[OSL] Coronation

An epic banner for an epic series created by the epic zXk3

Last Friday the new Protoss king was crowned after the best PvP series all year. Both BeSt and Stork were prime candidates for the Protoss throne but only one could be given the crown. Let me just say that the loser did not make this an easy task for the winner, and kept coming back at him. This series had it all, awesome reavers, bad reavers, excitement and huge battles filled with blue goo – it was everything you could have hoped for in a PvP.

Before we get into it, let me just apologize for the lateness of this reports, there are reasons why but they would most likely not interest you. So… would Storks SKT all kill be stopped by BeSt? Who would come out top in the psychological game? How many manner pylons would there be? Who would become the next PvP god? How would the scarabs behave today? Who would be crowned number one? It’s time to answer these questions…

Game One


BeSt	Chupung-Ryeong	Stork
28 - 5	10 games	63 - 34

It was clear that BeSt (Red at 1) had not forgotten his disastrous final again July and was determine to play the perfect semi-final against Stork (Peach at 7) as immediately in the first game he set out to proxy Stork. BeSt’s fifth probe ventured out of his main and wandered across to the small inlet next to Stork’s natural and started warping in a pylon. Stork scouted at the usual timing – after he planted his gateway – but missed scouting BeSt’s proxy and instead went straight for BeSt’s empty main.

Stork continued to play standardly and added his gas at the usual timing, but upon seeing the empty main he immediately cancelled his gas and added a second gate to prepare for the oncoming Zealots from BeSt’s proxy. BeSt also took the time to manner pylon Stork, adding that extra element of pressure. BeSt had only built one Gateway at his proxy so there was little doubt that Stork would be able to hold off the proxy – the question was how much damage would BeSt’s proxy do? Stork sent his first Zealot to wall the ramp and BeSt’s proxy looked dead in the water until…

BeSt managed to glitch his Zealot inside by ordering his probe to mine Stork’s natural minerals then stopping right on top of the Zealot – a brilliant move. Although if it had failed BeSt could use the vision from the manner pylon to try again; a sign that this build had been well thought out. With the Zealot inside it became a game of micro to see who would come out on top. Both side pulled a number of cute tricks, like when Stork built a pylon to jump his probe away from BeSt’s zealot and behind his own wall of Zealots, but ultimately BeSt managed to do sufficient damage to say that the game was about even after the proxy.

After the early game rush Stork attempted to pressure BeSt with his 4 Zealots, but this attempt was fruitless seeing as BeSt had an equal number of Zealots and was holding him ramp. BeSt soon had his first Dragoon out and ready to defend while Stork rallied his two new Dragoons to BeSt’s natural to try a pressure some more. While the Dragoons were moving up to BeSt’s natural, BeSt had started his Robotics facility and skipped range. Once the Dragoons arrived Stork tried to break BeSt’s ramp.

With the high ground advantage BeSt was able to easily hold off Stork’s forces and forced Stork to retreat. Things took a brief lull and both side built up their armies and teched to Reaver. Once Stork had an army of about 8 Dragoons and 6 Zealots he moved out and occupied the high ground outside BeSt’s natural. Once BeSt had his second Reaver he moved out only to discover Stork on the high ground.

With his fast double Reaver thanks to his very early Robo, BeSt forced Stork to retreat off the high ground and wait for his Reavers to join up with his army. BeSt gave chase to the fleeing Stork and the two armies clashed near Stork’s high ground.

The battle was intense and both sides exhibited such brilliant micro, but BeSt was able to gain an advantage due to having two Reavers and being able to take out Stork’s Reaver. With the initiative on his side, BeSt set up a contain outside Stork’s natural and expanded.

After a brief stalemate, Stork miraculously found the units to break out of BeSt’s contain but at the price of losing both his Reavers. The ability to break out of this contain was largely due to BeSt having his Shuttle pick up two more Reavers from his main and most of his reinforcements scattered about the map killing scouting pylons. Once BeSt pulled back and united his forces with his reinforcements he was easily able to kill Stork’s army of Dragoons and force Stork to run all the way back home.

BeSt occupied Stork’s high ground and tried to do some Reaver drops, but only managed to kill some Dragoons. Nevertheless BeSt’s advantage was rising by the second and was already out to a 30 supply lead. BeSt moved in for the kill…

With three Reavers and an overwhelming army there was nothing Stork could do and he was forced to tap out.

BeSt 1-0 Stork

BeSt was able to win this game due to his dominance over the number of Reavers in play. He continually had more Reavers than Stork and thus was able to win every major battle. Once he dominated the first major battle there wasn’t much Stork could do as he was behind in economy and units. BeSt just did what he does best and held onto that advantage and rode it to victory.

Game Two


BeSt	Medusa	Stork
28 - 5	12 games	63 - 34

With the first game out of the way, BeSt had successfully placed the pressure squarely on Stork to perform in the second game or risk going home 0-3. Both Stork (Cyan at 3) opened with a standard 10gate, scout, 11 gas while BeSt (Yellow at 6) went 10gate, scout, pylon, gas. Stork’s scout proceeded to annoy BeSt by double manner pyloning him and then pressuring with his first Zealot. The Zealot got a few kills but nothing significant.

Both players sent their first dragoons to pressure the other player, which ended up killing each other simultaneously. Meanwhile Stork had warped in an extra 3 gateways bringing his total to 4; while BeSt was only on two gate with a Robotics Facility. To make things worse BeSt teched observers first and expanded. Stork simply rallied his gates and let his Dragoons do the talking.

It was all over in a matter of seconds.

BeSt 1-1 Stork

This game was a straight up and down build order loss. However, this game is still a credit to Stork. All SKT-1 Protoss play the same PvP build on Medusa, and this game was no exception. Stork exploited BeSt’s predictability brilliantly by using a 4 gate build which was guaranteed to succeed. Great preparation and analysis by Stork.

Game Three


BeSt	Return of the King	Stork
28 - 5	6 games	63 - 34

With the score leveled at 1-1 both players were eager to take the all important third set, and thus both players moved into somewhat of a peaceful opening. BeSt (Yellew at 11) opted for the standard 1gate tech build, scouting after his gateway, while Stork (Orange at 7) also opted the standard 1 gate tech, but scouting after his Core. The fundamental difference between the two builds was that Stork went Robo before range and BeSt went Range before Robo.

Stork was determine to use Reavers substantially in this third set, whereas BeSt was more content to play a standard game as he added a second gate and went Observer before Reaver. Stork had also timed his first shuttle/reaver drop perfectly so that speed finished just as the Shuttle reached the natural of BeSt’s. Then the fireworks began…

Three devastating scarabs later BeSt was down 17 probes and his life in the third set looked bleak. Both players have their expansions finish – BeSt at his natural and Stork to his island. Both players settled into working with their economy; BeSt to recover the immense damage he had suffered and Stork to cement the advantage he had attained. BeSt got his first Speed shuttle out and had to do damage or the game was lost.

BeSt hovered around Stork’s two bases and Stork’s natural (which was just starting to warp in) and managed to wrack up 11 kills. But, while BeSt was trying to kill probes…

Stork had countered and killed a number of defending probes in the process. BeSt’s harass was essentially nullified and he had also lost his Reaver – he was still very much at a disadvantage. Stork decided to go on the harass again, this time with two Reavers. Despite his impressive micro, Stork lost the shuttle and two Reavers for 4 Dragoons giving BeSt a small breath of life and a small window back into the game. But then disaster struck.

The shuttle contained a very important Reaver, and losing the Shuttle and the Reaver meant the game was over for BeSt. Stork simply united his forces outside BeSt’s natural and moved in for the kill.

Stork cleaned up what was left of BeSt’s natural and set up a contain outside BeSt’s ramp. Stork was tired of waiting around and so went in to put the final nail in the coffin.

Stork’s Reaver dropped devastated BeSt Probe line and effectively shut BeSt out of the game. With very little hope left in the game, BeSt lazily collected up his forces and sent them into die against the forces of Stork. Once his last units died, BeSt conceded the game.

BeSt 1-2 Stork

This game was all about the Reavers. Stork’s drops were devastating and were undoubtedly the key to his victory. BeSt, on the other hand, never quite got the same efficiency out of his Reavers and his one drop was nullified by Stork’s counter. This game had further reaching implications than just dropping a set, the game devastated BeSt’s confidence and shattered his frame of mind. He stopped building probes after the second Reaver drop and looked depressed while moving out. Stork looked like he would get his ticket to the final in just one short game…

Game Four


BeSt	Plasma	Stork
28 - 5	4 games	63 - 34

With everything on the line, it was time for Stork to turn the tables on BeSt and perform a proxy of his own. Stork (Purple at 11) sent his fifth probe straight down towards BeSt (Peach at 7) and set about trying to manner pylon BeSt. BeSt however was able to deny any manner pylons so in the end Stork simply gave up and built his pylon next to BeSt’s – much to the surprise of the commentators. Stork followed up his proxy pylon with two gateways while BeSt opted for a delayed second Gateway in favor of building an anti-manner pylon first. Stork, however, was able to get down a manner pylon thus annoying BeSt even more.

The game, much like the first, would be dedicated by way of micro. With his confidence running high after Game 3, Stork’s micro was far superior to BeSt’s and with two gates to BeSt’s one (for a long time anyway) was able to sustain more Zealots in BeSt’s main than BeSt had and consequently gained a large economic advantage. But before Stork’s antics were over he sent another Probe south which calmly strolled up BeSt’s ramp and stole his gas.

Meanwhile Stork was well underway with his tech and was teching towards Reaver. BeSt was very late in his tech because of the gas steal and was forced to build some cannons for detection and defense. But also with the lack of gas, BeSt found himself with a surplus of minerals and was able to take his natural much faster than Stork. As Stork moved out with his Shuttle/Reaver/Zealot he expanded twice while BeSt took his own second expansion.

The speed upgrade finished and Stork’s Shuttle hurtled towards BeSt who had ample defense around his base. But despite all of the dragoon/cannon fire Stork was able to get one nice shot off at BeSt’s probe line which caused major damage.

The game quietened down and both players looked to secure their economy. It wasn’t long before BeSt had caught up to Stork’s psi and it looked like we had a real game on our hands. BeSt was the next person to try dropping, but was scouted by Stork’s observer prompting Stork to send his Shuttle on another run. Stork’s drop got there first and tried to cause damage, but could only get a few probes while BeSt wisely decided against dropping and pulled back home.

Both players were killing their egg walls into the center while BeSt took the 3 main expansion. Stork’s observers saw BeSt’s army march into the center of the map, and Stork reacted by moving his own army into the center – a clash of armies was imminent.

Stork’s superb control allowed him to easily win the battle. Firstly one of his observers was able to stagger BeSt’s army giving Stork an immediate advantage right from the start. Secondly, Stork set himself up so that he had a superior Dragoon arc allowing him to fire more shots off from the start of engagement. Lastly, Stork was able to take out BeSt’s shuttle leaving his Reavers helpless, and once they were dead the battle was easy for the Birdtoss.

After Stork had won the center battle the game was effectively over as Stork had an overwhelming majority of units. Within moments he had collected up his reinforcements and pushed into BeSt’s main – slaughtering everything in sight. BeSt had no choice but to concede his dreams to Stork.

BeSt 1-3 Stork

Stork is your new King of Protoss

Series Comments

Stork thoroughly deserved this win, and this win is a testament to his brilliant strategic mind both in game and outside of the game during his preparation. This game also goes to show that raw mechanics don’t create winners. BeSt played a perfect mechanical game, and in many instances was leading Stork in economy and in unit count throughout the series despite being put so behind. Stork’s strategic genius was able to overcome the onslaught of BeSt’s mechanics and hence was able to take the series.

On a more specific level; Game 2 highlighted the amount of preparation and research Stork and his team had put into this matchup. They had correctly picked up on how SKT1 plays PvP on Medusa and then prepared a simple build to counter it, and it worked like a charm. Game 4 was the perfect combination of strategy and psychological warfare. Not only was he able to put immense pressure on BeSt after the devastating loss in Game 3 but it was also a sound strategy which made Stork look really good. This was such a great series and there are just so many little nuances that cannot be describes in this news post that can only be witnessed by watching the vods. This series well and truly lived up to the hype.

The full interview for this series can be found here.

Even though Stork won this semifinal, I still beleive that BeSt is the best mechanical PvP player out there (just watch the games and keep an eye on the supply count). I don't think there's a Protoss alive could out macro him right now. However, when it comes to winning a series its not just mechanics that counts, and of course Stork excelled at every other area of this matchup and deservedly took the win. Stork conclusively proved here that there is more to Starcraft than just mashing buttons as fast as you can.

With Stork’s impressive victory here he cements his place as the undisputed Protoss King and claims the title of best PvP. But there is still one more gold medal to take; the OSL gold. For stork to become the undisputed best player on the planet he needs to win this OSL, and possibly he could also become rated as the best Protoss in history. The finals have a crazy number of plot lines which all need to be tied up in the space of best of five, but all of that will be covered later in the week. So until then!

Plexa

Thanks to zXk3 for the sick artwork
Thanks to http://fomos.kr for the interview and the photographs used in this report

[OSL] Coronation

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