FXOpen Invitational Series Day #1

I always believe in starting things off with a bang and FIS will do just that with MKP vs Sase! There is a lot of history between these two players and that will just add to the games we are going to see straight out of the game on our first day of competition. MKP defeating SaSe at CPL to start things off but then SaSe getting a good record vs MKP on ladder. Given that both these players are extremely talented it will be a difficult one to call. SaSe’s PvT is very strong and his practice in Korea has been very easily seen in his performance increase over the past few months. On the other hand MKP has been criticized lately for good micro but lacking decision making skills. Will be put this behind him and claim another FXOpen event victory? He is the two time defending champion! My prediction is MarineKing 2-1 SaSe

Its no secret that I believe brood war pros are going to come and take over the sc2 scene. Well maybe not so dramatically. But as Al Pacino so elegantly said in scarface “I only have 2 things in my life, my word and my balls, and I don’t break them for nobody”.
My obvious prediction for this matchup is going to be oGsFin. I still think he is a top level gamer and I still believe he is code S level. The one thing he does need to do however is stop trying to play someone elses style.
TSL_Polt on the other hand is one of the most intelligent people in the universe. He has good results and has a similar style to oGsFin. Timing attack based with a decent micro, trying to end the game before 18 minute. Although recently Polt has shown that his TvT has improved, I still don’t see it as his greatest attribute.
oGsFin 2-1 TSLPolt

Beastly PvZ from sage on the right.Great recent results from Leenock on the left. I DONT KNOW WHO TO CHOOSE >.<. This one will be too tough to call for many, Sage has shown impressive PvZ for a long time he also knocked leenocks teammate lucky out of GSL. Leenock has shown great preparation for his matches but that does not serve him so well in a tournament such as this.My prediction is FXOLeenock 2-1 NSHoSeoSage

Keen has been playing very well recently and sports a %70 win ratio vs Zerg he has won all of his recent high profile vs Zerg matches. He is definitely the favorite coming into this but you can never count out July his unpredictable style can lead to quick and explosive(literally) games. If Keen shows any weakness early look for July to try and exploit it with early attacks and banelings busts but still Keen is most definitely the favorite going into this. MVPKeen 2-1 STJuly

Choya has always shown strong play vs Terrans even when other Protoss struggled in the matchup, add onto this his surge of success recently and he’s a force to be reckoned with against most Terran players. He has been playing great in the KSL and has shown some good matches. He also tends to do better in non GSL games as the pressure of the GSL seems to overwhelm him at times. The problem is he’s running into a speeding truck in sC, he has been playing extremely well recently making everyone forget any worries about losing skill from his hospitalizations. sC is definitely the favorite going into this but Choya will but up a great fight, in the end my brain says sC and my heart says Choya. I really want to go with my heart on this one but I can’t. MVPsC 2-1 FXOChoya

This one is hard to call just because it comes close to the heart. TheStC has been playing very well recently and definitely has the better TvT record than his opponent; the problem is that is 56% against the 47% of GuMiho. GuMiho has always had struggles versus other terrans but he’s been showing stronger play recently and I love his nickname. Come on he’s “The Towel Terran” how badass is that? This should be a close match I’m expecting it to go to game three but GuMiho to take it in the end because he has been surging recently. FXOGumiho 2-1 oGsTheStC

Puzzle is a strong Protoss who never seems to get quite enough credit for being as good as he is, and he’s going against a player who is sometimes impossible to gauge. Puzzle is at the disadvantage statistically but BBoongBBoong has only really made appearances in the weekly events recently while Puzzle did manage to take out July in November. This should be a match that goes to game 3 but I think Puzzle has the edge.SlayersPuzzle 2-1 BboongbboongPrime

Another one that’s hard to call just because it’s Nada, he’s another one of those players you can never truly count out. He has the background and experience to really tough it out in situations other players struggle in. Still he hasn’t performed very well at all recently and Ryung seems to be constantly overshadowed by his fellow Terran teammates. Taking down Nada would be a big notch in his belt even if it was expected for him to win. Neither of them sport very good TvT records but I have to put my support behind Ryung for this one Nada’s play really just hasn’t been much to write home about recently..SlayersRyung 2-0 oGsNada