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GSL: The Final Four

By Robert 'InzTTP' Wylie
Jul 19, 2012 05:54


ImageThe third season of the premier StarCraft tournament is in it's final stages. The final four was decided only a few days ago. SK's own MC is ready to set up his return to the final!

This season of GSL has been a roller coaster ride for some of the regular Code S players. The Round of 32 went as planned, with a lot of the big names making their return to the round of 16. After a very intense round of 16 and quarter finals we saw a few upsets which lead to this point.

The brackets set up perfectly with the two champions facing off in one side of the bracket and two players setting up for their shot at a GSL title.

Let's dive straight in and talk about how how they got here and preview the upcoming matches.

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KR Sang Won 'Seed' Ahn Vs KR Hyun Woo 'Byun' Byun

When the brackets were released for the round of 8 people wrote off these two making it to the round of 4. However Byun managed to make his round of 8 match look easy and Seed had a very rough series.

This match up won't be the first time these two have met this season. They met in the round of 32, both players sitting 1-0 in group play and the winner would advance in first place. Byun managed to come out on top taking the series 2-1. Seed on the other hand managed to defeat Curious 2-0 to continue on to the next round in 2nd place.

Seed is known for having very good PvZ and that showed in his first match in the round of 16 against Violet, although dropping a map he looked very strong and in control of the game. With his 2nd match already being decided he would face off against Taeja which in a way a lucky break. Taeja isn't on the same level as MVP in TvP but none the less Seed showed some amazing play to advance from a group which most people ruled him out of, and in first place. In the round of 8 his opponent would be Symbol, a player who has proven to be a contender for that top Zerg spot. After getting off to a very rocky start it looked like it was game over for Seed, going down 2-0 in the round of 8 is tough for even the most experienced player to handle but he got himself together and finished the series off 3-2 to advance to the round of 4.

After his first group stage, Byun looked to be in perfect shape. His TvP was on a different level and his group draw couldn't have been more to his liking. His first match was against Keen, a player who usually flys under the radar but has very deadly TvT. Byun took down Keen in a 3 game series. His opponent would be either Naniwa or Genius. Both are known for having very good PvT but the shape Byun was in it didn't matter who it was. After a long fought series vs Genius. Going all the way to the wire again Byun topped his group by beating Genius 2-1. Byun wasn't the favourite going into his round of 8 match, but that was likely since his opponent was none other than 3 time GSL champion NesTea. The world watched as Byun took the series in convincing fashion 3-0.

The first encounter these two had was very close, a best of three can go either way. This time they will have 5 games to play it out and I think we're all in for a treat. Byun is on top form with TvP he's showing that he can match up verse anyone. Seed on the other hand was close the first time and he will be very prepared for everything Byun can throw at him. I feel this series will be even closer than the first, Byun surprises people every time he steps into the booth but this time around Seed will have the advantage and take the series 3-2 and advance to his first final.


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KR Min Chul 'MC' Jang Vs KR Soo Ho 'DongRaeGu' Park

This is a match up people have been excited for ever since the round of 8 brackets were released. Both players are on top of their game. Both players coming off a tough series to earn their place in the final four.

MC has been in amazing form through-out this season of GSL. His round of 32 group showed some weakness in his PvT but his resilience to learn from his mistakes saw him win the tie breaker and advance to the round of 16. In what was dubbed by many as the group of death MC came out on top. Putting out a dominant performance against MKP and taking a 3 game series vs Squirtle he secured his place in the round of 8. On paper his match against Taeja should've been straight forward but MC had a hard fought battle which saw the series being taken to the wire. Game 5 was very tense for everyone as Taeja looked ready to add another upset to the already volatile GSL season. MC however wasn't having any of it and clinched game 5. winning 3-2 he advanced to the round of 4.

Coming into this season of GSL DongRaeGu is considered one of the best Zerg players in the world but he had a rocky start to his first group. Although coming out top of his group the games were closer than expected, winning 2-1 against both Maru and Violet. His round of 16 group was a lot tougher with the legend Nestea standing in his way it would be a close call for DRG. He managed to defeat Ryung 2-1 which many herald as one of the best TvZ series played to date. His next opponent was none other than the legend NesTea. DongRaeGu played a great series and came out on top with a 2-1 victory. Going into his round of 8 series he was very confident but that was quickly gone when Naniwa showed he wasn't going to sit back and take a loss. DRG managed to win 3-2 in a very intense series. Taking him into the round of 4.

This match up will be the highlight of the tournament, in fact a lot of people will be pretty upset that this match isn't going to be the final. Regardless of it being the round of 4 both players will treat this as if it were the final. DRG always looks solid but Naniwa made sure to highlight the holes in his play. MC is quickly becoming one of the best players in the world again and that third championship is looming. It's very difficult to call this match because both players can win but I feel DRG is very weak against the versatile play style of MC. It will be a really close series but MC will bring it home and earn his spot into another GSL final.


The final four kicks off tomorrow with Byun Vs Seed at 11:10 CET. Be sure to check it out over at GomTv.


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