Each one of the following players has been in the KESPA top 20 since the summer of 2008. Every year a new theme emerges in the starcraft world, and this year was no different. Tasteless is helping revolutionize the foreign starcraft scene with English broadcasts of the GomTV tournament. NonY is the new hope for foreign starcraft players everywhere with his immediate success at eSTRO. However, the story of 2008 is without a doubt the success of these six protoss geniuses. The success of SK Telecom T1, Samsung KHAN, and even STX SouL can be attributed mostly to the promise of these rising stars. 2009 will be the year to show us just how high they can rise. Bisu became the first Protoss to win 3 MSL titles and is currently striving to become the first player to break 2400 ELO.
For now, let's take a glance together at the magnificent year they brought to professional starcraft fans everywhere...
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Bisu(Kim Taek Yong) – 김택용
Birth Date: 1989-11-03 Age: 19 (Korean: 20)
AKAs: Bisu[Shield]
Nickname(s): The Revolutionist, Bruce Lee Toss, Bee Suit
Team: SK Telecom T1
Overall Record: 59 wins - 35 losses (62.77%)
PvT Record: 15 wins - 12 losses (55.56%)
PvZ Record: 20 wins - 13 losses (60.61%)
PvP Record: 24 wins - 10 losses (70.59%)
Best Streak: 12 wins Worst Streak: 5 losses
[Individual Leagues]
2008 Bacchus OnGameNet Starleague – Loss to Flash in Semifinals
2008 XNote GOMTV Star Invitational – Loss to Iris in Quarterfinals
2008 WCG Korea Finals – Loss to ForGG in Quarterfinals
2008 Incruit OnGameNet Starleague – Loss to Stork in Quarterfinals
2008 ClubDay MBCGame Starleague – Won gold vs. Jangbi in Finals
[Proleague]
2008 Shinhan Bank Proleague : 6 wins - 9 losses (40.00%)
2008-2009 Shinhan Bank Proleague : 13 wins - 3 losses (81.25%)
BeSt(Doh Jae Wook) – 도재욱
Birth Date: 1989-10-06 Age: 19 (Korean: 20)
AKAs: BeSt[HyO], BeSt[WHITE]
Nickname(s): (None or unknown)
Team: SK Telecom T1
Overall Record: 63 wins - 27 losses (70.00%)
PvT Record: 22 wins - 6 losses (78.57%)
PvZ Record: 18 wins - 14 losses (56.25%)
PvP Record: 23 wins - 7 losses (76.67%)
Best Streak: 11 wins Worst Streak: 4 losses
[Individual Leagues]
2008 Bacchus OnGameNet Starleague – Loss in Quarterfinals to Stork
2008 Ever OnGameNet Starleague – Loss in Finals to July
2008 WCG Korea Finals – Loss in Quarterfinals to Jaedong
2008 Incruit OnGameNet Starleague – Loss in Semifinals to Stork
[Proleague]
2008 Shinhan Bank Proleague : 12 wins - 4 losses (75.00%)
2008-2009 Shinhan Bank Proleague : 19 wins - 5 losses (79.17%)
JangBi(Heo Yeong Moo) – 허영무
Birth Date: 1989-05-03 Age: 19 (Korean: 20)
AKAs: Dream.t)JangBi
Nickname(s): (None or unknown)
Team: Samsung KHAN
Overall Record: 64 wins - 29 losses (68.82%)
PvT Record: 27 wins - 11 losses (71.05%)
PvZ Record: 17 wins - 5 losses (77.27%)
PvP Record: 20 wins - 13 losses (60.61%)
Best Streak: 7 wins Worst Streak: 4 losses
[Individual Leagues]
2008 GOMTV MBCGame Starleague Season 4 – Loss to Kal in Semifinals
2008 Ever OnGameNet Starleague – Loss to Backho in Quarterfinals
2008 ClubDay MBCGame Starleague – Loss to Bisu in Finals
[Proleague]
2008 Shinhan Bank Proleague: 14 wins - 5 losses (73.68%)
2008-2009 Shinhan Bank Proleague: 10 wins - 3 losses (76.92%)
Stork(Song Byung Goo) – 송병구
Birth Date: 1988-08-04 Age: 20 (Korean: 21)
AKAs: Stork[gm], mansa[ok], sbg[gm]
Nickname(s): The Bird, Dinosaur Toss
Team: Samsung KHAN
Overall Record: 66 wins - 38 losses (63.46%)
PvT Record: 24 wins - 9 losses (72.73%)
PvZ Record: 17 wins - 7 losses (70.83%)
PvP Record: 25 wins - 22 losses (53.19%)
Best Streak: 9 wins Worst Streak: 3 losses
[Individual Leagues]
2008 Bacchus OnGameNet Starleague – Loss to Flash in Finals
2008 XNote GOMTV Star Invitational – Loss to Flash in Finals
2008 WCG Korea Finals – Loss to Jaedong in Finals
2008 Incruit OnGameNet Starleague – Win vs. Fantasy in Finals
2008 ClubDay MBCGame Starleague – Loss to Kal in Quarterfinals
[Proleague]
2008 Shinhan Bank Proleague : 12 wins - 8 losses (60.00%)
2008-2009 Shinhan Bank Proleague : 13 wins - 6 losses (68.42%)
Kal(Kim Ku Hyun) – 김구현
Birth Date: 1990-10-18 Age: 18 (Korean: 19)
AKAs: Goojila
Nickname(s): (None or unknown)
Team: STX SouL
Overall Record: 61 wins - 43 losses (58.65%)
PvT Record: 28 wins - 19 losses (59.57%)
PvZ Record: 16 wins - 7 losses (69.57%)
PvP Record: 17 wins - 17 losses (50.00%)
Best Streak: 6 wins Worst Streak: 3 losses
[Individual Leagues]
2008 GOMTV MBCGame Starleague Season 4 – Loss to Jaedong in Finals
2008 Arena MBCGame Starleague – Loss to ForGG in Quarterfinals
2008 ClubDay MBCGame Starleague – Loss to Jangbi in Semifinals
[Proleague]
2008 Shinhan Bank Proleague: 12 wins - 9 losses (57.14%)
2008-2009 Shinhan Bank Proleague: 13 wins - 10 losses (56.52%)
free (Yoon Yong Tae) – 윤용태
Birth Date: 1988-07-14 Age: 20 (Korean: 21)
AKAs: free[gm], pretty[gm]
Nickname(s): (None or unknown)
Team: Woongjin Stars
Overall Record: 48 wins - 37 losses (56.47%)
PvT Record: 16 wins - 12 losses (57.14%)
PvZ Record: 16 wins - 9 losses (64.00%)
PvP Record: 16 wins - 16 losses (50.00%)
Best Streak: 6 wins Worst Streak: 3 losses
[Individual Leagues]
2008 Arena MBCGame Starleague – Loss to Much in Quarterfinals
2008 ClubDay MBCGame Starleague – Loss to Bisu in Semifinals
[Proleague]
2008 Shinhan Bank Proleague: 10 wins - 12 losses (45.45%)
2008-2009 Shinhan Bank Proleague: 12 wins - 7 losses (63.16%)
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[Maps]
This section is just a small bit of information about how the current hot maps played out over the course of 2008. As you can see, most of the maps have no definitive representation of games to be able to deduce any real matchup advantages. I only included them to provide a somewhat more inclusive picture of the environment in 2008 leading into 2009.
Andromeda
Record: TvZ: 24-11 (68.6%) | ZvP: 35-20 (63.6%) | PvT: 28-23 (54.9%)
Mirrors: 11 TvT | 29 ZvZ | 18 PvP
Athena 2
Record: TvZ: 5-4 (55.6%) | ZvP: 0-1 (0%) | PvT: 6-4 (60%)
Mirrors: 3 TvT | 4 ZvZ | 7 PvP
Byzantium 2
Record: TvZ: 10-8 (55.6%) | ZvP: 3-3 (50%) | PvT: 4-5 (44.4%)
Mirrors: 2 TvT | 0 ZvZ | 5 PvP
Colosseum II
Record: TvZ: 7-3 (70%) | ZvP: 8-12 (40%) | PvT: 10-8 (55.6%)
Mirrors: 2 TvT | 2 ZvZ | 10 PvP
Destination
Record: TvZ: 24-11 (68.6%) | ZvP: 23-20 (53.5%) | PvT: 25-15 (62.5%)
Mirrors: 23 TvT | 15 ZvZ | 14 PvP
Medusa
Record: TvZ: 11-16 (40.7%) | ZvP: 14-19 (42.4%) | PvT: 21-8 (72.4%)
Mirrors: 15 TvT | 11 ZvZ | 24 PvP
Neo Harmony
Record: TvZ: 4-5 (44.4%) | ZvP: 2-1 (66.7%) | PvT: 3-6 (33.3%)
Mirrors: 8 TvT | 3 ZvZ | 2 PvP
Neo Requiem
Record: TvZ: 6-5 (54.5%) | ZvP: 17-15 (53.1%) | PvT: 12-6 (66.7%)
Mirrors: 5 TvT | 10 ZvZ | 18 PvP
Rush Hour 3
Record: TvZ: 8-1 (88.9%) | ZvP: 2-0 (100%) | PvT: 0-0 (0%)
Mirrors: 12 TvT | 2 ZvZ | 0 PvP
Sin Chupung-Ryeong
Record: TvZ: 5-3 (62.5%) | ZvP: 2-2 (50%) | PvT: 0-5 (0%)
Mirrors: 7 TvT | 6 ZvZ | 5 PvP
Record: TvZ: 24-11 (68.6%) | ZvP: 35-20 (63.6%) | PvT: 28-23 (54.9%)
Mirrors: 11 TvT | 29 ZvZ | 18 PvP
Athena 2
Record: TvZ: 5-4 (55.6%) | ZvP: 0-1 (0%) | PvT: 6-4 (60%)
Mirrors: 3 TvT | 4 ZvZ | 7 PvP
Byzantium 2
Record: TvZ: 10-8 (55.6%) | ZvP: 3-3 (50%) | PvT: 4-5 (44.4%)
Mirrors: 2 TvT | 0 ZvZ | 5 PvP
Colosseum II
Record: TvZ: 7-3 (70%) | ZvP: 8-12 (40%) | PvT: 10-8 (55.6%)
Mirrors: 2 TvT | 2 ZvZ | 10 PvP
Destination
Record: TvZ: 24-11 (68.6%) | ZvP: 23-20 (53.5%) | PvT: 25-15 (62.5%)
Mirrors: 23 TvT | 15 ZvZ | 14 PvP
Medusa
Record: TvZ: 11-16 (40.7%) | ZvP: 14-19 (42.4%) | PvT: 21-8 (72.4%)
Mirrors: 15 TvT | 11 ZvZ | 24 PvP
Neo Harmony
Record: TvZ: 4-5 (44.4%) | ZvP: 2-1 (66.7%) | PvT: 3-6 (33.3%)
Mirrors: 8 TvT | 3 ZvZ | 2 PvP
Neo Requiem
Record: TvZ: 6-5 (54.5%) | ZvP: 17-15 (53.1%) | PvT: 12-6 (66.7%)
Mirrors: 5 TvT | 10 ZvZ | 18 PvP
Rush Hour 3
Record: TvZ: 8-1 (88.9%) | ZvP: 2-0 (100%) | PvT: 0-0 (0%)
Mirrors: 12 TvT | 2 ZvZ | 0 PvP
Sin Chupung-Ryeong
Record: TvZ: 5-3 (62.5%) | ZvP: 2-2 (50%) | PvT: 0-5 (0%)
Mirrors: 7 TvT | 6 ZvZ | 5 PvP
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[ELO Peak comparison]
The following section compares the current leader of the pack against past 2300+ ELO Peaks. Each one of these players are outright legends in their own right. I hope the community finds some of the information useful in obtaining a sense of perspective before we cry out to nerf Protoss based on the play of a few special individuals.
Bisu
06-01-2008 -- 01-04-2009 (???? Peak)
Overall Record: 48 wins - 22 losses (68.57%)
PvT Record: 19 wins - 7 losses (73.08%)
PvZ Record: 16 wins - 4 losses (80.00%)
PvP Record: 10 wins - 9 losses (52.63%)
Post peak --> Unknown
Flash
11-01-2007 -- 06-11-2008 (2336 Peak)
Overall Record: 51 wins - 19 losses (72.86%)
TvT Record: 20 wins - 6 losses (76.92%)
TvZ Record: 12 wins - 7 losses (63.16%)
TvP Record: 19 wins - 6 losses (76.00%)
Post Peak --> 48 wins - 27 losses (64.00%)
iloveoov
12-01-2003 -- 07-01-2004 (2329 Peak)
Overall Record: 48 wins - 13 losses (78.69%)
TvT Record: 19 wins - 10 losses (65.52%)
TvZ Record: 16 wins - 0 loss (100.00%)
TvP Record: 13 wins - 3 losses (81.25%)
(Note: TLPD has no evidence of a zerg loss before Julyzerg, this extends to 27-0)
Post Peak --> 162 wins - 122 losses (57.04%)
Jaedong
07-14-2007 -- 02-14-2008 (2309 Peak)
Overall Record: 46 wins - 17 losses (73.02%)
ZvT Record: 25 wins - 6 losses (80.65%)
ZvZ Record: 12 wins - 4 losses (75.00%)
ZvP Record: 9 wins - 7 losses (56.25%)
Post Peak --> 65 wins - 35 losses (65.00%)
sAviOr
07-09-2006 -- 02-09-2007 (2301 Peak)
Overall Record: 38 wins - 10 losses (79.17%)
ZvT Record: 9 wins - 4 losses (69.23%)
ZvZ Record: 12 wins - 4 losses (75.00%)
ZvP Record: 17 wins - 2 losses (89.47%)
Post Peak --> 71 wins - 66 losses (51.82%)
06-01-2008 -- 01-04-2009 (???? Peak)
Overall Record: 48 wins - 22 losses (68.57%)
PvT Record: 19 wins - 7 losses (73.08%)
PvZ Record: 16 wins - 4 losses (80.00%)
PvP Record: 10 wins - 9 losses (52.63%)
Post peak --> Unknown
Flash
11-01-2007 -- 06-11-2008 (2336 Peak)
Overall Record: 51 wins - 19 losses (72.86%)
TvT Record: 20 wins - 6 losses (76.92%)
TvZ Record: 12 wins - 7 losses (63.16%)
TvP Record: 19 wins - 6 losses (76.00%)
Post Peak --> 48 wins - 27 losses (64.00%)
iloveoov
12-01-2003 -- 07-01-2004 (2329 Peak)
Overall Record: 48 wins - 13 losses (78.69%)
TvT Record: 19 wins - 10 losses (65.52%)
TvZ Record: 16 wins - 0 loss (100.00%)
TvP Record: 13 wins - 3 losses (81.25%)
(Note: TLPD has no evidence of a zerg loss before Julyzerg, this extends to 27-0)
Post Peak --> 162 wins - 122 losses (57.04%)
Jaedong
07-14-2007 -- 02-14-2008 (2309 Peak)
Overall Record: 46 wins - 17 losses (73.02%)
ZvT Record: 25 wins - 6 losses (80.65%)
ZvZ Record: 12 wins - 4 losses (75.00%)
ZvP Record: 9 wins - 7 losses (56.25%)
Post Peak --> 65 wins - 35 losses (65.00%)
sAviOr
07-09-2006 -- 02-09-2007 (2301 Peak)
Overall Record: 38 wins - 10 losses (79.17%)
ZvT Record: 9 wins - 4 losses (69.23%)
ZvZ Record: 12 wins - 4 losses (75.00%)
ZvP Record: 17 wins - 2 losses (89.47%)
Post Peak --> 71 wins - 66 losses (51.82%)
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January 01, 2009 - February 01, 2009
Bisu Record: 19 wins - 6 losses (76.00%)
BeSt Record: 4 wins - 5 losses (44.44%)
JangBi Record: 6 wins - 4 losses (60.00%)
Stork Record: 5 wins - 5 losses (50.00%)
Kal Record: 1 wins - 5 losses (16.67%)
free Record: 8 wins - 2 losses (80.00%)