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Revenge Club
Groups F, Group D, and Ro16 Preview
I'm taking over the MSL from DeadVessel, so you guys are stuck with me until next season. This will be the first time I've ever covered a league by myself, and the first time I've written an official news summary in over one and a half years. I even spent some time and made a bracket (which makes me appreciate even more what our FX guys have to do). Even though Savior is eliminated from this MSL, I'm still super excited to cover it.
Note: this newspost contains both MSL and OSL spoilers, so reader beware!
Newspost Teaser:
- Preview of the Ro16, and the nightmarish possibility of an all Samsung semifinals
- The epic disaster that was Group D
- Why this is the Revenge Club (Day Online) MSL
- Stork-face sightings and OGN's bizzaro Zerg matchups
- Club Gay Online MSL: Possible QF between
Pretty and 
CuteAngel- Why FBH might be destined to win this MSL
- How I can work Savior winning Blizzcon into an MSL newspost
- Many, many HUQs (HotBid's Unrelated Question, translated to Korean as HUK??) and footnotes
Group F
1.
type-b[s.g] 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 162.
Memory 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 163.
Lomo 1-2 ► Eliminated4.
Canata 0-2 ► Eliminated+ Show Spoiler [Full Game Results] +
Game 1: Lomo < type-b[s.g] on Byzantium 2
Game 2:Canata < Memory on Medusa
Winners:type-b[s.g] > Memory on Destination
Losers:Lomo > Canata on Destination
Final:Memory > Lomo on Athena 2
Lomo < type-b[s.g] on Byzantium 2Game 2:
Canata < Memory on MedusaWinners:
type-b[s.g] > Memory on DestinationLosers:
Lomo > Canata on DestinationFinal:
Memory > Lomo on Athena 2"Type-b changes id to type-gg; Memory refuses to be Lomowned"
+ Show Spoiler [My Thoughts] +
Who is type-b? He's an OGN Zerg who has yet to officially lose ZvT (6-0). I don't know what they feed the Zergs at the Sparkyz house, but type-b is the 348957th good ZvT player to come from that team. As you may have guessed, he also has typical disaster-level OGN ZvP. However, that didn't stop him from beating Stork in a critical Ace match last week in Proleague with a lurker-ling natural bust. I was cheering for type-b not only because he was one of the few Zergs left in this MSL, but also because anyone that forces the Stork Face™ to come out earns my support.¹
Regardless, type-b looked impressive in his two games, with well planned and unique strategies that were well executed.. He did an ultralisk rush in Game 1 against Lomo, cutting off reinforcements and making his muta-ling force count by only engaging when he had the advantage. All his decisions were smart and decisive, and in addition to the trademark OGN muta micro, he just displayed an overall good understanding of the matchup, delaying Lomo's ball until he had upgraded ultras ready. In his winners match against Memory, type-b never took a third gas, instead just drop harassing until Memory ran out of scans.
Memory also advanced. He made the Ro8 three seasons ago in GomTV3, losing in a close series to eventual champion Mind. But he didn't make it out of the Ro32 the last two seasons, so this is a pretty good step for him. Plus, he's CJ so we know he a) works hard, b) isn't racist against white people, and c) is worth cheering for.
However, the other two guys were disappointments. Canata is SKT1's TvT ace yet ended 0-2, both games being TvT. Remember when this guy was the next big SKT1 Terran? That seems like so long ago, and Canata is now just a mediocre Terrans in a sea of mediocre Terrans. Lomo pushed Flash to the limit in the Arena MSL Ro8 and Jaedong to the limit in GOM S1 Ro8. These results made him seem like a real up and coming player. This Ro32 loss is a big step backward, but at least Lecaf now has another player that can be dedicated to ProLeague.
If you want a detailed recap of the TvTs check out the footnotes at the bottom of this newspost.²
Regardless, type-b looked impressive in his two games, with well planned and unique strategies that were well executed.. He did an ultralisk rush in Game 1 against Lomo, cutting off reinforcements and making his muta-ling force count by only engaging when he had the advantage. All his decisions were smart and decisive, and in addition to the trademark OGN muta micro, he just displayed an overall good understanding of the matchup, delaying Lomo's ball until he had upgraded ultras ready. In his winners match against Memory, type-b never took a third gas, instead just drop harassing until Memory ran out of scans.
Memory also advanced. He made the Ro8 three seasons ago in GomTV3, losing in a close series to eventual champion Mind. But he didn't make it out of the Ro32 the last two seasons, so this is a pretty good step for him. Plus, he's CJ so we know he a) works hard, b) isn't racist against white people, and c) is worth cheering for.
However, the other two guys were disappointments. Canata is SKT1's TvT ace yet ended 0-2, both games being TvT. Remember when this guy was the next big SKT1 Terran? That seems like so long ago, and Canata is now just a mediocre Terrans in a sea of mediocre Terrans. Lomo pushed Flash to the limit in the Arena MSL Ro8 and Jaedong to the limit in GOM S1 Ro8. These results made him seem like a real up and coming player. This Ro32 loss is a big step backward, but at least Lecaf now has another player that can be dedicated to ProLeague.
If you want a detailed recap of the TvTs check out the footnotes at the bottom of this newspost.²
Group D
1.
firebathero 2-0 ► Advances to Round of 162.
Bisu 2-1 ► Advances to Round of 163.
Much 1-2 ► Eliminated4.
BackHo 0-2 ► Eliminated+ Show Spoiler [Full Game Results] +
Game 1: Much < firebathero on Destination
Game 2:Bisu > BackHo on Athena 2
Winners:Bisu < firebathero on Byzantium 2
Losers:Much > BackHo on Byzantium 2
Final:Bisu > Much on Medusa
Much < firebathero on DestinationGame 2:
Bisu > BackHo on Athena 2Winners:
Bisu < firebathero on Byzantium 2Losers:
Much > BackHo on Byzantium 2Final:
Bisu > Much on Medusa"Much gets heartburn; FBH dances into the Ro16; Bisu avoids worst weekend ever"
+ Show Spoiler [My Thoughts] +
Wow. I was so sure firebathero was going to get destroyed in this group. Instead, he goes 2-0 and helps eliminate his rival Much. As much as I hate FBH, I have to admit this was a ballsy and amazing performance by him, and yet another reason why we can't underestimate just how quickly a progamer can turn around his worst matchup (see Jaedong's ZvP for more proof). It kills me to say this, but FBH backed up his ridiculous talk in the Group selection. FBH, this doesn't change anything between us. I still hate you, but you've earned my respect (at least temporarily).
The MSL was correct to put this group last, as the drama and games were predictably epic. FBH played decisively and aggressively in the first set, successfully bunker rushing Much's 14nex and then using dropships to harass while pushing. The intentional D-Matrix on Much's dragoon was a funny and deserved move given the history between these two guys.
FBH faced Bisu in the Winners match after Bisu dispatched BackHo with superior reaver control in a less than interesting PvP. The FBH-Bisu game was amazing, turning into a late game elimination race. Throughout the game FBH was relentless with his drops, and this impacted Bisu's economy that FBH was able to defend one final Bisu attack on his last mining base. With these two wins, FBH qualified for the Ro16 and also crushed a legion of haters, myself included.
In the Losers' match, both players go dark templars, but Much manages to block BackHo's ramp with a hold position DT and thus gets his expansion up earlier. Much would ride this advantage to victory, doing a cool gateway block to help stop BackHo's last desperate attack.
Thanks to FBH, one of the two players I wanted to advance out of this group would fall. As a CJ fan I was pulling for Much, but Bisu had more at stake. Bisu was playing in the OSL, MSL, and GOM leagues this weekend, and had just lost to Stork in the OSL despite having a decisive advantage in Game 3. The FBH loss was bad, but if Bisu lost the final match here, he'd be eliminated from both major leagues in less than 24 hours. We'd likely see a drunken, incoherent Bisu on Monday.
The finals were decided again by Bisu's superior reaver control. Bisu harassed better with his reavers and in the critical battle at his natural, used his shuttle to force Much's reavers to waste many shots. Much lost his entire army while all three of Bisu's reavers survived the battle. Bisu wins shortly after and breathes a big sigh of relief.
(Poor Much! T.T)
The MSL was correct to put this group last, as the drama and games were predictably epic. FBH played decisively and aggressively in the first set, successfully bunker rushing Much's 14nex and then using dropships to harass while pushing. The intentional D-Matrix on Much's dragoon was a funny and deserved move given the history between these two guys.
FBH faced Bisu in the Winners match after Bisu dispatched BackHo with superior reaver control in a less than interesting PvP. The FBH-Bisu game was amazing, turning into a late game elimination race. Throughout the game FBH was relentless with his drops, and this impacted Bisu's economy that FBH was able to defend one final Bisu attack on his last mining base. With these two wins, FBH qualified for the Ro16 and also crushed a legion of haters, myself included.
In the Losers' match, both players go dark templars, but Much manages to block BackHo's ramp with a hold position DT and thus gets his expansion up earlier. Much would ride this advantage to victory, doing a cool gateway block to help stop BackHo's last desperate attack.
Thanks to FBH, one of the two players I wanted to advance out of this group would fall. As a CJ fan I was pulling for Much, but Bisu had more at stake. Bisu was playing in the OSL, MSL, and GOM leagues this weekend, and had just lost to Stork in the OSL despite having a decisive advantage in Game 3. The FBH loss was bad, but if Bisu lost the final match here, he'd be eliminated from both major leagues in less than 24 hours. We'd likely see a drunken, incoherent Bisu on Monday.
The finals were decided again by Bisu's superior reaver control. Bisu harassed better with his reavers and in the critical battle at his natural, used his shuttle to force Much's reavers to waste many shots. Much lost his entire army while all three of Bisu's reavers survived the battle. Bisu wins shortly after and breathes a big sigh of relief.
(Poor Much! T.T)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/3MSL/ClubDayBracketRo16.png)
Bracket by Hot_Bid
This is the Revenge Club MSL because there are so many big grudge rivalries already with the potential for many more. We had Nada beating Savior for Shinhan3, FBH getting Much back for the heart, and the potential for more drama in the Ro8 with Stork-Iris and Jaedong-Frozean matchups possible.
The weakest part of the bracket is clearly the bottom left, and Jangbi should advance easily from there. However, every other quadrant is nuts, and nobody has an easy road. Jaedong looks to have the most difficult path to the finals, running a gauntlet of players that are good against Zerg, including a possible semifinals matchup with Bisu–but only if he can get through his nemesis Frozean first.
We could see four Samsung players reach the semifinals. We could see a rematch of Arena (ForGG vs Jaedong), a rematch of Ever 08 (Stork vs Jaedong), a rematch of GomTV4 (Jaedong vs Kal), a rematch of the GomTV2 (Stork vs Bisu), or even NaDa winning his seventh major title. Whatever happens, it's going to be dramatic and exciting.
If it is the same as last season, the format for the Ro16 will be Bo3 with the higher seed allowed to thumb-down one of the four maps.³
Stork vs fOrGG+ Show Spoiler [Show Stats] +
Defending champ with ridiculous macro against the best PvT on the planet with ridiculous macro. These two met in WCG Korea back in August and Stork came out on top 2-0. Since Stork is again going strong in both the OSL and MSL, and we're in Stork-territory (not the Finals), I have to give a pretty big edge to him. He's on a ridiculous PvT streak while ForGG has lost his last 5 TvPs.
HUK?? if Stork played ForGG in MBS-enabled SC2, would the computers explode from macro overload?
Kal vs Iris+ Show Spoiler [Show Stats] +
These two are poster children for the competitive and cutthroat nature of the Starcraft progaming scene in Korea. Three seasons ago Iris was one game away from the OSL title and two seasons ago Kal was in the MSL finals. Both are trying to recapture past magic. Neither have played many TvP/PvT games recently, save for Kal beating Sea to get to the Ro16. I'd say Iris has a bit of an edge here just in overall momentum, having barely missed the OSL.⁴
Unfortunately I wouldn't give either of these two guys much of a chance against whoever comes out of Stork-ForGG, but this series is still critical as its for a seed.
HUK?? How mad is FakeSteve that his two most hated Protoss players, Kal and BackHo, combined to eliminate Sea from the MSL?
JangBi vs Memory+ Show Spoiler [Show Stats] +
Jangbi looked invincible in his 2-0 steamrolling of Nada in the quarters of Blizzcon, then choked pretty badly in the LB Semis when $5000 was riding on it. In case you were wondering, Savior won the whole thing. Anyway, with a grand total of 10 TvPs and only one in the past few months, Memory's strength in that matchup is a giant question mark. I think Memory's 12 hours of practice a day⁶ makes this match close, but he's still the underdog. Jangbi can basically taste the Semifinals with two OGN Zergs as possible future opponents.
HUK?? How is it possible that Samsung has one guy in the OSL Semis, four guys in the MSL Ro16, and they are 0-2 in Proleague? How does this even remotely make sense?
type-b[s.g] vs YellOw[ArnC]+ Show Spoiler [Show Stats] +
Player / Matchup / Last 10 / Last 3 Months / Head-to-Head
type-b[s.g] / ZvZ / 3-1 / 0-0 / 1-0
YellOw[ArnC] / ZvZ / 3-7 / 1-0 / 0-1
type-b[s.g] / ZvZ / 3-1 / 0-0 / 1-0YellOw[ArnC] / ZvZ / 3-7 / 1-0 / 0-1Ever since Luxury bolted to KTF, do you think type-b has been Yarnc's new best friend? Now they face each other. Who are they going to practice with? I want type-b to advance so we can see his version of the lurker/spore/sunken OGN turtlefest ZvP. Anyway, Yarnc's been 3-7 in his last 10 ZvZs, but his last two games were wins over Jaedong and July. Type-b has played only one official ZvZ in the past year, and four total in his career (wins over Orion, HyunJun, and Ever)Z(Maru).
I'm sure these two play each other a ton in practice so anything can happen. At this point, type-b is playing with house money. He has nothing to lose and that makes him dangerous. Hilariously, either of these two Zergs can be easily bounced out of the next round if they face Jangbi, but both could also reach the finals if the Terrans line up the bracket correctly. Can you imagine a Jaedong vs Type-b MSL Finals? Contemplate this as the MSL sponsors collectively light themselves on fire.
HUK?? Luxury leaves for KTF and Yarnc 2-0's KTF's only hope for a title this season (Flash). I heard Lux and Flash were being buddy buddy on battle.net before the trade, and I bet Yarnc was jealous as hell. Did fake Yellow have extra motivation in his MSL group!?
firebathero vs Tempest+ Show Spoiler [Show Stats] +
Player / Matchup / Last 10 / Last 3 Months / Head-to-Head
firebathero / TvP / 5-5 / 2-2 / 0-0
Tempest / PvT / 4-2 / 3-2 / 0-0
firebathero / TvP / 5-5 / 2-2 / 0-0Tempest / PvT / 4-2 / 3-2 / 0-0FBH's TvP looked especially strong when he incorporated dropships into his build. However, Tempest will have undoubtedly watched the Group D matches and be more prepared for this style. The big question is will Tempest's inexperience (less than 10 total TV games) cost him?
It kills me to say this, but after advancing, FBH's emphatic dance in front of the bright lights and colorful Club Day logo is the defining moment of the MSL so far. He is that little red dancing man. Since I am a fair and balanced news reporter, I won't let my anti-FBH bias get in the way. Thus I have rewarded FBH with a special icon in the bracket.
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Hot_Bid/3MSL/FBH_Dance.jpg)
Could this be the final image after the MSL finals? I certainly hope not. While FBH has momentum, his road lies through Bisu, Hwasin, Jaedong, and Stork. While he will have a tough time against those guys, he won't against Tempest. If he plays like he did in Group D, FBH will go to the Ro8.
HUK?? What is that special feeling surrounding the two new guys Tempest and Fantasy (in the OSL)? The answer could be that they follow in the footsteps of legends: Tempest is a KTF Protoss and Fantasy an SKT1 Terran.
Bisu vs Hwasin+ Show Spoiler [Show Stats] +
I laughed out loud as soon as I read this pairing. These two guys hate each other. Bonjwa Bisu called Hwasin his "insurance" pick during the Daum OSL group selection and even used scouts against him. Amazingly they are meeting again in an MSL, with Hwasin still looking for revenge.
The bad news for Hwasin is that he's only played one TvP in the last three months, and is 2-8 in his last ten. The good news for Hwasin is that Bisu's record is equally bad. However, Bisu has a decisive lead in head-to-head matches. More importantly, Bisu is 2-0 in BoX matches against Hwasin, with both series going to the last deciding game. That is likely what is going to happen here, Bisu taking a close series 2-1.
HUK?? Does anyone else think that we're getting dangerously close to Hwasin-snaps-and-kills-Bisu-irl territory? Just one or two more series losses...
FrOzean vs NaDa+ Show Spoiler [Show Stats] +
Player / Matchup / Last 10 / Last 3 Months / Head-to-Head
Frozean / TvT / 6-4 / 4-0 / 0-0
Nada / TvT / 3-7 / 3-3 / 0-0
Frozean / TvT / 6-4 / 4-0 / 0-0
Nada / TvT / 3-7 / 3-3 / 0-0
Frozean's TvT has traditionally been a week point, but recently he's on a 4-0 streak. Despite the disparity in career achievements, Frozean is the better player and the favorite. Nada is not going to overwhelm him with force and mechanics like a Jaedong or Stork type player. Yet Nada is still capable of doing a few smart plays to take a series.⁷ Nada will play solid but it's Frozean's series to lose.
I find this series uninteresting, but it has huge implications for the next round. The winner of this will likely face Jaedong in the next round. Frozean's TvZ record is mediocre but somehow he manages to beat Jaedong in single game sets. For this reason I actually want Frozean to win so we can see him in a Bo5 against LJD.
For the record, I will never, ever refer to Frozean as "CuteAngel" unless its to make fun of him. You simply cannot call yourself "CuteAngel" and expect to be taken seriously.
HUK?? How does everyone on Samsung find a way to get me to dislike them? FBH, Stork, Frozean, and even Odin just annoy me for one reason or another. Even Jangbi does, and I can't even explain why. Here they are with four players in the MSL, and CJ has no Savior and no Much to stop them. Pardon me while I take a bat to my roommate's Samsung monitor.
free vs Jaedong+ Show Spoiler [Show Stats] +
Player / Matchup / Last 10 / Last 3 Months / Head-to-Head
Free / PvZ / 6-4 / 5-3 / 5-5
Jaedong / ZvP / 9-1 / 12-1 / 5-5
Free / PvZ / 6-4 / 5-3 / 5-5
Jaedong / ZvP / 9-1 / 12-1 / 5-5
Poor Free. Poor, poor Free. He always finds way to be eliminated in the most heartbreaking ways possible. He's a veteran now, forced to carry a sub-par Stars team in Proleague while Hanbit withdraws their sponsorship. Free still fought and clawed his way into the Ro16, and Woojin stepped in to secure the team's future. Boy, things are finally going great! Free thought to himself, still excited after advancing in his group 2-0. All he needs is to win one Bo3 against go.go, Frozean, or UpMagic and Free will earn a seed into the next MSL.
Can you imagine Free watch Jaedong drop a game to Frozean, and now he has to play the best ZvP player ever? Poor free. Yes, Free and Jaedong have plenty of history, meeting in Survivor, Proleague, and recently WCG Korea. The record looks even at 5-5, but it doesn't even begin to describe how big a favorite Jaedong is in this series.
Free's been solid in PvZ, as always. But it's not going to matter. Jaedong could be playing Jesus himself and still win. Jaedong is a hilarious 16-3 in ZvP since winning the GomTV4 MSL against Kal. He's done it against the best P's in the world too. 2-1 Bisu, 4-0 Much, 2-0 Free, 3-1 Best, 2-0 Stork. It will take a miracle for Free to win this series.
HUK?? Hwasin is basically the Terran version of Free, with a solid, conservative style but zero title wins. Who is the "Zerg Free"? Is it even possible?
That's all for now. Next week we'll see the first game in all eight sets. The real drama happens the week after with the deciding games. See you then!
1 – The "I can't believe I'm losing in a critical situation... AGAIN" face made by Stork every time this happens. Also known as the face Stork has on for the entire duration of any Starleague Final he's in. Formerly known as the YellOw Face.
2 – There were lots of tanks goliaths dropships and wraiths built, and generally the guy with more of these came out ahead.
3 – Did Samsung just like collectively decide to stop practicing for PL and focus on individual leagues? Because they got one guy in the OSL Semis, four guys in the MSL Ro16 and they are last place in Proleague. Editors note: they managed to win last night.
4 – Athena 2, Byzantium 2, Destination, Medusa
5 – Iris barely missed the Incruit OSL Ro16. He beat Pusan 2-1 but lost to Bisu 1-2.
6 – See IdrA's Blizzcon interview about CJ practice methods
7 – See Nada's LB Finals win against Jangbi
