An overlooked gem

Personally, as a avid Protoss fan i love it nothing more than to see a plethora of Recalls rain down from the sky and wreck havoc amongst the Terran (or Zerg) base. Of all gamers, PuSan is perhaps the most avid recaller of the lot. In 2007 he demonstrated that he was not afraid to tackle the sunk/spore/lurk defense with Recall against Calm on Tau. He also showed that he preferred to use Arbiters on Katrina - a decision which influenced a developing BeSt and indeed the future PvT's of Bisu.

This particular game occurred in the series between MBC and KTF on 14/10/07. I wrote a rather lengthy BR - which got 8 comments and 300~ views. Rather depressing. Thus i have tried to salvage it by blogging it. And thus, here is the BR of a particular Proleague encounter which includes a game with perhaps the most recalls ever in a single televised game.... (skip to the bottom if you just wanna watch the vod

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MBCGame Hero

The year 2006 saw MBC turn from "just another average team" into something phenomenal. All of a sudden, MBC players were flooding the leagues with talent - namely "the big 5" Bisu, July, Sea, Pusan and Light. After reaching the Playoffs for Proleague Season 1 2006 with some beautiful planning and strategy, they were denied 1st from a strong SKT side. However, MBC continued to dominate through Season 2, and were crowned champions of Season 2. In the grand finals, they defeated SK Telecom T1 and won it all earning the title "Best Team in 2006".

Coaches Kim Hyukseop and Park Yongwoon after their side won the championship

2007 Started strongly for the side, and they preformed well. However, they were stopped by the rising Lecaf in the semi-final of Season 1. The off season yeidled a win over OGN in the Game Channel derby, and a narrow loss to STX Soul aka Hwasin. Also, Bisu had developed into a 2 time MSL champion and was reigning number 1 on KeSPA. But something was missing in season 2, and indeed most of season one.

The missing link

Due do contract issues, July requested to be put on a waiver - releasing him from MBC. Shortly, T1 picked up the Sumo and added some serious weight to their Zerg lineup. Things inside the MBC camp are not great at this moment - their Season 2 results have been... terrible? horrendous? Disappointing? lets just leave it at bad. despite packing a fearsome lineup of Pusan/Sea/Bisu/Light + TheZerg/910/Saint/Jaehoon results thus far have been:
0-3 vs Samsung KHAN
1-3 vs CJ Entus
3-2 vs WeMade FOX
0-3 vs Hanbit Stars

To top it off, their loss against hanbit had them posting their premiere lineup of Bisu/Sea/TheZerg+Jaehoon/Light. A 0-3 loss comes at a complete shock to everyone - to MBC and indeed teamliquid!

What the fuck just happened? (After 0-3 loss to Hanbit)

Yes, MBC are far from there former glory now...

KTF MagicNs

There once was a time when KTF was capable of boasting a lineup of Yellow, Nal_ra, Reach, TheMarine, Goodfriend, Chojja ... the list goes on. The were the rivals of the ever-dominant SKT1. However, those days are long gone. With TheMarine preforming commentary, Yellow being addicted to Poker, Chojja and Goodfriend in huge slumps - to the point where they have been demoted to Online Practice Partner - whats up with KTF?

Well, here's the new story, theyre back - and a good as ever. Shedding the sagging skin of the old generation, KTF have emerged as a young Butterfly. Under the captaincy of GARIMTO, their new players are reaching phenominal heights. Their new lineup include; Flash, Lucifer, Haran, Hery, 815, Hazin, and the 2v2 combo - Reach/ZergBoy - not to mention the ever faithful Nal_ra.

Yes the glory days may be gone for KTF, but they are working their way up from the smoldering ashes of their last proleague effort. Their performance thus far? Good, and as the young side develops under GARIMTO's wise guidance, they are just getting stronger. This results;
3-2 vs Air Force ACE
3-2 vs eSTRO
3-1 vs CJ Entus
You simply cannot complain.

October the 14th 2007

MBC - a team trying to regain its 2006 success, pitted against the rising phoenix - KTF in a brutal first to 3 match. The lineups?
Light < Un'Goro Crater > Haran
Pusan < Katrina > Flash
Saint[z-zone]/Bisu < Seongangil > Reach/ZergBOy
Sea < Monty Hall SE > Hery
Ace Match < Blue Storm >

MBC's picks are reminiscent of their old days, where Bisu/Saint was the preferred 2v2 team. With Bisu's poor 1v1 performance in PL, this probably was a smart move. Otherwise, MBC is sending their best for this match in an effort to turn things around.

Team Huddle for MBC

KTF has sent a relatively predictable lineup - bar haran. Their sturdy 2v2 team of Reach/Zergboy have preformed well for a long time now, and are one of the better 2v2 teams out there. While Flash, the TvP killer, has been matched with a protoss who hasn't posted strong PvT results. Haran is a bit of a wildcard, he's got reletively little experience but if he's here - KTF has confidence in him.

KTF are ready to kick some ass

Lets see how it went down

Light vs Haran @ Un'Goro Crater

Let the games begin

Light, the heavy favourite, sets up camp at 4 while Haran morphs in at 10 - a cross position fight. Light sends out his 5th SCV declaring his confidence in cheesing Haran. Haran's scouting lord however, runs into Light's SCV at 12 and effectively nulls any cheese attempt by Light with a 12pool. Light accepts a minor set back and builds standard in his main.

Lights SCV scout proves to be a bother for Haran, and Light denies haran an expo and nearly kills the expo drone. Nevertheless, Haran does manage to force his hatch down. Haran's lings hatch and hunt down Light's troublesome SCV. Meanwhile, Light has gone 2rax and a scouting party of rine exits and chases away Haran's lings. Light then proceeds to expand while Haran techs lair and adds a sunk while his third hatch is building.

Some early skirmishes between lings/rines occur with no casualties on both sides. Haran gets an early evo chamber and once his lair is done - adds a spire. Light's threat of pressure forces 2 more sunks from haran to make a total of 3. As scouting lings reveal more troops outside - haran plays it safe with a 4th sunk. Meanwhile Light adds a factory and sends his troops to check for hidden expos.

Haran's muting hatch, and they depart to harass light. Haran takes everyone by surprise and adds a Queens nest, and tech hive.

Queen's Nest? What could this mean
Haran's harass deals minimal damage at first volley, and is chased around by Light's MM force. Haran adds a 4th hatch in main, and stalls any advance from Light - who now has a formidable MM force. Haran adds 2 more sunks, and has amassed a large number of lings which attack light's natural while light's army is about to raid Haran's nat. Light concedes, and returns his army back to base. Haran's forces run amok in Light's base.

While the Light is away, Haran will play

Meanwhile, while Haran is running around in Light's main - he adds an expansion at 6 and an Ultralisk cavern in his main. Light's forces finally get home and prevent any more damage. Light has discovered Haran's expo with a scouting party of rines - which are quickly cut down by Lings. Haran expands again to 7 while Light moves out with his blob. Haran's first ultra's pop while Lights first sci vessel pops. Using a Nydus canal - he transports his Ultralisks to 6 and flanks Light's army.

Clever nydus usage results in blood

Light has decided that the best way to exact revenge, is to start dropping Haran. His first dropship narrowly avoids running into some scourges at 6 before heading north. Meanwhile Haran's utlra army is growing. Light drops Haran's main where an awaiting ultralisk/ling force force light to retreat. A second drop is stopped by Haran at 7 and the Main drop is repelled again by ultras. Light decides its time to move out again, and a new blob enters the crater.

Haran in this time has linked all his bases together with nydus and added a defiler mound and expands to 6 nat. Both sides add units to their respective armies as each player attempts to judge when and how to engage. Light also exapands to 1 and Haran to 11. Light moves towards the forces of Haran - who now has a defiler - and an engagement is inevitable.

Let me take this opportunity to irradiate you

Cleverly, Light retreats up back onto his hill giving him a valuable chokepoint which he can work around. Haran charges full speed ahead only to receive a volley of irradiation from Light's vessels. Haran retreats - unable to crack light's hill. Lights blob heads towards 6nat where it meets some ultralisks and swarm. Light looks like he's about to crack harans defence when millions of ultra and ling force light to think twice about proceeding.

Go home!

Light presses forward once more, but once again is repelled by ultralisks and lings.

I said go home!

As light's blob dies to Kaiser Blades, Haran turns his attention to lights 1 expansion. A few ultra take the position, but only one remains - and he's irradiated.

Ohnoes

Yes, those SCVS don't last too long - and the ultra lives to rape the rest of the survivors. After utlra/swarm rape the remnants of Light's army - light concedes for the final time and calls gg.

MBC 0-1 KTF

What happened?
Once Light got to two base, and Haran started teching Hive, Light really didn't do anything. Once he tried to move out, Haran cleverly snunk in and pulled light back. That being said Haran was never in any position to attack Light until his ultras arrived, up until then he could only counter attack. His strategy was dependent on light not figuring out what he was doing and playing a standard macro game. Towards the end of the game, Light let Haran get leaps and bounds ahead of him in the expansion department and his third came too late - which was painfully evident as the game dragged on. In short, lack of scouting by Light or lack of reacting on Haran's strat combined with late game eco failure lost it for him.

Pusan vs Flash @ Katrina

The last time these two met Flash raped Pusan on Geometry

So Pusan warps in at 9 while Flash starts construction at 6. Both players open standardly for this map - Pusan with a 14 CC into Gate/Gas and Flash with a 14CC into an early bunker and a factory. Pusan adds a second gate and Flash follows suit by adding a second Fac. Pusan decides he will go templar teching and starts a citadel, followed by a templar archives. Then Pusan starts a stargate - arbiters are on the way :D. Flash on the other hand continues to play it standardly. Pusan has 2 dark templar which harass Flash - but can only get the bunker as flash has a turret and scan all ready for him. Pusan takes his center expansion and Flash declares his intention for a long game and adds a third CC. Flash moves out with his army - but is stalled by some dark templar buying pusan some much needed time. Flash makes a starport - for drop and floats his CC to his center expansion.

Meanwhile Pusan's first arbiter has popped out and idles over his stargate. Pusan then takes his 4th expansion - the min only of 12. And Flash drops pusan's nat with a tank and 2 vultures. THe drop scores multiple probe kills. Angered over the merciless slaughter of his defenceless probes, Pusan counters with...

RRREEECCALLLLLL

The recall kills a handful of scvs and a couple of tank/vult and force flash to run his scvs. The recall doesn't quite kill the CC - but manages to clear a path for escape for the arbiter. Pusan expands to 11 and a 2nd arbiter takes flight. On it's way to Flash's nat - it is scouted by a dropship. Once out of sight, the arbiter changes trajectory and heads for Flash's center expansion. Where...

Another Recall

This recall deals some damage - killing tanks and some SCVS but not the CC. Flash counter drops 11, but some zealots deal to it before it can deal any damage. Flash returns his scvs to his center expansion and fortifies it with tanks. A third arbiter is out, and heads towards Flashs main. Flash moves his army once scouting it, but the arbiter goes home... or so it seems - quickly after it returns to warp in;

Flash's army in continually on the move responding to these recalls

While dealing little damage, it still got some SCV kills and forced Flash to move his metal army around to react to it. Flash, in response immediately heads north towards Pusan's center expo. A brief skirmish occurs, and Pusan retreats allowing Flash to siege his center Nat. Flash heads towards 11 with a dropship and unleashes some tanks while pounding at Pusans expo. The remaining zealots cant defend - so Pusan freezes the tanks.

Waiting to die

Pusan then responds to the slaughter of his expo by...

BOOM!

Pusan's recall is raped by the mines Flash has planted - but a templar and 3 zealots survive to score a handful of SCV deaths. Flash intercepts some probes maynarding to Pusans warping expansion at 12. The vultures are soon stopped however. Pusan also decides to expand to the 12 center nat. An eerie silence occurs - which is shortly broken by Flash dropping pusan's nat with a tank/2vult - which does minor damage. Flash moves north with his blob of metal into the center of the map, and then towards the north entrance to pusan's center nat. Pusan's army gives chase, and just as flash sets up - Pusan swarms him from all sides and with some good stasis - he emerges as the victor.

Stasis is a pretty useful tool isnt it?

Pusan doesn't let flash settle from his assault and immediately counters with...

You would think that all these recalls would have messed up space-time

Yes, another recall at Flash's center expo which forces flash to retreat scvs - losing a few on the way. The recall otherwise does minimal damage. Pusan finishes off the stasis'd tanks. Flash decides its time for him to shine, and drops pusan's nat with 2 dropships

This drop is a little more substantial

But pusan, not give Flash a morale boost from his little drop, counter recalls him at his center expo.

How would you feel if you were Flash right now?

The recall does some pretty hefty damage against the scv population and scores some tank kills. Flash angry that his first drop did not psychologically hurt pusan - re-drops him with 3 dropships - which finish of the nat nexus before being dispatched of.

]
Back to finish the job

Pusan expands to 3 and Flash takes pusan's min only. Flash sends a vult raid towards Pusan's 12 center nat and scores some probe kills. Pusan, once again outraged at Flash's disrespect for his probes, demands blood for Flash's crimes.

The perfect way to get revenge - drop your opponents new expo!

Pusan recalls Flash's new expo, and scores many SCV kills. Meanwhile, pusan enters spirit mode and has atleast 18 gateways to Flash's 10 factories. Flash re-expands to Pusan's min only - this time with some tank support. Noticing this - Pusan reacts the only way he knows how...

This is just getting ridiculous

Pusan recalls Flash's nat once again, this time scoring major damage - killing scvs, buildings and tanks before being dispatched of. Pusan is also expanding to 1. Flash mounts an offensive north from his min only expo - heading towards the remains of pusan's center expo at 3. A final showdown ensures - and with some first class stasis and flanking Flash's soulless metal army is destroyed. Flash has no choice but to concede defeat - and gg's.

T_T ouch

MBC 1-1 KTF

What Happened?
Pusan opened with a risky build, one which he has used before, and Flash was doomed the moment he committed himself to a third base. THe third base allowed pusan 2 places to harass (his nat and center expo) which is physically very distant - forcing troops to move back and forward. This stalled any advances Flash was going to mount and gave pusan time to expand himself and enter spirit mode. Flash could have done much more with his drops - it wasn't until much later where we saw some heavier drops - which did do the damage he needed a long time earlier. But overall Flash over committed himself and paid the price.

Bisu/Saint vs Reach/Zergboy @ Seongangil

The game starts and Bisu (teal) warps in at the top right, Saint (green) morphs at the bottom left expansion. KTF mirror MBC, and Reach (yellow) warps at the top left and Zergboy (red) at the bottom left. Both protosses open 1gate - core adding a second gate shortly after. Zergboy opens 12hatch in main, then hatch at nat before pooling and gassing, while saint simply 12 hatches at his nat and pools shortly after.

A short zealot/probe fight takes place between Bisu/Reach, before reach dashes forwards into bisu's minline and scores a probe kill before dying. Saint sends his first set of lings towards Zergboy - whos lings pop JUST in time to defend his base and force saint to retreat. Both zergs add sunks at their expos and reach adds a third gate. Saint starts his lair, while boy masses speedlings (still on hatch tech). Reach/Boy head towards bisu, and in an instant saint dashes up with his lings. The first major skirmish occurs -

Bisu is lucky

Saints lings arrive just in time to force reach/boy back. Boy counters saint - but cannot get far due to his sunking. Boy refuses to tech to lair, and lings hard still. Reach adds a forge, and boy a spore in anticipation of Saints muta - which kills a drone before being forced away. Reach and boy go at bisu once again, this time saint is already there and a 2nd battle commences. Reach/Boy execute a tricky flank - but bisu holds the highground and crushes the ling force before reach has effectively flank him.

Bisu holds the highground

The resulting casualties for reach are devastating - 3 goons survive from the attacking party. Boy sneaks some lings inside bisus main, but superb goon micro kills them without any damage. Bisu has a shuttle - and shuttles some goons up onto the highground - killing one of boy's overlords. He then moves into position to stop reach from mining - and with some teamwork - Reach's econ is in bad shape.

Teamwork

Boy and Reach go allin at bisu and flank him once again - but bisu holds strong and once saint's mutas arrive its all over - and KTF concede.

The Final battle

What happened?
Essentially, Reach/Zergboy gambled it all on taking down bisu hoping saint would invest too little in lings to save his ally or too late. The MBC team had some pretty good defence and held the high ground well. After the first attack by KTF failed - the game was a slippery slope for them - Zergboy was way behind in tech - which resulted in them going all out until they fizzled. Bisu's defence is to be applauded this game.

Sea vs Hery @ Monty Hall

It all comes down to this for KTF

It came down to this for KTF - win and go to an Ace match, lose and go home. The fate of the match rests on Hery's shoulders. Sea opened at 5 (purple) while Hery opened at 11 (orange). Sea opted for a Fast CC build into the top lane, while Hery opted for the classic rax first. Hery then jumped the top lane min wall and began constructing a factory in that lane - lucky guess. Sea's expansion completes - and scvs maynard in and one goes off to scout. Hery decides to expand after his factory is done. A cute vulture/scv moment then occurs with Sea's scouting scv - the scv and vulture tried to move past each other, but was denied twice .

A cute stalling manoeuvre by Sea

Sea immediately starts a bunker upon discovering the vult and a short scv/vulture fight occurs - but the bunk finishes before significant damage can be dealt. The vulture attempts to enter sea's base once again - but is stopped by a scv wall. Sea now has a big eco advantage - but hery has a tank rolling down towards sea's exp - but sea's first tank just hopped off the production line - so hery's tank poses no threat. Sea decides to move out with 2tank/vult/4rine against Hery's 3 tanks. Hery lands his rax in the opening of Sea's minwall to prevent reinforcements to his attack. Sea then sets up camp close to Hery's nat. Sea starts his 3rd CC near the mid lane and Hery sieges up to create a nomansland between him and sea. But sea decides to go home and defend at home - because he is investing in a 3rd cc. Hery's army remains stationary, but it does indeed grow bigger and Hery's first wraith pops out. Sea creates a FOURTH CC at the left lane - signaling to us that he is very confident right now. Hery takes his 3rd in the top lane, while the wraith kills sea's floating barracks.

Sea discovers hery's 3rd base and stalls it by killing the building scv before hery's army arrives. Hery declares his agressive intent - and move down the top lane towards Sea. Sea attacks Hery's line in the middle of the map

Sea's army just rolls on

Hery's macro disadvantage becomes painfully clear when sea's non-sieged army demolishes Hery's sieged army. Giving him a firm upperhand. Hery has 2 dropships - which insted of attacking, are forced to defend Hery's third expansion. Hery has moved forces down the bottom lane to stop Sea's 4th expansion - but sea has forces there preventing Hery from doing any more damage at the bottom lane. Meanwhile sea blasts on ahead seizing Hery's third - Goliath fire finishes off the CC.

Sea takes his bottom lane expo, and hery's 2 dropships patrol the map looking for weakness - of which there is none. Hery takes his expo in the bottom lane as sea's fac count is extended to 9, while Hery's is only 4. 3 dropships head towards Sea's expo in the middle lane with ground support - but he ferries them over the divide into the top lane and begins to attack Sea's nat. Sea has three dships of his own - and they blitz Hery's newly created midlane expo and force him to lift. Sea prevents hery expanding to the top right expo by landing his barracks there - must to the annoyance of Hery. Sea concentrates his efforts on the mid like and sends a strong attack.

Those Dships are about to unload tanks

Sea easily takes the expo, with the aid of some dropships - and starts a 5th CC. Hery's dships and ground forces concentrate on the expo-less top lane, and kill some of sea's forces but can't enter the main. Hery's dropship mass then attacks Sea's middle expo - scoring many kills but is stopped by Sea's army. Hery's dships then run straight into sea's goliaths - the result? All but 1 die. Hery then launches an attack down the bottom lane - so sea reveals to us his macro and a mass of tanks counters up the bottom lane - destroying Hery's army.

Sea's mass of tanks soon destroy everything Hery has

Sea now has total map control with conglomerates of tanks stationed at ever lane. Sea sends 5 dropships towards hery destroying his last line of defence.

Hery's forces are falling like flies

Hery, retreats to within his base - traumatized by the rape sea is giving him. Hery drops the conglomerate of tanks at the top lane - killing them all. Sea doesn't care, he has this game - and his 5 dropships and mass of units prove it by storming hery's main via the top lane.

The 'g' key must be missing from Hery's keyboard

Shortly after his army is destroyed, Hery does infact find the 'g' key and concede defeat.

MBC 3-1 KTF.

What Happened
Sea won the battle of the build orders with his CC before Rax, and had the large eco advantage. This just kept mounting as sea added expo after expo. Hery reacted decently, pushing sea out of his top lane expo but by then it was too little too late - sea had the macro advantage he needed to power on ahead. What he needed to do was come at sea ealier, maybe be foregoing his first expo in favour of pressure or stalling the third/fourth cc's of sea as opposed to enter a macro war by taking a third base against a player who already has the macro advantage over you. And as the game dragged on, Hery was always going to be the loser.

The Victors

Summary

At the end of the day, only the score remains - 3-1 to MBC. Light vs Haran was a good watch if you like late game zerg or sexy nydus usage

or you need evidence that Ultralisks are imbalanced. I'd rate it 3.5/5. Pusan vs Flash reminded me why I am a Pusan fan, the copious amount of Arbiter usage made it a game of pure sex. I'd rate it 4.5/5. The 2v2 was short and intense and showed some great defence by bisu, although, i felt the KTF effort lacking somewhat. I'd rate it 3/5. Sea vs Hery was too drawn out for my liking. Sea had some pretty cute moves throughout, which was nice, but overall it was a one sided rape. I'd give it 3/5.

How will MBC continue after their victory? They've posted almost an identical lineup for their next match - so here's hoping they continue their success. KTF shouldn't be too upset over their loss. Their 2v2 needs to get back into the dominant form they were in awhile ago, else they should be quite happy - except flash who will have nightmares for weeks.

Lol if you've made it this far, well done and congrats. Now for the game of interest PuSan vs Flash from Katrina!! And seriously, a game worth the watch if you are a fan of recalls

! The rest of these games are available via TLPD if you are interested

An overlooked gem

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