Best Games of July 2018

Compiled and written by Ej, Elentos, and Durn

Best Games of the Month returns with its July edition, and it's a weird one. Has' black magic stole the show at WCS Valencia, but TeamLiquid.net's crew of hardcore fans discovered matches that challenged Has in terms of sheer weirdness as they scoured every corner of the internet. We hope you enjoy their findings!

The Best Games of July 2018

Reynor vs Classic on Lost and Found - VOD
2018 GSL Season 3 - Ro32 - Group A

What other way to open this list than with the most talked-about game of July? Coming fresh off the foreigner boat, most people gave Reynor very little chance to make RO16. And indeed, Classic straight up bopped him in their opening series. However, the young Italian made quick work of Ryung and came back for a rematch. After a masterfully held roach timing, Classic was in a prime position to take the best of 3 to the third map. However, Reynor did his best not to let him. With constant counter attacks, hydralisks, roaches, zerglings and corruptors ravaged Classic's economy. With both of them out of bullets, it came to a stand off between the tattered remains of the Zerg and Protoss armies.

GuMiho vs TY on Acid Plant - VOD
Kung Fu Cup Weekly #12 - Finals

There's nothing flashy about this game. There isn't an unusual build, jaw-dropping micro or a crazy turnaround. It's not a fancy dinner. This game is a rare steak. A solid piece of TvT meat. A solid 25 minutes of marine/medivac/tank versus marine/medivac/tank. Bases are being pushed, production is being dropped on, all that amidst the constant movement of siege lines and marine forces on the map. And nobody gets to comfortably max out. It's why we love Starcraft. It's a bloody game, rich in RTS flavor. And you should savor every little piece of it.

Maru vs Leenock on Acid Plant - VOD
2018 GSL Season 3 - Ro32 - Group B

To feature any other ZvT over Leenock vs Maru would be a crime. This game was Leenock's masterpiece. He anticipated every single of Maru's moves and thwarted all of them. The 2/1/1? Easily deflected. The trademark 2 tank push follow up? 0 damage taken. Drops? Shot down with hydras or blown up by baneling mines.

And in lategame, where Maru would usually make a comeback with his near flawless spellcaster and army control, Leenock's grip didn't loosen one bit. Back-to-back GSL championships be damned—Leenock slowly picked the Jin Air Terran apart. This was a ZvT of the highest order.

GuMiho vs herO on Dreamcatcher - VOD
2018 GSL Season 3 - Ro32 - Group D

While siege tanks are a powerful unit against Zerg on this map, you don't really see them versus Protoss. So of course, GuMiho would be the one to go for a tank push. Having lost a warp prism full of high templars, herO had no way of contesting the army and the siege of his natural base began. However, powered by the unscouted gold base, the ROOT player waited for his moment. Giving up his gateways and his robotics facility, he retreated deeper into his base. And when the moment came, Kim Joon Ho made our jaws drop once again.

Impact vs Trap on Catalyst - VOD
2018 Master's Coliseum - Wildcard Group

With how many tournaments Impact plays in, it's quite surprising he makes this list for the first time. Accompanied by Trap, who was last featured here 4 months ago. Nevertheless, they made it. And what a game it was. After Trap's gladept pressure did essentially nothing, it looked less than comfortable for the Jin Air Protoss. He proceeded to go into double robo, but still lost his 3rd base to the roach/hydra/ravager attack. And with the Zerg comfortably sitting on 4 bases, all Trap had was his disruptors and blink stalkers. Didn't look promising. Especially after he lost 29 probes to a zergling counter attack. But Trap, summoning forces not seen since Heart of the Swarm, knew he still had a chance to turn things around.

The "Has" Award for Indescribably Weird Games

Bioice vs MCanning on Dreamcatcher - VOD - Cheesadelphia 7 - Playoffs - Ro16[

Look, I know how much you all wanted us to put Has' WCS Valencia run here. We really get it. But this is the point where we get all elitist and tell you we watched more games than you and we know that Has doesn't deserve this own award this month. While Has' games were unusual, aggravating and sometimes straight up repulsive, they weren't all that weird. Just a tad cheesy.

THIS game, however, is weird. Very weird. I can't even begin to describe it without spoiling the fun, so open the VOD and hop in for a ride.

More recommended games from July 2018

We highlighted the most notable games above, but there were plenty of other great matches played in July. Thanks for reading, and we hope you enjoy these games. Check back next month for all of the best games from August!

TY vs Rogue on 16-Bit - VOD
Impact vs Dear - Entire Best of 9 - VOD
SuperNova vs FanTaSy on Acid Plant - VOD
Trap vs GuMiho on Lost and Found - VOD
INnoVation vs soO on 16-Bit - VOD
INnoVation vs Solar on Catalyst - VOD
souL vs Lambo on Darkness Sanctuary - VOD
Dark vs herO on Lost and Found - VOD

Best Games: June

Best Games: May

Best Games: April

Best Games: March

Check out the master list for ALL of the best games from 2018 - Soon™ to be updated to include January and February

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