The truth is, Code A has been a real disappointment for its entire existence. On the other hand, Code S has offered a glimpse into the highest levels of the game. Despite chitter chatter about Code A’s potential this season, Code S remains comfortably on top in terms in skill and entertainment value.
Group A
Liquid`Jinro vs. PoltPrime on Crossfire SE
Today sported some of the bigger names in the scene. Jinro is the foreign hero and only player to have visited the semifinals two seasons running. PoltPrime, who barely snuck into Code S this season, claimed that Jinro’s run was mostly luck.
It’s hard to blame Polt for saying that. The fact is, he was the big underdog and needed to psych himself up for the match. It didn’t work.
Polt’s three Barracks and almost purely Marine play was like watching a sloppy MarineKingPrime. Jinro opened with Banshees and quickly moved to Tanks and Marines. Jinro’s superior macro and overwhelming style quite literally rolled over his opponent with ease, sweeping the map and forcing the GG.
ST.RainBOw vs. CheckPrime on Tal’Darim Altar
Rainbow’s opening was a blast from the past: a Reaper rush to Check’s fast expansion. The Reaper managed to survive quite an ordeal and delayed mining so much that Tastetosis wondered if the game was decided already.
Quite the contrary. Check took advantage of the new and huge map, of terrain that is not so friendly to early game timing pushes. Check’s macro was impeccable and Rainbow played an indecisive, all together too passive game. Check swallowed a giant part of the map, coating it in purple creep, and his Mutalisks and Banelings on six bases made quick work of Rainbow.
Liquid`Jinro vs. ST.Rainbow on Shakuras Plateau
Here’s a strange one. Kids, grab your notebooks: this is how the better player wins despite making some costly errors.
Jinro opted to open with his favorite: Banshee harassment. The birds in the sky paid off big time. The advantage was so evident that Jinro thought he could end the game quickly. Off of two bases, he stubbornly tried and tried to push into Rainbow’s well-defended main from behind.
The Swede let his advantage slip from his hands and suddenly the map was drawn in two, the momentum swinging in Rainbow’s favor. A dozen Marine drops from either player flew and failed.
While Rainbow’s focus was still in the center, Jinro quickly and deftly moved a huge force to his original target: the back path. Without warning, the Swede was in Rainbow’s main base and the game was won. It took several minutes for Rainbow to give in but Jinro’s victory was inevitable.
PoltPrime vs CheckPrime on Tal’Darim Altar
The stream had major difficulties. PoltPrime won.
PoltPrime vs. CheckPrime on Crevasse
After a surprising loss, CheckPrime quickly remembered himself. Outclassing Polt with Roaches and Banelings, Check’s victory was hardly ever in doubt after the game began.
Group B
oGsNaDa vs. TheBestfOu on Shakuras Plateau
It’s something close to amazing to see NaDa play a TvT like this in 2011. It wasn’t flawless, it wasn’t heart pounding but it was extremely solid. For a player of his experience and longevity, it’s incredible to see.
Nada opened with a fast expansion into Banshees and killed over a dozen SCVs to gain a serious upper hand right off the bat. Although his first Tank push was denied by TheBest’s Thors, Nada used the time to quickly take his entire half of the map. Things snowballed from there.
Nada’s powerful Tank line and methodical TvT work made Brood War fans smile from ear to ear. He gained the GG with solid play and great defense.
HongUnPrime.WE vs oGsTOP on Xel’Naga Caverns
Poor TOP. He wins Code A and the pressure of the world seems to be on him.
HongUnPrime used an MC style rush to crush through TOP quickly and convincingly. For those of you who are less familiar with our Protoss hero MC, his signature rush is a six Gateway timing attack, heavy on the Sentries to cut the Terran army to isolated, bloody pieces. It’s a piece of art to behold and a terrible thing to be on the receiving end of.
Nada vs. Top on Crossfire SE
Nada, in good form tonight, put his teammate into the Up/Down matches once again. A one-sided match in which his Tanks blitzed TOP ensued. Although TOP’s head was in his hands following the match, there is little to be ashamed of in going down to one of the best Terran players in the game.
HongUn vs. TheBest on Shakuras Plateau
Note to Terrans: when four Colossi show up and you have Vikings working hard to snipe them, keep HP bars open. If several of them are in the red but still firing, you’re doing something terribly wrong.
The decisive battle in this game came down to HongUn being able to save his Colossi while TheBest struggled to find a good time to engage on the ground. When he watches the VODs,
TheBest vs TOP on Crossfire SE
After a couple of thorough losses, it was good to see TOP take a convincing win here.
TheBest’s lackluster play helped. A rather good plan from TheBest for a blue flame Hellion drop turned south when he actually lifted his Factory in the middle of research. Wrap your head around that: his entire opening was largely negated by the bizarre mistake.
Except some effective Banshee harassment from TheBest, the rest of the game belonged to TOP. Efficiently handled Tanks and Marines were met with little competent resistance and TOP took third place in the group.
Nada vs. HongUn
The battle for first place and better seeding is the prime venue for throwaway builds. This time, HongUn made it fun.
Rushing to a Mothership, the Protoss had Nada and all the fans watching seriously wondering if he’d take the Terrans infantry off guard and win the game. A back and forth struggle ensued over the middle of the map. It wasn’t until Vikings finally popped after a long, long wait that the tug and pull ended and Nada came out with the first seed.