OSL: The quarterfinals have begun

The OGN StarLeague quarterfinals are here. Today they played the first game in their best of three matches. Some went exactly as expected, others didn't go that way at all.

Casy vs FireBatHero at Reverse temple

Casy landed at 9 and went with an early command center. FireBatHero on his part landed at 6 and opted for a quicker fact-port build. Casy put up a bunker to protect his expo early on and then followed suit with a fact-port build. FBH of course got his siege mode before Casy did and started attacking Casy before he put down an expansion of his own. Casy managed to hold off the tanks with some wraith and scvs and then went to harass FBH's economy with the wraiths.

FireBatHero has the economic advantage and exploits it to over run Casy's natural. He manages to destroy the command center and contain Casy. From here on in Casy does some minor wraith harass, but FireBatHero's economy is much too strong. Casy finally manages to break the contain, but FBH has another army ready and finishes the game. GG

NaDa vs YellOw[ArnC] at Longinus II

NaDa landed at 11 and went with a one barrack, command center build. Yarnc spawned at 3 and went with a 9pool. NaDa defended with scvs and then proceeded to add two more barracks. Yarnc on his part expanded and added a third hatchery in his main before going for a spire. NaDa moved out with his MMF force and after seeing some sunkens he decided to check for an expo at 7. Yarnc took the opportunity and expanded at 12 instead. As the newly spawned mutaling army made it's way towards the Terran main, NaDa was out of position with his marines still. His army was on the way back, but it was a bit late and allowed Yarnc to make his way all the way into the Terran main. He didn't do too much damage though.

Shortly after NaDa is ready to move out again and this time he heads for 12. Yarnc tries to delay him with his muta force, but does himself more harm than good. As 12 goes down it looks like Yarnc is planning a counter with his mutalings and newly morphed lurkers. However he changes his mind halfway across the map. Instead he puts some lurkers below the ramp at 12 and start his hive. When NaDa's M&M force tries to leave 12, he's not attentive enough and loses quite a few of them to the lurkers.

Yarnc puts down a mound as NaDa moves out again. This time he somehow manages to lose his first vessel to scourge. Yarnc needs an economy boost so he takes 7 main and 5. The shadowgames in the middle starts, when NaDa moves to the one side Yarnc move to the other and NaDa has to follow. When NaDa manages to mount an offensive there's swarm and nydus canals everywhere. With some incredible micro NaDa finally manages to take down 7. He also secures 9 and his mineral only. Yarnc stops a drop in his main with easy before being denied retaking 7 but a few marines who are left.

Yarnc pushes for the Terran main with a trail of swarm, but doesn't reach it with enough units to do lotsa damage. Instead he tries a drop at 9. NaDa sees it and irradiates the overlords, but a defiler gets out and plagues all the vessels. The action now moves to Zergs mineral only. Yarnc defends like a champion with swarm, plague and lurkerling. NaDa on the other hand is a champion and he plays like it. He displays some truely awesome micro and eventually forces Yarnc to tap out. Game of the day. GG

Much vs Savior at Neo Arkanoid

Much warps in at 7 and goes for a 14nexus. Savior spawns at 11 and goes with two quick hatcheries in either expansion before he starts building a den. Much on his part is teching to a stargate as well as a forge for defense. Savior ignores his cocoons for a bit a focuses on opening a path to Much's bases. In doing so he forces Much to build cannons at three different entrances. This gives Savior an advantage from the start.

From here on in it's the usual corsair/reaver versus hydra/scourge plus some devourers. Harassing each others workers and expansions. Much utilizes disruption web well, but Savior keeps exploiting the fact that Much has three bases to defend. He launches small attacks pretty much constantly. In the end it comes down to the new Protoss expansion at 6. Much has cannons, templars, reavers, corsairs and even a dark archon. It's not enough, Savior has devourers, guardians, ultras, lings and hydras. After having taken it down for the second time Much shows his misguided plan. He had been going carriers. It was too late though. The Zerg is swarming into his main from three sides. GG

IriS vs ZergMan at HitckHiker

Iris lands at the top and goes for a two barrack build. ZergMan, at the bottom, opt for a 12hatch at his natural. IriS starts off the action early as he brings about ten scvs with his marines to the zerg natural. He fails to take it down and is pushed back. ZergMan places his only sunken in the opposite corner of the mineral line though, so Terran tries a bunker. He's overwhelmed by lings though. After this both players are low on workers. ZergMan starts his lair morphing as well as opening up the upper path. IriS is busy building up his M&M force. When he's ready to have a look at the Zerg base there are five sunkens there.

ZergMan takes 7 while IriS lifts his factory over his neutral buildings to get some vulture harass going. Zerg spots it however and it's not too effective. Iris seems to be the agressor. He drops 7 and almost kills it. Then he fills up two dropships and drops the main of Zerg. The drones are forced to run, but eventually it's cleared up. Then IriS drops 7 and takes it out. Finally he also takes his own natural. ZergMan attacks it shortly after. He runs lurkers around to the cliff and comes down the middle with swarm. IriS has no choice but to lift his command center. He moves it to the right expo and starts mining there instead. ZergMan has taken the middle right expo as well as 1. He defends them both with swarm and when he attacks IriS expo with lurkerling it's all over. GG


We love you too NaDa!

OSL Quarterfinals game 1
Casy	<	FireBatHero	Reverse Temple
NaDa	>	YellOw[ArnC]	Longinus II
Much	<	Savior	Neo Arkanoid
IriS	<	ZergMan	HitchHiker

ZergMan beat IriS as most people might have expected. Next week will end in 2-0 for ZergMan. Much vs Savior could have been so much more entertaining on a different map. Hopefully we'll see them play a great game next week. FireBatHero beating Casy is quite an upset in my eyes. If FireBatHero manages to take this series, he's one to watch. NaDa delivered the best game of the day with an impressive win over a YellOw[ArnC] who played very well.

Previously in the week

MBC Survivor Round 3, 05/02-07
Jaedong	<	Free	Desert Fox
Jaedong	<	Free	Longinus II
Silver	<	NaDa	Longinus II
Silver	<	NaDa	Reverse Temple

Free showed some very nice potential in his games. In the first game he had at least 30 corsairs I think. NaDa completely destroyed Silver. The only interesting thing was that after the first game MBC handed NaDa an award for his 100th MBCGame victory.


NaDa with his 100th MBC win trophy

MBC Survivor Round 3, 06/02-07
UpMagic	<	Canata	Reverse Temple
UpMagic	<	Canata	Desert Fox
XellOs	<	GoodFriend	Blitz X
XellOs	<	GoodFriend	Desert Fox

These four winners will advance to Survivor round four. There they will play another bo3 for a spot in the next MSL.

Links
FighterForum - Picture source