EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Manifesto7/bankosl2pics/newstudio.jpg)
OGN's new digs. I think those liitle pods can actually hover.
We've set the stage, now lets get to the action.
Game 1: Anytime (LeCaf, P) vs Casy (OGN, T) on Arcadia 2
The two former champs opened at cross-positions, with Anytime at 11 and Casy at 5. Anytime opened with a gate-robo-gate build while Casy moved out quickly armed with a tank, 4 rines, and oncoming vultures; the typical FD build. He did not apply any pressure however, which allowed Anytime to double expand with only three goons.
Anytime's economy quickly boomed while Casy was slow on factories. When Anytime's second expo warped in, the terran player still only had two factories and a starport. Slowly creeping out with turrets, Casy's play was timid and his reconnasaince weak. He gained some ground on Anytime by vulture dropping the main while tanking the natural. He continued to harass with his dropship, forcing Anytime to respond with his goons, but carrier tech was complete and the gates were flickering. Casy was going to have to push soon before the protoss air took flight.Casy did move out, but slowly and only to the middle of the map. His vultures mined up all availible land routes before the tanks rumbled forward and dug their claws into the ground. Having temporary control of the map, Casy expanded again to 6 and began goliath production. Because he had cut ground units for carriers, Anytime's force was looking weak as Casy pushed towards 11. Rather than wait for more air, Anytime hit back, sending his army into the maw vs a strong line of tanks. The zealots were vapourized and goliaths were pressuring the new carriers, forcing them back. It looked to be Casy's game, however he was very slow in reinforcing the middle. Seeing this, Anytime harassed mightily with his growing carrier fleet and wore down the terran position. With a fresh wave of ground units, Anytime gained control of the center and promptly double expanded. Casy battled at his choke, but as his resources ran dry choke was the only word on anybody's mind. The defending champion succombed to the curse, giving away the first game of the new season and giving hope to protoss fans everywhere.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Manifesto7/bankosl2pics/w1game12.jpg)
Anytime suicided his first army against the wall of metal, but the second army finished the job.
Anytime > Casy
Honestly, Anytime's build was abusive, and Casy's build was timid. His factories were later than they should have been, he didnt scout, and his dropship harass was too little to be effective. Anytime impressed, and got a big boost as he faces July and Midas next.
Game 2: Bisu[Sheild] (MBC, P) vs FireBatHero (aka BraQ, Samsung, T) on Arkanoid
In a revenge match from the Dual league, Bisu was hoping to take it to FireBatHero on the new map, Arkanoid. This map starts as an island map, but iwth the removal of a rediculous amount of neutral buildings, players can conduct a ground campaign. Each "island" hosts a bevy of minerals, so game styles should be interesting. The starting positions were Bisu at 1 and FBH at 5. FBH used two of his scv to take down the zerg crysali blocking his expo while building a CC beside it, the timing working just perfectly for a finished CC. Bisu used a single zealot to clear his while putting down a stargate. Both players immediately cleared out their other expansion, But only FBH actually expanded, giving him access to three bases in his immediate area.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Manifesto7/bankosl2pics/w1game22.jpg)
Bisu taking care of a local infestation for more minerals.
While FBH cleared a route through the middle of the map with his MM force, Bisu dropped four gates and obtained reaver tech. Taking advantage of the path made by his opponent, Bisu moved south with dragoons and reavers, finding FBH with a single tank. His reavers harassed the terran expo, drawing away the MM force, and then the goons moved into the main. FBH promptly lost his tanks to goons and his MM to reavers, securing the victory for Bisu.
Bisu > FireBatHero
This map was great the first time through. The real balancing act is how much of your resources to go for. FBH was a little greedy by taking both of his naturals, and paid for it as his mech was 2 minutes too late. The map turns into a land map very quickly, with MM moving from bottom to top in a couple minutes. Timing and scouting are the two most important things here.
Game 3: YellOw (KTF, Z) vs Ever)P(TT (Samsung, P) on Tau Cross
This game also featured a new map, the basic three player map (pos 1/5/9) Tau Cross. YellOw christened the 5 oclock spot and Everopened at 9. As YellOw took his expo, Ever opened with the most ridiculous cheese, blocking the zerg choke with a pylon and dropping another to cannon the hatchery. No drones could pass through the single pylon block, and YellOw was forced to cancel. Yellow dropped another hatchery in his main, but he was bottled in tight. Ever took his free pass and expanded while YellOw teched to lurkers and researched drop. YellOw managed to get two lurks into the P main, and shut down mining momentarily. Although he was way behind, the lurkers bought him some time and he also took 3 o'clock. As Ever went goon/reaver/sair, Yellow initiaed a hydra/ling/lurk drop on the P main. However, defense was too tight and the attack failed.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Manifesto7/bankosl2pics/w1game32.jpg)
Think he came across this in poker? Maybe he should practice...
The endgame found Ever with pure goons, stamping out the hatcheries at three oclock. YellOw continued to battle, but it was a losing cause as Ever simply had too much of a headstart.
Ever > Yellow.
Not much to say about this but Yellow got cheesed horribly. Ever almost lost it trying to decide between reaver/sair and ground troops, but with that kind of lead even I could have won.
Game 4: Canata (SK, T) vs Sea[Sheild] (MBC, T) on Peaks of Baekdu
Canata opened this game in the top position, and managed to do zero damage with his fast expo/vulture build. Sea was content to out expand Canata, defend again vs his wraith tech switch, and then divide the map in half.For the next one hour and six minutes, the two players would battle over a single expansion at 2 oclock, spending thousands of resources for a geyser and mineral patches worth far less. With the middle horribly bottled up, neither player could move. There were some spectacular moves such as nukes ann dropship antics, but in the end neither player had the balls or strategic ability to make this game exciting. Finally, Sea's balls dropped and he mopped up a pennyless Canata for the victory.
Sea > Canata
This game was ridiculous at its pace. Canata threw himself at Sea in every way imaginable. However, the tiny terran couldn't be dented, but also refused to attack. Commentators should have a "random explosion" button for these kinds of situations.
Game 5: Zergman (Samsung, Z) vs Sea.Jy (aka hOyA CJ, Z) on Arcadia 2
Sea.jy is pretty well known in our community, having once played the role of ringer for oG) clan. This was his OSL debut... how far he has come. Unfortunately, his first game was against a zerg player who has done very well of late. Whether it was nervous or just poor timing, jy lost control of this game early. Zergman openned at 1 with a hatch/pool build while jy played it a bit safer with a 12 pool and gas. With the cross-positions, his lings could not gain zergman's base, and so he starrted his lair with only one hatchery. Thanks to the power of two hatcheries, Zergman easily broke out into the map, running over jy's lings and destroying the morphing spire. Zergma was now far ahead, having a faster spire and two hatcheries. Jy continued to fight, but really it was over when he selected his build and got cross positions.![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Manifesto7/bankosl2pics/w1game52.jpg)
Losing your spire like this is not an impressive debut.
Zergman > Jy
Not much to say here other than better luck next time.
Game 6: GoRush (SK, Z) vs GGPlay (Hanbit, Z) on the New Peaks of Baekdu
GoRush opened on the bottom against a hot zerg from last season, GGPlay. GGPlay put down a faster pool and gas at the expense of a couple drones, band it paid dividends right away. GoRush tried to take the advantage by expanding to his natural, but GGPlay's earlier lings got there first and GoRush cancelled just prior to its completion. This set both players back to one hatchery lair builds. GGPlay got a further advantage when his lings slipped past GoRush into the SKT base and took down several drones with some great harassment. GoRush turned the tide himself by doing the same thing, and both players continued the game with weak economies and a single hatchery. The battle was nail biting as 6 mutas from GGPlay fought vs 3 mutas and 4 scourge from GoRush. The micro was intense, and following a brief respite they attacked each others mains at the same time. After killing GoRush's drones, GGPlay flew back to his base, saving his one remaining miner. Backed by a large number of scourge, GGPlay was able to eliminate GoRush's last mutas, leaving him with no airpower or drones.
GGPlay > GoRush
These kinds of zvz are always my favorite. Each lavae dicision is a decision of life or death, and both players have to have perfect micro and decision making. Sometimes you just need some luck too.
Next week features more mirror matchups, but also a highlight real game between Midas and July.
Cheers,
Mani
