EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/pachi/banner/OSL_080730.png)
pachi: the best thing since sliced bread (or ninjas)
Incruit the Next Daum?
![[image loading]](/staff/semioldguy/GGPlay.jpg)
courtesy of cjentus.com
GGPlayIn the quarterfinals against Flash, GGPlay started his first game by gaining a massive economy advantage my expanding all over the map and crushing Flash with the odd combination of Ultralisks and Mutalisks. After falling to Flash in the second game he had his back up against the wall with the Zerg graveyard of Plasma as his last hope of advancing. However, a failed proxy cheese by Flash puts the last of the Zerg hope into the Incruit semifinals and leaves the young Terran hero stunned in his seat at the turnaround of the final game.
![[image loading]](/staff/semioldguy/fantasy.jpg)
Fantasy took the first game from Mind in the quarterfinals by defending against a quick one base vulture drop. With a superior economy at that point, a win was almost too easy. Some very nasty contain from Mind pushes their match to a third game. Starting with mirror builds in game three, superior micro by fantasy puts him to a slight advantage early. He presses his advantages until he is able to steamroll over Mind and continues his walk down the royal road into the semifinals.
Semifinal One: Battle Report
Game 1
Plasma
Game 1
Plasma
GGPlay spawns at the upper left corner and Fantasy begins the game in the middle position. A spawning pool goes down first for GGPlay into a fast Lair before expanding. Fantasy works toward a proxy factory in the middle of the map. As his factory is complete, GGPlay lays down his first expansion at 12 and begins a spire.
The initial Vulture is held out of the main by a sunken colony, but it discovers the expansion. An engineering bay second factory is constructed in the center and they begin to pump Goliaths. The Goliaths start to remove the eggs blocking the path to GGPlay’s base while some are pulled back to defend the factories from Mutalisk attacks. The Mutalisks attempt harassing Fantasy’s main as well, but there are too many turrets placed there for them to be effective.
The Goliaths move into GGPlay’s territory accompanied by a siege-capable tank. The Mutalisks return to fend off the invasion, but the massive amounts of Goliaths tear them to shreds and Terran victory is inevitable.
Once again GGPlay spawns in the upper left corner, though Fantasy begins at the bottom this time. GGPlay begins the game with a twelve hatch at his natural. It is followed immediately by spawning pool and extractor. Fantasy begins walling off his choke point with a barracks and supply depot, then going straight for factory tech. GGPlay opts for a third base.
The first Vulture roams outward as Fantasy simultaneously expands and begins construction of a starport. The first Dropship gets a couple Vultures into GGPlay’s base, but does little damage before all the Vultures, as well as the Dropship are destroyed.
A Valkyrie picks of an Overlord, before being repelled by a large amount of Hydralisks. A combination of Mutalisks and Hydralisks looks to press into Fantasy’s natural. They are easily defended against by Goliaths, Valkyries and Siege Tanks. GGPlay shakes his head in disappointment as he quickly pulls out to minimize losses.
As Fantasy moves his own forces out, GGPlay gathers his for a drop in Fantasy’s main. The drop is doing considerable damage, but Fantasy continues marching his own metal army into GGPlay’s natural expansion. Fantasy deals with the threat in his main, but it isn’t long before similar pressure is knocking on the door of his own natural expansion.
Meanwhile, Fantasy has removed GGPlay’s natural expansion and is pressing into the main. Fantasy is able to stave off attacks while he advances, but the versatility of the Terran metal attack force tears into GGPlay too quickly and efficiently he types out for the second game in a row.
GGPlay and Fantasy spawn at cross positions, Zerg at bottom left and Terran at top right. GGPlay starts things off with a triple hatch. Fantasy goes for his own expansion just after the completion of his barracks and scouting of GGPlay’s build order.
Lings make an early trek across the map, but there is sufficient Terran infantry and the Zerglings think against the early aggression. GGPlay sneaks a couple Zerglings into Fantasy’s base, but they don’t last long before being removed. Fantasy’s military moves out and the Zerg return home with Mutalisks on the way.
The Mutalisks get in some successful harassment as GGPlay expands to the upper left main. Lurkers outside Fantasy’s base keep his forces from being able to launch a counterstrike. The Marine and Medic army is eventually able to slip by and the Lurkers pull back. Mutalisks continue harassment in the Terran main base.
Scourge intercept a Dropship headed for the Zerg main while armies clash in the center of the map. Terran inches closer as Defilers come out. GGPlay makes a bit of a Terran sandwich as Fantasy moves in. There are losses for both side, but Fantasy is forced to retreat, though launches an attack at the Zerg expansions in the upper left of the map.
The next Dropship takes out GGPlay’s Ultralisk cavern. The drop is dealt with shortly after and battles surge on in the middle of the map. The next drop is not so lucky as it runs into a pair of Scourge. GGPlay tries to expand to the bottom right, though is unsuccessful. As he continues to repel Terran advances with dark swarms.
Ultralisks finally make an appearance and GGPlay is making some advances of his own. He forces a liftoff at Fantasy’s expansion and then cleans up with a steady flow of Ultralisks, forcing Fantasy to concede the game.
GGPlay starts at the top, Fantasy at the bottom. GGPlay takes his natural and morphs a spawning pool and third hatchery in his main. Fantasy walls off his ramp and constructs a factory. The first Vulture goes out prior to the machine shop add-on. Fantasy follows that with an expansion and starport as he did in the second game.
The first Dropship delivers a Vulture shipment to GGPlay’s natural. Some small damage and evacuation is in order before GGPlay again removes all the Vultures and the Dropship. Mutalisks arrive at Fantasy’s expansion just in time to be greeted by some Goliaths and a Valkyrie. As the green and blue smoke clears, the last surviving pair of Mutalisks escape with their lives, though much of the Terran force has been taken down in the battle as well.
Fantasy does a good job holding off Zergling harassment at his natural and Mutalisk harassment in his main. Goliaths begin moving north, accompanied by a couple Siege Tanks for some long distance assault. The natural is being overrun by Goliaths as flocks of Mutalisks come to the rescue. There are too many Goliaths and Fantasy takes the base, the set and the match.
Watch these games on Team Liquid’s YouTube Channel!
NOTE: Fantasy's play is not like any TvZ I have seen in professional matches. His innovative mech play is taken into deep analysis by Day[9] here. Read his writeup and you will be blown away by Day's analysis and the awe-inspiring play of Fantasy in this series.
Fantasy kept GGPlay from sneaking into another OSL finals. He also maintains his prospect of a Royal Road victory as he is only one match away from the title. There has not been a Royal Roader since Jaedong’s victory over Stork last fall. Will fall be the season of Royal Roaders? Will Fantasy walk the same road as Jaedong and meet and defeat Protoss’ silver medalist in the finals? He will have plenty of time to practice his TvP as he will be up against either Best or Stork in the finals, both among the very top Protoss players in Starcraft.
Semifinal Two: Preview
BeSt vs Stork
Game 1: Chupung-Ryeong
Game 2: Medusa
Game 3: Return of the King
Game 4: Plasma
Game 5: Chupung-Ryeong
BeSt vs StorkGame 1: Chupung-Ryeong
Game 2: Medusa
Game 3: Return of the King
Game 4: Plasma
Game 5: Chupung-Ryeong
 |  |
 BeSt | Stork |
| 27 - 5 | 63 - 34 |
Best and Stork have met in the OSL before. Back during Bacchus Stork came out on top during their quarterfinal match two games to one. In fact, that match was the last time Best lost a game in PvP. Stork went on to finish second in that OSL. Then in Ever OSL next season, Best took Stork down in the group stage, going on to finish second in the tournament. Both of these Protosses are looking to break past the silver medal and take home a title, but they must first get past the other.
Best is currently on a 15 game win streak against Protoss. Stork has won seven of his last ten games against Protoss, which is quite good. His competitors in those games have been top class players as well. It’s hard to bet against Best, not only does his alias suggest that he is going to win, but looking at statistics it is difficult to argue against what would likely be a victory for the SKT Protoss player. The last time these players met in a series it was very close and best nearly pulled out the win then. It was Best’s first Starleague and since then Best has grown by leaps and bounds.
If Best wins, he will face a teammate in the finals for the second season in a row (former teammate last season). SKT T1 seems to want to claim the OSL as their tournament. If Stork wins he will have beaten a SKT player in the quarterfinals, the semifinals and then be going to face yet another player from the same team in the finals. Can Stork take down SKT or will they figure him out first?
Mark your calendars for what is sure to be an intense match on October 24 between two Protoss powerhouses. Plexa will be back next week with the epic PvP results and a preview at the Incruit OSL finals.
-semioldguy
it looks kinda like this:![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/semioldguy/GGPlay.jpg)
