World Cyber Games 2007. The stage is set in Seattle. Three strong Korean favourites are present in the form of Hwasin, sAviOr and Stork. The past year in Monza saw the Koreans sweep 1-2-3 with Midas, Julyzerg and tournament winner iloveoov. It was expected that this year would be much of the same. No one could match up against the Koreans, least of all Stork, one of the strongest players of the era. He was placed in a relatively easy group, lacking both koreans as well as the strongest foreigners such as Mondragon, Pj, Testie, and Draco. His strongest opponents would be in the form of the Ukranian Protoss White-Ra and the Russian Terran Ex.
However, the unthinkable happened. As Stork matched up with the Ukranian oldschool player White-Ra, a few micro mistakes with his dragoons as well as some riskier decision making allowed White-Ra to expand first, build up a larger force and eventually cripple Stork and take the victory. With Ex beating White-Ra through an early advantage with a vulture drop, and Stork taking down Ex slowly with carriers, the stage was set for a tiebreaker. There were three players left, and two slots to go to the Round of 16.
Seeding was already known, and the other groups had finished before the tiebreakers started. Hwasin, having won his group, would face the winner of Stork's group in the quarterfinals. The player finishing second would land on the other side of the bracket and not face the other korean, sAviOr, until the semifinals. Should Stork finish second, it would allow for an all-Korean podium, whereas a first place would guarantee a non-korean in the Top 3.
What followed was a tiebreaker that none of the participants would quickly forget. Stork was drawn to play Ex first, then face off against White-Ra, followed by a game between White-Ra and Ex. Stork dispatched of Ex with little difficulty. When he played White-Ra, however, he faltered. Stork went for a fast expansion with little defense, inviting White-Ra to take an easy victory.
I had a short interview with White-Ra about WCG'07.
However, the unthinkable happened. As Stork matched up with the Ukranian oldschool player White-Ra, a few micro mistakes with his dragoons as well as some riskier decision making allowed White-Ra to expand first, build up a larger force and eventually cripple Stork and take the victory. With Ex beating White-Ra through an early advantage with a vulture drop, and Stork taking down Ex slowly with carriers, the stage was set for a tiebreaker. There were three players left, and two slots to go to the Round of 16.
Seeding was already known, and the other groups had finished before the tiebreakers started. Hwasin, having won his group, would face the winner of Stork's group in the quarterfinals. The player finishing second would land on the other side of the bracket and not face the other korean, sAviOr, until the semifinals. Should Stork finish second, it would allow for an all-Korean podium, whereas a first place would guarantee a non-korean in the Top 3.
What followed was a tiebreaker that none of the participants would quickly forget. Stork was drawn to play Ex first, then face off against White-Ra, followed by a game between White-Ra and Ex. Stork dispatched of Ex with little difficulty. When he played White-Ra, however, he faltered. Stork went for a fast expansion with little defense, inviting White-Ra to take an easy victory.
I had a short interview with White-Ra about WCG'07.
How did you feel when you first beat Stork in the group phase?
I prepared something special and I knew that my tactics might work if we spawned in close positions (on Azalea). After this victory over one of the best professional gamer in the world I was very happy!
When did you realize Stork was trying to get second place in the tiebreakers?
This became clear when we started the tiebreakers. If Ex could win only one game against Stork, we would have a great sensation with Stork being knocked out in the tiebreakers.
Did you talk to Ex about it? If so, what did you discuss? What do you think about him trying to get second place?
Yes, I talked about this situation with Ex. The rules had nothing to say about these situations, and if Stork wouldn't play 100% against me I would also not play against Ex for 100%. But I did hope that he will win at least one game against Stork
How do you look back at WCG2007 overall?
Generally, WCG 2007 was very great! For the first time in my life I visited USA and met with Artosis, Tasteless, Day9, iNcontroL and many more friends . I remember many fan stories, where we played and drank beer in the Hotel meeting room and played poker . When after the awarding ceremony Pj attacked one gamer from Taiwan for bringing the flag of Taiwan on stage it almost ended up in a big fight but the police defused the situation. And many many more
I prepared something special and I knew that my tactics might work if we spawned in close positions (on Azalea). After this victory over one of the best professional gamer in the world I was very happy!
When did you realize Stork was trying to get second place in the tiebreakers?
This became clear when we started the tiebreakers. If Ex could win only one game against Stork, we would have a great sensation with Stork being knocked out in the tiebreakers.
Did you talk to Ex about it? If so, what did you discuss? What do you think about him trying to get second place?
Yes, I talked about this situation with Ex. The rules had nothing to say about these situations, and if Stork wouldn't play 100% against me I would also not play against Ex for 100%. But I did hope that he will win at least one game against Stork
How do you look back at WCG2007 overall?
Generally, WCG 2007 was very great! For the first time in my life I visited USA and met with Artosis, Tasteless, Day9, iNcontroL and many more friends . I remember many fan stories, where we played and drank beer in the Hotel meeting room and played poker . When after the awarding ceremony Pj attacked one gamer from Taiwan for bringing the flag of Taiwan on stage it almost ended up in a big fight but the police defused the situation. And many many more
Unfortunately for both Ex and White-Ra, Ex' victory did not come. After two tiebreakers where Stork beat Ex, who beat White-Ra, who beat Stork, Stork relented. It had become late and the players wanted to go home. Stork ended up beating the two Eastern Europeans after White-Ra dispatched of Ex, which resulted in Stork being seeded to play Hwasin in the quarterfinals, forcing a "foreigner" into the top 3. The Koreans' plan had been thwarted.
The tournament would however not end too poorly for Stork. As the sole Korean in the Top 4, he managed to beat Pj in the finals, who had surprisingly taken out SaviOr in the Quarterfinals. White-Ra would end up finishing 4th, losing to Pj in the semifinals and Mondragon in the Bronze match. Despite a very strong Korean field, two of the three medals went to non-koreans this year, in part thanks to White-Ra and Ex standing together.
+ Show Spoiler [Final results] +
The replays for WCG'07 for the first encounters between Ex, White-Ra and Stork can be found here. Unfortunately, the tiebreaker replays are unavailable.
The tournament would however not end too poorly for Stork. As the sole Korean in the Top 4, he managed to beat Pj in the finals, who had surprisingly taken out SaviOr in the Quarterfinals. White-Ra would end up finishing 4th, losing to Pj in the semifinals and Mondragon in the Bronze match. Despite a very strong Korean field, two of the three medals went to non-koreans this year, in part thanks to White-Ra and Ex standing together.
+ Show Spoiler [Final results] +
The replays for WCG'07 for the first encounters between Ex, White-Ra and Stork can be found here. Unfortunately, the tiebreaker replays are unavailable.