[GSL] Best of Season Three TvZ

Terran vs Zerg has widely been considered the best match-up in Starcraft, be it Brood War or Wings of Liberty. However, with this season of the GSL coming to a close with a PvP final, and the most recent TvZ series of note being a 3 - 0 stomp for Byun, you might imagine it was just an inglorious season for the famed match-up.

Not the case. While the bracket stage of Code S may have been disappointing, the group phases, as well as the entirety of Code A has been a treasure trove for TvZ. In fact, there were even a few gems that may stand the test of time as not just memorable, but possibly historic games.

Whatthefat chronicled some of the best TvZ games of the season, showing that when it comes to pure Starcraft II entertainment, TvZ is still the king.

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Round of 32, Winners Match, Symbol vs. MarineKing, Game 1 - VOD

Symbol was a virtual unknown just a few months ago. Now, he's one of the best Zergs in the world. So what the hell happened?

His recent achievements have included a reverse All-Kill on Incredible Miracle in GSTL, and 2nd place finishes in both MLG Spring Arena 2 and Iron Squid. Though he flamed out of the GSL in the Ro8, his was one of the most meteoric ascents this year.

In the round of 32, Symbol would have been forgiven if he fell victim to nerves and stumbled, as he had been placed in a group of death alongside MarineKing (who not so long ago was unanimously considered the world’s best Terran), PartinG (who looked like a good bet for the title last season until he ran into the Mvp wrecking ball), and YuGiOh (who is a very solid but not quite top tier Zerg). Instead, he displayed supreme confidence, beating PartinG 2-1 to meet MarineKing in the Winners match.



In Game 1, on Metropolis, Symbol provided a stunning vision of how Zerg will be played months from now. His macro never missed a beat, his unit control was jaw-dropping, and his multi-tasking was too much for even MarineKing to handle.

The game began relatively passively, with Symbol taking a third before Lair off a 6-Queen opening. MarineKing applied some pressure at the 9 minute mark with a Marine/Marauder/Hellion force, but with perfect timing on his Banelings, Symbol crushed the attack losing on a few Creep Tumors and a couple of Queens.



Behind this, MarineKing had taken his third and Symbol started a Spire. Not to be outdone, MarineKing hit a perfect timing with a doom drop into the main just as the Spire was finishing. He was able to gun down the Lair, and got out safely before the Mutas popped.



In this seemingly dismal situation, Symbol just continued macroing like a total boss, rebuilt his main, and took a fourth. He was even able to retake the supply lead when he caught MarineKing's returning units in the middle of the map, and he continued to stabilize while harassing with Mutas.

With MarineKing at about 170 supply, Symbol was maxed. As MarineKing pushed across the map, he was hit with a perfectly timed Baneling landmine, and then surrounded by Zerglings, Banelings, and Mutas.



After this perfectly executed engagement, Symbol took a supply lead of 180-110. And while this was all going on, he had continued to tech to Hive and was now starting a Greater Spire. MarineKing was not giving up yet though. He defiantly took a fourth and continued to pump Marines, Tanks, and Medivacs. He even considered taking a fifth before Mutas shut it down.

As Zerglings and Banelings crashed against his front, while Mutas attacked his main, MarineKing held against the odds with his typically uncanny finesse. But it was now clear that Symbol was not playing at any ordinary level. He appeared to at once have Leenock’s attention to detail (including clever use of burrow), DongRaeGu’s ability to create larvae, and Nestea’s strategic intuition. Shortly after the 20 minute mark, Symbol simultaneously shut down a drop, dropped two infestors at MarineKing’s fifth, pushed the front, and dropped Zerglings into MarineKing’s main.



By the time MarineKing had cleaned up, Symbol was fully transitioned to Hive tech and had a total stranglehold of the map. Nevertheless, MarineKing still had a solid economy with his fifth up and running, and he had now transitioned to Ravens and Planetary Fortresses in an attempt to hold the fort.



With both players now approaching max, it seemed that Symbol still had a mighty job on his hands cracking MarineKing’s defenses. But Symbol had a brilliant plan. Using his Brood Lords to cover, he was able to sneak his ground army into MarineKing’s fifth using a Nydus Worm.



This amazing tactical move forced an engagement on Symbol’s terms. MarineKing was smart to withdraw at the cost of his fifth, and was able to hold his fourth after some good Seeker Missile hits.



But Symbol now had a clear lead that he could continue to increase with his larger bank and enormous economy. To give an indication of how off the hook Symbol’s macro was in this game, he still had 70 larvae remaining after re-maxing. With MarineKing still regaining his balance from the last impact, Symbol made a complete switch into Ultralisks and Banelings. He then flooded MarineKing’s main using a Nydus Network.



MarineKing unbelievably resisted once more and had even re-established his fifth base. To give an indication of how well he was holding on, he was back at 150 supply by the time Symbol remaxed. Ultimately though, there could be no stop stopping Symbol. He was simply operating on a different plane; a plane that arguably no other Zergs have yet reached in ZvT.



As Ultralisks crashed through the front, MarineKing was forced to gg.

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Code A, Bracket 2, Round of 48, Bomber vs. Freaky, Game 2 - VOD

Bomber has long been a player of enormous potential. His slick mechanics alone have been enough to keep him in Code A, but his suspect decision making and total overconfidence have seen him lose again and again to much weaker players. Here in the Round of 48, he faced a serious challenge to his GSL livelihood in Freaky, a player who overcame CoCa in the Code A qualifiers. Bomber won the first game simply enough, but Freaky was not going down without a fight.

On the enormous Atlantis Spaceship, both players powered up quickly to tier 3. In the midgame, there were already signs that this was not going to be a regular game. Bomber had chosen to make the Raven his unit of choice, and Freaky was making clever use of Infestors, including a drop into Bomber’s main. The next phase of the game was a battle for economic superiority; both players were successful in shutting down the other’s expansions.

But this was all merely a prelude to the real game. In the background, Bomber was stockpiling a secret fleet of Battlecruisers as both players approached max. Upon reaching max with an Ultralisk/Baneling/Infestor army, Freaky crushed Bomber’s fifth base. But as a wave of red death began to rain from the skies, Freaky’s ground army was left looking confused.



Slowly but surely, Bomber’s formidable army crushed through Freaky’s expansions on the way to the heart of the Zerg base.

With things looking grim, Freaky made a decision. It was probably too late to rely on Corruptors, so he spent his bank on Infestors. Fighting with Infested Terrans, he was able to eventually clear up the Terran attack, but not before he had lost every mining base and every single tech structure.



Freaky was now left with a single fresh Hatchery in the bottom right corner, needing to rebuild his Spawning Pool. As hopeless as this may sound, supply was actually still even at 100, as most of the Infestors had survived the battle.



Seeing what he thought was a chance to end the game, Bomber charged in with his mostly Marine/Marauder composition, only to be met by a wriggling wall of Infested Terrans.



Bomber was able to snipe the Hatchery, but at the cost of his entire standing army.

With most of the map now mined out, energy units were at a premium, and having rebuilt his Infestation Pit, Freaky had over 30 Infestors. Using several roaming bands of Infestors, he miraculously took the upper hand by methodically shutting down each of Bomber’s attempts to expand.



To make matters worse for Bomber, Freaky had also dropped more Infestors into his main, providing a periodic shower of Infested Terrans.

Despite being down ~100 supply, Bomber toughed it out to the 1 hour mark – probably ruing the fact that he had not built any Ghosts – before finally calling quits.

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Ryung vs. DRG, Round of 16, Match 1, Game 1 - VOD - Free

For a while now, Ryung has looked on the verge of making a major breakthrough in the GSL. As competitive as the GSL now is, reaching the Round of 16 is no mean feat. Having said that, Ryung would have hoped for better than finishing last in his group. And in his first game, against DongRaeGu, he showed that he is unquestionably capable of more.

As is currently the fashion in ZvT, both players started with early expansions, and DongRaeGu planted a very early third, supported by additional Queens. Ryung followed suit, making an early third Command Center. From here, they both macroed nearly perfectly, maxing out on their respective midgame compositions at about 15 minutes. Now spoiling for a fight, the two armies met near the foremost edge of DongRaeGu's creep.



Unfortunately for DongRaeGu, his Banelings were late to the party, and what should have been a relatively even engagement turned in Ryung's favor.

DongRaeGu was able to rapidly remax on Zerglings, and with Ryung's army posturing on the map, he was able to get a much better engagement using his replenished army.



With both players on such huge economies, they could again each afford to quickly remax. However, due to Ryung's relentless attacks, DongRaeGu was being pushed to the limits of his larvae producing abilities as he waited to reach his more larva-efficient Hive tech units. Finally, with Ultralisks, DongRaeGu was able to hold the center, and he attempted to push through the front of Ryung's defenses.



This was an ill-fated attack, coming just before Brood Lords were ready, and running head first into Ryung's perfect defensive set-up. With Ryung now on slightly more supply and with a slightly larger bank, DongRaeGu needed to tread very carefully. He therefore retreated to the center to hatch his Brood Lords.

At this key moment, Ryung slightly overextended, pushing into a fearsome Zerg army in the middle of creep.



Despite superb micro, Ryung was overwhelmed, and lost all of his tanks. Nonetheless, it was DongRaeGu who now found himself in a tough position. Rallying forces at an insane rate off of his huge bank, Ryung punished DongRaeGu's attempt to kill his expansion, taking out almost all of the expensive Brood Lords and Ultralisks.

Seizing on his supply lead, Ryung raided the top expansion. Behind 200-150 supply and realizing his now tenuous position, DongRaeGu took a defensive stance, and attempted to amass a Zerg deathball.

But Ryung was now in his element. With subtle army movements and neverending drops, he continually picked holes in the Zerg defense.






Demonstrating his outrageous multi-tasking skills, Ryung had continued to take every available expansion on the back of these assaults. With DongRaeGu now heavily contained, Ryung engaged perfectly with an unexpectedly large force of Vikings.



Using Infestor support, DongRaeGu was able to salvage a small group of Brood Lords, but he was now gradually being bled to death. For every new expansion the Zerg macro-beast could raise, Ryung had a group of marines attacking another. Even nukes were starting to fall. As testament to his skills, DongRaeGu held on to this position for another 10 minutes, continuing to accrue Brood Lords, and forcing Ryung to consider the possibility of the map mining out.



Having played such a brilliant game to this point, there was no way Ryung was going to let the win slip through the cracks, and he engaged cleverly with Seeker Missiles and Ravens to put an end to DongRaeGu's resistance.