The semifinal matches in GSL Code S are set after a two-day quarterfinal blitz. Reigning champion Dark moves on to defend his title with a fearsome Jin Air trio of Maru, Trap, and Rogue looking to seize his throne. The Code S semifinals will begin Dark vs Rogue on Wednesday, Sep 18 9:30am GMT (GMT+00:00), followed by Maru vs Trap on Saturday, Sep 21 4:00am GMT (GMT+00:00)
Those looking to Dark vs TY for insight into BL-Infestor in TvZ would have been sorely disappointed, with Dark willing to make every Zerg unit except Brood Lords. Dark explained in his post-match interview that after showcasing so much BL-Infestor play in his ZvT-packed Ro16 group, he wanted to circumvent whatever counters that TY had prepared. Dark may have regretted this decision on the occasions when his ground-based armies charged headlong into TY's Terran meat-grinder, but he was still able to escape with a narrow 3-2 victory.
Trap earned the only 3-0 sweep of the quarterfinal round against KeeN; a harsh send-off to the veteran Terran playing in his final match before beginning mandatory military service. Trap put on a macro-play clinic, deflecting KeeN's early attacks (including a stroke of luck against a clever 'proxy' factory) and comfortably powering up to defeat him in the mid-late game.
Rogue finally overcame his Code S quarterfinal jinx, advancing for the first time in nine attempts. However, his series against Zest was anything but clean, giving up a map after a failed bane-ling all-in, and then throwing an all-but-won game after shutting down Zest's hidden Stargates. However, Zest's counter-throw in game five was enough to hand Rogue the series, with an ineffectual cannon-rush sealing a 3-2 victory for Rogue.
Despite losing 1-3 to Maru, RagnaroK proved to be more resilient than many would have expected headed into the match. He scored the first point of the series by crushing Maru's Battlecruiser mech with an incisive Corruptor-Ravager attack, and stayed surprisingly even with Maru in game two before running out of steam in the late game. Unfortunately for RagnaroK, the next two games were a Maru skills showcase—Ghosts neutralized RagnaroK's BL-Infestor in game three, while a non-stop barrage of bio attacks and drops pummeled RagnaroK into submission in game four.
On September 12 2019 04:49 DreamlnCode wrote: I'm excited to see Dark play Rogue. Yeh I know ZvZ, but I can't recall the last time these two players met with such high stakes.
While Maru is looking good, I still feel Trap may have the upper hand, we'll see.
They played in december 2018 (online, 4-1 for Rogue), august 2018 (online, 3-1 for Dark).
Last time offline was GSL 2018 Season 3's ro16 and Rogue won 2-0.
On September 12 2019 04:44 Serimek wrote: Maru looked very good, back in shape. Are we going to finally have a real series between him and Serral at Blizzcon?
It might have been one of those cases where RagnaroK played JUST well enough to make Maru look good, without really putting up a fight on the level of real top Zergs. Maru vs either Zerg in the finals would give us a better idea, so I'll defer judgment until then!
I hope Trap wins this season personally, feels play wise he’s absolutely up there as if not the best Toss then very close, but that GSL win would really give him the prestige that Classic and Stats have
On September 12 2019 05:53 Wombat_NI wrote: I hope Trap wins this season personally, feels play wise he’s absolutely up there as if not the best Toss then very close, but that GSL win would really give him the prestige that Classic and Stats have
Yeah I'd say his form is ahead of Classic at the moment, probably not Stats. In terms of overall achievements though, one GSL wouldn't put him level with those guys who have a plethora of gold and silver between them. I think he would need at least two.
Don't forget people like Seed and Jjakji have won a single GSL! With a bit of bracket luck and a spell of good form anyone can win one tournament but the true champions in my eyes are those who keep consistently reasserting themselves.
*That said, he is on a good track. Back to back finals would certainly be a great achievement for him. I do think the Jin Air situation is highly favourable to prep style tournaments but that doesn't take away that he is certainly cementing himself as the number 1 protoss on that team now.
On September 12 2019 05:53 Wombat_NI wrote: I hope Trap wins this season personally, feels play wise he’s absolutely up there as if not the best Toss then very close, but that GSL win would really give him the prestige that Classic and Stats have
Yeah I'd say his form is ahead of Classic at the moment, probably not Stats. In terms of overall achievements though, one GSL wouldn't put him level with those guys who have a plethora of gold and silver between them. I think he would need at least two.
Don't forget people like Seed and Jjakji have won a single GSL! With a bit of bracket luck and a spell of good form anyone can win one tournament but the true champions in my eyes are those who keep consistently reasserting themselves.
*That said, he is on a good track. Back to back finals would certainly be a great achievement for him. I do think the Jin Air situation is highly favourable to prep style tournaments but that doesn't take away that he is certainly cementing himself as the number 1 protoss on that team now.
I don’t think winning a sole GSL would elevate Trap to the level of those two in historic terms, but it would definitely help in giving him the recognition he deserves as Protoss players in 2019 go at least.
It’s weird listening to casts and it’s consistently Stats hype and Classic hype with Trap barely given a mention, they’ve all had their moments this year. Trap is a really well rounded Protoss and an absolutely PvT monster.
On September 12 2019 05:53 Wombat_NI wrote: I hope Trap wins this season personally, feels play wise he’s absolutely up there as if not the best Toss then very close, but that GSL win would really give him the prestige that Classic and Stats have
Yeah I'd say his form is ahead of Classic at the moment, probably not Stats. In terms of overall achievements though, one GSL wouldn't put him level with those guys who have a plethora of gold and silver between them. I think he would need at least two.
Don't forget people like Seed and Jjakji have won a single GSL! With a bit of bracket luck and a spell of good form anyone can win one tournament but the true champions in my eyes are those who keep consistently reasserting themselves.
*That said, he is on a good track. Back to back finals would certainly be a great achievement for him. I do think the Jin Air situation is highly favourable to prep style tournaments but that doesn't take away that he is certainly cementing himself as the number 1 protoss on that team now.
I don’t think winning a sole GSL would elevate Trap to the level of those two in historic terms, but it would definitely help in giving him the recognition he deserves as Protoss players in 2019 go at least.
It’s weird listening to casts and it’s consistently Stats hype and Classic hype with Trap barely given a mention, they’ve all had their moments this year. Trap is a really well rounded Protoss and an absolutely PvT monster.
Yeah I know what you mean. I think it's just because the other two have both won tournaments this year, but certainly trap is in the mix now especially after last season. Agree his PvT in particular is very good so it'll be an interesting semi. I could see him beating Maru but I would favour the zergs in the final.
EPT
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Dark vs 
