Map: Echo LE
MMA started the game out with a cloaked banshee. Flash was denied scouting on this opener when he lost his reaper to a hellion. Choosing not to build an engineering bay, Flash opted for a viking and had a scan ready when the banshee arrived at his base.
With his banshee opener nullified, MMA went for a quick 3rd which gave him the economic edge heading into the midgame. MMA decided to go for a bio composition while Flash went mech. Flash had the higher viking count and a solid number of hellbats. However, the lack of medivacs in his composition proved to be costly. An attack by MMA's bio force at the 13 minute mark was too much for Flash to handle and gave SBENU the 1-0 edge heading into game 2.
Winner: MMA
Match 2: MyuNgSik vs Zest
Map: Deadwing LE
Game 2 saw the powerhouse Zest go up against SBENU's versatile protoss MyuNgSik. MyuNgSik opened up with phoenix play and was focused with sniping Zest's mothership core. Zest had a later stargate and was going for oracle play but quickly switched to phoenixs after MyuNgSik's first phoenix reached his base. MyuNgSik was able to successfully defend against Zest's 3 gate aggression and looked in very good shape heading into the midgame.
MyuNgSik transitioned into blink while Zest opted for a 2nd stargate. With MyuNgSik's phoenix force out of position, Zest was able to send his own phoenixs into MyuNgSik's main with ease. Instead of trying to defend the harass, MyuNgSik went on the offensive with his blink stalker and air force which also included a single void ray. Despite losing all of his workers to the phoenix harass, MyuNgSik clearly had the superior army and most novices and experts alike would have called the game in favor of the SBENU protoss. In desperation, Zest pulled his probes to deal with the stalkers while using his phoenix force to eliminate MyuNgSik's air army. With the air army gone, Zest was free to lift all of the stalkers and blink was rendered completely useless. MyuNgSik had a crisp PvP build prepared but the poor decision to leave his phoenixs out in the middle of the map costed him the game.
Winner: Zest
Match 3: Leenock vs Life
Map: Cactus Valley LE
Despite his recent struggles versus zerg, Life was the clear favourite in this matchup. Leenock opened with the 10 pool and quick gas while Life went for the greedy hatch first build and even started his gas before building his pool. Leenock was able to take out the natural base but was unable to inflict further damage. The game carried out in normal ZvZ fashion with both players securing their natural expansions with a few ling/bane skirmishes here and there.
As the game progressed it was evident that Life was the superior player. Having his 3rd expansion and spire out sooner than Leenock, Life was able to secure the muta lead. It soon became a game of math and Life was able to slowly compound his advantages into a win. Give Life an inch in this volatile matchup and he will somehow turn it into a mile.
Winner: Life
Match 4: Bomber vs Stats
Map: Vaani Research Station
The first non-mirror matchup of the day saw Bomber open up with a marine/widow mine drop into the natural expansion of Stats. A stargate from Stats allowed him to build phoenixs to repel the medivacs and even came up with clutch lifts on the hellion runby to prevent further economic damage. With 10 probe kills, Bomber had a slight edge on Stats heading into the midgame.
Bomber scouted the newly established 3rd base of stats and decided it was time to "pull the boys" and marched his intimidating bio/medivac/viking force down the map. The engagement began with well placed forcefields and time warps coming out of Stats. The vikings managed to eliminate every colossus but not before critical damage was done onto the bio force. The phoenixs from Stats were able to take out every viking and Bomber was forced to retreat. Stats followed up with a series-clinching counter that consisted of a chargelot/archon heavy army which melted the remaining bio of Bomber.
Winner: Stats
KT Rolster Wins 3-1
And the smack talk award of the night goes to...
Photo Credits: ESportsTV