Awesome Game Done Quick: Maru's Best-of-7 Speed Runs
by Wax
StarCraft II fans were both impressed and appalled last week when Maru needed just 42 minutes and 20 seconds of in-game time to sweep his teammate Trap in the GSL Code S semifinal series. But while one might think that's a record time for Maru, it's not even close.
You see, when people say it feels like Maru is playing a different game from everyone else, they're totally right. All this time, while Maru has been playing pro SC2, he's also been participating in an entirely different competition: speed-running professional StarCraft II best of sevens. In this area, his 42:20 against Trap is only his fifth best time.
Let's look back on some of Maru's quickest and most one-sided BO7 victories, and pray to god that the upcoming Maru vs. Classic GSL final doesn't enter the list.
(Times are not 100% exact as I just eyeballed them from the GG/victory screen of each match)
#6: 50 minutes 51 seconds – 4-1 vs Classic, Code S Season 2 Semifinals (2018-06-18)
On one hand, Maru and Classic are pretty evenly matched all-time head-to-head matches, which bodes well for the entertainment value of the upcoming Code S finals. On the other hand, their most recent major match ended with Maru drubbing Classic 4-1 in under an hour of game time.
While this victory occurred during Maru's god-like 2018 run, it came before Maru had fully established the TvP proxy meta. At that time, the few proxies pulled out in this series seemed like perfectly justified self-defense against the Protoss cheese Classic was using. Those were such innocent and pure days, when we did not yet know what TvP was to become...
#5: 42 minutes 20 seconds – 4-0 vs Trap, Code S Season 1 Semifinals (2019-04-06)
This recent match isn't any less brutal on second viewing. The proxy-meta PvT may be over, but two-base timing-attack meta means that Terran is still ending games plenty fast. After losing the first two maps, Trap hastened his own demise by committing to fruitless aggression of his own in the final two games.
#4: 41 minutes 9 seconds – 4-1 vs Zest, Code S Season 3 Semifinals (2018-09-08)
This one got randomly DMCA'd/removed from Afreecatv's channel lately, so here's a French VOD
In the history of TvP speed-running, this series marked a transitional moment as Maru combined the proxy tactics of 2018 with some of the two-base tank pushes that would become the norm in 2019 (the recent rise of the so-called 'third Command Center' looms as a threat to the integrity of TvP speed-running). Amusingly enough, Maru managed to LOSE a map to Zest and still beat him with a faster time than in his sweep against Trap.
#3: 32 minutes 59 seconds – 4-0 vs Zest, Code S Season 2 Finals (2018-06-23)
This is the match that should terrify you the most if you're hoping for a good Classic vs Maru finals. Think back to 2018, and how we were trying to hype Zest up as a worthy challenger for Maru. Sure, Zest hadn't been in the Code S title picture for nearly two years, but this was the SEASON OF DESTINY for the former champ. He had already defeated #2 Terran TY in the semifinals, and he was going to summon his old, best-in-the-world form for one last series.
All that seemed plausible until the eleventh minute of game one, when Maru just face-tanked the Disruptors balls and totally destroyed Zest. After that, AfreecaTV went into full scramble mode to play every video package and get through all their friends & family interviews before the series was over. At around 24 combined minutes, AfreecaTV's self-prepared content ended up being not so much shorter than the in-game match time.
Going off this list, it would be easy to think that Maru is especially hateful of Protoss players. First off, you're right. Second, Maru is still plenty capable of cheesing players of other races, including his own.
When the sixteen-year-old Maru won the fabled OnGameNet Starleague, fans didn't compare him to Flash just because of how good he was at so young an age. Before he became 'god,' a youthful Flash was originally known as a cold-blooded cheeser. Maru showed he had that same killer instinct in him during this semifinal match against INnoVation.
With ten major championships, INnoVation's excellence has spanned multiple eras. But mid 2013 might have been the time when he was most dominant, at least when measured by the gap between him and his peers. Against such a fearsome player, Maru had no problem going for one-base builds in three consecutive games, including two disgusting proxies. If one had to point to a single series that set a young Maru down the dark path of proxy-addiction, it may very well be this one.
#1: 24 minutes 7 seconds – 4-0 vs Nice, Asian Games Finals (2018-08-30)
The League of Legends exhibition at the 2018 Asian Games was one of the most hyped esports events of the year, bringing China, South Korea, and Taiwan together in a rare clash between regional titans. The StarCraft II exhibition, on the other hand...
Sure, we all expected Maru to 3-0 Thailand's StriKE and Iran's DemiGoD in the first two rounds—these were players that had never even played in a WCS Circuit Challenger tier event. But his finals opponent Nice had played in multiple offline majors in his career and had won matches against Circuit veterans such as Kelazhur and Harstem. Even if a sweep was the most likely outcome for god-mode Maru, surely Nice could impart the tiniest bit of credibility on the tournament and prevent it from becoming a total f***ing s***show? But that's indeed what it ended up being, as Maru ended the best-of-seven grand finals in less time than it took him to win the best-of-five semifinals (his 3-0 of DemiGoD lasted 25:12).
The Korean scene was recently abuzz due to the news that esports did not make the initial cut to be included at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. The reason behind this is probably deeply complicated, involving key sponsor Alibaba, national Olympic committees, and the Asian Games Federation committee members themselves. However, as StarCraft II fans, let's just go with the theory that Maru single-handedly ruined it for everyone else.
Credits and acknowledgements
Writer: Wax Images & Photos: AfreecaTV, Kevin Chang (Silverfire)
Awesome article Wax small typo: "But that's indeed what it ended up being, as Maru ended the best-of-seven grand finals in less time than it took him to win the best-of-five semifinals (his 3-0 of DemiGoD lasted 25:12)."
On April 11 2019 18:53 fLyiNgDroNe wrote: Awesome article Wax small typo: "But that's indeed what it ended up being, as Maru ended the best-of-seven grand finals in less time than it took him to win the best-of-five semifinals (his 3-0 of DemiGoD lasted 25:12)."
Haha wow, Maru is something else! It is not even that unthinkable that Maru could do something similar to Classic again on Sunday. I hope he just wins somehow though as a 4th GSL title in a row would be nuts!! GO MARU!
On April 11 2019 19:12 Pandemona wrote: Haha wow, Maru is something else! It is not even that unthinkable that Maru could do something similar to Classic again on Sunday. I hope he just wins somehow though as a 4th GSL title in a row would be nuts!! GO MARU!
If he speed runs Classic like he did to Zest then Afreeca may think of creating more content to show as SC2 won't be enough
haha, great list. Hard to believe Maru vs Zest in the GSL finals isn't #1.
Also, that OSL series has got to be one of the most satisfying moments ever. The Kespa fanboyism was so rampant around that time and then Maru just came out of nowhere and ate the soul of Bogus.
On April 11 2019 19:12 Pandemona wrote: Haha wow, Maru is something else! It is not even that unthinkable that Maru could do something similar to Classic again on Sunday. I hope he just wins somehow though as a 4th GSL title in a row would be nuts!! GO MARU!
If he speed runs Classic like he did to Zest then Afreeca may think of creating more content to show as SC2 won't be enough
just the other way in the LR thread there was a discussion and uncertainty about the shortest series (premier events, best of 7) Indeed a gap filling article!
Only question that i have left, what s the quickest, NON-Maru best of 7 ever played in a premier event?
Three fast expand and one gate expand vs four 2 rax In WoL time (one second in LotV is about 1.4 second in WoL) Set 1 4:40 Set 2 4:26 Set 3 4:36 Set 4 8:12 1314 WoL seconds, about 939 seconds, 15 minutes 39 seconds.
That WCS 2013 Season 2 was amazing. It was funny because Innovation had just 3-0'd Soulkey in the Ro8 in revenge for choking and getting reverse swept in the season 1 GSL final, and then when everyone thought no one could stop Inno he gets 4-0'd by Maru with proxies XD. It was also the season of Bomber-God, start of Scarlett-Bomber rivalry, early HotS muta/bling v MMMM meta, Jim randomly showing up and destroying everyone.
On April 11 2019 22:30 argonautdice wrote: That WCS 2013 Season 2 was amazing. It was funny because Innovation had just 3-0'd Soulkey in the Ro8 in revenge for choking and getting reverse swept in the season 1 GSL final, and then when everyone thought no one could stop Inno he gets 4-0'd by Maru with proxies XD. It was also the season of Bomber-God, start of Scarlett-Bomber rivalry, early HotS muta/bling v MMMM meta, Jim randomly showing up and destroying everyone.
I'm a little bit lazy but can someone check the actual time (not HotS time) of the games-only between herO and sOs for the 2014 IEM WC Finals (the infamous double-proxy-gateway twice)? I think that one was pretty short despite being a 4-1 series.
On April 11 2019 19:12 Pandemona wrote: Haha wow, Maru is something else! It is not even that unthinkable that Maru could do something similar to Classic again on Sunday. I hope he just wins somehow though as a 4th GSL title in a row would be nuts!! GO MARU!
If he speed runs Classic like he did to Zest then Afreeca may think of creating more content to show as SC2 won't be enough
ppl complain about the speed runs but i thought it was awesome. watching a GOAT unlock his final form and just ddddddominate like goku turning super saiyan and crushing frieza. moar 4-0s from maru pls. unless he's playing soo, then i want soo to win
On April 11 2019 19:52 Geo.Rion wrote: just the other way in the LR thread there was a discussion and uncertainty about the shortest series (premier events, best of 7) Indeed a gap filling article!
Only question that i have left, what s the quickest, NON-Maru best of 7 ever played in a premier event?
On April 12 2019 04:19 fishjie wrote: ppl complain about the speed runs but i thought it was awesome. watching a GOAT unlock his final form and just ddddddominate like goku turning super saiyan and crushing frieza. moar 4-0s from maru pls. unless he's playing soo, then i want soo to win
Im also in the speed running wagon, its something special watching him being so dominant (in GSL). I was literally laughing in the last game vs zest, if it was a movie i would hate the script for being so unrealistic.
The Maru vs Innovation game was when I first started watching SC2! I used to watch a bit of Broodwar back in the Flash v Jaedong days when I was procrastinating on writing papers late night in the library in undergrad and had totally forgotten about competitive Starcraft for years. One fateful night I randomly remembered watching professionals and googled "Starcraft live matches now" or something like that, ended up tuning in for semifinals and finals of that tournament, watching a 16 year old kid bop people--needless to say, I was hooked and Maru is still one of my favorite players.
On April 11 2019 19:52 Geo.Rion wrote: just the other way in the LR thread there was a discussion and uncertainty about the shortest series (premier events, best of 7) Indeed a gap filling article!
Only question that i have left, what s the quickest, NON-Maru best of 7 ever played in a premier event?
On April 11 2019 22:30 argonautdice wrote: That WCS 2013 Season 2 was amazing. It was funny because Innovation had just 3-0'd Soulkey in the Ro8 in revenge for choking and getting reverse swept in the season 1 GSL final, and then when everyone thought no one could stop Inno he gets 4-0'd by Maru with proxies XD. It was also the season of Bomber-God, start of Scarlett-Bomber rivalry, early HotS muta/bling v MMMM meta, Jim randomly showing up and destroying everyone.
I'm also surprised his thrashing of Zest wasn't #1. This list doesn't give me high hopes for Classic X_X. I hope he takes a dump on a zerg later this year to round it out.
On April 11 2019 19:41 FrostedMiniWheats wrote: haha, great list. Hard to believe Maru vs Zest in the GSL finals isn't #1.
Also, that OSL series has got to be one of the most satisfying moments ever. The Kespa fanboyism was so rampant around that time and then Maru just came out of nowhere and ate the soul of Bogus.
A more accurate description would be that, Maru ate the soul of INnoVation and showed him to be Bogus.
On April 11 2019 19:12 Pandemona wrote: Haha wow, Maru is something else! It is not even that unthinkable that Maru could do something similar to Classic again on Sunday. I hope he just wins somehow though as a 4th GSL title in a row would be nuts!! GO MARU!
Right when people start saying stuff like this is when the world turns upside down and Classic readily defeats Maru in this final.