Photo by: BaseTradeTV
The stage is set for the final of the Ting Open presented by BaseTradeTV this coming Wednesday. Mana and Rogue will battle it out in a best of nine for the grand prize of $2,500.
After a series of qualifiers, two groups stages, and most of the bracket being played out, only two players remain in the Ting Open. The Polish Protoss player Grzegorz “Mana” Komincz from Team Liquid will take on the Korean Zerg player Lee “Rogue” Byung Ryul from Jin Air Green Wings. This matchup has all the makings of a David vs Goliath storyline, with one of the best foreign players in the world sizing up against a Kespa veteran. Let’s take a look at how each of these players carved a path to the finals.
Photo by: Team Liquid
Mana is already considered a strong European player and a win in the finals of the Ting Open could solidify him as a foreigner hope. In a tournament where Protoss players were seemingly extinct, Mana took up the torch for Aiur and demolished Terrans and Zergs on his way to the final. In his initial group, Mana lost the first match to Nerchio (Z) but came storming back with wins over Lillekanin (T) and MarineLorD (T) to finish second in the group and advance. In the second group stage Mana again barely advance. After falling to uThermal (T) he went on to beat Kelazhur (T) and claim revenge over uThermal in the final match of the group. Mana was able to win convincingly in both the quarterfinals over the Korean Terran Reality and take a 4-2 win over the Norwegian Zerg powerhouse Snute in the semis. With such an impressive win over Snute, who is regarded as one of the best foreign Zergs, it will be interesting to see how Mana will stack up against the Kespa Korean Rogue.
Photo by: eSportsTV
Rogue is still looking for a breakout win in an individuals tournament for Starcraft2. Playing for Jin Air Green Wings, Rogue has been fielded often in their Proleague lineups and has enjoyed some success in his matches. Turning to the Ting Open, Rogue has a fantastic chance to win a major tournament in this ZvP matchup. Rogue has made the path to the finals look easy as he has yet to drop a single match going a combined 19-7 in games for the tournament. In winning both of his groups the Jin Air Zerg beat Soulkey (Z), Cure (T), Polt (T) who is the reigning WCS Winter Champion, and Ryung (T). The quarterfinals and semis were quick demolitions of Masa (T) and GuMiho (T) by Rogue’s hand. Nobody has been able to stop Rogue so far in this tournament. Will Mana the foreigner hope be able to slay Goliath, or will the Kespa Zerg continue on his tear to claiming the Ting Open title? Find out by tuning into BaseTradeTV on Twitch this Wednesday, March 16 at 7:00 AM US Pacific time.
