[GSL] Liquid`HuK - Up/Down Match Foreigner Special Text by Hot_Bid

GSL Up/Down Match Foreigner Special: Liquid`HuK

By Hot_Bid





Liquid`HuK = Red | oGsInCa = Blue



P7 Game 1 - Shakuras Plateau Game 1 - Shakuras Plateau P11

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Down probes (28-21), Huk transitions into blink while Inca gets immortals and techs to colossus. Huk is unable to do much damage with blink as the immortals easily defend Inca's ramp. Huk puts down an expansion but Inca's observer sees the timing and moves out, arriving right as Huk's nexus finishes.



The first major battle is very one sided in Inca's favor. Huk snipes down one colossus but the rest of Inca's army easily rolls him over. [12:15]









Huk opens four gate while Inca opens 3-gate robo. Inca wins the critical first battle, stalker/zealot vs stalker/zealot, killing Huk's probe that was going to place a forward pylon.Down probes (28-21), Huk transitions into blink while Inca gets immortals and techs to colossus. Huk is unable to do much damage with blink as the immortals easily defend Inca's ramp. Huk puts down an expansion but Inca's observer sees the timing and moves out, arriving right as Huk's nexus finishes.The first major battle is very one sided in Inca's favor. Huk snipes down one colossus but the rest of Inca's army easily rolls him over. [12:15]

P5 Game 2 - Tal'Darim Altar Game 2 - Tal'Darim Altar P7

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Inca moves up with Stalker zealot and Huk's initial forcefields are a bit off, and Inca pushes into Huk's main. Inca has the better army composition as Huk's sentries are a liability in battle once their forcefields are cast. The micro battle goes on for a minute or two but Huk is unable to fend off the attack and GGs. [08:55]









Both players go four warpgate. Inca opts for more stalker/zealot, while Huk gets a few sentries and second gas. Both players attempt to forward pylon but their first pylons are scouted and eliminated.Inca moves up with Stalker zealot and Huk's initial forcefields are a bit off, and Inca pushes into Huk's main. Inca has the better army composition as Huk's sentries are a liability in battle once their forcefields are cast. The micro battle goes on for a minute or two but Huk is unable to fend off the attack and GGs. [08:55]





Liquid`HuK = Red | choyafOu = Blue



P6 Game 1 - Terminus RE Game 1 - Terminus RE P3

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Choya sees no robo and makes a DT shrine, and Huk smartly makes a robotics. But Choya blinks one stalker in an sees it, cancels his DT shrine, and expands and gets zealot charge instead. Huk sees this with an observer and makes a DT shrine himself.



Choya has a larger army but no detection, and Huk's two DTs kill every probe in Choya's main and expansion. Choya counters with his army but Huk warps in a few DTs for defense and wins the game. [14:45]









Both players open four warpgate blink. Choya makes a nexus, but after Huk scouts it, Choya cancels the nexus. When Huk moves to attack, Choya sends in a zealot from a proxy pylon and gets a few probe kills.Choya sees no robo and makes a DT shrine, and Huk smartly makes a robotics. But Choya blinks one stalker in an sees it, cancels his DT shrine, and expands and gets zealot charge instead. Huk sees this with an observer and makes a DT shrine himself.Choya has a larger army but no detection, and Huk's two DTs kill every probe in Choya's main and expansion. Choya counters with his army but Huk warps in a few DTs for defense and wins the game. [14:45]

P12 Game 2 - Scrap Station Game 2 - Scrap Station P2

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Choya moves in, but Huk's blink completes in time and he defends with some nice blink micro. However, Choya warps in a round of zealots when Huk only had stalkers, and the better army composition allows Choya to bust through Huk's ramp and take the win. [09:50]









Both players open four warpgate, as Scrap's wide ramp makes it difficult to block with forcefields. Huk adds a twilight council for blink, while Choya continues to warp in units and break down the center rocks.Choya moves in, but Huk's blink completes in time and he defends with some nice blink micro. However, Choya warps in a round of zealots when Huk only had stalkers, and the better army composition allows Choya to bust through Huk's ramp and take the win. [09:50]

P7 Game 3 - Xel'Naga Caverns Game 3 - Xel'Naga Caverns P11

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At Choya's base, he moves out with his first few stalkers and attempts to snipe Huk's forward pylon, but Huk quickly warps in some zealots and blocks Choya's retreat path with his own stalkers. Choya has four stalkers trapped outside his main, and when Huk moves up Choya's ramp, Choya's zealots and stalkers are separated, costing him the battle and the series. [08:10]









Both players open four warp gates. An interesting situation occurs, where each player's initial zealot/stalker bypass each other using the different paths on Xel'Naga. Huk retreats, but Choya advances into Huk's main, and eventually loses a zealot.At Choya's base, he moves out with his first few stalkers and attempts to snipe Huk's forward pylon, but Huk quickly warps in some zealots and blocks Choya's retreat path with his own stalkers. Choya has four stalkers trapped outside his main, and when Huk moves up Choya's ramp, Choya's zealots and stalkers are separated, costing him the battle and the series. [08:10]





TLAF-Liquid`HuK Post Game Interview





Image courtesy of PlayXP



Congratulations on making Code S. How did you feel after your Game 3 win versus Choya?



Relieved and happy I guess, just glad I made Code S. If I go 3/3 then I will be happy for a few days -- Code S, TSL, GSL World Qualifiers.



It's interesting how thin a line between success and failure. Do you feel there's an extraordinary amount of pressure on you to make Code S? Would you have been devastated if you lost that last game?



Yes and yes, I mean I think it would have been my most upsetting loss thus far. Just being so much closer to my ultimate goal (winning GSL) then failing in Up-Down Matches when I had a decent run would just sit with me until I had another chance to make it to Code S again.



What did you do to celebrate when you got home? We noticed that Jinro and Nazgul were both in the picture with you for post game interview.



We went out to dinner and drinks with Dave (MightyAtom) who is really good guy. We went out and had some fun then got home, then just relaxed, talked a lot and joked.



What's Victor (Nazgul) doing in Korea?



I think he's just checking up on us making sure everything is okay. And of course, he misses me a ton.



We have heard rumors at MLG Dallas that you and Nazgul had an epic grudge wrestling match. Who won? Is it recorded on video?



Pretty sure I won. It's debatable even as Nazgul reads this I'm sure there will be a rematch sooner or later. No video, but people who were there know the truth. I also wrestled Dario (TLO) and owned him ez.



Let's talk about the games a little. You lost 0-2 to Inca in the first series. What went wrong? Have you guys played each other in the oGs-Liquid house?



I find the first engagement in Korean style PvP is very important (generally zealot/probe/stalker) and I lost it almost every time in my matches today, which is very demoralizing. After that I just made a lot of small mistakes which usually ends up snowballing into a bigger and bigger disadvantage that quickly leads to a loss in PvP. We play each other on a regular basis but we practiced with different people for our matches today.



You played Choya in the second match, did you know much about him previously?



Yeah, we get along pretty well since we first met at soccer. We also met in ladder a lot I almost always won.



Take us through the three games. Specifically, what was going through your head between games 2 and 3?



Well after game 1, I figured I had some kind of mental advantage vs him after we went such a weird mind games. He said some comments in beginning lobby of game 2, something about sneaky dark templars. I had Game 2 but threw it away being too cocky/confident with my blink stalkers. Sometimes I just like to micro and have fun with it and try to press advantage too much instead of playing safe when I have a lead and should auto-win. Then after game 2 I was kind of worried because Xel'Naga can be a weird map with a lot of strange things like cheeses and such, but I played pretty well, just taking advantage of some of his mistakes.



You mentioned meeting Choya at the oGs-Liquid vs fOu soccer match. How did you do in it?



I've been waiting for someone to give me a window to brag. Basically without playing the sport that much, I'm the fucking shit at it. Last time when we played fOu when I was in Europe we lost, but this time we won 7-3 and I scored 4 of the goals. The Koreans called me Messi. We're hoping to play them again while Victor is here.



You scored 4 of the goals??



The thing is, I never wanted to just bring it up and seem like a douche, but I was hoping someone eventually asks me. And it actually happened in this interview so I'm happy. Basically I'm amazing at soccer.



Who is the second and third best soccer player on oGs?



Second is Hero, and third is Gon. I think Leenock is my favorite player though, because he plays defense and begs me not to try hard or run fast.



You seem to have friendly relationships with a lot of Korean players. Do you know a lot of the other teams players from the ladder?



Yeah, I mean I'm probably the most chatty foreigner to play SC2 in Korea but I do it all in good fun and just try to make people smile so I don't think it's that harmful.



Did any of the oGs guys congratulate you when you came back? You and Jinro are the only two non-Koreans in Code S now.



Yes, of course everyone said congratulations and was really happy for me. I felt like right after my win and despite my horrible eye sight, me and Inca shared a moment with eye contact and a smile when he was out in the crowd, because we both wanted to go to Code S so badly together. Other than that I just wish all my teammates make it into Code S as well.



What will be your motivation for Code S now? Who do you hope to play against?



Obviously to win, anything else is pointless. I hope to play against anybody not oGs-TLAF and not Protoss.



You performed a ceremony after qualifying for Code S. Did it have any special meaning?



Well they didn't catch all of it, but I tried to write with my hands "I love" then I wanted to get a waffle to eat because Plexa, a long time member and great contributor to TL recently said goodbye because of some personal reasons. I ended up settling for a waffle cookie (Plexa's icon on TL is a waffle) as tribute to him since he deserved it in so many ways -- for TL, for being such a good fan, etc.







What a nice ceremony! We're sure Plexa would appreciate it, hopefully he sees it soon.



Anyone you'd like to thank?



Big shoutout to Hero and Caramel for helping me practice a lot. I forgot to mention them in the Korean interview so THANK YOU <333



Any last words?



Thanks to all my fans I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH please keep supporting me and ill keep doing my best.



Relieved and happy I guess, just glad I made Code S. If I go 3/3 then I will be happy for a few days -- Code S, TSL, GSL World Qualifiers.Yes and yes, I mean I think it would have been my most upsetting loss thus far. Just being so much closer to my ultimate goal (winning GSL) then failing in Up-Down Matches when I had a decent run would just sit with me until I had another chance to make it to Code S again.We went out to dinner and drinks with Dave (MightyAtom) who is really good guy. We went out and had some fun then got home, then just relaxed, talked a lot and joked.I think he's just checking up on us making sure everything is okay. And of course, he misses me a ton.Pretty sure I won. It's debatable even as Nazgul reads this I'm sure there will be a rematch sooner or later. No video, but people who were there know the truth. I also wrestled Dario (TLO) and owned him ez.I find the first engagement in Korean style PvP is very important (generally zealot/probe/stalker) and I lost it almost every time in my matches today, which is very demoralizing. After that I just made a lot of small mistakes which usually ends up snowballing into a bigger and bigger disadvantage that quickly leads to a loss in PvP. We play each other on a regular basis but we practiced with different people for our matches today.Yeah, we get along pretty well since we first met at soccer. We also met in ladder a lot I almost always won.Well after game 1, I figured I had some kind of mental advantage vs him after we went such a weird mind games. He said some comments in beginning lobby of game 2, something about sneaky dark templars. I had Game 2 but threw it away being too cocky/confident with my blink stalkers. Sometimes I just like to micro and have fun with it and try to press advantage too much instead of playing safe when I have a lead and should auto-win. Then after game 2 I was kind of worried because Xel'Naga can be a weird map with a lot of strange things like cheeses and such, but I played pretty well, just taking advantage of some of his mistakes.I've been waiting for someone to give me a window to brag. Basically without playing the sport that much, I'm the fucking shit at it. Last time when we played fOu when I was in Europe we lost, but this time we won 7-3 and I scored 4 of the goals. The Koreans called me Messi. We're hoping to play them again while Victor is here.The thing is, I never wanted to just bring it up and seem like a douche, but I was hoping someone eventually asks me. And it actually happened in this interview so I'm happy. Basically I'm amazing at soccer.Second is Hero, and third is Gon. I think Leenock is my favorite player though, because he plays defense and begs me not to try hard or run fast.Yeah, I mean I'm probably the most chatty foreigner to play SC2 in Korea but I do it all in good fun and just try to make people smile so I don't think it's that harmful.Yes, of course everyone said congratulations and was really happy for me. I felt like right after my win and despite my horrible eye sight, me and Inca shared a moment with eye contact and a smile when he was out in the crowd, because we both wanted to go to Code S so badly together. Other than that I just wish all my teammates make it into Code S as well.Obviously to win, anything else is pointless. I hope to play against anybody not oGs-TLAF and not Protoss.Well they didn't catch all of it, but I tried to write with my hands "I love" then I wanted to get a waffle to eat because Plexa, a long time member and great contributor to TL recently said goodbye because of some personal reasons. I ended up settling for a waffle cookie (Plexa's icon on TL is a waffle) as tribute to him since he deserved it in so many ways -- for TL, for being such a good fan, etc.Big shoutout to Hero and Caramel for helping me practice a lot. I forgot to mention them in the Korean interview so THANK YOU <333Thanks to all my fans I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH please keep supporting me and ill keep doing my best.



Next: Look forward to GSL in April/May!



With both TLAF-Liquid`Jinro and TLAF-Liquid`HuK in Code S for next season, get ready for more Foreigner Recaps. Hopefully we'll see some new faces in Code A as well. If any international players get through qualifiers or are direct seeded into Code A by GOM, we'll be here to cover them.

With both TLAF-Liquid`Jinro and TLAF-Liquid`HuK in Code S for next season, get ready for more Foreigner Recaps. Hopefully we'll see some new faces in Code A as well. If any international players get through qualifiers or are direct seeded into Code A by GOM, we'll be here to cover them. @Hot_Bid on Twitter - ESPORTS life since 2010 - http://i.imgur.com/U2psw.png