GSL Season One
Code A

Group A & B Recaps

Group C & D Previews

Brackets and standings on Liquipedia

Partial VODs on YouTube

Curious, Ruin, sOs, and Classic advance to Code S on day one.

by lichter and Waxangel

The 2014 GSL year kicked off with Code A and its new format. The new format ended up being one that we had grown familiar with, often called the "GSL Group Format." As brutal as Code A already was in years past, 2014 just made it a bit harsher: two players go up to Code S, while two go back to the hell that is known as Code B.

▲UP: Curious, Ruin ▼DOWN: Sleep, EffOrt

Detailed results from: live report thread.
+ Show Spoiler [Click for detailed Results] +

First in Heaven: ST_Curious and IM_Ruin

Considered by many as an overwhelming favorite in Group B, Curious advanced in first place without much trouble. He made things look easy by going a perfect 4-0, using aggressive tactics to defeat EffOrt and easily fending off Ruin's Protoss trickery. For at least for one more season, it looks like Curious will continue his work as Code S' fearsome gatekeeper.

Curious' Reward: Another season as the Code S Gate Keeper. I guess that's a reward?

When the new ladder maps debuted, Protosses around the world cried foul, "we can't wall off on Daedalus Point!" Well, Ruin showed us how. The last game of the group will be remembered for some time to come, with Ruin using his secret weapon to slay Sleep and make his way to Code S. Aside from the creative offensive wall-in, Ruin's wide variety of builds seemed to be his biggest strength on the night. Ttwo base blink, Sky Toss, Soul Train, DTs – you name it, he tried it. Though he will certainly struggle against more seasoned Code S opponents (Curious swatted aside his all-ins with ease), he'll surely relish the chance to test himself in the toughest tournament in the world.

Ruin's Reward: The chance to use some inexplicable cheese on a Code S player.

Back Down to Hell: CJ_EffOrt and KT_Sleep

Known for his ZvZ in both BW and SC2, EffOrt failed to win in either of his mirror matchups on the night. He looked weak in his loss to Curious, unable to handle the StarTale Zerg's aggression. Though he would win his first game against Sleep in the Loser's Match, two grave over-extensions on offense cost him his chance to reach Code S. He lucked out having to face a group full of Zergs but couldn't capitalize in either series. For shame, EffOrt. For shame.

EffOrt's Penance: Play 100 ZvZs in a row. Ugh.

Ruin'd twice, Sleep's night will be remembered most for losing ZvP on Daedalus Point. The new KT recruit looked sloppy in all of his series, only escaping to the Final Match due to EffOrt's blunders. His runbys and multitasking looked strong, but both his positioning and reading of the game were poor. He repeatedly built and canceled buildings in all three series as it seemed he could never figure out his opponents' true intentions. After a strong showing last season, it's straight back down to Code B for Sleep.

Sleep's Penance: Play in Bronze League until he learns how to handle terrible, terrible, creative cheese.

▲UP: sOs, Classic ▼DOWN: Gumiho, Shine

Detailed results from: live report thread.
+ Show Spoiler [Click for detailed Results] +

Up to Heaven: JinAir_sOs and SKT_Classic

A four game losing streak had many fans worried about sOs' form in the new year, but a strong 4-0 performance in Code A helped alleviate fears that sOs had fallen into a post BlizzCon-slump. sOs showed that Code B player Shine was simply no match for him, crushing him in two straight up games. sOs then proceeded to school Classic in hilarious cheesfest of a winners match, taking game one with proxy gates and game two with a perfect all-in counter to Classic's cannon rush.

sOs' Reward: Getting people off his back for a few days until his next Proleague match.

Classic took his spot in Code S with two series wins against the much diminished Gumiho. The first series was quite easy for Classic as he deftly fended off Gumiho's reaper openers and subsequent drop harassment en route to a 2-0 win. However, Classic had to survive a close call in the return match as he gifted Gumiho a game with a botched blink-stalker attack. Despite that embarrassing loss, Classic was still able regain his composure and take the 2-1 victory with solid play.

Classic's Reward: A 50% chance of cheesing out a huge fan favorite in Code S and earning the hate of StarCraft fans everywhere.

Back Down to Hell: GuMiho and MVP.Shine

Gumiho tried his best to work his harassment heavy style against Classic, but the SKT Protoss refused to show any weaknesses. Unable to get Classic to crack, Gumiho spent most of his time bashing his head up against a brick wall before he was forced to GG. On the bright side, Gumiho did manage to play one of the more entertaining games of the night against Shine, going mech and eventually building a deadly sky-Terran composition. Maybe it's not something we want to see on regular basis, but it ended up being an amusing change of pace game.

Gumiho's Penance: Wipe away our fanboy tears with his towel.

Unfortunately for Shine, it was one of those nights where he didn't get to impress much. He earned style points for taking a map off Gumiho with a nydus-roach all-in, but overall he looked out of his depth against the opposition.

Shine's Penance: Training under Sniper.

Writers: lichter and Waxangel.
Graphics: GomTV, shiroiusagi.
Editor: Waxangel.