Finals

By Xxio



Like any good finals, the night started with the team entrances.



A tournament consists of much more than the games that are played. The games are the meat and potatoes of it, but they do not dictate the quality of the tournament as a whole. Camera work, big name players, commentary, and overall production value play a massive role in creating a entertaining and memorable experience for the spectator. These aspects create a visceral tournament experience, even for those of us watching back at home; an atmosphere powerful enough to make you slam your desk and jump out of your seat or cover your face in disbelieving horror. As it should have, this atmosphere crescendoed throughout the GSTL and reached a climax in finals.







The GSTL finals between IM and StarTale came after four days of upsets, bad manner, and insane strategies. As we have seen in the GSL, among other StarCraft 2 tournaments, a finals can often turn out quite underwhelming. However, though it had a tough act to follow, this finals did not disappoint. Indeed, it exceeded all expectations.



The mood was set with twenty minutes of hype from coach interviews, the team entrances, and more subtle touches like the team banners hung on the walls, player profiles, and the lighting. The best, however, was the introduction video. This was the first time we've seen a high quality introduction video from GOM and judging from all of you who were active on TL, nerd chills were rampant. Throughout, Artosis and Tasteless were in top form, giving us the little details and reminding us why these finals were sure to be the best thing since sliced bread. Then the first match started between Troumen and Junwi, two old school OSL bronze medallists, on Shakuras Plateau. The best of nine was about to begin.



Troumen < Shakuras Plateau > Junwi

+ Show Spoiler + "NO Junwi, that is NOT how you stop a tank push."



Cross positions did not deter Troumen from bunker rushing, but whether this attack was genuine or just to make Junwi pull drones, the damage was negligible. Troumen hunkered down in his two bases and Junwi, as zergs often do, became a bit too comfortable. When the terran rolled out with a massive force of tank marine and siege walked up to Junwi's natural, there was nothing but zerglings and a handful of slow banelings to defend. With tank spread and attention to marine control Troumen easily defended against Junwi's banelings and won the game. It was scary how much this simple siege tank push reminded me of Brood War.



Troumen high-fives his team while a spectrum of lights flash across the studio and gives the camera a finger wag. While Artosis explained exactly and precisely how cool and punishing that timing attack was, YongHwa, all murder face, got his keyboard out and prepared to send Traumen back to his bench. Cross positions did not deter Troumen from bunker rushing, but whether this attack was genuine or just to make Junwi pull drones, the damage was negligible. Troumen hunkered down in his two bases and Junwi, as zergs often do, became a bit too comfortable. When the terran rolled out with a massive force of tank marine and siege walked up to Junwi's natural, there was nothing but zerglings and a handful of slow banelings to defend. With tank spread and attention to marine control Troumen easily defended against Junwi's banelings and won the game. It was scary how much this simple siege tank push reminded me of Brood War.Troumen high-fives his team while a spectrum of lights flash across the studio and gives the camera a finger wag. While Artosis explained exactly and precisely how cool and punishing that timing attack was, YongHwa, all murder face, got his keyboard out and prepared to send Traumen back to his bench.

Troumen < Crevasse > Yonghwa

+ Show Spoiler + "Lol don't worry Squirtle, Papa July will take care of it."



Crevasse was the map of choice for IM, a long map most welcomed by spectators and players after suffering the terrors of Steppes of War. Both players safely expanded and went through the motions of their build order without a hint of early aggression. YongHwa moved out with his first colossus and Troumen, after killing YongHwa's observer, did the same. Troumen's army looked to annihilate YongHwa but key force fields choked off Troumen's stimmed marines, letting YongHwa's colossus take some pot shots before retreating. Troumen continued to push to YongHwa's base but he overcommitted and was caught, flanked, and overwhelmed. YongHwa expanded, using dark templar and a warp prism to keep Traumen in his base. Troumen, for his part, also tried to harass but at 30 workers to YongHwa's 70 it was clear who had come out ahead. More dark templar were warped in behind the terran's mineral lines, YongHwa content to bleed his opponent to death. Troumen made a last ditch attack then left the game. Crevasse was the map of choice for IM, a long map most welcomed by spectators and players after suffering the terrors of Steppes of War. Both players safely expanded and went through the motions of their build order without a hint of early aggression. YongHwa moved out with his first colossus and Troumen, after killing YongHwa's observer, did the same. Troumen's army looked to annihilate YongHwa but key force fields choked off Troumen's stimmed marines, letting YongHwa's colossus take some pot shots before retreating. Troumen continued to push to YongHwa's base but he overcommitted and was caught, flanked, and overwhelmed. YongHwa expanded, using dark templar and a warp prism to keep Traumen in his base. Troumen, for his part, also tried to harass but at 30 workers to YongHwa's 70 it was clear who had come out ahead. More dark templar were warped in behind the terran's mineral lines, YongHwa content to bleed his opponent to death. Troumen made a last ditch attack then left the game.

Virus < Scrap Station > Yonghwa

+ Show Spoiler +

"I won with void rays! High fives!"



On Scrap Station, ST, determined to end YongHwa's run with a terran, sent out Virus. YongHwa used void rays to scout and harass, then crack Virus' defensive line and close out the game eight minutes in. YongHwas was on a roll – it was time for ST to bring out the big guns. The question was, who would the coach send out next? YongHwa was the real deal, that much was certain, so ST sent the God of War himself. Watching July get up from the bench and the crowd cheer him to the booth sent shivers down my spine. This was JulyZerg playing in a StarCraft 2 team league, and he was about to play one of IM's most dangerous protoss. On Scrap Station, ST, determined to end YongHwa's run with a terran, sent out Virus. YongHwa used void rays to scout and harass, then crack Virus' defensive line and close out the game eight minutes in. YongHwas was on a roll – it was time for ST to bring out the big guns. The question was, who would the coach send out next? YongHwa was the real deal, that much was certain, so ST sent the God of War himself. Watching July get up from the bench and the crowd cheer him to the booth sent shivers down my spine. This was JulyZerg playing in a StarCraft 2 team league, and he was about to play one of IM's most dangerous protoss.

July < Metalopolis > Yonghwa

+ Show Spoiler + "Rofl! I knew he was going to try something sneaky! I'm so good."



The game starts, cross positions on Metalopolis and the the camera cut to a shot of MVP. YongHwa techs straight to dark templar and expands while July, lair finished, fully saturates both bases. Tushin, whether by chance or because he felt that something was a bit off, morphed an overseer and left it to hover over his natural right before YongHwa warped in his dark templar. The three dark templar were caught together, surrounded by zerglings, and taken off the map. July's mutalisks popped and with tight control he skirted YongHwa's base, picking off probes. His economy devestated, YongHwa had no recourse but to all-in with five warp gates. A heavy stalker sentry army and walls of force fields threatened to break July's natural but steady reinforcements and unit control whittled down YongHwa's army until there was nothing left. July double fist-pumps and gets ready for a ZvZ versus Losira. The game starts, cross positions on Metalopolis and the the camera cut to a shot of MVP. YongHwa techs straight to dark templar and expands while July, lair finished, fully saturates both bases. Tushin, whether by chance or because he felt that something was a bit off, morphed an overseer and left it to hover over his natural right before YongHwa warped in his dark templar. The three dark templar were caught together, surrounded by zerglings, and taken off the map. July's mutalisks popped and with tight control he skirted YongHwa's base, picking off probes. His economy devestated, YongHwa had no recourse but to all-in with five warp gates. A heavy stalker sentry army and walls of force fields threatened to break July's natural but steady reinforcements and unit control whittled down YongHwa's army until there was nothing left. July double fist-pumps and gets ready for a ZvZ versus Losira.

July < Crossfire SE > Losira

+ Show Spoiler + "You see that? Yea, you're all dead. I'm not even kidding."



Jets of smoke shoot between the booths as the game loads on Crossfire SE. Losira takes his natural first while July opts for gas before pool. Baneling nest finished, July's determination to get into his opponent's main was unflinching, despite seeing a mass of roaches clogging Losira's ramp. A row of banelings attempted to break the armoured guardians, but only brought a couple down to the red. Losira counter attacked and brought IM up 3-2, two games away from first place.



July slowly packed up his keyboard, in no rush to leave the booth. Losira gave his high-fives and sauntered over to the ST bench to give them a thumbs down Caesar would have been proud of. Ok! This is a series worthy of a finals. Jets of smoke shoot between the booths as the game loads on Crossfire SE. Losira takes his natural first while July opts for gas before pool. Baneling nest finished, July's determination to get into his opponent's main was unflinching, despite seeing a mass of roaches clogging Losira's ramp. A row of banelings attempted to break the armoured guardians, but only brought a couple down to the red. Losira counter attacked and brought IM up 3-2, two games away from first place.July slowly packed up his keyboard, in no rush to leave the booth. Losira gave his high-fives and sauntered over to the ST bench to give them a thumbs down Caesar would have been proud of. Ok! This is a series worthy of a finals.

Bomber < Lost Temple SE > Losira

+ Show Spoiler + "Ace what the hell man, you didn't even do anything." "Shutup! This is my Moment!"



With five games come and gone it was time for Bomber, ST's best terran, to have his turn in the booth. Close positions on Lost Temple looked to favour the terran but a 13 gas 14 pool combined with the decision to not wall off from Bomber led to the loss of a his first two marines and a scout on his expansion build. Rather than completely wall off with a depot Bomber dared to still leave a gap guarded only by marines. Losira, of course, prepared for a baneling bust. The banelings did minimal damage but the zerlgings ended up killing quite a few scvs and Bomber's first tank. As they were retreating the zerglings could have killed off a tech lab right before stim finished but Losira decided a ceremony was in order and danced the zerglings on Bomber's ramp, leaving the tech lab burn down. The investment was not worth it however, as Bomber soon attacked with a marine siege tank push that destroyed Losira's natural and effectively ended the game. Bomber's marines danced next to a pile of dead baneling goop while we get a corner shot of ST cheering on their bench. With five games come and gone it was time for Bomber, ST's best terran, to have his turn in the booth. Close positions on Lost Temple looked to favour the terran but a 13 gas 14 pool combined with the decision to not wall off from Bomber led to the loss of a his first two marines and a scout on his expansion build. Rather than completely wall off with a depot Bomber dared to still leave a gap guarded only by marines. Losira, of course, prepared for a baneling bust. The banelings did minimal damage but the zerlgings ended up killing quite a few scvs and Bomber's first tank. As they were retreating the zerglings could have killed off a tech lab right before stim finished but Losira decided a ceremony was in order and danced the zerglings on Bomber's ramp, leaving the tech lab burn down. The investment was not worth it however, as Bomber soon attacked with a marine siege tank push that destroyed Losira's natural and effectively ended the game. Bomber's marines danced next to a pile of dead baneling goop while we get a corner shot of ST cheering on their bench.

Bomber < Tal'Darim Altar > MVP

+ Show Spoiler + "Omg his units were all like this and he almost won." "Lol...don't do that again please."



Bomber walks over the IM team with Ace who, much to the amusement of the IM players, performs his own marine dance. After that, IM really had no choice but to send MVP and put a stop to ST's ceremonies. Bomber and MVP, the best terran for each team, made for one of the best games of StarCraft 2 to date. Unsurprisingly, it was on one of the new GSL maps, Tal'Darim Altar.



Bomber showed us incredible mechanics and strategy in this game. His TvT that night was so good that he had his team cheering, IM praying, and MVP making Backho-esque sighs. Though he lost, to be able to do so well in arguably the most dynamic match up in the game – against MVP – shows that Bomber is one of the best players in the world. After having his overextended army crushed, MVP managed an epic comeback with some of the most solid defence since HongUn vs. Fruitdealer and Brood War level macro. What ultimately killed Bomber was a huge flank combined with MVP shutting down drops and overly eager infantry. When Bomber's bombardment finally slowed, MVP was left barely alive, but with enough units to K.O. the exhausted Bomber Muhammad Ali style.



MVP left his booth and began to converse with NesTea, his win over Bomber not worthy of a ceremony from a GSL champion. With Artosis hailing the match as “the greatest game ever”, who did ST have left to send out? The God of War had been defeated and MVP had slipped from the clutches of death. Undefeated in the GSTL and 12-3 in PvT in 2011, Squirtle, all-killer of fOu was about to take the stage. Bomber walks over the IM team with Ace who, much to the amusement of the IM players, performs his own marine dance. After that, IM really had no choice but to send MVP and put a stop to ST's ceremonies. Bomber and MVP, the best terran for each team, made for one of the best games of StarCraft 2 to date. Unsurprisingly, it was on one of the new GSL maps, Tal'Darim Altar.Bomber showed us incredible mechanics and strategy in this game. His TvT that night was so good that he had his team cheering, IM praying, and MVP making Backho-esque sighs. Though he lost, to be able to do so well in arguably the most dynamic match up in the game – against MVP – shows that Bomber is one of the best players in the world. After having his overextended army crushed, MVP managed an epic comeback with some of the most solid defence since HongUn vs. Fruitdealer and Brood War level macro. What ultimately killed Bomber was a huge flank combined with MVP shutting down drops and overly eager infantry. When Bomber's bombardment finally slowed, MVP was left barely alive, but with enough units to K.O. the exhausted Bomber Muhammad Ali style.MVP left his booth and began to converse with NesTea, his win over Bomber not worthy of a ceremony from a GSL champion. With Artosis hailing the match as “the greatest game ever”, who did ST have left to send out? The God of War had been defeated and MVP had slipped from the clutches of death. Undefeated in the GSTL and 12-3 in PvT in 2011, Squirtle, all-killer of fOu was about to take the stage.

Squirtle < Terminus RE > MVP

+ Show Spoiler + *Summoning Squirtle*



Squirtle opened with a fast expansion, MVP with a double fast expansion. Wary of a terran massing on 3 bases, Squirtle made the first move. With vision from a hallucinated phoenix dark templar were warped in to MVP's main. Dark templar killed a handful of scvs but more importantly, stopped mining in MVP's main for one minute and destroyed the engineering bay right before +1 attack finished. Having scouted and severely damaged MVP's economy Squirtle decided he was safe to start pumping out double upgrades and take his third.



On MVP's side of the map an armory was up and researching, but the engineering bay had not been remade and Squirtle was closing in on +2 +2. A drop from MVP sniped Squirtle's templar archives and two bought upgrades, and another a couple minutes later the twilight council and dark shrine. When MVP moved out on four bases Squirtle wisely sacrificed his fourth base while waiting for his mothership to reach his army. When it got there, Squirtle smashed through MVP, his 3-3 upgrades making all the difference for his gateway unit composition. It looked to be in the bag for Squirtle but MVP managed to scrape together enough units to hold his choke. A couple minutes later it became clear just how unbelieable MVP's macro is. With only a few patches of minerals he was able to re-secure his fourth and produce a fresh army of tanks and vikings. Far larger than the protoss army, it destroyed Squirtle's sixth base, then his army when Squirtle tried to break a deep line of siege tanks. Rather than take bases and turtle MVP tried to keep his momentum going. As soon as he entered Squirtle's side of the map however he was crushed by chargelots, immortals and storms. The army he had miracled up was dead, and so was he. Squirtle opened with a fast expansion, MVP with a double fast expansion. Wary of a terran massing on 3 bases, Squirtle made the first move. With vision from a hallucinated phoenix dark templar were warped in to MVP's main. Dark templar killed a handful of scvs but more importantly, stopped mining in MVP's main for one minute and destroyed the engineering bay right before +1 attack finished. Having scouted and severely damaged MVP's economy Squirtle decided he was safe to start pumping out double upgrades and take his third.On MVP's side of the map an armory was up and researching, but the engineering bay had not been remade and Squirtle was closing in on +2 +2. A drop from MVP sniped Squirtle's templar archives and two bought upgrades, and another a couple minutes later the twilight council and dark shrine. When MVP moved out on four bases Squirtle wisely sacrificed his fourth base while waiting for his mothership to reach his army. When it got there, Squirtle smashed through MVP, his 3-3 upgrades making all the difference for his gateway unit composition. It looked to be in the bag for Squirtle but MVP managed to scrape together enough units to hold his choke. A couple minutes later it became clear just how unbelieable MVP's macro is. With only a few patches of minerals he was able to re-secure his fourth and produce a fresh army of tanks and vikings. Far larger than the protoss army, it destroyed Squirtle's sixth base, then his army when Squirtle tried to break a deep line of siege tanks. Rather than take bases and turtle MVP tried to keep his momentum going. As soon as he entered Squirtle's side of the map however he was crushed by chargelots, immortals and storms. The army he had miracled up was dead, and so was he.

Squirtle < Xel'Naga Caverns > NesTea

+ Show Spoiler + "We did it! Woo!" "Who was that guy that did the marine dance?"



Squirtle emerged from his booth victorious. July wrapped his arms around teammates while MVP laughed off the loss, knowing who would be sent out next – NesTea, the best zerg player in the world and, as Artosis puts it, IM's most clutch player. Squirtle beat one GSL champion, but could he beat two? Game nine, the final game of this incredible night, tournament, and experience was about to begin.



Squirtle was the obvious player to send versus MVP, but his PvZ is nothing to sneeze at either. The match started on Xel'Naga Caverns and Squirtle went for a fast void ray build, NesTea gas before pool. The first void ray was easily repelled from NesTea's base but when it was joined by a group of gateway units and phoenix later on, NesTea's queens were caught and killed running back to the natural from the middle of the map and NesTea found himself backed into a corner, literally, at his natural. For a couple of seconds that is. Then the hydras popped and cleaned everything up. NesTea did not hesitate from sending a stream of hydralisks straight to Squirtle's base and ending the ninth game of the GSTL finals. Squirtle emerged from his booth victorious. July wrapped his arms around teammates while MVP laughed off the loss, knowing who would be sent out next – NesTea, the best zerg player in the world and, as Artosis puts it, IM's most clutch player. Squirtle beat one GSL champion, but could he beat two? Game nine, the final game of this incredible night, tournament, and experience was about to begin.Squirtle was the obvious player to send versus MVP, but his PvZ is nothing to sneeze at either. The match started on Xel'Naga Caverns and Squirtle went for a fast void ray build, NesTea gas before pool. The first void ray was easily repelled from NesTea's base but when it was joined by a group of gateway units and phoenix later on, NesTea's queens were caught and killed running back to the natural from the middle of the map and NesTea found himself backed into a corner, literally, at his natural. For a couple of seconds that is. Then the hydras popped and cleaned everything up. NesTea did not hesitate from sending a stream of hydralisks straight to Squirtle's base and ending the ninth game of the GSTL finals.



IM takes first place after a very close finals. Much credit is due to clutch players like YongHwa, who had previously not received fanfare or expectations.



Confetti filled the air as IM cheered, hugged, and sprayed each other with champagne in the centre of the stage. The pieces of the tournament had come together to create something great. The GOM production team and commentators prepared the stage and the players delivered an amazing, memorable night of StarCraft 2. When everything is polished and in order a tournament can be something truly special; an event you tell your non-esports friends about and reminisce over in class. The GOM studios held this event this past week. I hope to experience a GSTL again, and on a much larger scale. Finding sponsors is no easy task but I urge GOM to implement a full team league as soon as possible, even if that means spreading out the seasons of the GSL. I would also like everyone to commend GOM for stepping up the quality of their tournament coverage with, as noted at the beginning, a high quality introduction video, player profiles, a studio befitting of such amazing games, and the first map pool that facilitates entertaining games. Without these things the tournament would have been something entirely different, the quality of games not getting the attention and support they deserve. Check out the

A tournament consists of much more than the games that are played. The games are the meat and potatoes of it, but they do not dictate the quality of the tournament as a whole. Camera work, big name players, commentary, and overall production value play a massive role in creating a entertaining and memorable experience for the spectator. These aspects create a visceral tournament experience, even for those of us watching back at home; an atmosphere powerful enough to make you slam your desk and jump out of your seat or cover your face in disbelieving horror. As it should have, this atmosphere crescendoed throughout the GSTL and reached a climax in finals.The GSTL finals between IM and StarTale came after four days of upsets, bad manner, and insane strategies. As we have seen in the GSL, among other StarCraft 2 tournaments, a finals can often turn out quite underwhelming. However, though it had a tough act to follow, this finals did not disappoint. Indeed, it exceeded all expectations.The mood was set with twenty minutes of hype from coach interviews, the team entrances, and more subtle touches like the team banners hung on the walls, player profiles, and the lighting. The best, however, was the introduction video. This was the first time we've seen a high quality introduction video from GOM and judging from all of you who were active on TL, nerd chills were rampant. Throughout, Artosis and Tasteless were in top form, giving us the little details and reminding us why these finals were sure to be the best thing since sliced bread. Then the first match started between Troumen and Junwi, two old school OSL bronze medallists, on Shakuras Plateau. The best of nine was about to begin.Confetti filled the air as IM cheered, hugged, and sprayed each other with champagne in the centre of the stage. The pieces of the tournament had come together to create something great. The GOM production team and commentators prepared the stage and the players delivered an amazing, memorable night of StarCraft 2. When everything is polished and in order a tournament can be something truly special; an event you tell your non-esports friends about and reminisce over in class. The GOM studios held this event this past week. I hope to experience a GSTL again, and on a much larger scale. Finding sponsors is no easy task but I urge GOM to implement a full team league as soon as possible, even if that means spreading out the seasons of the GSL. I would also like everyone to commend GOM for stepping up the quality of their tournament coverage with, as noted at the beginning, a high quality introduction video, player profiles, a studio befitting of such amazing games, and the first map pool that facilitates entertaining games. Without these things the tournament would have been something entirely different, the quality of games not getting the attention and support they deserve. Check out the GSTL winners interview for NesTea's take on the new maps and what coach Kang thinks about the IM lineup.

For the past decade, the team league has been a celebrated tradition of Starcraft. First starting not long after the beginnings of Starleagues and becoming firmly established with the 2003 Ever Proleague , team competition takes emphasis off individual players and places it on how a practice squad as a whole can play. Motivation is given to players to perform not for their own good but for a greater goal, a shared goal where the burden is divided among housemates.More than that, it highlights the experience of the casual spectator. It turns fans of individual players into fans of teams, it turns fans of teams into fans of players as they are cultivated one by one and nurtured to maturity. Team leagues are the glue that hold together the scene in times between leagues, as well as keeps the scene moving during slow or unimportant individual league seasons.Now that proud tradition has made its way to Starcraft 2. Over the last week, GOM spent 4 days playing out a bracket style tournament of the top 8 Korean teams. Those familiar with Winner's League will recognize the format: play until you lose. Once you're in that booth, there is no leaving until you die or the other team is forced to tap out.This is what the final standings looked like when the dust settled.Of course there is more to the game that tallies and records. Each game is a story, a battle that unfolds 5 minerals at a time. No two are unique, and each is remembered for the circumstances and settings that made it unusual.The league's opening day day began with two clans with a strong Brood War lineage. Appropriately enough, the opening match ended with Squirtle being awarded the illustrious All-Kill.A beginning that might be most kindly described as inauspicious, saved mostly by the excitement a new format brings. What little was seen of the much anticipated new GSTL specific maps kept many of us interested, and while not wholly interesting yet they whet the appetite for more action.GSL, as they tend to do, didn't keep us waiting and have another round of matches with only a day's wait. This time to finish up the round of 8 on the second half of the bracket.The opening series finished and the field cut in half like so many peanut butter sandwiches, it was time to go to semifinals. Keeping up with the lightning round scheduling, they were an exact 24 hours after the previous matches finished. True to the nature of the entire event, things heated up once again and everyone kicked up their game a notch to go out there and capture a team trophy.The stage was set, the curtains drawn, and cliched idioms of all sorts ready to be unleashed. It was time for the finals.The event may have come off the gates at a snail's pace, but it more than made up for that with an extraordinary finish. The last series in this had nearly everything that Starcraft has to offer. Long games, back and forth action, () comebacks, favorites losing to newcomers, and it the outcome was in question until the very last game.Heres to team leagues, may they blossom into a bountiful field where all fans can reap the rewards. May we get more historic all-kills