Pushed Aside

The title of “best in the world” is not easily obtained, and its permanence is as fickle as those who utter it. For a select elite, it rings true through the ages. The phrase denotes class, and it gains gravitas and prestige accordingly. Players like Mvp, Taeja, and Rain defied the whims of circumstance and as a result, ascended into the realm of legend. For most who dare to be great, it marks a fleeting moment of brilliance so undeniably bright that fans cannot help but praise its splendor. These players are lauded for a while...until their peak passes. The descent back to mediocrity leads to obsolescence.

Greatness comes naturally to some. For a journeyman like Rogue, the building blocks had to be carefully assembled over years. Dating back to his Brood War days, Rogue had been a mere footnote in the tales of far greater players. Prior to 2017 he had failed to place higher than 3rd in any premier tournament. Few players or commentators would’ve guessed Rogue’s victory at IEM Shanghai would ignite one of the most memorable runs in StarCraft II history.

Rogue’s own spectacular flash was ignited by the spark he kindled with his victory at IEM Shanghai in July of 2017. Rogue’s flames intensified as he began melting down even more trophies for fuel. He put together an unparalleled run, claiming victory at over half of the premier tournaments he was eligible to participate in over the span of the next eight months. His championships included the GSL Super Tournament 2, immediately followed by the WCS Global Finals. The StarCraft II world finally combusted in the ravenous blaze of Rogue’s greatness as his success culminated in a defining, climatic victory at IEM Katowice.

IEM Katowice defined the peak of Rogue’s powers. He overwhelmed his rivals with an unstoppable blend of clever aggression and immaculate macro play, taking down any who dared to challenge him. He snatched victory from the jaws of inevitable defeat as he reverse-swept Maru in the semifinals. Even Classic was unable to get a read on Rogue in the finals. From the beginning, he bewildered his Protoss foe with unpredictable, lethal strikes. Opening with a well timed nydus all-in, Rogue spanned the entire spectrum of strategies. Whether it was off-meta mutalisk play, a macro slugfest, or crawling back from a midgame deficit, he showcased the tenacity and cunning of a champion. It was the capstone of a series of triumphs that have put him right on the brink of everlasting greatness.

The finals were a true display of Zerg mastery. In case you forgot, Rogue put Classic off balance right from the beginning with a well timed nydus all-in at Classic’s natural which he then followed up with some off-meta mutalisk play in game 2. Game 3 was unquestionably the most impressive of the tournament for Rogue as he showcased his raw mechanics in a 27 minute slugfest before once again coming back from a deficit in game 4 to close out the series with ease.

After two back-to-back victories in the most prestigious tournaments in the world, expectations for Rogue were sky high. Despite finishing outside the Ro16 in GSL prior to Katowice, casters and fans across the world confidently anointed him as the favorite for every event until the end of the year. He looked that dominant. Protoss and Terrans itched to beat him; Zergs wanted to be him. Only the absence of a Korean premier tournament left an irritating hole in his trophy collection. Rogue had never made it past the quarterfinals of the GSL or SSL before. Now with a bevy of confidence and a mighty gust blowing behind him, the Jin Air Zerg seemed all but destined to finish 2018 with a Code S title under his belt.

Unfortunately, three major obstacles rose to prominence just as Rogue sought to complete his trophy case. At home Maru shook off the cobwebs and went into overdrive, converting his dormant potential into an unparalleled 3 consecutive GSL victories. Rogue was one of his many notable victims. He had the sorry pleasure of facing Maru in the quarterfinals of Season 2. The series was closely contested and overall regarded as an regrettable draw. Many gave Rogue the benefit of the doubt as Maru had been playing out of his mind. If Maru hadn’t been playing out of his mind for the entire event, Rogue surely would have won that GSL. Regardless, everyone expected him to be a primary competitor in Season 3.

Meanwhile, another power rose to prominence in the west. Through sheer reputation alone, Serral began to supplant Rogue as the preeminent Zerg in the world. The Finn, previously regarded as a peer alongside Nerchio and Snute , gained significant traction through his WCS Leipzig victory and two impressive showings at WESG and Katowice. Like Rogue in his prime, Serral was intimidating in how effortlessly he dispatched great players; the foreign scene crumbled under his gaze, and only the Korean cream of the crop could stop him. By fall Serral’s run through the WCS Circuit along with his victory at GSL vs. the World have solidified him, not Rogue, as the best Zerg in the world going into BlizzCon.

Finally, as GSL vs. the World and GSL Season 3 rolled around, the third stumbling block materialized with damning consequences. The tag team of Maru and Serral hindered Rogue’s gameplay and diluted his reputation, but the killing blow was self-inflicted. Success after success had insidiously bred every great player’s bane: arrogance.

Blinded by his own lingering radiance, Rogue felt confident enough to issue some bold boasts. Such braggadocio is a common form of puffery among Korean players. How much of it was showmanship versus sincerity can be debated, and INnoVation was only recovering from an intense slump. The outcome was indisputable though: INnoVation opened up a can of whoopass to knock Rogue out of GSL vs. the World. Thinking he could breeze right through the tournament for an inevitable finals rematch with Maru, Rogue insisted on teching straight to hive in multiple games of this series. He won the first game but, unable to back up his statement, found himself unprepared in the subsequent, embarrassing sweep.

The dwindling flame was finally snuffed out altogether in Code S. Rogue bounced out of yet another quarterfinals, this time without the cold comfort of losing to an elite Korean like Maru. Instead the “mere” foreigner Neeb was the engine of his demise. Rogue’s decision making in general was suspect throughout the series—in the first game, he stayed on 2 base Roach/Hydra for eight minutes without attempting a full-scale attack—and he was easily dispatched by Neeb’s more refined play.

Professional StarCraft II is a world of “What have you done lately?”, a scene where a lack of results can serve as an impromptu declaration of mediocrity. Failure to perform in GSL events aside, Rogue would normally still be counted amongst the top five players in the world. That is, if the scene progressed at a slower pace. The rise of Maru and Serral together as the true elite of StarCraft II in 2018 has banished Rogue, once again, to the void of relative mediocrity. The answer for Rogue is nothing, outside of the odd online tournament win here and there. It's no surprise that Rogue has faded from thought as the limelight shifted back to the likes of Maru, Serral, Classic, and Stats .

All hope is not lost. All of Rogue’s prior sins and shortcomings can be absolved with another BlizzCon victory, which remains a decent bet considering he is still the defending champion. As Rogue proved earlier at Katowice, at BlizzCon, at Shanghai, his star burns brightest on the grand stage. Whether the world will get to witness his revitalization depends on his ability to reorient his focus and energy. Another BlizzCon championship will certainly involve him taking down Maru or Serral, if not both, which would be impossible if he remains in his depreciated form. If the opportunity to vanquish usurpers is galvanizing enough, Rogue must remember to take them with grave seriousness. Another INnoVation clown show can’t be allowed to occur.

To be considered the best for any period of time is no small feat. Rogue isn’t pursuing an instance of fleeting glory though. Like most aspirants, he wants to be the exception to the rule. With his talent Rogue has a realistic shot at achieving legendary status. The embers of Rogue’s past success still glow red, and consecutive WCS World Championship victories would serve to set Rogue’s career ablaze once more. Another spark of brilliance, one more instant of pure genius, and the StarCraft II universe will echo with the long forgotten chants of his name.