Only eight players remain to contend for the world championship after the first round of the IEM Katowice 2021 playoffs.
The first RO12 match sawReynornarrowly overcome Stats in 3-2 victory. Reynor showed that he was well-prepared for the 2-Stargate Void Ray build dominating the the PvZ match-up, taking all three of his victories in matches where Stats attempted the strategy. A Lurker-Queen push, a Queen-Roach-Ravager timing, and a Hydra-Baneling-Queen all-in off three bases were enough to secure Reynor a quarterfinal spot.
The second RO12 match was more one-sided, with Maru winning in a 3-0 sweep against HeroMarine. In particular, game two on Jagannatha served as a reminder for the old "just play like Maru" memes. HeroMarine took a seemingly unsurmountable lead with a powerful early/mid-game push, but Maru stole an incredible comeback victory by hunkering down on defense and besting Big Gabe in a late-game air battle. HeroMarine wasn't discouraged by the loss, however, praising Maru's abilities and looking to it as motivation for the future.
"Strategic plays"—or disgusting cheeses, depending on your point of view—were the focal point in the match between PartinG and INnoVation. Unfortunately for INnoVation, PartinG proved to be more skilled in this department, advancing with a combination of proxy-Gateway and proxy-Stargate tactics. The deciding game on Pillars of Gold was especially notable for its comedic value, with INnoVation constantly trying—and failing—to finish construction of his second Command Center against a proxy-Void Ray attack. PartinG hinted that his nefarious approach to PvT would continue in the RO8, saying he would "twist" TY's brain.
Clem and Serral faced off in many epic duels over the course of the 2020/21 EPT Season, and the trend continued in the IEM 2021 playoffs. Fans of 'traditional' TvZ are highly recommended to watch the the VOD of this match, with the two players engaging in seeming non-stop mid-game combat. Clem jumped ahead to a 2-0 lead, only for the Finnish Phenom to show his class and tie the series up at 2-2. However, the rising French Terran proved to be better player in the final map on Deathaura, eventually overwhelming his opponent with 3/3 bio.
IEM Katowice 2021 continues with the round-of-8 on Saturday, Feb 27 2:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00).
So we have a Blizzcon finals rematch, our traditional Jin Air team kill, a GSL Code S semi-finals rematch, and Zest vs Clem as our Ro8.
Pretty sick pairings.
I'm guessing Dark, Rogue, TY and Zest as our top 4. Maru doesn't have a terrific track record vs Rogue in Ro4's, Dark looked unstoppable in the group stages earlier this week. TY REALLY had Parting's number the last time they faced off, and Zest is just best boy.
Not saying that serral is playing bad or what, but for the moments I see the game last night,(busy doing something else) I feel like there's something off from his play, maybe the preciseness or what. But great play from clem too, gg.
On February 27 2021 13:51 Vindicare605 wrote: So we have a Blizzcon finals rematch, our traditional Jin Air team kill, a GSL Code S semi-finals rematch, and Zest vs Clem as our Ro8.
Pretty sick pairings.
I'm guessing Dark, Rogue, TY and Zest as our top 4. Maru doesn't have a terrific track record vs Rogue in Ro4's, Dark looked unstoppable in the group stages earlier this week. TY REALLY had Parting's number the last time they faced off, and Zest is just best boy.
Yeah, I'd love to see Parting keep going, but TY was the worst opponent he could have gotten. Not looking forward to endless hellion drops.
So many potential great stories for the final. Rogue v Zest - the rematch from the last year, to show us there's nothing much changing in this game. Reynor v Clem - the new blood to the top, showing us the opposite. Maru v Clem - the old guard against the new.
PartinG vs. INnoVation was probably the first "so bad it's good" series I have watched in 10 years of StarCraft II. From Inno missing the bunker repair several times to him sending one SCV after the other to its death in a failed attempt to finish his second Command Center, it was a glorious dumpster fire. Even the interview with PartinG in which he started talking about twisting TY's... brain made Kaelaris visibly uncomfortable. I haven't laughed this hard while watching StarCraft in a long time.
On February 27 2021 18:52 Poopi wrote: I will use this moment to again point out at people thinking Serral had an easy draw to the finals... told ya Clem was slightly favored.
I dont think clem was the favourit. its 50/50 between them. If serral would have won i think he would go to the finals.
On February 27 2021 18:52 Poopi wrote: I will use this moment to again point out at people thinking Serral had an easy draw to the finals... told ya Clem was slightly favored.
I know? The other options were Stats and HM. Those were just knee-jerk reactions to his not having to immediately play Reynor/Dark.
On February 27 2021 18:52 Poopi wrote: I will use this moment to again point out at people thinking Serral had an easy draw to the finals... told ya Clem was slightly favored.
On February 27 2021 18:52 Poopi wrote: I will use this moment to again point out at people thinking Serral had an easy draw to the finals... told ya Clem was slightly favored.
I dont think clem was the favourit. its 50/50 between them. If serral would have won i think he would go to the finals.
Even if they replay the entire bracket, I'd bet on Serral beating Clem/Zest more than Reynor/Dark/Rogue
On February 27 2021 18:52 Poopi wrote: I will use this moment to again point out at people thinking Serral had an easy draw to the finals... told ya Clem was slightly favored.
It was the easiest bracket for him
Meh, still an harder bracket than what he had in a lot of previous international tournaments. Especially now that ZvP doesn’t seem as Z favored as in the past. Expected result nonetheless.
On February 27 2021 21:19 sneakyfox wrote: Ehm, it was impossible for Serral to get Reynor in the Ro12. It could only be Clem/Stats/HM. I'd say he got his worst possible draw there.
For the Ro8, he could have faced Rogue or TY instead of Zest. Rogue may have been the worse opponent for him, but TY would have been better than Zest.
It was also impossible for him to get Dark before the finals, and to get Reynor before the semis.
So Serral didn't have a lucky draw in the playoffs. His group, on the other hand, was easy for sure. Much better group than what the 1st seed got.
EPT
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/EPT/Katowice2021/bracketgraphic2.png)
