The sun will rise and set, the seasons will change in their turn, and the young will overtake the old. There are many champions gathered at Blizzcon, and they all seek different goals. Some wish to further gild their already shining legacies, while others hope to restore their past glory. Others, still, fight for what might be their only chance to vindicate the years they have put into professional gaming with one single championship. But for all fifteen players, whatever their goal, it may already be too late. The hourglass has been flipped: their time is ending, and MaruPrime's is only beginning.
Three years in, the youngest veteran of StarCraft 2 is no longer a prospect, a player with potential, or someone to watch out for in the future. No, the future is now. That potential was unlocked in Heart of the Swarm, and it has been growing ever since. Six months ago Maru was a perennial Code A player. Three months ago he was the youngest royal roader to win the Ongamenet Starleague. Two weeks ago we learned that his finals run was no fluke, with Maru reaching consecutive semi-finals in both WCS Korea and the Season Finals. We now know that his OSL championship run was a challenge issued to the rest of the world: "Take notice, for my time has come."
While Maru still has more to prove before he can lay claim to the title of best Terran, he possesses an almost otherworldly quality when compared to even the best of his peers. Innovation plays the most flawless, mistake-free games. Polt is a genius of tactics and positioning. TaeJa is a juggernaut in the late game. Mvp has mystical, magical powers. But none of them can fight like Maru.
There is no one who can flank, split, drop, stutter-step, and drop quite like him. Like his famous predecessor, MarineKingPrime, Maru's stellar micro and choice of engagements makes anything possible. Give him a banshee and a chair and he can take out the WCS EU champion in a Bo5. Give him a 1-1-1 and he can tear apart Flash’s standard macro builds; give a triple-cc and he can pull off a jaw-dropping defense against Flash's 1-1-1. Outside of battle Maru is just another good Terran with a penchant of switching between hyper-aggressive builds and hyper-greedy builds, another similarity to the late MKP. But in combat there is no better player, and it has made Maru a champion.
In his last three tournament runs, Maru has defeated top caliber players of every race. In his run to the Auction OSL finals, he took out sOs and INnoVation, the two finalists of the WCS Season 1. Once he reached the finals stage, he took out the defending champion Rain by a 4 - 2 score. In the following Code S tournament, he handily defeated Flash, Kangho and a reformed Jjakji. At the Season 3 Finals in Canada, he defeated Code S finalist soO and two WCS EU champions in duckdeok and MMA. Maru is done proving himself against top players—he's the top player others must prove themselves against.
However, there is one player who has survived Maru's rampage, a player who has prevented Maru from walking into Blizzcon as the #1 player in the world. The sole exception, the Soul Survivor: Dear.
Welcome to the future.
Twice now Maru and Dear have fought in the semi-finals, once in the WCS Korea, and once at the Season Finals. Both times, Dear defeated Maru 3-1 in matches that eclipsed the eventual grand-finals in terms of sheer excitement. Just as Maru has pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible with Terran, Dear has done for Protoss. On defense his units were positioned perfectly, second and third waves of templars were always hidden, and his compositions were always changing to confuse Maru. At the same time, a precise number of zealots and templars could always be spared for a counter-attack, enough to gain Dear an advantage but not so much as compromise his defenses. If Maru was able to shatter Rain's wall of ice with blunt force, then going up against Dear has been like punching a wall of water.
Looking at the Blizzcon bracket, there is a very realistic possibility that these two will meet once more in the semi-finals. Should they meet again happen, it will surely be Maru's most difficult challenge of the tournament. But in the end, Maru must know that Dear is just another old player, looking to enjoy his long delayed time in the sun. To begin his reign, Maru must bring the legacies of these old men to an end.
On November 06 2013 09:20 bludragen88 wrote: At this rate they might actually get all 16 out before Blizzcon starts! Really good articles, looking forward to the rest of them.
Perhaps it is easier to sway the hearts of your readers with hype articles (as opposed to, for example, the clinical dissection of a build), but damn, you guys are good!
On November 06 2013 09:03 TeamLiquid ESPORTS wrote: If Maru was able to shatter Rain's wall of ice with blunt force, then going up against Dear has been like punching a wall of water.
On November 06 2013 09:06 SC2Toastie wrote: I hate how you guys make every single player seem like they deserve the win most >
Seriously, where is my set of generic players that my favorites can mow over on their way to glory. At this rate I'm going to be feeling like generic korean Terran # 451 aLive winning would create an amazing and inspiring storyline. Dammit TL I am a Zerg player looking at a tournament that only has 2 Zergs, I should not be this torn on who to cheer for!!!
All kidding aside these write ups are amazing and I can't wait to see the games. Too bad MVP and Jaedong have to face off right out the gate, I honestly think that a finals between those 2 would be the most epic clash ever, with Soulkey vs. Innovation being a close 2nd.
On November 06 2013 09:06 SC2Toastie wrote: I hate how you guys make every single player seem like they deserve the win most >
Seriously, where is my set of generic players that my favorites can mow over on their way to glory. At this rate I'm going to be feeling like generic korean Terran # 451 aLive winning would create an amazing and inspiring storyline. Dammit TL I am a Zerg player looking at a tournament that only has 2 Zergs, I should not be this torn on who to cheer for!!!
oh lord I know right? When the player list finally started to shape up I was like "holy shit this is like every fucking fan favorite since ever" (minus parting drg and life) but seriously damn
These goddamn hype articles making it so hard to figure out who to root for. Obviously HerO is my boy but god damn....these things are just inspirational
Maru vs Dear was such a godly series, entirely comparable to Brood War in terms of the non-stop action, the sick level of aggression from Maru, and the ingenius positional maneuevers from Dear. I can only hope that this becomes the norm for pro SC2. Bad design my ass!
I just love how damn nonchalant he looked in his hoodie at the season finals every time, just standing there with his hood up chewing bubble gum. As if he was basically saying to the world, "get out of my way you old geezers, it's my time to shine." Maru fighting!
Mannn, ever since I saw Maru for the first time and rape Protoss players completely, I knew he was something for in the future. Now it seems like he's unstoppable, maybe he IS unstoppable. Only problem is that Dear just can't lose and apparantly the math work like this ;
Please somebody tell him in time not to wear that hoody once he visits the US. You neva know when one of the free ranging morrons over there feels the need for self defence.
Honestly IDK if I root for Maru to win the whole thing, but damn sure I want him to slap Dear this time.. =========================================================================
In other words - If Dear wins over JD then I wanna see his ass kicked all over the place, and his face slapped by this kid..
If JD however wins that "early" encounter.. Not sure If I'd prefer Maru to win.. Probably would prefer JD over him.. :/
Sorry Maru - might be my favourite Terran, but not favourite player overall.. GGs and GL none-the-less..
On November 06 2013 20:08 EFBarbarossa wrote: Please somebody tell him in time not to wear that hoody once he visits the US. You neva know when one of the free ranging morrons over there feels the need for self defence.
On November 06 2013 20:10 VArsovskiSC wrote: Honestly IDK if I root for Maru to win the whole thing, but damn sure I want him to slap Dear this time.. =========================================================================
In other words - If Dear wins over JD then I wanna see his ass kicked all over the place, and his face slapped by this kid..
If JD however wins that "early" encounter.. Not sure If I'd prefer Maru to win.. Probably would prefer JD over him.. :/
Sorry Maru - might be my favourite Terran, but not favourite player.. GGs and GL none-the-less..
On November 06 2013 20:08 EFBarbarossa wrote: Please somebody tell him in time not to wear that hoody once he visits the US. You neva know when one of the free ranging morrons over there feels the need for self defence.
People heard of that case in other countries? hahahahahaha.
I thought it was just big in Florida because of the racial aspect.
Awesome articles all around, loving each and every one of them, ultimately each has his own unique story with his own sets of struggles, highs and lows and it great to be able to read each of them.
Curious to see the titles for the remaining players? Alive article, The Invisible Man? MC, the President? Polt, the American Hope? The HerO we need? MMA, The Emperor's Heir?
On November 06 2013 20:08 EFBarbarossa wrote: Please somebody tell him in time not to wear that hoody once he visits the US. You neva know when one of the free ranging morrons over there feels the need for self defence.
People heard of that case in other countries? hahahahahaha.
I thought it was just big in Florida because of the racial aspect.
Here in Toronto Canada, for a while it was a topic of conversation as universal as the weather. It was literally like "sure is nice out today, how about that Zimmerman verdict? What a load of bs eh?"
A Dear vs Maru rematch would be the coolest thing imaginable. Amazing that in the hands of these masters, TvP goes from being the most predictable and strategically stagnant matchup to one where anything is possible.
GOGO Maru your time to shine!! As much as I would enjoy watching Maru meet Dear and moving past him; I'd rather see him and taeja have a crazy slug-fest series!!
On November 07 2013 04:11 Dogfoodboy16 wrote: The only thing that stands between Maru and winning Bizzcon is....the production of Ghost Academy's
I'm not sure he can play his preferred style while incorporating ghosts. People used to say the same thing about MKP, that he just needed to diversify his compositions and he'd be unbeatable. But just like MKP, his current style really plays to his strengths, and I'm not sure the slower, more lategame-oriented play that comes with Ghosts is really a good fit for what Maru does best.