Group G: April 19th – 18:30
Game 1 - Nal_keke (Z) vs GanZi[3.33] (T) @ Longinus 2
Game 2 - IriS (T) vs StOrk (P) @ Longinus 2
Winners - Blitz X
Losers - Blitz X
Final - Reverse Temple
@ Longinus 2
Nal_Keke is a favourite among TL members, having a warm and fuzzy past with many top foreign players. Aside from being a nice guy, he’s been playing decently well lately. But he’s up against what is undeniably the most consistently terrifying thing that the prelims and survivor have had to offer... a random, faceless Terran. If the past is any indication of the future, Keke is doomed. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.
@ Longinus 2
A classic match up between two great players that always seem to run into each other for some reason. Stork is coming off of a great duel league win against a formidable ZvP specialist in 815[Hyo] and seems to be back to his old self after some tough times in the past year. Iris on the other hand is a dominant terran who’s showing no signs of slowing down. We know he’s gotten DJEtter’s praise for his TvT, so let’s see what he can do against a Protoss.
Remaining Games
In light of the recent Duel and Survivor groups, I’ve come to the conclusion that predicting these later stages will just make me look a dumbass. It goes without saying that Stork and Iris are leaps and bounds above the other two in this group, but since they’re playing each other first anything can happen. I’ll leave it at that, lest my face be red later tonight.
We in the midst of perhaps the most intense flurry of games we've had all year. Isn't it fitting then? that we have two of the most deadly ODT groups tonight?
Group C:
April 19 – 14:00 Korean
@ Longinus 2
In ForGG, we have a player who rolled over a fairly in-shape Kingdom to reach the 2nd stage of ODT, and in Much we have a simply on-fire guy who still hasn't run out of steam. I don't think anyone can really pick a true favorite in this matchup, but perhaps ForGG has an edge by practicing TvP in stage 1 (while Much had a PvZ).
@ Longinus 2
Iloveoov is starting to consistently show signs of his cheater playstyle (other than his inexplicable fumble against Child), while Light himself has triumphed over a TvT stalwart in Shine in order to get here. The question here will be whether Light's victory was a result of an improved TvT, or because of Shine's chokejob. Oov is undoubtedly the favorite, but it probably won't be quite the cakewalk he had against Hazin.
So there's a good chance we'll see Oov vs the Match A winner here on Arkanoid. You might remember how the Oov vs Much game on Arkanoid went last season (hint: it wasn't pretty for the Toss), and ForGG has had a somewhat questionable TvT. Being on a map like Arkanoid won't help his cause either.
Whether Light wins or loses agianst Oov, he must be hoping that Much does the same. But then again, ForGG's TvT has historically been as suspect as that of Light's. The last thing I want to see here is Light vs ForGG on Arkanoid, with both players fumbling around. Then again, the map tends to be a toss graveyard early~mid game. I'm expecting Light to win, whoever he happens to face.
Too many Terran mirrors
Chances are, we're going to have a TvT here, whomever the players happen to be. But then again, Hitchhiker has been an entertaining map for TvT play, so it should be fun.
Group B:
April 19 – 18:30 Korean
@ Longinus 2
To be honest I didn't expect an off-form Anytime to even make it out of stage 1, but I guess he was fortunately to face an obviously nervous Jangbi as his opponent. Bifrost usually plays an extremely annoying turtle terran on this map, but Tester demonstrated in Stage 1 that he is quite vulnerable to well set up flanks. The outcome of this match is going to depend solely on how well Anytime can execute his attacks.
@ Longinus 2
These two have been pretty much MIA for proleague this week, with Hwasin only playing in a 2v2 despite being the STX ace. July apparently didn't even show up to the match against STX, according to a poster in the live report thread. Well MBC is at least winning, STX is going to be pretty pissed if Hwasin practiced without regard for proleague and can't leave good results here. Both players have been largely untested thus far, with July playing a shaky ZvZ against Silver, and Hwasin stomping all over Jihyun (but come on, it's Jihyun). The best case-study is the way Hwasin has played Longinus II agianst Savior in the past, usually denying the double gas expansion in an efficient manner. If he can play on the same level as he did in those games, I must say he'd be the favorite on this particular map.
If Hwasin wins, he's pretty much going to lose to the winner of match 1. His TvP and TvT, while not awful, aren't anything you'd call over your roommates for. If July wins, he's the clear favorite to win against Anytime, and at least a slight favorite against Bifrost (seeing how nasty dark swarm can be in the narrow corridors of Arkanoid, he's the clear favorite if he reaches Hive without much trouble).
Ditto above? By the way, does anyone else think that Oov is considerably more gorilla-like now in 2007 than he was back in 2004?
Hmm, I'm thinking July vs Hwasin here, which will be a damn fun game to watch (okay, maybe you can replace that with "I'm hoping for"). TvZ puhleeeaaazzzeeee.