By flamewheel and l10f
As the summer begins, so does the new MSL, bringing with it a new sponsor and a fresh start. Like the Phoenix, the Bigfile MBCGame Starleague has risen from the ashes, ready once again to spread its wings and soar away. The infamous power outage of NATE is by now (hopefully) just a mere memory. The uneasiness and uncertainty that permeated the air before the last MSL found its sponsor no longer hangs over the heads of worried ESPORTS fans. The Bigfile MSL is shaping up to be a great tournament, yet another Starleague to put down in the record books.
However, a new worry is now in the minds of the fans, one that grows stronger with every passing day: the advent of Starcraft II is near, and looking at the popularity of the Beta, it seems that Starcraft Broodwar is soon to be pushed aside. Sensationalist claims notwithstanding, the rumors that the ongoing Korean Air S2 OSL may be the last of its kind, the last of the purely SCBW OSLs still made the MSL fans turn their heads and wonder. We've heard nothing regarding the state of future MSLs yet, but the unspoken question still hangs in the air.
But never mind that. It should matter not if this were the first or the last MSL, or any of the ones in between, for they all have a special place in the annals of history. Love it or hate it, MSL will continue to slough along, bringing us games showcasing both epic success and utter failure. By now, this current MSL is already weeks underway, and the Round of 32 is just about to start.
It's not an easy journey making it to the Round of 32 though, for every MSL has first offline preliminaries and then a Survivor tournament that marks the beginning of the Winners-Losers-Final format. Of the 48 players that either qualified from offline preliminaries or were seeded in Survivor (placed 9th-32nd in the last MSL), the completely victorious and the semi-completely victorious 24 have moved on to join the 8 players seeded into the Round of 32. Did your favorite player make it? Was there some sort of cheese (since delicious cheddar is so popular in Bo1s)? Who brought the creative play, and who's going to be gaining anti-fans? Let's check the results below:
+ Show Spoiler [Full Bigfile Survivor Results] +
Group 1 - 6/3 1pm KST
1. Action 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Violet 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Bogus 1-2 Eliminated
4. Movie 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Movie < Bogus on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Violet < Action on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Bogus < Action on Match Point
Losers: Movie < Violet on Match Point
Final: Bogus < Violet on Triathlon
Group 2 - 6/3 5pm KST
1. Classic 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Hyuk 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Horang2 1-2 Eliminated
4. Pure 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Pure < Classic on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Horang2 < Hyuk on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Classic > Hyuk on Match Point
Losers: Pure < Horang2 on Match Point
Final: Horang2 < Hyuk on Triathlon
Group 3- 6/3 7:30pm KST
1. Kal 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. HoGiL 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Mind 1-2 Eliminated
4. Maestro 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Kal > Maestro on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: HoGiL > Mind on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Kal > HoGiL on Match Point
Losers: Maestro < Mind on Match Point
Final: HoGiL > Mind on Triathlon
Group 4- 6/5 5pm KST
1. RorO 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Stats 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Kwanro 1-2 Eliminated
4. Lomo 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Kwanro > Lomo on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: RorO > Stats on Fighting Spirit
Winners Game: Kwanro < RorO on Match Point
Losers Game: Lomo < Stats on Match Point
Final Game: Kwanro < Stats on Triathlon
Group 5 - 6/10 1pm KST
1. Sea 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. s2 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Stork 1-2 Eliminated
4. Flying 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Sea > Flying on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: s2 < Stork on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Sea > Stork on Match Point**
Losers: Flying < s2 on Match Point
Final: s2 > Stork on Triathlon
Group 6 - 6/10 5pm KST
1. Snow 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. fantasy 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Grape 1-2 Eliminated
4. FireFist 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: fantasy > Grape on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Snow > FireFist on Fighting Spirit
Winners: fantasy < Snow on Match Point**
Losers: Grape > FireFist on Match Point
Final: fantasy > Grape on Triathlon
Group 7 - 6/10 7:30pm KST
1. fOrGG 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. ZerO 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Britney 1-2 Eliminated
4. July 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: ZerO > Britney on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: fOrGG > July on Fighting Spirit
Winners: ZerO < fOrGG on Match Point
Losers: Britney > July on Match Point
Final: ZerO > Britney on Triathlon*
Group 8 - 6/12 5pm KST
1. JangBi 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Really 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Anytime 1-2 Eliminated
4. Modesty 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: JangBi > Modesty on Fighting Spirit*
Game 2: Anytime < Really on Fighting Spirit
Winners: JangBi > Really on Match Point**
Losers: Modesty < Anytime on Match Point
Final: Anytime < Really on Triathlon
Group 9 - 6/17 1pm KST
1. Light 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Hydra 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Princess 1-2 Eliminated
4. GuemChi 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Hydra > GuemChi on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Princess < Light on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Hydra < Light on Match Point*
Losers: GuemChi < Princess on Match Point*
Final: Hydra > Princess on Triathlon
Group 10 - 6/17 3:30pm KST
1. Bisu 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. sKyHigh 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. HyuN 1-2 Eliminated
4. 815 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Bisu > 815 on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: sKyHigh > HyuN on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Bisu > sKyHigh on Match Point*
Losers: 815 < HyuN on Match Point
Final: sKyHigh > HyuN on Triathlon
Group 11 - 6/17 6pm KST
1. Tyson 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. hero 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. BeSt 1-2 Eliminated
4. BaBy 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: BaBy < Tyson on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: hero > BeSt on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Tyson > hero on Match Point*
Losers: BaBy < BeSt on Match Point*
Final: hero > BeSt on Triathlon
Group 12 - 6/19 5pm KST
1. EffOrt 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Shuttle 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Juni 1-2 Eliminated
4. Suny 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Shuttle < Juni on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Suny < EffOrt on Fighting Spirit*
Winners: Juni < EffOrt on Match Point
Losers: Shuttle > Suny on Match Point
Final: Shuttle > Juni on Triathlon
1. Action 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Violet 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Bogus 1-2 Eliminated
4. Movie 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Movie < Bogus on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Violet < Action on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Bogus < Action on Match Point
Losers: Movie < Violet on Match Point
Final: Bogus < Violet on Triathlon
Group 2 - 6/3 5pm KST
1. Classic 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Hyuk 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Horang2 1-2 Eliminated
4. Pure 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Pure < Classic on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Horang2 < Hyuk on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Classic > Hyuk on Match Point
Losers: Pure < Horang2 on Match Point
Final: Horang2 < Hyuk on Triathlon
Group 3- 6/3 7:30pm KST
1. Kal 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. HoGiL 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Mind 1-2 Eliminated
4. Maestro 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Kal > Maestro on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: HoGiL > Mind on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Kal > HoGiL on Match Point
Losers: Maestro < Mind on Match Point
Final: HoGiL > Mind on Triathlon
Group 4- 6/5 5pm KST
1. RorO 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Stats 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Kwanro 1-2 Eliminated
4. Lomo 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Kwanro > Lomo on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: RorO > Stats on Fighting Spirit
Winners Game: Kwanro < RorO on Match Point
Losers Game: Lomo < Stats on Match Point
Final Game: Kwanro < Stats on Triathlon
Group 5 - 6/10 1pm KST
1. Sea 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. s2 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Stork 1-2 Eliminated
4. Flying 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Sea > Flying on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: s2 < Stork on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Sea > Stork on Match Point**
Losers: Flying < s2 on Match Point
Final: s2 > Stork on Triathlon
Group 6 - 6/10 5pm KST
1. Snow 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. fantasy 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Grape 1-2 Eliminated
4. FireFist 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: fantasy > Grape on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Snow > FireFist on Fighting Spirit
Winners: fantasy < Snow on Match Point**
Losers: Grape > FireFist on Match Point
Final: fantasy > Grape on Triathlon
Group 7 - 6/10 7:30pm KST
1. fOrGG 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. ZerO 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Britney 1-2 Eliminated
4. July 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: ZerO > Britney on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: fOrGG > July on Fighting Spirit
Winners: ZerO < fOrGG on Match Point
Losers: Britney > July on Match Point
Final: ZerO > Britney on Triathlon*
Group 8 - 6/12 5pm KST
1. JangBi 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Really 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Anytime 1-2 Eliminated
4. Modesty 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: JangBi > Modesty on Fighting Spirit*
Game 2: Anytime < Really on Fighting Spirit
Winners: JangBi > Really on Match Point**
Losers: Modesty < Anytime on Match Point
Final: Anytime < Really on Triathlon
Group 9 - 6/17 1pm KST
1. Light 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Hydra 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Princess 1-2 Eliminated
4. GuemChi 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Hydra > GuemChi on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Princess < Light on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Hydra < Light on Match Point*
Losers: GuemChi < Princess on Match Point*
Final: Hydra > Princess on Triathlon
Group 10 - 6/17 3:30pm KST
1. Bisu 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. sKyHigh 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. HyuN 1-2 Eliminated
4. 815 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Bisu > 815 on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: sKyHigh > HyuN on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Bisu > sKyHigh on Match Point*
Losers: 815 < HyuN on Match Point
Final: sKyHigh > HyuN on Triathlon
Group 11 - 6/17 6pm KST
1. Tyson 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. hero 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. BeSt 1-2 Eliminated
4. BaBy 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: BaBy < Tyson on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: hero > BeSt on Fighting Spirit
Winners: Tyson > hero on Match Point*
Losers: BaBy < BeSt on Match Point*
Final: hero > BeSt on Triathlon
Group 12 - 6/19 5pm KST
1. EffOrt 2-0 ► Advances to MSL
2. Shuttle 2-1 ► Advances to MSL
3. Juni 1-2 Eliminated
4. Suny 0-2 Eliminated
Game 1: Shuttle < Juni on Fighting Spirit
Game 2: Suny < EffOrt on Fighting Spirit*
Winners: Juni < EffOrt on Match Point
Losers: Shuttle > Suny on Match Point
Final: Shuttle > Juni on Triathlon
All in all, a fairly strong group of advancing players, in my opinion. As with any MST though, there are a few upsets, such as Stork, BaBy, Kwanro, and BeSt not qualifying, but overall the 24 players that have moved on will join the 8 seeded players to make for some great games in the Round of 32.
So never mind the fact that SCII is looming over the horizon. Disregard the fears that the powers-that-be (KeSPA, OGN, MBC, GomTV) won't work out something to keep the tournaments running. Let us go along with the journey that is MSL; let us cast off our worries and step into a tale of fear and courage. Of uncertainty and assuredness. A tale of loss, of survival.
Gathered netizens of teamliquid: this is MSL.
Chapter 1
by flamewheel
by flamewheel
It is a dark and stormy night in Korea, the kind that tends to portend ominous dealings. In the dead of night, under a cloudless sky, black-clad men deliver letters all around Korea to the esteemed progaming houses. As these men make their way, neighbors watch and stare, murmuring amongst themselves that the postal office had been behaving strangely as of late…
Morning comes, and the sun rises, victorious, to dispatch the last of the rain clouds. In the progaming houses, eager hands open the delivered letters, ripping off the ornate seals that protect the information inside. Inquisitive eyes scan the content within, widening in wonder and delight upon reading the last words. For the next few days, the houses are abuzz with rumors, whispers.
”Did you hear? He’s going too… though to what I cannot say.”
“I heard there were only 56 people invited to this, lucky them.”
“Man, I wish I could be a part of this… must be something prestigious.”
Hurried preparations are made, bags are packed, and loose ends are tied up. At the end of the week, 56 individuals leave their progaming houses and head for a location provided to them in the mysterious letters. After hours of driving, they all convene—their GPS systems have led them into the country, and at the end of a winding road they find a massive boat dock, with a Titanic cruise ship floating on the waters.
One wonders why such a massive vessel is needed for just 56 people…
As their drivers deposit them and their bags, the progamers focus their attention on a small man standing at the edge of the dock. The man, though barely five feet tall, radiates an unmistakable aura of control and power. He is dressed in a sharp black suit, with an insignia that matches the letter seal on his front right lapel. As if this is not enough, to either side of the man stands a bodyguard, six feet tall and powerfully built, sunglasses glinting in the fading sunlight.
As the last of the 56 arrives, the small man walks forward to address the crowd.
“Welcome, gentleman. On behalf of my corporation, I would like to extend my warmest welcomes. We’re delighted that each and every one of you is able to be here today, and soon we shall be departing to our destination.”
The throng is silent, spellbound—the man’s voice is mesmerizing, and reminds them of silk. However, one of them realizes something seems amiss.
“Where…exactly is this destination you speak of? And what is there? The letter was very vague.”
The small man smiles, though it is not a normal smile—one could see way too many teeth.
“Ah, my friend, relax, relax. For security reasons, I’m afraid we cannot release to you the destination. I hope you’ll understand. As for what is housed there… well, you’ll see when we arrive. Now, shall we board?”
The progamers move forward reluctantly.
The small man smiles again.
“I said, shall we board.”
The crowd begins moving forward, up the ramp and into the massive ship. There are a few murmurs, but for the most part the multitude is hushed. The young progamer who asked the first question, though, is still skeptical. He whispers to his companion, a tall man with wire rim glasses, “Am I the only one that is slightly unnerved by this?”
His silent companion shakes his head, but does not offer anything in return. Questioning his silence, the first looks behind him, and sees the small man standing there, still smiling. Instinctively, he says the first thing that comes to mind to ameliorate the situation.
“I—I’m Taeyang. And you? We never got your name, sir.”
“Ah… you can just call me M for now. For security’s sake, of course.”
The boat is fully boarded, and it begins to set sail for the disappearing horizon.
The progamers find their rooms and unpack, and shortly after all have unpacked M’s voice comes out over the intercom.
”Gentlemen, come, come. Dinner is to begin shortly."
The dining room is large, as big as any of the progaming houses easily, and the progamers sit four to a table… all but eight of them. These eight sit at the front of the room, at a very elaborate table that looks like it is used to seat VIPs, or something of the sort.
Murmurs of dissent once again are heard.
”Why are those eight special? What have they done?”
But quickly, those questions are stifled by the incoming repast.
The meal is delicious, and the room is noiseless save for the sounds of clinking silverware and chewing. Black-clad butlers whisk to and fro, attending to every request, every need.
Had any of the progamers been watching that dark and stormy night, they would have realized that the butlers looked suspiciously like the mailmen that had delivered the letters…
A rumble, the room shakes. The chandeliers tinkle as the boat stabilizes itself. Then, the lights flicker—what is going on? The progamers all look at each other nervously, and the silent room breaks out in subdued whispers.
A few minutes pass. Black-clad figures flit in and out of the room.
After a while more, one figure whispers in the ear of M. M stands up from the head of the table, and holds out his hand, quieting the room.
“Gentleman… I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but…
Our crew reports that the ship has been tampered with; sabotaged—if you will. The engines have gone offline and currently, we have no way of restarting them. Whoever did this did a good job—we’re dead in the water right now. Curiously though, they’ve left our radio capability functional, so we were still able to radio mainland for help. However, we cannot afford to wait for another ship. The project that we have brought you here to view cannot tolerate even the slightest delay, and time is of the utmost importance. Luckily, we anticipated some form of disruption, and so we have prepared the jet boats.”
The murmurs die out as the progamers realize that they will be okay.
“However,” M continued, “due to a clerical error, we have not brought enough boats. At last count, there will only be enough room for… 32 of you. Oh, and the eight of you at this table, come with me.”
He gets up and begins walking away. The eight at the table with him glance at each other and at M’s retreating figure, and hesitantly get up to follow him.
The murmurs are back, and now the room erupts.
“M! Wait! What about the rest of us? There are 48… and you said there is only room for 24 more!”
M turns back, and that smile has returned to his face.
“Survival of the fittest. The first 24 to make it… will move on. The rest of you, be assured that you are completely safe—the rescue boats will be here to pick you up in no time. However, we must ensure some kind of competition at this point to see who makes it to the next unforeseen stage of this journey. Take a good look at the three others sitting at the table with you—they’re your competition. After the eight and I leave, the room will be sealed for two minutes and the lights turned out, for good measure. After that, you will notice there are twelve different exits, one for the occupants of each table. Walk for a little bit—the rest will then be obvious. Two of every four will move on. The other two will… stay behind to await rescue.
Good luck, gentlemen.”
The doors slam shut, and the room sinks into darkness.
With 12 groups and 5 games per group, it's hard to keep up with all of them. And even when you have a list of the games, it's not easy knowing which ones are the good ones. You could be like me, who just picks out good names, you could just take a pencil and jab blindly at your computer screen (don't do that). Or, you could listen to l10f, who's taken the time to review the games and find the ones that we will find interesting. So here's Mr. Mind Control, l10f, with his summary of the best games in Bigfile's Survivor.
Survivor Recap
by l10f
by l10f
The Survivor Tournament passed by at lightening speed with 4 groups per week, but by no means were the games bland. From BBS to surprisingly large amounts of 12 nexus, there were many exciting games played. The following are the top 10 games of the Survivor Tournament in chronological order, so definitely check them out!
1. Group 2 Set 1: Pure vs Classic
+ Show Spoiler +
Pure, after losing to Flash in OSL, has been on a losing streak while Classic's been playing too well for a rookie. Pure starts at 11 o'clock and Classic starts at 5 o'clock on Fighting Spirit. Pure decides to go for a standard 1 gateway tech, but Classic mixes it up with a barracks double. Pure, in response, expands after his core finishes and pressures with his ranged dragoons, but somehow lets an SCV scout his main. After seeing Pure's robotics timing, Classic decides to build turrets a little bit later.
Pure tries to make the game change to his favor by taking an early 3rd expansion while getting a shuttle to delay Classic. He uses his dragoons to delay Classic's 3rd for a moment and harasses Classic's main with his reaver, but he gets too greedy trying to kill the armory and manages to only kill 1 tank. However, this allows him to take 9 o'clock expansion successfully, making his total expansion count 4 to Classic's 3.
Classic picks a timing and pushes out towards 12 o'clock. Pure brings his army around the other side and forces Classic to come back, but Classic plays smart and leaves two tanks and few marines at 12 to kill the nexus. Classic continues to push towards Pure's natural, but a well placed stasis allows Pure to kill off most of Classic's army. Classic changes his strategy and harasses with large amount of vultures while building up his tank count. Pure recalls Classic's main and kills the two armories, but Classic's upgrade just finished.
The game changing recall!
After clearing out the recalled army, Classic pushes out with his army, knowing his resources are running low. First, he uses his army to secure 3 o'clock, then moves his army towards 7 o'clock. Pure responds by recalling 6 o'clock, but Classic decides to continue attacking 7 o'clock and 9 o'clock while depending on 3 o'clock for resources. Pure delays time well with his army while his 1 o'clock base is built, but a careless move causes him to lose a lot of dragoons to mines. Then, a recall on top of mines kills even more of his army. Now certain that he has the stronger army, Classic kills the remainder of Pure's expansions to force a GG.
Pure tries to make the game change to his favor by taking an early 3rd expansion while getting a shuttle to delay Classic. He uses his dragoons to delay Classic's 3rd for a moment and harasses Classic's main with his reaver, but he gets too greedy trying to kill the armory and manages to only kill 1 tank. However, this allows him to take 9 o'clock expansion successfully, making his total expansion count 4 to Classic's 3.
Classic picks a timing and pushes out towards 12 o'clock. Pure brings his army around the other side and forces Classic to come back, but Classic plays smart and leaves two tanks and few marines at 12 to kill the nexus. Classic continues to push towards Pure's natural, but a well placed stasis allows Pure to kill off most of Classic's army. Classic changes his strategy and harasses with large amount of vultures while building up his tank count. Pure recalls Classic's main and kills the two armories, but Classic's upgrade just finished.
The game changing recall!
After clearing out the recalled army, Classic pushes out with his army, knowing his resources are running low. First, he uses his army to secure 3 o'clock, then moves his army towards 7 o'clock. Pure responds by recalling 6 o'clock, but Classic decides to continue attacking 7 o'clock and 9 o'clock while depending on 3 o'clock for resources. Pure delays time well with his army while his 1 o'clock base is built, but a careless move causes him to lose a lot of dragoons to mines. Then, a recall on top of mines kills even more of his army. Now certain that he has the stronger army, Classic kills the remainder of Pure's expansions to force a GG.
2. Group 4 Final Match: Kwanro vs Stats
+ Show Spoiler +
Kwanro started at 12 o'clock and Stats started at 3 o'clock on Triathlon. Because of the map's unique in-base expansion, Stats goes for a 1 gate expansion, while kwanro starts with an overpool, then places two hatcheries: one at his natural, and other at 9 o'clock natural expansion. Both players then plays standardly; Stats gets corsair while getting +1 melee attack, and Kwanro builds two more hatcheries after his spire.
Stats's corsairs manage to kill 3 overlords before returning to his main, and gets a dark templar. Kwanro sneaks a few zerglings in, but they don't do much damage. Stats starts to pressure with his army, and Kwanro sneaks even more zerglings to kill Stat's natural expansion as soon as it finishes. Kwanro, now confident, shows his true colors and masses hydralisks and attacks Stats's natural. Kwanro's zerglings snipe Stats's high templars, but one dark templar drives him back. In Kwanro's main, another dark templar kills 12 drones before dying to hydralisks.
Poor hydras stuck inside overlords
Kwanro, instead of rebuilding his drones, goes for a hydra all-in, but a good storm drives him back, and Stats's storm drop kills more of Kwanro's drones. Kwanro continues attacking with drops and lurkers, but they are all easily defended, and Stats's army becomes too big for him to handle. Stats's good harass saved him from being kwanrolled.
Stats's corsairs manage to kill 3 overlords before returning to his main, and gets a dark templar. Kwanro sneaks a few zerglings in, but they don't do much damage. Stats starts to pressure with his army, and Kwanro sneaks even more zerglings to kill Stat's natural expansion as soon as it finishes. Kwanro, now confident, shows his true colors and masses hydralisks and attacks Stats's natural. Kwanro's zerglings snipe Stats's high templars, but one dark templar drives him back. In Kwanro's main, another dark templar kills 12 drones before dying to hydralisks.
Poor hydras stuck inside overlords
Kwanro, instead of rebuilding his drones, goes for a hydra all-in, but a good storm drives him back, and Stats's storm drop kills more of Kwanro's drones. Kwanro continues attacking with drops and lurkers, but they are all easily defended, and Stats's army becomes too big for him to handle. Stats's good harass saved him from being kwanrolled.
3. Group 5 Winners Match: Sea vs Stork
+ Show Spoiler +
Sea starts at 1 o'clock and Stork starts at 7 o'clock on Match Point. Stork goes for a 12 nexus, and a slow scout from Sea puts him behind from the beginning of the game. Sea responds by making his command center after 1 vulture, but Stork's nexus finished before Sea's command center even started. Sea's vulture manages to get 4 kills, but that isn't enough to make up for the economic difference. Sea decides to take his mineral expansion off of 1 factory, after seeing Stork's main with his vulture.
Stork, not knowing that Sea took an early 3rd, takes a 3rd for himself and is happy with just defending against harassment. When he finally sees that Sea has taken a 3rd expansion with an observer, Stork decides to increase his gateway count while getting arbiter tech. Sea does not miss this chance and sieges up below Stork's natural. Stork manages to clear it out losing a significant portion of his army, and stops vultures from harassing his mineral only expansion by building pylons to block the path. However, Sea has already secured his 5 o'clock expansion, and he now has more expansions than Stork.
The stasis does not prevent those tanks from changing dragoons to blue goo!
Sea builds up a large mech force with his superior economy, and Stork's army stands no chance. Knowing this, stork recalls Sea's main, but Sea continues to push towards Stork's main. Sea defends the recall with his newly produced units. Stork manages to clear out Sea's army after a few minutes, but Sea already has another, even bigger army built up. Sea simply rolls over Stork's units and achieves his 18th win in a row in MST.
Stork, not knowing that Sea took an early 3rd, takes a 3rd for himself and is happy with just defending against harassment. When he finally sees that Sea has taken a 3rd expansion with an observer, Stork decides to increase his gateway count while getting arbiter tech. Sea does not miss this chance and sieges up below Stork's natural. Stork manages to clear it out losing a significant portion of his army, and stops vultures from harassing his mineral only expansion by building pylons to block the path. However, Sea has already secured his 5 o'clock expansion, and he now has more expansions than Stork.
The stasis does not prevent those tanks from changing dragoons to blue goo!
Sea builds up a large mech force with his superior economy, and Stork's army stands no chance. Knowing this, stork recalls Sea's main, but Sea continues to push towards Stork's main. Sea defends the recall with his newly produced units. Stork manages to clear out Sea's army after a few minutes, but Sea already has another, even bigger army built up. Sea simply rolls over Stork's units and achieves his 18th win in a row in MST.
4. Group 5 Losers Match: s2 vs Flying
+ Show Spoiler +
Flying starts at 1 o'clock and s2 starts at 7 o'clock on Match Point. Flying gets nexus before forge against s2's overpool. Flying manages to defend without receiving any damage, and the game changes to a standard game with Flying having a slight advantage. s2 continues to get 5 hatcheries after his spire, and Flying gets corsairs and zealot speed along with +1 melee attack. When his zealot leg finishes, Flying pressures 11 o'clock, but pulls back without doing any damage. However, it stalled enough time for him to secure his mineral only expansion.
s2 adds a 6th hatchery at his 3rd expansions and makes a large amount of hydralisks. Flying uses his zealots to take some hits and kills a large amount of overlords with his corsairs. He pulls back without losing that many zealots, and stalls even more time for him to get enough units against 6 hatchery hydralisks. s2 gets a hive, still not expanding. Flying drops 3 zealots and 1 templar, getting 12 kills with a storm. He also breaks the small lurker contain above his mineral only expansion.
s2 finally takes his mineral only expansion and Flying attacks 11 o'clock with his army. The resulting fight lasts over 2 minutes, but s2 manages to barely defend. He then quickly attacks 5 o'clock, but Flying manages to defend before losing his nexus. s2 tries a drop in Flying's main, but corsairs kill most of the overlords before they can drop. s2 takes 12 o'clock and avoids a head on fight with Flying's army, only using defilers and zerglings to harass, with little success.
Together, those dark templars have almost 30 kills
Flying attempts to take 6 o'clock, but a quick drop from s2 kills it as soon as it finishes. Flying responds by attacking 12 o'clock, but loses 5 o'clock in the process. Now both players are down to their mineral only expansion, with similar army strength. s2 takes 6 o'clock and Flying takes 12, but s2 delays 12 by forcing Flying to cancel it once. Flying sends 2 dark templars to 6 o'clock and kills a significant number of units, but fails to kill the hatchery. Flying drops archon and two templars at 6 to see if he can kill the hatchery, but fails to do so. He tries it again, but it gets intercepted this time. Because he wasted units in drops that failed, Flying does not have enough army to defend 12, and is forced to GG.
s2 adds a 6th hatchery at his 3rd expansions and makes a large amount of hydralisks. Flying uses his zealots to take some hits and kills a large amount of overlords with his corsairs. He pulls back without losing that many zealots, and stalls even more time for him to get enough units against 6 hatchery hydralisks. s2 gets a hive, still not expanding. Flying drops 3 zealots and 1 templar, getting 12 kills with a storm. He also breaks the small lurker contain above his mineral only expansion.
s2 finally takes his mineral only expansion and Flying attacks 11 o'clock with his army. The resulting fight lasts over 2 minutes, but s2 manages to barely defend. He then quickly attacks 5 o'clock, but Flying manages to defend before losing his nexus. s2 tries a drop in Flying's main, but corsairs kill most of the overlords before they can drop. s2 takes 12 o'clock and avoids a head on fight with Flying's army, only using defilers and zerglings to harass, with little success.
Together, those dark templars have almost 30 kills
Flying attempts to take 6 o'clock, but a quick drop from s2 kills it as soon as it finishes. Flying responds by attacking 12 o'clock, but loses 5 o'clock in the process. Now both players are down to their mineral only expansion, with similar army strength. s2 takes 6 o'clock and Flying takes 12, but s2 delays 12 by forcing Flying to cancel it once. Flying sends 2 dark templars to 6 o'clock and kills a significant number of units, but fails to kill the hatchery. Flying drops archon and two templars at 6 to see if he can kill the hatchery, but fails to do so. He tries it again, but it gets intercepted this time. Because he wasted units in drops that failed, Flying does not have enough army to defend 12, and is forced to GG.
5. Group 6 Winners Match: Snow vs Fantasy
+ Show Spoiler +
Snow starts at 7 o'clock and Fantasy starts at 1 o'clock on Match Point. Both players opt for standard builds. Snow techs after his first gateway, and Fantasy expands after one factory. Snow builds a proxy robotics facility at 12 o'clock, and pressures with two dragoons. Fantasy sees that Snow doesn't have an expansion, and looks for anything suspicious. Fantasy scouts the proxy robotics, and builds turrets all around his main. Snow manages to find an opening and kills a lot of Fantasy's SCV's.
Snow finds an opening even after his proxy got scouted!
Snow changes his strategy and takes both his natural and the 6 o'clock expansion. Snow acts like he is about to take the mineral only expansion by showing the probe to mines, and Fantasy falls for it. He does not scan 6 o'clock expansion and is happy by just expanding to his mineral only expansion, thinking he is ahead economically. The game turns into a macro game, and fantasy pushes out while taking 5 o'clock. Snow also takes 11 o'clock, and defends against vulture harassment.
Fantasy still thinks he has the same expansions as Snow, and simply sieges up at the center. Snow finally loses his first and only reaver after getting 30 kills. Fantasy continues to advance slowly, but Snow has a very strong economy and a large number of gateways. Snow tries to harass 5 o'clock with zealots, but fails. Fantasy finally discovers 6 o'clock and attacks it. Snow takes this time to recall Fantasy's main while taking 12 o'clock. Snow gets a second recall, this time taking a large portion of his army and killing a lot of Fantasy's supply depots. When Fantasy pulls back to defend, Snow attacks 6 o'clock and kills it. He also harasses 5 o'clock. When Fantasy finally thinks he has breathing room he reveals the carriers he built up. Fantasy only has 3 goliaths, and the carriers kill off the tanks while Snow's ground force kills 5 o'clock. Fantasy now has not enough resources to face Snow's carriers and GG's. Snow shows why he's so good at PvT and adds Fantasy to the list of Terran aces he has destroyed.
Snow finds an opening even after his proxy got scouted!
Snow changes his strategy and takes both his natural and the 6 o'clock expansion. Snow acts like he is about to take the mineral only expansion by showing the probe to mines, and Fantasy falls for it. He does not scan 6 o'clock expansion and is happy by just expanding to his mineral only expansion, thinking he is ahead economically. The game turns into a macro game, and fantasy pushes out while taking 5 o'clock. Snow also takes 11 o'clock, and defends against vulture harassment.
Fantasy still thinks he has the same expansions as Snow, and simply sieges up at the center. Snow finally loses his first and only reaver after getting 30 kills. Fantasy continues to advance slowly, but Snow has a very strong economy and a large number of gateways. Snow tries to harass 5 o'clock with zealots, but fails. Fantasy finally discovers 6 o'clock and attacks it. Snow takes this time to recall Fantasy's main while taking 12 o'clock. Snow gets a second recall, this time taking a large portion of his army and killing a lot of Fantasy's supply depots. When Fantasy pulls back to defend, Snow attacks 6 o'clock and kills it. He also harasses 5 o'clock. When Fantasy finally thinks he has breathing room he reveals the carriers he built up. Fantasy only has 3 goliaths, and the carriers kill off the tanks while Snow's ground force kills 5 o'clock. Fantasy now has not enough resources to face Snow's carriers and GG's. Snow shows why he's so good at PvT and adds Fantasy to the list of Terran aces he has destroyed.
6. Group 8 Set 1: JangBi vs Modesty
+ Show Spoiler +
Jangbi starts at 1 o'clock and Modesty starts at 5 o'clock on Fighting Spirit. Jangbi builds his nexus before his cannons, but Modesty fails to do any damage with overpool expansion. Modesty takes a 3rd expansion at 6 o'clock and kills Jangbi's scouting probe. Jangbi gets stargate and citadel of adun, and modesty gets 4th and 5th hatcheries after his spire. Modesty makes a few mutalisks first to defend against speedlots, and forces Jangbi to make archons. Jangbi pressures with corsairs, archons, and zealots, but hydralisks pop out at the perfect timing to defend.
Modesty continues to pump hydralisks out of 6 hatcheries, and Jangbi tries to take the 3 o'clock expansion. Modesty uses his mutalisks to harass and attacks with his hydralisks while sniping high templars. Jangbi microes well even without high templars and defends, but Modesty continues to pump hydralisks and pressuring Jangbi. Modesty mixes in a few lurkers and one again attacks Jangbi's natural. Jangbi loses a lot of his army but defends without losing his expansions.
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Jangbi distracts Modesty with his zealots and pushes out to the center with a +3 attack army. Modesty gathers up a very large army for a final attack, but well placed storms eliminate his hydra heavy army and Jangbi finishes Modesty off with his better economy and upgrades.
Modesty continues to pump hydralisks out of 6 hatcheries, and Jangbi tries to take the 3 o'clock expansion. Modesty uses his mutalisks to harass and attacks with his hydralisks while sniping high templars. Jangbi microes well even without high templars and defends, but Modesty continues to pump hydralisks and pressuring Jangbi. Modesty mixes in a few lurkers and one again attacks Jangbi's natural. Jangbi loses a lot of his army but defends without losing his expansions.
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Jangbi distracts Modesty with his zealots and pushes out to the center with a +3 attack army. Modesty gathers up a very large army for a final attack, but well placed storms eliminate his hydra heavy army and Jangbi finishes Modesty off with his better economy and upgrades.
7. Group 9 Losers Match: GuemChi vs Princess
+ Show Spoiler +
Guemchi starts at 1 o'clock and Princess starts at 7 o'clock on Match Point. Guemchi gets forge first, then nexus, while Princess goes overpool expansion. Princess takes another expansion at 11 o'clock. He continues to get 4th and 5th hatchery after spire and Guemchi also gets stargate and citadel of adun. Princess gets a quick 2nd gas at his 11 o'clock expansion and starts producing mutalisks.
Princess attacks with 6 mutalisks and scourges and kills most of Guemchi's corsairs. He also kills most of Guemchi's probes in his main, but Guemchi also kills a lot of Princess's drones with his zealots. Guemchi finally drives the mutalisks away with his archon, but he has taken a significant damage. Princess changes his tech and starts producing a lot of hydralisks. Princess adds a 6th hatchery to produce a large amount of units. Guemchi takes his mineral only expansion while getting a lot of high templars to fight against a lot of hydralisks.
Guemchi attacks 11 o'clock but lurkers drive his units away. Princess gets defilers and expands to his mineral only expansion. Guemchi and Princess drop each others main, but they are both easily defended. Guemchi expands to 5 o'clock, and Princess fails to harass it. Princess uses plague all over Guemchi's zealots and corsairs.
Today is a very bad day for drones...
Princess continues to use plague one after another, but fails to kill the army. Guemchi kills the 12 o'clock expansion while preparing to take 6 o'clock. Princess is now making ultralisks and uses zerglings to stop 6 o'clock expansion. Two storms from Guemchi kills all of Princess's drones in his main, but Princess kills Guemchi's 5 o'clock expansion, once again using plagues all over Guemchi's units. Guemchi takes 12 o'clock expansion, but loses his mineral only expansion. Princess uses even more plagues on reavers and zealots. He even uses plague on a pure archon army.
That 31 kill dark templar survived to see the end of the game.
Princess tries to take 6 o'clock but a dark templar forces him to cancel, but he also pushes 12 o'clock. Guemchi is barely mining now, and Princess takes 12 o'clock for himself. Guemchi takes 5 o'clock expansion just as his mineral expansion is mined out. Princess drops Guemchi's main and kills all of the buildings. Princess saves the units by bringing them back out after killing Guemchi's main. Princess attacks 5 o'clock, but is driven back by archons and reavers. Princess gathers all of his army scattered around and attacks 5 o'clock, and this time, finishes it off. Guemchi, with no expansions or army, is forced to GG.
Princess attacks with 6 mutalisks and scourges and kills most of Guemchi's corsairs. He also kills most of Guemchi's probes in his main, but Guemchi also kills a lot of Princess's drones with his zealots. Guemchi finally drives the mutalisks away with his archon, but he has taken a significant damage. Princess changes his tech and starts producing a lot of hydralisks. Princess adds a 6th hatchery to produce a large amount of units. Guemchi takes his mineral only expansion while getting a lot of high templars to fight against a lot of hydralisks.
Guemchi attacks 11 o'clock but lurkers drive his units away. Princess gets defilers and expands to his mineral only expansion. Guemchi and Princess drop each others main, but they are both easily defended. Guemchi expands to 5 o'clock, and Princess fails to harass it. Princess uses plague all over Guemchi's zealots and corsairs.
Today is a very bad day for drones...
Princess continues to use plague one after another, but fails to kill the army. Guemchi kills the 12 o'clock expansion while preparing to take 6 o'clock. Princess is now making ultralisks and uses zerglings to stop 6 o'clock expansion. Two storms from Guemchi kills all of Princess's drones in his main, but Princess kills Guemchi's 5 o'clock expansion, once again using plagues all over Guemchi's units. Guemchi takes 12 o'clock expansion, but loses his mineral only expansion. Princess uses even more plagues on reavers and zealots. He even uses plague on a pure archon army.
That 31 kill dark templar survived to see the end of the game.
Princess tries to take 6 o'clock but a dark templar forces him to cancel, but he also pushes 12 o'clock. Guemchi is barely mining now, and Princess takes 12 o'clock for himself. Guemchi takes 5 o'clock expansion just as his mineral expansion is mined out. Princess drops Guemchi's main and kills all of the buildings. Princess saves the units by bringing them back out after killing Guemchi's main. Princess attacks 5 o'clock, but is driven back by archons and reavers. Princess gathers all of his army scattered around and attacks 5 o'clock, and this time, finishes it off. Guemchi, with no expansions or army, is forced to GG.
8. Group 10 Set 1: Bisu vs 815
+ Show Spoiler +
Bisu starts at 11 o'clock while 815 starts at 5 o'clock on Fighting Spirit. 815 goes for an overpool expansion, but Bisu, seeing that they are cross position, gets the nexus and gateway before cannons. He even uses two zealots to harass 815. Because he got his gateway before the cannons, and because he harassed very well, 815's 4th and 5th hatcheries come at a much later time than they are supposed to.
815 gets a quick queen's nest even before his two hatcheries finish. Bisu attacks with his speed zealots, but a good drone drill kills them off right before +1 attack finishes. 815 only makes Zerglings as his hive finishes, and uses burrow to delay Bisu's 3rd timing. Bisu drops 2 dark templars in 815's main and uses his corsairs to kill off all the overlords. Bisu kills off a lot of zerglings and spire before his dark templars are driven off, and even drops 7 o'clock and cancels the expansion.
Bisu kills off the overlords with his corsairs and brings back his dark templars and brings down 815's hive's health, but fails to kill it. 815 responds by sending all his zerglings to 12 o'clock, but only manages to kill cannons. 815 uses all the gas he built up to make a large amount of ultralisks, and Bisu gets reavers in response. The two armies meet at the center and 815 is forced to pull back because of dark templars and reavers. 815 attacks 12 o'clock with ultralisks and zerglings but fails to kill the nexus. Bisu tries to take 9 o'clock but the nexus is cancelled by zerglings.
The large fights are the best part of PvZ!
Bisu rebuilds 9 o'clock and uses dark templars to kill 7 o'clock main expansion. He defends 12 o'clock once again, and attacks 3 o'clock. 815 kills Bisu's natural, but all the resources were already mined out. When Bisu attacks 7 o'clock natural expansion with his main army, 815 kills Bisu's main with his. 815 has a large army with over 1 control group of ultralisks, but he is out of resources. Bisu comes out on top in the final fight because of the reavers, and 815 is forced to GG.
815 gets a quick queen's nest even before his two hatcheries finish. Bisu attacks with his speed zealots, but a good drone drill kills them off right before +1 attack finishes. 815 only makes Zerglings as his hive finishes, and uses burrow to delay Bisu's 3rd timing. Bisu drops 2 dark templars in 815's main and uses his corsairs to kill off all the overlords. Bisu kills off a lot of zerglings and spire before his dark templars are driven off, and even drops 7 o'clock and cancels the expansion.
Bisu kills off the overlords with his corsairs and brings back his dark templars and brings down 815's hive's health, but fails to kill it. 815 responds by sending all his zerglings to 12 o'clock, but only manages to kill cannons. 815 uses all the gas he built up to make a large amount of ultralisks, and Bisu gets reavers in response. The two armies meet at the center and 815 is forced to pull back because of dark templars and reavers. 815 attacks 12 o'clock with ultralisks and zerglings but fails to kill the nexus. Bisu tries to take 9 o'clock but the nexus is cancelled by zerglings.
The large fights are the best part of PvZ!
Bisu rebuilds 9 o'clock and uses dark templars to kill 7 o'clock main expansion. He defends 12 o'clock once again, and attacks 3 o'clock. 815 kills Bisu's natural, but all the resources were already mined out. When Bisu attacks 7 o'clock natural expansion with his main army, 815 kills Bisu's main with his. 815 has a large army with over 1 control group of ultralisks, but he is out of resources. Bisu comes out on top in the final fight because of the reavers, and 815 is forced to GG.
9. Group 11 Winners Match: Tyson vs hero
+ Show Spoiler +
Tyson starts at 1 o'clock and hero starts at 7 o'clock on Match Point. Tyson goes 12 nexus before forge, and Hero goes overpool expansion. Hero also gets a 3rd expansion at 11 o'clock. Tyson gets stargate and citadel and Hero adds 2 more hatcheries after his spire. Tyson attacks 11 o'clock as soon as his zealot speed finishes, and manages to kill a good number of hydralisks before pulling back.
Tyson's harassment is too much for Hero to handle!
Tyson's first dark templar is forced back by an overlord and a few hydralisks, but that same dark templar is dropped in Hero's main and 14 drone kills. Thanks to that dark templar, Tyson is able to get a good army composition and also take his mineral only expansion. Tyson drops hero's natural with couple of zealots and a high templar, and kills more drones. Tyson pushes towards 11 o'clock and kills most of Hero's army with good storms. With reinforcements, Tyson pushes all the way to Hero's natural and finishes the game perfectly.
Tyson's harassment is too much for Hero to handle!
Tyson's first dark templar is forced back by an overlord and a few hydralisks, but that same dark templar is dropped in Hero's main and 14 drone kills. Thanks to that dark templar, Tyson is able to get a good army composition and also take his mineral only expansion. Tyson drops hero's natural with couple of zealots and a high templar, and kills more drones. Tyson pushes towards 11 o'clock and kills most of Hero's army with good storms. With reinforcements, Tyson pushes all the way to Hero's natural and finishes the game perfectly.
10. Group 12 Final Match: Shuttle vs Juni
+ Show Spoiler +
Shuttle starts at 9 o'clock and Juni starts at 3 o'clock on Triathlon. Shuttle goes for the standard 1 gate expand for this map, and Juni goes 12 hatchery 11 pool, then gets an early gas for 2 hatchery mutalisk. Juni picks 6 o'clock to make his 3rd hatchery, which is an unusual choice in this map. Juni also takes the expansion inside his main while only getting scourges. Shuttle is forced to make cannons in his main to prepare against his mutalisk.
Shuttle takes his natural expansion and tries to pressure with his zealots, but mutalisks drive them back. Shuttle gets a second stargate and +1 air attack to prepare against mutalisks, and Juni continues to pump mutalisks and scourges. Juni attacks Shuttle's in base expansion and kills the nexus and a lot of corsairs. Juni also gets a queen's nest to prepare for hive tech.
Shuttle takes a 3rd expansion at 10 o'clock while trying to harass with dark templars with no success. Shuttle stops making corsairs and starts getting ground forces to fight against the mutalisk heavy army. Juni adds lurkers to improve his ground defense and gets queens for ensnare and parasite. Shuttle also takes the mineral only expansion near his natural to build up a strong army for a timing push.
Not your typical ZvP fight..
Shuttle attacks Juni's natural with a large ground army and Juni tries to stall using ensnare while getting devourers and guardians. Instead of attacking a well defended natural, Shuttle storms the eggs leading to 6 o'clock expansion. Juni panics for a little, but defends using devourers, guardians, and ensnare. However, Shuttle already has built up another army using his good economy, and this time, Shuttle finishes off 6 o'clock. Devourers are now useless because there are no corsairs, and guardians aren't enough to defend. Ultralisks pop out just in time to defend the natural, but Shuttle's 12 o'clock is now running. Juni's drops have no effect and Shuttle's next army is able to kill the 2 o'clock expansion and finish off the game.
Shuttle takes his natural expansion and tries to pressure with his zealots, but mutalisks drive them back. Shuttle gets a second stargate and +1 air attack to prepare against mutalisks, and Juni continues to pump mutalisks and scourges. Juni attacks Shuttle's in base expansion and kills the nexus and a lot of corsairs. Juni also gets a queen's nest to prepare for hive tech.
Shuttle takes a 3rd expansion at 10 o'clock while trying to harass with dark templars with no success. Shuttle stops making corsairs and starts getting ground forces to fight against the mutalisk heavy army. Juni adds lurkers to improve his ground defense and gets queens for ensnare and parasite. Shuttle also takes the mineral only expansion near his natural to build up a strong army for a timing push.
Not your typical ZvP fight..
Shuttle attacks Juni's natural with a large ground army and Juni tries to stall using ensnare while getting devourers and guardians. Instead of attacking a well defended natural, Shuttle storms the eggs leading to 6 o'clock expansion. Juni panics for a little, but defends using devourers, guardians, and ensnare. However, Shuttle already has built up another army using his good economy, and this time, Shuttle finishes off 6 o'clock. Devourers are now useless because there are no corsairs, and guardians aren't enough to defend. Ultralisks pop out just in time to defend the natural, but Shuttle's 12 o'clock is now running. Juni's drops have no effect and Shuttle's next army is able to kill the 2 o'clock expansion and finish off the game.
sexiness by disciple.
There have definitely been some interesting group ceremonies, and this one is no exception. Between the side-splitting ceremonies that some progamers perform and the grudge/revenge picks that seem to always pop up every year, there's always hilarity to be found in the Selection process. Bisu attempted to dance, ZerO the cutie pie had ilikestacraft's favourite song played for him as he walked in, oh and did anybody catch Action's theme song?
Don't you just love my MSPaint skills?
Also Waxangel informs me the real reason why this song was played, but I still like this picture >.<
There were the inane ceremonies, and there were the serious ones, coming from the progamers that always bring a lot of gravitas to the stage. Jaedong, being the immense baller he is, walked on stage wearing his five Starleague badges, and Flash marched in as a champion should. Really, however, is just silly, and SKT zergs like sniffing each others' hands. However, one ceremony topped them all, brought to us by our favourite useless Pokemon, Magikarp.
I believe this sums up everything well enough.
Some of the revenge choices were entertaining and tasty, and there were almost some amazing groups of death, TL's favourite showdowns to watch. There was dodging, there was bluffing. EffOrt shocked the crowd by first walking in front of Group B, Jaedong's territory, and then Group A, the domain of Flash, a fake out that was easily just as funny as what he did during the KT-CJ Round 4 Ace match, where he pretended to stand up but Snow was sent out instead. Of course, then Flash has to actually turn around and pick EffOrt... guess who wants revenge! In other grudge picks, Hydra moved Jaedong to his group, wanting a little bit of payback for Hana Daetoo's Ro16. Picks and counterpicks continued, some people stalled, and after a while, we were left with some frightening groups. One contained Flash, EffOrt, Bisu, and Sea, though luckily groups like that did not become realities. Some people were happy about this last-minute balancing, others not so much. Poor sKyHigh was initially in heaven, being in a group with all Terrans... now he's with Jaedong, another Zerg, and some Protoss. Though in the end, most groups ended up balanced well enough anyway, at least according to TL's popular opinion, and here are the 8 groups that will compete for seats to the Round of 16:
Chapter 2
by flamewheel
by flamewheel
M stands in the jet boat dock at the bottom of the boat, tapping his foot. The eight VIPs with him are milling around, too nervous to talk to one another. As M’s bodyguards begin herding each of them onto a separate boat, the other guests start trickling in. They start joining the first eight, sitting four to each vessel in total. Soon, all twenty-four have arrived, and the boats prepare to depart…
With just one little disturbance. Taeyang sprints down the corridor outside the dock. He is running at full speed, for he has to warn his companions. He gets right outside the door, and attempts to get inside, but is blocked by one of M’s bodyguards.
M smiles. “Why… you aren’t supposed to be here, now are you.” He motions to the bodyguard at the door. “Remove him, now.” M then presses a button on the wall, and the door begins closing.
As the bodyguard drags Taeyang back down the corridor, Taeyang begins to yell, hoping that the others that have boarded will be able to hear him.
“Guys, guys, stop! There’s something amiss here! Don’t—“
And then the door is closed, and the rest of Taeyang’s warning goes unheard.
However, the rest of the progamers have already gotten inside the jet boats, thus Taeyang’s appearance and subsequent disappearance pass them by. M looks to the boats, and begins speaking loudly. “I will be staying aboard this boat, in order to make sure that the rest of our guests return to home, ah, safely. Do not worry about me—I will be seeing you on the island soon enough. I’ve given my bodyguards all necessary instructions to see you through safely.” Smiling, he then speaks into a handheld radio, ordering the opening of the dock.
The side of the boat opens up, releasing the small jet boats to the ocean. As the boats start speeding off, the power on the cruise ship goes out, and the boat is totally dark.
Though in the darkness, looking back from the insides of the jet boats, some progamers swore that they could still see M’s Cheshire cat grin.
Escape, escape, before it’s too late.
As the smaller boats pull away from the darkened ship, the bodyguards on each boat simultaneously begin talking.
“Alright, listen up you four. The island is still a while away, but it doesn’t hurt to know what’s going to happen now. On this island, there are eight separate docks—one for each of these jet boats. You may be wondering why this is the case, but we assure you it’s—”
One of the progamers at this point on boat five interjected. “…For security’s sake, of course.”
The bodyguard looked slightly miffed at being interrupted. “Yes, for security’s sake. Now, when we reach our dock there will be another split. Two of you will go one way, and two the other, again, for security’s sake. The way we are determining this is the same as we did on the cruise ship. From here on out, there are no more VIPs, no free passes for anybody.
Enter the next room, and begin.”
And so the 32 progamers left started filing into the soundproofed rooms. And after they were all sealed in, far off in the distance, a bright ball of fire lit up the night sky where the cruise ship had been floating on the waters.
Did the rescue boats make it in time?
The guards on deck saw the conflagration go up in the distance; they felt the shockwaves rock the jet boats, even though the explosion had occurred so far away. Unfazed by what they had just seen, they continued onward, piloting their boats toward the distant island.
And so in a few short days, the Bigfile MSL Round of 32 begins. The eight groups will play out over the course of the next few weeks, and sixteen shall move on to the next stage of the tournament. Let me take a moment to go over the groups, and to bring my faildictions to the big leagues. Groups are not in order of play date... since my OCD mind likes things in alphabetical order.
Round of 32 Previews
by flamewheel
by flamewheel
Group A (Thursday, Jul 01 8:00am GMT (GMT+00:00))
OSL Finals, Take Two
Set 1: Flash < Triathlon > Classic
Set 2: EffOrt < Polaris Rhapsody > s2
Winners: Fighting Spirit
Losers: Fighting Spirit
Final Set: Odd-Eye 3
OSL Finals, Take Two
Set 1: Flash < Triathlon > Classic
Set 2: EffOrt < Polaris Rhapsody > s2
Winners: Fighting Spirit
Losers: Fighting Spirit
Final Set: Odd-Eye 3
What's it with Group A and revenge? Hana Daetoo's Group A featured Jaedong bringing BaBy into his group, and that didn't turn out so well. EffOrt, I bet, is just glad right now that there's at least one buffer match between him and Flash. True, Flash's TvT has not been too well as of late, and true, Classic is an "emerging player," but Flash still has an overwhelming edge. He just has to 1rax CC or bunker rush and he'll be fine. On the other side, EffOrt is 12-2 vZ since the overly long OSL tiebreakers, and s2 is still an SKT Zerg. In the end, I'll call for Flash and EffOrt to advance, but it wouldn't be too much of a surprise to see Classic or s2 move on instead. Angry Flash is not as scary as Angrydong, but EffOrt better watch his back.
Don't hate, Hot_Bid.
Group B (Thursday, Jul 01 10:30am GMT (GMT+00:00))
Jaedong and the Unhappy sKyHigh
Set 1: Jaedong < Polaris Rhapsody > Tyson
Set 2: sKyHigh < Fighting Spirit > RorO
Winners: Odd-Eye 3
Losers: Odd-Eye 3
Final Set: Triathlon
Jaedong and the Unhappy sKyHigh
Set 1: Jaedong < Polaris Rhapsody > Tyson
Set 2: sKyHigh < Fighting Spirit > RorO
Winners: Odd-Eye 3
Losers: Odd-Eye 3
Final Set: Triathlon
Poor sKyHigh. Had he kept his all-Terran group, he definitely would have owned his way out 2-0 no doubt. Now he's in trouble. RorO, slayer of anti-teams (though not this round, for some reason) can easily mass muta him to death, and his TvP is atrocious if he runs into Han. Let's not even get started on Jaedong. Still, I like sKyHigh so I think he'll be the player advancing 2-1 from this group, with Jaedong raping unfortunate victims on his way out. Tyson's going to proxy/cheese, calling it now.
Group C (Saturday, Jul 10 8:00am GMT (GMT+00:00))
Bisu's Nightmare on Elm Street
Set 1: Calm < Fighting Spirit > Bisu
Set 2: Action < Odd-Eye 3 > Hydra
Winners: Triathlon
Losers: Triathlon
Final Set: Polaris Rhapsody
Bisu's Nightmare on Elm Street
Set 1: Calm < Fighting Spirit > Bisu
Set 2: Action < Odd-Eye 3 > Hydra
Winners: Triathlon
Losers: Triathlon
Final Set: Polaris Rhapsody
I went back and read last season's Ro32 predictions, and Hydra's group was titled "Poor Hydra," and stated that Hydra and MVP would not advance. Guess what, those were the two that did! Therefore, I'm naturally slightly hesitant about saying something, but I've never cared about being wrong anyway. So let's start with the obvious: Bisu's back! ...But for how long? And in what condition? His recent five game win streak is, yes, impressive, but it's still not indicative that he's playing well. After all, he simply just outmacroed sKyHigh, and RorO played like crap. Even if Bisu were playing at his old level though, he still does not like this group. The last time he was in an all-Zerg group (ZerO, sAviOr, maGma), he got destroyed, and that was at the height of his PvZ. Do Bisu fans believe he can make it through? Of course! I'm not one of them, but I'm still looking for some brilliance out of the old Revolutionist. Maybe it's time for the Bisu Build 2.0, though whatever Bisu does, he's going to have to overcome some pretty ridiculous ZvP standards right now. This group's hard to call, though I think Bisu and Calm will advance, though ZvZs are too hard for me to predict.
Group D (Thursday, Jul 08 8:00am GMT (GMT+00:00))
Frogs, Archons, and the Hyuk Effect
Set 1: free < Odd-Eye 3 > Hyuk
Set 2: HoGiL < Triathlon > fOrGG
Winners: Polaris Rhapsody
Losers: Polaris Rhapsody
Final Set: Fighting Spirit
Frogs, Archons, and the Hyuk Effect
Set 1: free < Odd-Eye 3 > Hyuk
Set 2: HoGiL < Triathlon > fOrGG
Winners: Polaris Rhapsody
Losers: Polaris Rhapsody
Final Set: Fighting Spirit
This is a pretty good group... minus HoGiL. fOrGG the MSL Conqueror (as they displayed his name during the group ceremony) is most known for his TvZ, and HoGiL is known for his less-than-average ZvT. Plus, TvZ imba. On the other side, Hyuk vs free should make for some awesomeness. 200/200 3/3/3 Archon balls? Yes please. Massive amounts of Hyuking? Uh, also yes please! Pretty much this group has HoGiL as deadweight--he's terrible at ZvT and ZvZ, and the only way he could even potentially make a match of it is he runs into free, and even then I'd still say free would walk away from this. Other than that though, this group is pretty hard to call. Overall, I'd say free is the strongest statistically, so he is most likely to walk away, since Hyuk is known for self-imploding. free 2-0, fOrGG 2-1, but you can never tell with that darn Hyuk in there. Hyuk hyuk hyuk hyuk hyuk...
Group E (Thursday, Jul 08 10:30am GMT (GMT+00:00))
Teddy Bears, Optical Flares, Poorly Controlled Shuttles, and Career Once Almost Scuttled
Set 1: Midas < Triathlon > Really
Set 2: Shuttle < Polaris Rhapsody > Violet
Winners: Fighting Spirit
Losers: Fighting Spirit
Final Set: Odd-Eye 3
Teddy Bears, Optical Flares, Poorly Controlled Shuttles, and Career Once Almost Scuttled
Set 1: Midas < Triathlon > Really
Set 2: Shuttle < Polaris Rhapsody > Violet
Winners: Fighting Spirit
Losers: Fighting Spirit
Final Set: Odd-Eye 3
To expound upon the last part, Violet was once one of the worst progamers around. Worse than Jaehoon, worse than BackHo, yes, once worse than... PerfectMan. Violet starting out had one of the lowest ELOs ever, and had considered quitting. Now... well, I wouldn't say he's stellar at anything, but he's 55%. Good enough to be above average! Honestly though, Really is going to go to work on this group, what with his TvT (though Midas is also good at that...) and sexy TvP. I'm thinking Really for 2-0ing this group. Shuttle's baller PvP should take out Violet in the first round, and I'm hoping for Baby Bear to win in the Losers' Match, and between Shuttle and Midas I'm torn, though I want Midas to 2-1 out of this group.
Group F (Saturday, Jul 03 8:00am GMT (GMT+00:00))
Gotengo's Freezer
Set 1: MVP < Polaris Rhapsody > Light
Set 2: Snow < Fighting Spirit > Kal
Winners: Odd-Eye 3
Losers: Odd-Eye 3
Final Set: Triathlon
Gotengo's Freezer
Set 1: MVP < Polaris Rhapsody > Light
Set 2: Snow < Fighting Spirit > Kal
Winners: Odd-Eye 3
Losers: Odd-Eye 3
Final Set: Triathlon
Snow's in heaven, and so is Kal. Light, who originally wanted himself in a group of Zergs (he even chose Jaedong since he was "unsure of his other two matchups") is in a heap of trouble. I'd put him and MVP at even odds right now, though he is definitely not getting away with a win against PvT savant Snow or "He-Who-Every-Time-Almost-Wins-Against-Flash" Kal. After seeing his horrendous fail against Brave in the OSL Ro36 and considering that he lost to freaking PerfectMan in Hana Daetoo, I wouldn't be surprised to see Light have one of the quickest 0-2s out of this group. Oh, also MUCHHHHHHHHHH! ...But yeah, onto MVP. He had a fluke last time in taking out BeSt and Stork (and after he won his game against Flash he was way overhyped) but I don't think he's taking out Kal or Snow. So Kal and Snow are going to advance, and given their current levels of play, Snow for 2-0 and Kal for 2-1.
Group G (Thursday, Jul 15 8:00am GMT (GMT+00:00))
I Sea Zero Great Chins
Set 1: great < Fighting Spirit > Sea
Set 2: ZerO < Odd-Eye 3 > Stats
Winners: Triathlon
Losers: Triathlon
Final Set: Polaris Rhapsody
I Sea Zero Great Chins
Set 1: great < Fighting Spirit > Sea
Set 2: ZerO < Odd-Eye 3 > Stats
Winners: Triathlon
Losers: Triathlon
Final Set: Polaris Rhapsody
Clearly, the words listed above form a misnomer! (If only because Stats has a massively awesome chin) If anything, I would call this the Group of Death. great, this season's anti-team raper, and TL's golden boy Sea are going to have a rematch after Sea bested great in the OSL Ro36. Funnily enough, Sea was in a similar group last year, and 2-0ed his way out. I remember pangshai saying that "whoever 2-0s this group will go deep in this tournament... unless it's Sea." Either way, this ought to be hella sexy. Stats isn't the best at PvZ and doesn't like it much (I mean, who would these days), and ZerO is great at ZvP. I really see the outcome of this group being influenced primarily by who plays in the Winners' and Losers' matches, and it's so hard to call each individual match. If Sea beats great, I'd hope he can beat ZerO for the 2-0, though he would have trouble against Stats, and if that happened ZerO would lose his ZvZ to great and then...
Too hard to call, I'm going to flip some coins. Haters gonna hate.
My coins say Sea and Stats, so that's what I'm liquibetting!
Group H (Thursday, Jul 15 10:30am GMT (GMT+00:00))
Pokemon: Silver Version—Be the Hero
Set 1: HiyA < Odd-Eye 3 > hero
Set 2: Fantasy < Triathlon > JangBi
Winners: Polaris Rhapsody
Losers: Polaris Rhapsody
Final Set: Fighting Spirit
Pokemon: Silver Version—Be the Hero
Set 1: HiyA < Odd-Eye 3 > hero
Set 2: Fantasy < Triathlon > JangBi
Winners: Polaris Rhapsody
Losers: Polaris Rhapsody
Final Set: Fighting Spirit
Hmm in disciple's thread, TL voted this group to be moreso the Group of Death than Group G... but I'm not really seeing it. HiyA should be able to take out Mr. 500-APM hero, since HiyA has some nice TvZ statistics and hero well, does not. On the other side, Fantasy against JangBi is hard to call. JangBi definitely had some of the sickest PvT for a long time, but I have not seen that spark for a long time, and after losing to RuBy, it makes me think fantasy's going to win. fantasy versus HiyA should be good as well, though I think fantasy has a slight edge. Either way, I think fantasy and HiyA will 2-0 and 2-1 out of this group.
This post brought to you by l10f and flamewheel. Next time, we'll have Atrioc back for the full Bigfile MSL coverage team! Special thanks to Saracen, riptide, Harem, disciple, Milkis and pangshai for their help. Sexy banner brought to you by the lovable alffla.
Also thanks to roommate, as usual.
Remember kids, drugs are bad and long posts are good!