image courtesy of Pachi
14th MBCgame Survivor Tournament Group I
25 February 2008, 1400 KST/2200PST previous day @ MBCGame
After a week of Valentines, debate tournaments, and various other drama [underage girls in corsets, among others], I return to my faaaavorite people in the whole wide world at Teamliquid.net. Tonight's group is the one I've been looking forward to most; it still follows the 3-races 4-teams format but has two of my favorite players.
<font size=1>would like to have had a better picture.. =w=`` oh well</font>
Luxury – Park Chansoo, the older twin of poser-YellOw, has really come into his own recently. Originally a ZvZ beast with a solid ZvT and a weak ZvP, he’s stepped up his two lesser matchups to relatively high levels, emerging from his brother’s shadow and becoming OGN’s top gun. Though OGN and MBC can’t seem to decide whether to tag him as Luxury[GsP] or Sea.Practice, his high-level play and trademark mutalisks are a signature all of his own.
Definitely the favorite in this group: not only has he been showing the best performance out of these four in the past couple months, he is also blessed with a good draw and a solid last map [if it gets there]. He may have been eliminated by Jaedong 0-2 in the last MSL, but I predict an easy walk for him into the next one.
<font size=1>thanks to the most erudite HonestTea for translation</font>
nsp_punsoo – A T1 Zerg with no televised games whatsoever, he advances to his first TV tournament 2-1 over Freedom, 2-1 over zergjooa[GsP], and 2-0 over PuSan[s.G] showing skill in all three matchups. However, he did advance just one short of the maximum number of losses possible, so his play does not bespeak of clean, easy wins necessary at higher levels. Frankly I don’t see him winning, and would much rather have had PuSan in his place.
<font size=1>clearly, rA is a god.</font>
rA –The Dreamer needs no introduction. Born on the Ides of March, his career and demeanor reflect a legendary persona, a man who does not care whether he wins or loses as long as he entertains the crowd. Look at that constant, always-present little smirk on his face, like he knows all the secrets and holds all the cards.
Even when he slumps, he’s always been the kind of player who has a chance vs anyone on any map, just because he’s that much of a genius. During his 9-0 Ace Match streak in ProLeague, or around HanGame 2004, he did not exude an aura of invincibility, but instead just made his opponents look like D+ newbs.
On April 29 2007 11:15 Rekrul wrote:
Nal_rA raped me 3-1 in bet games for 400$.
I tried to give it to him in real life, but he refused.
I then got lectured for 5 minutes on the fact that I am a fucking newbie, always was a fucking newbie, and always will be a fucking newbie. Apparently as part of rA's honor code he won't gamble against friends with 100% chance of success.
Nal_rA raped me 3-1 in bet games for 400$.
I tried to give it to him in real life, but he refused.
I then got lectured for 5 minutes on the fact that I am a fucking newbie, always was a fucking newbie, and always will be a fucking newbie. Apparently as part of rA's honor code he won't gamble against friends with 100% chance of success.
Recently, though, he’s been losing a whole shitton. He’s 1-12 in his last 13 games. To be honest? I’m worried. Let us hope, and let us dream.
<font size=1>look ma, I'm a camera!</font>
Lomo – What is a Lomo? A Lomo is a career 8-10 Lecaf Terran with no notable accomplishments except for some cheese marine/scv rush that knocked Reach out of his last Survivor tournament. Needless to say, I really, really hate Lomo. He advances to MST 2-0 over Miz.peace, 2-0 over Juni, and 2-1 over Max. He may have gotten out of offlines, but the buck stops here. Please die 0-2 and make my day.
ZvZ on this map removes a bit of the luck scouting aspect, and has a somewhat safer-than-normal expansion. Limiting chance means the better player will be more likely to win – in this case, that’s a good thing. Furthermore, the pressure will be squarely on punsoo’s shoulders as he faces possibly the 2nd best ZvZ in the world in his first broadcasted match ever. Luxury for the walkover rape.
rA will either cheese or do 3-base reaver into carrier. Lomo will either cheese or do some 3-base macro push. I hope Flash prepared rA well. I seriously, seriously hope that. rA needs to think of a PvT strategy other than reavers into carriers. I mean, whatever happened to the man behind Arbiter Reloaded? rA, no matter how much he’s slumping, is still favored over the 33% career winrate TvP of Lomo.
Winners’/Losers' Games
< Zodiac >
No matter what we’re going to see a PvZ and a TvZ. So, here are the possibilities:
rA vs Luxury: rA was once the best PvZ in the world. Luxury has sharply improved in recent times, whereas rA has lost some of his competitive edge, making this a tossup. My brain leans towards Luxury’s current form and the 70% Zerg winrate on Zodiac, but my heart is all for rA. Never let it be said that this romantic ever doubted the Dreamer.
rA vs punsoo: As the winners’ match, this would make me much more comfortable. Actually, not really. Normally I’d write off rA vs some unknown Z, but 1) rA was eliminated from OGN offlines by some noname Z, 2) rA is just so inconsistent 3) the map favors Z and 4) the boy took down PuSan 2-0. rA still should win with his fields of flowers.
Lomo vs Luxury: Can you say mutalisks? We’re going to see Luxury’s mutalisks vs Lomo’s best matchup if this draw occurs. The Lecaf Terran is 0-1 against Luxury so far, but he won 3 TvZs to get into MST, so he should put up a good fight. Luxury’s ZvT is always a joy to watch, as well. Luxury for the win, but hoping for a decent game.
Lomo vs punsoo: Does anyone even care? I’d give it to Lomo if it came down to a vote, but if there was some way both of these guys could lose automatically so we see rA/Luxury in next MSL, that’d be chill too. If Lomo/punsoo advance, there WILL be heads rolling.
Luxury vs Lomo would be my prediction here, in which case I’d go with Luxury because it’s Blue Storm. If you haven’t seen Luxury’s mutalisks, go watch OSL vs FrOzean for some epic lulz.
Nal_rA and Luxury to advance. Anything else would result in a very, very annoyed LR. Seriously, an MSL without rA would be fucking unthinkable. He’s been in like 13 consecutive seasons or something.
If you're wondering why this isn't in news, it's 'cause I don't want to push down Mani and HonestTea's incredible sexiness. Go check it out.
Much love,
LR
Results
+ Show Spoiler +
Luxury > Punsoo
rA < Lomo
Lomo > Luxury
<font size=5>Nal_rA</font> > Punsoo
[Watch this game. 6 kill initial zealot, 12 kill Dark Templar [with the last kill going head to head with a lurker WHILE DODGING SPINES], at least 3 reavers getting more than 20 kills each. YEAHHH.]
Luxury>rA
Starcraft is a fuck.
Lomo and Luxury advance.
rA < Lomo
Lomo > Luxury
<font size=5>Nal_rA</font> > Punsoo
[Watch this game. 6 kill initial zealot, 12 kill Dark Templar [with the last kill going head to head with a lurker WHILE DODGING SPINES], at least 3 reavers getting more than 20 kills each. YEAHHH.]
Luxury>rA
Starcraft is a fuck.
Lomo and Luxury advance.