After an intense, action-packed couple of opening days, we're finally reaching the business end of the competition. Day 3 featured just a single Best of 5—the first semifinal between Dark and INnoVation.
After besting the best terran of 2016 in ByuN in yesterday's tight 3-2 quarterfinal win, Dark was confronted by the terran of the moment in INnoVation for today's semifinal. While bio-mine was the story in the Ro.8, today's clash was all about INnoVation's mech power.
Game 1 lay down a template for the whole series—a cyclone-hellion opener for INnoVation that transitioned straight into full-blown mech. Dark's response was immediate—a roach counter that significantly delayed the terran from powering up, before adding vipers. Abducts and blinding cloud tore apart the terran forces as Dark drew first blood. It wasn't long before INnoVation evened things up though; hitting an earlier pre-viper timing on Vaani and rolling through off his unstoppable macro prowess, and game 3 on Daybreak was just the same.
Finally, down on match point, Dark showed signs of adapting to his opponent. Early infestors on Habitation Station proved to be the change he needed, with some burrowed fungals catching out INnoVation's whole initial cyclone force. The terran never quite recovered, with Dark harassing all over the map with pockets of burrowed roaches before one crucial blinding cloud on all of INnoVation's clumped tanks allowed the mass roach pack to close the distance and send us to a final deciding set on Whirlwind.
All the prophesies of a lengthy macro decider proved to be false, however , as INnoVation's early cyclone-hellbat push functioned as planned for the first time in the series. With Dark committing a pack of lings to an overlord drop that never reached its destination, INnoVation's army proved too much for a minimal defence with ling-bane and queens. INnoVation advances to the IEM Gyeonggi Finals to face one of ByuL or Stats on Sunday afternoon.
Semifinal #2 between Stats and ByuL will be played tomorrow in
Well, I also think that there is no strong counter for the Cyclone right now. I watched the games and I think the amount of Cyclones terran can get out of 2 factories can hardly be matched by a Zerg without falling behind in economy (although I haven't considered spines and I'm not sure how Cyclones do vs spines). I really felt for Dark when I saw his different approaches on how to deal with them failed
On December 16 2016 17:06 Maxim wrote: Well, I also think that there is no strong counter for the Cyclone right now. I watched the games and I think the amount of Cyclones terran can get out of 2 factories can hardly be matched by a Zerg without falling behind in economy (although I haven't considered spines and I'm not sure how Cyclones do vs spines). I really felt for Dark when I saw his different approaches on how to deal with them failed
in the games he won he dealt with them pretty well
On December 16 2016 17:06 Maxim wrote: Well, I also think that there is no strong counter for the Cyclone right now. I watched the games and I think the amount of Cyclones terran can get out of 2 factories can hardly be matched by a Zerg without falling behind in economy (although I haven't considered spines and I'm not sure how Cyclones do vs spines). I really felt for Dark when I saw his different approaches on how to deal with them failed
The nail biting series of today where where the winner was decided in the last game?
On December 16 2016 17:06 Maxim wrote: Well, I also think that there is no strong counter for the Cyclone right now. I watched the games and I think the amount of Cyclones terran can get out of 2 factories can hardly be matched by a Zerg without falling behind in economy (although I haven't considered spines and I'm not sure how Cyclones do vs spines). I really felt for Dark when I saw his different approaches on how to deal with them failed
This post makes me sad, because once again some people fail to see how good INnoVation is, and why he's at the top for almost 4 years, his macro and build refining is on par to none, he always led the TvZ meta and he IS a superior player.
So he wins 3-2 against Dark, and then it's the balance fault? gimme a break!
The funniest part is if Dark had won, some other fucktards will be ranting about new banelings or hydras or burrowed infestors being unbeatable
Stop being an idiot and see the skill of the player instead of looking desperatly for a balance issue to blame.
On December 16 2016 17:06 Maxim wrote: Well, I also think that there is no strong counter for the Cyclone right now. I watched the games and I think the amount of Cyclones terran can get out of 2 factories can hardly be matched by a Zerg without falling behind in economy (although I haven't considered spines and I'm not sure how Cyclones do vs spines). I really felt for Dark when I saw his different approaches on how to deal with them failed
This post makes me sad, because once again some people fail to see how good INnoVation is, and why he's at the top for almost 4 years, his macro and build refining is on par to none, he always led the TvZ meta and he IS a superior player.
So he wins 3-2 against Dark, and then it's the balance fault? gimme a break!
The funniest part is if Dark had won, some other fucktards will be ranting about new banelings or hydras or burrowed infestors being unbeatable
Stop being an idiot and see the skill of the player instead of looking desperatly for a balance issue to blame.
On December 16 2016 17:06 Maxim wrote: Well, I also think that there is no strong counter for the Cyclone right now. I watched the games and I think the amount of Cyclones terran can get out of 2 factories can hardly be matched by a Zerg without falling behind in economy (although I haven't considered spines and I'm not sure how Cyclones do vs spines). I really felt for Dark when I saw his different approaches on how to deal with them failed
This post makes me sad, because once again some people fail to see how good INnoVation is, and why he's at the top for almost 4 years, his macro and build refining is on par to none, he always led the TvZ meta and he IS a superior player.
So he wins 3-2 against Dark, and then it's the balance fault? gimme a break!
The funniest part is if Dark had won, some other fucktards will be ranting about new banelings or hydras or burrowed infestors being unbeatable
Stop being an idiot and see the skill of the player instead of looking desperatly for a balance issue to blame.
Innovation is an amazing player. But i remember reading an article here on TL claiming that he can only be truly succesful when meta favors him (Terran) and that he then goes on to destroy everything. Not 100% sure if thats right but cyclones look so retarded in the current game iteration. I havent been following SC2 too closely since LOTV but to me the new cyclone looks like a fking Warhound. I really cant say im happy about the games design lately. Also Blinding Cloud still seems to be quite a retarded ability design wise.
EPT
Dark and 
INnoVation.
