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GSL Semifinal Preview: Maru vs Classic

Forum Index > SC2 General
19 CommentsPost a Reply

GSL Semifinal Preview: Maru vs Classic

Text byTL.net ESPORTS
Graphics byOlli
June 15th, 2018 20:52 GMT

Maru vs Classic


by Destructicon
[image loading] - TL_Destructicon

Global StarCraft 2 League Code S - 2018 Season 2
Start time: Saturday, Jun 16 3:30am GMT (GMT+00:00)


While GSL finals have an unfortunate history of being rather one-sided, the elimination rounds leading up to them have previously provided us with brilliant best games and series. TY vs Zest was close, but the the second semifinal features arguably the two best players of their respective races and could prove even better than the first.

(Wiki)Maru is considered the best player in the world by most at the moment, while Classic is the de-facto best PvTer—and arguably the best Protoss overall—in the world. Not only are they both in peak shape, but they are equally driven and hungry for victory. While the stakes this far into the season are extremely high, they still have very different implications for the two players.

While Maru has achieved heights we have not seen from him in years and displayed lategame restraint and patience we weren’t sure could come out of a former Prime player, there is one small question mark over his undoubtedly great form. That, at the moment, is his TvP. The vast majority of his impressive wins as of late have come against Zerg players, his entire WESG run was a TvZ masterclass. His TvP hasn’t been as impressive. It is recently padded by victories over the less impressive Patience and Dear, and even then his victories felt closer than they perhaps should have. It also needs to be taken into account that Maru seems to rely on a lot more mindgames and trickery in TvP compared to the vZ matchup. Classic will provide a challenge that can hardly be compared to Patience or Dear, so Maru will need to show more himself if he is to defeat him.

(Wiki)Classic on the other hand faces a completely different challenge, that of capturing the hearts and minds of fans. In terms of results Classic is actually extremely close to Maru. Both are GSL and Starleague champions, as well as victors of international tournaments.

And yet while he has nearly as many golds as Maru and as many, if not more, high place finishes, his achievements still get swept under the rug. His more recent wins were again played down due to perceived Protoss dominance, while Maru has escaped that same treatment despite making another matchup (TvZ) look rather broken himself. It likely has to do with Classic's style, as while he is extremely efficient in his play and a very intelligent tailor of a large variety of builds and strategies, coupled with wonderfully clean execution, he does appear to lack the flair of Zest, the absurd micro of herO or the raw insanity of sOs. And yet, right now, he's arguably better than all of them. Surely another GSL trophy would be a strong statement to make that, just perhaps, we've all underappreciated him for far too long.

Predictions

While Maru is absolutely ridiculous in TvZ and extremely strong in TvT, he has looked quite mortal in TvP. Add to this that Classic has had Maru’s number all year long, with a 8-1 record in games and 3-0 in series, this paints a rather bleak picture for the Jin Air Terran.

Classic 4 – 1 Maru








Credits and acknowledgements

Writer: Destructicon
Editor: Olli
Images: AfreecaTV
Statistics: Aligulac.com
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TL+ Member
Xamo
Profile Joined April 2012
Spain877 Posts
June 15 2018 21:56 GMT
#2
Maru has to come up with something very special this time, or he is doomed. If he does, it is going to be an awesome match.
My life for Aiur. You got a piece of me, baby. IIIIIIiiiiiii.
Woosixion
Profile Joined February 2012
119 Posts
June 15 2018 22:06 GMT
#3
Hopefully classic wins so protoss can get a nerf
the only way out is through...
Topin
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Peru10055 Posts
June 16 2018 00:26 GMT
#4
tough match for Maru but i want to believe he would make it to the finals and win it all
i would define my style between a mix of ByuN, Maru and MKP
AzAlexZ
Profile Joined September 2016
Australia3303 Posts
June 16 2018 00:51 GMT
#5
ASL was PvP finals, Let's make GSL PvP Finals too
Faker is the GOAT!
neutralrobot
Profile Joined July 2011
Australia1025 Posts
June 16 2018 02:00 GMT
#6
I'm not sure exactly what to make of Maru's match vs Patience as a guide for what to expect vs Classic. My hope is that Maru has been giving himself as easy a time as possible in the GSL because he's been resting after his victory last season. The question in my mind is: has his dominance genuinely started to wane, or are we about to see him power back up to full strength?

He's had the minds of sOs and Trap to help him with prep on this too. Remembering the finals vs Stats, I think he's going to catch even the mighty Classic by surprise at some points. Classic might genuinely just be too good in this matchup right now, though. In any case, my hope is that Maru will put up a fight that's much more fierce than expected.
Maru | Life | PartinG || I guess I like aggressive control freaks... || Reynor will one day reign supreme || *reyn supreme
AxiomBlurr
Profile Blog Joined November 2012
786 Posts
June 16 2018 02:13 GMT
#7
SUPER HYPED FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!!! Heart says Maru, but Mind say s Classic ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
mierin
Profile Joined August 2010
United States4943 Posts
June 16 2018 02:50 GMT
#8
On June 16 2018 11:13 AxiomBlurr wrote:
SUPER HYPED FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!!! Heart says Maru, but Mind say s Classic ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


I want to say I'm cooler than this, but yes this is exactly how I feel, including the caps.
JD, Stork, Calm, Hyuk Fighting!
SHODAN
Profile Joined November 2011
United Kingdom1071 Posts
June 16 2018 03:12 GMT
#9
On June 16 2018 07:06 Woosixion wrote:
Hopefully classic wins so protoss can get a nerf


+1

User was warned for this post.
Orlok
Profile Joined June 2014
Korea (South)227 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-06-16 03:48:27
June 16 2018 03:47 GMT
#10
On June 16 2018 07:06 Woosixion wrote:
Hopefully classic wins so protoss can get a nerf

Amen brother.
And for purely spectator reasons, I don't want a PvP Final.
Just ew.
Maru win! Win for the sake of the Terran race and for the sake of not seeing a boring PvP!
Writer"Don't leave me hangin!"
Parcelleus
Profile Joined January 2011
Australia1662 Posts
June 16 2018 04:24 GMT
#11
Go Classic ; )
*burp*
Caissa
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
United States48 Posts
June 16 2018 05:45 GMT
#12
Whoops. Spoiled myself. Didn't realize the embedded liquipedia tournament bracket and would update and show the match results
Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.
RealityTheGreat
Profile Joined January 2018
China564 Posts
June 16 2018 05:56 GMT
#13
WTF,Maru won.
Betrayed, forgotten, abandoned.
Devitaliza
Profile Joined August 2015
Korea (South)12 Posts
June 16 2018 06:30 GMT
#14
I love how people thought Classic would easily win this. He's a great player, but Maru was always at an advantage this time around.
herO I Polt I Fantasy I Bomber I sOs I CJ Entus I JAGW I Petraeus
neutralrobot
Profile Joined July 2011
Australia1025 Posts
June 16 2018 06:51 GMT
#15
On June 16 2018 11:00 neutralrobot wrote:
I'm not sure exactly what to make of Maru's match vs Patience as a guide for what to expect vs Classic. My hope is that Maru has been giving himself as easy a time as possible in the GSL because he's been resting after his victory last season. The question in my mind is: has his dominance genuinely started to wane, or are we about to see him power back up to full strength?

He's had the minds of sOs and Trap to help him with prep on this too. Remembering the finals vs Stats, I think he's going to catch even the mighty Classic by surprise at some points. Classic might genuinely just be too good in this matchup right now, though. In any case, my hope is that Maru will put up a fight that's much more fierce than expected.


Question answered.

= D
Maru | Life | PartinG || I guess I like aggressive control freaks... || Reynor will one day reign supreme || *reyn supreme
Kurao
Profile Joined April 2018
215 Posts
June 16 2018 22:31 GMT
#16
Well, seeing how the series turned out: nerf Jin Air
NinjaNight
Profile Joined January 2018
428 Posts
June 17 2018 14:32 GMT
#17
On June 16 2018 15:30 Devitaliza wrote:
I love how people thought Classic would easily win this. He's a great player, but Maru was always at an advantage this time around.


At an advantage how?
cipher321
Profile Joined June 2018
1 Post
June 18 2018 21:05 GMT
#18
Maru played with the best terran micro I've seen in a while. Congrats to the kid.
PuddleZerg
Profile Joined August 2015
United States82 Posts
June 18 2018 22:13 GMT
#19
On June 17 2018 23:32 NinjaNight wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 16 2018 15:30 Devitaliza wrote:
I love how people thought Classic would easily win this. He's a great player, but Maru was always at an advantage this time around.


At an advantage how?

apparently he was just... better.

I mean, he outclassed Classic lol
"Weapons grade autism" - Destiny
necrosexy
Profile Joined March 2011
451 Posts
Last Edited: 2018-06-18 22:38:22
June 18 2018 22:29 GMT
#20
delete me
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