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Code S RO4 Preview: Maru vs Trap

Forum Index > SC2 General
15 CommentsPost a Reply

Code S RO4 Preview: Maru vs Trap

Text byTL.net ESPORTS
September 20th, 2019 16:54 GMT

Code S Season 3
Semifinal #2 Preview: Maru vs Trap

Start time: Friday, Sep 20 4:00am GMT (GMT+00:00)

by Orlok

There's a feeling of deja vu surrounding this second semi-final match. Maru and Trap faced each other in the semifinals of the first Code S tournament of the year, which ended with Maru wiping the floor with Trap in a 42 minute, 4-0 sweep.

A lot has happened between now and then. Maru went on what we will kindly call a 'detour' in his quest to win the Global Finals, while Trap has only grown steadier and stronger after his humbling loss to Maru. TL.net users might be predicting another Maru victory, but it's clear that things have become much more complicated in this rematch.

More info: GSL Code S Season 3 on Liquipedia


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For the first time in a while, it feels like Maru has arrived in the semifinals after having overcome real adversity. Sure, it's not like Maru's four, consecutive championships runs were cakewalks. Season 1 of 2019 saw Maru survive a Ro16 scare, where he lost to Bunny and come within a map of elimination against Patience. Quarterfinal opponent Dear looked like the perfect assassin to end Maru's consecutive title run, coming into the match with an absurd 20-0 winning streak in PvT. But at the end of the day, what we remember is how Maru crushed Dear in four games, and then made his matches against Trap and Classic look like mere formalities as he cemented his place in the StarCraft II pantheon.

This time, it's a bit different. Even now, his elimination in the round-of-32 of Code S Season 2 remains utterly inexplicable. The shock seemed to have lasting effects, as he began Code S Season 3 with a rocky Ro32 performance, nearly losing to both Super and Impact while advancing with a meek, 5-4 map score.

Given his uninspiring Ro32 performance, some fans even started to go against the conventional wisdom of "it's still Maru" and wondered if he had it in him to escape a Ro16 group of death with Rogue, Solar and Stats. Maru ended up giving a mixed performance, one of both utter domination and desperate survival. While his mech TvZ didn’t do him any good against Solar's BL-infestor, his late-game PvT masterclass against Stats suggested he had at least one match-up on lockdown. A brilliant switch to a fast-paced bio style allowed him to overcome Solar in the Ro16 decider match, and later take down an out-matched RagnaroK in the quarterfinals. He might not have a complete answer to the TvZ match-up yet, but that search can take a backseat for now.

It’s no surprise to see Maru play at a championship level. However, the way he's been swinging between impotent and incredible feels new. Within the same day, or even within the same game, Maru can go from looking like he's washed-up to looking like he'll never lose another game. The ability to 'flip the switch' when the chips are down is something rare even for elite players, but Maru seems to do it at will. In a certain sense, that's even more impressive than showing continued, uninterrupted dominance. But will it be enough to win him a fifth Code S championship?

In contrast to Maru, Trap comes into this match as the strongest version of himself. In their previous semifinal match, Trap was only weeks removed from getting over his mental-block in the Code S group stages, and was playing in the Code S playoffs for the first time in years. Who could blame him for getting crushed then? Now, he heads into semifinals with another season and a half of experience under is belt, a Code S finals appearance, and perhaps even the title of #1 Protoss player in the world.

The conversation about top-tier Protoss players in LotV has always been centered around names like Stats, sOs, Classic or Zest. However, 2019 saw sOs and Zest become shadows of their former selves, whereas Stats became uncharacteristically inconsistent. Classic, whose intense preparation and strategic brilliance made him the top Protoss for the first half of the year, fell into a rut as the season came to a close. Trap, on the other hand, has finally delivered on his potential and outshone his peers. After reaching the top four in Season 1 and top two in Season 2, there's only one more step for him to take.

While Trap has become a more complete player since his last foray with his teammate, one has to wonder if it’s quite enough to let him push past Maru. He defeated formidable foes INnovation and Classic in last season's playoffs and had a competitive finals match against Dark. He even showed phenomenal composure to pull off some comeback wins—a far cry from the player who always crumbled in the Ro16—but it wasn't enough to let him hoist the trophy.

While Trap deserves much credit for his improvement, Maru still looked like an unbeatable TvP player in his 2-0 victory over Stats in the Ro16. In contrast, he appeared utterly hapless in his 0-3 loss to Stats at GSL vs. The World. Thus, in spite of all of Trap's progress, this match seems like it will be all about Maru. When Maru hits his stride, no one in Code S has come anywhere close to beating him. However, if Maru stumbles, Trap could most certainly take the victory. Even if Maru has started to show glimpses of his dominant 2018 self, he’s only just re-ignited his engine and could very well be stalled by crafty builds and preparation. And while it's easy to dismissTrap's 3-0 of KeeN as a mere tune-up match, it further reinforced the notion that Trap is now fully acclimatized to the Code S playoff stage. While I have to give Maru the edge due to his past accomplishments and peak ability, this version of Trap will be a tougher opponent both inside and outside the game.

Prediction: Maru 4 - 2 Trap

Credits and acknowledgements

Writer: Orlok
Editor: Wax
Images: AfreecaTV
Statistics: Aligulac.com
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TL+ Member
Fango
Profile Joined July 2016
United Kingdom8987 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-09-20 17:04:06
September 20 2019 17:03 GMT
#2
On September 21 2019 01:54 TL.net ESPORTS wrote:
Even now, his elimination in the round-of-32 of Code S Season 2 remains utterly inexplicable.

I've said this too many times but he played at the same level he did for the previous four ro32s. Everyone shocked at his loss forgot he always gets cocky in the early stages, and that he almost lost to typical ro32 player in all the seasons he won as well.

The only difference there was that he played Patience and INno, who are better than Keen, Zanster, or Leenock.
Zest, sOs, PartinG, Dark, and Maru are the real champs. ROOT_herO is overrated. Snute, Serral, and Scarlett are the foreigner GOATs
Togekiss
Profile Joined January 2013
Canada154 Posts
September 20 2019 17:05 GMT
#3
I would love to see what a Rogue vs Trap finals could look like, but I just can't imagine Maru losing to Trap here. I know Trap has been showing consistent improvement results wise, but as far as TvP goes, Maru typically tends to make his Protoss opponents flat out look bad (with the exception of Stats and sOs from time to time). Personally feeling Rogue has a much better shot vs Maru in this current patch/meta.
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33432 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-09-20 17:17:35
September 20 2019 17:17 GMT
#4
On September 21 2019 02:03 Fango wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 21 2019 01:54 TL.net ESPORTS wrote:
Even now, his elimination in the round-of-32 of Code S Season 2 remains utterly inexplicable.

I've said this too many times but he played at the same level he did for the previous four ro32s. Everyone shocked at his loss forgot he always gets cocky in the early stages, and that he almost lost to typical ro32 player in all the seasons he won as well.

The only difference there was that he played Patience and INno, who are better than Keen, Zanster, or Leenock.


I get the 'it was bound to happen at least once given his level of play' argument, but instead he won four straight titles before that. So, *shrug* I guess?
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
Charoisaur
Profile Joined August 2014
Germany15979 Posts
September 20 2019 18:31 GMT
#5
Maru can't be beaten in GSL playoffs, there's no point in cheering for another player.
Many of the coolest moments in sc2 happen due to worker harassment
Die4Ever
Profile Joined August 2010
United States17678 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-09-20 18:35:10
September 20 2019 18:34 GMT
#6
TY wasn't in Maru's ro16 group, Rogue was
"Expert" mods4ever.com
TentativePanda
Profile Joined August 2014
United States800 Posts
September 20 2019 19:24 GMT
#7
Trap
Argonauta
Profile Joined July 2016
Spain4954 Posts
September 20 2019 20:15 GMT
#8
Maru is going to crush it.
Rogue | Maru | Scarlett | Trap
TL+ Member
dbRic1203
Profile Joined July 2019
Germany2655 Posts
September 20 2019 20:17 GMT
#9
Nice writup.
Trap is at an all time high, but it s Maru and with the new EMP it s going to be realy tough
MaxPax
BisuDagger
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Bisutopia19267 Posts
September 20 2019 20:50 GMT
#10
If this wasn't GSL it would be 4-0 Trap
ModeratorFormer Afreeca Starleague Caster: http://afreeca.tv/ASL2ENG2
dragoon
Profile Joined December 2010
United States695 Posts
September 20 2019 20:54 GMT
#11
MARU


FINISH THIS
i love you
tskarzyn
Profile Joined July 2010
United States516 Posts
September 20 2019 22:38 GMT
#12
Terran buffs + Maru in good form = boppity bop. 4-0 incoming.
Darkness2k11
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Chile313 Posts
September 20 2019 23:13 GMT
#13
Oh boy, TL predicting Maru to win despite Trap being in PvT god mode recently

That said, this match is gonna be awesome
When Behind, Dark Shrine
PillClinton
Profile Joined June 2019
2 Posts
September 21 2019 01:24 GMT
#14
Nice write up, just hoping for a good series.
blooblooblahblah
Profile Joined February 2011
Australia4163 Posts
September 21 2019 01:24 GMT
#15
Not sure what to expect for this one. On the one hand, Maru is great at TvP and Trap is great PvT so it should be a great match. But i just have this feeling that someone here is gonna bomb out hard. Team-kill matches tend to be weird too.

Trap looked insanely good against Keen but on paper, he was really favoured in that match. He did struggle a bit against Cure who is very good but not Maru so I can definitely imagine a world where Maru can pull Trap apart.

Maru's recent TvP series looked fantastic, and the buffs actually suit his style so there's a lot of things working for him atm.
Ganzi beat me without stim. Ostojiy beat me with a nydus. Siphonn beat me with probes. Revival beat my sentry-immortal all-in.
Topin
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Peru10082 Posts
September 21 2019 02:23 GMT
#16
i just want to see good games, lets go Maruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu G5L
i would define my style between a mix of ByuN, Maru and MKP
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