EPTBy Ideas
Almost exactly one week ago I wrote this article about how STX was going to win the Proleague. HOWEVER, I started writing that article long before I knew what the format of the playoffs would be and before I realized the harshness of the real world (that fairy tales don’t exist and the good guy doesn't always win). Now sit back and learn what life is REALLY like and why Hwaseung Oz will win this Proleague.
![[image loading]](http://www.fomos.kr/board/photo/1237706301_1.jpg)
1. Hunger
In March of this year Oz’s well-deserved Winners League trophy was stolen from them right before victory by the unbelievably cheesy and untalented SkyHigh. After defeating Jaedong on the gravely Terran-favoring map Rush Hour 3 with both a positional advantage and BO advantage (supply barracks supply is so anti-5pool), he cheesed 2 non-Backho Protosses and defeated poor Hiya in the final match (who just couldn’t stand the pressure is all). Every night before each Oz member goes to bed, they pray for the death of SkyHigh and another shot at a Proleague title. Well, here it is.
2. The Tyrant
![[image loading]](http://www.nevergg.net/photos/575124888_NFBQw-L.jpg)
EVER2007 OSL. Batoo OSL. GOMTV S4 MSL. GSL S1. WCG Korea 2008. Averatec Intel Classic Special Match. Most wins Shinhan 08-09 Proleague. Career 244-111 (68.73%). Father of the greatest 27-game streak of all time. What else needs to be said of this StarCraft Prodigy? Everyone fears this man, no one questions his success. Undoubtedly the strongest and most-skilled player to ever pick up a mouse, Jaedong cannot and will not be stopped. A few fluke wins can’t keep this man down, and once whichever pathetic team arises from the playoff semifinals to meet Oz, Jaedong will unquestionably lay an amazing beatdown on whoever the opposition sends to snipe him. He will be well-rested and extremely in shape, and we will probably see this monster take StarCraft to a whole new level come late July.
3. The Format
![[image loading]](http://www.fomos.kr/gnuboard4/data/file/kangfree/2000945833_32ece25d_090719lock.jpg)
There is no doubt that Hwaseung’s coach was the main architect of the Proleague Playoffs format. The format has already proven to fully maximize S-class players. In this format, Hwaseung Oz players need to only nab 2 wins in 1 match and then hand it off to Jaedong for the slam-dunk (who can win his set, the ace match, and then the super-ace match for the win). In fact, JD might be able to even lose one of his games (although that event is very unlikely) as KHAN has already proven that a team can win in this format based almost solely on fluke wins. While at 1st that may seem bad for Oz, fear not: a rested Jaedong does not suffer fluke loses.
4. Practice Partners
4.1
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/205.jpg)
Although in a small slump right now, Hiya was once one of the beastliest Terrans in the league, with the 4th best record of anyone in Winner’s League (basically the best performer outside of JD/flash/Bisu). His recent record may seem awful to some, but remember, this guy practices with Jaedong! He’s got 2 weeks to get his act together and I have no doubt that by then he will at least be able to take one game off of some unsuspecting CJ or KHAN player.
4.2
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/221.jpg)
Everyone’s favorite Protoss player, Backho is currently the 2nd best player on Oz. Extremely inconsistent, you can count on this young lad to completely flabbergast some poor chump in the Playoffs. Backho prides himself on defeating tough opponents, so there’s no doubt that come the time, Backho will take down whoever the opposing team’s strongest player is and make it look easy.
4.3
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/players/208.jpg)
In 2008, Lomo ALMOST beat flash and Jaedong in a BoX series!
5. Perfection
![[image loading]](http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/pseudo/univers.jpg)
Once in a rare while a young rookie comes along and instantly starts to dominate the scene. Perfectman is one of those players. Perfectman defeated Iris, who was fresh off of 3-0ing Effort and beating Bisu, on a hugely Terran-favored map and he made it look easy. He didn't even practice the stategy he used for very long either:
"Up until Wednesday, I initially practiced standard builds, but occasionally I used strategic plays against players that I practiced with. But then the strategy I used was working well, so I decided to use it because of my desire to win."
Recent times are dark for Protoss players, but the rumored 7th Dragon is finally upon us, and he is Perfect:
". I was going to eat OoHwangChungShimHwan but my hyungs told me if I ate that for my first match, I would end up having to eat it for every following match so I didn’t."
Perfectman not only has nerves of steel, not only PERFECT micro, but he is also a master of mindgames:
"I wanted to lower the other team’s morale, and I also wanted to get my name recognized more. I watched InkiGayo (t/n: music show program) and saw 2PM (t/n: Korean boy group) perform and thought they were so cool, so I decided to use their dance."
Oz not only has a Tyrant, but now they have themselves a Dragon too, and this Dragon wants blood. SKT1 blood. For more, read this article.
6. Lack of Competition
Let’s face facts; the competition is pathetic this season. I don’t know what it is, but after the two strongest teams were eliminated, it really seems like the average level of StarCraft being played right now has really dropped compared to say the 2007 Proleague. Even if Jaedong wasn’t playing on Oz they would still have a 50/50 shot at taking this thing.
![[image loading]](http://i39.tinypic.com/dey6id.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/Plexa/proleague.png)
