EPT
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/GSL/marutrophy.jpg)
Nearly eight years after entering the first ever Global StarCraft II League as a thirteen-year-old progamer,
Maru finally lifted the championship trophy of Korea's most prestigious StarCraft II tournament. Stats, a plucky underdog who had scored upsets over title contenders Classic (quarterfinals) and soO (semifinals) earlier in the tournament, could not summon another clutch performance as Maru won in a convincing 4-2 series. The victory marked an important milestone for one of StarCraft II's most consistently excellent players, whose sheer talent suggested that he had underachieved despite having won titles in three previous tournaments (OSL in 2013, SSL in 2015, WESG in 2018). Always a top Terran player—and at many times in the past, THE top Terran player—2018 saw Maru elevate his game to a previously unseen level. Already famous for his ability to knock opponents senseless with micro-management and multi-tasking in the early-to-mid-game, the latest version of Maru added oppressive, suffocating late-game play reminiscent of Terran greats such as Mvp or Flash.
Stats had already faced and lost to this ultimate version of Maru at IEM Katowice, but was unable to take away any lessons that would help him in the GSL finals rematch. As is typically the case when players have significant preparation time, the series revolved around early-game gambits and mind-games—most of which went in Maru's favor. Maru had no need to choke Stats out with mass Ravens as he had at IEM, with most of the games decided by a chain of events stemming from the early game.
Maru credited his team, the Jin Air Green Wings—Korea's only remaining professional StarCraft II team—for much of his success. In particular, he thanked the Protoss trio of Trap, sOs, and Creator for helping him prepare the build orders that were crucial to his victory. In a mid-series interview, Jin Air Zerg Rogue confessed that Maru had not been one to practice very hard in the past, and he had always wondered what Maru was truly capable of.
By winning the 40,000,000 Won (approximately $37,000 USD) first place prize, Maru is now #1 prize money earner in StarCraft II history with over $550,000 in total earnings. He also earns the unique distinction of being the only player with a "Korean Triple Crown," with championships in the OnGameNet Starleague (OSL), StarCraft II Starleague (SSL), and Global StarCraft II League (GSL). With the OSL and SSL discontinued, it is unlikely we will see another player match this achievement.
For perhaps the first time in his career, Maru can claim he is the undisputed, peerless, best player in the world. Yet, he will have precious little time to enjoy his reign, as he must defend that status in the upcoming GSL Super Tournament. Many players let their guard down after winning a major championship—so many, that it's become one of the unofficial rules of StarCraft II. Few would blame Maru for a minor stumble after winning the GSL. Yet, the nature of expectations is fickle. Before March 31st, everyone knew Maru was capable of winning the GSL. Now that he has won, everyone knows that he is capable of even more.
Watch the GSL finals!
Game 1
Stats (L) <Darkness Sanctuary> 
Maru (W)
Stats (L) <Darkness Sanctuary> Maru (W)Stats seemed to get off to a good start after his double-proxy Robotics Facility cheese went unscouted. However, Stats' execution of the Warp-Prism + Immortal all-in was far from perfect, while Maru caught wind of the attack just in time to put up adequate defenses. Unable to summon the finesse needed to crack the turtling Maru, Stats conceded game one.
Game 2
Stats (W) <Catalyst> Maru (L)
Stats (W) <Catalyst> Maru (L)Maru attempted to pay back Stats with an aggressive attack of his own, albeit one of a different sort. After taking his natural expansion, Maru carefully hid his buildings in order to follow-up with a 5-Barracks, Stim-Marine-only attack. Despite failing to scout the buildings, Stats made a brilliant defensive stand with Oracles, Sentries, Stalkers, and Shield Batteries. Maru was left trailing far behind as Stats bulked up his army off three bases. After a vain attempt at a base trade, Maru conceded to Stats' unstoppable army.
Game 3
Stats (L) <Ascension to Aiur> Maru (W)
Stats (L) <Ascension to Aiur> Maru (W)Maru had proxy 2-Barracks bunker rushes to thank for his victory over Dark at WESG, and he brought out his iconic build again in the GSL finals. Maru was perfectly happy to just slow Stats down by killing off a number of Protoss buildings with a bunker contain, while expanding and teching to Cloak-Banshees back at home.
The Banshees seemed like a waste of resources initially, as Stats' quick Robotics Facility minimized the damage. However, they proved to be worth their weight in gold when Maru rolled out with his Tank-Infantry force. Maru took advantage of lackadaisical defense from Stats, and used his pair of banshees to kill off Stalkers one by one before wreaking havoc in the Protoss main. Maru's main army would have been hard to stop even if Stats had been able to commit all of his focus and resources. With the harrying Banshees added in, he stood no chance against the frontal attack.
Game 4
Stats (L) <Abyssal Reef> Maru (W)
Stats (L) <Abyssal Reef> Maru (W)Maru opened with his most audacious mind game, building his first Barracks just outside his main while going for 2-gas off one base. When Stats' Probe arrived in Maru's base, his mind raced to figure out what was going on. Maru went as far as to build a factory outside his main as well, but soon lifted all of his buildings back into his main to transition into a "normal" game. However, Stats had already been fooled, and had responded with a Stargate and three Gateways in fear of a one-base all-in from Maru.
Once Stats realized he was behind, it was already too late. He couldn't go for an all-in, nor could he catch-up in a regular macro game. Stats went for the latter option—and despite some valiant defending and counter-attacking—was forced to GG out yet again.
Game 5
Stats (W) <Odyssey> Maru (L)
Stats (W) <Odyssey> Maru (L)Game 5 followed a somewhat similar pattern from Game 2, with Stats going up on three bases (including a gold base) while Maru went for a menacing, pre-medivac infantry attack. Only this time, instead of pure Marines, Maru went for Marines and Marauders. No matter, the result was the same. With good use of Blink Stalkers and Shield Batteries, Stats held off Maru's attack and was left to snowball his lead at his leisure. Once Stats accumulated a large enough army, he charged head-on into Maru's forces to end the game.
Game 6
Stats (L) <Blackpink> Maru (W)
Stats (L) <Blackpink> Maru (W)After four consecutive games of curveballs from Maru, it was Stats' turn to try and get in his opponent's head. His strategy of choice was a classic: a Blink-Stalker all-in with a fake third Nexus. Unfortunately, just about nothing went right for Stats. His proxy Pylon was almost instantly scouted and killed. He cancelled his third Nexus, after Maru had seen the proxy Pylon and had retracted into a defensive position. Just to make things worse, Stats had no detection against Maru's cloak, making any attack impossible.
Unable to press the attack, Stats was forced to play catch-up from a terrible position. Unfortunately for Stats, Maru had a death-grip on the game and refused to let go. Once he had assembled an unstoppable army, he marched forth intent on extracting the final GG from Stats. Stats had squeezed out a few High Templars, but it was to no avail: Maru already had Ghosts on the battlefield. A few well placed EMPs and one infantry charge later, Maru rose from his seat as Code S champion.
Maru defeats Stats 4-2 to win the 2018 GSL Code S Season 1 Championship!
Recaps by: Wax
