After featuring David Kim meme-esque racial balance in its past two playoffs, RSL tilted toward Protoss in Season 3 with the representatives of Aiur claiming five out of eight post-season spots. All top three Protosses in Classic, herO, and MaxPax are in the mix, but another Protoss title is far from a foregone conclusion. With Reynor's form ramping up and Maru looking far improved compared to his recent disappointing performances, the battle for the championship is sure to be intense.
The playoffs will begin on Thursday, Nov 20 7:30am GMT (GMT+00:00) with all four of the initial RO8 matches in the double-elimination bracket.
Group A: MaxPax's last place elimination from his RO16 group in Season 2 was one of the biggest upsets we've seen in RSL so far, but the online monster made up for it with a typically strong performance to clinch first place. Solar fell victim to the rematch curse in the race for second place, defeating Zoun in his initial bout by narrowly losing in the decider match.
Group B: Back-to-back champion Classic advanced in first place as expected, but the second place spot gave us a minor surprise with Trigger advancing over Cure. Again, the rematch curse came into play—Cure took down Trigger with two-base all-ins in their initial series, but Trigger rallied to get his revenge in the decider match.
Group C: herO was the only player to advance with a perfect 4-0 map score, taking care of business against Gerald and SHIN. The decider match between ByuN and SHIN looked to be a 50/50 proposition on paper, but SHIN showed surprisingly strong late-game play (a weakness for him in the past) to overwhelm his opponent and secure a playoff spot.
Group D: Maru's poor play in online tournaments throughout 2025 was a concern headed into this group, but such worries were briefly assuaged as he advanced in first place with a convincing showing. While Reynor fell 0-2 to Maru, he had no problem cleaning up against heavy underdogs sOs and Ryung to take second place.
On November 19 2025 16:01 TL.net ESPORTS wrote: The playoffs will begin on Thursday, Nov 20 10:00am GMT (GMT+00:00) with all four of the initial RO8 matches in the double-elimination bracket.
That would match the previous days, but Liquipedia says Thursday, Nov 20 7:30am GMT (GMT+00:00), who is correct?
On November 19 2025 16:01 TL.net ESPORTS wrote: The playoffs will begin on Thursday, Nov 20 10:00am GMT (GMT+00:00) with all four of the initial RO8 matches in the double-elimination bracket.
That would match the previous days, but Liquipedia says Thursday, Nov 20 7:30am GMT (GMT+00:00), who is correct?
On November 20 2025 11:01 TeamMamba wrote: Poor Shin. Another tournament where he becomes Maru punching bag
He has to break the streak sometime right? Right?
Bro, it must be so demoralizing for him. He was completely in control of game 1 and still somehow Maru comes back to beat him. He catches him with what should be a build order win in game 3 and loses anyway.
I can't imagine what must be going though his head every time Maru is sitting across from him in a bracket. Feels like even if he does everything right he just cant beat him.
On November 20 2025 11:01 TeamMamba wrote: Poor Shin. Another tournament where he becomes Maru punching bag
He has to break the streak sometime right? Right?
Bro, it must be so demoralizing for him. He was completely in control of game 1 and still somehow Maru comes back to beat him. He catches him with what should be a build order win in game 3 and loses anyway.
I can't imagine what must be going though his head every time Maru is sitting across from him in a bracket. Feels like even if he does everything right he just cant beat him.
It’s crazy. I can vividly remember many a set that SHIN/Rag absolutely had and somehow lost.
In cricket they say a batter who a bowler has a hoodoo over is a bunny, and my lord is SHIN possibly the biggest bunny out there if you’re Maru.
In said sport sometimes it’s just quirks in technique matching up nicely, but IDK if one can even say that in SHIN’s case
Worse Zergs than SHIN can beat Maru. SHIN can beat any other Terran going
He has like basically a 1/3 record against Clem ffs. He has a sub 2% match win rate against Maru.
On November 20 2025 11:01 TeamMamba wrote: Poor Shin. Another tournament where he becomes Maru punching bag
He has to break the streak sometime right? Right?
Bro, it must be so demoralizing for him. He was completely in control of game 1 and still somehow Maru comes back to beat him. He catches him with what should be a build order win in game 3 and loses anyway.
I can't imagine what must be going though his head every time Maru is sitting across from him in a bracket. Feels like even if he does everything right he just cant beat him.
that was actually not a build order counter sortof was saying since the beginning how those upgrades once maru gets them his units wont die, and thats what happened. pool first from shins perspective he was really hoping for proxy rax would be the build order counter
On November 20 2025 11:01 TeamMamba wrote: Poor Shin. Another tournament where he becomes Maru punching bag
He has to break the streak sometime right? Right?
Bro, it must be so demoralizing for him. He was completely in control of game 1 and still somehow Maru comes back to beat him. He catches him with what should be a build order win in game 3 and loses anyway.
I can't imagine what must be going though his head every time Maru is sitting across from him in a bracket. Feels like even if he does everything right he just cant beat him.
It’s crazy. I can vividly remember many a set that SHIN/Rag absolutely had and somehow lost.
In cricket they say a batter who a bowler has a hoodoo over is a bunny, and my lord is SHIN possibly the biggest bunny out there if you’re Maru.
In said sport sometimes it’s just quirks in technique matching up nicely, but IDK if one can even say that in SHIN’s case
Worse Zergs than SHIN can beat Maru. SHIN can beat any other Terran going
He has like basically a 1/3 record against Clem ffs. He has a sub 2% match win rate against Maru.
It is really rather strange!
I love me some Rag God, but he's basically a poor man's soO and soO had no real shot against Maru later in his career. This Maru fellow just loves beating lair zergs.
EPT
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/misc/RSL/season3groups.png)
![[image loading]](/staff/Waxangel/misc/RSL/season3bracket_1.png)
so out of form still
