Starleague Discussion (2/03/07)

Really, what happened to the ZvP king? The strategy GoRush used, though effective in theory, didn't seem like he executed it correctly. It almost seemed like a half-hearted attack. If you want to go 3 hatch mass hydra/ling, then MASS HYDRA LING!!

Perhaps I'm not giving GoRush enough credit... perhaps Much just defended well. But somehow, whenever SiLvEr or Savior decides to do something like this, they seem to have a LOT more units at the same timed attack.

Of course Much's decision to go ranged goons instead of waiting for zealot speed + templars was smart. It was highly effective, and perfect to defend with at that timing. I dunno what's going down with GoRush, but Much played very nicely, both games. It's very unfortunate that he has to meet Savior next round.

I was sorta disappointed this game. Being as the most Zerg favored map for this season, I thought Neo Arkanoid was a sure win for Savior. But instead of opening with the usual builds, he decides to go 3 hatch hydra...

Now against any other build this may have been effective. Maybe Midas was just lucky in his selection of build... though to me it kinda seemed obvious.

Aside from the build order mis-calculation, Savior never fails to show brilliance. I honestly thought the game was over when the first batch of hydras met those marines. But Savior successfully bought time, using buildings and narrow roads to his advantage for a perfect flank, killing Midas's first attack.

But still, his bo was too far behind. There was really no chance after that dropship killed about 10 drones on an already poor-zerg economy. In the end, it all came down to this: Savior tried something different, Midas chosed the perfect counter and played smart, essentially rolling over Savior without being in danger once.

HA!!! In your face Oov! I knew YarnC had good ZvT, but this game was pretty damn amazing. I never really considered Hitch Hiker so imbalanced as most people were making it out to be, despited statistics stating otherwise, I still held on to hope, and YarnC didn't fail me.

YarnC really likes to mess around with Mutalisks against Oov doesn't he? Every time they played Mutas play a big role. His muta control in this game was flawless, and his follow up was excellent too.

Oov had a very nice counter ready, and for a minute I thought YarnC would lose, but he hung in there, using defilers and cliffed lurkers to their best abilities. I'm really starting to like this guy, as long as he starts to prove that his ZvT isn't the only mu he knows how to be good at.

Interesting opening indeed. July opens with a 9 pool fast lair build, and goes straight to mutalisks. He even thought 2 steps ahead, hoping Casy would think he was faking it, when actually he was faking faking it... (wait, what?) Anyways! Some very nice mutalisk harrass (though not as good as YarnC's earlier one) and a brilliant follow up with mass drop.

July simply played very smart each step, adapting to the situation and being careful not to screw up. It seemed like the old god of war is back.

Light has always shown impressive skill. His own teammates give him very high praise, and July even guessed he would win OSL. But there was 1 thing he just couldn't do... and that was win TvTs.

The first game on Longinus 2 was very nicely played. He got the bo advantage, and used it to his full advantage. Every step of the way he was ahead of Hwasin, and couldn't have played it better (though the lack of attacks was kinda boring).

The second game on Blitz was interesting. I notice Light likes to act like Sea sometimes, and decides to try an offensive rax build... which fails. Hwasin defended against the rush very nicely, with almost no damage. Hwasin's decision to go 5 port wraiths was really interesting aswell... very rare to see.

The nice little Wraith scurmishes here and there was interesting to watch, and Hwasin's decision to switch techs once valks were out was right on target. Hwasin simply out-played Light this game, very simple.

Game 3 on RT was highly disappointing. I honestly don't know what Light was thinking. He tries an offensive rax rush again, with the closest possible positions, and successfully blocks his ramp, which was a good start. But his reaction to Hwasin's factory lift was horrible.

He even got very lucky when the first vulture went the wrong way, since Hwasin didn't know where Light was, and had enough time to land his rax next to his supply, blocking the way in... but for some dumbass reason he doesn't, the vulture turn around and drives past the opened gate, and causes havoc, which pretty much wins him the game.

Very poor play by Light, and brilliant by Hwasin. The factory lift against the bunker was genius, and his follow up on wraiths was the perfect choice too. Light, you're one of the few terrans I like, but you really gotta step it up on your TvT.

Oh boy. Ever sicne his game against Savior last week, Justin had really disappointed me. I really wanted Ra to stomp past this guy, and tell him "kid, you ain't got what it takes to play with the big boys, yet".

The game on Desert Fox was very Ra-like. Offensive 4 gate proxies with reaver drop... a generally all-in rush. It was genius, but Justin got lucky with his barracks scouting it. I honestly thought the game was over when Justin saw the gates when they were warping, but Ra somehow still was able to break through.

Once again I was wondering "how could you not block that even after knowing it was coming?". And it was just me, the commentators were saying the same thing. Eventually Justin was able to block it, and the coutner wraiths to kill Ra's probes was smart, as was the preparation for the DT tech. Justin did good to block the rush, but he still could have done better imo.

The comes Longinus 2. Ra, being the Ra, decides to go a little different and try a tripple nexus. Justin decides to play the same game and gets his min-only before moving out, letting ra take his own min only as well. The game moves into a massive macro war, and looking at the number of units, I thought Justin would win.

And the first major battle was just that. Ra played nicely to try and kill the push, but Justin did well also, and successfully pushed in, except he coudln't do anything about those carriers, wich in the end won him the game.

This game was simply a typical TvP macro war game, followed by carriers which eventually win a game that could have been loss. I was releaved that he went carriers instead of arbs, I didn't think they would be ready in time (also since he didn't go templar tech yet).

Last game on Blitz. Wow... what Justin had in mind I really don't know. His answer to the gas rush was somewhat... poor. Instead of some kind of mnm rush or fast expo, he decies to 2 fac... but with a gas rush, that would be kinda hard, no? Ra, on the other hand goes dbl nexus, and had plenty of time for his economy to kick in.

And the result was highly predictable. Ra does nicely to prevent any sort of harrassment, kills the poorly attempt push, counters right away with goon/obs and kills the defence. Justin's last attempt of a tank drop was cute, but laughable. He simply got mowed over by Ra... and really, it wasn't because Ra played amazing, Justin just... I dunno, wasn't very impressive at all.

braQ was never an impressive person for me... I don't know why, I just never liked him that much (didn't hate him either though)... so naturally, I went with GGPlay. The map was hitch hiker, which seemed to be T balanced, except for that fact that the progamers don't think so, and the last two games on here Zerg's won.

braQ's build was brilliant in this game. Using the 2-way to his advantage, he builds an early rax and lifts it over, followed by a 3 rax mnm and a dropship. Really it was difficult what strategy he was going to go. First you think rush, then you think fast tanks, then you think fast vults to harrass, then fast wraiths... but in the end it was a fast drop.

GGPlay's reaction to the rush wasn't that great either. Of course braQ's wraith killing the stray overlord that would have noticed the drop much earlier was very nice by braQ, but GGPlay's ling micro against the rush was pretty poor as well. In general, braQ's strategy was very nice, confusing his opponent till the very end.

This was one of the most fun TvT's I've seen in a while. I usually hate TvTs, especially on Arkanoid... becuase they usually last for about 30 minutes. UpMagiC's tripple command build was better than NaDa, and his decision to go straight to BC's/Tanks seemed to be the perfect choice. He didn't execute it too early either, giving him enough time to get plenty of tanks for any drops, and gradually gathering BCs for the kill. It seemed like the perfect strategy.

But NaDa's counter was just amazing. When UpMagiC started to move out with tanks/BCs, and NaDa only had tanks/gols, it seemed very much that NaDa would eventually lose once yamato starts flying around. NaDa's decision to move in before the BC's really start piling up was perfect. His timing, macro, and decision making was all right on target.

Though it seemed Up's unit mix was the better choice, NaDa's constant macro, and offensive attacks was really something to see (that second attck with mass gols + dropship gols was jaw-dropping).

The game was truly a rare game to watch, and NaDa did very very well against an unorthodox strat that seemed to be highly effective. It was the genius terran once again.

This was the most anticipated game by far. There were much slander for Midas's pick on Savior again... but whatever, what's done was done. Whenever these two play, it's always fun to watch. The last time they played on this match, it was very close, coming down to a very close ling/defiler vs mnm micro game.

It was odd to see Midas not pull a 8 rax or a dbl expo for once. He actually went a normal 2 rax build... His decision to try a 2 rax mmf rush was very bold, and though 3 sunkens with a 4 morphing seemed like a foolish try, his attack, for a second there, seemed like it as going to break it. Savior's reaction with drones, and preventing them from being killed by firebats was nice as well, and did nice to minimize the damage as much as possible.

Ever since that, it was Savior's time to attack. Some very nice mutalisk harrass, and an early third game followed by a quick hive... to me, it was a highly surprising decision. Midas didn't just sit to take the hits either, he breaks through the north buildings, and tries a little counter of his own, and knowing the guards coming, gets 2 port wraiths.

But Savior's decision to mix in a couple of devourers was the perfect counter. With ovies, devours, and scourge, he didn't have much probably for the anti-air, and guard/cracks was more than enough to handle Midas's rines. Midas's rine micro couldn't have been better, but Savior probably would have still. Perhaps if he continued with his attack and tried to empty his base instead would have been more effect. But whatever, what's done is done. Midas is out, and Savior makes it in.

GENIUS!!! SIMPLY GENIUS!
Casy shows a stroke of brilliance with his fake-dble expo move, easily fooling July for a few seconds, which was just enough time for his rush to break through the feeble defence of July's lings+sunken. I'm sure July was kicking himself after that, but Casy's strategy was just so well played, I'm sure every zerg gamer would fall to it the first time.