Start time: Wednesday, Aug 15 9:30am GMT (GMT+00:00)
There’s nothing as exhilarating as new frontiers. Once upon a time bards wove tales of adventures in unexplored lands where the sky was bluer and the grass greener. Where the horizon silently beckoned and the wind sung sweet melodies through the trees. While times have changed and you won’t find any sun dappled meadows by Samseong Station, the luster of novelty is something that never fades.
Neeb and Reynor are already frolicking through their own personal fairy tale. Reaching Code S was a triumph in and of itself. Reynor played the part of conquering neophyte, too brash to comprehend the consequence of his actions. Neeb’s long awaited qualification was catharsis after being humbled on the stage on more than one occasion despite entering as WCS’ most decorated warrior.
While Reynor and Neeb entered the event high on hopes, many held more modest expectations. The Round of 32 has been unkind to foreigners in LotV. Elazer, SpeCial, SortOf and more have been found wanting at the first checkpoint just this year. Had Reynor and Neeb joined the ranks of discarded chaff, no one would have been surprised. After all, the Round of 32 has been reduced to a tri-annual culling where the unfit give way to the familiar faces.
They still could have looked back one day, wistfully reminiscing on their stay in the world’s most prestigious tournament. They made it, that’s more than most could say. Such a forlorn fate was not for them, however. Neeb outclassed a pair of grizzled veterans. Reynor shocked the world. They found ways to persevere. They found ways to surprise us.
And so, Reynor and Neeb find themselves treading on rarefied ground. Where foreigner after foreigner had failed, Scarlett finally broke into the Round of 16 two seasons ago. Her mere presence was anathema, but her temerity knew no bounds. She should have fallen victim to INnoVation’s machination, but she managed to upset his perfect group. The thought of a foreigner replicating that feat seemed impossible after a disappointing Season 2, but here we are, with Reynor and Neeb planning their own coup.
It’s rather remarkable that Neeb and Reynor have found so much purchase in their very first Code S campaign. Walking the Royal Road is one of the most venerated achievements in Korea and for good reason. Now compare the glory which potentially awaits them to group mate Impact’s suffering. Impact has toiled in relative anonymity for years. It took him four attempts and four years to escape the Round of 32. Impact’s tenacity should be praised, but his long delayed accomplishment is overshadowed by his foreign rivals. Reynor and Neeb play the role of beloved darlings to many. Impact is quickly resigned to his accustomed role of afterthought.
Impact may not be as celebrated as the foreigner duo, but he is far better equipped to succeed on this stage. A veteran of the Korean scene, he’s beaten the best of the best in online cups, owned the top spot on ladder and even won a title in VSL. Impact may not be a GSL champion, but he’s sharpened his teeth against the best Korea has to offer for years. Neeb and Reynor are still teething. They come to Korea and practice best they can, but they can never compare to Impact’s experience and familiarity with their potential foes. And yet, it is the first time in the Round of 16 for all three.
And while Neeb, Reynor and Impact have already surpassed expectations, the grim reality is that they’ll have to fight harder than ever before if they want their journey to continue. A group of three would have been a stern enough test for the newcomers, but an apex predator stalks in their midst. Wreathed in thunder and carried by wrathful pinions, Maru has gone from flippant prodigy to an undeniably elemental force over the past eight months. Many have tried to end his oppressive reign, but Maru has emerged victorious on every occasion. It feels so strange to say given the familiar ebb and flow of the Korean scene, but the road to a Code S title unquestionably goes through Maru.
When they finally broke into the Round of 16 Impact, Neeb and Reynor surely envisioned a paradise of endless possibilities. Instead they find this starved, choked land. Relegated to the role of impetuous aspirants hoping to usurp Maru’s throne, they remain wary while Maru plots how best to dash their hopes and tighten his stranglehold over his dominion. That’s the thing about new frontiers. You’re always an intruder to some.
Typo: "Impact may not be as celebrated as the foreigner duo, but he is far better equipped to succeed on this stage. A veteran of the Korean scene, he’s beaten the best of the best in online cups, owned the top spot on ladder and even won at title in VSL"
Maru has a better chance at losing than people give him credit for. He never tries as hard as he can in groups. Given this is the easiest ro16 group in recent memory, I'd be suprised if he practices to his normal level at all.
On August 14 2018 01:21 Fango wrote: Maru has a better chance at losing than people give him credit for. He never tries as hard as he can in groups. Given this is the easiest ro16 group in recent memory, I'd be suprised if he practices to his normal level at all.
preemptive whine, nice! After hiding behind not practicing for that little weekend tournament for 27k $, you are literally sandbagging the GSL ro 16 now too? He wont take this one seriously either right? In case he drops out to non-Serral foreigners, he s still numer 1, right? Absolutely mind-numbing.
Can't wait for Impact to crush some foreign dreams, guy's just way too underrated. If he stops his offline choking record he may even beat Maru on a good day.
On August 14 2018 01:21 Fango wrote: Maru has a better chance at losing than people give him credit for. He never tries as hard as he can in groups. Given this is the easiest ro16 group in recent memory, I'd be suprised if he practices to his normal level at all.
preemptive whine, nice! After hiding behind not practicing for that little weekend tournament for 27k $, you are literally sandbagging the GSL ro 16 now too? He wont take this one seriously either right? In case he drops out to non-Serral foreigners, he s still numer 1, right? Absolutely mind-numbing.
Shut up, I've literally said that about Maru every group stage this year and it's usually true.
I see you missed any of his groups from last season. In the ro32 he almost lost to Zanster, after admitting he didn't practice TvZ beforehand. In the ro16 he almost lost to Patience (who every other player had disregarded as a competitor). Yet when it came to the playoffs he was able to beat Rogue, and win 8 games in a row against Classic and Zest.
He doesn't prepare or practice as hard for groups, at least not when he expects to win them easily. Anyone who follows his games closely could tell you this.
And btw, he said at the start of GSL vs TW that he didn't practice much for it. Even going as far to say he had no builds for the maps that aren't in GSL regular season (like Redshift), that's why he proxied on them. That comes from Maru himself, not fans who made it up to excuse his loss to Stats.
On August 14 2018 01:57 yht9657 wrote: Can't wait for Impact to crush some foreign dreams, guy's just Way too underrated. If he stops his offline choking record he may even beat Maru on a good day.
Yeah Impact is Way underrated and Reynor is Way overhyped. Reynor went 2-2 versus Classic and gets beat up at foreigner events consistently. I'M Sorry guys but his expected placement in this group is fourth. I could see him being Neeb though, but that's a lot different than beating Impact.
On August 14 2018 01:21 Fango wrote: Maru has a better chance at losing than people give him credit for. He never tries as hard as he can in groups. Given this is the easiest ro16 group in recent memory, I'd be suprised if he practices to his normal level at all.
preemptive whine, nice! After hiding behind not practicing for that little weekend tournament for 27k $, you are literally sandbagging the GSL ro 16 now too? He wont take this one seriously either right? In case he drops out to non-Serral foreigners, he s still numer 1, right? Absolutely mind-numbing.
Shut up, I've literally said that about Maru every group stage this year and it's usually true.
I see you missed any of his groups from last season. In the ro32 he almost lost to Zanster, after admitting he didn't practice TvZ beforehand. In the ro16 he almost lost to Patience (who every other player had disregarded as a competitor). Yet when it came to the playoffs he was able to beat Rogue, and win 8 games in a row against Classic and Zest.
He doesn't prepare or practice as hard for groups, at least not when he expects to win them easily. Anyone who follows his games closely could tell you this.
And btw, he said at the start of GSL vs TW that he didn't practice much for it. Even going as far to say he had no builds for the maps that aren't in GSL regular season (like Redshift), that's why he proxied on them. That comes from Maru himself, not fans who made it up to excuse his loss to Stats.
Not practicing is the stupidest excuse there is. I heard it a lot of times from a lot of people. Koreans usually say they practiced so much and so hard to get here when they first win something, then start saying shit like that, and yeah it s kinda true, instead of 15 hours a day they probably just practice 10 or so... It s like this since broodwar. Regardless, the club of super-biased foreigner hating members of TL keep claiming that foreigners cannot catch up because Korean practice environment and regimen is so much better. But that doesnt seem to stop them to excuse the koreans for losing, claiming, oh they said they dindt pratice, that s fine.
And the bullshit about the maps? Redshift is a ladder map, and Maru hasnt lost a single game on it at GSL v the World. He had to play it once and won. And Maru proxied a shittone in his GSL runs and won with them, so this is again one of the stupidest perspectives. When someone wins with proxies it s genius strategy and godly control, when they lose they were intentionally throwing the game.
Nobody is giving Renyor credit, did you not watch him vs Classic? This kid is on fire and definitely prepared to beat Impact and Neeb. He also might be aiming to beat Maru. You simply brush Reynor off like hes some pleb that doesnt practice like Neeb.
On August 14 2018 14:15 Jeremiah1 wrote: Nobody is giving Renyor credit, did you not watch him vs Classic? This kid is on fire and definitely prepared to beat Impact and Neeb. He also might be aiming to beat Maru. You simply brush Reynor off like hes some pleb that doesnt practice like Neeb.
But im not underestimating Impact at all, Just because a vet. is good doesnt mean Reynor doesnt have a chance. Infact if anything I think we will see Impatch vs Reynor twice.
On August 14 2018 14:17 Jeremiah1 wrote: But im not underestimating Impact at all, Just because a vet. is good doesnt mean Reynor doesnt have a chance. Infact if anything I think we will see Impatch vs Reynor twice.
You are saying that Reynor is likely to win because he went 2-2 versus Classic. Reynor gets continually owned at foreigner events. He has no results. Impact has a pretty long career with many consistent signature victories and has looked especially strong recently.
We aren't underestimating a player with no results that went 2-2 versus Classic in ro32 and was completely uknown before that. It's not possible to underestimate such a player.
It is, however, possible to underestimate Impact - which is what you're doing.
On August 14 2018 01:21 Fango wrote: Maru has a better chance at losing than people give him credit for. He never tries as hard as he can in groups. Given this is the easiest ro16 group in recent memory, I'd be suprised if he practices to his normal level at all.
preemptive whine, nice! After hiding behind not practicing for that little weekend tournament for 27k $, you are literally sandbagging the GSL ro 16 now too? He wont take this one seriously either right? In case he drops out to non-Serral foreigners, he s still numer 1, right? Absolutely mind-numbing.
Shut up, I've literally said that about Maru every group stage this year and it's usually true.
I see you missed any of his groups from last season. In the ro32 he almost lost to Zanster, after admitting he didn't practice TvZ beforehand. In the ro16 he almost lost to Patience (who every other player had disregarded as a competitor). Yet when it came to the playoffs he was able to beat Rogue, and win 8 games in a row against Classic and Zest.
He doesn't prepare or practice as hard for groups, at least not when he expects to win them easily. Anyone who follows his games closely could tell you this.
And btw, he said at the start of GSL vs TW that he didn't practice much for it. Even going as far to say he had no builds for the maps that aren't in GSL regular season (like Redshift), that's why he proxied on them. That comes from Maru himself, not fans who made it up to excuse his loss to Stats.
Not practicing is the stupidest excuse there is. I heard it a lot of times from a lot of people. Koreans usually say they practiced so much and so hard to get here when they first win something, then start saying shit like that, and yeah it s kinda true, instead of 15 hours a day they probably just practice 10 or so... It s like this since broodwar. Regardless, the club of super-biased foreigner hating members of TL keep claiming that foreigners cannot catch up because Korean practice environment and regimen is so much better. But that doesnt seem to stop them to excuse the koreans for losing, claiming, oh they said they dindt pratice, that s fine.
And the bullshit about the maps? Redshift is a ladder map, and Maru hasnt lost a single game on it at GSL v the World. He had to play it once and won. And Maru proxied a shittone in his GSL runs and won with them, so this is again one of the stupidest perspectives. When someone wins with proxies it s genius strategy and godly control, when they lose they were intentionally throwing the game.
Seriously, I don't think this should freak you out so much. If you disagree, that's cool, but it's hard for me to believe that you've watched these last two seasons without noticing the REALLY CLEAR DIFFERENCE between Maru's play in group stages these last two GSLs when compared to the playoffs. I don't regard this as a particularly controversial or biased thing to point out. Maybe there's some larger trend in people's comments that's bugging you with with some justification, but right now I don't see it here.
On August 14 2018 01:21 Fango wrote: Maru has a better chance at losing than people give him credit for. He never tries as hard as he can in groups. Given this is the easiest ro16 group in recent memory, I'd be suprised if he practices to his normal level at all.
preemptive whine, nice! After hiding behind not practicing for that little weekend tournament for 27k $, you are literally sandbagging the GSL ro 16 now too? He wont take this one seriously either right? In case he drops out to non-Serral foreigners, he s still numer 1, right? Absolutely mind-numbing.
Shut up, I've literally said that about Maru every group stage this year and it's usually true.
I see you missed any of his groups from last season. In the ro32 he almost lost to Zanster, after admitting he didn't practice TvZ beforehand. In the ro16 he almost lost to Patience (who every other player had disregarded as a competitor). Yet when it came to the playoffs he was able to beat Rogue, and win 8 games in a row against Classic and Zest.
He doesn't prepare or practice as hard for groups, at least not when he expects to win them easily. Anyone who follows his games closely could tell you this.
And btw, he said at the start of GSL vs TW that he didn't practice much for it. Even going as far to say he had no builds for the maps that aren't in GSL regular season (like Redshift), that's why he proxied on them. That comes from Maru himself, not fans who made it up to excuse his loss to Stats.
Not practicing is the stupidest excuse there is. I heard it a lot of times from a lot of people. Koreans usually say they practiced so much and so hard to get here when they first win something, then start saying shit like that, and yeah it s kinda true, instead of 15 hours a day they probably just practice 10 or so... It s like this since broodwar. Regardless, the club of super-biased foreigner hating members of TL keep claiming that foreigners cannot catch up because Korean practice environment and regimen is so much better. But that doesnt seem to stop them to excuse the koreans for losing, claiming, oh they said they dindt pratice, that s fine.
And the bullshit about the maps? Redshift is a ladder map, and Maru hasnt lost a single game on it at GSL v the World. He had to play it once and won. And Maru proxied a shittone in his GSL runs and won with them, so this is again one of the stupidest perspectives. When someone wins with proxies it s genius strategy and godly control, when they lose they were intentionally throwing the game.
Stop acting like this has anything to do with foreigners or anti-foreigner hating. I said the exact same thing when Maru played Forte in the ro32. It doesn't matter who Maru was playing, as long as their inferior opponents I'd still say he probably won't try his hardest. He never does.
Fuck, I've said the same shit about Maru since 2016 (back then I argued he was one of the best players in the world but just didn't try in starleagues for some reason).
And if you can't see the massive difference in form between Maru in groups and Maru in playoffs then I don't know what to tell you. Last season he went from being outplayed by Zanster and losing maps to Patience, to beating Rogue and destroying Classic and Zest 8-1. At the same time he said he took time off before the groups to recharge. So I'm gonna take his word for it, not yours.
EPT
by Mizenhauer![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/bird_blue_16.png)
- Mizenhauer
Maru 2 - 0 Neeb 
Impact 2 - 0 Reynor 
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