Banner by disciple.
By ]343[, l10f and flamewheel
18 TvZs, 27 ZvPs, 5 PvTs, 3 TvTs, 6 PvPs, and 22 ZvZs and it all comes down to this. One Best of 5 ZvZ for the MSL gold. Underwhelming, as most would think, but we're here to tell you otherwise. Despite this final not having any big names or long-standing rivalries, this match offers something more, something that no other ZvZ could have brought us. Change.
Steadfast normality versus unorthodox craziness. EffOrt 2.0 versus KHAN's hope for a second gold. Hydra versus great. ZvZ. Think about the ZvZ finals we've had, and talk about how wonderful they are.
...Well, this should definitely be better than Kwanro vs Calm. While there are definitely similarities (as in both Calm and Hydra knocked out Jaedong in the semis with impeccable play) there's one big difference. Kwanro isn't innovative, just aggressive. great is innovative.
There's not a Golden Badge on the line this time. But new blood is just as great. Better Hydra than great, but whichever one wins will bring ramifications and changes for the boring matchup of ZvZ.
But first, the semifinals.
Great vs ZerO
By ]343[
By ]343[
ZerO < Circuit Breaker > great
+ Show Spoiler +
Great, the Hivemind, faces off against Zero, the King of Queens, in the first set of the MSL Ro4 on Circuit Breaker. There's been a lot of hype (for a ZvZ) for this series--Great had shown three Hive tech wins against Zero and Neo.G_Soulkey in the past half year or so. Furthermore, Great had specifically called out Zero in his Ro8 winners' interview:
Great spawns in orange at 7.5 while Zero spawns in brown at 1.5. Zero opens with extractor trick into 10 expand, 9 spawning pool, 8 gas, while Great opens 12hatch in main followed by a pool. Great then jaw-droppingly places another hatchery in his natural before his zerglings are out. Zero, still in the dark, continues pumping zerglings from both hatcheries; he misses Great's scouting ling, though, and Great is prepared for the incoming zergling bust. He pulls three drones to augment his slightly smaller zergling force in his natural, but it isn't quite enough.
Not looking good...
But then the 3 hatcheries' worth of lings kick in, giving Great more than enough lings to defend--while losing no drones.
Just kidding.
:D
Zero backs off, morphing his lair and spire while pumping zerglings to defend. Great snipes the one scouting ling that tries to run up his ramp, and Zero is left in the dark since his overlord is afraid to go into the main.
Great has no plans to tech, however. Soon after, Great's horde of zerglings from 3 hatcheries runs around the bridges and annihilate Zero's forces.
That is many ling, no?
GG.
Zero opened with a nonstandard build designed to hit with a lot of lings, but the balls of Great's build probably exceeded Zero's wildest expectations. Great was helped by cross positions and good micro, but hats off to his build.
Q: Your opponent in the Round of 4 is ZerO, who also has pride in his Hive tech play.
Great: The Zerg players from Woongjin claim that they were the ones that did Hive tech macro play first, but from my viewpoint, I don’t think that that’s true at all. It seems that GGPlay was the first one to do Hive tech macro on broadcasted matches, but our team had been already doing Hive tech macro play in practice for a long time even before that. If a game gets taken all the way to Hive tech, then of course I will win.
Great: The Zerg players from Woongjin claim that they were the ones that did Hive tech macro play first, but from my viewpoint, I don’t think that that’s true at all. It seems that GGPlay was the first one to do Hive tech macro on broadcasted matches, but our team had been already doing Hive tech macro play in practice for a long time even before that. If a game gets taken all the way to Hive tech, then of course I will win.
Q: How will you practice for the Round of 4?
Great: Since I’m in a situation where I have to focus on practicing my Hive tech play, I want to crush ZerO’s pride in his Hive tech play. My teammates are also good at dragging out a game all the way to Hive tech. We will help each other out with practice.
Great: Since I’m in a situation where I have to focus on practicing my Hive tech play, I want to crush ZerO’s pride in his Hive tech play. My teammates are also good at dragging out a game all the way to Hive tech. We will help each other out with practice.
Great spawns in orange at 7.5 while Zero spawns in brown at 1.5. Zero opens with extractor trick into 10 expand, 9 spawning pool, 8 gas, while Great opens 12hatch in main followed by a pool. Great then jaw-droppingly places another hatchery in his natural before his zerglings are out. Zero, still in the dark, continues pumping zerglings from both hatcheries; he misses Great's scouting ling, though, and Great is prepared for the incoming zergling bust. He pulls three drones to augment his slightly smaller zergling force in his natural, but it isn't quite enough.
Not looking good...
But then the 3 hatcheries' worth of lings kick in, giving Great more than enough lings to defend--while losing no drones.
Just kidding.
:D
Zero backs off, morphing his lair and spire while pumping zerglings to defend. Great snipes the one scouting ling that tries to run up his ramp, and Zero is left in the dark since his overlord is afraid to go into the main.
Great has no plans to tech, however. Soon after, Great's horde of zerglings from 3 hatcheries runs around the bridges and annihilate Zero's forces.
That is many ling, no?
GG.
Zero opened with a nonstandard build designed to hit with a lot of lings, but the balls of Great's build probably exceeded Zero's wildest expectations. Great was helped by cross positions and good micro, but hats off to his build.
ZerO < Triathlon > great
+ Show Spoiler +
Great begins at 4 in blue, while Zero spawns at 12 in orange on Triathlon, certainly one of the most entertaining maps of recent MSLs. Both overlords scout in the correct direction. Both open 12 pool, though Zero's extractor is earlier; both proceed to expand, Great to his natural and Zero to his back natural. Zero opts for a lair immediately after his pool finishes, while Great delays his lair by 1 pair of zerglings.
Great starts his spire in his main, while Zero starts his in his back natural (out of sight of Great's overlord). Great builds a few more drones as well as a creep colony, and when his overlord spots Zero's speedlings moving out, the sunken and another creep colony begin morphing. Great manages to hold, losing his lings and a few drones while canceling the other creep colony.
But Zero's mutalisks are out a bit faster, and they snipe an Overlord and scouting ling while Great is content to build up his mutas in his main while morphing 2 spores in each of his main and natural.
Zero, with map control from his greater muta count, takes his 3rd at his front natural. He even snipes a few drones despite the spores, but Great counters with his mutalisks and nearly empties Zero's entire main of drones.
Surprise!
But since Great has no units to threaten him, Zero calmly drones up again while adding a 4th hatchery in his main. But the fanboys are appeased as Great begins his Queen's Nest and begins Hive and a 3rd hatchery in main.
Great continually sends scourge and zergling scouts into Zero's base while building two defiler mounds and a 4th hatchery in main; Zero morphs his hive, building two evo chambers around the time Great's defiler mounds complete.
Zero builds a few queens for good measure (he wouldn't be Zero otherwise!) and also begins two defiler mounds, aiming to concurrently research plague and consume. Great begins his 3rd base at 6 around 13:30, using lurkers to knockdown the eggs and give his defiler/hydra combo access to defend the base. Zero, with map control, is able to take his 4th while bringing in his mutalisks to attack Great's 3rd; a plague goes off, but Zero dodges it handily.
Juked.
Zero gifts a defiler to some lurkers and Great takes his 4th. Zero has 1/1 air upgrades and +1 carapace, while Great has only +1 ranged weapons and a few more lurkers. Great takes his 4th at his back natural and his 5th at the inner 4 base, hoping to recover his economic disadvantage.
Zero's queens are caught by great's army, but he amusingly manages to parasite a lurker. Zero gets a nice plague off on Great's hydra ball as Great moves in to threaten the natural.
Playyyyguuuuuuuu~!
Upon seeing the defenses in Zero's natural, Great backs off and assaults the 4th at 9 instead. But despite his far superior forces, Great is faced with a strange problem indeed: he can't detect the lurkers since a spore is there!
ZvZ imbalance that no one even knew existed!
Though Great researches overlord speed, the overlord accompanying his force is sniped by mutalisks. Zero, taking advantage of Great's army hanging out in the center, executes a ridiculous drop on the back natural of Great. His defiler control is impeccable as he swarms his lurkers and plagues all the defending mutalisks, scoring a decisive victory.
It's so pretty...
Great hurriedly pulls his forces back to defend his main. But Zero produces a huge hydra/lurker/ling/defiler force and hurls it at the natural of Great; Zero has +2 carapace to Great's +1, and the commentators notice some of Great's lurkers are parasited--perhaps an alternative to detecting stray lurkers?
lol parasite.
The following battle is hard to describe with words. So here are pictures.
Um, ouch?
Great somehow holds and counterattacks, though he is clearly far behind by now.
It's so... red...
His attempt is blocked despite a nice plague on the mutas, and Zero extends his advantage with three invincible swarmed lurkers in Great's 4th.
Lurkers are so imbalanced vZ holy crap.
Great makes a final attempt at a counter-drop, and gg's out when his drop fails miserably and an Ultralisk appears to defend.
Well that's gg.
This game somewhat lived up to the hype for this series between two of the best late-game ZvZers. Zero's lurkers and doom drop were clutch, but am I the only one who thinks Great was behind enough since the early-midgame that he was practically lost anyway?
Great starts his spire in his main, while Zero starts his in his back natural (out of sight of Great's overlord). Great builds a few more drones as well as a creep colony, and when his overlord spots Zero's speedlings moving out, the sunken and another creep colony begin morphing. Great manages to hold, losing his lings and a few drones while canceling the other creep colony.
But Zero's mutalisks are out a bit faster, and they snipe an Overlord and scouting ling while Great is content to build up his mutas in his main while morphing 2 spores in each of his main and natural.
Zero, with map control from his greater muta count, takes his 3rd at his front natural. He even snipes a few drones despite the spores, but Great counters with his mutalisks and nearly empties Zero's entire main of drones.
Surprise!
But since Great has no units to threaten him, Zero calmly drones up again while adding a 4th hatchery in his main. But the fanboys are appeased as Great begins his Queen's Nest and begins Hive and a 3rd hatchery in main.
Great continually sends scourge and zergling scouts into Zero's base while building two defiler mounds and a 4th hatchery in main; Zero morphs his hive, building two evo chambers around the time Great's defiler mounds complete.
Zero builds a few queens for good measure (he wouldn't be Zero otherwise!) and also begins two defiler mounds, aiming to concurrently research plague and consume. Great begins his 3rd base at 6 around 13:30, using lurkers to knockdown the eggs and give his defiler/hydra combo access to defend the base. Zero, with map control, is able to take his 4th while bringing in his mutalisks to attack Great's 3rd; a plague goes off, but Zero dodges it handily.
Juked.
Zero gifts a defiler to some lurkers and Great takes his 4th. Zero has 1/1 air upgrades and +1 carapace, while Great has only +1 ranged weapons and a few more lurkers. Great takes his 4th at his back natural and his 5th at the inner 4 base, hoping to recover his economic disadvantage.
Zero's queens are caught by great's army, but he amusingly manages to parasite a lurker. Zero gets a nice plague off on Great's hydra ball as Great moves in to threaten the natural.
Playyyyguuuuuuuu~!
Upon seeing the defenses in Zero's natural, Great backs off and assaults the 4th at 9 instead. But despite his far superior forces, Great is faced with a strange problem indeed: he can't detect the lurkers since a spore is there!
ZvZ imbalance that no one even knew existed!
Though Great researches overlord speed, the overlord accompanying his force is sniped by mutalisks. Zero, taking advantage of Great's army hanging out in the center, executes a ridiculous drop on the back natural of Great. His defiler control is impeccable as he swarms his lurkers and plagues all the defending mutalisks, scoring a decisive victory.
It's so pretty...
Great hurriedly pulls his forces back to defend his main. But Zero produces a huge hydra/lurker/ling/defiler force and hurls it at the natural of Great; Zero has +2 carapace to Great's +1, and the commentators notice some of Great's lurkers are parasited--perhaps an alternative to detecting stray lurkers?
lol parasite.
The following battle is hard to describe with words. So here are pictures.
Um, ouch?
Great somehow holds and counterattacks, though he is clearly far behind by now.
It's so... red...
His attempt is blocked despite a nice plague on the mutas, and Zero extends his advantage with three invincible swarmed lurkers in Great's 4th.
Lurkers are so imbalanced vZ holy crap.
Great makes a final attempt at a counter-drop, and gg's out when his drop fails miserably and an Ultralisk appears to defend.
Well that's gg.
This game somewhat lived up to the hype for this series between two of the best late-game ZvZers. Zero's lurkers and doom drop were clutch, but am I the only one who thinks Great was behind enough since the early-midgame that he was practically lost anyway?
ZerO < Dante's Peak > great
+ Show Spoiler +
Great spawns at 1.5 in yellow against Zero's red zerg at 4.5 on Dante's Peak. Great opens 9 pool 8 extractor, and Zero unfortunately plops down a hatchery at 12 supply. Great spots the overlord leaving Zero's base and attacks the natural with one hatchery, prompting a drone pull before bringing in the rest of his lings and sniping the hatchery.
Build order advantage ftw!
Zero, far behind, pumps lings while Great morphs his Lair. Zero tries to rebuild his natural hatchery, but only barely manages to hold off Great's lings despite pulling drones. Great calmly expands and builds his spire. Zero's lair is halfway done by the time Great's spire finishes, and Great has equally many, if not more, zerglings.
Great opted to produce more zerglings to defend from the imminent ling bust, building only a single mutalisk to harass the drones. Meanwhile, his zerglings managed to defend against Zero's bust.
Bloooooood.
A few minutes later, Great smashes Zero with superior ling numbers and wins.
GG.
Build order advantage ftw!
Zero, far behind, pumps lings while Great morphs his Lair. Zero tries to rebuild his natural hatchery, but only barely manages to hold off Great's lings despite pulling drones. Great calmly expands and builds his spire. Zero's lair is halfway done by the time Great's spire finishes, and Great has equally many, if not more, zerglings.
Great opted to produce more zerglings to defend from the imminent ling bust, building only a single mutalisk to harass the drones. Meanwhile, his zerglings managed to defend against Zero's bust.
Bloooooood.
A few minutes later, Great smashes Zero with superior ling numbers and wins.
GG.
ZerO < Benzene > great
+ Show Spoiler +
The 4th set is on Benzene, and Zero, the green Zerg at 1.5, faces elimination against Great, the purple Zerg at 7.5. They use mirror builds, both opening 12hatch and fast lair. Zero sends a few more drones to his natural, but Great manages to snipe one with his first two lings. The spires go up simultaneously.
Both players maneuver around the bridges with a large number of speedlings, but two lings manage to sneak into the Zero's main. Zero, indecisive about whether to retreat some lings to defend, is caught off-guard as Great's lings attack his natural. Great gets the concave, and he takes the battle. The lings do significant damage to Zero's drones, but Zero is saved by the arrival of mutalisks.
Concavity. See, math is useful!
Zero has a few more mutas, but micros poorly against scourge, forcing him to produce many scourge of his own. He manages to catch two mutalisks in Great's natural with them. Great's mutas take out a stray overlord.
Both players maneuver their mutalisks for a while, but Great runs some zerglings by into Zero's main, and Great's mutas to force the drones to evacuate the natural. Zero manages to defend, however, and resumes mining at his natural.
Both players micro their air units furiously at Zero's natural, but after a while, Great manages to snipe the three drones mining gas at the natural. After some more micro, Great emerges with a much bigger stack of mutalisks. Zero gg's with 1 mutalisk remaining, and Great advances to the finals.
... and Great makes the finals of the MSL!
Both players maneuver around the bridges with a large number of speedlings, but two lings manage to sneak into the Zero's main. Zero, indecisive about whether to retreat some lings to defend, is caught off-guard as Great's lings attack his natural. Great gets the concave, and he takes the battle. The lings do significant damage to Zero's drones, but Zero is saved by the arrival of mutalisks.
Concavity. See, math is useful!
Zero has a few more mutas, but micros poorly against scourge, forcing him to produce many scourge of his own. He manages to catch two mutalisks in Great's natural with them. Great's mutas take out a stray overlord.
Both players maneuver their mutalisks for a while, but Great runs some zerglings by into Zero's main, and Great's mutas to force the drones to evacuate the natural. Zero manages to defend, however, and resumes mining at his natural.
Both players micro their air units furiously at Zero's natural, but after a while, Great manages to snipe the three drones mining gas at the natural. After some more micro, Great emerges with a much bigger stack of mutalisks. Zero gg's with 1 mutalisk remaining, and Great advances to the finals.
... and Great makes the finals of the MSL!
ZerO < Circuit Breaker > great
+ Show Spoiler +
No game.
Hydra vs Jaedong
By l10f
By l10f
Jaedong < Triathlon > Hydra
+ Show Spoiler +
Jaedong starts at 12 o'clock as the Red Zerg and Hydra starts as White Zerg at 5 o'clock on Triathlon. Both players start 12 pool expand at their back natural. Jaedong has a positional advantage due to his natural not being in the path of the mutalisk flight. Both players get first scout and make a lot of drones, since zerglings wouldn't be able to do much damage due to the ramp.
Not a common sight in JvZ..
Both players tech up to spire, and start making mutalisks and scourges. Jaedong attacks Hydra's back natural to use his positional advantage, but Hydra micros his mutalisks better, and Jaedong loses all his mutalisks and GG's.
Not a common sight in JvZ..
Both players tech up to spire, and start making mutalisks and scourges. Jaedong attacks Hydra's back natural to use his positional advantage, but Hydra micros his mutalisks better, and Jaedong loses all his mutalisks and GG's.
Jaedong < Benzene > Hydra
+ Show Spoiler +
Jaedong starts at 7 o'clock as the Red Zerg and Hydra starts at 1 o'clock as Yellow Zerg on Benzene. Due to the long rush distances on this map, both players start with 12 hatchery 11 pool build. Hydra makes 4 zerglings first, but Jaedong makes drones first, and Jaedong once again starts with a small advantage. Both players build their spire and neither player is able to do any real damage with their zerglings.
JD's mutalisks take a hit first
After seeing a lot of Zerglings, Jaedong makes a sunken colony. Hydra attacks with his zerglings, but even though Jaedong has less zerglings, Jaedong doesn't lose any drones. Mutalisks come out for both players, and Hydra kills one of Jaedong's overlords. Jaedong also kills one of Hydra's overlords, but Hydra decides to attack while Jaedong's supply was capped for a little longer than his. Both players have similar numbers of units, but Jaedong's micro is significantly worse than Hydra's this game, and Hydra kills all of Jaedong's mutalisks, forcing him to GG.
In both set 1 and 2, Jaedong started with a small advantage, but with superior micro, Hydra was able to win the decisive battles and won the games easily.
JD's mutalisks take a hit first
After seeing a lot of Zerglings, Jaedong makes a sunken colony. Hydra attacks with his zerglings, but even though Jaedong has less zerglings, Jaedong doesn't lose any drones. Mutalisks come out for both players, and Hydra kills one of Jaedong's overlords. Jaedong also kills one of Hydra's overlords, but Hydra decides to attack while Jaedong's supply was capped for a little longer than his. Both players have similar numbers of units, but Jaedong's micro is significantly worse than Hydra's this game, and Hydra kills all of Jaedong's mutalisks, forcing him to GG.
In both set 1 and 2, Jaedong started with a small advantage, but with superior micro, Hydra was able to win the decisive battles and won the games easily.
Jaedong < Circuit Breaker > Hydra
+ Show Spoiler +
Jaedong starts at 11 o'clock as the Purple Zerg, and Hydra starts at 1 o'clock as Yellow Zerg on Circuit Breaker. Jaedong gets the first scout, but Hydra doesn't. Both players start with a 12 hatchery, but Jaedong makes his hatchery near 12 o'clock, while Hydra puts it in his natural. Hydra does not spot the hatchery and thinks he can get away with a few less lings since he has two hatcheries.
JD's answer to Hydra's godly micro skills
Soon, Hydra realizes something is wrong and builds a sunken colony in his natural. However, Hydra realized it too late, and Jaedong's lings overwhelm Hydra's lings and sunken colony, and Hydra GG's.
Jaedong realizes he can't win in a standard mutalisk vs mutalisk fight, and decides to use a ling heavy build. Hydra, thinking that Jaedong would play standard because he is confident, is caught off guard.
JD's answer to Hydra's godly micro skills
Soon, Hydra realizes something is wrong and builds a sunken colony in his natural. However, Hydra realized it too late, and Jaedong's lings overwhelm Hydra's lings and sunken colony, and Hydra GG's.
Jaedong realizes he can't win in a standard mutalisk vs mutalisk fight, and decides to use a ling heavy build. Hydra, thinking that Jaedong would play standard because he is confident, is caught off guard.
Jaedong < Dante's Peak > Hydra
+ Show Spoiler +
Jaedong starts at 7 o'clock as the Red Zerg, and Hydra starts at 11 o'clock as the Yellow Zerg on Dante's Peak. Both players start with a 9 pool before overlord build. Jaedong scouts towards Hydra while Hydra doesn't, but Jaedong turns his overlord after seeing nothing (or was it a very, very elaborate mindgame--we don't know, we never had that interview...), and does not realize Hydra is at 11 o'clock.
Both players try to sneak zerglings by, but neither player succeeds. Jaedong shows superior zergling micro at the center, and kills a few zerglings. Hydra is forced to build a sunken colony, but Jaedong snipes Hydra's spire before the colony finishes, and Hydra GG's.
Bye-bye spire!
Jaedong missed Hydra's spot with his overlord but it actually ended up helping him because Hydra thought Jaedong was at 5 o'clock because he didn't see an overlord. In sets 3 and 4, Jaedong shows superior zergling micro, ending the game before it gets to mutalisk fight.
Both players try to sneak zerglings by, but neither player succeeds. Jaedong shows superior zergling micro at the center, and kills a few zerglings. Hydra is forced to build a sunken colony, but Jaedong snipes Hydra's spire before the colony finishes, and Hydra GG's.
Bye-bye spire!
Jaedong missed Hydra's spot with his overlord but it actually ended up helping him because Hydra thought Jaedong was at 5 o'clock because he didn't see an overlord. In sets 3 and 4, Jaedong shows superior zergling micro, ending the game before it gets to mutalisk fight.
Jaedong < Triathlon > Hydra
+ Show Spoiler +
Jaedong starts at 5 o'clock as the Yellow Zerg, and Hydra starts at 7 o'clock as the Purple Zerg on Triathlon. Hydra starts with a 12 hatchery in his natural, and Jaedong starts with a 12 pool expand to his back natural. Hydra scouts correctly first time, but Jaedong scouts towards 12 o'clock first. Hydra tries to press his build order advantage by making a lot of drones, and Jaedong tries to make up for it by skipping zergling speed.
Hydra's got some serious balls!
Jaedong's spire is a little bit faster, but Hydra makes a lot of speedlings and attacks Jaedong. Jaedong builds a sunken colony, but loses two drones. Hydra is now ahead economically, so Jaedong decides to attack with his leftover zerglings and mutalisks. Jaedong fights Hydra's mutalisks with his own while killing two drones with his zerglings, but pulls back his mutalisks soon after, so his zerglings are unable to kill any more drones.
Not again! JD
Hydra counters with his mutalisks and scourges, and finds Jaedong's mutalisks out of place. Hydra kills two drones mining gas at Jaedong's natural, and pulls back. They engage once again near Jaedong's main, and Jaedong was forced to make a lot of scourges due to lack of drones. However, Hydra once again shows godly mutalisk micro and overwhelms Jaedong's army, taking the series 3-2.
Hydra used the fact that Jaedong would play very safely on the 5th set to use the 12 hatchery build. Jaedong started with a disadvantage, but with his mutalisk-zergling attack, seemed to back in the game. However, he could have done a LOT more damage with that attack. He could have killed the drones mining gas at Hydra's natural while not engaging, but threatening with his mutalisks, and once Hydra pulls back his drones to his main, engaged as he did with his mutalisks while killing more drones. He also could have fought longer, even if he came out a mutalisk or two shorter, he could have killed a lot more drones with his zerglings. Jaedong, trying to play too safely, let Hydra build up a large mutalisk army before dealing a severe blow, and Hydra's mutalisk micro was too much to handle for him.
Hydra: Lulz, that was too ezpz, JD.
Overall, Jaedong had the better decision making and zergling micro, but Hydra's mutalisk micro was too good to overcome for Jaedong. In a matchup where mutalisk micro is 50% of the game, Jaedong was forced to a mutalisk fight due to the nature of the map Triathlon, and couldn't outmicro Hydra once it got to that point. Jaedong won the two games where it didn't get to mutalisk, but Hydra is definitely the more deserving player to advance
Hydra's got some serious balls!
Jaedong's spire is a little bit faster, but Hydra makes a lot of speedlings and attacks Jaedong. Jaedong builds a sunken colony, but loses two drones. Hydra is now ahead economically, so Jaedong decides to attack with his leftover zerglings and mutalisks. Jaedong fights Hydra's mutalisks with his own while killing two drones with his zerglings, but pulls back his mutalisks soon after, so his zerglings are unable to kill any more drones.
Not again! JD
Hydra counters with his mutalisks and scourges, and finds Jaedong's mutalisks out of place. Hydra kills two drones mining gas at Jaedong's natural, and pulls back. They engage once again near Jaedong's main, and Jaedong was forced to make a lot of scourges due to lack of drones. However, Hydra once again shows godly mutalisk micro and overwhelms Jaedong's army, taking the series 3-2.
Hydra used the fact that Jaedong would play very safely on the 5th set to use the 12 hatchery build. Jaedong started with a disadvantage, but with his mutalisk-zergling attack, seemed to back in the game. However, he could have done a LOT more damage with that attack. He could have killed the drones mining gas at Hydra's natural while not engaging, but threatening with his mutalisks, and once Hydra pulls back his drones to his main, engaged as he did with his mutalisks while killing more drones. He also could have fought longer, even if he came out a mutalisk or two shorter, he could have killed a lot more drones with his zerglings. Jaedong, trying to play too safely, let Hydra build up a large mutalisk army before dealing a severe blow, and Hydra's mutalisk micro was too much to handle for him.
Hydra: Lulz, that was too ezpz, JD.
Overall, Jaedong had the better decision making and zergling micro, but Hydra's mutalisk micro was too good to overcome for Jaedong. In a matchup where mutalisk micro is 50% of the game, Jaedong was forced to a mutalisk fight due to the nature of the map Triathlon, and couldn't outmicro Hydra once it got to that point. Jaedong won the two games where it didn't get to mutalisk, but Hydra is definitely the more deserving player to advance
I originally wanted to write about how Hydra is going to be the heir apparent and usurp Jaedong and whatnot. But then I realized that that wasn't doing great justice, and it would only promote the "this final is going to be a sucky one-sided match", which is exactly not what it will be.
Third in Line
By flamewheel
By flamewheel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3d1xUT4O2Y
Remember kids, drinking is bad, as great is here to tell you. Why is this man depressed? Is it because this is going to be a boring ZvZ finals, bound to cause MSL and viewers alike to drink themselves into a stupor?
No. While this final is neither a bonjwa coronation ceremony nor a fight for the Silver Mouse, it definitely will have its own place in history.
MBC execs haven't really found too suitable of a way to hype this. Shark's done a decent job talking about how ZvZ is not as boring as one would think, but it still doesn't seem like it's enough. So as I sat here pondering how to possibly hype one of the few ZvZ finals in Brood War history (Avalon already stated all the basics about ZvZ to make the matchup sound more interesting...), I came to a realization that this isn't just any ZvZ.
In fact, this could be better than Hydra vs Jaedong.
This could be a revolution.
In one booth, there will be a player that has become the definition of solid--Hydra rarely cheeses, choosing to win through means of his amazing mechanics. I agree with what Kenpachi said in his little piece hyping the semis--Hydra currently has the best mutalisk micro (in ZvZ at least) in the scene, evidenced by destroying Jaedong in their three straight-up games.
On February 13 2011 04:23 IntoTheWow wrote:
Also regarding the review it should be interesting showing muta micro from JD vs Hydra. MBC showed the replays in very slow motion and I think they were talking about how Hydra was focusing mutas down and Jaedong wasn't.
I think it has to do with JD pulling the chinese triangle technique, clicking 'on air' which made mutas hit whatever it was closest to them. Hydra was following his clump of mutas around and sniping them one by one. That's why I think Hydra finished most battles with a good amount of mutas left, while Jaedong got all of his killed (even though both started more or less with similar armies).
Also regarding the review it should be interesting showing muta micro from JD vs Hydra. MBC showed the replays in very slow motion and I think they were talking about how Hydra was focusing mutas down and Jaedong wasn't.
I think it has to do with JD pulling the chinese triangle technique, clicking 'on air' which made mutas hit whatever it was closest to them. Hydra was following his clump of mutas around and sniping them one by one. That's why I think Hydra finished most battles with a good amount of mutas left, while Jaedong got all of his killed (even though both started more or less with similar armies).
You may not enjoy watching ZvZ, but you have to admit that Hydra's muta/scourge vs muta/scourge micro is amazing to watch. Gone is the laughingstock that was his ZvZ of previous seasons--after a 7-game losing streak to start off the season, he finally was able to kick his ZvZ up a level during his OSL match against Kwanro. Since then, Hydra is 22-6, nearly 80% in ZvZ. And there's no way this is just a fluke (consider streaks of players like Hyuk). Hydra has just taken out the final boss, and is looking stronger than ever in ZvZ--as long as the games are standard.
And this is why this final will not be so one-sided.
Facing off against Hydra, you have great. If I had to name one player who could make ZvZ interesting, it would be great. While he's definitely nowhere near as good as top-notch ZvZers like Jaedong and EffOrt, great is still one to fear in a ZvZ. With his unorthodox playstyle, you never know what's going to hit you till it's done. Three hatch zergling? Unconvential mutalisk engagements? Hive tech? What great lacks in micromanagement he more than makes up for with his game and tactics sense. In his own semifinals match against ZerO, great took the first game by storm by going for a fast third hatchery, and ZerO didn't know what had hit him till the zerglings were all up in his base. And if the game gets to Hive tech, great is going to win it (yes, I know he lost that game to ZerO but that's the first Hive tech game I think he's lost).
One could not find two styles of ZvZ more distinct from one another with Hydra and great. And that's what makes this final worth watching. Out of the six matchups in Starcraft, ZvZ is the one least figured out. There's hive tech now, but a way has not been found yet to "force" matches to hive tech. Compared to ZvT and ZvP, ZvZ is still in the Dark Ages of development. Games still end at the zergling level, and if not there, then by mutalisks. We've had a taste of the awesomeness that is Hive tech, and we don't want to go back. Can this final be the one to bring about the End of the Era and usher ZvZ into the Golden Age? great's already got the game needed to break down the boundaries of ZvZ. Now it's up to Hydra, and if there's any coaching staff I trust in, it's CJ coaching staff. Snow went from zero to hero against Jaedong (Jaedong said he would have lost had it not been for the Zerg-favored maps) and Hydra finished the job.
The thing is, I believe Hydra wins 3-0 if great decides to play standard. But who actually believes great will do that? You can bet your bottom dollar that great's going to come into this match with more traps and tricks than Sasori of Naruto, and it's going to be up to Hydra to defend against that. If the game doesn't end with some interesting play from great or with ultralisks, Hydra will win. Through superior zergling and mutalisk management, Hydra will win. But with any other units, great wins.
So this finals is not just "another ZvZ". This is a match that will test the boundaries of what the dark matchup has created, one that can be a beacon toward a new era of ZvZ. 12 years into the game, we finally get to see what is truly standard: does the safe and micromanagement-based play of Hydra win out, or does ZvZ find a new metagame from the strategies of great?
Zerg units are cheap and plentiful. No zerg is ever alone on the battlefield, surrounded by control groups and control groups of allies. But Zerg players are characterized by loneliness and solitude. We all know the story--Terran and Protoss have had multiple representatives at the top at once, but there is only one Zerg throne. Either way, while Jaedong is still the king of Zerg, this final can potentially crown the new heir to the matchup of ZvZ.
I was very surprised as to how many staff weighed in on this. What's the general consensus? Click on the spoilers to see for yourself.
Staff Predictions
+ Show Spoiler [Writers] +
flamewheel
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]343[
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l10f
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heyoka
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tree.hugger
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swanized
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Divinek
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Hydra wins 3-1 if great plays standard. great wins 3-2 and the world implodes if he plays tricky.
]343[
+ Show Spoiler +
Hydra wins 3-1.
l10f
+ Show Spoiler +
great wins 3-0.
heyoka
+ Show Spoiler +
I vote Hydra because the last time a zerg beat Jaedong in a bo5 he went on to win the msl. In a ZvZ finals too!
What the fuck do we do if Great wins a starleague? Everything we know, all we have written, all the arguments we have about Starcraft being the truest the sports, the most manly competition where those who prove unworthy falter and crumble under pressure, its all moot. It means nothing if Great is awarded a Starleague trophy.
I am bunkering the fuck up if he wins because it is surely a sign of a coming apocalypse.
What the fuck do we do if Great wins a starleague? Everything we know, all we have written, all the arguments we have about Starcraft being the truest the sports, the most manly competition where those who prove unworthy falter and crumble under pressure, its all moot. It means nothing if Great is awarded a Starleague trophy.
I am bunkering the fuck up if he wins because it is surely a sign of a coming apocalypse.
tree.hugger
+ Show Spoiler +
If great is allowed to win a starleague, I'm going to be furious.
Hydra 3-0
Hydra 3-0
swanized
+ Show Spoiler +
Honestly, Hydra had an excellent showing in the semi-finals against Jaedong. However,I predict great will have some incredible builds prepared as he already stated he wanted to spearhead an incoming ZvZ revolution some time ago.
Great 3-2 Hydra in an epic series
Great 3-2 Hydra in an epic series
Divinek
+ Show Spoiler +
hydra is so gonna take it 3-1
+ Show Spoiler [Mods and Banlings] +
Hot_Bid
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GTR
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IntoTheWow
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boesthius
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mikeymoo
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CJ zerg beats fanboy popular S class best ever race player 3-2
is this supposed to be surprising news or something? where have we heard this before??
Hydra 3-0
is this supposed to be surprising news or something? where have we heard this before??
Hydra 3-0
GTR
+ Show Spoiler +
IntoTheWow
+ Show Spoiler +
Hydra 3-0
boesthius
+ Show Spoiler +
I really want to care about this finals, but I don't at all. Hydra is going to win, either 3-2 or 3-1. He's been unstoppable ZvZ lately, and he made smashing Jaedong look incredibly easy. AS much as I love my Khan's, Great doesn't have what it takes to win a finals.
mikeymoo
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Hydra 3-0.
+ Show Spoiler [Liquipedia] +
GHOSTCLAW
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Jonvvv
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Ver
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Imperator
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Great 3-2 ^^
Jonvvv
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Another silver for khan.
Hydra 3-1
Hydra 3-1
Ver
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Hydra 3-1
Cannot imagine Great winning a starleague.
Cannot imagine Great winning a starleague.
Imperator
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Hydra is going to roll great.
Hydra 3-0.
Hydra 3-0.
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Corinthos
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Ares[Effort]
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+ Show Spoiler +
Hydra 3-0
Ares[Effort]
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I will win 9001 esports dollars for this
Great 3-1
Great 3-1
Cancel your plans for the weekend, phone a friend, and get ready to partake in the awesome ZvZ MSL final. I 78% guarantee you, it's not one you'll want to miss.
Another update by the MSL team--the second of last for the PDPop MBCGame Starleague. Awesome graphics by disciple, and writing by ]343[, l10f, and flamewheel. Special thanks to everybody that provided random hype from around Teamliquid (and Shark~) and to all the staff who gave their predictions.