Entertain Us

by Zealously

Every age has its own heroes and its own villains. Every age has its own champions, raised to status transcending both. This holds true for Starcraft just as it does for any other title, just as it does in every sport. The heroes and villains may ultimately meet face-to-face, as was the case when Usain Bolt proved his superiority over controversial Justin Gatlin. Champions and champions-to-be may never get to really compete in earnest, only hint at something that could have been great - in another time. We remember Ian "Thorpedo" Thorpe effortlessly beating unparallelled prodigy yet not-quite-ready Michael Phelps in the 2004 Olympics, and recall -- with significant distaste -- when Flash made a joke of ZerO in the MSL finals. Regardless of game and era, the building of heroes and legends is a narrative constant. As fans, we very nearly crave characters to look up to, and characters to despise. Sometimes, the line is blurred. Is sOs a hero of Protoss, or a villain, the antithesis of fair? Mere heartbeats apart, he has been touted as both. Sometimes, there are neither heroes nor villains - only rivals clawing their way through a harsh, competitive landscape, all eyes set on the trophies that bestow lasting legacy.

As ZerO would learn, one's best is not always good enough.


In Starcraft, the landscape is grayer than most. duckdeok's hyper-aggressive antics were offset by his most touching moment, and TY's growing popularity -- earned in part by his tendency to utilize abusive builds to maximum efficiency -- persists without care for the manner in which his success was originally produced. In a scene as secluded as Korea's, it is of course inevitable that certain players and teams will grow in popularity while others are left behind, deemed uninteresting or unattractive. This can be a product of gameplay, but might just as well be the outcome of a string of coincidences. Sometimes, we are content to simply watch the struggle, because the struggle of itself can be entertaining. Greatness is memorable unto itself, but sometimes we crave more: heart-crushing defeats make for good stories.

Consider KT Rolster and SK Telecom. Consider their Proleague legacy, and the influence the two Telecom teams have had on the Korean scene. Flash, Boxer, Bisu, iloveoov, countless others - all groomed or at least absolutely dominant on these teams. Every Proleague match, every potential grand final - they are all second in magnitude to the combined nostalgia and excitement a Telecom derby inspires. Temporarily overthrown though they may have been in the wake of Woongjin Stars and STX SouL, these are the two teams of greatest influence in Korea. When STX and Woongjin folded, KT and SKT remained - and their influence grew. They not only acquire star players, they possess a near-unrivaled ability to also produce them. KT and SKT remain constants, seemingly always a step ahead - either in lineup-defying ingenuity or sheer roster strength. 

Somewhere in all this, underneath the weight of massive expectations not quite met and controversies to rival some of Brood War's own, in the shadow of two much more celebrated teams, stand CJ Entus. Responsible for some of the most memorable moments in the Starcraft II iteration of Proleague, and for more memories than can be recounted outside of it, CJ Entus are unique. With the most renowned coach in Starcraft, the only triple IEM champion, the quirkiest Terran player yet active in the Korean scene, and a slew of players responsible for runs memorable and puzzling in equal measure, they are a team of peculiarities. With a history as long as either of the Telecom teams, they have taken what might best be described as the scenic route. CJ stood behind saviOr as the legendary Zerg rose to become so dominant as to demand a new term to be coined solely for him, and suffered in turn when the eventual match fixing scandal came to light. Fostering players such as Iris, effOrt, Much, XellOs and Hydra, CJ were never short on championship-caliber players. They were never short of miracles of their own -- and sKyHigh's mind-boggling performances in Brood War and Starcraft II alike will puzzle fans forever -- but unfortunately, they also were never short on missed opportunities.

And if there is one recurring theme that echoes through the history of CJ Entus, it would be that. For a team with so much success, their success when it matters -- with everything on the line -- has been minimal. Famous for underperforming, famous for choking, famous for losing to proxy 2gates in high-stakes scenarios, famous for never maintaining their streaks... The criticisms that can be leveled at CJ Entus' weaknesses are many, and their 5-year Starleague draught could easily be viewed as a direct result of these weaknesses.

Yet, in spite of their weaknesses, if there is one thing, one overwhelming positive that characterizes CJ Entus, it is resilience. One does not bounce back from a crushing $100.000 defeat without peerless mental fortitude, nor does one stick it out through games that appear unwinnable without unbroken confidence in one's own ability to win in the end. It is not easy to rebound from the departure of two of your team's most characteristic and experienced players, but CJ Entus have done so all the same. It is incredibly difficult to stand by as a player and watch your team fail, on the cusp, always close but never going all the way, time and again. To see each success followed by an immediate downturn. To hang on for dear life, to stand with a straight back and tell the world "We will not break.", is something that takes considerable strength. But CJ have done it. Again, again, and again.

This is the face of perseverance


And at last their Starleague draught, measuring nearly 5 years, will come to an end. One one side, the face of CJ Entus in Starcraft II; the only player to win 3 IEMs and a long-lasting ace in Proleague. On the other, a low-key acquisition turned into the consensus best Zerg player in the world. Neither player has made it here without effort. In every series they have played this season, they have been at match point and forced to fight tooth and nail. It has not been clean or elegant. It has not been as easy as it could have been. But they have put on shows and displays of skill that have taught us something about them both. Byul will never concede a game until you tear it from his hands and leave him broken in the dust. And even then, he will fight back. herO is not as frail as many would have you believe, nor as prone to random defeats as history would have it. 


SpoTV's Finals trailer. Ever wanted to know what herO looked like as a child?


They have overcome match-up weaknesses and disfavored maps to arrive at this point, at the stage where they will finally end their team's draught. Neither player has won a Starleague. Byul has never won a tournament at all. Neither is of a mind to surrender, both content to fight with scraps of nothing to eke out victory if it comes to it. On the finals stage, a mere week before their next grueling Proleague trial, the two team mates will face off for something more than the trophy alone. 

CJ Entus stands for CJ Entertain Us. And entertain us they will.

ByuL's Bloody Path

by TheOneAboveU

The will to rectify past mistakes, the drive to steadily improve and the determination to be better than before have been driving forces for humanity in the history of mankind. Yet most of the time, will itself is not enough. Second chances are seldom given—they have to be earned, deserved. Fought for, above all. For some people it takes years or whole decades to get to this point, after being slammed to the ground, again and again, by their shortcomings. But some people brush mistakes off faster than others, realizing the inherent value in making mistakes, and get back to work immediately with only one goal: not to fail again.

Many viewers thought that ByuL was part of the first category. He lost the emotional GSL Season 2 final against Rain and stood on stage in tears, while his triumphant opponent received everything a StarCraft 2 player strives for: honor, glory, prize money, and the satisfaction to finally stand on top of the world. In Rain's case, last season was a return to undeniable glory. In ByuL's, it was a fall on the finish line.

But instead of breaking down and drowning in his own tears however, ByuL stood up, unbreakable as he oftentimes is on the field of battle, and began the climb anew. Pushing back up through the ranks without delay, willing to set things right and redeem himself. He let his defeat -- his mistakes -- serve as a lesson.

And stepping back to watch, it is obvious that his ascent has been driven; it has been a furious one, determined and without mercy. In fact, ByuL is the only player this season with the opportunity to win both Starleagues. Should he be the first person to accomplish this feat, the disappointment of GSL Season 2 should be swept away as easily as those that have stood before him. The list of players that the Zerg player has conquered on his way to the S2SL Finals is impressive, and defeated opponents now pave the road that ByuL has built for himself. He extinguished any doubts about his ZvP in the Round of 16 by smashing KT Rolster's Protoss powerhouses Stats and Zest before winning two extremely close series against INnoVation and TY in the playoffs. These ZvTs may not have an impact on the finals gameplay-wise, but what the CJ Entus player showed mentally -- an indomitable fortitude -- is very relevant to the Grand Finals. Even under pressure ByuL managed to keep his composure, to remain patient and wait for opportunity.

Do not be fooled. This is the face of a monster.


Where other players might have committed to a battle they could not win, ByuL held back for a better timing. Panic might have passed through him, but it never ruled him. It was evident that he at no point lost faith in his ability to win. His games against mech, and most of all the scrappy game against TY on Vaani Research Station, prove that he possesses the mental makings of champions. The CJ Zerg understands that there are times when he must sacrifice everything in order to have a shot at winning, and that there are times when the only way to triumph is to push himself onto the verge of defeat, but never to accept it.

Such mental strength will be of utmost importance in the Grand Final, as he is meeting not only one of the greatest protoss players of our time, but also a team mate. Finals between players from the same team are mostly frowned upon, as they are often decided by sheer knowledge about the other players’ preferences and secrets—information that’s gathered through countless hours of in-house practice. It's a nuanced side of planning that isn't evident even to experienced analysts, and the mind games involved in team kills often force players to totally break the conventions of the current metagame. It’s hard to say who is favoured more in this scenario: the protoss, for whom information about the opponent’s preferred style is always crucial to choose the best possible build; or the Zerg, who wants to be prepared for every strategy the protoss might throw at him? In this case, ByuL is probably happy to play herO - because even though his opponent knows him quite well, herO has shown an unwillingness to adapt to his opponent. ByuL, on the other hand, can be very difficult to figure out, and he has shown a knack for abusing the weaknesses of his opponents. Neither build orders nor planned strategies are foreign to the CJ Zerg.

In 2015 the players have met twice in official tournaments, both times things were pretty one-sided (confirming the nature of team kills). In KeSPA Cup S1 they clashed in the semifinals, where herO was able to smash ByuL’s first great tournament run since his second place at 2013 WCS America S3 with a dominating 3:0. But at that time, herO was considered stronger than now. Their second meeting was not so long ago, in June, when ByuL eliminated herO from GSL Code S S2, beginning a streak against Protoss that only ended in the finals against Rain. Since then, it seems like ByuL is still improving at a fast rate, so it will be interesting to see if he is able to unleash his full potential against the Smiling Assassin on a grand stage. With his 3-0 victory against GuMiho fresh in memory his morale, at least, should certainly be high.

One thing is certain: if necessary, ByuL will go above and beyond to triumph over his colleague, he will forget any friendship that might connect the two, and sacrifice everything to win, because he knows as well as herO how it feels to fail on a big stage. And this will be the biggest stage of his entire career yet.

ByuL belongs to a line of crafty and unpredictable Zergs familiar with all stages of the game. A line of Zergs that will use any advantage to secure a fast win, if possible, without shying away from a long and drawn-out games. He is one of the few people left who are capable of continuing the line of Incredible Miracle's champions. And say what you will about the infamous coach Hirai of IM (and his questionable methods of fielding players in GSTL), but he was great at scouting players with potential and room for improvement - at scouting future champions.

ByuL is the last of these talents, and it has become obvious what Hirai saw in him. His rise is akin to the long con, and his second finals appearance in mere months confirm what was hinted at years ago. Since then ByuL, since unrewarding days in GSL and long hours in the team house, he has learned so much more. He has become the player worthy of that trust. For ByuL, surrendering is not an option. He already surrendered once, and has decreed that once is enough.

ByuL marches forward. Only forward.

Of a Golden Standard

by munch

The past two years have truly been the age of protoss in Korea. Terrans have only had Maru, INnoVation and Dream to look up to as the leading lights of the race; the zerg have had to live with their perenially unbroken chain of Highlanders to champion the cause of the Swarm, while the Protoss have had a veritable smorgasbord of champions and hopefuls fighting to establish their spot in the pecking order. That certainly must have had a large impact on the idiosyncrasies we see in top level protoss play today, from PartinG’s micro-intensive style, to Zest’s rock solid defence, to MyuNgSiK’s incomprehensively successful gateway pressures—every top level protoss has added their own twist to the formula. All but herO, who has forever been celebrated and derided in equal measure as the most idealistic protoss in the Starcraft scene. On the one hand, his triplet of IEM titles, alongside his KeSPA Cup championship from earlier this year, stand testament to his standing in the modern game, and the sheer power of playing ‘standard’ better than pretty much anyone else in the world. On the other, the scars of Katowice will never be forgotten—2 gate me once, shame on you; 2 gate me twice, shame on me.

That’s been herO’s burden to carry ever since that fateful match against sOs. There are probably very few players who could cope with being hit by a 2 gate with $100,000 on the line; there are even fewer still who could bounce back from two in a row. Yet that’s exactly what he’s done—save for a blip a year ago where he crashed out of Code A, he’s maintained his impeccable standards week in, week out. In his own way, he’s just as tenacious as the teammate he’ll be lining up against tonight. ByuL has earned plaudits for the way he doggedly hangs on, unwilling to let go of lost games; lost series; lost dreams. herO, for his part, has similarly stayed the course, taking hit after hit in his stride. The champions we love in Starcraft are often those who do the unexpected. Mvp is the obvious example from times gone past, but Life and sOs are players with the fortitude to similarly bet it all on a hunch. herO is the opposite; a player who bets it all on the fact that his best will beat his opponent’s.

Nowhere is this more apparent than his PvZ, a matchup in which he reels off his standard blink stalker / sentry play with predictable reliability. There are little touches he adds to throw off the zerg—warp prism and oracle harass is very common—but for the most part games are won off the pure fundamentals of protoss gateway aggression that herO executes to perfection. There’s a reason his name has become pretty much synonymous with blink play in Korea, and we’ve seen time and time again how his micro enables him to turn the tables in situations clearly favoured towards his opponent. It’s important, then to look at his subpar record in the matchup since the swarm host patch—he sports a 20-17 record in offline games. That’s far from acceptable from a player whose anti-swarm host PvZ was second to none. More informative, however, is the manner of the defeats.

Early ling floods from Solar (Proleague Round 4) , soO (KeSPA Cup Season 2) and ByuL (Code S Season 2) have caught him out on the map with a porous defence back home, unaware of his opponent’s planned aggression. DeParture's double roach warren timing was an elegant counter perfectly sculpted to snipe the CJ ace, while Rogue's nexus sniping shenanigans with a handful of swarm hosts proved too much for herO to handle. The lesson, seemingly, is clear—just as ever, catching herO off guard and throwing him out of his comfort zone is key to victory. It’s a lesson that ByuL’s already taken to heart. His rapid 2-0 over his teammate in last season’s GSL was a complete contrast to the 0-3 reverse that he’d suffered previously in herO’s victorious KeSPA Cup campaign when he attempted to play out standard macro games.

In victory, herO is famously ecstatic.


The only question remaining is whether herO will learn his. He’s the rare player for whom four premier titles so far is somehow an underachievement; a player for whom a mere KeSPA Cup trophy alongside his mind boggling WCS points hoard this calendar year is a disappointment. Time and again he’s gone far in Korea, and this finals represents his last chance at Starleague glory in 2015. He’s been building up to it all year long—two semifinal exits already this year so far (one each in the GSL and SSL)—and all he has to do now is go that final step. Win, lose or draw though, herO’s likely to go out on his own terms, playing the game we’ve become so accustomed to seeing. To quote from one of his most memorable games against HyuN on Polar Night at IEM Katowice, “Blink like you’ve never blinked before, herO!”. That he certainly will.

Predictions

Zealously: ByuL 3-4 herO
munch: ByuL 4-2 herO
TheOneAboveU: ByuL 4-2 herO