MSL 2008 ClubDay Groups E & H

Last week marked the Group E and H games of the 2008 ClubDay MSL. With names such as Stork, Kal, Sea and HwaSin it was certainly a set of games offering each of these stars an opportunity to prove themselves, yet again.

GROUP E: Kal, Stork, HerO and Sea

Kal vs Stork @ Athena 2

Kal started being a pain in the ass with great micro and manner pylons. As the game escalated to standard PvP, it was Stork who seemed to gain the advantage with a nice goon/reaver push. But after some breathtaking micro and an error from Stork, Kal breaks out of the contain and with a massive army storms down the map to meet his adversary. Kal just blows the commentators away as he takes out 2 reavers with reavers of his own and seals the deal for Stork. Well worth a look, if only to admire Kal’s reaver micro.

Sea vs HerO @ Byzantium 2

It looked as if HerO really wanted to be a hero as he went for a 14 nexus opening. Very very unfortunately because Sea had a 2 rax cheese prepared. When marines started knocking on HerO’s door it was already over.

Kal vs Sea @ Medusa

Winners’ match… OK this game was just domination. After a silly little drop opening by Sea and a counter DT drop by Protoss, Kal just defined what PvT macro truly means. Just a constant flow of zealots and dragoons out of countless gateways, Tempest style. Pure decimation. Must have been so painful for Sea who is surrounded by Protoss in this group.

Stork vs HerO @ Medusa

Loser’s match for any hope of survival. The winner goes to face Sea. Both players open quite standard, and a bog-standard PvP is unravelled. HerO interestingly goes for mass dragoons into expansion, while Stork smartly masses up goons with reaver support. After one and only push on to HerO, the pure dragoons melt like butter to scarab explosions and HerO crumbles. Stork advances to meet Sea for the second place of the group. Once again, greedy play cost HerO the game.

Stork vs Sea @ Destination

Nice climatic final game on the 2 player map Destination. Both players go for a macro-oriented fast expansion built while Sea is preparing for the inevitable drop. As he pokes at Sea with his shuttle, Stork is pumping out carriers, obviously hoping for a surprise element. He eventually loses the shuttle to utter carelessness and Sea retaliates with a push equally beaten back by dragoons and zealots. After this, it all goes downhill for Sea as carriers enter play and tear the Terran apart, piece by piece. Sea is out of the MSL; the favourites, Kal and Stork advance.

MSL ClubDay 2008

Group E

Stork

Kal

Sea

HerO

Kal

Sea

Stork

HerO

Stork

Sea

GROUP H: HwaSin, Fantasy, Tempest and RuBy

An interesting array of players. No doubt all eyes are set on HwaSin and undoubtedly Tempest with his legendary PvT macro.

HwaSin vs Fantasy @ Destination

So, HwaSin at bottom with fantasy at the north position. The Red Sniper open with a hidden starport while fantasy goes for fast exp. HwaSin drops 4 vultures at fantasy’s main which basically cracks him open as he follows up with wraith harass. After a desperate contain, a ravaged economy and constant wraith harass, fantasy concedes without a single realistic chance in the game.

RuBy vs Tempest @ Athena 2

Undeniably a very anticipated match, just to see the macro maniac Tempest in action. RuBy opens with standard 1 factory command centre and Tempest goes on his usual macro style with 1 gate nexus and robotics. The Terran attempts to form a contain outside Tempest’s base but Protoss manages to surround the small force and promptly eradicate them.

From that point Tempest seems eager to start his macro machine up but RuBy is not the kind of person who would just let that happen. As he takes another expansion, Tempest has produced a large dragoon force and a crapload of zealots with speed and basically just slams on the Terran defence with massive casualties on both sides and each player taking yet another expansion the macro war continues.

RuBy however has already reached the centre of the map and Tempest feels the pressure as he sends a huge force to counter the push. However the mass tanks are just too much and the Protoss units evaporate in seconds. After another push and a failed arbiter recall, Tempest ironically is outmacroed and concedes. Ieeepiii ieepiii!!! (=EMP EMP!!)

HwaSin vs Ruby @ Byzantium 2

Winners’ match. RuBy at top right and HwaSin at top left. After some minimal pressure by HwaSin, both players are fast expanding on 1 factory. The Red Sniper attempts a contain but RuBy’s reinforcing tanks are too much and he breaks free. The game progresses to a 30-minute struggle as the two forces pound each other with massive drops and pushes. But after RuBy is left with an almost mined out expansion, HwaSin nervously wins the game and proceeds to the next round.

Fantasy vs Tempest @ Byzantium 2

Losers’ game, with the winner having to face Ruby for 2nd position. There are only two words to sum up the massacre witnessed in this game: “Dark Templar”. After Tempest gets himself bunker contained (!) and in really a bad shape, he managed to break out with dragoons and sets a little surprise for Fantasy in the form of mass DTs! That’s right, with the remaining dragoons and a constant stream of the cloaked assassins he catches Fantasy completely off guard and seals his fate. What a way to go…

RuBy vs Tempest @ Medusa

Tempest must have changed his style completely because he did the unthinkable! It’s just too… crazy to put into writing so you might as well watch the game! Hint: Photon cannon… *Cough*

Overall, nice TvT display by HwaSin and it’s nice to see Tempest busting out of the group, admittedly not with the way we are all used to! RuBy played an awesome TvT match and Fantasy unfortunately was just the punch bag for these three greats.