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An epic showdown is set for August 2nd when eight of South Korea's top StarCraft II progamers will face off against eight of the best players from the WCS Circuit in GSL vs. The World 2018. The 2017 edition of the international extravaganza saw Korea uphold its reputation as StarCraft's adopted homeland, with INnoVation leading a Korean sweep of the top four spots.

The legendary INnoVation has slumped since his 2017 triumph but remarkably, it hasn't put a dent in Korea's strength. Maru and Rogue have emerged as twin pillars holding the Korean scene aloft, and together they have claimed several international trophies for their homeland. With Maru and Rogue backed by six battle-hardened veterans, fans of Korean StarCraft will be confident that 2018's GSL vs. The World will end up just like the last. Tune in on August 2-5 through AfreecaTV or Twitch to find out if Korea will maintain its grip over competitive StarCraft II.

You can read up on the TEAM KOREA candidates below and vote for which players will join an already impressive Korean squad.

Team Korea: Fan Vote

As the top four players in the WCS Korea point standings, Maru (조성주), Classic (김도우), Stats (김대엽), and Rogue (이병렬) have earned automatic spots on team Korea. The remaining four? That's up to you.


The highest vote recipient of each race from the TeamLiquid.net fan vote will earn a spot on team Korea. The fourth and final spot will go to the runner-up from the race-specific polls who received the most total votes after the three, first-place finishers. So even if you know your favorite player is unlikely to win their poll outright, your vote might still help them win the wild card spot.

• You must login with a valid TeamLiquid.net account to vote. You can register here.
  
• Voting will close on Tuesday, Jul 17 7:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00).

Team Korea: Terran

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TY (전태양): The king of nailbiters is an excellent choice to represent Korea—or just StarCraft II in general—as all of his games have the potential to turn into an edge-of-your-seat spectacle. TY keeps games thrilling with his blindingly fast multitasking and decisive moves, which have led him to two major international titles.

GuMiho (고병재): With a playstyle as distinctive as any in the game, GuMiho knocks his opponents off balance with unique strategies and reckless offense. Marching to the beat of his own drum, he brings an exciting element of anarchy to any tournament.

INnoVation (이신형): INnoVation is StarCraft II's king of summer, winning the majority of his numerous championships during the summer months. Among those is the GSL vs. The World title from 2017. What would a tournament be without its defending champ?

ByuN (변현우): Few players can match ByuN in terms of sheer aggression and unit control, which were on full display during his championship run at the 2016 Global Finals. He's slowly worked his way back up after a post-BlizzCon slump, and GSL vs. The World could be the tournament where he shows us he's still got what it takes to lift a trophy.

aLive (한이석): aLive's innocent and modest demeanor masks his true nature as one of progaming's most dangerous archetypes: a player that can beat anyone and lose to anyone. He might knock out a world champion, or he might give a foreigner a signature win. Why not roll the dice with aLive?

Bunny (이재선): Playing in a region that's famous for its transcendent Terran players, Bunny has been unfortunately overshadowed. Still, Bunny is a capable strategist and strong online player, and GSL vs. The World could be his chance to show everyone why the 'Korean Terran' brand has its sterling reputation.

Team Korea: Zerg

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Dark (박령우): A champion who also has enough hoarded silver to shame the conquistadors of yore―is there a more fitting choice to represent Korean Zergs than Dark? Known primarily for his fantastic late-game play in recent years, GSL vs. The World would let Dark return to his roots as Korea's premier foreigner-killer.

soO (어윤수): An icon of determination and perseverance, soO enters the summer on a rare cold-streak as he seeks to atone for last year's WCS Global Finals defeat. As things stand, soO's chances of returning to BlizzCon are slim … but a return to form at GSL vs. The World could be the spark that makes that dream a reality.

Solar (강민수): Solar is one of Korea's most consistent players, always lurking around the championship picture with a puncher's chance against any opponent. He has won multiple domestic and international titles on the back of his solid mechanics and cerebral approach to the game, and his connection to the international scene gives him a unique edge in global competition.

Impact (김준혁): A champion of countless online tournaments and mid-size live events, Impact is constantly rated below his skill level. Those who have watched Impact at his best know that he's felled more than his fair share of GSL champions with crafty strategies. All he needs now is to bring that form to the biggest stage.

Leenock (이동녕): Leenock was only sixteen years of age when he played in his first and only GSL final back in 2011. A lengthy slump followed a blazing run of championships, but in 2018, Leenock is showing glimmers of his bygone brilliance. A vote for Leenock is a vote in the belief that class is indeed eternal.

Losira (황강호): A survivor in the truest sense, Losira has seen it all since he debuted in the very first GSL back in 2010. He's graced the Code S finals and has played in some of its most epic games. He's constantly adapted his playstyle over the years and the current version of Losira is a ferocious, all-in force.

Team Korea: Protoss

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Zest (주성욱): Zest's mark on StarCraft II goes beyond his two GSL Code S championships—he's also one of the most important drivers of Protoss strategy. Though Zest has struggled to recover his peak form as the world's undisputed best in 2014, he's on the right track with a runner-up finish in the previous GSL.

Dear (백동준): It's been a while since Dear was the #1 player in the world back in 2013, but he's still a force to be reckoned with. Victories against Rogue and soO in the previous GSL proved Dear is more than a match for world championship class players, and he should feel right at home in GSL vs. The World.

sOs (김유진): sOs is StarCraft II's eternal, incomparable enigma. In a game where the 'real-time' often trumps 'strategy,' he has won two Global Finals with a genius that borders on madness. sOs injects every match he plays with his mercurial brand of chaos, making it a must-see event.

Trap (조성호): With top 16 finishes in five straight GSL Code S appearances, Trap is one of Korea's looming threats. Capable of giving any player a run for their money, the one-time MLG winner awaits his chance to step out from under the shadow of other Protosses and become a champion again.

herO (김준호): Known for his clinical all-ins and immaculate micro, herO can make even the best players in the world look helpless with one perfect attack. He already has six major championships in the bag, and GSL vs. The World could be lucky number seven for the Smiling Assassin.

Patience (조지현): Winning HomeStory Cup XIV was supposed to be a turning point in Patience's career, but he's still fighting for the recognition he deserves. It's strange that he finds respect so hard to come by—after all, it was him and Rogue who gave Maru the most trouble in the last season of GSL. Maybe bloodying a few noses at GSL vs. The World will do the job.