History


95. Does this number shock you? Probably not - it is simply a number that can mean all manner of assorted garbage. But given a context, a number can suddenly be transformed into an illuminating figure from which numerous conclusions can be derived. In this case, 95 is (P)Zest's PvT winrate in percentage, for the whole of 2016 thus far. In other words: Zest has dropped a single map to Terrans in a matter of 4 months and has won every series. That is absurd.

Now, compare this to 53% - (T)TaeJa's TvP winrate. Just the mere difference is already sufficient to make you think that this is a one-sided matchup - but beyond a numerical difference, examine the quality of the opponents Zest has crushed, and that of those whom TaeJa barely overcame; Maru, Cure, Bomber, a strong aLive - against Patience, Trap, Blaze? Zest is perhaps the best player on the planet right now, and gets to play his best matchup in the quarterfinals. Any sane man would think that Zest was a shoo-in for the semis, with TaeJa a mere stepping stone in his path.

But wait - wasn't this the exact same thing that was said of TaeJa so many times in the past? Despite holding the record for most tournaments won in SC2 history, TaeJa was quite often considered an underdog before winning anyways. We've seen it all before. 2013, when INnoVation was at the peak of his powers - TaeJa, defying all expectations, smashed him in a match that shook the world, and went on to obliterate him 3-0 in a Dreamhack Finals later on. When Zest rose to greatness in 2014 and met TaeJa in Shenzhen, he was counted out again, only to put on a 3-0 clinic and beat Zest again at IEM Toronto.

This time is still different however. Never in his entire career has TaeJa been a greater underdog than he is right now. When he returned to Korea in 2015, and subsequently failed to show up for the entire year, people seized the opportunity to mock him for his perpetual weakness - his inability to win a major league. But do not let this diminish his stature - TaeJa is one of the greatest players to ever touch the game. His control, macro, and most importantly, his sublime decision-making, earn him a place in the history books that can never be denied. It is this ability to calculate all variables, to accurately estimate the outcomes of all possible decisions, and lastly, his ability to actualize these choices, that has allowed him to dominate the international circuit and its wild, uncontrolled atmosphere, defeating even the best from Korea, and which has established him as a player who can defeat literally anyone in the world.


Predictions:

This, on paper, is the toughest match of TaeJa's career, and it may well be his last, if you want to believe him. There's no denying his expertise in the matchup over the years, and his ability to perform when it matters. But there can be no doubt about the favorite in this match. Zest may well be the best player in the world, and he has looked nothing short of invincible against Terran. TaeJa needs a miracle, nothing less will do.
This is a match you don't want to miss. No matter the outcome, this is a historic clash - it will either go down as one of the greatest stories in history, or the last showing of one of the greatest players to ever touch StarCraft II.


Zest 3 - 1 TaeJa



The Last Zerg Standing



Of all the Zergs whom you could expect to see in the Round of 8, (Z)Losira is probably quite low on the list. Dark, Solar, soO, Rogue, even Soulkey - these were the big names that are usually bet on to make it to the Round of 8. But Losira? Losira, the last Zerg in the Round of 8 in what the foreign community believes is a Zerg-favoured metagame, and a Zerg with a 2016 winrate lower than 50%? There could scarcely be said to be a more shocking, or, for Zergs, a more disappointing outcome. And his opponent is Dear, who has already exhibited a frightening, highly-aggressive style, and who has not dropped a single map to Zergs in 2016. The Zerg hope is bleak, indeed.

Losira seems to have stumbled into the Ro8 through either luck or a matchup notorious for volatility, ZvZ. Advancing into the Ro16 out of a Ro32 group which contained a slumping aLive and an absent Bbyong, and relying heavily on his ZvZ to beat Dark and advance to this point, Losira's road to the Ro8 may well be taken with a grain of salt. But he is a crafty player with years of experience, and it will be interesting to see what he brings to the table to combat an opponent who is favored on every front.

Dear has already proven that he is a player to be watched, and is one of the favorites to win the entire league. Exhibiting masterful PvT in his Ro16 group, defeating another hot-shot in TY, and crushing through soO and DongRaeGu in the Ro32, Dear has shown that he is a player worth his salt, and definitely deserves his Ro8 spot. He plays a different, more aggressive style than many of his Protoss companions, one that will likely come into play here. Expect Dear to show up with a wide array of strong timings and crisp strategies to cut through his Zerg opponent quickly.

Predictions:

Losira made his way into the Ro8 through a very lucky bracket, and it is unknown whether his skill level is genuinely reflected by his position. All things being equal, Dear should crush Losira, lest Losira pull out some weird gimmick that shakes up the ZvP metagame, which is not something I'd bet money on.

Dear 3 - 0 Losira