Jinro vs. Idra
Game 1: Xel'Naga Caverns
The match the world has been hoping for for years, the match we've been holding our breath for for a week had finally arrived. Both players arrived in big black jackets ready to play.
Idra's play in game one was perfect. Jinro came prepared for 'normal Idra' but instead of Speedlings got quick Roaches. Jinro's Hellion and Marines were immediately pushed back and Jinro was off balance. Idra pressured Jinro and gained an early lead and a 13 Drone advantage.
Jinro's Banshee play was inconsequential, especially as Idra moved to a Spire and mass Mutalisk harassment. Jinro responded with three Barracks and started Stim. Idra expanded and increased his lead.
Jinro's only hope was to claim his gold. In a move reminiscent of what Jinro did to Idra last week, Idra denied Jinro's expansion attempts with several attacks that eventually weakened the Terran beyond all hope. As Idra's Mutalisks eventually overran his base, Jinro typed GG.
Game 2: Metalopolis
As soon as close positions were spawned, Idra became the underdog. Jinro took advantage of the starting points and double Bunker rushed at the bottom of Idra's ramp. As soon as the Bunkers finished, Idra left. The audience was a taken aback.
Game 3: Shakuras Plateau
Idra opened this game with a 14 Hatchery and secured his natural expansion early. Jinro feigned pressure with a Bunker. With the last game on his mind, Idra overreacted and made too many Zerglings thereby sacrificing Drone production.
The feign came when Jinro totally abandoned the frontal attack and led a force of Marines around the back. The first attack was ineffective. Once Tanks were added, they won Jinro the game.
Jinro got aggressive from behind but the first group of Marines causes little damage. The second, however, would win him the game.
Game 4: Jungle Basin
With the map seemingly stacked against him, Idra gambled with a preplanned 6 pool. Although he was able to get into Jinro's base, a single Marine was able to get into a Bunker behind Jinro’s mineral line. Idra promptly left the game.
Interview:
Artosis: This is your second Top 4 in a row. Explain!
Jinro: I am just as surprised as you are really. I have good practice partners, pretty hard work, avoiding MVP.
Artosis: Did you expect to 3-1 him on those maps? I don't thin kyou cou
Jinro: L L W W W was my hope. The last two maps are really good for me.
My hands were completely iced down. It's cold as shit. Thank you for anyone who makes these things (hand warmers).
Artosis: What do you think about the two bunker build?
Jinro: I wasn't planning on doing that. was just going to do one bunker, so he couldn't take his hatchery. It's IdrA's style, he doesn't want to make stupid comebacks.
Artosis: How about that last game? Your marine had 5 hit points.
Jinro: Okay, I'm gonna reveal, when the music went down, I heard the crowd go "ooooh". SO I scouted. I was gonna build two barracks, but then decided to cancel it. But I actually made a mistake by canceling my marine and not the barracks. Which actually helped me, because the timing caught IdrA off guard.
Artosis: Who do you hope to face? NaDa or MarineKing?
Jinro: I need to root for my team mate, Nada.
Nada vs. MarineKing
Game 1: Shakuras Plateau
Nada opened up with Banshee harass while MarineKing stuck with his faithful Marines to fight them off. The Banshees put Nada in a ten SCV lead while MarineKing seemed to be on the ropes.
MarineKing opted to go on the offensive here. In a fateful moment, he found Nada's army unprepared and was able to crush through it straight to his base at the exact moment that a large portion of Nada's army dropped and destroyed MarineKing's base. 40 minutes later, buildings were floating and no one was sure who would win or if we’d see our first draw.
Nada held a lead. He became aggressive and tried to kill off his then-superior Marine (and two Tank) army to make supply room for a Viking to kill MarineKing’s floating buildings. However, MarineKing was able to snipe Nada’s last depot. Marine King then landed his Command Center, mined up and built a couple of bunkers thus winning him the weirdest GSL game yet.
Game 2: Lost Temple
With Nada mentally exhausted from the first game, MarineKing chose this moment to all-in with Marines and SCVs and force a competent defense from the Genius Terran. It would not come. After a number of botched micro moments, Nada left and MarineKing took a 2-0 lead.
Game 3: Xel'Naga Caverns
After Artosis had bed his life that he'd never see another game like the first, just such a game came up. Nada opened with Banshees once again and MarineKing responded again with a fast expansion. The drops came quicker this time - MarineKing opened with an effective drop on Nada's main. Nada pushed toward MarineKing's front and broke through. A base trade ensued!
Nada committed numerous gaffes, most of which included poor Tank micro and poor siege timing. As Nada's fans were utterly frustrated, MarineKing secured the game and advanced.
The strangest series in Code S was at an end.
