. It will be another finals held outside. Both of the players have tales to tell.

First up is SKT1’s Zerg, Dark. This is the first time Dark has made it to a premier class individual league final. He is a SKT1 Zerg, the last legacy of the Emperor, and SKT1’s greatest work yet, perfected by iloveoov.

Dark made his appearance first at SlayerS, and showed what he could do after moving to SKT1. 2015, Dark’s potential really began to shine through. Many Zergs of the time would used Mutalingling, but Dark’s unique style was to use Corruptors instead of mutas.

In 2016, Dark evolved yet again, and now he has the skills to back up his confidence. Dark was considered one of the players who had a bark bigger than the bite, but now, nobody thinks that. Dark has finally acquired the skills to back up what he says.

If the Dark of 2015 has used intense macro to spend his minerals down to the last 5, the Dark of 2016 has a much more sophisticated way of playing the game. Dark is now a reactive Zerg, who scouts the opponent keenly and counters whatever strategy is headed his way. Regardless of the matchup, Dark manages to scout and know exactly what the opponent is doing. It comes from the confidence “no matter what you do, you cannot escape me.”

The other side of the finals shows Stats, the Protoss from SKT1’s biggest rival, KT Rolster. He was born in KT Rolster, and has never left the team for 8 years. While he wasn’t exactly a staple in individual leagues, he was always a key player in KT Rolster’s proleague. Stats showed his powers in late 2014. After the Ro8 finish in GSL, Stats made it to the Ro4 the next Starleague. Unfortunately, his Ro4 opponent was Maru, who would make it all the way to victory. Stats would make it to the Ro4 next season as well, but would lose to Classic. Once again, his dream of becoming champion was shut down.

But in LOTV, Stats finally has his chance. While he lost in the winners bracket, his victory against ByuN, Patience, and Solar, all considered one of the best in their races, gave him a second chance.

Stats plays what you would call “standard”. He shows you the textbook way on how to play the Protoss race. And that is how Stats made it to the finals- slow and steady. But now, he is up against Dark, who has already defeated him once. And that was the only defeat Stats has suffered this Starleague.

Just looking at the scores, Dark is clearly the favorite. Dark is the best Zerg right now. He plays Zerg as it should be played- reactive. Stats’ records aren’t half bad either. But that doesn’t mean it is half good. He has already lost against Dark once, and he struggled against Solar, his standard Protoss plays working against him multiple times.

If Stats wants to win, he should change what he is now. If he decides to play the way he did, Dark, who has been watching, will easily overcome him. There has to be more than what meets Dark’s eye for Stats to make it. Stats is fighting against not only Dark, but his play style of 8 years. Dark must keep an ever watchful eye over Stats. Stats knows full well that he won’t make it with the standard macro plays he has been showing all along.

This finals has a great matchup, great players, and a great storyline. Whatever the outcome, the battle between “the legacy of the Emperor” and “KT itself” will continue to be remembered. The story of Starcraft continues on, from the 20th century to the 21st. These two players are the evidence.