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Code S RO16 Preview: Trap, SpeCial, Impact, herO

Forum Index > SC2 General
10 CommentsPost a Reply

Code S RO16 Preview: Trap, SpeCial, Impact, herO

Text byTL.net ESPORTS
May 28th, 2019 20:27 GMT

Code S RO16 Group C Preview:
Trap, SpeCial, Impact, herO

by Orlok and Wax

Start time: Tuesday, May 28 9:30am GMT (GMT+00:00)

2019 Global StarCraft II League Season 2: Code S


If you asked Jin Air fans who they wanted to represent the team in Code S, Trap probably wouldn't be their first choice. Most would likely pick one of the big three—Maru, Rogue, or sOs. But lo and behold, the steadfast Trap stands as Jin Air's sole survivor. We often mocked his perennial RO16 status in the past—now, that cursed consistency has finally become a benefit.

Trap broke free of his years-long group stage imprisonment by reaching the quarterfinals in the previous of Code S, and now he looks to repeat that feat. While Trap was ultimately 4-0'd by Maru in last season's semifinals, he looks to be in good position to move out of this group and make another playoff run. In many RO16 groups in the past, Trap was an unfortunately casualty in a stacked group. This time around, he's actually the favorite. He had herO’s number in their recent RO32 encounter, SpeCial hasn’t ever made it to this stage of Code S before, and Impact has only recently began to compete at a RO16 level. After toiling in mediocrity for so many years, Trap might finally win easy passage to the Code S playoffs.

But let's not write off the other three players just yet. In a some ways, SpeCial could be seen as another version of Trap. He was always capable of playing championship-caliber StarCraft in his best moments, but just lacked the consistency of the truly elite players. Despite winning huge upsets against far more illustrious opponents in major tournaments, an invisible barrier seemed to prevent SpeCial from advancing beyond the top four.

However, that demon has been partially exorcised, with SpeCial having reached the finals of WCS Spring. Like Trap, this momentary triumph was marred by a quick 4-0 loss to an overpowering champion—in this case, Serral. However, SpeCial still deserves a lot of credit for passing that important milestone.

SpeCial has been setting personal records in GSL as well. His focus on preparation finally saw him advance past the RO32, defeating the adept foreigner-killer sOs twice in the process (his losing effort against RagnaroK was also notable for his breadth of strategies). The textbook advancement scenario for SpeCial sees him getting the better of his opponents with more well-prepared strategies—but he might still find himself out-executed by the more seasoned Code S RO16 players.

For the longest time, Impact was a player who struggled to make it past the first group stage of Code S—if he managed to qualify at all. However, he seems to have definitively hurdled that wall, as he's reached his third consecutive Code S RO16 in a row.

Hipster fans will say they always saw it coming. Those online-bonjwa skills are finally getting some shine in the AfreecaTV studio, and he thoroughly thrashed Zest and Trust in this season's RO32. Like his groupmates, Impact should be looking around at this group and thinking 'this is doable.' While Protoss timing-attacks have looked especially dangerous in the current meta, Impact has shown he is a skilled all-in user himself. SpeCial is an enigma—he could bring any number of Terran compositions to bear—but Impact is a strong enough mid-game player to take SpeCial out before he reaches his late-game comfort zone.

Finally we haveherO, a player who we still find difficult to rate. Compared to his days as one of the Protoss elite, he's become prone to making mistakes and letting his micro slip. We saw that in the RO32, where he advanced with two ugly wins against a weak TvP player in KeeN. But while herO is much diminished from his peak, there's still a bit of the old smiling assassin in him. Winning ugly is still winning—just ask Trap and Dear, who were vexed by herO's risky plays at IEM Katowice. Furthermore, herO was picked second-to-last during the group nominations, suggesting that no one wants to let him drag them down into the mud.

Predictions

Trap 2 - 1 SpeCial
Impact 2 - 0 herO
Trap 2 - 1 Impact
SpeCial 2 - 0 herO
Impact 2 - 1 SpeCial

Trap and Impact to advance.



Credits and acknowledgements

Writers: Orlok and Wax
Images: AfreecaTV
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TL+ Member
leublix
Profile Joined May 2017
493 Posts
May 28 2019 20:57 GMT
#2
Wasn't it the semifinals where Maru 4-0 d Trap? Trap beat TY in the ro8 iirc.
pvsnp
Profile Joined January 2017
7676 Posts
May 28 2019 21:26 GMT
#3
Special's TvP seems to be much better than his TvT and especially TvZ. Would still be an upset if he made it out, but not the biggest upset.
Denominator of the Universe
TL+ Member
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33349 Posts
May 28 2019 21:38 GMT
#4
On May 29 2019 05:57 leublix wrote:
Wasn't it the semifinals where Maru 4-0 d Trap? Trap beat TY in the ro8 iirc.


ah that's my bad, making correction
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
AlgeriaT
Profile Joined April 2010
Sweden2197 Posts
May 28 2019 22:21 GMT
#5
Srsly just bring the god dam doritos
CORN GIRL + Flash + FanTaSy + CholeraSC + iNcontroL 4 eva <3
TentativePanda
Profile Joined August 2014
United States800 Posts
May 28 2019 23:16 GMT
#6
Dorito King better make it out. I can see him pulling off a win against Trap in a Bo3 with some smart builds, though it's unlikely. I'd favor him against hero, but that says more about hero than Special, and hero can definitely turn himself around at any moment. I'm interested in Special vs Impact. I actually might favor Special. He should have won against Ragnarok in the Ro32, but threw a game. And his series vs Serral was well... against Serral. And I think in that series he chose his builds very poorly. I suspect he will have stronger ones planned for Impact. He's been my favorite player since early Heart of the Swarm, glad to see him finding big time success <3
Orlok
Profile Joined June 2014
Korea (South)227 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-05-29 03:26:12
May 29 2019 03:25 GMT
#7
DORITOS FOR JUAN
DORITOS FOR JUAN
DORITOS FOR JUAN
Writer"Don't leave me hangin!"
dragoon
Profile Joined December 2010
United States695 Posts
May 29 2019 04:00 GMT
#8
i think putting hero in last is a bold prediction, however its understandable considering how well matched this group is. personally, i expect either the 2 protoss to make it, or trap/special.

been a while since i woke up early for gsl but im looking forward to this match :3 gogo juanito!!
i love you
kallagen
Profile Joined November 2016
Russian Federation13 Posts
May 29 2019 13:29 GMT
#9
Who would have thought!
Subflow
Profile Joined August 2016
52 Posts
May 29 2019 14:26 GMT
#10
round of 8 (round of pvp) incoming
Thermo-
Profile Joined May 2019
4 Posts
May 30 2019 21:22 GMT
#11
Come on, (T)INnoVation. Save us Terran.
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