[MST] Group 1-2 Review

All right folks, groups one and two of the Survivor Tournament are complete. Four hopefuls have advanced onto the next stage while four other unfortunate souls bit the dust and were sent packing home only to return to the offline qualifiers in several months. I must say that so far this tournament has definitely been feeling the after shock of this fall season. Bul_T and Horang2, two low tier Protoss players, have trounced their star studded groups. Protoss are now a perfect 4-0 in Survivor and look to continue dominating the MSL. It's like Stork and Bisu are emanating some sort of gosu aura that imbues every single Protoss in progaming with Terran and Zerg slaying superpowers.[/indent]
Let's take a closer look at all of the matches from groups one and two:

Set 1:

fOrGG vs

FireFist

ForGG went for a less common opening in TvZ which is always nice to see. He 2 rax expanded and went for a very quick +1 constructing his ebay before the academy. FireFist has opened standard 3 hatch muta and played passively which helped ForGG's late academy greatly. As the first mutas popped, Firefist, for some reason, decided to attack a rather large group of mnm with mutaling. The attack failed and the mutas were too damaged to conduct any sort of effective harass. With initiative on his side, ForGG went for a timing attack. Though lurker tech was finished, Firefist had only lurkers behind his 2 sunkens. With about 2 dozen mnm ForGG displayed a great feat of micro targeting each of the lurkers with an mnm group slaying them after just one effective spine volley. Sunkens were dispatched quickly after but ForGG's micro slipped up and FireFist was able to clean up what was seemingly a game ending attack. Regardless, FireFist's economy and unit count took a crippling blow and with 4 raxes, tanks, and vessels, ForGG was now in firm lead. He was able to stream endless units toward the zerg natural, and a newly established 3'rd base. ForGG also took his mineral only. Lurkers under swarm kept FireFist in the game but as the 3'rd base was about to wall, he typed out. A classic ForGG TvZ: timing attack, poor micro, great macro.

Set 2:

July vs

Bul_T

This game was sad to watch. Bul_T fas expanded while July opened with 9 pool into 2 hatch muta with only about 12 drones mining minerals in total. Bul_T scouted the build, calmly added a bunch of cannons, put his corsairs over the nexus, and added 4 gateways along with templar tech. If you watched Free vs Jaedong on this map, you already know how this game went. July attacked into 3 cannons and a few sairs and although he was able to take out most of that, he was left with 2 mutalisks. I am pretty sure July knew he lost the game at that point. He didn't even try to snipe probes or high templar with reinforcing mutas; he was aiming for corsairs with his muta scourge instead. When Bul_T finally pushed out, July spun his remaining mutalisks at the Protoss ball and typed out. In the group preview I mention that this game's outcome relied on how well July would preform. He was the football player kicking a free shot and Bul_T was the opposing side's player wall.

Winners:

fOrGG vs

Bul_T

ForGG went for the 2 factory build. Unfortunately for him, Bul_T warped in a fast 14 nexus and had 2 gate with cybernetics core before ForGG's second factory even finished. By the time the push came, Bul_T had enough ranged goons to stop ForGG from entering his nat, cutting down most of the vultures. ForGG's were hard to attack due to the bridges but were finally taken out by zealots from a shuttle as Bul_T teched to reavers. The game was effectively over at that point, however, it had a rather amusing ending as ForGG miraculously defended wave after wave of dragoons. He sieged his tanks behind the ramp, keeping some in tank mode to stop the reaver, while blocking the dragoons with scvs. However with several gateways and a 3'rd base fully mining, there was no possible way for Bul_T to lose and after a few minutes the game was over.

Losers:

July vs

FireFist

July opted for the 9 pool 9 gas whereas FireFist spawned the safer overpool giving him a slight economic advantage with the extra drones. As the spires finished, July made a huge micro mistake and allowed all of his zergligns camped under FireFist's ramp to die to mutaling. From there FireFist had the higher ling count throughout the game and was able to harass the second hatchery of July placed at the nat. As July's muta's flew back to deal with that, FireFist was able to pick off a drone with his flyers. However, when a dogfight occurred in the middle of the map and FireFist ran a dozen of lings into July's main, the game was practically over. FireFist had an insurmountable economic advantage and gained air dominance forcing July to type out.

Final:

fOrGG vs

FireFist

As the 8'th scv began constructing a barracks, a bunker rush was imminent. FireFist, opening 12 hatch, pulled 6 of his 9 drones and took out the first bunker abandoned by a lone scv. However, when an second scv along with 2 marines arrived, ForGG displayed fantastic micro and sniped five of the drones before the lings arried to kill the attack. The rush was a huge success and FireFist's economy was now in the toilet. He knew that he could not play a macro game and went for all in 2 hatch muta, with practically no zerglings made and just one sunken at his nat. This was the best possible thing FireFist could do at that point since ForGG would be staying back and macroing up. When the mutas arrived they did moderate damage, however, it was not enough. Despite taking out turrets, and even ForGG's first attack, FireFist's +1 attack upgraded mutas became less and less effective as time went on. When ForGG pushed out and flattened FireFist's new 3'rd base, FireFist typed out.

An overall disappointing group result. July's play could be summed up in one word, dead. ForGG's TvZ was strong as ever and the group's star Bul_T, continued to show talent and potential he displayed in his Club Day debut and successful 2v2 career. This rising Protoss should not be underestimated in the round of 32. FireFist played decently outplaying a much stronger player in the ZvZ. However, his and ForGG's skill difference clearly showed in their two games.

Group 2

Set 1: (T)

Flash vs

Horang2

This game displayed a well executed 2 proxy gate dt rush. Flash opened standard going 1 fact FE while Horang2 blocked his main ramp with a zealot and warped in 2 gateways below Flash's mineral only expansion, away form initial scouting routes. Flash spotted the proxy just as the dark templar came out and although he had just finished mines, his turrets have not yet completed and he was overcome by units streaming into his base. Flash conceded when his sole factory was destroyed. Flash was a little unlucky with his scouting when he sent his marine mid field. It barely missed the proxy and the was about a ten second span before it turned back and spotted the cheese. That 10 second window might just have been enough for Flash to finish his turrets.

Set 2:

GGPlay vs

Dongrae

Dongrae opened with a very greedy, very risky 14 CC. Unfortunately for him, GGPlay utilized his 6'th sense of gosuness and went for a fast lair inot 2 hatch muta. GGPlay sacrificed economy, with only one drone mining minerals at his natural, and amassed nearly 2 dozen speedlings. Dongrae set up a bunker at his natural, however, GGPlay came in with a great flank and shredded the bunker along with the marines. Dongrae was forced to pull scvs, losing a few, to stop the speedlings. GGPlay proceeded with more speedling raids which were successful in picing off lone marines coming out of the barracks. This was very smart play as it lowered Dongrae's marine count making harassing so much easier for the mutalisks. As the mutalisk's came, GGPlay showcased top class control taking out turrets, marines, and scv's. Dongrae was forced to abandon his natural on more than one occasion. The layout of the natural didn't help either as the mineral line was right up against impassible terrain which had pleny of space for the flyers. GGPlay bolstered his drone count and expanded. Dongrae, realizing he needs to do some damage, moved out with all of his marines. At that point though, GGPlay had too many mutas and crushed the attack along with Dongraes chances at victory. Dongrae was unwilling to leave and hung in till the last second, even taking out the unprotected 3'rd base with some ninja rines. He was clearly unhappy with the way the game went as he was countered, outplayed and in short, raped.

Winners:

GGPlay vs

Horang2

Both players opened standard. Horang fast expanded with the forge first and GGPlay went for the quick 3'rd base while teching to spire and den. After stargate Horang quickly teched to archons warping in 4 gateways and researching speed and +1 for his zealots. GGPlay's natural got slammed by +1 speed zeals and an archon right before GGPlay's macro and hydra pump kicked in. Despite great hydra micro and resilience, GGplay was unable to deal with speedlots now streaming in from 6 gateways. Zerglings were added in the end but were shredded quickly by the attack upgraded zealots and GGPlay was sent packing into the final match. Another low tier Protoss advances 2-0 into the MSL. It was very clever of Horang to use these strong rushes as he was going up against players of the highest caliber.

Losers:

Flash vs

Dongrae

Dongrae went for a customary 1 factory expand while Flash outsmarted his opponent by hiding a second factory and overwhelming him with a superior vulture count before he could get tanks. Flash displayed brilliant strategy and timing. Dongrae has been playing since 2004 and has never been able to advance into the ro16 of any league. You gotta feel sorry for the kid.

Final:

Flash vs

GGPlay

Both players went for standard builds. Flash did a great job keeping the 3 hatch muta at bay while amassing a large mid game ball. GGplay invested in late game by investing in a 3'rd and 4'th base. Flash knew he had to break GGPlay before that monstrosity kicked in and marched toward the zerg natural. GGPlay had over a dozen lurkers on the map and decided to sandwich the terran ball before swarm has completed. The flank epic failed. We are talking about "Savior vs FBH on Rush Hour 3" epic failed. GGPlay should have stalled and waited for swarm even if it meant sacrificing units and sunkens. Instead poor micro and decision making lost him the game.

Flash played well as always and will once again try to enter the bracket stage denied to him last season. Horang2 did exactly what he needed to do to win. Going up agains such strong players, electing such strategies is a sign of intelligence. Horang2 displayed great play and execution deserving himself an MSL entrance. GGPlay's game against Flash was pretty disappointing and now 2 Zerg legends have been slayed. I pray Gorush and Savior do better. Oh and good luck in the offline qualifiers, Dongrae.

Preview for groups 3 - 5

Starting in just under an hour is MST group three! Let's look at the matchups:

BaBy vs

Much

Although Much has not been playing greatly recently, he is still the better player than baby and PvT is his best matchup by far. Byzantium if a Protoss friendly map and I am expecting Much to advance to the winners set.

Saint vs

go.go

Saint has re surged as a 1v1 player in Proleague and has displayed decent TvZ. His drubbing of FireBatHero made me believe that he could triumph over go.go. Go.go has always been a rather mediocre Terran. His TvZ is not great, especially in the micro department. Still, he is 3-1in his last 4 TvZ matchups and players are on similar tiers skill-wise. I predict go.go to win with a slight margin.

For the winner's match we will probably see Much vs go.go. Broodwar Gods have been kind to the Protoss and if Bul_T and Horang2 can do it, then so can the veteran Much. Dispatching two mid-skilled Terrans should be no problem for Grampa Toss.

I don't know if Saint can go 2-0 against go.go and Baby to advance. It would be sad to see the first four Zergs all getting eliminated so let's hope he can do it. If go.go and Baby meet in the final set, the chances of one advancing would be 50/50. Go.go has had a slightly worse recent TvT record but has more overall experience than baby. Frankly though, neither of these three players has much chance of advancing past the round of 16.

Hope you faithful progaming fans will stay up late today because group 4 will feature two great Terrans returning to the MSL.

Hwasin vs

maGma

This is one of the easier predictions of this MST. Hwasin has always slayed Zergs and Magma is on a 6 game ZvT and 6 game overall losing streak. On top of that poor Magma has always preformed poorly in televised matches due to his nerves. Hwasin should easily rake ths game.

Midas vs

HerO

Midas is on a 6 game TvP losing streak and played horribly in the Classic getting eliminated 0-2. Hero has not been playing well either but if Midas plays like he did in the Classic, he will lose to Hero. Predicting Hero to advance.

Winners match, lets see. Hwasin, in the past year, has been 3-14 in PvT. Jesus, will Protss go 8-0, 4/4, in this tournament? Somebody kill them!

Midas is just as strong as Hwasin in TvZ so a repeat of game one is probable. Will every Zerg that has played thus far get eliminated? It's looking like it!

Hwasin and Midas will probably meet in the finas set for a potentially epic TvT. Hwasin has beaten Midas in Proleague and has the better recent TvT record. I thing Hwasin has the slight advantage and although one of these gosus is guaranteed and MSL entrance, it would be sad to see another sent home.

In a couple days we shall also see players duke it out in group 5 before another several day break from MST. In my opinion this group will be the most exciting as we will have a chance to see UpMagic's raging style.

Shuttle vs (T)

Sea

Sea is strong as ever and unlike Hwasin and Midas has not been slumping. Shuttle is on a 6 game losing streak (all losing streaks are 6 games long in this writeup :s ) in TvP, This is according to TLPD which did not include his semifinals run in the first Classic. Nevertheless Sea will probably stomp him giving Protoss their first loss in this Survivor (unless Hero or Much lose).

UpMagiC vs (Z)

by.great

UpMagic used to suck so badly in TvZ that I wanted to choke every single person who compared him to Boxer. However, in the past year, Up has been 10-4 in the matchup. Up really picked it up after Jaedong humiliated him 3-0 in EVER 2007 OSL. Great is a rising Samsung Zerg but UpMagic has been just too hot in TvZ lately.

Up will use style and skill to beat Sea and advance 2-0, or so I hope. Up, the seeming underdog, actually has a good chance of winning this game as he has won his last 2 TvT games. This game has the potential to be an exciting TvT and I sure hope it will be. ALL TvT games should be exciting.

The winner of Shuttle/Great will most likely be killed by one of the Terrans. The exception is Upmagic beating Shuttle for Up has been a horrible 1-11 in TvP since his EVER 2007 outing. Unless Up meets Shuttle, both Terrans should advance.

For everything on the current Survivor Tournament, go to the MST Results and Standings thread.

For any additional information regarding the MSL go to the Ultimate MSL FAQ

Cheers :-3

[MST] Group 1-2 Review

[MST] Group 1-2 Review

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