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OSL: mini hype thread

Forum Index > BW General
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Ideas
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
United States8084 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-05-07 04:21:06
May 07 2012 04:20 GMT
#1
[image loading]


(P)mini has been a progamer since 2010, but he didn’t play his first official match until just last season. Before the season began, STX’s coach told us to expect big things from mini, and although he had a rough start, he is definitely one of the most exciting progamers to watch for this OSL.

His first televised match was in the last STX masters cup, where he defeated snow in a pretty tense PvP. Watching this game can introduce to almost all of mini’s strengths: great micro, strong multitasking, and a fondness for shuttles and reavers. While most protoss players will only make one shuttle and 2 reavers in a PvP, mini is one of the few that is constantly producing these units all game, and not only does he not fear using 2 shuttles at the same time, but seems to prefer it.



The micro


While it may be going too far to consider mini some sort of protégé’ of (P)Kal, it is not hard to believe that at least some of Kal’s strengths have rubbed off on mini while they were on STX together. They have an extremely similar play-style, and both have incredibly strong shuttle-reaver control. Look no further than mini’s first official match last season when he played Free on outsider:



Just like Kal, mini’s shuttles seem to become super-shuttles once they are in red health. Not only does he exhibit great harass skills and maneuverability with his shuttles, but he shows off his control quite a bit at certain points in the game when he constantly juggles his reavers with his shuttle to keep the reavers from dying to storms. Mini utilizes speed shuttles to their fullest, putting them on the harass when he can but also bringing them back to support his main army when needed, or to defend from the other player’s harass.

The cheese

Mini is not afraid to cheese. His only official PvT sees him destroying piano with a proxy gateway complete with in-base shield battery.



But mini also uses other unorthodox strategies. In 2 separate PvZs, mini went for a forge FE followed up by 2-gate zeal pressure, delaying stargate tech to put a lot of pressure on the unsuspecting zerg, forcing them to make a lot of lings instead of drones. It is then followed up with 2 stargates to deal with the inevitable mutas:



while his timing was slightly off vs roro (and he was a bit too careless with his zealots), it worked much better a few months later in the ODT against hyuk:



The PvZ


At first it appeared to me that mini would be known for his PvP, where his superb multitasking and micro would set him apart. Instead it seems that his becoming known as one of the best PvZers in the world. After two close losses to roro and jaedong, mini is on quite a PvZ streak defeating effort, hydra, crazy-hydra, hyuk, and action throughout the proleague, ODT, and OSL qualifiers.

Perhaps because he practices with (Z)Calm all day, mini has shown incredible decision-making against hydra busts and early/mid-game all-ins. Against effort in the OSL prelims, mini barely held effort’s all-in and eventually won the game, with some good multitasking to boot (harassing effort’s main with zealots and defending from effort’s backstabs pretty well).

www.twitch.tv/notyuna/b/313533961?t=91m02s

Mini later defeated crazy-hydra in the group final, beating down a hydra-bust in the final game and entered the ODT where he went 2-0, destroying hyuk and defeating action in arguably the best game of the ODT:



After beautifully defending against action’s mutas and attempted hydra bust, mini goes on the offensive. He attacks action all over the place with corsairs, speed zeals, DTs, and a shuttle.

Group selection is next week, and while we don't know who he will be grouped with, mini has shown that he will be quite a force to reckoned with. His only unknown is his PvT, where he is largely untested. He has only played one PvT officially (a win against piano), and his prelim record is lacking. But then so were his other matchups before this season. Assuming that mini has improved his PvT as much as his other matchups, he will be a contender to take his group no matter who is there, although I bet he will prefer as many zergs as possible

note:
While a lot of our favorite players are already out of this OSL, they have made room for a lot of newcomers. Mini is just one of many fresh faces for this OSL. This very well may be the last OSL, and thus essentially the only chance for so many rookies to ever achieve glory in BW (the only glory that counts). You better believe that mini and the others will be giving it their all this OSL, as it's the only place they can put it all.
Free Palestine
icystorage
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
Jollibee19343 Posts
May 07 2012 04:33 GMT
#2
although he plays similarly like Kal, he will always be inferior the Kal since mini does not possess the reason why Kal is strong. He does not have the Chin.
LiquidDota StaffAre you ready for a Miracle-? We are! The International 2017 Champions!
dRaW
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
Canada5744 Posts
May 07 2012 04:39 GMT
#3
I thought this was like a "small" hype osl thread to get us pumped for osl coming but none the less, was cool to read. Just a note though it's outlier not outsider as you mentioned the map where he played free aka pretty[gm]
I don't need luck, luck is for noobs, good luck to you though
ShadeR
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
Australia7535 Posts
May 07 2012 05:04 GMT
#4
On May 07 2012 13:39 dRaW wrote:
I thought this was like a "small" hype osl thread to get us pumped for osl coming but none the less, was cool to read. Just a note though it's outlier not outsider as you mentioned the map where he played free aka pretty[gm]

Me too. but this is just as good. GJ Ideas.
alffla
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Hong Kong20321 Posts
May 07 2012 05:28 GMT
#5
MINI FIGHTING
Graphicssavior[gm] : What is a “yawn” rape ;; Masumune - It was the year of the pig for those fucking defilers. Chill - A clinic you say? okum: SC without Korean yelling is like porn without sex. konamix: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!
Release
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United States4397 Posts
May 07 2012 06:09 GMT
#6
The only way that Mini will ever be close to Kal is if he lets Jaedong kick him in the nuts a few times.
Many times, actually.
☺
SpeaKEaSY
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
United States1070 Posts
May 07 2012 06:15 GMT
#7
On May 07 2012 13:33 icystorage wrote:
although he plays similarly like Kal, he will always be inferior the Kal since mini does not possess the reason why Kal is strong. He does not have the Chin.


Didn't Kal get surgery done on it though?
Aim for perfection, settle for mediocrity - KawaiiRice 2014
Kevinshi3
Profile Blog Joined November 2011
United States148 Posts
May 07 2012 06:24 GMT
#8
On May 07 2012 15:15 SpeaKEaSY wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 07 2012 13:33 icystorage wrote:
although he plays similarly like Kal, he will always be inferior the Kal since mini does not possess the reason why Kal is strong. He does not have the Chin.


Didn't Kal get surgery done on it though?


once a chin, always a chin
yo mamaship so fat it couldn't fit in the expansion
flamewheel
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
FREEAGLELAND26781 Posts
May 07 2012 06:26 GMT
#9
The title got me :D
Writerdamn, i was two days from retirement
Jragon
Profile Joined October 2010
Australia1471 Posts
May 07 2012 06:53 GMT
#10
On May 07 2012 15:26 flamewheel wrote:
The title got me :D


Not me, I'm a big fan of Mini, hope he goes deep. I'm not sure how long his two stargate shenanigans will hold up though, it's hard to see it working out against a Zerg like Zero in BoX.
"Bisu is just too good." - Jaedong (http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=218995) "Bisu hyung's play is just too good" - Flash (http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=225861)
Djabanete
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
United States2786 Posts
May 07 2012 07:03 GMT
#11
On May 07 2012 13:33 icystorage wrote:
although he plays similarly like Kal, he will always be inferior the Kal since mini does not possess the reason why Kal is strong. He does not have the Chin.

That's where you're wrong. Kal's greatest strength is his smugness, and Mini has that in spades. Mini fighting! (Been a fan of his ever since he beat Effort and Hydra repeatedly.)
May the BeSt man win.
Zyferous
Profile Joined September 2010
United States270 Posts
Last Edited: 2012-05-08 02:42:23
May 08 2012 02:41 GMT
#12
On May 07 2012 15:15 SpeaKEaSY wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 07 2012 13:33 icystorage wrote:
although he plays similarly like (P)Kal, he will (T)Always be inferior the (P)Kal since (P)mini does not possess the (Z)ReasoN why (P)Kal is strong. He does not have the Chin.


Didn't (P)Kal get surgery done on it though?


That was (P)Stats, not (P)Kal I think
Jaedong forever.
Xiphos
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
Canada7507 Posts
May 08 2012 02:53 GMT
#13
Aww, but I want Stork to win another Gold....or JangBi. But if it comes down to it, I want the final to be SK vs Mini.
2014 - ᕙ( •̀ل͜•́) ϡ Raise your bows brood warriors! ᕙ( •̀ل͜•́) ϡ
NicksonReyes
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Philippines4431 Posts
May 08 2012 03:21 GMT
#14
I agree that Mini is really similar to Kal, and their only difference is that Kal is huge.

And I thought the group selection is 8th May D: not next week. Someone clarify?
"Start yo" -FlaSh
Ciryandor
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States3735 Posts
May 08 2012 03:24 GMT
#15
I could see him in Ro4, but it's going to take an extremely lucky draw for him, like getting 2 Zs in his group, then a good match in Ro8. If he meets Flash/Fantasy/Stork though, he's screwed.
에일리 and 아이유 <3 - O Captain 박재혁 ・゚✧*:・*゚+..。✧・゚:*・..。 ✧・゚ :・゚* ゜・*:・ ✧・゚:・゚:.。 ✧・゚ SPARKULING ・゜・:・゚✧*:・゚✧。*゚+..。 ✧・゚: ✧・゚:*・゜・:・゚✧*::
iSometric
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
2221 Posts
May 08 2012 04:04 GMT
#16
Mini actually has consistent strats. most of his games. Maybe he's not doing SC2 but full BW? I hope it pays off!
strava.com/athletes/zhaodynasty
Caihead
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
Canada8550 Posts
May 08 2012 04:14 GMT
#17
Mini just needs to avoid strong terrans and he will make it into the Ro8 no problem
"If you're not living in the US or are a US Citizen, please do not tell us how to vote or how you want our country to be governed." - Serpest, American Hero
Caladbolg
Profile Joined March 2011
2855 Posts
May 08 2012 04:28 GMT
#18
On May 08 2012 11:41 Zyferous wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 07 2012 15:15 SpeaKEaSY wrote:
On May 07 2012 13:33 icystorage wrote:
although he plays similarly like (P)Kal, he will (T)Always be inferior the (P)Kal since (P)mini does not possess the (Z)ReasoN why (P)Kal is strong. He does not have the Chin.


Didn't (P)Kal get surgery done on it though?


That was (P)Stats, not (P)Kal I think


Kal also had some chin reduction/adjustment done before Stats got his.

Go mini! Protoss hope!
"I don't like the word prodigy at all. To me prodigy sounds like a person who was 'gifted' all these things rather than a person who earned all these talents by hard training... I must train harder to reach my goal." - Flash
slappy
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
United States1271 Posts
May 08 2012 05:34 GMT
#19
nice post :D I have really enjoyed mini's games as of late. Can't wait to see how he performs this OSL! Although, I do expect either our commander bird-toss to take it, or Flash of course. I just really seriously have a hard time thinking about someone beating both of them in a boX in their current form
jaedong imba
Ciryandor
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States3735 Posts
May 08 2012 06:14 GMT
#20
On May 08 2012 14:34 slappy wrote:
nice post :D I have really enjoyed mini's games as of late. Can't wait to see how he performs this OSL! Although, I do expect either our commander bird-toss to take it, or Flash of course. I just really seriously have a hard time thinking about someone beating both of them in a boX in their current form


*points to Fantasy*
에일리 and 아이유 <3 - O Captain 박재혁 ・゚✧*:・*゚+..。✧・゚:*・..。 ✧・゚ :・゚* ゜・*:・ ✧・゚:・゚:.。 ✧・゚ SPARKULING ・゜・:・゚✧*:・゚✧。*゚+..。 ✧・゚: ✧・゚:*・゜・:・゚✧*::
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