[Reports]ShinHan OGN StarLeague 8-Round

OnGameNet StarLeague Round of 8
Knock-Out Tournament - (GwangJu, South Korea)
OnGameNet StarLeague Round of 8
Knock-Out Tournament - (GwangJu, South Korea)

[R e D]Nada (T, Pantech) > Zergman (Z, Samsung)
GoodFriend (T, KTF) > TheRock[3.33] (P, Pantech)
Anytime[gm] (P, Lecaf) > GoRush (Z, SKT)
midas[gm] (T, SKT) > Iris[gm] (T, CJ)

1st Bracket: NaDa vs. ZergMan, Game 2

NaDa - Red Terran, 5'oclock
Zergman - White Zerg, 11'oclock
Map: Arcadia II

The first game starts with the two players at locations diagonal to each other. NaDa holds the lead in this match, 1:0. He only needs to win once more over the Zerg Cerebrate, ZergMan.

While Zergman hatches two quick expansions (a common strategy for creating 3-hatch hordes of units), NaDa starts to construct a factory a split second after his barracks is completed.

Right as one terran vulture rolls out of the factory assembly line, NaDa's SCV starts to busily construct an expansion command center. Four of Zergman's 'lings hop towards NaDa's base, but they are quickly taken down by the single vulture's deadly grenade launcher. Two zerglings are notified of their brothers' cruel deaths, and quickly turn heels to scamper back to safety. But the merciless vulture's hover-wheels allow it to catch up and strike down the escaping 'lings. Only the presence of a single sunken colony allows Zergman to repell the vulture, but not before NaDa's superb hand speed makes the vulture get an extra grenade shot on the last 'ling for good measure. The hover-bike has an impressive scalp collection of 7 zergling kills.

4 newly created vultures cruise towards the Zerg based with their newly upgraded ion thrusters, speeding past the lone sunken colony, only to meet over 2 dozen angry zerglings, twitching from their speed upgrades, ready to avenge the lives of their brothers. Only 2 vultures make it out alive, biking away from the huge mass of 'lings sprinting towards NaDa's base. NaDa dispatches many zerglings with impressive patrol-control, but there are just too many. Zergman forces NaDa all the way to his ramp, killing off most of the terran's vultures and marines, even inflicting a few SCV casualties.

NaDa switches gears, seeing that mutalisks are being spawned by Zergman. Knowing that he does not have enough marines to defend, he turrets up. Zergman deftly controls a group of mutalisks around the turrets, only to run into a large group of marines. The mutas fly away, but not before killing a few SCVs. Four lurkers stand in the way of NaDa's army, but with one scan, all four lurkers are rifled down by the quick marines within seconds.

The marines head towards Zergman's newly created expansion at 12'oclock, so Zergman creates a small diversion with mutalisks and lings, making enough time to lay down a few sunkens and save the expansion. The four surviving marines reunite with the main terran army, which marches towards Zergman. But a large horde of zerglings and lurkers rush out, stopping the 3 tanks and mass marines dead in their tracks. A dropship heads towards the 12-expansion of Zergman again, a threat that is quickly put down by a group of zerglings. However, moments later, 3 tanks and ~20 marines smashes the 12-expo from the right side. Marines run up and kill off the hatchery seconds before lurkers come in to clean up the mess. At the same time, Zergman's attention is turned towards another dropship-load of marines which decimated a spire and hydralisk den inside of Zergman's main base.

Building a base in the... MIDDLE OF THE MAP?!

Zergman hastily creates another hatch at 12, but a huge terran army supported by 3 tanks pushes him back to his entrance. A nicely placed plague on the marines allows Zergman to massacre the terran army a minute later. But NaDa smells blood and an even LARGER terran force appears. NaDa's confidence is overwhelming at this point, and two factories are constructed OUTSIDE of NaDa's base, in order to bolster the tank support. Four annoying marines kill off the drones at the 12-expansion while the the main terran army knocks on Zergman's main door. Another plague helps Zergman to kill the army, but yet another marine force takes down the hatchery at 12. The zerg is in despair as the hatchery goes down yet a second time: "Aghh, not AGAIN!!?!"

Photo Finish!

Two minutes later, 10 tanks, 2 Science Vessels, and a mass of marine/medics stream towards Zergman's base. Zergman frantically throws everything he has at NaDa's army, plague's 80% of the marines and lays down a dark swarm at his base entrance. But NaDa is unruffled, wanting to end the game once and for all. The marines rush past the dark swarm and erase the zerg forces in his path. NINE tanks roll in (followed by 3 more tanks) and siege, forcing Zergman to his knees.

Zergman GG's after a 23 minute match of epic proportions.
2:0 // NaDa : Zergman

The NaDa of old has returned. The NaDa who was unbeatable if he had one expansion.
===============================================================

2nd Bracket: GoodFriend vs. TheRock[3.33], Game 2

Goodfriend - White Terran, 1'oclock
Rock - Purple Protoss, 7'oclock
Map: Shin Peaks of Baekdu

This game commences on an interesting note: the camera pans to a poster showing Goodfriend cuddling together with Rock. The caption reads in Korean: "StarLeague is merely the vacation of two men (Rock and GF)."

Rock is clearly the man of this interesting relationship, as his scary looking scowl is surely dominant over GoodFriend's innocent-face.

A probe quickly pops into Goodfriend's base, gas rushing almost exactly one minute into the game. While the probe is creating a very annoying scene for the Terran commander, Goodfriend still looks to expand early.

Rock techs towards reavers while warping in an expansion Nexus. Due to the gas-rush, Goodfriend was forced to create marines, so 6 marines make their way down the map. In a surprising move, Goodfriend eliminates the lone zealot and dragoon, creating a bunker with his scouting scv. The Probes are taken off the mineral line to quell this huge threat, but a dragoon pops out just in time. Only one half-dead marine can make it into the bunker. With the help of many probes, the terran threat is stopped.

The reaver loads into a shuttle and heads towards the terran base. But a wraith and tank kill both the shuttle and the reaver before it can do any major damage. Goodfriend aggressively pushes towards Rock's base, and 5 tanks take their position above the protoss expansion. Brave protoss units give up their life, slowly ending the containment. A handful of dragoons finally end the containment. Rock prepares 2-gate carriers, but Goodfriend is determined to end the game quickly. He comes in with a stronger containment, vultures racing to lay down mines before they are caught by the Protoss forces.

Only with the support of two newly formed carriers can Rock end this strong terran push. One turret cuts the life of a carrier down until it is in the red. That brave turret will most likely respawn as a Command Center in the afterlife.

Nearly 20 goliaths clomp towards Rock's base. Four carriers and a small Protoss ground force clash with them, but when the smoke clears, there is only a lone carrier survivor. Seconds later, goliaths catch up to the last carrier and Hellfire Missiles smash through it's shields, bringing it down. A line of tanks end a small Protoss expansion at 5'oclock. Dragoons launch an offensive towards Goodfriend's expansions on the top left corner of the map, but are melted into blue-liquid by a tank-goliath line of defense.

Rock GG's.
1:1 // Goodfriend : TheRock

~~~~~~~
2nd Bracket: GoodFriend vs. TheRock[3.33], Game 3

Goodfriend - Purple Terran, 7'oclock
Rock - Orange Protoss, 4'oclock
Map: Arkanoid

Rock naturally goes for an early Nexus, but Goodfriend surprisingly lays down 3 barracks in quick succession. Are we watching a PvZ?! For Christ's sakes. The marines receive their stimpacks and smash through the Xel'Naga temple, while 2 goons and a zealot stand frozen in fear. All eyes are on the Robotics Facility, waiting for the deadly Reaver to crawl out. But alas! A shuttle flies out. After all of Rock's probes are killed off, a reaver finally comes out, only to be pounced on by the marines.

Poor Reaver...

The marines end the game within 6 minutes. Rock GG's.
2:1 // Goodfriend : TheRock
===============================================================

3rd Bracket: GoRush vs. AnyTime[gm], Game 2

GoRush - Red Zerg, 1'oclock
AnyTime - Orange Protoss, 5'oclock
Map: Tau Cross

AnyTime, the Protoss's shining hope in OSL warps in at 5'oclock, then quickly builds a pylon at his choke, hoping to expand early. However, GoRush is starting on an interesting note, utilizing a 7-pool strategy.

AnyTime scouts in the right direction however, and quickly warps 2 cannons in. Everyone holds their breath as a file of zerglings run down the map. Several probes barely hold as the cannons finish warping in and four half-dead zerglings scamper into the Protoss base. AnyTime immediately cancels one of his two cannons before it can finish warping in order to conserve minerals.

AnyTime's probes finally decide to stop the zerglings hopping around them and surround them, executing two of them with their particle beams. A single zealot chases after the two remaining zerglings. AnyTime sends a Zealot up towards GoRush's base, in order to prevent a comfortable drone-happy production rate. However, the mild threat is quelled by GoRush's lings. GoRush has four hatcheries and will be pumping units at an alarming rate soon if AnyTime does not react soon.

AnyTime, true to his Sasin nature, techs for dark templars. The DT tries to sneak past Gorush's expansion into his defenseless main, but a few hydralisks risk their lives in order to block the invisible assassin. An overlord floating nearby gives vision and the Dark Templar's life is quickly ended. But not wanting it's life to go to waste, the DT takes the life of a drone with it.

AnyTime goes into "Zealot Factory" mode and pushes out with a large group of SpeedLots, only to be repelled by a massive amount of hydras and lurkers. AnyTime uses the zealots to save time for two cannons which are warping in at his 7'oclock expansion. Once the Zerg horde reaches the cannons, it retreats slightly in order to regroup. A control group of hydralisks join together with the main group and smash into the expansion, bringing it down. AnyTime is confined to his main base and is contained by an overwhelming amount of zerg units. Using zealots and storm frantically, AnyTime puts up a good fight, sneaking a small group of zealots and goons out, racing them towards GoRush's base. But they are helplessly trapped by drooling, crazy-eyed hydralisks which quickly spit them to death.

Wow, if I could spit somebody to death, that would be totally sweet. GG!

1:1 // GoRush : AnyTime[gm]

~~~~~~~
3rd Bracket: GoRush vs. AnyTime[gm], Game 3

GoRush - White Zerg, 7'oclock
AnyTime - Orange Protoss, 1'oclock
Map: Shin Peaks of BaekDu

AnyTime looks to take his expansion early on again, making a forge at his entrance. AnyTime's probe stays alive for a few minutes inside of GoRush's base, causing a lot of grief for the Zerg Cerebrate. A hydralisk den goes up for GoRush. The Protoss, smelling something fishy (maybe what zerg smells like), decides to keep sending scouting probes. They are promptly intercepted by hydralisks, but AnyTime will not be fooled. A corsair checks out the scene at the Zerg base and finds the secret Spire. But he is undaunted, seeing the mutalisks as only a minor harrass technique. AnyTime refuses to build cannons next to his minerals, using only a few corsairs and his fast hands to repell the airial threat.

AnyTime's intuition paid off, as his cannon line at his entrance paid off. GoRush finally sends every single unit he has at the cannon line. SpeedZeals slam into the ~30+ hydralisks, pushing them backwards. AnyTime BARELY survives the huge Zerg attack. If Protoss units sweat, they'd be wiping it off right then.

Holy fuck...

Then two storms rip through the carcasses of the remaining hydralisks, while corsairs limit unit production by decimating any Zerg air units. An endless line of zealots sprint as hard as they can up GoRush's ramp and slice through the drones, skewering them with indestructible Psi Blades.

GoRush, shocked at the Protoss's unit production and lust for killing ("Isn't that what I'M supposed to be doing??!"), taps out. GG!!

1:2 // GoRush : AnyTime[gm]
===============================================================

4th Bracket: Iris[gm] vs. Midas[gm], Game 2

Iris - Orange Terran, 7'oclock
Midas - Blue Terran, 4'oclock
Map: Arkanoid

This is a clash of the Terran Giants. The ugly, pimply-faced Iris Giant vs. the cute, smooth-faced Midas Giant.

Cute face decides to spend nearly 10 seconds of his time to rub his cute little nose. What a cutie! ><

Are these boys HACKING each other?!??! They both expand above the chrysallis, while building a barracks next to the expansion, then simultaneously build a supply depot in front of the Xel'Naga Temple, then construct factories at the SAME TIME. Fuckers, I bet they're playing a trick on the commentators and talking to each other. "Okay, Midas? Build your factory on the count of 3: 3, 2, 1... BUILD!!"

Both players opt for double factories and dropships, but then Midas adds two more factories. Both players send dropships towards each other, Midas successfully finding the expansion of Iris and creating some trouble. Iris unloads THREE dropships at Midas's expansion, but THREE dropships of Midas drops immediately on top of Iris's force, wiping it out. Both players drop at each other's expansions once again, razing them both.

However, Midas has one more expansion at 4'oclock. In order to keep that glimmer of hope alive, Midas drops at Iris's 6'oclock expansion, preventing it from being completed. FIVE dropships of Midas drop at Iris's initial expansion yet once again, razing it. It is a nightmare for Iris, as he witnesses 5 dropships unloading at both expansions unceasingly. Five of Iris's own dropships makes a final attack on Midas's initial expansion, but he taps out once he sees Midas's perfect tank defense. GG!!

1:1 // Iris : Midas
~~~~~~~

4th Bracket: Iris[gm] vs. Midas[gm], Game 3

Iris - Brown Terran, 7'oclock
Midas - Orange Terran, 4'oclock
Map: Arcadia II

Both Terran Giants start at the exact same positions as the last game, 7 vs 4. Will this become Midas's lucky matchup?

Cute boy decides to ditch his regular early expansion for a safer Rax-Fact build. But then, he goes for early wraiths. Iris on the other hand, is massing upgraded vultures. Midas finally moves out with a couple wraiths, blocking off Iris's entrance with a barracks and killing off SCVs in the main base.

Midas's superior tank numbers take the middle area, dominating anything that dares come through the center. A vulture raid by Iris is promptly stopped by Midas's wraiths. BUT THEN! Iris brings in two tanks and 3 goliaths BELOW the ridge of Midas's expansion!! Spidermines prevent Midas' tanks from rolling in and killing off Iris's forces easily, but Midas uses his huge tank count to force his way through and kill off the opposition. I bet Cute Boy is thinking : "Take that, Mother fucker!"

Say GG, DAMMIT!!!

Midas promptly walks up to Iris's base, sieging behind the ridge with a huge amount of tanks. But, Iris won't be outmatched by BabyFace: he also sieges outside of Midas's expansion. Three tanks are sieged INSIDE of Iris's ridge. But there are 5 tanks and a goliath of Midas waiting OUTSIDE of Iris's expansion. Iris is probably shocked at how many tanks Midas possesses. Midas grows tired of playing around and places 8 tanks inside of Iris's main base, taking everything out within a 12 tick radius. Iris lifts off every building that he has, while trying to find a weak point with a handful of tanks and goliaths which weren't caught in the massacre at his base.

Midas throws all his units towards Iris's 11'oclock expansion, and Iris GG's before he can witness it's demise.

1:2 // Iris : Midas

This was a match that Midas won with all of his heart. CuteBoy finally flashes his most adorable smile once Iris types "GG" in the final game. I think he is worthy to join the love-pile with GoodFriend and TheRock!

Cutie Midas snuggling up to STX boys.

THE FINAL FOUR!

Note:
I admire Midas for breaking through Iris. It took a lot, but he eventually cut down Iris' INSANE TvT record (10/10) to 10/12. While also raising his own record from 6/10 to 8/12.

In the post-game interview, Midas revealed that he was disappointed in himself for many things, including losing to foreign players at WCG so many times. He came back and practiced hard in order to make it to the Final Four.

[Reports]ShinHan OGN StarLeague 8-Round

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