Despite the rather one-sided results of WCS Season 2’s s
finals series (Bomber sweeps over Jaedong 4-0), the Cologne, Germany-based SC2
tournament has been rife with nail biting, heart attack inducing matches, with
the most notable ones being during the group stages and quarterfinals.
As the weekend comes to a close, we at GosuGamers can’t help
but relive the tournament’s most memorable matches. Check out what we believe
to be the top five games of the WCS Finals.
5.) NaNiwa Vs. INnoVation
VoD
Why was it good: INnoVation
is beatable, this fact has been proven in the past, but to be bested by a foreigner?
If there is any foreigner able to best INnoVation, it would be one that
practices with the Koreans and it certainly was. NaNiwa’s recent successes have
been notable, the young ambitious and emotionally devoted player of the game is
proving that he has what it takes to be a world class SC2 player.
4.) aLive Vs. First on Whirlwind
Why was it good: When’s
the last time you saw Tempests in a TvP in a pro match? It’s been awhile I’m
sure, the last match I personally recall was during the WCS Season 1 Grand
Finals between sOs Vs. INnoVation on Neo Planet S and it didn’t play out very
well for sOs.
The match started off relatively slow, with Alive pushing an
economic advantage while First pushed for tech. Any drop aggression from both
players were denied, First surrounded his base with observers while Alive
walled off his perimeter with missile turrets. The real battles only began to
brew as both players approached the 200 supply mark, then it became a battle of
unit control – feedbacks versus snipes, vikings trying to snipe colossus while
avoiding blink stalkers and storms. The two pros traded blow for blow… and then
the Tempests came.
A base race scenario launched, which was eventually met by
an inevitable collision between both players’ armies. Alive’s viking fleet
rained fire on the colossus instead of the Tempest, killing the majority of
colossi, but falling to First’s nearly intact Tempest squadron. With nearly no
income for both players, First’s superior army made quick work of Alive’s very
small Viking count. With feedbacks, storms, and tempests’ sieging prowess,
Alive had no choice but to GG a very unusual, very epic, TvP.
3.) MC Vs. Jaedong on Whirlwind
VoD
Why was it good: The resurgences of tyrants do not come
without friction and who better to provide the struggle than Protoss
revolutionist, MC.
So often do Protoss two base all-ins result in a brisk anti-climactic
finish - either the Zerg successfully defends and crushes the economically
inferior Protoss or the Toss’ push proves too formidable and the Zerg crumples
to the seemingly endless supply of warp-ins as the mechanical legs of immortals
walk over lifeless Zerg carapaces. This match, however, does not develop in any
sort of typical fashion.
MC gains an early advantage with a cannon rush that denies
Jaedong’s early third, priming the Protoss player for an aggressive two-base
window that he, due to two critical errors, misses. The first: powering six
gateways with a single pylon, and the second: leaving a gap in his wall
allowing Jaedong’s zerglings to rush into MC’s base and kill that single pylon
powering MC’s aggression. With no other choice but to pull back his offensive
forces, MC readies himself to defend against an economically superior Zerg
force. Despite his disadvantageous position, MC manages to hold against all
odds with a bastion-like defense in conjunction with hatchery and drone slaying
counterattacks that abate Jaedong’s ultralisk/zergling army. The rest of the
always entertaining match includes tech switches, psi storms, and a culminating
battle between two high-tech armies running off one-base economies.
2.) INnoVation Vs. TaeJa on Newkirk Precinct
VoD
Why was it good: The
reason is quite simple – INnoVation brings back Hellbats with some of the
hottest (pun attended) mech play versus TaeJa’s bio army.
If you’re tired of marine/tank mirrors, please do yourself a
favor and watch this match, but grab snacks because you’ll be in it for the
long haul. This epic 52 minute game involves Hellbat drops, seeker missiles,
and expansions at every possible location. Back and forth, both players edge on
the precipice of defeat in multiple instances throughout the match.
1.) Scarlett Vs. Bomber on Whirlwind
VoD
Why was it good: It’s
hard not to root for Scarlett, the foreigner who invested so much into SC2
eSports, moving away from the comforts of home to South Korea in order to foster
her talents. Watching the WCS Finals you’ll find that the results of her
sacrifice are evident, even admirable and this match against Brood War veteran,
Bomber, adequately exemplifies Scarlett’s progress.
Both players open macro heavy, Scarlett with a three hatch
before pool while Bomber opens with a command center first. Things look grim early
on for the foreigner as Bomber manages to drive four hellions in Scarlett’s
main before she gets speedlings resulting in 15 crispy drones. Scarlett climbs
back despite the early economic blow through a near perfect four base ling,
baneling, mutalisk defense that abates Bomber’s aggressive 3 base marine/mine
shove. A role reversal comes into play after several successful engagements
from Scarlett’s end, using her immensely mobile army, lings and mutas in
conjunction with some very clutch Overloard creep, she goes on the offensive,
constantly denying Bomber’s fourth base with surgical precision. If you weren’t
a fan of Scarlett before, this match may sway you to her side.
.jpg)
