First and foremost, I must do my thanks.
- pachi for these images, if it weren't for him, we would have been left with a bland 'awards' ceremony.
- Orome, Manifesto7 and Arbiter[frolix] for conducting the awards in previous years.
- You, the community, for voicing your opinions.
- Finally, the long lost mensrea who started it all in the first place.
Now, let us proceed with the awards.
Won Previously by: Boxer/HOT/Xellos, July, iloveoov, sAviOr
This year it is undisputedly given to the revolutionist,
Bisu.
As sAviOr dominated in 2006, Bisu dominated in 2007, with two straight MSL's and a semi-final appearance in the OSL, there was no one to match him in terms of consistancy. Although he struggled later on in the year (especially in the proleague), he still shows that he was the one to beat in 2007.
kNyTTyM
During the 2007 year he was the closest to the bonjwa title. He won GomTV 1 and 2 and was the runner up in season 3. In his first MSL win, he dismantled the strongest ZvP player in the world and in his second final appearance, he beat Stork in an epic bo5 series. He revolutionized PvZ by making FE sair builds popular and shows consistent play in starleagues. During this year, all is losses were considered upsets therefore showing the reputation he has gained as best player of 2007.
DJEtterStyle
There just can't be any debate on this one: Bisu was the best player of 2007. Two MSL wins, an MSL second place, and an OSL third place? In a single year? Come on.
During the 2007 year he was the closest to the bonjwa title. He won GomTV 1 and 2 and was the runner up in season 3. In his first MSL win, he dismantled the strongest ZvP player in the world and in his second final appearance, he beat Stork in an epic bo5 series. He revolutionized PvZ by making FE sair builds popular and shows consistent play in starleagues. During this year, all is losses were considered upsets therefore showing the reputation he has gained as best player of 2007.
DJEtterStyle
There just can't be any debate on this one: Bisu was the best player of 2007. Two MSL wins, an MSL second place, and an OSL third place? In a single year? Come on.
Won Previously by: Mumyung, Doggi, JJu, Child
Much debate was in my head in this one, but I am embarassed enough to give it to former starleague winner
Casy.
What the hell? What the hell? A 4th placing in the OSL's to downright suckiness? That's right. After his semi-final nailbiting loss to Nada, he went on some sort of slump, and has;
- Joined a new team.
- Failed to qualify for the OSL, even more so, the OSC
- Failed to qualify for the MSL AND the Survivor Tournament
- Struggled to keep a consistent proleague spot for his team (my god even Baby is playing better than him)
Where is he now? Probably partying out at Korean nightclubs (Rek should know this) and is slowly corroding his Starcraft career away.
LosingID8
After his 3-2 loss to Nada in the Shinhan 3 OSL, he has amassed a grand total of 5 wins and 19 losses, and is currently on a 9-game losing streak.
Plexa
while you could go out naming shitty A level gamers (hello pokju?) you jsut cant ignore this former OSL champ preforming so badly this year (bar a semi-final)
After his 3-2 loss to Nada in the Shinhan 3 OSL, he has amassed a grand total of 5 wins and 19 losses, and is currently on a 9-game losing streak.
Plexa
while you could go out naming shitty A level gamers (hello pokju?) you jsut cant ignore this former OSL champ preforming so badly this year (bar a semi-final)
Won Previously by: July, Boxer (x2)
Creativity in both maps and players came and went, so there are two winners for this award.
UpMagiC and Silver
I'll let the people talk about them
semioldguy
Upmagic, for his unique approach and non-standard play. For a player who does not rely on standard builds, he is able to blend non standard game options and turn them into more standard builds at just the right time in games. He gets further into starleagues this year than other creative players and is one of eStro's Aces to boot. The only other player I would honestly consider this for would be Boxer, but UpMagic has shown better results.
DJEtterStyle
As much as I hate his play, Silver's ZvT build on Monty Hall was a stroke of genius, especially given how many crybaby Zergs were bitching about the map's TvZ balance.
Upmagic, for his unique approach and non-standard play. For a player who does not rely on standard builds, he is able to blend non standard game options and turn them into more standard builds at just the right time in games. He gets further into starleagues this year than other creative players and is one of eStro's Aces to boot. The only other player I would honestly consider this for would be Boxer, but UpMagic has shown better results.
DJEtterStyle
As much as I hate his play, Silver's ZvT build on Monty Hall was a stroke of genius, especially given how many crybaby Zergs were bitching about the map's TvZ balance.
Won Previously by: rA, YellOw, Reach
As I instated the rule of less then ten games a bit late, I feel a bit sorry for myself, but rules have to be rules.
This one is given to Kingdom, but unfortunately he is in hospital and cannot accept the prize, so in spirit he earns it.
Everyone thought that 2007 would be the comeback year for Kingdom, after doing good in 2006, but for some reason, he didn't appear anywhere, at all, with only a few Proleague games up his belt.
semioldguy
He has a total of six televised matches this year. He has not qualified for a starleague, only gotten out of preliminaries once, and is a rare appearance for SKT in Proleague. People who are suggesting players like Goodfriend, Yellow and Chojja forget that these players all had many appearances in the first round of proleague this year and it wasn't until the second part of the year that they disappeared. Kingdom has been missing in action the whole year with only a few appearances and none of them near to each other.
He has a total of six televised matches this year. He has not qualified for a starleague, only gotten out of preliminaries once, and is a rare appearance for SKT in Proleague. People who are suggesting players like Goodfriend, Yellow and Chojja forget that these players all had many appearances in the first round of proleague this year and it wasn't until the second part of the year that they disappeared. Kingdom has been missing in action the whole year with only a few appearances and none of them near to each other.
Won Previously by: MBCgame HERO
This would have been given to Lecaf, but since they do not have a broad range of good players, this is given to
CJ Entus.
With a pleothora of good players such as Xellos, Savior, Much and Iris with new talent to back them up like Kwanro, Memory, Darkelf and Skyhigh, who wouldn't look past them?
IdrA
constantly turning out great individual league performances(4 of top 8 in gom2?) as well as solid proleague records. unlike samsung and lecaf they dont rely on 2 players to carry them through proleague, which works but doesnt make for an overall best team.
Plexa
not that they were a dominant force in PL rnd 1, but they are doing so well this season and they have a plethora of players soaking both leagues
constantly turning out great individual league performances(4 of top 8 in gom2?) as well as solid proleague records. unlike samsung and lecaf they dont rely on 2 players to carry them through proleague, which works but doesnt make for an overall best team.
Plexa
not that they were a dominant force in PL rnd 1, but they are doing so well this season and they have a plethora of players soaking both leagues
Won Previously by: Jinsu, iloveoov's nexus fry, Boxer > Yellow in 30 minutes, GARIMTO's comeback
Bisu > sAviOr 3-0 in the GOM TV S1 Finals
kNyTTyM
No question it is Bisu 3-0 over sAviOr. Some protoss kid makes it to the finals of a starleague and is up against the freaking maestro of zerg. sAviOr is the freaking king of ZvP and this kid annihilates him 3-0!? Wow is all anybody could say
semioldguy
Savior was an extreme favorite, having stamped out every other protoss opposition in the past and this (at the time) nobody Bisu comes out of nowhere to snatch a Starleague title right from under Savior's nose. Everyone was surprised at the result of those finals; and if you say you aren't you are either lying or at the time you were mentally insane.
No question it is Bisu 3-0 over sAviOr. Some protoss kid makes it to the finals of a starleague and is up against the freaking maestro of zerg. sAviOr is the freaking king of ZvP and this kid annihilates him 3-0!? Wow is all anybody could say
semioldguy
Savior was an extreme favorite, having stamped out every other protoss opposition in the past and this (at the time) nobody Bisu comes out of nowhere to snatch a Starleague title right from under Savior's nose. Everyone was surprised at the result of those finals; and if you say you aren't you are either lying or at the time you were mentally insane.
Honorable Mention goes to firebathero's random and stupid antics.
No quote here, just a video to prove it.
Won Previously by: Nada vs Junwi, Control vs Reach, iloveoov vs Reach, rA vs sAviOr
We had alot of epic games this year, but this is one is epicier then all of them, this is
sAviOr vs Iris Game 5 Shinhan OSL S3 Semi-Final on Neo Arkanoid.
From what was thought to be a clear win for Iris came into a win for sAviOr in a great demonstration of skill, as he managed to hold in for a solid 30 minutes or so to seal himself a victory (which eventually came championship).
semioldguy
With nearly everything on the line, a finals appearance that would likely have been a win for either player, both Savior and Iris played at top form. Not only was this one of the most exciting games of the year, it was between two high-profile teammates, it was in a match with high stakes, the finals of a best of five match, and had the audience on their toes nearly the entire time. Nothing about this game is anything but spectacular.
ATeddyBear
non-stop TvZ action, pressure from terran, defense from zerg, scv drop
With nearly everything on the line, a finals appearance that would likely have been a win for either player, both Savior and Iris played at top form. Not only was this one of the most exciting games of the year, it was between two high-profile teammates, it was in a match with high stakes, the finals of a best of five match, and had the audience on their toes nearly the entire time. Nothing about this game is anything but spectacular.
ATeddyBear
non-stop TvZ action, pressure from terran, defense from zerg, scv drop
A flock of newcomers arrived, trying to dominate. There were a few who stood out, but the one who stood out the most was;
Flash.
From virtually being an unknown just qualifying for the first time in the preliminaries to becoming an OSL semi-finalist to being a team ace, Flash deserves this award. Although Mind won an MSL, what else did he do before that?
LosingID8
Flash, in his debut OSL he gets to the semis, and after that is able to qualify for OSL again. He is practically the only reason why KTF isn't at the bottom of the proleague rankings. (and a 61.90% win rate with no weak match-up!)
semioldguy
Flash. he qualified for four starleagues this year, and made it to the quarterfinals of his first OSL. In addition he has been a solid performer in Proleague and looks to have a lot of promise in the future. He literally had not played televised before this year and has shown that he can be a force to be reckoned with.
Flash, in his debut OSL he gets to the semis, and after that is able to qualify for OSL again. He is practically the only reason why KTF isn't at the bottom of the proleague rankings. (and a 61.90% win rate with no weak match-up!)
semioldguy
Flash. he qualified for four starleagues this year, and made it to the quarterfinals of his first OSL. In addition he has been a solid performer in Proleague and looks to have a lot of promise in the future. He literally had not played televised before this year and has shown that he can be a force to be reckoned with.
There were only a select few who were nominated for this award, but looking from a broader perspective, this goes to
Stork.
I believe this post by Plexa sums it up.
- He carried Khan in Proleague; as did Sea for MBC and Anytime for Lecaf
- Lead Khan to victory in PL Season 1
- Won MVP for Season 1
- He has the second most wins in Proleague
- He has a higher Proleague elo than Anytime (ie his opponents were tougher)
Now this one.... is my choice, because I do not approve (sorry) of the votes for Jaedong and Stork. Jaedong was MVP in 2006, so how has he improved? Just because he won a starleague doesn't mean it. Same with Stork, he has been consistent all throughout the past few years.
So this one may be a shot in the arm for some people, but this goes to
DarkElf.
Yes, I went there. Darkelf used to be THE new punching bag in past leagues, but is now a strong contender to do very well in 2008. He has helped his team strongly in the proleague, and being in tough groups, has not had the chance to unleash his potential.
DJEtterStyle
The guy went from punching bag to legitimate player. Despite debuting in late 2005, DarkElf had only played 12 televised games before 2007, earning a 3-9 record in that span of time. In 2007, DarkElf went 29-20 and made the OSL twice. Then he got stuck with two of the hardest groups in the history of the sport. In Daum, DE's group consisted of him, Nada, Bisu, and Hwasin. In EVER 2007, it was him, Jaedong, Stork, and Nada. He's been a consistent Proleague performer for CJ, and getting play in the PL means that a player is doing well in the in-team tournaments, as well.
The guy went from punching bag to legitimate player. Despite debuting in late 2005, DarkElf had only played 12 televised games before 2007, earning a 3-9 record in that span of time. In 2007, DarkElf went 29-20 and made the OSL twice. Then he got stuck with two of the hardest groups in the history of the sport. In Daum, DE's group consisted of him, Nada, Bisu, and Hwasin. In EVER 2007, it was him, Jaedong, Stork, and Nada. He's been a consistent Proleague performer for CJ, and getting play in the PL means that a player is doing well in the in-team tournaments, as well.
Well there you have it, comments, criticism and suggestions, just post in this news topic.
For a good year of progaming in 2008, .