EPT
YellOw’s curse, the Legend of the Fall, a Terran’s bid to be the true successor to 
BoxeR and iloveoov, and the 3-year Protoss championship drought, all converged in this game to create a game for the ages. Even watching it now, I still cannot believe it happened. However, to understand exactly how this game was born, we must look back at the history of each player and the OSL.The day was November 1, 2008, and the stage was the Incruit OSL Finals. On that day, Fantasy had a chance to follow the path of Boxer and walk the Royal Road, the Road only the elite players were able to walk. Even with a hidden base in that fifth game, however, he could not walk that road. That day belonged to
Stork, who fulfilled the Legend of the Fall and broke Yellow’s curse on himself and put it on Fantasy at the same time. That curse on Fantasy only compounded when he lost to Jaedong in the Batoo OSL Finals after being up 2-0. It looked as if Fantasy, the Terran that was supposed to be the next in line in the great SKT Terran line of Boxer and iloveoov, was tainted by the curse of Yellow that this house created.![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/gk4WU.jpg)
Which line would he belong to?
Fast forward to January 29, 2011 and the Bacchus OSL Finals. Moments before, he had demolished Stork, the one who stopped him 2 years ago, on the same stage in Gwangju that Flash did back in March 2008. Finally, after 2 years of struggle being tied to Yellow instead of Boxer, he held that championship trophy up high, and gave it a big kiss. He had broken Yellow’s curse on him at last. The OSL Badge and Trophy are testaments to that fact.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/LGPyC.jpg)
The day he dispelled Yellow's Curse from himself.
Fantasy, however, was not yet done. Now that he had broken Yellow’s curse, he next had to walk the path of Boxer. For this, he had to achieve a feat that Boxer did a decade ago: Win two OSLs in a row. Even before the OSL began, he was determined. Even embracing the nickname of “Crown Prince,” he entered this OSL with renewed passion and zeal. And it showed.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/6T9pW.jpg)
The face of passion and zeal.
He absolutely dominated his group, including a win over his teammate
n.Die_soO. He team killed Hyuk…again. Then he reigned supreme over Hydra, clanmate and friend. Each step of the way he showed just how far he had come in his journey as Boxer and Iloveoov’s successor. His play exuded iloveoov’s confidence: confidence in his play and his skill. His games against Hyuk demonstrated his hallmark plays and style. But most of all, in his games against Hydra, he overcame his weaknesses and embraced the Boxer of old. He went through trial by fire to be refined as the Crown Prince. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Zy0u7.jpg)
Killing teammates: a useful talent toi have.
Only one now stood in his way: The Legend of the Fall. It’s the same Legend that humbled Boxer time and time again. Thanks to the Legend, the Golden Mouse forever eluded Boxer’s grasp. For Fantasy to step up and truly shine as the Emperor’s heir, he would have to do what the Emperor couldn’t do: put this Legend to rest once and for all. He banished the curse of Yellow from him on that stage in Gwangju. 8 months later, it would be time for him to banish the Legend of
GARIMTO, Reach, and Anytime forever and kiss that trophy again.![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/4DPNu.jpg)
Kiss it baby, one more time.
He was done. He was out for good. After trying so hard to win 2 MSL Finals in a row and losing, he no longer had the will to carry on. For the next year and a half, Jangbi fell into what is perhaps the deepest slump a progamer could fall into. 35% win rate against Terran, his trademark matchup, in 2010, falling again and again from OSL and MSL, and no longer the force in Proleague he once was in 2008 and 2009. There was no reason to expect him to be any different in 2011.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/h2T6O.jpg)
Jangbi had no such smiles in 2010.
Yet 2011 was different. After Winner’s League, in the booth there was the Jangbi who looked like he came out on the other side of a long, dark tunnel. This Jangbi had a force not seen on his face since 2008. This Jangbi… was winning. Not just winning, but dominating his opponents in style. Jangbi, too, was forged and molded by the 18-month long slump to come out a better player than ever before. As if by fate, the OSL was starting up at just the right time. This OSL was going to be different from before. In June, he went into the preliminaries with confidence, not apprehension.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/vavg9.jpg)
Confident indeed.
BUT, there was a twist. In the prelim finals, he lost to SoO… badly. Normally, this would mean that Jangbi was done for, but thanks to Hogil’s retirement months before, Jangbi had a 2nd chance. He had to go through the wildcard gauntlet and grab that empty spot Hogil left behind. Jangbi of old would’ve just folded up right here and called it a day. However, that was not the Jangbi on that day in June. Blowing through the wildcard tournament, Jangbi clawed his way into the Dual Tournament.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Ak0pq.jpg)
Hogil's spot Jangbi took.
Dual Tournament was a breeze for the new Jangbi, but for the rest of the Protoss race, it was hell.
Bisu couldn’t even participate in it due to losing in the prelims. The rest of Protoss in the Dual Tournament, namely Shuttle, free, Kal, Paralyze, and Tempest, fell out with a whimper. Even in the OSL, Stork, the other Protoss in the OSL, fell out with 3 losses, and even the new Jangbi found himself in a 0-2 hole. No Protoss winner this OSL, either, everyone thought. ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/96lYH.jpg)
In June, this picture looked so silly.
In this darkest of nights, Jangbi shone a light of hope. After forcing a tiebreaker, he beat both Calm and Baby to win the tiebreaker and advance to the next round. Up against Flash, Jangbi shone brighter and triumphed over God. Up against SoO, the player who beat him in the prelim finals, Jangbi exacted sweet, sweet revenge. Each step of the way, Jangbi reflected the image of Reach, the Hero who fulfilled the Legend nearly a decade ago. Reach, too, was one of only two Protosses in 2002 SKY OSL. His teammate, Garimto, like Stork, had also been eliminated from the group stages 0-3. Reach also had to go through tiebreakers to advance. He beat Yellow in the semifinals. Finally, he beat Boxer in the Finals in a shocking upset. His OSL win is what everyone thinks of when referring to the Legend of the Fall.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Hp0PZ.jpg)
Jangbi's reflection in the mirror.
Jangbi was there 9 years ago. He watched his Hero accept the OSL trophy and cry on stage with his headphones on. His turn would come. He had the chance to do what his Hero did. He had the chance to banish Yellow’s curse from him, fulfill the Legend of the Fall, and prove that Protoss can still win in this day and age. Only Fantasy, the descendant of Boxer, stood in his way. Just like his Hero destroyed Boxer, he could destroy Fantasy along with is hopes and dreams. He had the chance to hold that trophy high, the badge on his chest, and kiss it.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Cupqy.jpg)
Would there be a badge on that chest?
Starleague
The OSL was in trouble. The match-fixing scandal, the Kespa-Blizzard fight, and an onslaught of new games contributed to the decline of Brood War in Korea. MBCGame and the MSL were already on their way to nonexistence. Even the most prestigious tournament in the world, the OSL, could not escape the harsh realities of the scene of the day. MyStarleague was just one of many ways that Ongamenet tried to bring fresh blood into the scene and renew it, but nothing worked.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/9MUsc.jpg)
Nope, didn't work.
Sponsors were not lining up out the door, either. Fearing the volatility and the instability of the Brood War scene, many pulled out, and teams folded. They fear them to this day. It was apparent, it seemed, that BW will fade away into distant memories, carried only by those who played and watched it while it lasted.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/aGOT0.jpg)
One of those who pulled out.
In this time filled with despair, a businesswoman named Cho Hyun Min sought to sponsor an OSL once more. Having sponsored Korean Air OSL Seasons 1 and 2, Cho became one of the pillars of support for Korean Esports. Calling it the Jinair Starleague, the catchphrase of Jinair was “the start of a new challenge.” It was apt at that time and place. The OSL, having a rich history that no other tournament could match, had to revise, retool, and step up to the new challenge, environment, and circumstance that it faced. Through this OSL, Ongamenet and the players had to prove that despite all the hits that Brood War took from without and within, it still had the magic that originally made it so big in the first place.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/XoYyZ.jpg)
The face of a pillar of E-sports.
Luckily, they got that chance. This OSL Finals, where all the storylines in Brood War history collided, could be the start of a new beginning for Brood War and for Ongamenet. The fans were excited like never before. The stage was aptly set in the War Memorial of Korea. On that day, all eyes would be focused on that stage where Fantasy and Jangbi would do battle. On that day, everyone would celebrate the legendary game that is Brood War. On that day, fate of the OSL would be decided.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/WQ08c.jpg)
The finals for the ages.
Park Wan Gyu kicked it off by performing his magic on the stage that he begged OGN for. Then the two players entered amidst the roaring cheer of the crowd. Stepping onto the stage, they only heard the crowd get louder. Even when stepping into the soundproof booths and putting the headphones on, they could feel the energy outside. They both knew there could only be one winner. For 4 games, the crowd cheered, the casters screamed their butts off, and Fantasy and Jangbi traded blows. Then, only one game remained in the way of one of them becoming champion, legend, and immortal. In this game we would know whether the Legend would be fulfilled or put to rest. Either Fantasy would be Boxer’s true heir, or Jangbi would break the bonds of Yellow on himself and lead Protoss to victory.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/NrTD0.jpg)
If this is the last time, then might as well party like it is!
Now, that game has been subtitled. Look upon it now, and be in awe and shock once more as we relive that day, that game, that moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMrNZUSAqX8
This took longer than I expected, but finally it's done. This is my first time subbing anything, so pardon me if I made a mistake anywhere.
Special thanks to:
- Kiett for inspiring me to take on this project and finish it.
TLNYers for watching the finals with me live. Watching this with you guys made it even more special.
Teamliquid for being such an awesome place worth posting 2000 times in. You guys are awesome.
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/27PQr.png)
), but it was more than enough to make me fall in love with bw deeply. Bw forever!
