[GSL] “A New Year” - 2011 Preview

Alright, so imagine a really big tree. It's a strong tree, with some weight to its branches. It's early fall, and the leaves are changing color at the edges, but haven't started to fall off yet. Except it's not a tree, but it's the GSL. The tree is in Korea. So there are three levels of branches. I know most trees have branches all over the place, but bear with me here, this one does. The top level of branches is Code S, the next level is Code A, and the third level is the qualifiers, which we'll call Code B. The branches at the top are the nice branches, where your nest can have a good view. But they're also very unstable branches, so you might fall out of your nest. Oh, I forgot to mention that there are there are a bunch of birds on the tree. There are thirty two birds on the top...

You know what? Screw it.

43% of TeamLiquidians don't understand the GSL format. Luckily, a cohort of extremely patient people have endeavored to put the GSL format in simple graphical form. Some succeeded. Some failed. Here's a small selection of the best.

#1: oGs-Liquid'


With the best player in the world, and more Code-S players (9) in-house than any other team, it's simply not possible to put oGs-Liquid' anywhere but first. From the very beginning, oGs has reigned supreme over the Korean scene, gathering the best and brightest of the ex-progamer community and putting them to work in the service of Sc2 dominance. The culmination of that effort, of course, was MC's championship in GSL3, but oGs' win in the Brainbox Team Tournament was also huge, and their prolific appearances in the Code S tournament are perhaps the greatest achievement of all. Beyond Min Chul, oGs boasts deep lines in all three races, with NaDa, Liquid'Jinro, Ensnare, and TOP leading the terran, Zenio, TheWind, and Liquid'Ret leading the zerg, and InCa, and Hero rounding out the protoss line.

Yet this position is tenuous. oGs no longer holds the stranglehold on Sc2 talent that it did several months ago, and most other teams have their own BW pros to fall back on. Furthermore, this GSL bracket works somewhat against oGs, pitting housemates together in four of the eight groups. It seems almost certain that oGs will never again hold the absurd share of Code-S spots that it holds now. But for the moment at least, oGs is on top.

#2: TSL


In a close second position, TSL doesn't have the gaudy Code-S numbers of its main rival (just 4), but it has more GSL finalists (2) than any other team, and an extremely potent and dangerous line-up that figures to only increase it's Code-S share in the future. So while TSL doesn't boast the mass of players that other teams may have on tap, the overall level of quality is extremely high. There simply is not a bad player on TSL, and there are plenty of great ones. Fruitdealer, TesteR, Clide, and Happiness are the team's leaders, with the first three having a good deal of success in the GSL already, while Happiness impressed, but lost in the GSL2 Ro64 against Boxer. The team's later recruits are no less dangerous. Rain leads the bunch, plowing his way through a grueling bracket to make a finals appearance in GSL3. Killer (SangHo) is arguably the second best player to have made the switch to Sc2, and delivered a strong Ro16 run in GSL2. Finally, the previously unheralded GuineaPig was absolutely stunning in the opening rounds of GSL3, but showed strong play dating back to the Brainbox Invitational tournament. Both Killer and GP ought to be strong favorites for promotion, Happiness should make Code A easily, and as the other four do not figure to drop down, it would be unsurprising to see the number of Code-S positions for TSL rise significantly by the next GSL.

#3: Prime


Prime has also long been a force in Korean Sc2, dating back to the beta when it boasted the strength of a number of ex-WC3 pros who wholeheartedly made the switch. It's influence has waned slightly as the scene has grown, a trend which places it behind the two other Code-S-heavy teams. However, Prime an extremely deep stable of impressive players, and is unquestionably still one of the best teams in the business. MarineKing is Prime's best player at the moment, having gone on deep runs in GSL2 and GSL3, and having set off a virtual revolution in TvZ thanks to his marine splitting. Yet there is plenty of talent to back him up. HongUn built upon strong results in the first GSL and made the Ro4 in GSL3, becoming the first protoss in GSL history to do so. Maka remains the team's stalwart, displaying extremely solid if unspectacular play season after season. Check has been mostly frustrated in GSL's so far, but has secured a Code-S berth nonetheless, and cannot be overlooked as a dangerous opponent. Polt has been a welcome surprise as well for the team, making a strong run in GSL3 to secure Code S, and thanks to a solid GSL1. Finally, anypro is the team's sixth Code-S player, although this writer does not think he is long for that position.

Prime's biggest strength is it's depth, with a line of promising terrans waiting in the wings. Tankboy has a good chance at making Code-S, and Hannibal should get into Code A this season, and likely Code S the next. With a long and talented line-up, Prime's future looks increasingly secure. Now if only they could win something.

#4: ST


Saddled with the worst name and tag of the top teams, ST players have struggled at times, but a few have recently come into their own, finally showcasing a top tier line-up that can threaten the later stages of tournaments. Ironically, RainBOw, one of the best players in the first two GSL's is the only ST player who has not performed well lately, having a miserable GSL3. Yet the terran still has one of the most impressive resumes of any player in the game, and is comfortably ensconced as ST's lone Code-S player. The biggest addition to ST (in more ways than one, ho ho ho) was that of July, and the god of war wasted little time in GSL3 making his presence known. He should make light work of Code A. Squirtle, highlighted by Genius as the best protoss in the game is also seemingly headed for a Code-S berth.

ST could also conceivably gain ground if Max, Monster, Silent_Control, or Ace make large gains in their play. But by far the most convincing and hopeful card in ST's future is the presence of Bomber, formerly NsP.Fancy of eSTRO, who has caused huge waves in the offseason tournaments, making the finals of the YGosu event, and navigating the tricky prelims for the Gainward tournament. He should have no trouble entering Code A next season, and looks to be a sure bet for eventual Code S placement, and beyond.

#5: IM


More than any other team, IM's potential is enormous. With a line-up stocked with former BW progamers, many of whom actually accomplished something, IM seems poised to go on a run at any moment now, and cement a powerful position for themselves in the Sc2 scene. Problem is, they haven't done it yet. The lone exception is NesTea, the winner of GSL2 who is in top form, and only fell out of GSL3 to scv all-ins. However, mvp, consistently regarded as one of the most frightening players in the tournament only has Ro32 and Ro16 appearances to his name. Losira, a perennial #1 on the KR ladder failed to qualify for the last two GSL's, and could not even secure Code-A, although he has performed well lately. Junwi, a longtime BW pro made GSL1 and GSL3, only to get completely rolled in both. GanZi, a BW player who once took a game off of Jaedong with firebats has not been a presence at all. Same for ChRh and TT. Indeed, IM's third most accomplished player is Pippijung, a strong macro protoss who took out Cezanne in GSL2, lost a close series to RainBOw, but failed to qualify for GSL3. This is a difficult state of affairs for a team with so many strong players. And while it's quite probable that they have more success in the future, how that success will come will be a huge issue to watch for. For now, IM must content themselves to sit in the unremarkable middle of this rankings.

#6: fOu


The darlings of GSL3, it's hard to gauge exactly where fOu stands at this moment in time. After tearing through the first round, a few fOu players found choppy seas in the round of 32, and eventually three qualified for Code-S. That's not bad at all, but it's not enough to vault them much higher than this in these rankings. But of course, there's room to grow, and fOu has a number of talented players, and a number of players... period. Leenock is the best of the bunch, having shown brilliant play over two GSL's, and looking very much like a title contender. choyafOu is the team's hyung, and a Code-S threat in his own right. Beyond these two, however, the talent is much more suspect. TheBest is the third Code-S player, but is somewhat cheesy, and does not figure to stick around the top division for very long. aLive played wonderfully in the GSL3 Ro64, only to lose it completely in the Ro32. Terious and sC also made Code A, but neither has ever played at a Code-S level. And while GuMiho is awesome, he's not there either.

So while fOu has plenty of raw talent stockpiled, they have only a few players who are anywhere near the top level of play. Their Code A players, and some new qualifiers are going to have to come into the picture if the status of fOu is to rise any further.

#7: ZeNex


Since the first GSL, NEX and Zenith tags have been everywhere. The merger of both teams in mid-October created the most prolific line-up in the game, at least as far as qualifying goes. However qualification does not equal winning, and as ZeNex players have racked up 30 qualifications across the three GSLs, they have recorded only 3 visits to the Ro16 or above. That's a poor rate of success, and belies a general lack of star-quality for ZeNex players, even if a good number of them are solid enough to win in the qualifiers. ZeNex's line-up is a lengthy list, but a few players nonetheless deserve mention. Kyrix is the most frightening and accomplished player on the team, having won the GSTAR All-stars event, and overwhelming a series of opponents in GSL2. LiveForever has gone the farthest of ZeNex players, making the GSL1 Ro4, but he has been studying and not heard from since. san is also a Code-S qualifier for some reason, but is in the group of oGs death, and is widely expected to fall out of Code-S quickly. That leaves a host of players like JSL, Suhoshin (Line), cOre, and Flint who have all shown promise, but nothing more than that. Then there's players like BanBanSsu, and ButterflyEffect, who keep qualifying for reasons unknown to anyone. Then there's the horrifically named "NEXExcrement" who is tearing up the ladder.

Quite frankly, it's a paltry list. Unfortunately, ZeNex seems well on its way to establishing itself as the eSTRO of Sc2 (ironically, if you were on eSTRO in BW, you're one of the elite in Sc2). Luring a BW pro over would go a long way too boosting ZeNex's credibility, but so far all that's happening is that other players (Genius, LegalMind) are being lured away. That's not particularly inspiring for this young team.

#8: SlayerS


The newest of the teams, and the only one yet to test its teeth in the GSL proper, the Emperor's army probably has a long way to go. It can get off to a good start in this upcoming GSL as Boxer and LegalMind try to make a dent in the tournament. However the odds are against the latter, as LegalMind earned his Code-S ranking with a fairly pedestrian performance in GSL1 and a qualification in GSL2. That's a pretty underwhelming. Boxer made a Ro4 appearance of course, but his quick defeat at the hands of Polt raised some questions, and his reported discomfort with non-TvT match-ups may hamper his run. There are growing players for SlayerS, but they'll be some time in the coming. NewDawn is the best hope, having played quite well to get into Code A. He could threaten for Code S, but he's probably not there yet. Golden is a recruitment from fOu, and could also get places, but has ways to go before he reaches Code S. The rest of the line-up is generally untested and unknown. With the Emperor as a talent evaluator, there are no doubt some diamonds in the rough, but we'll have to wait to uncover these. For the moment, that's all there is to say about this new team. We'll just have to wait and see.

Favorite to Win?
Hot_Bid: oGsMC
Lovedrop: oGsMC
Treehugger: oGsMC
TrueRedemption: oGsMC
Xxio: IMmvp

Dark Horse?
Hot_Bid: TSL_sSKS
Lovedrop: IMmvp
Treehugger: LeenockfOu
TrueRedemption: LiveForeverZeNex
Xxio: oGsNada

Probable Disappointment?
Hot_Bid: TSL_FruitDealer
Lovedrop: CheckPrime.WE
Treehugger: SlayerS_BoxeR
TrueRedemption: oGsEnsnare
Xxio: NsP.Genius

Guaranteed demotion to Code A?
Hot_Bid: choyafOu
Lovedrop: oGsJookTo
Treehugger: anyproPrime.WE
TrueRedemption: SlayerS_LegalMind
Xxio: TheBestfOu

Guaranteed promotion to Code S?
Hot_Bid: ST_July
Lovedrop: ST_July
Treehugger: GuineaPig
TrueRedemption: TLAF-Liquid'Ret
Xxio: TLAF-Liquid'Ret

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Next: GSL4 Group Stage Recaps and Reviews!

The Sony Ericsson GSL comes back tonight. At the end of the week, so will we, with a piping-hot, fresh-out-of-the-oven recap of the past round. In the meantime, the GSL writing staff would like to thank you, the readers for plowing through yet another GSL newspost, and hope you'll keep reading!