To the delight of many, both fan favorites advanced from WCS America Group C. Polt and Jaedong head to the Ro16 after barely breaking a sweat with Polt's 4-0 leading the way. MacSed was the disappointment of the evening, failing to win a single game against either Polt or Oz.
The first series of the night was also the first sweep. Game 1 on Overgrowth started poorly for MacSed when Polt's quick stim and 3 barracks worth of units caught him by surprise. His oracle opening had failed to do any damage, and Polt's counter attack erased all of MacSed's standing army while netting 10 probe kills. The Chinese Protoss still tried to stick to his plans of using phoenix colossus, but with a hampered economy there was no way for him to get enough units to hold his third base. The game ended when MacSed attempted an ill fated attack on Polt's third, but 18 vikings and a good engagement obliterated all of Macsed's precious tech units. Game 2 was slightly different as it went longer than the first, but Polt's ability to constantly cancel the protoss third forced MacSed into another desperate attack. It was almost enough despite his 40 supply deficit, but a last minute SCV pull allowed him to hold. Some meaty mine hits contributed to his win, and Polt strolled into the winners' match.
Series number 2 was the closest of the evening as two former teammates squared off. Game 1 showcased Jaedong's excellent movement when a big sandwich in the alleyway above his third allowed him to halt Oz's immortal stalker attack. Despite falling 50 supply behind, Oz was still in an okay position due to being even on bases. They would hold off on an aggression until they both had their desired armies; by this point Oz had stalkers, immortals and colossus while Jaedong had infestors, roaches, lings and ultras. Oz made it close despite getting splattered with some good fungals, but Jaedong's strong economy enabled him to reinforce with 8 more ultras and steamroll to victory. Game 2 on Overgrowth was similar but with the inverse result. Both players played greedily until the late game, where Jaedong's composition of choice was roaches vipers and swarm hosts. Oz on the other hand went gungho with stalkers and a good number of colossus, and his movement proved to be superior this time around. His ability to strike where the swarm hosts were not allowed him to take down 3 of Jaedong's bases, and the zerg slowly died due to an inability to rally enough roaches. The final map of their set was the least contested of the three game. Oz attempted an immortal all in off two bases, but Jaedong anticipated this move and had enough units stalking the shadows for the protoss move out. The counterattack struck down Oz's wall, which included the cybercore, and the torrent of units never ended. This meant that we would have a rematch of WCS AM S2 finals.
Before that, though, was a one sided series between MacSed and Oz. The Chinese Protoss just looked out of sorts the whole day, as Oz dismantled him in PvP. On Overgrowth, MacSed's oracle opening was nullified by Oz's phoenix. This allowed him to have control over the map the entire game, giving him the leeway to gain an economic advantage through an earlier third base. It almost looked close at the end however when Oz was unable to spot MacSed's DTs. One in the main was able to kill 18 probes, but Oz's army was too large to stop, destroying MacSed's third and everything he had. Game 2 was similarly one sided when Oz's blink opening gave him the power to contain MacSed in his main. His phoenixes were unable to pay back their investment, and he was forced to build colossus on one base. Every time MacSed tried to move out, Oz was in his base killing probes or at his natural canceling the nexus. One last ditch attack was sandwiched at Oz's ramp, and the series was his.
He would not have to wait long for his next opponent as Polt proved once again that he had Jaedog's number in WCS AM. Game 1 on Overgrowth was a disaster for the EG Zerg when his decision to make 8 roaches turned sour. Polt chose to open with cloaked banshee after his expansion, and Jaedong had too little anti air and no detection at his third to stop the rain of missiles. A runby also penetrated his main for an additional 10 drone kills. Jaedong decided that mutas might be his avenue for a comeback, but a strong bio push before banelings were ready once again dropped this third. With one more push soon after, Jaedong had to surrender. Game 2 on Merry Go Round was a little closer, but not by much. A gamble by Polt to delay his third CC for earlier medivacs paid off when he caught Jaedong once again delaying his banelings. The bio army was able to cancel the third and kill 10 drones, putting the terran at an advantage once again. At one point Polt was at 4 bases and Jaedong stuck on three, and despite some valiant engagements, Jaedong could not muster enough units to break through. Polt therefore advanced first, and Oz had a chance for revenge against his more famous ex-teammate.
Unfortunately for Oz, he would not get the best of the Tyrant. Game 1 looked close, but Oz was limited to 4 bases at most the entire game, while Jaedong had the entire north side of the map. What started out with ling hydra infestor against stalkers and colossus transitioned into the dreaded brood lord infestor. It would not spell the end of the game, though, as Oz was able to prepare enough void rays and carriers to counter it. A big muta corruptor switch was then JD's choice, and it looked like it was going to get him the win. But lo and behold, one sudden careless turn in fighting archons and phoenix and everything evaporated. In less than 10 seconds, 40 mutalisks and 15 corruptors exploded into a fine mist of goo, and for a moment Oz was back in the game. Next, Jaedong opted for 12 ultralisks. With a big air army and few gateway units, the carriers remaining looked brilliant as the ultras looked up in dismay. But a few key fungals and infested terrans meant the carriers would not last long, and Oz's last remaining base fell to the swarm. The craziness on Nimbus was followed up with a disappointing death of Oz's WCS AM hopes when he allowed a big set of lings in his main. He could not defend any of his three bases and he died a premature death, and Jaedong was finally through to the Ro16 in 2014.
WCS America Premier League Ro16 Players (6/16)
Jim
HyuN, Jaedong
Neeb, iaguz, Polt
Next: WCS AM Premier League Ro32 Group D
Tuesday, Aug 05 10:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00)
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