The Code S RO16 groups were finalized after another live Group Nomination in the GSL studio. Once again, reigning champion Maru was able to use his #1 seed powers to land his Jin Air teammates in favorable groups, with the exception of Rogue who found himself in this season's group of death.
Dark was the loser of the night, lamenting his decision to take GuMiho as the towel Terran made the inexplicable decision to take BlizzCon champion Rogue. In turn, Rogue selected INnoVation to round out a brutal RO16 group.
Meanwhile, Maru showed that Serral's win at GSL vs. The World had done little to change his opinion of other foreigners, using his #1 seed powers to select both Neeb and Reynor as opponents.
The first RO16 group will be played on Wednesday, Aug 15 9:30am GMT (GMT+00:00) (group to-be-determined).
The question is now how to schedule things. Master%27s Coliseum/3 offline finals in Shanghai from 24th to 26th. One player attending that is in every group, so ideally no group would be on the 25th.
Putting on early predictions: Maru, Impact/Reynor Dark INnoVation (honestly this group is the hardest to pick) Leenock (anyone?) Trap TY $O$
Anyone wanna hit me for siding out their favorite players? Thoughts though? I can't believe Maru had to switch Reynor and TY. Not sure if I heard it correctly but Maru wanted a team kill between TY and Stats.
suddenly im not to crazy with this selection process. it feels too favored for the prev champ, but maybe that's more a reflection of maru's dominance. anyways its gonna be hard to top gsl vs world. GO REYNOR!!!!!!!
On August 09 2018 01:06 agripsss wrote: suddenly im not to crazy with this selection process. it feels too favored for the prev champ, but maybe that's more a reflection of maru's dominance. anyways its gonna be hard to top gsl vs world. GO REYNOR!!!!!!!
It may seem favoured for the prev champ. Yet out of 35 GSLs, there have only been two back-to-back champions (NesTea in 2011 and Maru in 2018). Maru may be the favourate to win season 3, but it's still unlikely that he does.
The WCS points are at stake for every player in group B except Rogue. Both Innovation and Guminho need to get out of the group in order for them to be qualified for Blizzcon this year while Dark barely makes to Blizzcon even if he is not favored to go first.
I don't remember the live scene at the end in details, but I think that team JinAir will be very satisfied with how TY was moved from Group A to Group D in the last moment. sOs and Maru played their cards really well. TY definitely would have good chances in Group of A, but in Group D, I'm not sure. sOs has the perfect teamates to train with and he is always better at this time of the year. Stats is well balanced and TY sometimes got some troubles with top protosses. I guess Raynor should happier too.
On August 09 2018 02:33 BisuDagger wrote: Group A is literally a dream group for everyone in it. Amazing.
I agree. Interesting to me that group D was good with sending Reynor over to A. I think it was a good switch for Reynor because Impact is probably a decent matchup for him. Weird to want TY in your group though. Anybody able to explain that?
On August 09 2018 02:33 BisuDagger wrote: Group A is literally a dream group for everyone in it. Amazing.
I agree. Interesting to me that group D was good with sending Reynor over to A. I think it was a good switch for Reynor because Impact is probably a decent matchup for him. Weird to want TY in your group though. Anybody able to explain that?
I don't think Stats and KeeN were very okay with it at all but it's not like they could do anything about it. For sOs it's okay because TY tilts against sOs before the games even begin.
On August 08 2018 23:58 Elentos wrote: The question is now how to schedule things. Master%27s Coliseum/3 offline finals in Shanghai from 24th to 26th. One player attending that is in every group, so ideally no group would be on the 25th.
Looks like TY already withdrew from the Masters Coliseum finals because it conflicts with his GSL group.
On August 09 2018 02:33 BisuDagger wrote: Group A is literally a dream group for everyone in it. Amazing.
I agree. Interesting to me that group D was good with sending Reynor over to A. I think it was a good switch for Reynor because Impact is probably a decent matchup for him. Weird to want TY in your group though. Anybody able to explain that?
I don't think Stats and KeeN were very okay with it at all but it's not like they could do anything about it. For sOs it's okay because TY tilts against sOs before the games even begin.
I didn't watch the selection show, but I'd imagine sOs was ok with it because in order for both of Trap and sOs to make it to blizzcon they pretty much need to jump TY. So they need him not to be in a super easy group.
On August 08 2018 23:58 Elentos wrote: The question is now how to schedule things. Master%27s Coliseum/3 offline finals in Shanghai from 24th to 26th. One player attending that is in every group, so ideally no group would be on the 25th.
Looks like TY already withdrew from the Masters Coliseum finals because it conflicts with his GSL group.
That's some hideous organizing.
On August 09 2018 04:58 Torrefy wrote: I didn't watch the selection show, but I'd imagine sOs was ok with it because in order for both of Trap and sOs to make it to blizzcon they pretty much need to jump TY. So they need him not to be in a super easy group.
They also need to get out of their own groups and technically adding TY to yours doesn't make it easier. Even sOs said to keep the group the way it was with Reynor.
Seems to me that both Neeb and Reynor have a decent chance to beat impact and get through. Maru's showed some vulnerability against Zerg of late as well. Expecting Maru and Reynor through but anything could happen.
Argh, Reynor vs Impact is a pretty disappointing matchup, I was super hyped for both these players making it out and now they're both in the same group as Maru who is like... ~85-90% likely to make it out. Should be a really interesting group to watch though.
On August 09 2018 10:38 jjmmtt wrote: Argh, Reynor vs Impact is a pretty disappointing matchup, I was super hyped for both these players making it out and now they're both in the same group as Maru who is like... ~85-90% likely to make it out. Should be a really interesting group to watch though.
Hero was hilarious during the group selection :D
what did he do? i haven't had time to watch it yet
On August 09 2018 10:38 jjmmtt wrote: Argh, Reynor vs Impact is a pretty disappointing matchup, I was super hyped for both these players making it out and now they're both in the same group as Maru who is like... ~85-90% likely to make it out. Should be a really interesting group to watch though.
Hero was hilarious during the group selection :D
what did he do? i haven't had time to watch it yet
It was just funny watching him try and talk his way out of ending up in Group B, he really didn't want to end up in Group B But he did a few funny things I won't spoil it for you.
Reynor hasn't been looking very impressive in ZvZ, I fear he'll get knocked out by Impact one way or another. Other than that, Group B and D are looking pretty damn hard.
I do predict that we will have one foreigner going to RO8. Maru will go first but I am hopeful that either Reynor or Neeb can beat Impact and finish second. This is in a way a dream scenario for the foreign scene.
Would have been much more difficult if we had replaced Impact with a top tier Korean.
I really want to see a full foreigner upset. impact+reynor have to practice for all 3 match ups. i predict neeb and maru advance but it will be difficult for both of them IMO.
B Dark Gumiho Rogue Inno-bation
Innovation+Rogue is the question mark of this group. innovation has to change his game vs zerg.. watching serrals lings run over lowered depots for 40+ scv kills vs a foreigner is probably psychologically awful heading into this group
C Zest Leenock Trap herO
Leenock practices only for one matchup, and he was godlike vs dear. i predict he eats everyone. which zest will show up? all the hype about his pvp but he was shown to be very inflexible in pvp recently, losing the game to himself essentially. herO will bend him and trap until they break
D Stats Keen TY sOs
Stats will advance without a doubt (in my mind at least). Keen is a question mark. TY is uninspiring and needs to plan better for contingencies. Whenever i watch TY, i just think "this would work really well on ladder," but this is code S and theres a good chance that both stats and sOs won't even allow him to play anything that resembles a ladder game, because they know him as a player very well.
On August 09 2018 23:29 c0sm0naut wrote: A Maru Impact Neeb Reynor
I really want to see a full foreigner upset. impact+reynor have to practice for all 3 match ups. i predict neeb and maru advance but it will be difficult for both of them IMO.
B Dark Gumiho Rogue Inno-bation
Innovation+Rogue is the question mark of this group. innovation has to change his game vs zerg.. watching serrals lings run over lowered depots for 40+ scv kills vs a foreigner is probably psychologically awful heading into this group
C Zest Leenock Trap herO
Leenock practices only for one matchup, and he was godlike vs dear. i predict he eats everyone. which zest will show up? all the hype about his pvp but he was shown to be very inflexible in pvp recently, losing the game to himself essentially. herO will bend him and trap until they break
D Stats Keen TY sOs
Stats will advance without a doubt (in my mind at least). Keen is a question mark. TY is uninspiring and needs to plan better for contingencies. Whenever i watch TY, i just think "this would work really well on ladder," but this is code S and theres a good chance that both stats and sOs won't even allow him to play anything that resembles a ladder game, because they know him as a player very well.
cant wait..
For the most part I agree but it's kinda weird that you focus on INno for his bad TvZ while Rogue looked completely clueless in the matchup
On August 09 2018 00:01 Terra1 wrote: Putting on early predictions: Maru, Impact/Reynor Dark INnoVation (honestly this group is the hardest to pick) Leenock (anyone?) Trap TY $O$
Anyone wanna hit me for siding out their favorite players? Thoughts though? I can't believe Maru had to switch Reynor and TY. Not sure if I heard it correctly but Maru wanted a team kill between TY and Stats.
This might be the worst predictions I've ever seen.
Not because it will be wrong (which it will be). But because it's so non-committal while also being wrong.
On August 09 2018 00:01 Terra1 wrote: Putting on early predictions: Maru, Impact/Reynor Dark INnoVation (honestly this group is the hardest to pick) Leenock (anyone?) Trap TY $O$
Anyone wanna hit me for siding out their favorite players? Thoughts though? I can't believe Maru had to switch Reynor and TY. Not sure if I heard it correctly but Maru wanted a team kill between TY and Stats.
This might be the worst predictions I've ever seen.
Not because it will be wrong (which it will be). But because it's so non-committal while also being wrong.
What if he hits it spot on?? Genius level prediction or just stupid luck?!
On August 09 2018 00:01 Terra1 wrote: Putting on early predictions: Maru, Impact/Reynor Dark INnoVation (honestly this group is the hardest to pick) Leenock (anyone?) Trap TY $O$
Anyone wanna hit me for siding out their favorite players? Thoughts though? I can't believe Maru had to switch Reynor and TY. Not sure if I heard it correctly but Maru wanted a team kill between TY and Stats.
This might be the worst predictions I've ever seen.
Not because it will be wrong (which it will be). But because it's so non-committal while also being wrong.
What if he hits it spot on?? Genius level prediction or just stupid luck?!
He literally cannot hit spot on, unless you give him either Impact or Reynor, which I do not.
On August 09 2018 23:29 c0sm0naut wrote: A Maru Impact Neeb Reynor
I really want to see a full foreigner upset. impact+reynor have to practice for all 3 match ups. i predict neeb and maru advance but it will be difficult for both of them IMO.
B Dark Gumiho Rogue Inno-bation
Innovation+Rogue is the question mark of this group. innovation has to change his game vs zerg.. watching serrals lings run over lowered depots for 40+ scv kills vs a foreigner is probably psychologically awful heading into this group
C Zest Leenock Trap herO
Leenock practices only for one matchup, and he was godlike vs dear. i predict he eats everyone. which zest will show up? all the hype about his pvp but he was shown to be very inflexible in pvp recently, losing the game to himself essentially. herO will bend him and trap until they break
D Stats Keen TY sOs
Stats will advance without a doubt (in my mind at least). Keen is a question mark. TY is uninspiring and needs to plan better for contingencies. Whenever i watch TY, i just think "this would work really well on ladder," but this is code S and theres a good chance that both stats and sOs won't even allow him to play anything that resembles a ladder game, because they know him as a player very well.
cant wait..
For the most part I agree but it's kinda weird that you focus on INno for his bad TvZ while Rogue looked completely clueless in the matchup
my opinion of his tvz is still pretty high from his series vs maru last season
Foreigners have to take a hit sometime - neeb isn't anything like serral and reynor, after going 2-2 versus classic, has done poorly in foreigner events since then.
Group B Dark Rogue
TvZ is Z favored right now, and these are the two best zergs in the world.
Group C Zest Trap
Zest was mad after losing to a foreigner at GSL vs The World. It's clear that he didn't take his opponent seriously and got jumped. I think he's highly motivated - not emotionally broken - and will play his best starcraft this GSL season to make up for what happened. Trap I think is just the obvious next pick, the other two don't seem more likely to me.
Foreigners have to take a hit sometime - neeb isn't anything like serral and reynor, after going 2-2 versus classic, has done poorly in foreigner events since then.
...
not really, as i learned rather recently, loosing to serral offline (aka reynors only loss in a foreigner event since gsl) is just a sign that he did't properly prepare because he didn't take it very seriously.
Foreigners have to take a hit sometime - neeb isn't anything like serral and reynor, after going 2-2 versus classic, has done poorly in foreigner events since then.
...
not really, as i learned rather recently, loosing to serral offline (aka reynors only loss in a foreigner event since gsl) is just a sign that he did't properly prepare because he didn't take it very seriously.
but for the gsl he gives it his all again
Yea, how is beating nerchio, showtime and special (only losing one map) before being eliminated by the champion, doing poorly? He had arguably the second best run in the tournament.
Maru, Reynor (or swap) Rogue, Inno (i believe in Inno) herO, Leenock (rematch curse vs zest; herO will only practice crushing protoss) stats, sOs (sorry TY, maru %*&ed you)
damn these unbalanced groups
Will be funny if what happened to Innovation at ro16 some gsl ago happens to maru now; i think reynor can play scarlett's part
Foreigners have to take a hit sometime - neeb isn't anything like serral and reynor, after going 2-2 versus classic, has done poorly in foreigner events since then.
...
not really, as i learned rather recently, loosing to serral offline (aka reynors only loss in a foreigner event since gsl) is just a sign that he did't properly prepare because he didn't take it very seriously.
but for the gsl he gives it his all again
He had arguably the second best run in the tournament.
Foreigners have to take a hit sometime - neeb isn't anything like serral and reynor, after going 2-2 versus classic, has done poorly in foreigner events since then.
...
not really, as i learned rather recently, loosing to serral offline (aka reynors only loss in a foreigner event since gsl) is just a sign that he did't properly prepare because he didn't take it very seriously.
but for the gsl he gives it his all again
He had arguably the second best run in the tournament.
That title goes to Scarlett.
Lets see:
Reynor beat Nerchio 2-1(top8(?) player, top8 in WCS Valencia). Showtime 2-0(top top4/top8 player, top 4 in WCS Valencia), and eliminated Special 3-0 (top 4 player) in ro16 and only loss was to Serral, wining 0 maps
While Scarlett beat twice Ptitdrogo 2-0 twice, lost to Uthermal 2-0(top 8 player), but took 2 maps from Serral.
So you can argue taking 2 maps from Serral, even if she lost again Uthermal, is worth beating 3 top 8 players (3 2nd place contenders) while only losing to Serral. But she didn't beat any (2nd place) contender, and lost to Uthermal, which is what, with little bad luck, landed her against Serral, so... man i wish WCS could be double elimination...
Has and Heromarine are in the conversation too but my vote goes to Reynor, cuz he didnt just win, he looked dominant against those guys. But its arguable.
Anyway saying he did poorly in wcs valencia like someone said is obviously absurd
I'm anxious to see what will happen in 4 days if Maru and Impact underestimate him.
EPT
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/GSL/2018/gslro16s3.jpg)
Master%27s Coliseum/3
But he did a few funny things I won't spoil it for you. 
