A week has already flown by! Using the 41MLS as filler entertainment, it is finally time to see the top four players compete in the Terror Starleague. Terror continues his streak of entertainment with the promise of live fans and stargirls during the semifinals broadcast. The viewer count on Afreeca alone breaks 20k concurrent viewers and the only streamer competition is returning Brood War god, Nada! Starcraft not only feels revived, but is more exciting than ever. We are sharing a time void of strict rules and games ending because of too many 'P's during a much needed in game pause. This weekend's games are a must see event. The Terror Starleague has turned into such a treat running between SSL's and KSL's. So grab your foam fingers, popcorn, and post your best cheerfuls as the the top 4 players in the world compete this weekend.
This was supposed to be closer than the results show. Bisu seems to have finally overcome his PvP weaknesses that plagued him in the final KESPA years. It’s time to throw away that memory. He remains unrivaled in PvP with an 18-2 record. His current 10 game winning streak is just 7 short of the current record holder BeSt(17-0). One more PvP win and he will mirror the worst PvP losing streak held by Movie (0-11).
Moooooooooong!!!!!!!! I feel like this is the equivalent of Luke losing to Darth Vader. Zerg are evil and menacing. Terran sent out word, “Do not lose to the Zerg!” Fortunately for hero, Mong missed the message. Revealing once again he has a TvZ weakness, hero was able to rebound from a 1-0 deficit to take the series. This is definitely a must see series, because frankly I’m not sure anyone would believe me if I told them hero defeated a Terran player.
There’s one thing that is known from Sea’s 2-0 victory over Last. That Last must have either small feet or a big mouth. Last certainly put his foot in his mouth after claiming he was unbeatable in TvT before the SSL10 finals. Last has lost 6 of his 10 most recent TvT’s. Sea on the other hand boosts his TvT win percentage. He now owns a 6 game TvT win streak, just 16 short of record holder Flash (22-0).
It’s no doubt what kind of sSak Choi Ho Seon really is. sSak's play was that equivalent to a potato. Zero took control of both games and helped hero in shredding the undefeated TvZ record that was upheld in the round of 16. Zero had it easy here, but no doubt his match up versus Sea will be a true test.
Saturday, Apr 18 1:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00)
Bisu versus hero are 3:3 head to head over the last year. They have not run into each other in an official match since the finals of SSL9. Bisu’s dominance over PvZ doesn't resonate the same way it did in the KESPA era, yet he still remains the best PvZer in the world. Hero, fortunately, could be argued as the best ZvPer in the world. Only recently has he lost some questionable games to Jaehoon, a player notably weak in that matchup. Excluding his recent loses, hero has gone 13-2 with a 79% winrate since last December. It’s safe to say, while the competition wasn't Bisu level, hero has been playing quite well against Protoss.
Game 1: Circuit Breaker
Circuit Breaker offers an exciting start to this series. The map is rather large and opens up a few options Zerg may not consider on other maps. Mutas close distance quickly on this map and with a rather large main, they offer a tasteful opportunity to indulge in some probe snacks. If mutas don’t give your fill then on close spawn positions, doom drops look rather enticing.
On the defensive side, Hero is going to have to rely on nydus worms to balance the map. A distant third is going to open up multi-prong harassment for Bisu. If Bisu can remain active with his corsairs, these aerial scouts will give him all the information required to target down exposed hatcheries.
Verdict: The wide natural and potential for 9 pools really worry me over Bisu’s survival in the early game. If hero doesn’t 9 pool on this map then Bisu will take game 1.
Bisu 1:0 Hero
On the defensive side, Hero is going to have to rely on nydus worms to balance the map. A distant third is going to open up multi-prong harassment for Bisu. If Bisu can remain active with his corsairs, these aerial scouts will give him all the information required to target down exposed hatcheries.
Verdict: The wide natural and potential for 9 pools really worry me over Bisu’s survival in the early game. If hero doesn’t 9 pool on this map then Bisu will take game 1.
Bisu 1:0 Hero
Game 2: Blue Storm
A two player map played as the second map. What a great second game to be played here too. People may remember it for imbalance in TvZ, but it has a near perfect 50% win rate among the PvZ matches. This map is designed in such a way that the natural is hard to take for Protoss and the third is hard to take for Zerg. Both are essential expansion points in this matchup. If ever a game wasn't played standard, it will happen here. Bisu’s key strategy needs to be a constant zealot presence. Hero’s play needs to be fast lurkers. Exposing the opening between the minerals at the natural and the cliff would be a decisive victory move for hero.
Verdict: If hero can defend his third then he has this game.
Bisu 1:1 Hero
Verdict: If hero can defend his third then he has this game.
Bisu 1:1 Hero
Game 3: Neo Aztec
This map is excellent for a third match. In the first three maps, the goals of each player are going to differ drastically. For Bisu, he has the option to take a faster third with the ability to defend it. The most logical third base is just a step away from the natural and one large gathered army can cover all three bases with relative ease. Given how hard it will be for hero to break three base Protoss, hive tech is going to be of utmost importance. Bisu will have to be careful to advance across the middle of the map and this is where Hero needs to excel. Taking advantage of wide open engagements and proper surrounds will be the key to delaying a death ball push as hero tries to out expand Bisu.
Verdict: Breaking a 3 base Bisu seems too difficult even for an “S” class zerg.
Bisu 2:1 Hero
Verdict: Breaking a 3 base Bisu seems too difficult even for an “S” class zerg.
Bisu 2:1 Hero
Game 4: Fighting Spirit
ZvP remains the sole even matchup on Fighting Spirit. With a 59% win rate vP on Fighting Spirit, Hero has yet to beat Jaehoon, Movie, or Bisu on this map. Meanwhile, Bisu sits at a comfortable 75% winrate with a boasted record of 3-1. The data remains low on Bisu on this map and he only has one league game PvZ on Fighting Spirit in the last 12 months. The most useful part of that information is that Bisu’s game plan remains an enigma on this map, unless of course you've been glued to his stream. Everything about Fighting Spirit scream standard play. Unless you're movie who likes to go 2-gate, opening up forge expand is the best choice. Hero can play standard just as well as Bisu. He micros really well off of six hatcheries and can adopt the Jaedong 9 minutes macro into aggression style.
Verdict: This is the hardest game to call. This is one of the few times I’ll admit I used bias to tip the scales. Hero has also shown his consistent ability to lose in the semifinals. Bisu is the go to pick here.
Bisu 3:1 Hero
Verdict: This is the hardest game to call. This is one of the few times I’ll admit I used bias to tip the scales. Hero has also shown his consistent ability to lose in the semifinals. Bisu is the go to pick here.
Bisu 3:1 Hero
Sunday, Apr 19 1:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00)
Sea and ZerO played their first game against each other back in 2008. If unfortunately did not turn into an epic rivalry such as Fantasy vs Calm. In fact, they only played a total of 6 games in the KESPA era with Zero ahead 4-2. In the SOSPA era, their rivalry has escalated a bit. Thirteen meetings have occurred between this players in the last year with Sea holding a 9-4 record. That's a dominating 69% win-rate. All stats being said, Zero has been hot lately and defeated SSL10 champion sSak quite handily. Sea will definitely have to up his game if he wants to take victory this Sunday.
Game 1: Fighting Spirit
Fighting Spirit is no longer a balanced map. *GASP* Even TLPD enforces this. Terran have a 64% winrate against Zerg. Everyone has to be growing tired of waiting for a zerg messiah to solve the TvZ. (Of course maybe effort is the answer.) It certainly wasn’t Modesty and remains to be seen whether Zero has the solution. Don’t feel hopeful. Zero has only won two of his last six meeting versus Sea. This first map definitely set the stage of what to expect.
Verdict: Unfortunately, the stage looks to be set grimly for Zero. Sea’s 86-50 record in offline leagues over the past year and solid TvZ will allow him to take a map that won’t do Zero any favors.
Sea 1:0 Zero
Verdict: Unfortunately, the stage looks to be set grimly for Zero. Sea’s 86-50 record in offline leagues over the past year and solid TvZ will allow him to take a map that won’t do Zero any favors.
Sea 1:0 Zero
Game 1: Neo Aztec
Neo Aztec is a much better map to play on and can’t come soon enough for Zero. Zero’s inability to overcome a poor mental state would surely kick in if he was down 2-0. This map actually emulates the PvZ match up very closely. Both Terran and Protoss can function off very strong three base economy while Zerg has to use the middle of the map battlefield to their advantage. The high ground at the natural and third are a tough climb for any Zerg to take on without dark swarm. Mutas are an ideal choice for harassment as the ground just simply isn't an option in the early to mid-game. Guardians pose an amazing threat in this match up too. Seeing as Zero loves two base muta aggression into hive tech, Guardians in this game seem very likely.
Verdict: Aztec will definitely allow Sea to sink comfortably in the macro game, but Zero’s ability to control the skies will shine here.
Sea 1:1 Zero
Verdict: Aztec will definitely allow Sea to sink comfortably in the macro game, but Zero’s ability to control the skies will shine here.
Sea 1:1 Zero
Game 1: Blue Storm
This map screams Jaedong in the TvZ matchup. No one was more brilliant in breaking this matchup on this map with mutas than Jaedong. He executed muta micro so well they patched the map! Even with the patch, Zerg have been able to find ways to win. Seeing as this is another strong muta map, Zero has a nice advantage here. Solid harassment can quickly revert a push out from Terran into a 2 base contain. Sea is going to have to focus on turret placement and defenses before thinking aggression. If Sea does get his tanks out on the map, securing a high ground siege advantage could be crippling for Zero.
Verdict: Zero’s hands are warm in game three and his mutas will respond to his every will. Sea will have to recover from a loss here.
Sea 1:2 Zero
Verdict: Zero’s hands are warm in game three and his mutas will respond to his every will. Sea will have to recover from a loss here.
Sea 1:2 Zero
Game 1: Neo Requiem
Sea has an undefeated record on this map. His two recent wins were against top three Terran Last and top three Zerg Killer in this very tournament. This map stumps any mobility of mech and unless Sea does vulture mineral glitch harassment, he will have to rely on his marines. Zero does have the opportunity to apply early ling pressure. Wider ramps and holes in mineral patch walls allow him to get away with early game harassment that doesn't exist on other maps.
Verdict: Seeing as Requiem looks like a map you would perform exorcisms on and Sea has a 4-2 record against Zero this year expect a drop ship bio horror show.
Sea 2:2 Zero
Verdict: Seeing as Requiem looks like a map you would perform exorcisms on and Sea has a 4-2 record against Zero this year expect a drop ship bio horror show.
Sea 2:2 Zero
Game 1: Circuit Breaker
Giant maps don’t get much better then Circuit Breaker. If you missed out on Hiya vs Effort in the 41MSL earlier, go to the vod section and load that up immediately. This map is going to be the macro match everyone has been waiting for. Sea has an 11-5 record against Zergs on Circuit Breaker in the past year. Zero, on the other hand, is 6-10. With nearly opposite records, things already look pretty good for Sea.
Verdict: It’s already a big deal that these two are playing in the rubber match. Bottom line, like hero, Zero is a round of 4 choker. Sea has this in the bag. Anyone else already hyped for a finals PvT on Circuit Breaker!?!
Sea 3:2 Zero
Verdict: It’s already a big deal that these two are playing in the rubber match. Bottom line, like hero, Zero is a round of 4 choker. Sea has this in the bag. Anyone else already hyped for a finals PvT on Circuit Breaker!?!
Sea 3:2 Zero
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