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Into the Sunset - Classic - Road to BlizzCon 2019

Forum Index > SC2 General
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Into the Sunset - Classic - Road to BlizzCon 2019

Text byTL.net ESPORTS
October 22nd, 2019 08:01 GMT

Road to BlizzCon 2019: Classic (#3 WCS Korea)

Into the Sunset

by Orlok and Wax

If nothing else, 2019 was a year full of captivating stories. soO actually managed to win something big. Koreans fought back against Serral. Reynor challenged for the Circuit throne. Maru one-upped the impossible and won a fourth consecutive Code S championship. And somehow, the amid all these grand tales, it feels like there's one that's resonated with fans on a deeper emotional level.

More info: 2019 World Championship Series Global Finals

For Classic, the past two years have been a quiet rebuild. Once an all-around excellent player—if someone what generic—he's re-tailored his game to be more cerebral as it's become harder to compete in terms of straight-up mechanics.

Starting his StarCraft II career as a virtually unknown Terran player on STX Soul, Classic was hardly beloved at first. He switched to Protoss during the height of the Blink-Stalker terror in Heart of the Swarm—it will suffice to say that some fans were 'displeased' with his seemingly overnight success. After helping STX Soul to a Proleague title in 2013, strong campaigns in 2014 and 2015 resulted in GSL, SSL, and IEM championships. That kind of sustained success helped win over the masses, or at least assuaged their suspicions that he was an undeserving meta-abuser. Two years of championship purgatory followed after that, with Classic remaining a very good if not particularly exceptional player. He continued to be a Proleague workhorse for his new team SKT following the departure of PartinG and Rain, and in individual competition he achieved several top four finishes in various tournaments. But ultimately, he was became overshadowed by the more impactful players of early LotV such as INnoVation, Dark, and Stats.

One would think SKT's #1 Protoss option would have enjoyed a bit more of the limelight, but it’s hard to build a lasting following when your most notable trait is "good at StarCraft" but not "BEST at StarCraft." Also, the most memorable players have instantly definable traits that often go beyond winning or losing the game. sOs, despite being almost irrelevant in 2019, is still feared for having the craftiest and most demented strategic mind in StarCraft II, all thanks to legendary victories over Jaedong and herO in years prior. ByuN is just as well-known for wearing his emotions on his sleeve as he is for his superlative Reaper micro. On the opposite side of the coin, INnoVation's comically stoic demeanor has become just as defining a trait as his unparalleled macro.

Classic, on the other hand, didn't quite lean toward any extremes, whether it was as a public figure or in-game player. His play during his prime was technically and theoretically sound, possessing a strong baseline macro game and mixing in an almost scientifically calculated ratio of cheeses to keep opponents honest. Quietly, he's been one of the most consistent players in StarCraft II, trudging along and adapting to every patch without experiencing any of the massive slumps we sometimes see from other former champions. Classic's multiple titles and overall competitive resume place him as a top ten all-time Protoss player or so. Some of the most important moments of the KeSPA era belong to him—he won the championship-clinching map in not one, but TWO Proleague finals. Yet, as time has passed and tournaments have faded out of existence, his deeds have ended up becoming obscure historic details, only talked about by the most obsessive fans on StarCraft II community sites.



In 2019, all it took for us to love Classic was a sense of imminent loss and doom. We're all familiar with the wave of terror that washed over the StarCraft II community after the cancellation of the Heroes of the Storm esports circuit and the delayed announcement of WCS 2019. As we tuned in to watch the first few months of StarCraft II competition in 2019, Classic somehow arrived in the perfect place to absorb both our fears and our hopes. In February, it was announced he had been unable to secure permission to travel to IEM Katowice, a result of his old age and impending military service. That alone felt like a stinging injustice, with Classic losing his chance to avenge his runner-up finish at the previous year's tournament. But it also precluded his ability to participate at the WCS Global Finals, the single biggest competition of the entire year.

Instantly, Classic became a symbol for StarCraft II itself. He was the war-ravaged veteran, marching on nobly despite his advanced age (at 27, the fourth oldest Code S player after MC, DRG, and Bomber in 2019). And due to circumstances wholly outside of his control, he was in danger of having everything taken away from him

It's hard to tell if Classic's playstyle really changed much in 2019, or if we started paying a lot closer attention. Classic's run through the first season of Code S in 2019 saw him go up against Rogue in the quarterfinals and then Dark in the semis—two absolutely brutal match-ups considering Classic's PvZ form and his historic head-to-head record against the pair. In a time of such dire need, Classic looked to his one remaining bastion of hope: Protoss bulls***. Wracking his brain to its limit, Classic pulled out nearly twelve unique build orders over the course of twelve games, barely scratching out full set victories against both Rogue and Dark. Unfortunately, what awaited Classic in the finals was an even more difficult challenge: Maru attempting to win his fourth consecutive championship. Again, Classic looked to trickery to try and steal a victory. But this time around, neither proxied Stalker nor Tempest was enough to overcome the odds, as Maru brought an end to Classic's run in a 4-2 final.

Most Protoss players would have been condemned for making a finals run on the back of 'underhanded' tactics such as proxies and all-ins. But in Classic's case, both his play and circumstances were so extraordinary that the fans still had his back. The universe had conspired to ruin Classic, and Classic, bleeding out on his knees, still managed to slap the universe in the face.



Afterward, Classic went on to win Super Tournament 1, and also place top-four in Code S Season 2 and GSL vs. The World. None of those subsequent runs featured as extreme strategic approaches as Code S Season 1, but the image of Classic as the GSL's buildsmith par excellence has stuck. Likewise, even if Classic's last-minute approval for overseas travel has lightened the aura of tragedy, he remains the old soldier we can't help but feel a connection to. It's like he's become the MMA of 2014 and the sOs of 2015, combined into one person (the enemy, again, seems to be life).

After a year of talking about how Classic's career is coming to a close, we've finally arrived at the end. He's revving for one last ride, his chance to catch one last ray of glory. And, maybe, so are we.



Road to BlizzCon 2019

WCS Circuit
Serral - Reynor - Neeb - SpeCial - TIME - HeroMarine - Elazer - ShoWTimE

WCS Korea
Dark - Trap - Classic - Maru - soO - Rogue - herO - Stats



Credits and acknowledgements

Writers: Orlok and Wax
Images: Helena Kristiansson via Blizzard

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TL+ Member
Durnuu
Profile Joined September 2013
13319 Posts
October 22 2019 08:02 GMT
#2
On October 22 2019 17:01 TL.net ESPORTS wrote:
his deeds have ended up becoming obscure historic details, only talked about by the most obsessive fans on StarCraft II community sites.

Don't call me out like that
BUNNYYYYYYYYY https://i.imgur.com/BiCF577.png
sneakyfox
Profile Joined January 2017
8216 Posts
October 22 2019 09:28 GMT
#3
On October 22 2019 17:01 TL.net ESPORTS wrote:
The universe had conspired to ruin Classic, and Classic, bleeding and on his knees, still managed to slap the universe in the face.


Hell yeah! Come on Old Hands, one last time!
"I saw what sneakyfox wrote on TL.net and it made me furious" - PartinG
dbRic1203
Profile Joined July 2019
Germany2655 Posts
October 22 2019 09:31 GMT
#4
Not sure, if I like the writuep, because it is a summary of his entire carrer ob despite that. But it s a great read nevertheless.
I have no idear, where he is right now, as his ST2 showing wasn t that great and he looked way stronger in the 1st half of 2019, but I realy hope, he s going to make it out of his group so his permission to travel actually matters.
MaxPax
Argonauta
Profile Joined July 2016
Spain4902 Posts
October 22 2019 09:33 GMT
#5
That Prologue finals.... I remember it really well. It was amazing. Gogo Classic! for the old generations!
Rogue | Maru | Scarlett | Trap
TL+ Member
Shuffleblade
Profile Joined February 2012
Sweden1903 Posts
October 22 2019 09:57 GMT
#6
I have always considered Classic the strategic genius, people always go and and on about sOs. sOs is a crazy genius while Classic is the conservative genius, that is my take on it.

I might be wrong in this but I remember it as Classic being the first player to use guardian shield in phoenix vs phoenix wars. No player, bar maybe TY has consistently impressed me with his strategies and brainy play like Classic.

Go Classic, lets see it again!
Maru, Bomber, TY, Dear, Classic, DeParture and Rogue!
Drfilip
Profile Joined March 2013
Sweden590 Posts
October 22 2019 10:17 GMT
#7
On October 22 2019 18:57 Shuffleblade wrote:
I have always considered Classic the strategic genius, people always go and and on about sOs. sOs is a crazy genius while Classic is the conservative genius, that is my take on it.

I might be wrong in this but I remember it as Classic being the first player to use guardian shield in phoenix vs phoenix wars. No player, bar maybe TY has consistently impressed me with his strategies and brainy play like Classic.

Go Classic, lets see it again!

Classic has been the go to guy, when preparing for sOs. The players see the similarities.
Classic has also been the #2 in blink plays during Zest's reign. Classic was #2 defensive protoss, #2 micro etc. If you are the second best at everything, the sum total should be consistently great. Classic has been consistently great. He could do any playstyle at any time. Too bad he's felt a need for specialization this year. Well, macro and late game hasn't been kind to protoss this year, so who could blame the player?
Random Platinum EU
Darkn3ssFallz
Profile Joined April 2013
Australia114 Posts
October 22 2019 10:52 GMT
#8
Hoping he can win it all this year!
gogo Classic!
Classic #1
[SKT1.Rain] is the Postman Protoss, because by.Sun or by.Rain he delivers.
dysenterymd
Profile Joined January 2019
1179 Posts
October 22 2019 11:32 GMT
#9
If Serral loses I hope Classic take it all, he really deserves another big win.
Serral | Inno | sOs | soO | Has | Classic
Fango
Profile Joined July 2016
United Kingdom8987 Posts
October 22 2019 13:05 GMT
#10
I've said this for ages but Classic has been the best all-round protoss for years. Just never the best at anything in particular.

Would be an honour for him to go out in glory at blizzcon
Zest, sOs, PartinG, Dark, and Maru are the real champs. ROOT_herO is overrated. Snute, Serral, and Scarlett are the foreigner GOATs
EndlessViolence
Profile Joined January 2011
114 Posts
October 22 2019 16:23 GMT
#11
great write , i really hope he does well!
ZugzwangSC
Profile Joined October 2019
87 Posts
October 22 2019 16:30 GMT
#12
On October 22 2019 17:02 Durnuu wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 22 2019 17:01 TL.net ESPORTS wrote:
his deeds have ended up becoming obscure historic details, only talked about by the most obsessive fans on StarCraft II community sites.

Don't call me out like that


That was so awesome!
www.youtube.com/c/zugzwangstarcraft
loft
Profile Joined July 2009
United States344 Posts
October 22 2019 16:53 GMT
#13
Rooting for Classic, one last epic ride
Noa Greenini
Profile Joined April 2015
265 Posts
October 22 2019 17:40 GMT
#14
I've never really liked Classic, but I think him winning the world championship at the end of his run like this would be cool. I don't think there is any player in the line up that he has no way of beating, but I don't think he will win. Although I always have that feeling, even the tournaments when he does win.
Noa Greenini looks like the superior LR poster - Charoisaur 04/05/2019 (Serral vs Showtime match)
Akio
Profile Blog Joined January 2019
Finland1838 Posts
October 22 2019 19:01 GMT
#15
It's like he's become the MMA of 2014 and the sOs of 2015, combined into one person (the enemy, again, seems to be life).


Heh, brilliant

For the sake of this being his last tourney before his service, it would be sick for him to take it all. It seems kind of unlikely though if the likes of Stats, Serral, Maru and Dark are in peak form. Well, I guess one of those 4 is going to get knocked out in groups already
Mine gas, build tanks.
WombaT
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Northern Ireland24509 Posts
October 22 2019 20:03 GMT
#16
Quality preview as ever folks, also impressed you wrote such a summation of Classic’s career and form without mentioning his chin once.
'You'll always be the cuddly marsupial of my heart, despite the inherent flaws of your ancestry' - Squat
ZigguratOfUr
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Iraq16955 Posts
October 23 2019 01:00 GMT
#17
Classic always picked the worst times to be the best player in the world.
Orlok
Profile Joined June 2014
Korea (South)227 Posts
October 23 2019 01:04 GMT
#18
On October 23 2019 05:03 Wombat_NI wrote:
Quality preview as ever folks, also impressed you wrote such a summation of Classic’s career and form without mentioning his chin once.


DAMN IT I KNEW I FORGOT SOMETHING
Writer"Don't leave me hangin!"
aringadingding
Profile Joined September 2010
474 Posts
October 23 2019 04:54 GMT
#19
gogo Classic!!!
WombaT
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Northern Ireland24509 Posts
October 23 2019 12:41 GMT
#20
On October 23 2019 10:04 Orlok wrote:
Show nested quote +
On October 23 2019 05:03 Wombat_NI wrote:
Quality preview as ever folks, also impressed you wrote such a summation of Classic’s career and form without mentioning his chin once.


DAMN IT I KNEW I FORGOT SOMETHING

Nobody’s perfect I suppose
'You'll always be the cuddly marsupial of my heart, despite the inherent flaws of your ancestry' - Squat
[F_]aths
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Germany3947 Posts
November 06 2019 22:22 GMT
#21
He did reach the semis at Blizzcon. Only a few players can say that, even if you only count GSL champions as players of your caliber.
You don't choose to play zerg. The zerg choose you.
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