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OSL Ro16 Week 2
12 October 2007
Results
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Sea.Up > Shudder @ Persona
Iris > JulyZerg @ Katrina
DarkElf < Jaedong @ Blue Storm
Nal_Rock < Flash @ Fantasy II
Iris > JulyZerg @ Katrina
DarkElf < Jaedong @ Blue Storm
Nal_Rock < Flash @ Fantasy II
Despite my mediocre Liquibet performance, the second week of the OSL went pretty much as I expected. None of the games were overly interesting, but because of the context, they warrant discussion; it’s the OSL, after all.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of Up vs. Shudder. Up is known as a player who uses clever strategies and build orders to gain an early advantage against his opponent. In this case, however, it was Shudder who gained an early advantage due to his opening, only to have Up completely and utterly dominate him with some of the safest TvT play I’ve ever seen. I can’t even begin to imagine how demoralized Shudder feels. To have, of all people, Up say, “if this kid doesn’t beat me early, he won’t” must feel like a very literal kick to the gonads.
Iris vs. July was an uninspired game overall. Iris showed even sloppier micro than usual, but he made up for it with excellent macro and strong late-game management. July’s risky build has me wondering if Katrina’s 1-4 ZvT deficit is a sign of things to come. July’s play itself was actually pretty strong, but after losing his expansion at seven o’clock, he was fighting an uphill battle.
DarkElf vs. Jaedong was an awe-inspiring performance from Jaedong. And the problem is that, aside from his ill-advised attack on Jaedong’s sunken colonies, DarkElf didn’t play poorly. Against Jaedong, however, one mistake tends to be all it takes.
After Rock vs. Flash, all I could do was shake my head. Despite all the pre-OSL hype for Rock (you people know who you are), he showed just shy of no game feel against Flash. Practically every decision Rock made was the wrong one. Cutting probes early to defend against a two-factory push? Won’t help if you get SCV rushed. Going proxy reaver before singularity charge when there’s a bunker at your natural expansion? A questionable gamble at best. Going carriers when you’re way behind economically and have just lost your reavers? I’ll leave that question rhetorical.
Each game this week had its own degree of “charm.” Iris vs. July was the closest game of the night. Rock vs. Flash was the funniest. Up vs. Shudder was the most ironic. And Jaedong vs. DarkElf was the most one-sided. If I had to recommend only one game, however, it would be Jaedong vs. DarkElf. Much like Bisu vs. GGPlay from last week, the game is an exquisite performance from a true master of the matchup.
Credit for these videos goes, as always, to someone other than me.
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Next week, things get serious. Having played one game each, every player is looking to either secure that vital second win or bring themselves back into contention. Will GGPlay suffer from the dreaded OSL curse, or will he manage to take down the inexperienced Shudder? Will July be able to stop his two-game ZvT losing skid with a win against Light? Having already faced Jaedong and now facing Stork, will DarkElf win a single game this OSL? Will Frozean rebound from his embarrassing defeat against Savior with a win over Flash? These questions, and more, answered below!
Predictions
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Short of an act of the divine, there’s no way that GGPlay will lose to Shudder on a macro-based map like Katrina. GGPlay has proven that he can beat the best of the best in the matchup, and while Shudder is undefeated in televised TvZ, he’s only faced Luxury and Terror[fou].
Zergs are currently 4-1 against Terrans on Blue Storm, and with Light’s macro-based TvZ build orders, he’s vulnerable against an aggressive Zerg like July. Light, however, is playing as well as he ever has. I’m looking forward to this one!
If Stork plays conservatively, he should have no difficulties with DarkElf. If he tries to expand as aggressively as he did in his fateful series against Iris, however, he could find himself in a very different situation. DarkElf and Iris are teammates, after all. And for the record, yes, DarkElf will win a game this OSL; he will beat Nada.
I’m expecting Flash to trounce Frozean. In every Starleague, there are those few people who “don’t belong.” Frozean is just such a person.
Zergs are currently 4-1 against Terrans on Blue Storm, and with Light’s macro-based TvZ build orders, he’s vulnerable against an aggressive Zerg like July. Light, however, is playing as well as he ever has. I’m looking forward to this one!
If Stork plays conservatively, he should have no difficulties with DarkElf. If he tries to expand as aggressively as he did in his fateful series against Iris, however, he could find himself in a very different situation. DarkElf and Iris are teammates, after all. And for the record, yes, DarkElf will win a game this OSL; he will beat Nada.
I’m expecting Flash to trounce Frozean. In every Starleague, there are those few people who “don’t belong.” Frozean is just such a person.
