If any series could swing from an knife edge contest to a flaccid blowout, it was this one. The stage had been set for an epic clash: Life and PartinG were at the apex of their powers and harried by past failures to deliver here. Yet a fog of vague trepidation still overshadowed the proceedings. The last time these two players faced each other, PartinG could not handle Life in a straight-up macro game. Instead he resorted to bizarre hooks, trying to confuse his enemy with shenanigans a cannon rush walled off by gateways. On paper it would be one of the closest GSL finals in history. Behind screens around the world, viewers silently prayed that PartinG would play up to that standard.
Happily, the result trended towards the statistics. It was not an exemplary series by any means. The games were not always clean, both parties committed a lot of errors and boneheaded decisions, and straightforward macro play was not at a premium. No one could deny that it wasn't exciting though. Going down to the last game, Life and PartinG engaged in a depraved battle of wits that was an utter treat for the viewers. Despite not getting a 50 minute split-map scenario, we saw almost everything else on the sun. Proxy builds of all sorts, 2 base nydus, void ray hit squads, the series was defined by an embrace of madness.
Game 1 - Merry Go Round
Game 1 on Merry Go Round was one of the quickest and dirtiest starts to a GSL Finals. PartinG made a calculated gamble intended to shake Life's confidence, setting up a proxy 2 gate inside the Zerg's base. However, it was immediately scouted by a drone. A valiant attempt at zealot micro was completely shut down by a spine crawler and once the second queen finished, PartinG conceded.
Game 2 - Deadwing
Never one to back down, PartinG ramped up the insanity on Deadwing. Channeling the shenanigans of his former teammate Classic, PartinG set up an endless cannon train covering three attempted expansions. Life countered with a proxy hatchery inside the Protoss main, but PartinG dealt with it effectively. However, the KT Zerg knew that all that money spent on cannons and pylons meant his opponent had no tech at home. Taking his 5th base, Life opted for a nydus worm and set up a barricade outside Parting’s natural. Life demolished the outer wall with his roach force, crucially killing the cybernetics core mere seconds before warpgate finished. PartinG was left with no answer to a swarm host followup. PartinG's panicked rush to colossus was too slow to prevent Life from grinding his natural expansion to dust.
Game 3 - Catallena
A quick roach push with speedlings looked like an easy knockout blow, catching out PartinG’s attempt to rush out immortals. Under pressure PartinG’s sentry micro proved immaculate, saving his natural expansion at the cost of 20 probes. Life’s commitment left him severely lacking in drones and with both players on two bases, he realized that he was greatly behind. He tried to outfox the Protoss with a proxy spire, helping to force a base trade in his favor. PartinG’s multitasking was more than sufficient to avoid this plan, crushing through Life’s defense while cushioning the counterattack with stalkers.
Game 4 - King Sejong Station
After such frantic games it was certain that things would calm down, and both sides settled for standard openings on King Sejong Station. Even with two oracles, PartinG late stargate was shut down by blind spore crawlers. They did, however, scout Life’s rush to hive tech. PartinG cancelled his colossus transition in expectation of a viper rush, diverting his focus into the templar archives instead. Sadly he sabotaged his own efforts by overcommitting to a stalker/sentry push before high templars were ready. Blinding clouds left PartinG's army without punch and the subsequent counterattack ended the game, as the sheer weight roach/hydra could not be stopped.
Game 5 - Foxtrot Labs
With 2 games to burn, Life tried to end things early on Foxtrot Labs. Fast burrow was initially a good decision as Life forced several cancels on PartinG's third with roaches. However the stargate transition offered PartinG plenty of opportunities to scout, and he wisely responded with an immortal-based composition. As Life threw wave after wave of attacks at him, PartinG gradually secured a dominating lead. Eventually, the Protoss ambushed Life's final push in the middle of the map.
Game 6 - Overgrowth
Life remained fully confident in his strategy and opened with heavy roach pressure again on Overgrowth. Once more it yielded dividends: cleaning up all of PartinG’s sentries at the third as well as a last second nexus kill. PartinG fought fire with fire, counterattacking with his air units. Void rays sniped the Zerg's third base in seconds, and a quick recall meant he took no damage in return. Now up a base, his follow-up push with blink stalkers proved far too powerful for Life.
Game 7 - Iron Fortress
With everything on the line, Life went back to his roots for the most important game of the year. He went blind 9 pool on a huge 4 player map...and it paid off. PartinG confidently assumed the rubber game would be a macro game, and he chose nexus first. While PartinG’s probe micro in the natural was absolutely stellar, he was forced to sit in his main while speedlings lured outside. Time after time PartinG attempted to retake his natural, only to be stopped by Life's fast reactions. By the time he had secured his natural and third, Life had amassed a huge swarm of roach/hydra. Life rolled in with wave after wave of units, and while PartinG valiantly held back the tide, he was forced to throw away almost all his probes as meat shields in the bargain. Eventually the laws of economics kicked in and PartinG was whittled to nothing.
Over the past fortnight, Life has fought disappointment after disappointment. Previously slated to win 3 tournaments in the span of a week, he endured close defeats at the hands of INnoVation and Dream. With one life left, it looked like he would drop 3-4 in a heartbreaking loss. All was forgiven that night, as he received his third GSL trophy and tenth premier title in Starcraft 2.
One aspect of Game 7 that should be noted is that Parting didn't go nexus first in any of the first 6 games. He'd played defensively because of Life's reputation for aggression. And Life didn't go early pool in any other game, putting himself ahead economically.
Then, in Game 7, Parting thought he'd get an economic lead in response to Life using nexus first on a huge, 4 player map... and Life guessed correctly by cheesing him.
On March 25 2015 14:01 Random_0 wrote: One aspect of Game 7 that should be noted is that Parting didn't go nexus first in any of the first 6 games. He'd played defensively because of Life's reputation for aggression. And Life didn't go early pool in any other game, putting himself ahead economically.
Then, in Game 7, Parting thought he'd get an economic lead in response to Life using nexus first on a huge, 4 player map... and Life guessed correctly by cheesing him.
Just amazing mind games by Life.
What mind games? Life just went YOLO and cheesed parting. He even says so in his interview
On March 25 2015 14:06 Yorkie wrote: What a sick series. Hugely disappointed that the KT guys didn't come to the stage and throw him up in the air afterward though
On March 25 2015 14:06 Yorkie wrote: What a sick series. Hugely disappointed that the KT guys didn't come to the stage and throw him up in the air afterward though
Wait they didn't?
they were practicing for PL. I think only Action and Sleep showed up.
I'm with you man. Maybe not the most studyable, text book, "new to ZvP? check this out!"-series. But for fans of this game and these two players... I don't think we could have gotten much better. I've rarely been so emotionally invested in a game 7. It's a fantastic feeling.
Getting to see series like this is why I watch StarCraft and don't just play it.
On March 25 2015 14:06 Yorkie wrote: What a sick series. Hugely disappointed that the KT guys didn't come to the stage and throw him up in the air afterward though
Wait they didn't?
they were practicing for PL. I think only Action and Sleep showed up.
Flash was definitely in the audience. I doubt Life wanted it in any case and he might have told them not to do it. It's kind of his attitude.
while people say his 9 pool was yolo, still some idea of strategy on that giant 4 player map. big map, lots of expos, one would think you would go macro there right? thats what parting though and did it. thats what life thought, and countered it.
On March 25 2015 14:01 Random_0 wrote: One aspect of Game 7 that should be noted is that Parting didn't go nexus first in any of the first 6 games. He'd played defensively because of Life's reputation for aggression. And Life didn't go early pool in any other game, putting himself ahead economically.
Then, in Game 7, Parting thought he'd get an economic lead in response to Life using nexus first on a huge, 4 player map... and Life guessed correctly by cheesing him.
Just amazing mind games by Life.
What mind games? Life just went YOLO and cheesed parting. He even says so in his interview
No matter what he says it can't be true, the way Life uses build orders to his advantage and varied builds can't be of the YOLO variety. There's no way a player like that would keep getting consistent results, its not random risk taking its calculated risks.
I'm with you man. Maybe not the most studyable, text book, "new to ZvP? check this out!"-series. But for fans of this game and these two players... I don't think we could have gotten much better. I've rarely been so emotionally invested in a game 7. It's a fantastic feeling.
Getting to see series like this is why I watch StarCraft and don't just play it.
Agree, and on top of that, each time top players clash, there are always people to say "uh they made mistakes" but they don't realize that the only reason why the viewer actually notice these mistakes is because the game is so tense and so close and both players are able to use any small mistake from their opponents and get huge advantage from them.
Moreover it's inherent to close game to lead to mistakes because the games are hard, when it's easy players obviously do less mistakes.
Is It just me or this GSL thing is getting less and less interesting to watch every time? I enjoyed more watching the 2v2 tournament by nathanias than this finals...
As Life fan Í am getting used to that all his series goes to the final game. Last week was insane: Dear, Innovation, Hero, Parting. One of the best finals for sure. Probably right after Squirtle vs MVP. Thats why we love sc2
On March 25 2015 13:03 TeamLiquid ESPORTS wrote: Going down to the last game, Life and PartinG engaged in a depraved battle of wits that was an utter treat for the viewers. Despite not getting a 50 minute split-map scenario, we saw almost everything else on the sun.
"everything else under the sun" is the actual expression i believe ur trying to use there
On March 25 2015 18:27 iloveav wrote: Is It just me or this GSL thing is getting less and less interesting to watch every time? I enjoyed more watching the 2v2 tournament by nathanias than this finals...
On March 25 2015 19:43 SixStrings wrote: what... When did that happen? I've been glued to my computer for a week now and somehow I missed a 4:3 GSL finals?
ARGH! Vods?
The VODs for GSL are always super late but they appear to be up on the GOM exp youtube channel. Afaik you can only watch the first game of the series if you haven't subscribed. Gotta catch it live yo. You missed a great series!
On March 25 2015 18:27 iloveav wrote: Is It just me or this GSL thing is getting less and less interesting to watch every time? I enjoyed more watching the 2v2 tournament by nathanias than this finals...
I thought soO vs. Innovation and Life vs. PartinG were some of my favorites. I feel exactly the opposite I'd say; I think they're getting more interesting.
On March 25 2015 19:43 SixStrings wrote: what... When did that happen? I've been glued to my computer for a week now and somehow I missed a 4:3 GSL finals?
ARGH! Vods?
The VODs for GSL are always super late but they appear to be up on the GOM exp youtube channel. Afaik you can only watch the first game of the series if you haven't subscribed. Gotta catch it live yo. You missed a great series!
The entire series with korean cast were uploaded some hours after the final on gomKR channel, you just need to use hola.
Meh games imo, it's mean something as they were playing the shittest match-up since BW ZvZ.
On March 25 2015 18:27 iloveav wrote: Is It just me or this GSL thing is getting less and less interesting to watch every time? I enjoyed more watching the 2v2 tournament by nathanias than this finals...
It's just you.
Yes. definitely just you. This series was everything I was hoping it would be apart from Parting winning with a crazy blink-build on map 7. Top 5 GSL final in my book.
On March 25 2015 13:03 TeamLiquid ESPORTS wrote: With everything on the line, Life went back to his roots for the most important game of the year. He went blind 9 pool on a huge 4 player map
On March 25 2015 13:03 TeamLiquid ESPORTS wrote: With everything on the line, Life went back to his roots for the most important game of the year. He went blind 9 pool on a huge 4 player map
Really was a great series to watch, so glad that it just went to 4:3 with so many crazy games, because I would have been fine with either of them winning! Great job to Life though!
On March 25 2015 14:01 Random_0 wrote: One aspect of Game 7 that should be noted is that Parting didn't go nexus first in any of the first 6 games. He'd played defensively because of Life's reputation for aggression. And Life didn't go early pool in any other game, putting himself ahead economically.
Then, in Game 7, Parting thought he'd get an economic lead in response to Life using nexus first on a huge, 4 player map... and Life guessed correctly by cheesing him.
Just amazing mind games by Life.
What mind games? Life just went YOLO and cheesed parting. He even says so in his interview
It's kind of sad that there's plenty of people in this thread dissing this series. Both Parting and Life displayed some of the best micro I've ever seen, and when they made mistakes (other than Sejong) it was because they were pushing each other in so many different ways that their attention because the principle resource.
Seriously this finals was, along with MVP vs Squirtles, prolly the best GSL I've ever seen. I can't understand how someone in a starcraft forum could hate the series, it was simply phenomenal.
Anyways, sorry for the rant I just had to get this off my chest
This is one of those series that sc vets enjoy. Not the most "epic 50 minute games that are explosions everywhere," but a series of quick and calculated mind games that are more played out in their brains than on the screen. It's a beautiful thing to watch a series like this.
On March 26 2015 01:00 sc2_FeaR wrote: Life doesn't lose 3 times in a row. Simply the best Starcraft player right now and it's not even a debate IMO
Eh things are always debatable. I believe Life is the best right now but I think a claim could be made for someone like Maru or Inno or perhaps (vomits in mouth slightly) Zest
This was an excellent series. When a bo7 series goes into game 7, especially for the finals, you know something awesome is going to happen. And in this case, it was Life mind-gaming Parting by going for an early pool which he did not do throughout the whole series.
On March 26 2015 11:55 QuantumTeleportation wrote: Would have been a great series to watch.
But no way in hell am I going to pay for subscription.
The VODs (not just the first set) will eventually go up on GOM's youtube (https://www.youtube.com/user/exp). The first set thing only happens while the season is still underway, afterwards all the VODs go up!
Brilliant, brilliant series! Sad for Big Boy, but I'm sure he can reach another Code S finals.
Parting got exactly what he deserved for the cheeses in the first two games -- the regret that had he not done that maybe he would have won. Life's cheese in the last game was just payback. Furthermore so many terrans tried to cheese him with proxy rax in the earlier rounds and just got owned. They all got exactly what they deserved for cheesing - elimination. Life almost always took the high road in the earlier series by trying to play macro games (but this is also out of necessity - Blizzard has set the game up so that zerg basically can't win games early on against T or P. What's truly unfortunate (and this has never changed) is that proxy rax cheese has always been viable, and often works even when it's scouted. Zerg can't cheese at all in the early game unless the opponent just doesn't scout at all and also plays too greedy. Why Blizzard chose to further imbalance the early game ZvT in favour of T in HOTS with reaper heal, hellbats, hellbats not even needing an upgrade at armory and fast medivacs and widowmines while zerg has nothing new to answer it besides being able to build spores without an evo is mindboggling.