OGN Starchallenge 2007 - June 27 - Group E
My god, I nearly wet myself as I saw what was coming in this group. Possibly the best group in terms of player talent and potential in this seasons Starchallenge. Mind, a new upcoming Terran in Pantech, Much, the player who does so well, but doesn't suceed, but is still impressive, and two excellent Neo Zergs in Jaedong and Luxury. Regardless of maps, all games theoretically will most likely provide something good.
For results of previous groups, see this thread.
Game 1. Inter.MinD (T) vs Much[gm] (P) @ Monty Hall
Game 2. n.diE_Jaedong (Z) vs Luxury[GsP] (Z) @ Monty Hall
Winners Game: Game 1 Winner vs Game 2 Winner @ Hitchhiker
Losers Game: Game 1 Loser vs Game 2 Loser @ Fantasy
Final Game: Game 3 Loser vs Game 4 Winner @ Python
Winners of the Games in bold advance to the Dual Tournament
Mind (T, Pantech EX) vs Much (P, CJ Entus)
@ Monty Hall
I assume Mind came to this place via PSL, while Much bummed out of last seasons ODT in a tough group which included fOrGG, Light and oov. Monty Hall is a reasonably balanced map TvP wise (13-10 in Proleague). I think that what will decide the victor in the end is what strategies both players use. I have only seen Mind in one game (a TvP where he got horribly stomped), while Much has been roaming around in various proleague matches (8-6). If both players go straight up standard, Much will be the winner in the end, but if any cheese occurs from either players, it can easily go any way.
Jaedong (Z, Lecaf OZ) vs Luxury (Z, OGN Sparkyz)
@ Monty Hall
Now this is a match I want to see. Although many spectators find Zerg vs Zerg to be terribly boring, I find it to be very entertaining. Both Luxury and Jaedong came from the Dual Tournament, incidentally, Jaedong losing to Much in the first round, while Luxury lost to Up and Shark. Both Jaedong and Luxury are extremely good Zerg players in my opinion, and thus, this game is open to many strategies, being the map Monty Hall is. Luxury is 3-1 vs Z while Jaedong is 1-0, Proleague wise. Frankly, this is more than a toin coss, depending on what build order both players do. If the moment comes though, both players do the same build order etc, I think Luxury will come up on top.
@ Hitchhiker
This will end up a non-mirror match up. If predictions tell me Much vs Luxury, I just simply feel Much has the slight edge here, since Luxury has not been performing well against Protoss in the proleague. If it is Any of the Zergs vs Mind, I just cannot simply pass on the Zergs. If it is Jaedong vs Much, I, have to say, I don't find Jaedong's ZvP that great, but there might be a chance he could beat Much, but not that much of a chance.
@ Fantasy
Being the map in Fantasy, anything, any matchup, can go either way. I feel that Mind will exit out through this game though against any player, because I have not seen enough of his play.
@ Python
Most likely, this will end up to be Jaedong vs Luxury again. Python is a simple-minded ZvZ map, so, like Monty Hall, it can end up any way.