Road to BlizzCon #9 - SKT.Classic - WCS 2015 Text by TL.net ESPORTS Graphics by shiroiusagi, dravernor Story

Player Spotlight

Analysis The Road to Blizzcon - Ch IX - Classic







Chapter IX SKT's Finest by lichter







"Hey, I'm talkin' here," Lady Hyeongyeong demanded. Hyeongyeong giggled at her own reference, but Classic remained inattentive. The lady leered into the vacant parks of her date's eyes, shook her head and muttered, "not again." This was a common occurrence even though Classic had made an effort to let her see into his private world.



"Do you wanna talk about it?"



Hyeongyeong reached across the table gently, hovering with hesitation over Classic's hand, but he was still trapped in the courts of his mind. The lady sighed, balled her hand into a fist, and adjourned Classic's day dream with a pound of her mallet. That was finally enough to wake him, and he clawed at his eyes before mumbling, "Yeah, yeah okay."



It had been another challenging day for Classic even though all he had had on his agenda were two meetings. By noon, he had faced the Protoss Council, where the men from Aiur debated herO's status as their leader. Classic had developed a quiet resentment for his superior, believing that the Entus man had been unfit to lead for months. They had traded barbs and insults, but the outcome was, as usual, zero change. While no one had been able to displace herO, Classic knew that he was a worthy replacement. He was the last Protoss to govern the capital, and he had gone the furthest during last year's rebellion. And yet, because of his normally sheepish personality, they had forgotten all about him.



After a slow lunch, Classic then had to meet with his clan. INnoVation had been demoted after his nervous breakdown against TaeJa, and yet the Protoss general had never been considered to succeed him. Instead, SKT had sent Dream to face Life in Spostalea, while Classic watched on from the rearguard. They had convened that day to discuss their options after Dream's fall into a coma, but the discussion followed the same patterns. Elder Oov had named Dark and soO, but what had they accomplished that was greater than Classic's own achievements? soO had just come back from a lengthy vacation while Dark had only shown promise in short skirmishes. It was only when the team had no choice left that they nominated Classic as their acting Chief-of-Staff. "Acting", as if it were not natural to him. He was the strongest Protoss in the world to date, and only two people believed it.



After hearing about Classic's day, Hyeongyeong grew more worried. The pressures of greatness had visibly taken their toll on her man, and she was not about to lose another.



"Dear, you don't have to be the most powerful man in the world to make me proud. I know my father would say the same too," Hyeongyeong encouraged.



"Yes, I know, but the only way we can bring him back from exile is if—"



"—I want him back more than you can ever imagine, but not at the cost of your sanity." Hyeongyeong forced her brows to meet and pressed her teeth together which flared her cheeks. Classic wanted to give Hyeongyeong everything, but understood that it would amount to nothing if he lost her.



"You're right," Classic admitted, "what would I do without you?"



The lady's expression lightened. "You'd probably choke on a bagel 5 minutes after I leave," she quipped. The pair shared a long, tender laugh—the first on what had seemed like another terrible date.



The waiter arrived, interrupting their moment, "Would you care for some dessert?"



Hyeongyeong looked at Classic. Classic stared back at Hyeongyeong.



"Chocolate mousse?" The lady tilted her head, half certain.



Classic nodded. It was his favorite cake.



"Chocolate mousse it is."









The next day, Classic returned to work with a lot on his mind as usual. His morning coffee had no punch and his favorite bakeshop had given him a plain donut as opposed to a chocolate one. His misspelled mug—Seriously, where did my assistant even buy this brownnoser? I'd like him better if he made better coffee—stared at him ironically. The stale breakfast made him reconsider his patronage—how many years had he been buying the same thing from them every morning? And how often did they get it wrong?—and his attention wandered again. It took several seconds for him to notice his phone ringing.



"Yes? I told you never to bother me while I'm having breakfast."



"Sir, it's Dream. He's awake."



Classic's eyes lit up. Was this opportunity knocking? He raced to the clinic built into SKT's enormous grounds, donut in hand, taking a final bite just as he reached the emergency room doors. The nurses saw his rank on his shoulders and led him straight to Dream's room, where he entered after a polite knock.



"Oh, Classic-hyung. You're the first person to visit." Dream was glad to see a familiar face.



Classic was still busy chewing on his snack and ejected some crumbs as he tried to speak. Even with his quick reflexes, he was unable to cover his mouth in time, eliciting Dream's first laugh with his lack of poise.



"Wow, you came here in the middle of your breakfast? Nice." Dream grabbed a glass of water on his bedside table and handed it to his friend. After a big gulp, Classic could finally say hello.



"I'm glad you're awake, kid. I heard it was quite the battle."



"It was. I don't think I've ever been in anything like it. It was intense!" Dream beamed. He recalled the details of the fight and kept Classic glued to his place. The young man didn't exactly have the best vocabulary but he made up for it with animated gestures. He waved his arms around and mimicked units with his fingers. Flesh clapped, sounds effects echoed, and the story ended.



"... then BOOM. We both died."



"Wait wait. Just like that," Classic probed.



"Yeah. I was dying. I didn't exactly have time to remember everything. I think I won though. At least I'll count it as a victory," Dream concluded.



"That's not a bad policy, actually. Do you know what happened to Life after the battle?"



"No, I've no idea. But the last thing I remember, he dropped the king's scepter while we fought in Browder Valley. I'm sure Life is going to try and retrieve it. I have to get back out there."



"You aren't in any condition to fight yet," the older Protoss recommended, "I'm sure we can send someone else. Maybe I can go."



"What? No! I beat him the last time, I know I can do it again. The scepter should have been mine. You won't stand a chance again him," Dream assured. It appeared as though nothing could stop him, but he had inadvertently disrespected Classic. The last few days weighed on his mind; he had grown tired of being belittled. Classic couldn't take anymore, and even though Dream may not have meant it, his remark just there was too much.



Only Dream and Life know where the scepter could be. Now I know too. If I can keep his mouth shut...



Wait, what am I thinking? I can't! Dream's a friend and a colleague. We can decide who's going to search for it like adults.



But he ridiculed me just now. No one thinks I'm good enough. This is my chance to show them.



I don't want to hurt Dream. But Hyeongyeong...



"Dangit, where'd I put my gum," Dream blurted out. It snapped Classic back to reality, and his quick thinking did the rest.



"Oh, I think I saw some on the desk over there."



Classic walked over to the medicine table and simulated inspection. After checking for witnesses, he revealed a vial of vespene gas. While the gas was lethal during prolonged exposure, in small doses it had the ability to knock one out for days, even weeks with a strong dosage, all without side effects. It quickly dissipated and left no trace; not to mention it was extremely common and easy to purchase.



"Huh, I could have sworn I saw a pack here on my way in..."



Classic unwrapped a stick and laced it with his poison before carefully repackaging his duplicitous gift.



"Aha, here it is. Here you go bud."



Classic handed over the slice of gum and Dream peeled away the cover. Weeks asleep had left him eager for his cherished treat and he had failed to notice the slight tint of green. The Protoss general's pulse quickened with each gnash of Dream's teeth, and his feet twitched with excitement to leave. The space between each bite grew longer.



"This gum.. tastes kinda.. weird. What flavor is... it...—?"



Dream's head dropped and he was out. His body slanted to the side and nearly cannonballed off the bed, but Classic was there to catch him. He lifted his friend back up and laid him carefully into a comfortable position. The backstabber was consoled by the sound of snoring, and he reached into Dream's mouth to retrieve the toxic treat. With nowhere else to put it, he had no choice but to stuff it in his pocket after a silent, "Ewww, gross."



"I know you'll never forgive me, so it's good I don't plan on apologizing. This is something I have to do."



Classic felt no guilt anymore, no shame, no doubt. While he valued his friendship with Dream, he had grown tired of being treated as a secondary character. The scepter could change everything for him, and this was his one opportunity to earn undeniable respect and the power to change lives. If he had to be labeled a traitor, then so be it.



Traitor.



It didn't sound as bad as he thought it would. He walked out of Dream's room in a feigned panic and informed the nurses of his little brother's blackout. As the team doctors flooded bedside, hopefully to find nothing, Classic strolled out of the hospital with an unmistakable swagger. He had been the strongest man in the world longer than anyone had wanted to admit. And now he was putting it all on the line to prove it.



"I'll make you proud."







He stared into the space behind her as if she were invisible. His sight penetrated the brick walls, zoomed past the garden and spread out into the streets. Somewhere towards the vacant city parks, Classic lost track of his thoughts."Hey, I'm talkin' here," Lady Hyeongyeong demanded. Hyeongyeong giggled at her own reference, but Classic remained inattentive. The lady leered into the vacant parks of her date's eyes, shook her head and muttered, "not again." This was a common occurrence even though Classic had made an effort to let her see into his private world."Do you wanna talk about it?"Hyeongyeong reached across the table gently, hovering with hesitation over Classic's hand, but he was still trapped in the courts of his mind. The lady sighed, balled her hand into a fist, and adjourned Classic's day dream with a pound of her mallet. That was finally enough to wake him, and he clawed at his eyes before mumbling, "Yeah, yeah okay."It had been another challenging day for Classic even though all he had had on his agenda were two meetings. By noon, he had faced the Protoss Council, where the men from Aiur debated herO's status as their leader. Classic had developed a quiet resentment for his superior, believing that the Entus man had been unfit to lead for months. They had traded barbs and insults, but the outcome was, as usual, zero change. While no one had been able to displace herO, Classic knew that he was a worthy replacement. He was the last Protoss to govern the capital, and he had gone the furthest during last year's rebellion. And yet, because of his normally sheepish personality, they had forgotten all about him.After a slow lunch, Classic then had to meet with his clan. INnoVation had been demoted after his nervous breakdown against TaeJa, and yet the Protoss general had never been considered to succeed him. Instead, SKT had sent Dream to face Life in Spostalea, while Classic watched on from the rearguard. They had convened that day to discuss their options after Dream's fall into a coma, but the discussion followed the same patterns. Elder Oov had named Dark and soO, but what had they accomplished that was greater than Classic's own achievements? soO had just come back from a lengthy vacation while Dark had only shown promise in short skirmishes. It was only when the team had no choice left that they nominated Classic as their acting Chief-of-Staff. "Acting", as if it were not natural to him. He was the strongest Protoss in the world to date, and only two people believed it.After hearing about Classic's day, Hyeongyeong grew more worried. The pressures of greatness had visibly taken their toll on her man, and she was not about to lose another."Dear, you don't have to be the most powerful man in the world to make me proud. I know my father would say the same too," Hyeongyeong encouraged."Yes, I know, but the only way we can bring him back from exile is if—""—I want him back more than you can ever imagine, but not at the cost of your sanity." Hyeongyeong forced her brows to meet and pressed her teeth together which flared her cheeks. Classic wanted to give Hyeongyeong everything, but understood that it would amount to nothing if he lost her."You're right," Classic admitted, "what would I do without you?"The lady's expression lightened. "You'd probably choke on a bagel 5 minutes after I leave," she quipped. The pair shared a long, tender laugh—the first on what had seemed like another terrible date.The waiter arrived, interrupting their moment, "Would you care for some dessert?"Hyeongyeong looked at Classic. Classic stared back at Hyeongyeong."Chocolate mousse?" The lady tilted her head, half certain.Classic nodded. It was his favorite cake."Chocolate mousse it is."The next day, Classic returned to work with a lot on his mind as usual. His morning coffee had no punch and his favorite bakeshop had given him a plain donut as opposed to a chocolate one. His misspelled mug——stared at him ironically. The stale breakfast made him reconsider his patronage—how many years had he been buying the same thing from them every morning? And how often did they get it wrong?—and his attention wandered again. It took several seconds for him to notice his phone ringing."Yes? I told you never to bother me while I'm having breakfast.""Sir, it's Dream. He's awake."Classic's eyes lit up. Was this opportunity knocking? He raced to the clinic built into SKT's enormous grounds, donut in hand, taking a final bite just as he reached the emergency room doors. The nurses saw his rank on his shoulders and led him straight to Dream's room, where he entered after a polite knock."Oh, Classic-hyung. You're the first person to visit." Dream was glad to see a familiar face.Classic was still busy chewing on his snack and ejected some crumbs as he tried to speak. Even with his quick reflexes, he was unable to cover his mouth in time, eliciting Dream's first laugh with his lack of poise."Wow, you came here in the middle of your breakfast? Nice." Dream grabbed a glass of water on his bedside table and handed it to his friend. After a big gulp, Classic could finally say hello."I'm glad you're awake, kid. I heard it was quite the battle.""It was. I don't think I've ever been in anything like it. It was intense!" Dream beamed. He recalled the details of the fight and kept Classic glued to his place. The young man didn't exactly have the best vocabulary but he made up for it with animated gestures. He waved his arms around and mimicked units with his fingers. Flesh clapped, sounds effects echoed, and the story ended."... then BOOM. We both died.""Wait wait. Just like that," Classic probed."Yeah. I was dying. I didn't exactly have time to remember everything. I think I won though. At least I'll count it as a victory," Dream concluded."That's not a bad policy, actually. Do you know what happened to Life after the battle?""No, I've no idea. But the last thing I remember, he dropped the king's scepter while we fought in Browder Valley. I'm sure Life is going to try and retrieve it. I have to get back out there.""You aren't in any condition to fight yet," the older Protoss recommended, "I'm sure we can send someone else. Maybe I can go.""What? No! I beat him the last time, I know I can do it again. The scepter should have been mine. You won't stand a chance again him," Dream assured. It appeared as though nothing could stop him, but he had inadvertently disrespected Classic. The last few days weighed on his mind; he had grown tired of being belittled. Classic couldn't take anymore, and even though Dream may not have meant it, his remark just there was too much."Dangit, where'd I put my gum," Dream blurted out. It snapped Classic back to reality, and his quick thinking did the rest."Oh, I think I saw some on the desk over there."Classic walked over to the medicine table and simulated inspection. After checking for witnesses, he revealed a vial of vespene gas. While the gas was lethal during prolonged exposure, in small doses it had the ability to knock one out for days, even weeks with a strong dosage, all without side effects. It quickly dissipated and left no trace; not to mention it was extremely common and easy to purchase."Huh, I could have sworn I saw a pack here on my way in..."Classic unwrapped a stick and laced it with his poison before carefully repackaging his duplicitous gift."Aha, here it is. Here you go bud."Classic handed over the slice of gum and Dream peeled away the cover. Weeks asleep had left him eager for his cherished treat and he had failed to notice the slight tint of green. The Protoss general's pulse quickened with each gnash of Dream's teeth, and his feet twitched with excitement to leave. The space between each bite grew longer."This gum.. tastes kinda.. weird. What flavor is... it...—?"Dream's head dropped and he was out. His body slanted to the side and nearly cannonballed off the bed, but Classic was there to catch him. He lifted his friend back up and laid him carefully into a comfortable position. The backstabber was consoled by the sound of snoring, and he reached into Dream's mouth to retrieve the toxic treat. With nowhere else to put it, he had no choice but to stuff it in his pocket after a silent, "Ewww, gross.""I know you'll never forgive me, so it's good I don't plan on apologizing. This is something I have to do."Classic felt no guilt anymore, no shame, no doubt. While he valued his friendship with Dream, he had grown tired of being treated as a secondary character. The scepter could change everything for him, and this was his one opportunity to earn undeniable respect and the power to change lives. If he had to be labeled a traitor, then so be it.It didn't sound as bad as he thought it would. He walked out of Dream's room in a feigned panic and informed the nurses of his little brother's blackout. As the team doctors flooded bedside, hopefully to find nothing, Classic strolled out of the hospital with an unmistakable swagger. He had been the strongest man in the world longer than anyone had wanted to admit. And now he was putting it all on the line to prove it."I'll make you proud."





Stats are from Aligulac.com







While Classic’s PvZ has always been strong, a large part of his success during the year has been due to the elevation of all three matchups to championship quality. From March to August, Classic hit 70% win rates in all three matchups, and while 60+% win rates across the board during 2015 as a whole are slightly more modest, they still add further credence to the claim that he’s been the most versatile player in Korea for the year. That’s made him a key asset to SKT’s successful Proleague campaign (15-8 during the year), and the fact that his team has sent him out in the crucial #6 position in the Grand Finals for two years running hints at their appreciation of his importance.



Last year, Classic came to BlizzCon as the forgotten champion; the race switcher who lucked into the greatest streak of protoss dominance over the course of Starcraft 2. That he left with a creditable top four finish, after eliminating fan favourites Polt and herO, barely seemed to matter. This year, though, he returns having registered his most successful year of Starcraft to date, and whether he crashes out in flames or blazes a path to the trophy, no one’s likely to make the same mistake again.



WCS Points:





Top 5 Games







1. Classic vs Life, SPL 2015 Round 1 - Deadwing

After being written off last year as a player who somehow lucked into winning the most prestigious Starcraft 2 title of them all, Classic’s opening Proleague game of 2015 was a swift answer to his critics. His multitasking ability proved crucial as he defended flawlessly, while simultaneously harassing on two fronts with blink stalkers and warp prism drops, before building a big enough army to steamroll his way through the rest of the zerg defense.









2. Classic vs ByuL, SSL 2015 Season 2 - Vaani Research Station

This game that played out in the SSL Round of 8 is plenty proof for why Classic is one of the most dangerous players in the game. On one end of the scale you have INnoVation and Flash—players insistent on sticking to their personal gameplans—while on the other you get Classic and sOs—players who are perfectly capable of swapping things up on the fly. On scouting ByuL’s greedy expansion to the gold (and lack of defensive sporecrawler), Classic’s double oracle riposte shredded the economic lead gained by the zerg. Swapping into phoenixes and blink stalkers to counter the scouted spire tech left ByuL in an unwinnable position.



(EN VOD. Note: First few minutes are muted; VOD is missing the last couple minutes of gameplay)

(CN VOD)



3. Classic vs INnoVation, Leifeng Monthly 3 – Coda

From its simple origin as an online tournament designed to give the Chinese scene exposure against Korean players, the Leifeng Cup has evolved into one of the major players in the burgeoning online Korean scene. For their third monthly cup, they truly exceeded all expectations, bringing together arguably the









4. Classic vs PartinG, IEM Shenzhen 2015 - Coda

Earlier in the year, PartinG doled out a severe beatdown on his ex-teammate at IEM Taipei; this time round it was Classic’s turn to return the favour. Behind in game 3 after PartinG’s phoenixes shut down his proxy oracle opener, he slowly clawed his way back with superior multitasking and mobility due to his pack of stalkers. Sniping PartinG’s robotics facility and third base bought him enough time to grab an advantage in colossus count, and a decisive push sealed the deal.









5. Classic vs Maru, GSL 2015 Season 3– Terraform

Classic’s play during this game is more evidence for why he should be considered one of the finest protoss in the game’s history. Maru’s shown this year that he can take advantage of the slightest flaw in the protoss defensive line, but time and again Classic beat him back, splitting his army across his bases to handle everything the Jin Air terran could throw at him.



Coming into 2015, it was hard to find a GSL champion who had been mocked quite as much as Classic. His rise during the Protoss Blink Era of early 2014, and subsequent crash in the following season, had left many doubtful of his championship credentials, decrying him as a mere patchtoss hanging onto the coattails of superior players. His renaissance has therefore been one of the most engaging stories of the year. He picked up the trophy at IEM Shenzhen, easily fending off PartinG and herO along the way, while a second individual league title for SSL Season 2 banished any speculation of one-off success.While Classic’s PvZ has always been strong, a large part of his success during the year has been due to the elevation of all three matchups to championship quality. From March to August, Classic hit 70% win rates in all three matchups, and while 60+% win rates across the board during 2015 as a whole are slightly more modest, they still add further credence to the claim that he’s been the most versatile player in Korea for the year. That’s made him a key asset to SKT’s successful Proleague campaign (15-8 during the year), and the fact that his team has sent him out in the crucial #6 position in the Grand Finals for two years running hints at their appreciation of his importance.Last year, Classic came to BlizzCon as the forgotten champion; the race switcher who lucked into the greatest streak of protoss dominance over the course of Starcraft 2. That he left with a creditable top four finish, after eliminating fan favourites Polt and herO, barely seemed to matter. This year, though, he returns having registered his most successful year of Starcraft to date, and whether he crashes out in flames or blazes a path to the trophy, no one’s likely to make the same mistake again.After being written off last year as a player who somehow lucked into winning the most prestigious Starcraft 2 title of them all, Classic’s opening Proleague game of 2015 was a swift answer to his critics. His multitasking ability proved crucial as he defended flawlessly, while simultaneously harassing on two fronts with blink stalkers and warp prism drops, before building a big enough army to steamroll his way through the rest of the zerg defense.This game that played out in the SSL Round of 8 is plenty proof for why Classic is one of the most dangerous players in the game. On one end of the scale you have INnoVation and Flash—players insistent on sticking to their personal gameplans—while on the other you get Classic and sOs—players who are perfectly capable of swapping things up on the fly. On scouting ByuL’s greedy expansion to the gold (and lack of defensive sporecrawler), Classic’s double oracle riposte shredded the economic lead gained by the zerg. Swapping into phoenixes and blink stalkers to counter the scouted spire tech left ByuL in an unwinnable position. http://www.twitch.tv/esportshtv/v/6972773 (EN VOD. Note: First few minutes are muted; VOD is missing the last couple minutes of gameplay)(CN VOD)From its simple origin as an online tournament designed to give the Chinese scene exposure against Korean players, the Leifeng Cup has evolved into one of the major players in the burgeoning online Korean scene. For their third monthly cup, they truly exceeded all expectations, bringing together arguably the greatest array of talents ever assembled for an online tournament (all 8 KeSPA teams represented, with SKT, CJ, Jin Air, SBENU and MVP essentially sending their entire rosters) for the best double elimination bracket seen since the days of IPL 5. Unfortunately, most of it was not broadcast; luckily for us, though, this gem of a match was. It saw a rare example of INnoVation teching to ghosts (more reason for his fans to facepalm on seeing him produce his famous ‘SCV pull into lose’ move again and again), while Classic produced more of the quality late game protoss play he’s been showing all year long. The two traded blow for blow for 30 minutes before a sneaky templar flank swung the game inexorably in the favour of the protoss player.Earlier in the year, PartinG doled out a severe beatdown on his ex-teammate at IEM Taipei; this time round it was Classic’s turn to return the favour. Behind in game 3 after PartinG’s phoenixes shut down his proxy oracle opener, he slowly clawed his way back with superior multitasking and mobility due to his pack of stalkers. Sniping PartinG’s robotics facility and third base bought him enough time to grab an advantage in colossus count, and a decisive push sealed the deal.Classic’s play during this game is more evidence for why he should be considered one of the finest protoss in the game’s history. Maru’s shown this year that he can take advantage of the slightest flaw in the protoss defensive line, but time and again Classic beat him back, splitting his army across his bases to handle everything the Jin Air terran could throw at him.

Classic vs Life

SPL 2015 Season 1 - Deadwing

by: Jehak



This Proleague game opened up with Life spawning in the bottom right of Deadwing and Classic in the top right. Classic opted for a nexus first into an early third. On the other side of the map, Life also chose macro play with 3 hatch before pool. Scouting the protoss build with his initial zerglings, Life got very close to erasing Classic’s first sentry, but didn’t manage to do so. Ensuring that the ramp to the third was safe via an early sentry and a 2 gateway, 1 forge wall, Classic then warped in more sentries and made sure that the early aggression from Life would have no effect on his build. Speaking of aggression, Life was out for blood, and not grabbing that initial sentry had made it even worse. He invested in an extra round of zerglings, which accomplished nothing. He finished speed and sniped a pylon before trying to enter Classic’s base, but it didn’t work. Classic was prepared enough with sentries and a mothership core.









Stopping that attack, Classic threw down his robotics facility, started his first attack upgrade and added 4 more gateways for a timing attack on Life’s third. Classic then accumulated an army of stalkers and a warp prism for his push. He marched his army of stalkers and sentries across the map to attack Life’s third base while simultaneously hitting Life’s main with zealots via wap prism. However, Life saw the attack coming and instead of trying to engage the protoss army with a small amount of roaches and zerglings, he instead opted for the counterattack and tried to force his way past Classic’s wall. Fearing the loss of all his workers, Classic sniped the oddly placed infestation pit in Life’s third and immediately recalled his main army back into his third base. At this point, Life had already broken through Classic’s wall and managed to fend off the zealot threat back at home and burrowed his roaches underneath Classic’s natural mineral line.









Classic then did what he does best: play standard. He quickly acquired a twilight council and finished up a robotics facility so that he could research blink and get colossus as quickly as possible. He did this while using his warp prism constantly to do some small harass on Life’s mineral lines and keep his opponent in check. Before his first colossus had finished, Classic once again moved his main army out on the map to do some damage to Life’s third. Life responded in the exact same fashion as last time. Life counter attacked Classic’s third but was met with a much harder resistance via forcefields and 2 colossi. Life managed to break through and take down a single colossus along with workers in the main and natural, but in doing so, sacrificed his third base to Classic’s main army.



Classic’s army in Life’s dead third base did not leave however and tried to move down into Life’s fourth base to do some extra damage. Life once again opted for the counterattack as he sent most of his newly built army into Classic’s third, which was now populated by colossus and stalkers, resulting in a hasty retreat for Life. Luckily for the zerg, his first round of three swarm hosts popped just in time for base defense which killed four sentries and forced a recall back to the protoss third. Being significantly behind, Life prodded Classic’s third base one more time to try and do some damage with his roaches but with Classic’s army all grouped up in his base, he simply couldn’t do any more and had to retreat.



At that point, the counter attacks began to slow down and the big armies started to come out. Classic already had 5 colossi and a troop of blink stalkers which directly countered Life’s mass swarm hosts and roaches. Knowing this, Classic moved his main army out to contest map control and remove some creep in the process. Life used this opportunity to intercept the supply line of Classic’s army and snagged two colossi while the main army was out of position. These colossi did not fall for free however, as Classic managed to take down Life’s unguarded fourth base using his warp prism.









With all of these favorable trades and growth simply not being stunted, Classic had a window to win the game with his maxed out army of stalkers, high templar, sentries and colossi. Life knew for sure that he could not contest map control and that he could not win the game with his composition, so tried to buy some extra time by harassing Classic’s fourth base while the army was out of position. There was simply not enough time as Classic turned his army around to deal with this minor threat and then restarted his march to Life’s base.



Classic began to clear all of Life’s creep while eviscerating all of the locusts that tried to stand in his way. Life desperately pulled some of the colossi into danger’s way with the few vipers he managed to build but with the sheer amount of protoss army, combined with the templars’ storm and feedback all over the zerg army, Life only managed to chop down two colossi. Going in for the kill, Classic forced his army past the last of Life’s roaches, destroyed the fourth base and forced the swarm hosts to reposition into the third base while detonating Life's Hive in the process. The KT zerg was down for the count and all Classic had to do was A-move his deathball to wring the "gg" out of his opponent.









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This Proleague game opened up with Life spawning in the bottom right of Deadwing and Classic in the top right. Classic opted for a nexus first into an early third. On the other side of the map, Life also chose macro play with 3 hatch before pool. Scouting the protoss build with his initial zerglings, Life got very close to erasing Classic’s first sentry, but didn’t manage to do so. Ensuring that the ramp to the third was safe via an early sentry and a 2 gateway, 1 forge wall, Classic then warped in more sentries and made sure that the early aggression from Life would have no effect on his build. Speaking of aggression, Life was out for blood, and not grabbing that initial sentry had made it even worse. He invested in an extra round of zerglings, which accomplished nothing. He finished speed and sniped a pylon before trying to enter Classic’s base, but it didn’t work. Classic was prepared enough with sentries and a mothership core.Stopping that attack, Classic threw down his robotics facility, started his first attack upgrade and added 4 more gateways for a timing attack on Life’s third. Classic then accumulated an army of stalkers and a warp prism for his push. He marched his army of stalkers and sentries across the map to attack Life’s third base while simultaneously hitting Life’s main with zealots via wap prism. However, Life saw the attack coming and instead of trying to engage the protoss army with a small amount of roaches and zerglings, he instead opted for the counterattack and tried to force his way past Classic’s wall. Fearing the loss of all his workers, Classic sniped the oddly placed infestation pit in Life’s third and immediately recalled his main army back into his third base. At this point, Life had already broken through Classic’s wall and managed to fend off the zealot threat back at home and burrowed his roaches underneath Classic’s natural mineral line.Classic then did what he does best: play standard. He quickly acquired a twilight council and finished up a robotics facility so that he could research blink and get colossus as quickly as possible. He did this while using his warp prism constantly to do some small harass on Life’s mineral lines and keep his opponent in check. Before his first colossus had finished, Classic once again moved his main army out on the map to do some damage to Life’s third. Life responded in the exact same fashion as last time. Life counter attacked Classic’s third but was met with a much harder resistance via forcefields and 2 colossi. Life managed to break through and take down a single colossus along with workers in the main and natural, but in doing so, sacrificed his third base to Classic’s main army.Classic’s army in Life’s dead third base did not leave however and tried to move down into Life’s fourth base to do some extra damage. Life once again opted for the counterattack as he sent most of his newly built army into Classic’s third, which was now populated by colossus and stalkers, resulting in a hasty retreat for Life. Luckily for the zerg, his first round of three swarm hosts popped just in time for base defense which killed four sentries and forced a recall back to the protoss third. Being significantly behind, Life prodded Classic’s third base one more time to try and do some damage with his roaches but with Classic’s army all grouped up in his base, he simply couldn’t do any more and had to retreat.At that point, the counter attacks began to slow down and the big armies started to come out. Classic already had 5 colossi and a troop of blink stalkers which directly countered Life’s mass swarm hosts and roaches. Knowing this, Classic moved his main army out to contest map control and remove some creep in the process. Life used this opportunity to intercept the supply line of Classic’s army and snagged two colossi while the main army was out of position. These colossi did not fall for free however, as Classic managed to take down Life’s unguarded fourth base using his warp prism.With all of these favorable trades and growth simply not being stunted, Classic had a window to win the game with his maxed out army of stalkers, high templar, sentries and colossi. Life knew for sure that he could not contest map control and that he could not win the game with his composition, so tried to buy some extra time by harassing Classic’s fourth base while the army was out of position. There was simply not enough time as Classic turned his army around to deal with this minor threat and then restarted his march to Life’s base.Classic began to clear all of Life’s creep while eviscerating all of the locusts that tried to stand in his way. Life desperately pulled some of the colossi into danger’s way with the few vipers he managed to build but with the sheer amount of protoss army, combined with the templars’ storm and feedback all over the zerg army, Life only managed to chop down two colossi. Going in for the kill, Classic forced his army past the last of Life’s roaches, destroyed the fourth base and forced the swarm hosts to reposition into the third base while detonating Life's Hive in the process. The KT zerg was down for the count and all Classic had to do was A-move his deathball to wring the "gg" out of his opponent.













