EPT▶ May 13th, 2009 - Shinhan Proleague 08-09 Round 4
◆ KTF vs STX Set 2 (Map Outsider) Flash vs Notice
Sup, this is Kang Min.
This time we will analyze the game between KTF's core pillar Flash and STX Soul's upcoming rookie Notice.
Flash is a player who will always make the best decision. Whether he is in a horrid or advantageous situation, you can trust Flash to make the best choices. Perhaps this is why he has earned his title, "current best Terran"? This match was no different; he made no mistakes and eventually won a hard-earned victory.
Hwasin has always been the core player of STX's Terran Lineup. Sure, there have been many players to support Hwasin in this lineup but all of them have failed to last a long time.
Despite all this, a new player named Notice arrived. Though he his record doesn't show it, he has a lot of potential and has performed brilliantly in the Proleague. (All Kill vs Ace - Casy, Reach, Anytime, Oversky, and 3-kills vs Hite SPARKYZ - Chalrenge, go.go and Leta)
![[image loading]](http://www.fomos.kr/board/issue/1242458056_2.jpg)
Rematch between Flash and Notice after their game on Round 3 Week 3
The two previously met in Round 3 Week 3 in a game that Flash won. Notice's late game play was good, but he failed to deal a gamebreaking blow for victory.
In this game, Notice did have several chances to win. Had his early game tactical strategy been a little different, he could have won the game.
Flash opted for a 2port Wraith build while Notice went 1Fact Expand.
![[image loading]](http://www.fomos.kr/board/issue/1242458056_3.jpg)
Flash goes for wraiths, Notice for 1fact expand
Flash's build was tough to predict and for Notice who was clueless about it, his defense was commendable. Flash did manage to pick off quite a number of Notice's SCVs, Notice countered by killing some of Flash's SCVs with his tanks. He also managed to buy some time with marines from his 1 barracks.
Because he had 2 CCs, Notice could quickly restore his SCV count and the game entered the mid-game phase.
As the game progressed, Notice calmly scouted for expansions. By wiggling his marine through the mineral line with his SCV, Notice scouted Flash's 11 Expo.
The 11 Expo that he scouted would have been a potential turning factor of the game. Notice finished his wraith defense and moved out his army of 4 tanks and 3 goliaths.
The force took position below Flash's assimilator. I think the choice here was excellent.
However, maybe this early force got a little too cozy. They just wouldn't move from their spot for a while. Since he had known that Flash's nat was taken late, Notice could have used this force to attack other parts of the map. The 11 expo would have been the best decision and could have changed the flow of the game.
![[image loading]](http://www.fomos.kr/board/issue/1242458056_4.jpg)
Flash attacks with wraiths and dropships
If Notice had thought of the 11 expo just a little bit, Flash's 3rd would have been delayed and the game would have proceeded in various ways.
Flash could have taken his 3rd elsewhere or tighten his defense with wraiths and dropships.
Provided that Notice went for Flash's 11 expo instead, Flash would have set up his defense with tanks and wraiths for sight and this would have been a crucial timing for Notice.
If the game had flown that way, Flash's wraiths and dropships would have been tied up and the wraith harassment that continued til mid game would have been minimized. Even if Flash ignored the pressure and went for Notice's base, Notice could have defended the attack because Flash's initial force had not moved.
Furthermore, 3 goliaths with 2 scans are enough to counter cloaked wraiths and since his engineering bay was almost complete, he could have used to situation to his advantage a bit more.
Going for the 11 expo while letting Flash set up his nat was not a bad thing for Notice. In the big picture, Notice who had the 9 starting position expo would have been better for him.
Probably one of the reasons why Notice failed to make these decisions was probably because his opponent was none other than Flash. Wraiths are a unit that require constant control to damage the opponent. Flash was able to use them well and distract Notice's attention.
Flash's 11 expo begins to become functional while Notice gets his 9 expo under way after defending Flash's drops. Until now, I feel that Notice's initial troops could have been used better.
If he had moved them to the 9 expo, he could have blocked Flash's drop more easily and would have resulted in a more comfortable outcome.
Because he had taken the 9 expo, he had a lot of SCVs there. Had he used them to build turrets and form a line on the 10'o clock region, Flash would have been unable to mine properly from his 11 expo. Then, Flash's consecutive attacks would not have happened either.
Flash's second gas expo was slow, so Notice did not have to worry about Flash's wraith/tank attack. Harassing Flash's 11 expo could have gotten very important results for Notice.
Comparing the two's late game management skill, as the game progressed things looked better for Notice. Of course, this is considering when neither inflicted any damage on the other.
Flash knew that he could not win with his build on the defensive; as a result he showcased one of his biggest strengths, speed.
If Notice had held these attacks off well, victory would naturally have followed. He did show calmness in defending Flash's attacks.
As if he knew the positions of Flash's dropships, he managed to inflict damage with a small number goliaths in the center. His sense here was outstanding.
After this, there were two big battles in the center. Flash won the first and managed to establish a very advantageous position above Notice's natural. The second battle ensued as Flash maintained his comfortable position.
![[image loading]](http://www.fomos.kr/board/issue/1242458056_5.jpg)
Flash doesn't lose his advantage by continually attacking with wraiths and dropships
Flash's confidence grew, only to be pummeled down by a disastrous second battle that left him with a very flustered expression. (Admittedly, his situation looked very good. He had won the previous battle and he was above Notice by 20 food count)
Notice won the second battle because his upgrades were on par and his army size and position were good. Especially critical was his quick sieging of his tanks as if he knew Flash's army was coming. The battle turned out favorably for Notice and he managed to kill all of Flash's units.
Plus, Notice's 9 expo was already fully functional so he was able to constantly stream units out of his factories. However, mistakes are surprisingly common in advantageous situations.
After winning the second battle, Notice grew hasty and lost his earlier calm play.
Notice decided to attack, but instead of going for Flash's mineral expo, he should have went for his natural or 2 expo. Scanning the expo to see if it was heavily defended would have helped too.
Once Terrans get at least 4 expos, their gas becomes more important than their minerals. As a result, destroying Flash's mineral expo would not have been as lethal.
The best option here would have been to destroy Flash's mineral expo because it was doable and return to the center afterwards.
If Notice had concentrated in the center and built turrets, he could have made the situation better.
Clearing Flash's army on top of the 9 expo natural would have been nice but Notice wouldn't have far more behind had he chose to attack it later. The most important point was the center of the map.
Notice should have focused on the center until he could freely move his dropships with well placed units. It would have been fine to clear Flash's forces at 9 after then. Had he been a bit more patient it is quite possible that he would have won the game.
However, Notice lost his earlier rationality and decided to continue pushing into Flash's nat after mulling down his mineral expo.
As Flash recovered from Notice's push, he also destroyed Notice's 7 expo. Though Notice had lots of minerals, he had no gas and his army could not match Flash's.
Flash pounced at this opportunity and did not let Notice regain his 7 expo. This eventually led to Flash's victory.
![[image loading]](http://www.fomos.kr/board/issue/1242458056_6.jpg)
Notice's late turret construction to Flash's drops
Perhaps the greatest mistake in part of Notice was his neglect on turret construction.
After the first battle, Notice should have suppressed Flash's dropships with turrets. He had plenty of resources and judging by his 9 expo, he had already thought of the big picture of how the game should proceed.
While defending the center with his units, he should have built turrets starting from the 9 expo nat down to the 7 expo and to his main, drawing a large ㄴ shaped turret line. Had he done this, the game would have been on of his greatest victories.
Flash on the other hand isn't a great player simply just for his speed. Because he is fast, his opponents make mistakes in their thinking. As a result, their thinking timing becomes wrong and their execution timing also gets messed up.
Truthfully, hand speed can easily be developed through repeated practice. Most important is the thinking process of how to win the game. I think that the scale of the winning strategy, the processes to make that happen, the ability to think of all this in 0.5 to 1 second, and high concentration is the winning control.
This all needs to be learned through practice and training so memorizing each important situation is crucial. The speed at which you think of the winning plan is perhaps the most important thing.
Flash himself too, would have been surprised at the speed of growth among the new players, just like how he amazed everyone when he was a rookie.
I thank both the players who brought the 'Truthful TvT'.
I think Notice's development is worth watching and trust that Flash will continue to show his dominance in his games.
