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Code S RO24: Zest & SpeCial advance, soO plays last GSL ma…

Forum Index > SC2 General
19 CommentsPost a Reply
TL.net ESPORTS
Profile Joined July 2011
4 Posts
June 20 2020 22:20 GMT
#1
[image loading]2020 Global StarCraft II League: Code S Season 2

Barely two weeks after TY won his first Code S championship in the Season 1 finals, GSL Code S returned on Saturday with its second season of 2020.

The beginning of a new GSL season also brought the ending of an old GSL career. With his military service set to begin in October, soO looked to make one last, glorious run in what was likely to be his final GSL season. Unfortunately, SpeCial's mech proved to be too treacherous an obstacle for soO to surmount in Group A, leaving the six-time Code S finalist to take his final bow in the round-of-24.

Zest and SpeCial ended up being the players to advance from Group A, with Zoun joining soO in elimination after failing to make an impact in his debut Code S appearance (though he did earn his first Code S map win against Zest). Unfortunately, the specter of conscription also loomed over one of the advancing players, as Zest mentioned in his post-match interview that he, too, would soon have to fulfill his military service.




The opening series between Zest and Zoun showed us that PvP can still end in the blink of an eye, even with the newly introduced Battery Overcharge. An unscouted proxy-Oracle build gave Zest a quick win in game one, but Zoun tied up the score just as easily when he read and defended against Zest's proxy-Immortal all-in in game two. The final game on Submarine had potential to go long when the early game passed with neither player taking crippling damage, but instead the game ended before the nine minute mark when Zest easily held off Zoun's Immortal & Glaive-Adept all-in.

SpeCial and soO abruptly shifted gears to start off their series, playing a prolonged Mech-Terran vs Zerg game on Ice and Chrome. SpeCial seemed to set himself up for success by taking map control with Blue-Flame Hellions against soO's Zergling-based force, but soO took the initiative back with slick Zergling runbys and a surprise tech switch to Mutalisks. This let soO cover the map in expansions, while SpeCial was forced into a defensive posture. Unfortunately for soO, all of his negative stereotypes ended up being fulfilled as the game went on. He drove his Lair-tech army straight into the teeth of the Terran defenses, and he donated Brood Lords to SpeCial after failing to defend them against Vikings. Eventually, the wasted resources caught up to soO, and SpeCial was able to roll out and take the victory with his mech army. SpeCial followed up with a sharp performance in game two on Submarine, keeping his initial Reaper at home against soO's pool-before-hatch opener, and then getting several kills with a Hellion-Reaper poke (using a cleverly placed grenade to dislodge blocking Queens). This early harassment transitioned smoothly into a fast Battlecruiser, which transitioned again into Marine-Tank push. Having played the entire game on the backfoot, soO just didn't have the army or upgrades to stop the attack and GG'd out.

The winners match began with a truly 'SpeCial' build, as the Mexican Terran went for proxy-Hellion drop into fast Battlecruiser into a Marine-Tank push on Golden Wall—all off one base! The strategy was so crazy that you couldn't blame Zest too much for going up to three-bases against it, even though it guaranteed his doom. Zest recovered his bearings in game two, tying up the score by hitting SpeCial with a Stalker-Zealot attack at the perfect timing during the Terran player's mech-transition. The deciding game saw SpeCial put all of his chips on a two-base Marine-Tank-SCV all-in, which looked like it might succeed due to the infamous 'Zest bank' rearing its head. However, even with a thousand minerals saved up, Zest still had enough units to stave SpeCial off and advance to the RO16. Zest was his own harchest critic in the post-match interview, expressing disappointment in his play and vowing to resume practicing immediately upon returning home.

Down in the losers match, soO survived Zoun's Glaive-Adept play to earn a second chance at RO16 advancement. soO didn't have much trouble holding off Zoun's Adept harassment in game one, which led to him eventually overrunning Zoun with Lair units. The second game was a far more chaotic affair, as Zoun was able to meet his objective and trade his Adepts for a significant number of Drone kills. This turned the game into a low-economy brawl, but soO came out on top nonetheless after catching several of Zoun's crucial Immortals in transit.

The rematch between soO and SpeCial began with a mirror-match from their first series, with SpeCial bringing Mech-Terran to Ice and Chrome once more. Again, soO took map control and built up an economic advantage with his Mutalisk-play, but erred by making too many of them and staying on Muta-tech for too long. SpeCial patiently gathered a force of Tanks, Thors, and Battlecruisers for a huge offensive, doing enough damage to cause a soft 'reset' of the game. soO had the resource advantage as the two players rebuilt their armies, but was once again wasteful with his units. His Ultralisks achieved little to nothing against SpeCial's Cyclones, and he repeated the error of not providing his Brood Lords with sufficient anti-air support. Eventually, soO bled himself dry, and had no choice but to GG out.

SpeCial opened up with a non-proxied 2-rax Reaper in strategy in game two, which soO responded to by going for an early game Roach-Ravager pressure. SpeCial was barely able to hold it off with SCV's mass-repairing a bunker, and continued on with his fast-Battlecruiser into bio strategy. soO misread the situation completely and prepared for another BC-mech composition, staying with Roaches on the ground while teching up to Corruptors. Though soO did manage to scout SpeCial's bio army in time to cancel his morphing Corruptors before it was too late, he was already in a horrendous position without the Banelings or Ravagers needed to stop a bio army (Special later said his initial plan was mech, but he switched to bio after soO's initial Roach pressure). With the army composition advantage on his side, SpeCial had little trouble tearing through soO's forces and extracting his final GG.

After the matches, SpeCial shouted out Rogue for telling him he'd surely lose if he went bio against soO, and advising him to play mech instead. Meanwhile, Korean caster and reigning champ TY seemed to revel in SpeCial's advancement, seeing his pupil as a prime candidate to pick during the RO16 group selections.

Recommended games: While there were no outstanding games on the day, the two Ice and Chrome battles between soO and SpeCial had plenty of dumb, bloody combat to enjoy.

Coming up: GSL Code S will resume on Wednesday, Jun 24 9:30am GMT (GMT+00:00) with Group B of the RO24, featuring Dark, Astrea, Impact, and Stats.

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TL+ Member
ShowTheLights
Profile Blog Joined June 2012
Korea (South)1682 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-06-20 22:23:49
June 20 2020 22:23 GMT
#2
really sad way to end soO's career

but hey, atleast he won an online tournament lol

Special played SO well honestly, I saw SO many flashes of Ty in his play tonight

•••Acer.MMA••• <> KT_Puzzle <> JinAir•GreenWings_CoCa <> CJ_herO <> Axiom CranK & Ryung <> IM_Seed <> IM_Squirtle <> le' ToD <> Innovation <> ROOT_CatZ <> inuh! <> Chobra <> SKT1_Fantasy
jeputera
Profile Joined June 2018
30 Posts
June 20 2020 22:35 GMT
#3
I think the nerves got to SoO pretty bad, sucks to go out this way. He made a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes.
RKC
Profile Joined June 2012
2848 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-06-21 01:42:54
June 21 2020 01:40 GMT
#4
Special 4-0 soO who 4-3 Inno. USA USA USA!

Jokes aside (yes, I know Special is Mexican), I truly feel sad for soO. He beat Inno twice in TLS, and also Special and Elazer (3-0 against a tricky ZvZ player in a matchup he's weakest at for some time). Seemed like soO turned a corner...

He deserves a better legacy in GSL (more than anyone). Guess he'll be the one last true Kong...
gg no re thx
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8989 Posts
June 21 2020 02:19 GMT
#5
soO died like he lived, sucking vs mech
Hopefully he can make it to a Super Tournament before the end, if not it has been a blast!
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
ThunderJunk
Profile Joined December 2015
United States677 Posts
June 21 2020 03:27 GMT
#6
SpeCial's TvZ is looking pretty excellent! He's not afraid to use any composition in the MU :D
I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.
ZigguratOfUr
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Iraq16955 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-06-21 03:33:47
June 21 2020 03:33 GMT
#7
On June 21 2020 12:27 ThunderJunk wrote:
SpeCial's TvZ is looking pretty excellent! He's not afraid to use any composition in the MU :D


Given that Rogue told him to mech every game I'd assume that his late game bio might not be as strong.

Also it hasn't been confirmed that this is soO's last GSL season right? Even soO was only saying that it most likely was his last season before military. It's still possible (though obviously rather unlikely) that GSL season 3 happens early enough for soO to participate.
Kaizor
Profile Joined May 2015
Singapore909 Posts
June 21 2020 09:26 GMT
#8
Although i am disappointed, soO's legacy in SC2 will live on forever.

Damn, i am sure he is more disappointed than anyone of us.
Hit me up if you need chinese translations. soO fighting !!
BisuDagger
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Bisutopia19229 Posts
June 21 2020 10:53 GMT
#9
Special played amazing in this group. I think he will be quite feared in group selection.
ModeratorFormer Afreeca Starleague Caster: http://afreeca.tv/ASL2ENG2
Edpayasugo
Profile Joined April 2013
United Kingdom2214 Posts
June 21 2020 14:00 GMT
#10
Oh poor soO
FlaSh MMA INnoVation FanTaSy MKP TY Ryung | soO Dark Rogue | HuK PartinG Stork State
[PkF] Wire
Profile Joined March 2013
France24193 Posts
June 21 2020 15:57 GMT
#11
I really liked SpeCial preparation. I can believe in a ro8 for him this season.

Sad for soO, obviously.
TentativePanda
Profile Joined August 2014
United States800 Posts
June 21 2020 17:28 GMT
#12
I wish I knew Korean so I could watch TY commentating Specials matches!

Hope to squeeze out as much soO as possible before he goes :’(
washikie
Profile Joined February 2011
United States752 Posts
June 21 2020 18:20 GMT
#13
On June 21 2020 11:19 Nakajin wrote:
soO died like he lived, sucking vs mech
Hopefully he can make it to a Super Tournament before the end, if not it has been a blast!


yeah i feel like soo always trys to just muscle his way through mech using unit comps that on paper dont work. his mechanics and early game are so solid sometimes it does, but realy I think his style is just not right vs mech
"when life gives Hero lemons he makes carriers" -Artosis
Slydie
Profile Joined August 2013
1913 Posts
June 21 2020 20:10 GMT
#14
No love for the groupwinnner Zest in this thread? Because of the awful PvP series to start things off? Having a toss advance 1st should anyway be considered good in this meta.
Buff the siegetank
Mizenhauer
Profile Blog Joined February 2015
United States1847 Posts
Last Edited: 2020-06-21 20:56:13
June 21 2020 20:55 GMT
#15
I've spoken to soO and he says he's not 100% sure this is his last season. He might be able to play in Season 3 depending on the scheduling.
┗|∵|┓Second Place in LB 28, Third Place in LB 29 and Destined to Be a Kong
washikie
Profile Joined February 2011
United States752 Posts
June 22 2020 06:18 GMT
#16
On June 22 2020 05:55 Mizenhauer wrote:
I've spoken to soO and he says he's not 100% sure this is his last season. He might be able to play in Season 3 depending on the scheduling.


I hope so
"when life gives Hero lemons he makes carriers" -Artosis
Shuffleblade
Profile Joined February 2012
Sweden1903 Posts
June 22 2020 07:19 GMT
#17
Great games in this group overall, somethings the casters (and this summary) missed from the first game in the first set of Special vs soo was how 5ish liberators murdered a flock of 20+ mutas. That was in my opinion were soo lost the grip on that game, he never should have traded straight up like that, it was a mistake.
Maru, Bomber, TY, Dear, Classic, DeParture and Rogue!
Drfilip
Profile Joined March 2013
Sweden590 Posts
June 22 2020 16:28 GMT
#18
On June 22 2020 16:19 Shuffleblade wrote:
Great games in this group overall, somethings the casters (and this summary) missed from the first game in the first set of Special vs soo was how 5ish liberators murdered a flock of 20+ mutas. That was in my opinion were soo lost the grip on that game, he never should have traded straight up like that, it was a mistake.

That looked so dumb. Ever since the liberator splash merf, I have never seen anyone use liberators to counter mutalisks. This time, the liberator vs muta fight happened mostly off screen. The mutas stood no chance.
Random Platinum EU
Argonauta
Profile Joined July 2016
Spain4906 Posts
June 22 2020 22:24 GMT
#19
On June 23 2020 01:28 Drfilip wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 22 2020 16:19 Shuffleblade wrote:
Great games in this group overall, somethings the casters (and this summary) missed from the first game in the first set of Special vs soo was how 5ish liberators murdered a flock of 20+ mutas. That was in my opinion were soo lost the grip on that game, he never should have traded straight up like that, it was a mistake.

That looked so dumb. Ever since the liberator splash merf, I have never seen anyone use liberators to counter mutalisks. This time, the liberator vs muta fight happened mostly off screen. The mutas stood no chance.


100% agree splash dmg of liberators is silly. But soO knew that was the case. At the begging i was really into his idea of quick muta harass to force thors instead of tanks and gain some map controls. but his commitment to mass mutas was silly. Thors and liberators rekt 10+ mutas no matter what. So better do just 10
Rogue | Maru | Scarlett | Trap
TL+ Member
Howard_Kao
Profile Joined September 2018
China261 Posts
June 24 2020 12:00 GMT
#20
On June 23 2020 01:28 Drfilip wrote:
Show nested quote +
On June 22 2020 16:19 Shuffleblade wrote:
Great games in this group overall, somethings the casters (and this summary) missed from the first game in the first set of Special vs soo was how 5ish liberators murdered a flock of 20+ mutas. That was in my opinion were soo lost the grip on that game, he never should have traded straight up like that, it was a mistake.

That looked so dumb. Ever since the liberator splash merf, I have never seen anyone use liberators to counter mutalisks. This time, the liberator vs muta fight happened mostly off screen. The mutas stood no chance.

INno do the lib counter quite often, he'll sneak out three or four in the mix of bio units, and somehow it always worked
"You don't need a gsl champion, you don't need a esl champion. I feel like I'm just a normal man. I just practice very hard this time, like 15hrs everyday" Oliveira 2023
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