It has been a tough 6 years, my beloved BroodWar; my friend and my companion. Although people would call me a geek, a no-life gamer, these years have been some of the best of my life. Through the hard times, the tides of frustration with life, the lonely days when my girlfriend left me and my world comes tumbling down, you were always there to accompany me through the nights. It was the continuous APM, the non-stop clicking of the mouse, the heavy tabs on the keyboard...it became a part of who I am, a part of my nightly adventures. The occasional heavy sighs, the bitter taste of defeat, the bad manners, it was all worth it, because victory was ever so sweet and rewarding.
It was in grade 7 that I had the fortune to meet BroodWar, yet I was unaware of its legacy, its sophisticated beauty, its unparallel potential to grow into something so powerful; the eSports. I was a mere Zerg; it was not a suitable play-style for a beginner, yet I was fond of these spikey creatures. The concept of the Zerg greatly fascinated me; it reflected my personality, my will to dominate and completely overrun my opponents with continuous streams of units. The idea of using sheer numbers to achieve victory captivated me, and as a wise and inspirational man, Klazart, once said, “It does not matter how many Zerglings you kill, there will always be more; always be more Zerglings and Hydralisks and Defilers, with Swarm covering the entire planet like a plague.” I think the nature of Zerg is much like that of the human species; we populate and pollute, but through unity and numbers we possess an incomparable strength to achieve great things.
Inevitably, one great thing led to another: sAviOr, the relentless Zerg Maestro. Ah, the good old days of Zerg dominance. He crushed them, one after the other, with no remorse. I cheer as he triumphed, tear at his losses. He explored the weaknesses of his opponents, and backed with flawless macro and micro, he became my idol. His understanding of the Zerg and his incredible game sense and patience encouraged me to play beyond a mere beginner’s level. I began to explore endless forums (Teamliquid <3), started to strategize my own unique build orders and play style. Utter domination became the theme of my play, much like the Maestro’s unchallenged orchestra. His trophies, his screaming and compassionate fans, his proud teammates, and the flowers raining down upon the stadium, he held his crown high. I wanted to become like him; I wanted to experience the legacy of a King.
His utter defeat against Bisu crushed my heart; I wept. As Ma Jae Yoon left the stage with his head sunk low, I remembered how that must have felt, and the continuous burden he must carry with him. He cannot fade into nothingness; he cannot surrender, because he was the Maestro. Even with the comforting words of his coach and teammates, I cannot help but feel a sense of solitude from this King. It is the fate of all those who are at the top; to have everything he wanted, all the achievements he can accomplish; just to lose them all in an instant. It is painful, but never did his status waver in my heart. He was still the Bonjwa, the inspirational figure behind my patient and dominating play, he was still the Maestro. His momentary resurgence was everything but disappointing; I caught a glimpse of his former self, and I will continue to cheer for him, because he is my champion; through defeat can we become truly indestructible.
For the dark and tainted era, know that I forgive you Ma Jae Yoon. What you did was unforgivable, inexcusable, and heart-crushing. The days that went by where my play became sloppy, where my strategies became pathetic and unmotivated, I knew it was time to bid farewell to my most beloved game. It has been a glorious 6-year; thank you for the victories and the uncontrollable rage-quits. It was more than a game, it was more than winning. It was a platform for personal development. For these six years, Ma Jae Yoon has taught me something valuable; through his play, his short and inspiring resurgence, I began to understand that defeat is not the end. A victor can win today and lose the next and fall into abyss, but a champion will return to make his presence known.
Goodbye sAviOr, thank you for teaching me to be strong, not only during times of self-glory and defeat, but also during times of temptation and corruption, and how far we can fall into dishonour. Thank you for teaching me to never give up on my dream, because in life, we’ll fall down, eat ground, just to get back up again.
GG.