After a short break for WESG, Code S resumed with the first semifinal of 2018. Featuring Stats and soO, the GSL match was the first live tournament series to reflect the March 19th Balance Update and its change to overlord drops. On one hand, soO looked to reach the GSL finals for a record seventh time. Meanwhile, Stats aimed to prove that, despite his poor form in international tournaments, he was still the epitome of consistency in Korean competition.
Game 1: Stats opened stargate on Abyssal Reef. His oracles picked off workers here and there, but he never made a move to attack, instead taking four bases with colossi and storm. soO baneling dropped three bases, but only killed four workers, prompting Stats to move out. His forcefields held soO's initial force at bay, but a baneling flank wiped out his army. soO added on brood lords and brought the game to an end soon thereafter.
Game 2: Stats showed an oracle to soO's scouting overlord, but canceled it and went for a charge all in. soO was caught off guard—in the midst of droning and preparing for a hydralisk transition—and was forced to GG.
Game 3: Stats killed 17 workers with adepts and oracles on Neon Violet Square, but his push into soO's third base was easily swatted back. soO furthered his supply lead as he brought himself up to six bases. Stats tried to attack again, this time with more archons and templars in his force. However, soO was able to kill the invaluable high templars with a flanking maneuver, and seized a 2-1 lead after winning the following engagement.
Game 4: Game four came to a quick end as soO’s baneling bust found Stats with only a single adept on defense. Banelings barrelled it over, with the flood of zerglings closing the game out.
Game 5: soO shut down Stats' archon drops, but the follow up warp in of dark templars sniped soO's third. Stats took a third of his own before attacking the beleagured soO who was pried apart by an attack at his third and a warp prism in his main.
Game 6: Stats' glaives timing got quashed by roaches, but Stats had two robos and was pumping out immortals for a follow-up attack. soO went into lurkers as he took his fifth base, but Stats' army ran him over. Stats continued into soO's third, killing the base and drones, sending the match to a seventh game.
Game 7: Stats opened up with a proxy stargate to harangue soO with oracles before gearing up for an archon-speedlot timing. soO, just beginning his transition to hydras, found himself supply-blocked at the worst possible moment as Stats split his forces up for two-prong attack. soO was just barely unable to hold out against the incoming Protoss forces, and conceded defeat to Stats.
Stats advances to the grand final.
The second semifinal between Maru and Dark will be played on Saturday, Mar 24 4:00am GMT (GMT+00:00)
Well now that Stats is in the finals, hopefully Maru will beat Dark for the second time in a week and go to the finals vs. Stats. Maru is essentially the last Terran hope until hopefully INnoVation will overcome his slump, or TY can just start copying Maru.
I'm actually really sad that I can't meme anymore about soO being invincible 'till the finals.
Seeing how everybody assumed soO was already in the finals and the only question was "Will it be a ZvZ shitshow against Dark or will it be a great ZvT finals against Maru ?" makes it even harder ... But Stats is undoubtedly the best Protoss of Lotv and deserves his win today...
But I'm still hoping for Dark to win this GSL in the end.
Hoping for Stats vs. Dark, my favorite protoss player and my favorite zerg player. Dark and Stats also has a cool rivaly and this would be like their 4th premier finals againts each other with Stats ahead 2-1
Cross Finals season 1 in 2016 I included it cause it says its a premier event on liquipedia, but yea it would be their thrid starleague final againts each other
In LoTV Stats and Dark have already met in two starleague finals (and cross finals if you count that, not that you should) and two ro4s. In terms of maps they're 21-20 in favour of Stats.
They usually produce some really good series as well. Best zerg and protoss in LoTV hands down.
I think this means soO's curse is broken. You see, I look at it this way: soO's finals curse came with a blessing--he always won in ro8 and ro4. Since he finally lost in one of those rounds (in a GSL), that means next GSL final he advances too he has the opportunity to win...
May be it will be a second year of domination with Stats as a top protoss without too much expectations from him. I am sorry for Classic, but the way Stats defeated soO and Classic is really impressive with different strats in any match. And soO played so damn well, no matter how drones he lost in the first half of the match, he still continued to build super solid macro. Both of the prepared so well and I have to admit that Stats made some sloppy movements which then were followed by great decisions, attacks and step-backs in the right moment, just like Stats can do it. Mental stability is always important especially for a person like Stats. Now I really dream for a final against Dark. This is an amazing rivarly that some people previously said.
also regarding spoilers, i post this everytime: just have a non spoiler title. its obvious the spoiler function fails to work, its not that hard just say: Semifinals results
On March 23 2018 01:09 fishjie wrote: lame and sad result for soo
also regarding spoilers, i post this everytime: just have a non spoiler title. its obvious the spoiler function fails to work, its not that hard just say: Semifinals results
not sure why TL struggles so hard with this
Im not sure either, but u can always ask if they are looking for an editor ;|
I've supported Stats for many years but I really don't want him to won this GSL. soO, Maru, and Dark are deserving of a GSL title more than anyone else.
On March 23 2018 03:19 Fango wrote: I've supported Stats for many years but I really don't want him to won this GSL. soO, Maru, and Dark are deserving of a GSL title more than anyone else.
They need the title more to build up their legacy. It does not mean they deserve it more.
On March 23 2018 03:19 Fango wrote: I've supported Stats for many years but I really don't want him to won this GSL. soO, Maru, and Dark are deserving of a GSL title more than anyone else.
They need the title more to build up their legacy. It does not mean they deserve it more.
I mean if one only read TL, you'd swear Stats was a second-tier player and not the most consistently great player of LotV.
On March 23 2018 03:19 Fango wrote: I've supported Stats for many years but I really don't want him to won this GSL. soO, Maru, and Dark are deserving of a GSL title more than anyone else.
They need the title more to build up their legacy. It does not mean they deserve it more.
I mean if one only read TL, you'd swear Stats was a second-tier player and not the most consistently great player of LotV.
You'd also think soO was the GOAT whilst simultaneously being the unluckiest player ever.
On March 23 2018 03:19 Fango wrote: I've supported Stats for many years but I really don't want him to won this GSL. soO, Maru, and Dark are deserving of a GSL title more than anyone else.
They need the title more to build up their legacy. It does not mean they deserve it more.
I mean if one only read TL, you'd swear Stats was a second-tier player and not the most consistently great player of LotV.
You'd also think soO was the GOAT whilst simultaneously being the unluckiest player ever.
IMO Stats is our realistic Protoss, he planned to do what it take to win in order to avoid soO strenghts in macro and late with very well timed attack. Nevertheless I don't see him winning this GSL. Maru seems to have all it takes at the moment.
On March 23 2018 03:19 Fango wrote: I've supported Stats for many years but I really don't want him to won this GSL. soO, Maru, and Dark are deserving of a GSL title more than anyone else.
They need the title more to build up their legacy. It does not mean they deserve it more.
They've probably done more than most players that do have a GSL trophy so yeah.
On March 23 2018 03:19 Fango wrote: I've supported Stats for many years but I really don't want him to won this GSL. soO, Maru, and Dark are deserving of a GSL title more than anyone else.
So if Stats wins GSL by working the hardest out of anyone even after being expected to lose every round, the other players would have deserved it more?
On March 23 2018 23:07 Ej_ wrote: I'm of the opinion that the player deserving the championship, is the one that won the tournament, becoming the champion.
On March 23 2018 23:07 Ej_ wrote: I'm of the opinion that the player deserving the championship, is the one that won the tournament, becoming the champion.
What I hate about this series is that it shows that stargate is still going to be the only opener protoss use even with the drop nerf. They can just now get completely free damage and the zerg's only option is to defend and hope the toss messes up his micro. You didn't fix the match up you just reversed zerg and protoss's roles in the match up.
On March 24 2018 03:33 Popparockz wrote: What I hate about this series is that it shows that stargate is still going to be the only opener protoss use even with the drop nerf. They can just now get completely free damage and the zerg's only option is to defend and hope the toss messes up his micro. You didn't fix the match up you just reversed zerg and protoss's roles in the match up.
On March 24 2018 03:33 Popparockz wrote: What I hate about this series is that it shows that stargate is still going to be the only opener protoss use even with the drop nerf. They can just now get completely free damage and the zerg's only option is to defend and hope the toss messes up his micro. You didn't fix the match up you just reversed zerg and protoss's roles in the match up.
Stats won the final game with a DT drop...
And what do you drop with? Warp prisms. Which can fly.
On March 24 2018 03:33 Popparockz wrote: What I hate about this series is that it shows that stargate is still going to be the only opener protoss use even with the drop nerf. They can just now get completely free damage and the zerg's only option is to defend and hope the toss messes up his micro. You didn't fix the match up you just reversed zerg and protoss's roles in the match up.
You can still do a bane bust, roach bust or the (according to some people here) unbeatable nydus.
On March 23 2018 03:19 Fango wrote: I've supported Stats for many years but I really don't want him to won this GSL. soO, Maru, and Dark are deserving of a GSL title more than anyone else.
So if Stats wins GSL by working the hardest out of anyone even after being expected to lose every round, the other players would have deserved it more?
I dunno Kev
Stats doesn't count because he already has a gsl title. I'm saying soO, dark, and maru are the most deserving out of everyone who desnt have one. So it would be kinda disappointing if stats wins. But if he does he clearly deserves it.
On March 24 2018 03:33 Popparockz wrote: What I hate about this series is that it shows that stargate is still going to be the only opener protoss use even with the drop nerf. They can just now get completely free damage and the zerg's only option is to defend and hope the toss messes up his micro. You didn't fix the match up you just reversed zerg and protoss's roles in the match up.
On March 24 2018 03:33 Popparockz wrote: What I hate about this series is that it shows that stargate is still going to be the only opener protoss use even with the drop nerf. They can just now get completely free damage and the zerg's only option is to defend and hope the toss messes up his micro. You didn't fix the match up you just reversed zerg and protoss's roles in the match up.
Yep, been bitching about that forever.
Stats literally won this series with a DT drop opening on Ascension. Do people that complain in these threads even watch starcraft?
On March 24 2018 03:33 Popparockz wrote: What I hate about this series is that it shows that stargate is still going to be the only opener protoss use even with the drop nerf. They can just now get completely free damage and the zerg's only option is to defend and hope the toss messes up his micro. You didn't fix the match up you just reversed zerg and protoss's roles in the match up.
Yep, been bitching about that forever.
Stats literally won this series with a DT drop opening on Ascension. Do people that complain in these threads even watch starcraft?
Wowww, one game. Not the point being made. Overall in the matchup you don't have a reason NOT to go stargate. Especially with hard counters being taken out. Short of nydus you can't punish the toss tech choice right now.
EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Waxangel/GSL/2018/GSL_Code_S_Banner_v2.jpg)
Stats and 
Stats 4 - 3 
soO
... But Stats is undoubtedly the best Protoss of Lotv and deserves his win today... ![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/72dgxat.png)
![[image loading]](https://i.imgur.com/zp3nrv3.png)
