EPT![[image loading]](/staff/heyoka/gsl/WCTLBan.jpg)
Korea vs. The World
by Divinek
Team World
![[image loading]](/staff/Divinek/GSL_WC/worldflag.jpg)
HuK, 
Jinro, 
DIMAGA, mOOnGLaDe, TT1, Sen, White-Ra, MorroWTeam Korea
![[image loading]](/staff/Divinek/GSL_WC/koreaflag.jpg)
MC, NesTea, MVP, July, NaDa, anypro, MarineKing, SanThere was a recent news article where an interesting point was made regarding how "white dudes" compare to Koreans. Until last week, this statement may have been regarded as universally true as far as completed tournaments go. When GOM decided to host a showmatch before their World Championship event, foreigners undoubtedly decided they would show what they have.
In Brood War the reign of the Koreans was unquestioned. To take a game off any progamer was a cause for celebration and immense bragging rights. Anyone who had done so either got lucky or cheesed, or that’s what the community trolls liked to believe. Regardless of the reasons, Koreans have always seemed invincible. They’ve been capable of losing games, but never series, and even NEVER a major tournament.
In SC2 there has been no shortage of hope and determination in the foreign community. Starting fresh, they aim to never let that gap become so large again. Even so, foreigners aren't winning GSL, and they aren’t defeating top level Koreans in big live tournaments. Is this because we aren't bringing the best the world has to offer? Or is it because Korean practice houses really are as unbeatable as everyone makes them out to be? This event marks the beginning of what the world is hoping to show as proof that foreigners really can beat the best Koreans.
![[image loading]](/staff/heyoka/gsl/artosis.jpg)
Artosis gives Cella a piece of his mind
As with any GSL event, this one was casted by our favourite archon. However, Artosis took on the multi-faceted role of coach and caster for this series; hardest working man in ESPORTS? This was such a great choice for team world, as an avid GSL viewer it is hard to miss (especially in foreigner games) that Artosis always tries to identify what any player could have done better in any given situation. From choosing a build on a particular map, to player selection in the team league that he did not get to participate in, seeing Artosis at the helm for the world team gave that extra ounce of potential for a real win against the Koreans.
Let’s see how the world fared.
Day 1
MorroW < Tal'Darim Altar > anypro
Sen < Terminus RE > anypro
Sen < Xel'Naga Caverns > MarineKing
Sen < Metalopolis> San
TT1 < Scrap Station > San
TT1 < Crossfire SE > NaDa
The World 4-2 Korea
MorroW < Tal'Darim Altar > anypro Sen < Terminus RE > anypro Sen < Xel'Naga Caverns > MarineKing Sen < Metalopolis> San TT1 < Scrap Station > San TT1 < Crossfire SE > NaDa The World 4-2 Korea
Some say 4 is twice as much as 2, I simply wish to quantify it as AWESOME. Nobody could have predicted the foreigners would be rolling through this strongly at the end the first day. Without a doubt we have not seen the best Korea has to offer at this point; though the same might be said about The World team. Though any of the Korean team members are far from push overs, it was amazing to see the foreigners come out with such dominance at the end of day 1. Sen and TT1 really played to their potential on the first day, no doubt raising the team morale through the roof. It was astounding to watch them put away players like MarineKing and San. They weren't planning on stopping here, but Korea decided to leave all of its GSL champions for the second match day. The intensity could only increase from here, with better players creating the potential for better games.
Since this is free and anyone can view these games I implore you to do so. As a taste for those who haven't viewed this must watch series, I'll give a recap of my favourite game in hopes to get you hooked.
White-Ra vs MC
White-Ra spawns at 7, with MC at 5, these protoss are close by air. White-Ra goes straight for a robo after his gateway, while MC decides on 4 warpgate into a twilight council. Why leave home without blink stalkers? The first inklings of White-Ra’s superb micro are demonstrated as he runs into MC’s force near the tower, leaving the exchange even despite the initial positioning.
White-Ra is forced into the defensive position of holding his ramp, but that’s not quite what he had in mind. Utilizing the rarely seen warp prism, he drops 2 zealots into the mineral line of MC while warping additional zealots in.
![[image loading]](/staff/Divinek/GSL_WC/whiteramc1.jpg)
MC uses this timing to try and break the ramp of White-Ra. Unfortunately White-Ra misplaces the force field allowing the units of MC to blink and or stream into his base. Fortunately a second immortal pops allowing enough time for the warp prism to fly back and drop the few zealots that made the difference in holding this attack. White-Ra uses every bit of micro he has, continuing to use the warp prism to bypass force fields as he has MC on the retreat. The two scrap back and forth at White-Ra’s ramp while he seems on the brink of defeat if not for his amazing micro against this GSL champion.
Once the dust has settled for a moment, a quick look at the economies tells us White-Ra is in the lead due to MC skimping for his attack. MC shows us some cute micro of his own, if only for scouting; somehow managing to get a blink stalker into and out of White-Ra’s base without losing it.
White-Ra has no patience for these cute tricks, continuing to use the warp prism for zealot drops in MC’s mineral line. Following the tempo and distraction from his aggression White-Ra expands on his 30 supply lead. Once MC tries to follow suit White-Ra bulldozes through the main, his colossi trampling force fields, while the warp prism drops the mineral line yet again.
![[image loading]](/staff/Divinek/GSL_WC/whiteramc2.jpg)
The two time GSL champion has no choice but to tap out.
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He's so manner it blurs his face to taunt
Day 2
TT1 < Crevasse > MC
White-Ra < Shakuras Plateau > MC
White-Ra < Scrap Station > July
HuK < Xel'Naga Caverns > July
mOOnGLaDe < Metalopolis > July
Jinro < Crevasse > July
DIMAGA < Shakuras Plateau > July
DIMAGA < Tal'Darim Altar > IMmvp
DIMAGA < Terminus RE > NesTea
Final score: Koreans win 8-7
TT1 < Crevasse > MC White-Ra < Shakuras Plateau > MC White-Ra < Scrap Station > July HuK < Xel'Naga Caverns > July mOOnGLaDe < Metalopolis > July Jinro < Crevasse > July DIMAGA < Shakuras Plateau > July DIMAGA < Tal'Darim Altar > IMmvp DIMAGA < Terminus RE > NesTea Final score: Koreans win 8-7
The first important thing to note from this second day is that in the game between Dimaga and MVP, there was a technical issue where MVP dropped causing a regame. Thankfully this was in a situation where the winner was unclear and no one was weaseled out of victory. Unfortunately this was a spectacular game that was moments from reaching its deciding battle. Dimaga decided to end the regame rather quickly, perhaps not wanting to tire himself out in another macro-fest.
While July may have lost the most recent GSL finals in a convincing fashion, he demonstrated here how good he normally is under pressure. It seems plausible that without July's hero effort, Korea may have actually lost this series.
Did the foreigners technically win today? No. However, I feel they won on every other possible front. GSL champions were dismantled, fearsome code S players were trounced; this series went to the final game. The Koreans edged this competition out by the skin of their teeth, and they may not be so fortunate next time. Will the foreigners continue closing the gap, or did the winds favour their play on this day? I hope these world championships are continued, so the rest of the world can fully bring it to the Koreans. Hopefully they can pull it to the point where it's not "koreans own white dudes", but instead "dudes own other dudes". Here's looking forward to a future in equality within Starcraft, where the best players will be known more by name than nationality.
![[image loading]](/staff/Divinek/GSL_WC/world.jpg)
