Viewing note: The players pick their opponents live after the final game in the best of 7 series.
| oGsTOP Terran T-#2 Map Veto: Jungle Basin 2010 Results: ro16, DNQ, DNQ GSL 4 Results: W STAce (2-1) W TSLAlive (2-0) W BanBansZenith (2-0) W sCfOu (2-1) | vs. | ZeNEXByun Terran T-#9 Map Veto: Blistering Sands 2010 Results: ro32, ro64, DNQ GSL 4 Results: W SlayerSGolden (2-0) W TSLKiller (2-0) W STJuly (2-0) W FOXLyn (2-1) |
| Maps: Lost Temple, Metalopolis, Steppes of War, Delta Quadrant, Xel'Naga Caverns, Scrap Station, Shakuras Plateau | ||
oGsTOP (T) vs. ZeNEXByun (T)
Match Rating: 8/10
VOD Link
Click for match play by play and commentary
Game 1 - Lost Temple
Close ground positions, Byun at 12 and TOP at 9
Both players open with a no gas fast expand. TOP's command center is in his main while Byun's is at the natural.
Byun pokes with three marines and an SCV. Top is building a bunker but it's not finished.
The marines kill the two defending marines and move into TOP's main
SCVs move out and chase them all the way back to Byun's natural before turning around
Factory for both players, second barracks for Byun
Now starport for both players. TOP's is slightly earlier.
TOP gets a tank and starts researching siege mode
Byun gets shields and siege mode, TOP making vikings
Stim coming for Byun. He moves out and catches some of TOP's marines near the watchtower, killing a few before they get to siege tank cover.
TOP starts stim as well. Byun getting a second factory.
Byun sets up his siege tanks at the watchtower. TOP has a few more vikings but marines are escorting Byun's tanks.
TOP sends a dropship with a tank in it toward Byun's ledge, but Byun's vikings deny access to the ledge.
TOP tries to clear the vikings away but Byun gets the first hit in and wins the battle.
TOP makes two more vikings and promptly loses those as well to Byun's vikings
TOP loads a command center with SCVs and tries to float to the island, but Byun's vikings deny it
TOP tries again and this time gets his command center to the island.
TOP builds turrets on the island to secure it
Byun drops TOP's base, loses those units quickly, but seeing TOP's vikings moves in with his own and takes out most of them
TOP tries to drop Byun's main but it gets repelled easily
TOP moves out but only a little way before siege fire forces him to stop
Byun sieges up underneath TOP's main and takes out production buildings. TOP finally gians air superiority so Byun withdraws.
TOP has three bases but Byun has taken the main and natural at 3 o'clock
Byun uses siege tanks to clear turrets and drop marines and then a siege tank there
It's a planetary fortress but the tank sieges up outside its range
TOP tries to edge outward, so Byun unsieges and moves into the choke with all his tanks
TOP's marines all melt after the tanks re-siege and Byun has far more tanks
TOP concedes
Great micro from Byun. He won almost every viking battle and successfully attacked the island despite Tasteless (and me, for that matter) thinking it was impenetrable.
Game 2 - Metalopolis
Close ground positions, TOP at 3 and Byun at 6
No gas fast expand for Byun, factory for TOP
Bunker at the natural for Byun, tech lab but no starport for TOP
Siege mode starts for TOP at the same time Byun begins his factory
Proxy barracks for TOP in the middle of the map, engineering bay and starport for Byun
TOP moves out with two siege tanks and about 10 marines
Byun adds a second bunker to his natural. TOP floats his barracks in to spot for his siege tanks
Byun salvages his close bunker and tries to get siege mode out. Meanwhile he lifts his command center
TOP tries to go up the ramp but Byun sieges a tank in his main, forcing him out for a moment
TOP reinforces his containing force and uses the barracks to spot inside Byun's main
Byun tries to reposition his tanks but TOP scans and destroys them. Meanwhile Byun attacks from behind with marines but TOP has too many units
Byun concedes
Very clever rush from TOP that countered Byun's fast expansion perfectly.
Game 3 - Steppes of War
Gas and then a reactor and two more barracks for TOP, no gas fast expand for Byun
Byun puts a bunker at the entrance to his natural
Factory for Byun. TOP has four barracks and sends SCVs with his marines
Byun tries to repair his bunker but TOP has 12 marines and it dies quickly
TOP pursues into Byun's main and there's no way Byun can do anything to his army.
Byun concedes
I thought Byun wouldn't dare fast expand on Steppes of War, but TOP knew better and crushed him again. Byun's going to have to switch it up if we wants to get the lead back.
Game 4 - Delta Quadrant
Right positions, Byun at 2 and TOP at 5
This time Byun takes a gas, as does TOP. Both players get factories.
Byun pokes with two marines and an SCV but TOP's bunker is finished this time, so he pulls back
Both players getting starports
Now both players get cloak and a banshee
Engineering bay for Byun
TOP gets a raven while Byun gets a missile turret and a viking
Byun's first viking kills a few SCVs but the raven and some marines drive it off.
TOP takes out a depot with his banshee, temporarily supply blocking Byun
TOP tries to take out the tech lab on Byun's factory but a scan and viking forces it to flee. It sruvves at very low health.
Byun gets a raven as well. TOP repairs his banshee.
Byun builds a command center at his front natural. TOP building one in his main.
TOP goes back to Byun's base with his banshee and almost kills the already damaged tech lab, but SCVs repair and vikings and a raven destroy the banshee
TOP moves into the space between their front expansion and there are a few minor skirmishes
Both players getting stim and reactors
The two viking/raven fleets engage and Byun wins a decisive victory, killing TOP's raven and almost all his vikings
TOP counters to Byun's natural. Byun is out of position and has to land his vikings to hold it off.
TOP attacks again but the SCVs that had been repairing Byun's vikings block the marines away from Byun's siege tanks
TOP tries to move into Byun's natural and takes huge damage from siege tanks
TOP unsieges and starts to withdraw. Byun tries to pursue but TOP resieges and Byun falls back
Byun stims and runs into TOP's siege line, losing a lot of marines but destroying TOP's force
Byun tries to move into TOP's natural, but TOP pulls a ton of SCVs and destroys his army
TOP counters toward Byun's expansion. Byun lost all his tanks and doesn't have much to defend
TOP sets up a contain position and looks like he might just win. Byun attacks with marines and SCVs and manages to force TOP to retreat
Both players take gold bases
TOP sends two drops full of marines toward Byun's gold base
Byun immediately moves his SCVs and moves marines in, destroying both medivacs and then all the marines
TOP tries to adjust the tanks protecting his gold and Byun moves in, killing a lot of tanks
After Byun falls back, TOP unsieges the other tanks and Byun attacks again, killing still more tanks
Byun tries to take the ledge over the gold, but TOP scans and kills the front two siege tanks
Byun drops marines on TOP's tanks and destroys them
TOP starts to head for Byun's natural with his army, then stops as Byun's army moves to counter.
Byun goes back to TOP's gold, getting there just ahead of TOP's army.
Byun sends his marines toward the gold command center, but it's a feint. When TOP goes after them, the marines turn and attack just as TOP's army comes into siege tank range.
TOP's last army is destroyed in the ensuing battle.
TOP concedes
TOP does have good macro (and perhaps Byun's isn't the greatest) but Byun is clearly the superior tactician in viking and tank battles. It's a shame he spotted TOP two games by using rush-vulnerable openings because he looks nearly invincible in long games.
Game 5 - Xel'Naga Caverns
Both players take a gas, but Byun expands quickly anyway. TOP gets a reaper and then builds a command center as well.
Two more barracks for Byun, TOP starts another reaper but then cancels it.
The reaper jumps into Byun's base but marines are there to drive it off.
Stim for both players
The reaper, quite injured, returns to Byun's natural and dies almost immediately to marines
Bunker and shields for both players
Factory for Byun, TOP still adding barracks and making tons of reactors
Factory for TOP, starport and two engineering bays for Byun
TOP moves out with his large infantry army. About 18 marines and five marauders. At home TOP is building a starport.
TOP pulls back for a while, allowing Byun's double upgrades time to finish. Byun gets an armory.
Byun moves out with lots of marines and quite a few medivacs, setting up at TOP's watchtower
TOP moves out and Byun fades back to his natural.
Both players move around the center of the map but do not engage yet.
TOP starts a third command center and starts researching siege mode. Byun starting a third right at the gold.
With 2/2 finished Byun's army skirmishes with TOP's. TOP tries to force him to fight in range of his siege tank but Byun doesn't bite.
One dropship full of marines drop in TOP's main and kill marines as they come out of the production buildings.
While TOP sends units back to deal with it, Byun darts in and snipes TOP's command center at the gold
With the help of his siege tanks TOP forces Byun back towards his gold. His siege mode isn't quite finished.
TOP tries to move closer but Byun moves in again and kills more tanks with his marines before pulling back.
Byun attacks again, overrunning TOP's siege tanks with stimmed marines and going all the way to TOP's gold, killing the defending units there.
TOP concedes
Well, he's no MarineKing, but Byun showed he could beat TOP with marines just like he could with siege tanks and vikings.
Game 6 - Scrap Station
Gas and then factory for TOP, no gas fast expansion for Byun
Hellion and starport for TOP, factory and bunker for Byun
Engineering bay for Byun, TOP still making hellions
TOP drops marines in the back of Byun's base while hellions charge into the natural
Lots of SCVs go down. Meanwhile the marines kill a supply depot, factory tech lab, and some marines before having to withdraw.
TOP drops the surviving marines at Byun's natural while his banshee attacks Byun's main
Byun frantically puts up turrets as he takes a ton of damage from the banshees
TOP takes his natural but since Byun's natural has been up this whole time he's not quite as far behind as you'd think
Byun getting siege mode and two barracks, TOP getting two barracks and stim while still harrassing with banshees
Byun has a viking out and finally stabilizes, but he had to use a lot of scans
TOP starts a third command center while Byun gets a second factory
TOP drops two tanks and marines in the back of Byun's base.
The tanks siege up but Byun brings his army back and cleans it up
TOP drops Byun's natural and there aren't enough marines to defend
Byun takes down the rocks in the center and pushes across. TOP has a good siege line at the exit.
Byun's marines melt and he has to retreat.
TOP takes the gold base since he has Byun contained at both sides
Byun moves down and attacks the south contain. Both sides' marines die but Byun's tanks have to pull back.
Byun floats an orbital loaded with SCVs to the island, but TOP scans it as it lands.
Byun attacks through the middle of the map again but TOP's defenses are too strong
Byun concedes
Now that's more like it from TOP. Fantastic use of drops and banshees to spread Byun too thin and keep him contained while TOP caught up and surpassed him in bases.
Game 7 - Shakuras Plateau
Upper positions, TOP at 2 and Byun at 10
Gas and factory for TOP, no gas fast expand for Byun
Hellion and blue flame for TOP, bunker at the natural ramp for Byun
Factory for Byun, starport for TOP
Engineering bay and starport for Byun, medivac coming for TOP
Byun scans TOP's main and sees the buildings, might have even seen a hellion
Byun starts a tank and moves marines to defensive positions
TOP's dropship with three hellions moves into Byun's main, dropping some marines as well
Byun's SCV micro isn't so hot and he loses a huge number of SCVs to the hellions
TOP's banshee is coming to follow up but Byun has a viking out
While the vikings shadow the banshee TOP drops two more hellions
The hellions kill yet more SCVs before the vikings land and destroy them
TOP has a 2 to 1 SCV advantage. Byun sends his vikings to TOP's main to scout
Another banshee moves into Byun's natural and kills still more SCVs
TOP getting vikings, tanks, shields, and stim. Byun getting tanks and two more barracks.
TOP takes a third base while Byun tries to rebuild his shattered economy.
Byun moves to the back rocks with his army, but TOP has moved across the center and attacks the undefended natural
Byun surrenders
Another nice harass game from TOP, but frankly Byun's defense was pathetic.
Commentary: I still like Byun better than TOP, but look, if you defend harassment play that poorly you don't deserve to win. Byun is a fantastic tactical player, and that is, in my opinion, the skill more difficult to learn. If I'm right he's got more potential than TOP right now, but I was impressed with TOP's harass play. In GSL 1 we saw a lot of dynamic dropship play from Terrans like STRainBOw and TSLClide, but in later tournaments
Close ground positions, Byun at 12 and TOP at 9
Both players open with a no gas fast expand. TOP's command center is in his main while Byun's is at the natural.
Byun pokes with three marines and an SCV. Top is building a bunker but it's not finished.
The marines kill the two defending marines and move into TOP's main
SCVs move out and chase them all the way back to Byun's natural before turning around
Factory for both players, second barracks for Byun
Now starport for both players. TOP's is slightly earlier.
TOP gets a tank and starts researching siege mode
Byun gets shields and siege mode, TOP making vikings
Stim coming for Byun. He moves out and catches some of TOP's marines near the watchtower, killing a few before they get to siege tank cover.
TOP starts stim as well. Byun getting a second factory.
Byun sets up his siege tanks at the watchtower. TOP has a few more vikings but marines are escorting Byun's tanks.
TOP sends a dropship with a tank in it toward Byun's ledge, but Byun's vikings deny access to the ledge.
TOP tries to clear the vikings away but Byun gets the first hit in and wins the battle.
TOP makes two more vikings and promptly loses those as well to Byun's vikings
TOP loads a command center with SCVs and tries to float to the island, but Byun's vikings deny it
TOP tries again and this time gets his command center to the island.
TOP builds turrets on the island to secure it
Byun drops TOP's base, loses those units quickly, but seeing TOP's vikings moves in with his own and takes out most of them
TOP tries to drop Byun's main but it gets repelled easily
TOP moves out but only a little way before siege fire forces him to stop
Byun sieges up underneath TOP's main and takes out production buildings. TOP finally gians air superiority so Byun withdraws.
TOP has three bases but Byun has taken the main and natural at 3 o'clock
Byun uses siege tanks to clear turrets and drop marines and then a siege tank there
It's a planetary fortress but the tank sieges up outside its range
TOP tries to edge outward, so Byun unsieges and moves into the choke with all his tanks
TOP's marines all melt after the tanks re-siege and Byun has far more tanks
TOP concedes
Great micro from Byun. He won almost every viking battle and successfully attacked the island despite Tasteless (and me, for that matter) thinking it was impenetrable.
Game 2 - Metalopolis
Close ground positions, TOP at 3 and Byun at 6
No gas fast expand for Byun, factory for TOP
Bunker at the natural for Byun, tech lab but no starport for TOP
Siege mode starts for TOP at the same time Byun begins his factory
Proxy barracks for TOP in the middle of the map, engineering bay and starport for Byun
TOP moves out with two siege tanks and about 10 marines
Byun adds a second bunker to his natural. TOP floats his barracks in to spot for his siege tanks
Byun salvages his close bunker and tries to get siege mode out. Meanwhile he lifts his command center
TOP tries to go up the ramp but Byun sieges a tank in his main, forcing him out for a moment
TOP reinforces his containing force and uses the barracks to spot inside Byun's main
Byun tries to reposition his tanks but TOP scans and destroys them. Meanwhile Byun attacks from behind with marines but TOP has too many units
Byun concedes
Very clever rush from TOP that countered Byun's fast expansion perfectly.
Game 3 - Steppes of War
Gas and then a reactor and two more barracks for TOP, no gas fast expand for Byun
Byun puts a bunker at the entrance to his natural
Factory for Byun. TOP has four barracks and sends SCVs with his marines
Byun tries to repair his bunker but TOP has 12 marines and it dies quickly
TOP pursues into Byun's main and there's no way Byun can do anything to his army.
Byun concedes
I thought Byun wouldn't dare fast expand on Steppes of War, but TOP knew better and crushed him again. Byun's going to have to switch it up if we wants to get the lead back.
Game 4 - Delta Quadrant
Right positions, Byun at 2 and TOP at 5
This time Byun takes a gas, as does TOP. Both players get factories.
Byun pokes with two marines and an SCV but TOP's bunker is finished this time, so he pulls back
Both players getting starports
Now both players get cloak and a banshee
Engineering bay for Byun
TOP gets a raven while Byun gets a missile turret and a viking
Byun's first viking kills a few SCVs but the raven and some marines drive it off.
TOP takes out a depot with his banshee, temporarily supply blocking Byun
TOP tries to take out the tech lab on Byun's factory but a scan and viking forces it to flee. It sruvves at very low health.
Byun gets a raven as well. TOP repairs his banshee.
Byun builds a command center at his front natural. TOP building one in his main.
TOP goes back to Byun's base with his banshee and almost kills the already damaged tech lab, but SCVs repair and vikings and a raven destroy the banshee
TOP moves into the space between their front expansion and there are a few minor skirmishes
Both players getting stim and reactors
The two viking/raven fleets engage and Byun wins a decisive victory, killing TOP's raven and almost all his vikings
TOP counters to Byun's natural. Byun is out of position and has to land his vikings to hold it off.
TOP attacks again but the SCVs that had been repairing Byun's vikings block the marines away from Byun's siege tanks
TOP tries to move into Byun's natural and takes huge damage from siege tanks
TOP unsieges and starts to withdraw. Byun tries to pursue but TOP resieges and Byun falls back
Byun stims and runs into TOP's siege line, losing a lot of marines but destroying TOP's force
Byun tries to move into TOP's natural, but TOP pulls a ton of SCVs and destroys his army
TOP counters toward Byun's expansion. Byun lost all his tanks and doesn't have much to defend
TOP sets up a contain position and looks like he might just win. Byun attacks with marines and SCVs and manages to force TOP to retreat
Both players take gold bases
TOP sends two drops full of marines toward Byun's gold base
Byun immediately moves his SCVs and moves marines in, destroying both medivacs and then all the marines
TOP tries to adjust the tanks protecting his gold and Byun moves in, killing a lot of tanks
After Byun falls back, TOP unsieges the other tanks and Byun attacks again, killing still more tanks
Byun tries to take the ledge over the gold, but TOP scans and kills the front two siege tanks
Byun drops marines on TOP's tanks and destroys them
TOP starts to head for Byun's natural with his army, then stops as Byun's army moves to counter.
Byun goes back to TOP's gold, getting there just ahead of TOP's army.
Byun sends his marines toward the gold command center, but it's a feint. When TOP goes after them, the marines turn and attack just as TOP's army comes into siege tank range.
TOP's last army is destroyed in the ensuing battle.
TOP concedes
TOP does have good macro (and perhaps Byun's isn't the greatest) but Byun is clearly the superior tactician in viking and tank battles. It's a shame he spotted TOP two games by using rush-vulnerable openings because he looks nearly invincible in long games.
Game 5 - Xel'Naga Caverns
Both players take a gas, but Byun expands quickly anyway. TOP gets a reaper and then builds a command center as well.
Two more barracks for Byun, TOP starts another reaper but then cancels it.
The reaper jumps into Byun's base but marines are there to drive it off.
Stim for both players
The reaper, quite injured, returns to Byun's natural and dies almost immediately to marines
Bunker and shields for both players
Factory for Byun, TOP still adding barracks and making tons of reactors
Factory for TOP, starport and two engineering bays for Byun
TOP moves out with his large infantry army. About 18 marines and five marauders. At home TOP is building a starport.
TOP pulls back for a while, allowing Byun's double upgrades time to finish. Byun gets an armory.
Byun moves out with lots of marines and quite a few medivacs, setting up at TOP's watchtower
TOP moves out and Byun fades back to his natural.
Both players move around the center of the map but do not engage yet.
TOP starts a third command center and starts researching siege mode. Byun starting a third right at the gold.
With 2/2 finished Byun's army skirmishes with TOP's. TOP tries to force him to fight in range of his siege tank but Byun doesn't bite.
One dropship full of marines drop in TOP's main and kill marines as they come out of the production buildings.
While TOP sends units back to deal with it, Byun darts in and snipes TOP's command center at the gold
With the help of his siege tanks TOP forces Byun back towards his gold. His siege mode isn't quite finished.
TOP tries to move closer but Byun moves in again and kills more tanks with his marines before pulling back.
Byun attacks again, overrunning TOP's siege tanks with stimmed marines and going all the way to TOP's gold, killing the defending units there.
TOP concedes
Well, he's no MarineKing, but Byun showed he could beat TOP with marines just like he could with siege tanks and vikings.
Game 6 - Scrap Station
Gas and then factory for TOP, no gas fast expansion for Byun
Hellion and starport for TOP, factory and bunker for Byun
Engineering bay for Byun, TOP still making hellions
TOP drops marines in the back of Byun's base while hellions charge into the natural
Lots of SCVs go down. Meanwhile the marines kill a supply depot, factory tech lab, and some marines before having to withdraw.
TOP drops the surviving marines at Byun's natural while his banshee attacks Byun's main
Byun frantically puts up turrets as he takes a ton of damage from the banshees
TOP takes his natural but since Byun's natural has been up this whole time he's not quite as far behind as you'd think
Byun getting siege mode and two barracks, TOP getting two barracks and stim while still harrassing with banshees
Byun has a viking out and finally stabilizes, but he had to use a lot of scans
TOP starts a third command center while Byun gets a second factory
TOP drops two tanks and marines in the back of Byun's base.
The tanks siege up but Byun brings his army back and cleans it up
TOP drops Byun's natural and there aren't enough marines to defend
Byun takes down the rocks in the center and pushes across. TOP has a good siege line at the exit.
Byun's marines melt and he has to retreat.
TOP takes the gold base since he has Byun contained at both sides
Byun moves down and attacks the south contain. Both sides' marines die but Byun's tanks have to pull back.
Byun floats an orbital loaded with SCVs to the island, but TOP scans it as it lands.
Byun attacks through the middle of the map again but TOP's defenses are too strong
Byun concedes
Now that's more like it from TOP. Fantastic use of drops and banshees to spread Byun too thin and keep him contained while TOP caught up and surpassed him in bases.
Game 7 - Shakuras Plateau
Upper positions, TOP at 2 and Byun at 10
Gas and factory for TOP, no gas fast expand for Byun
Hellion and blue flame for TOP, bunker at the natural ramp for Byun
Factory for Byun, starport for TOP
Engineering bay and starport for Byun, medivac coming for TOP
Byun scans TOP's main and sees the buildings, might have even seen a hellion
Byun starts a tank and moves marines to defensive positions
TOP's dropship with three hellions moves into Byun's main, dropping some marines as well
Byun's SCV micro isn't so hot and he loses a huge number of SCVs to the hellions
TOP's banshee is coming to follow up but Byun has a viking out
While the vikings shadow the banshee TOP drops two more hellions
The hellions kill yet more SCVs before the vikings land and destroy them
TOP has a 2 to 1 SCV advantage. Byun sends his vikings to TOP's main to scout
Another banshee moves into Byun's natural and kills still more SCVs
TOP getting vikings, tanks, shields, and stim. Byun getting tanks and two more barracks.
TOP takes a third base while Byun tries to rebuild his shattered economy.
Byun moves to the back rocks with his army, but TOP has moved across the center and attacks the undefended natural
Byun surrenders
Another nice harass game from TOP, but frankly Byun's defense was pathetic.
Commentary: I still like Byun better than TOP, but look, if you defend harassment play that poorly you don't deserve to win. Byun is a fantastic tactical player, and that is, in my opinion, the skill more difficult to learn. If I'm right he's got more potential than TOP right now, but I was impressed with TOP's harass play. In GSL 1 we saw a lot of dynamic dropship play from Terrans like STRainBOw and TSLClide, but in later tournaments
Finalist Picks for Promotion Matches
Click for to see which player picked which opponents.
For the the third seed he'll face, TOP feints toward TSLFruitDealer, then goes for SlayerSLegalMinD. For the fourth seed, it's a decisive move to sanZenith. Smart move. Not only were they good picks for the weakest players available, they're both Protoss so TOP only has to practice one matchup.
Byun picks LeenockfOu, a very strong opponent, then after an unconvincing fake toward MakePrimeWE he goes for his teammate ZeNEXLiveForever for his fourth seed opponent. Not sure if Leenock was the best choice...I guess he likes his TvZ, but if so why not pick oGsjookTo? LiveForever, on the other hand, was along with sanZenith the no-brainer picks for worst Code S players. Maybe Byun just screwed up? A lot of these guys don't watch every GSL match, and despite being quite strong LeenockfOu isn't the "name" that TSLFruitDealer or MakaPrimeWE are. You'd think his coach would have figured this out for him, though.
Byun picks LeenockfOu, a very strong opponent, then after an unconvincing fake toward MakePrimeWE he goes for his teammate ZeNEXLiveForever for his fourth seed opponent. Not sure if Leenock was the best choice...I guess he likes his TvZ, but if so why not pick oGsjookTo? LiveForever, on the other hand, was along with sanZenith the no-brainer picks for worst Code S players. Maybe Byun just screwed up? A lot of these guys don't watch every GSL match, and despite being quite strong LeenockfOu isn't the "name" that TSLFruitDealer or MakaPrimeWE are. You'd think his coach would have figured this out for him, though.
Spoilers!
ReplyDeleteThe TOP vs Byun games we really good. Byun got stuck in "Rainbow" mode there, which doesn't work in a Bo7, once you're to a 2-2 tie. Your opponent will adjust, you need to as well. But, all told, really solid games. Was fun to watch. And Artosis tried to burn himself with hot tea.
As for the selection choices:
Legalmind + sanZenith was the best choice for anyone. With 4 terrans in the top 4 of Code A, it was also probably a complete given. But I did like the fake to Fruitdealer.
Byun's choices actually seem to take into account some secondary levels of thoughts. Since Byun got to choose a player from 3rd place and a player from 4th place, the logic might go something like this:
- If I take Lifeforever as the 4th place pick, that ensure that a ZeNex player is in Code S next season.
- If I keep Lifeforever in my group, so we can ensure 1 ZeNex members in Code S, what is, as two terrans, the easiest way to give Lifeforever an opponent he can beat so we can get 2 ZeNex players in Code S? A Zerg, so Lifeforever can 2rax rush them.
- What is the weakest of the 3 zergs in the 3rd place groups? (Of Fruitdealer, Kyrix [also a teammate] and Leenock) Leenock is the best zerg to choose from this position.
This all came up in the Team Liquid live report thread. We don't know for sure, but it makes a lot of sense. Leenock is the most "standard" of the 3 zergs. Fruitdealer can pull out just about any type of build. And Kyrix is the hardest to 2rax (along with being a teammate). Leenock can be beaten by 3 games of 2rax pressure builds.
That seems to make a lot of sense. Though not sure that necessarily is what they were thinking.
Also, check your email, you'll probably like the link.