The semifinals ended with another strong showing that is leading us to a pretty rare finals. Continue reading for the match review and results!
_____________________________________________________________________
The Week's Most Exciting Game
The Week's Most Exciting Game
Fighting an Uphill BattleShow/Hide Spoiler
Game Three: VOD | Map – Neo Medusa
This was a hard week to choose a most exciting game. All three games shared very similar characteristics. Iris kept on the offensive and EffOrt slowly crumbled. EffOrt put up the best fight in the first game, though, and almost turned the game to his favor.
At least we got to see dark swarm in this game…
What Worked
One thing that definitely went right.Show/Hide Spoiler
Berserk!
Yes, Iris is known for his aggressive and insistent play, but it doesn’t always work out for him, especially for the last few seasons where he has slipped from the top of the rankings. However, in a position where the other player allows him to maneuver the game as he wishes, Iris is extremely volatile. In all of the matches played this week, Iris maintained the offensive, backing EffOrt into a defensive stance, a stance the Zerg player did not seem to comfortable with.
Iris, pushing in.
What Didn’t Work So Well…
What wasn’t so right.Show/Hide Spoiler
EffOrt
A couple weeks ago, I heralded EffOrt for his performance against Jaedong. The CJ Entus Zerg player was on fire, ferocious and focused. This week, EffOrt seemed to lack both of those qualities. I am aware he was facing Iris, a player known for his aggressiveness, but EffOrt did not give the kind of fight he is himself known for. SuperDanielMan stated in his commentary that EffOrt told Iris after the first game that he was having trouble concentrating. Perhaps his lack of concentration is what caused EffOrt the match. However, I believe there was more to it. EffOrt’s play appeared lackluster and rather unmotivated. I could very well be wrong, but those were my impressions based off other games we have seen him play and win lately.
_____________________________________________________________________
Match Coverage
Match Coverage
All the results for the tournament, thus far, can be seen in the Results and Standings thread. Feel free to leave comments about the matches there, as well. Please note that the thread will contain spoilers by myself and other posters. The official GomTV bracket/match list can be found here.
[Semifinals] Iris vs. EffOrt
Game One SummaryShow/Hide Spoiler
VOD | Map – Neo Medusa
In the first game, Iris walled-in while EffOrt went for an expansion on 12 supply and then his spawning pool. Iris sent out a vulture, but a sunken colony kept it out of the Zerg expansion. Meanwhile, EffOrt snuck a zergling into the Terran base, through the temples. Iris built a starport and then expanded. Four vultures were dropped into the Zerg main, killing seven or eight drones. EffOrt countered by sending three lurkers towards Iris’s base, but mines killed all of them. EffOrt destroyed the temples behind the Terran base. Zerglings and lurkers streamed into the back of the base, but marines and tanks defended easily. Iris got a few valkyries out and pushed with tanks, marines, and medics. EffOrt fought back, destroying the tanks.
At that point in the game, EffOrt had maintained a relatively strong economy. Iris, however, kept up his attacks. He dropped marines at the Zerg main and destroyed the spawning pool. Another marine and medic party attacked an expansion, but EffOrt defended it. EffOrt tried to be more aggressive at that point. He managed to destroy a dropship, but when Iris got his science vessels, EffOrt was forced to defend again. Iris destroyed one expansion with marines and stopped mining at another. With twice as many units, Iris took map control. After losing another expansion, EffOrt surrendered.
In the first game, Iris walled-in while EffOrt went for an expansion on 12 supply and then his spawning pool. Iris sent out a vulture, but a sunken colony kept it out of the Zerg expansion. Meanwhile, EffOrt snuck a zergling into the Terran base, through the temples. Iris built a starport and then expanded. Four vultures were dropped into the Zerg main, killing seven or eight drones. EffOrt countered by sending three lurkers towards Iris’s base, but mines killed all of them. EffOrt destroyed the temples behind the Terran base. Zerglings and lurkers streamed into the back of the base, but marines and tanks defended easily. Iris got a few valkyries out and pushed with tanks, marines, and medics. EffOrt fought back, destroying the tanks.
At that point in the game, EffOrt had maintained a relatively strong economy. Iris, however, kept up his attacks. He dropped marines at the Zerg main and destroyed the spawning pool. Another marine and medic party attacked an expansion, but EffOrt defended it. EffOrt tried to be more aggressive at that point. He managed to destroy a dropship, but when Iris got his science vessels, EffOrt was forced to defend again. Iris destroyed one expansion with marines and stopped mining at another. With twice as many units, Iris took map control. After losing another expansion, EffOrt surrendered.
Game Two SummaryShow/Hide Spoiler
Game Two: VOD | Map – God’s Garden
EffOrt started the second game the same as the first with a 12-hatch into spawning pool build, and Iris expanded after his barracks. EffOrt got a scouting drone into the Terran base. As the drone got low on health, it started an extractor to both delay Iris’s refinery and restore the drone’s health. EffOrt teched to spire before his second expansion, but Iris pushed with marines and medics before any mutalisks got out. Sunken colonies were placed at the Zerg natural in time to hold back the first Terran force with the help of mutalisks, but Iris kept sending units. A hydralisk den and hydralisks were made, but Iris built a couple bunkers and turrets and reinforced his line with siege tanks. EffOrt destroyed a couple tanks with mutalisks, but Iris’s stayed firm in his position. Lurkers were soon moved in to try and break the Terran contain, but the tanks and bunkers were too strong. As soon as Iris got science vessels, he pushed in and won the game.
EffOrt started the second game the same as the first with a 12-hatch into spawning pool build, and Iris expanded after his barracks. EffOrt got a scouting drone into the Terran base. As the drone got low on health, it started an extractor to both delay Iris’s refinery and restore the drone’s health. EffOrt teched to spire before his second expansion, but Iris pushed with marines and medics before any mutalisks got out. Sunken colonies were placed at the Zerg natural in time to hold back the first Terran force with the help of mutalisks, but Iris kept sending units. A hydralisk den and hydralisks were made, but Iris built a couple bunkers and turrets and reinforced his line with siege tanks. EffOrt destroyed a couple tanks with mutalisks, but Iris’s stayed firm in his position. Lurkers were soon moved in to try and break the Terran contain, but the tanks and bunkers were too strong. As soon as Iris got science vessels, he pushed in and won the game.
Game Three SummaryShow/Hide Spoiler
Game Three: VOD | Map – Destination
In game three, EffOrt built his spawning pool on 12 supply after his first overlord and then expanded. Iris built his barracks followed by two factories. A SCV was sent to mine out the minerals on the Zerg back ramp. Iris’s first two vultures attacked the front of the Zerg natural until EffOrt got his spire and first few mutalisks out to defend. Iris continued pumping units and moved a group of about 12 goliaths and three marines to the front of the Zerg natural. Besides some zerglings and a sunken colony, EffOrt had little defense. The zerglings and sunken colony went down quickly, and there were not enough mutalisks to keep the hatchery from being destroyed. EffOrt conceded the win to Iris.
In game three, EffOrt built his spawning pool on 12 supply after his first overlord and then expanded. Iris built his barracks followed by two factories. A SCV was sent to mine out the minerals on the Zerg back ramp. Iris’s first two vultures attacked the front of the Zerg natural until EffOrt got his spire and first few mutalisks out to defend. Iris continued pumping units and moved a group of about 12 goliaths and three marines to the front of the Zerg natural. Besides some zerglings and a sunken colony, EffOrt had little defense. The zerglings and sunken colony went down quickly, and there were not enough mutalisks to keep the hatchery from being destroyed. EffOrt conceded the win to Iris.
Game Four SummaryShow/Hide Spoiler
Iris advances.
Game Five SummaryShow/Hide Spoiler
Iris advances
_____________________________________________________________________
Predictions
Predictions
I got exactly 75% of my predictions correct for the Round of 32, and seven of my eight Ro16 predictions was correct.. I completed a bracket for the rest of the tournament a few weeks ago here.
However, the Round of 4 only has one of the players I predicted to be in it, and that is Flash. With Jaedong out, the finals match will also be different as I originally expected. Therefore, I have made new predictions for the semifinals and finals.
The right side of the bracket threw me for another loop with Iris winning against EffOrt. Stay tuned for the Finals Preview article that will be out in a couple weeks for more on my predictions for the finals.
Semifinals and Finals Predictions (made before semifinals matches)Show/Hide Spoiler
Semifinals
July < (0-3) FlashIris < (1-3) EffOrt
Finals
Flash > (3-1) EffOrt
_____________________________________________________________________
In the Next Issue…
In the Next Issue…
We have one more match before the finals. The next match will determine which player is third place in the tournament, granting him a ticket to BlizzCon, as well as who is fourth place and has to stay at home. Next week, I will have the review!
_____________________________________________________________________
Next Match
August 3, KST(GMT+9) 18:00
July vs. EffOrt
_____________________________________________________________________
Mumbo Jumbo
Next Match
August 3, KST(GMT+9) 18:00
July vs. EffOrt
_____________________________________________________________________
Mumbo Jumbo
Check out SuperDanielMan and Tasteless's talk show, Mumbo Jumbo.
The two discuss topics of interest to views of the GomTV Classic, Valor Tournament, and StarCraft players and fans in general.
_____________________________________________________________________
