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Braavos36389 Posts
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It's the OSL Ro8 week 2! Check out the OSL Results and Standings for all you need to know about the Bacchus OSL, brought to you by the Grinq. If you missed Ro8 Day 1, check it out here.
This night is probably the most anticipated and fun evening of every season, rivaled only by PL/OSL/MSL Finals. We have a EIGHT possible matches, unbearable drama, great storylines, and elimination games all in one night.
Group A, Game 2:  Jaedong < Fantasy II >  Flash
Group A, Game 3: Jaedong < Katrina > Flash
With GSI Ro8 in a few days, Flash will have played Jaedong in two Bo3s and one Bo5 in the span of a two weeks. If the MSL Ro8 taught you anything, it would be that Flash definitely has a puncher's chance to advance. Of course he's the underdog, as just about anyone would be against LJD, but he's got the best shot of any T right now (yes, more than Sheis).
Fantasy is a great ZvT map and all signs point to Jaedong taking the win there. If that happens, Game 3 will be possibly the most dramatic game of Bacchus so far. Flash steamrolled Jaedong with a mech build during the MSL Ro8, so will he do the same thing? An OSL semifinal spot is on the line!
Group B, Game 2:  Much < Blue Storm > Bisu
Group B, Game 3: Much < Troy > Bisu
Much has been a one-man wrecking crew lately, but he finds himself down 0-1 to Bisu. This series has a lot of meaning for both players, with Much trying to reach the semifinal for the first time, and Bisu trying to right his career before it begins to spin into the depths. Last week on Katrina, Much's build was far from effective, leading us to wonder how well-prepared he is to fight Bisu on the remaining maps. Whomever wins will face either Flash or Jaedong in the semifinal.
Group C, Game 2: Luxury < Katrina > FrOzean
Group C, Game 3: Luxury < Blue Storm > FrOzean
Luxury has got dynamite in his hands this OSL. After going 3-0 in his group, he utterly destroyed Frozean on Fantasy 2 with nothing but mutalisks. I honestly doubt Frozean has any chance against Luxury on Katrina, but even if he does eke out a win, the third game on Blue Storm is an impassable barrier. Luxury's build on this map is a slight modification of Kwanro's lurkerless fast ultraling build. Considering how cruelly it slaughtered Xellos, Frozean certainly won't fare much better. Don't let his ProLeague Grand Final win fool you. Luxury will get a chance to test his ZvP in the semifinal, provided everything goes according to plan here.
Group D, Game 2: Stork < Troy > BeSt[HyO]
Group D, Game 3: Stork < Fantasy II > BeSt[HyO]
Stork and Best are both very good at PvP. However, during the first game of this series, Stork showed that there is a large difference in the two players' army management and control. Despite being slightly ahead all game, Best's 180 supply army was cut apart by Stork's, and the game was downhill from there. If Best's build mirrors Stork's again on either of the remaining maps, he isn't likely to win. He'll have to have something special prepared, but for some reason I doubt he will. One of these players (read:Stork) will most likely face Luxury in the semifinal, leading to an off clash of weak ZvP against weak PvZ.
+ Show Spoiler +Jaedong > Flash
Jaedong < Flash -- Flash advances to OSL Semis!
Bisu > Much -- Bisu advances to OSL Semis!
Luxury > Frozean -- Luxury advances to OSL Semis!
Best > Stork
Best < Stork -- Stork advances to OSL Semis!
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Braavos36389 Posts
If someone else wants to write something short about any of the other three matches, go ahead, and I'll add it to the OP.
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At first I thought: I liked how you didn't write anything for groups B, C, and D as if only flash vs. jaedong matters, but then I saw your reply. Jaedong and Flash are so good though, their games will be the ones progamers look at when analyzing the TvZ matchup. It's too bad they didn't meet in the finals, otherwise their games would have been among the most memorable of the year. Also, everyone will be watching to see whether jaedong will fall.
I really want Bisu to win, even though I hated him a little when he was unbeatable. That's because a Bisu vs. Jaedong Bo5 will be incredibly awesome, almost as much as the upcoming + Show Spoiler +.
I'm interested in your take on Stork vs. Best. Best had outmacroed Stork until the decisive battle, so do you think Stork is so good that he will be able to win with superior control, even if Best outmacros him every game?
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8751 Posts
I wouldn't be quick to oversimplify the first game between Stork vs Best. In a PvP match like the one they played, both players are looking for opportunities to expand, harrass and attack constantly. Their game really blew my mind because I've been practicing Blue Storm PvP for a while and I've been trying to learn when I have a legitimate opportunity to expand, when I should invest in harrass, when I should shutdown everything else and just pump units, when I should move my army, what unit ratios I should make, etc, and both Best and Stork played PvP so excellently that I was just in amazement of their high level play from start to finish. I wouldn't come to any conclusion about who has better large army PvP control based on two battles from one game and I wouldn't come to any conclusion about who has better macro when macro opportunities are the fruits of a superior strategy.
I'd have to say Stork is still the favorite on a game-to-game basis and Stork is the heavy favorite for the bo3 considering he has won the first game. But I'm just hoping Best will win the 2nd game so I can see an extra PvP game from these PvP masters.
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Valhalla18444 Posts
On February 22 2008 08:52 NonY[rC] wrote:
I wouldn't be quick to oversimplify the first game between Stork vs Best. In a PvP match like the one they played, both players are looking for opportunities to expand, harrass and attack constantly. Their game really blew my mind because I've been practicing Blue Storm PvP for a while and I've been trying to learn when I have a legitimate opportunity to expand, when I should invest in harrass, when I should shutdown everything else and just pump units, when I should move my army, what unit ratios I should make, etc, and both Best and Stork played PvP so excellently that I was just in amazement of their high level play from start to finish. I wouldn't come to any conclusion about who has better large army PvP control based on two battles from one game and I wouldn't come to any conclusion about who has better macro when macro opportunities are the fruits of a superior strategy.
I'd have to say Stork is still the favorite on a game-to-game basis and Stork is the heavy favorite for the bo3 considering he has won the first game. But I'm just hoping Best will win the 2nd game so I can see an extra PvP game from these PvP masters.
their builds were essentially identical until they fought, except Best was 10-20 supply ahead and had his expansions sooner
I mean, if you look at those things to determine who will win, Best should have won that game. But Stork's unit control was far, far better. He just walked over Bests's army.
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3 Lions
United States3705 Posts
jaedong is gonna backdoor rape flash on fantasy 2, and then rape the mech build on katrina
much is gonna win (somehow)
lux is gonna win EZ
stork will win 2-1
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BISU FIGHTING : )
DO NOT DENY US FROM A JAEDONG VS BISU BO5
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Assumung Flash and Frozean lose, when was the last time there were no terrans in an OSL semis(if it has ever happened)?
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United States1865 Posts
GUYS
THERE IS A VERY VERY HUGE DILEMNA WITH THIS OSL
WE EITHER HAVE TWO GOOD SEMIFINAL BEST OF 5's WITH A LIKELY SHITTY FINAL
OR LESS EPIC SEMIFINALS WITH A MORE POWERFUL FINAL!
Let me elaborate:
Situation 1 (Best Semifinal Matchups)
Jaedong beats Flash, Bisu beats Much
Jaedong vs Bisu
(Yes its debatable that Flash is similarly exciting -- however, Flash vs Bisu (while being great games in their own right, im sure), would carry none of the weight for the enitre Protoss and Zerg races as this best of 5 would. All Zerg fans and Protoss fans and the millions of people who complain about imbalances one way or the other in this matchup would have a heavy stake in the absolutely excellent games this match would produce.)
Luxury vs Stork
Obviously this one is pretty easy. Stork is a better player than Best, Best advancing would produce less exciting games than Stork -- especially with his much more agressive PvZ style that is entertaining to watch even though it has left him with sub-60% vs. Zerg. And nobody wants to see CuteAngel. Nobody.
But do you see where this is going? No matter who wins these very good semifinal matches, the finals will pale in comparison. Luxury vs a Bisu who just beat Jaedong? Stork vs a Jaedong who just beat Bisu? Doubtful either stands a chance. Luxury vs Jaedong has shown to be a fairly one-sided affair, so the best result would probably be Stork vs Bisu ... if that hadnt been done twice before. They are entertaining games for PvP (unless stork 3-0's again) but thats hardly the best matchup.
HOWEVER FRIENDS:
CONSIDER THIS FINAL:
Flash vs Stork
Flash is red-hot right now and his games are incredibly solid (his GSI domination is very much worth watching), and both these players are macro monsters in TvP. A Flash/Stork final is one of the best candidates for a 5-game nailbiter with long, tense games that will give the fans bang for their buck -- and a good story with either Stork finally getting his years in the making individual league victory, or Flash definitively showing he is one of, if not the, strongest Terran out there and a huge force to be reckoned with.
So basically, it comes down to this choice:
Poll: Which would you rather see?
(Vote): Jaedong vs Bisu semifinal?
(Vote): Flash vs Stork final?
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Valhalla18444 Posts
On February 22 2008 09:01 RowdierBob wrote:
Assumung Flash and Frozean lose, when was the last time there were no terrans in an OSL semis(if it has ever happened)?
It happened in Mycube OSL, the one Kingdom won. Reach Ra Junwi and Kingdom were the semifinalists
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Valhalla18444 Posts
On February 22 2008 09:22 Plexa wrote:
Much is getting results, but i don't it lasting for much longer. His games don't have the same dominant impression they had a while ago. I think he still could win over bisu, but bisu shouldn't lose both games
I don't think it's right to say his games don't have 'the same dominant impression they had a while ago'. He did 3-0 his GSI group, after all.
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Aotearoa39261 Posts
thats true, but his play wasn't impressive per say; the maps were rather good too
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I'll be sad if Jaedong doesn't win vs Flash. I do like Flash, but I like JD sooo much more ^_^
Flash has been really fun to watch lately, however, so if he advances, the tournie will still be pretty good.
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United States1655 Posts
I'm rather worried for Jaedong. I'm sure Flash will have something prepared for Fantasy II, and even if Jaedong wins, that takes the fight to Katrina, where Flash is rather strong. In either case, there's gonna be some good games tonight. 
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The Flash v Jaedong game tonight is going to be so epic. I'm going to be so tired tomorrow, but I'm sure most of you guys will too and it's worth it emirite?!
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Go Bisu!Don't fail 
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I'm predicting a Jaedong v Luxury OSL Finals for some reason...but hoping for Stork and Flash!
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8751 Posts
On February 22 2008 08:55 FakeSteve[TPR] wrote:Show nested quote +On February 22 2008 08:52 NonY[rC] wrote:
I wouldn't be quick to oversimplify the first game between Stork vs Best. In a PvP match like the one they played, both players are looking for opportunities to expand, harrass and attack constantly. Their game really blew my mind because I've been practicing Blue Storm PvP for a while and I've been trying to learn when I have a legitimate opportunity to expand, when I should invest in harrass, when I should shutdown everything else and just pump units, when I should move my army, what unit ratios I should make, etc, and both Best and Stork played PvP so excellently that I was just in amazement of their high level play from start to finish. I wouldn't come to any conclusion about who has better large army PvP control based on two battles from one game and I wouldn't come to any conclusion about who has better macro when macro opportunities are the fruits of a superior strategy.
I'd have to say Stork is still the favorite on a game-to-game basis and Stork is the heavy favorite for the bo3 considering he has won the first game. But I'm just hoping Best will win the 2nd game so I can see an extra PvP game from these PvP masters. their builds were essentially identical until they fought, except Best was 10-20 supply ahead and had his expansions sooner I mean, if you look at those things to determine who will win, Best should have won that game. But Stork's unit control was far, far better. He just walked over Bests's army.
You mixed it up or something. They did radically different build orders to start the game. Stork did his bizarre fast core and Best did the standard blue storm pvp of 2gate. Stork got his natural up first and both players started their 3rd nexus at the same time at about 50 supply (this is when they were somewhat similar). But then Best went for a zealot/dt drop that failed and at the time of the first battle, Stork was 12 supply ahead (168 vs 180) and had +1 weaps done (better timing) and had more storm (no failed DT drop for him).
Basically, stork had better units (more storm) and more units (better macro) because of strategical decisions, not because both players were doing the same thing and stork just did it better.
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Nice poll, but I would pay to watch a Mind vs. Stork final. Too bad they're in the wrong leagues.
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EPT
