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ARENA MSL RESULTS AND STANDINGS
The History
KPGA 1st Tour (2/14/02 - 4/14/02) - BoxeR > YellOw
Reebok KPGA 2nd Tour (4/18/02 - 6/22/02) - NaDa > YellOw
Pepsi Twist KPGA 3rd Tour (7/4/02 - 10/5/02) - NaDa > Reach
Baskin Robbins KPGA 4th Tour (10/25/02 - 1/18/03) - NaDa > ChoJJa
Stout MSL (4/17/03 - 7/19/03) - Nal_rA > NaDa
TriGem MSL (9/4/03 - 11/6/03) - iloveoov > YellOw
HanaFOS CENGAME MSL (1/8/04 - 4/18/04) - iloveoov > NaDa
SPRIS MSL (5/20/04 - 8/29/04) - iloveoov > Kingdom
You're the Golf King MSL (9/30/04 - 2/6/05) - GoRush > NaDa
UZOO MSL (4/21/05 - 8/6/05) - sAviOr > Reach
LG CYON MSL (10/6/05 - 1/14/06) - ChoJJa > sAviOr
Pringles 1 MSL (4/6/06 - 7/16/06) - sAviOr > Nal_rA
Pringles 2 MSL (8/17/06 - 11/11/06) - sAviOr > Silver
GomTV MSL (11/30/06 - 3/3/07) - Bisu > sAviOr
GomTV2 MSL (5/3/07 - 7/14/07) - Bisu > Stork
GomTV3 MSL (9/13/07 - 11/17/07) - Mind > Bisu
GomTV4 MSL (1/3/08 - 3/8/08) - Jaedong > Kal
The Players
Terran - The Pride of War (15)
#4 Seed Mind - 박성균 - Park Sung Gyoon
#5 Seed Flash - 이영호 - Lee Yung Ho
#6 Seed UpMagiC - 민찬기 - Shin Hee Seung
#7 Seed NaDa - 이윤열 - Lee Yoon Yeol
#8 Seed Light - 이재호 - Lee Jae Ho
Goodfriend - 이병민 - Lee Byung Min
Hwasin - 진영수 - Jin Yung Soo
Canata - 고인규 - Ko In Kyu
Sea - 염보성 - Yum Bo Sung
firebathero - 이성은 - Lee Sung Eun
Memory - 주현준 - Ju Hyun Jun
fOrGG - 박지수 - Park Ji Soo
Lomo - 손주흥 - Son Ju Heung
fantasy - 정명훈 - Jung Myung Hoon
FrOzean - 김동건 - Kim Dong Kun
Zerg – Overcome All (8)
#1 Seed Jaedong - 이제동 - Lee Je Dong
sAviOr - 마재윤 - Ma Jae Yoon
YellOw[ArnC] - 박명수 - Park Myung Soo
Kwanro - 한상봉 - Han Sang Bong
Shark - 서경종 - Seo Gyung Jong
Luxury - 박찬수 - Park Chan Soo
type-b - 문성진 - Moon Sung Jin
Calm - 김윤환 - Kim Yoon Hwan
Protoss – Victory After Victory (9)
#2 Seed Kal - 김구현 - Kim Ku Hyun
#3 Seed JangBi - 허영무 - Hu Yung Moo
Bisu - 김택용 - Kim Taek Yong
free - 윤용태 - Yoon Yong Tae
Much - 박영민 - Park Yeong Min
Anytime - 오영종 - Oh Yeong Jong
LuCifer - 이영호 - Lee Yung Ho
HerO - 한동훈 - Han Dong Hoon
YoonJoong - 김윤중 - Kim Yoon Joong
Team Distribution:
Air Force ACE: 0
CJ Entus: 4 (sAviOr, Memory, Kwanro, Much)
eSTRO: 2 (UpMagiC, Goodfriend)
Hanbit Stars: 1 (free)
KTF MagicNs: 2 (Flash, LuCifer)
Lecaf Oz: 4 (Jaedong, fOrGG, Anytime, Lomo)
MBC Hero: 3 (Light, Sea, Shark)
OGN Sparkyz: 3 (YellOw[ArnC], Luxury, type-b)
Samsung KHAN: 3 (firebathero, JangBi, FrOzean)
SK Telecom T1: 3 (Bisu, Canata, fantasy)
STX SouL: 4 (Hwasin, Kal, YoonJoong, Calm)
WeMade FOX: 3 (Mind, NaDa, HerO)
How they got this far:
MSL Offline Qualifiers (by GTR-2-Go)
The Maps
Unlike last season, where no new maps were introduced, this season we have a completely new lineup with four new maps. Daigomi gives us his analysis of these new maps. You can find his thoughts on Tiamat and Athena here and analysis for Othello and Colloseum here
Tiamat
+ Show Spoiler +
Athena
+ Show Spoiler +
Othello
+ Show Spoiler +
Colosseum
+ Show Spoiler +
The News
A New Arena - An MSL Preview (by Daigomi)
Gotterdammerung - Group A Recap (by Last Romantic)
Into the Blender - Group E Recap (by semioldguy)
Group C Recap (by zulu_nation8)
The MSL Catchup Post (by Manifesto7)
Jaedong versus Hwasin - Quarterfinal A Recap (by Sigrun)
The Circus Show - Kal versus ForGG Quarterfinals (by thedeadhaji)
Follow the Yellow Brick Road - Part 1 (by Manifesto7)
All Things Must Come to an End - Finals Preview (by DeadVessel)
The Live Reports
Round of 32: Group A - May 1
Round of 32: Group E - May 3
Round of 32: Group B - May 8
Round of 32: Group F - May 10
Round of 32: Group G - May 15
Round of 32: Group C - May 17
Round of 32: Group H - May 22
Round of 32: Group D - May 24
Round of 16: Week 1.1 - May 29
Round of 16: Week 1.2 - May 31
Round of 16: Week 2.1 - June 5
Round of 16: Week 2.2 - June 7
Quarterfinals: Match B - June 12
Quarterfinals: Match C - June 19
Quarterfinals: Match A - June 26
Quarterfinals: Match D - July 3
Semifinals: Match A - July 10
Semifinals: Match B - July 17
The Grand Finals - July 26
The Group Selection
Group Selection Discussion Thread
The Steal Draft
The Steal Draft is a somewhat long and complicated process, not helped at all by the large number of players that now qualify for each MSL season. Here’s how it works:
The first eight seeds are placed into groups A through H, with the first seed in Group A and the eighth seed in Group H. The first eight seeds may never be moved by any player, they remain in the groups in which they are seeded. Seeds nine through sixteen are determined by previous MSL appearances and performance, with more obviously being better. Seeds nine through sixteen are placed into the other pair in groups A through H, but in reverse order. Seeds eight and nine would be in the same group, then seven and ten, six and eleven and so on up until the first and sixteenth.
Once players are placed into the groups, the remaining players are also ranked based upon previous MSL appearance and performances. Starting with the seventeenth, and ending with the thirty-second, each player takes his own name and places it in an open spot next to the player he wishes to play against.
After everyone has been placed upon the board, the stealing begins. It starts in ascending order at the sixteenth seed and moves all the way up to the first. Seed nine through sixteen are allowed three options: (1) Exchange himself with another player, (2) Exchange his current opponent with another player, or (3) Pass the turn and exchange no one.
Seeds three through eight work a little differently. They are able to pick two moves from the following: (1) Exchange a player in their group with another player, (2) Exchange any two other players with each other, or (3) Pass the turn and exchange no one. Seeds two and one earn a few more decisions. They are able to switch any player with another player and may do so up to three times or until they wish to pass.
For details on how this Steal Draft went, you can follow each step of the way in the Group Selection Discussion Thread, linked above.
Results and Standings for the Round of 32
Once again we return to a group stage for the round of thirty-two. Each group consists of four players; the Steal Draft determines their placement in each group. Each group must go through a double elimination format to determine which players will advance and which players are eliminated. If a player can get two wins before he gets two losses, then he advances to the next round. If he can’t, then he is eliminated. Two players from each group of four will have the chance to continue to fight for this season’s title.
Group A
1. Hwasin 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 16
2. Jaedong 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 16
3. Bisu 1-2 ► Eliminated
4. FrOzean 0-2 ► Eliminated
Game 1: Jaedong > Bisu on Othello
Game 2: Hwasin > FrOzean on Athena
Winners: Hwasin > Jaedong on Tiamat
Losers: Bisu > FrOzean on Tiamat
Tiebreak: Jaedong > Bisu on Colosseum
Group B
1. free 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 16
2. Much 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 16
3. JangBi 1-2 ► Eliminated
4. Anytime 0-2 ► Eliminated
Game 1: JangBi > Anytime on Athena
Game 2: Much < free on Tiamat
Winners: JangBi < free on Colosseum
Losers: Anytime < Much on Colosseum
Tiebreak: JangBi < Much on Othello
Group C
1. fOrGG 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 16
2. Kal 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 16
3. HerO 1-2 ► Eliminated
4. type-b 0-2 ► Eliminated
Game 1: Kal < fOrGG on Tiamat
Game 2: type-b < HerO on Colosseum
Winners: fOrGG > HerO on Othello
Losers: Kal > type-b on Othello
Tiebreak: HerO < Kal on Athena
Group D
1. Lomo 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 16
2. Mind 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 16
3. Memory 1-2 ► Eliminated
4. Calm 0-2 ► Eliminated
Game 1: Mind > Calm on Colosseum
Game 2: Memory < Lomo on Othello
Winners: Mind < Lomo on Athena
Losers: Calm < Memory on Athena
Tiebreak: Mind > Memory on Tiamat
Group E
1. LuCifer 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 16
2. NaDa 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 16
3. Shark 1-2 ► Eliminated
4. Goodfriend 0-2 ► Eliminated
Game 1: NaDa < LuCifer on Othello
Game 2: Goodfriend < Shark on Athena
Winners: LuCifer > Shark on Tiamat
Losers: NaDa > Goodfriend on Tiamat
Tiebreak: NaDa > Shark on Colosseum
Group F
1. firebathero 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 16
2. Light 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 16
3. sAviOr 1-2 ► Eliminated
4. fantasy 0-2 ► Eliminated
Game 1: Light > fantasy on Athena
Game 2: sAviOr < firebathero on Tiamat
Winners: Light < firebathero on Colosseum
Losers: sAviOr > fantasy on Colosseum
Tiebreak: Light > sAviOr on Othello
Group G
1. Canata 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 16
2. Sea 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 16
3. Luxury 1-2 ► Eliminated
4. UpMagiC 0-2 ► Eliminated
Game 1: UpMagiC < Canata on Tiamat
Game 2: Sea > Luxury on Colosseum
Winners: Canata > Sea on Othello
Losers: UpMagiC < Luxury on Othello
Tiebreak: Sea > Luxury on Athena
Group H
1. Flash 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 16
2. Kwanro 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 16
3. YoonJoong 1-2 ► Eliminated
4. YellOw[ArnC] 0-2 ► Eliminated
Game 1: Flash > YellOw[ArnC] on Colosseum
Game 2: Kwanro < YoonJoong on Othello
Winners: Flash > YoonJoong on Athena
Losers: YellOw[ArnC] < Kwanro on Athena
Tiebreak: YoonJoong < Kwanro on Tiamat
Results and Standings for the Round of 16
The number of remaining competitors has been halved as the tournament continues into the Round of 16. Beginning with this round, the tournament becomes single elimination. The players who finished first out of their groups last round will be paired against a player that finished in second. Each pair of players will play a best-of-three match to determine not only who will advance to the next round, but who will earn seeds into the following MSL.
Thumbs Down
Since there are four maps, there will be one map in each best-of-three match that will not be played. The players who finished first out of their group are given the opportunity to give a “thumbs down” to one of the maps. What this means is that the player will get to choose one of the four maps that he will not have to play on during this round. This allows the player the advantage of getting to remove a map that does not fit his play style or that he thinks may be imbalanced in a particular match-up.
Match A
Hwasin thumbs down Tiamat
Game 1: Hwasin < NaDa on Athena
Game 2: Hwasin > NaDa on Othello
Game 3: Hwasin > NaDa on Colosseum
Hwasin 2-1 ► Advances to the Quarterfinals
NaDa 1-2 ► Eliminated
Match B
LuCifer thumbs down Othello
Game 1: LuCifer < Jaedong on Athena
Game 2: LuCifer < Jaedong on Colosseum
Jaedong 2-0 ► Advances to the Quarterfinals
LuCifer 0-2 ► Eliminated
Match C
free thumbs down Othello
Game 1: free > Light on Tiamat
Game 2: free > Light on Colosseum
free 2-0 ► Advances to the Quarterfinals
Light 0-2 ► Eliminated
Match D
firebathero thumbs down Tiamat
Game 1: firebathero > Much on Colosseum
Game 2: firebathero < Much on Athena
Game 3: firebathero < Much on Othello
Much 2-1 ► Advances to the Quarterfinals
firebathero 1-2 ► Eliminated
Match E
fOrGG thumbs down Tiamat
Game 1: fOrGG > Sea on Othello
Game 2: fOrGG > Sea on Athena
fOrGG 2-0 ► Advances to the Quarterfinals
Sea 0-2 ► Eliminated
Match F
Canata thumbs down Athena
Game 1: Canata < Kal on Colosseum
Game 2: Canata > Kal on Othello
Game 3: Canata < Kal on Tiamat
Kal 2-1 ► Advances to the Quarterfinals
Canata 1-2 ► Eliminated
Match G
Lomo thumbs down Athena
Game 1: Lomo > Kwanro on Tiamat
Game 2: Lomo > Kwanro on Colosseum
Lomo 2-0 ► Advances to the Quarterfinals
Kwanro 0-2 ► Eliminated
Match H
Flash thumbs down Colosseum
Game 1: Flash > Mind on Tiamat
Game 2: Flash > Mind on Othello
Flash 2-0 ► Advances to the Quarterfinals
Mind 0-2 ► Eliminated
Results and Standings for the Quarter Finals
It is showtime. The competition heats up as the number of players are reduced again and the number of games per match increase. Six of the advancing players will be meeting up with the other person that qualified from their Round of 32 Group, while one match sees a new pairing in the tournament. Each match is now a best-of-five, a more challenging series as each player has already secured a seed for the next MSL, their only goal now should be championship.
Thumbs Down
As we transition to the the quarter finals, with the format changing into a best-of-five series with two equally ranked players, the Thumbs Down system also changes. Both players will pick a map that they do not want to be repeated in the five map set. (As there are four maps in the tournament, one is repeated for a best-of-five match.)
Match Schedule
Week 1: June 12th - Match B
Week 2: June 19th - Match C
Week 3: June 26th - Match A
Week 4: July 3rd - Match D
Match A
Hwasin thumbs down Othello
Jaedong thumbs down Athena
Game 1: Hwasin > Jaedong on Tiamat
Game 2: Hwasin < Jaedong on Colosseum
Game 3: Hwasin < Jaedong on Athena
Game 4: Hwasin < Jaedong on Othello
Jaedong 3-1 ► Advances to Semifinals
Hwasin 1-3 ► Eliminated
Match B
Much thumbs down Othello
free thumbs down Colosseum
Game 1: free > Much on Athena
Game 2: free < Much on Tiamat
Game 3: free < Much on Othello
Game 4: free < Much on Colosseum
Much 3-1 ► Advances to Semifinals
free 1-3 ► Eliminated
Match C
fOrGG thumbs down Tiamat
Kal thumbs down Othello
Game 1: fOrGG < Kal on Colosseum
Game 2: fOrGG > Kal on Athena
Game 3: fOrGG < Kal on Tiamat
Game 4: fOrGG > Kal on Othello
Game 5: fOrGG > Kal on Colosseum
fOrGG 3-2 ► Advances to Semifinals
Kal 2-3 ► Eliminated
Match D
Lomo thumbs down Tiamat
Flash thumbs down Athena
Game 1: Lomo < Flash on Othello
Game 2: Lomo > Flash on Tiamat
Game 3: Lomo < Flash on Athena
Game 4: Lomo > Flash on Colosseum
Game 5: Lomo < Flash on Othello
Flash 3-2 ► Advances to Semifinals
Lomo 2-3 ► Eliminated
Results and Standings for the Semifinals
There are only four players left. Winners will go only to glory, while the losers will not even be remembered on TLPD's podium. For each player, there are matches and a maximum of ten games left before they hold the trophy. Each will be eager to prove they are worthy of a championship. None of the remaining players are left in OSL, so each will be fully focused on playing at their best for the MSL crown.
Thumbs Down
Retaining the best-of-five format for the semifinals, the thumbs down method from the quarter finals remains the same also.
Match Schedule
Week 1: July 10th - Match A
Week 2: July 17th - Match B
Match A
Jaedong thumbs down Tiamat
Much thumbs down Othello
Game 1: Jaedong > Much on Athena
Game 2: Jaedong > Much on Tiamat
Game 3: Jaedong > Much on Colosseum
Game 5: Jaedong v. Much on Athena
Jaedong 3-0 ► Advances to Finals!
Much 0-3 ► Eliminated
Match B
fOrGG thumbs down Tiamat
Flash thumbs down Tiamat
Game 1: fOrGG > Flash on Athena
Game 2: fOrGG > Flash on Tiamat
Game 3: fOrGG < Flash on Othello
Game 4: fOrGG > Flash on Colosseum
fOrGG 3-1 ► Advances to Finals!
Flash 1-3 ► Eliminated
Results and Standings for the Grand Finals
This is it. The last stand. Two teammates enter and one leaves. In the situation between two players who both know each other's play styles well and have played so many games together, you can never count out the underdog. Predictability among teammates is much different and can be much more accurate, even for players who seem more unpredictable than others. Only one of these players will be walking away hoisting the trophy.
Jaedong thumbs down Athena
fOrGG thumbs down Tiamat
Game 1: Jaedong < fOrGG on Colosseum
Game 2: Jaedong < fOrGG on Othello
Game 3: Jaedong < fOrGG on Tiamat
Game 5: Jaedong v. fOrGG on Colosseum
fOrGG 3-0 ► Arena MSL Champion!
Jaedong 0-3 ► Eliminated