Written by: Tossinator and Tinganh
[Group C] Oz vs Dear on Derelict Watcher
VODThis game is insanely impressive. Oz goes for a one base immortal push and despite the photon overcharge and Dear’s army, he just pushes into his natural and powers through the enemy forces for an overwhelming victory.
[Semi Final] Maru vs Dear on Frost
VODMaru played his heart out in this match, dropping everywhere and dealing huge amounts of damage to Dear’s economy. Regardless, he simply could not tech into a late game army and stayed on bio for much too long eventually allowing Dear to take the game. Despite facing defeat, Maru's fantastic micro is enough to win him a honorable mention.
[Group B] Genius vs Trap on Polar Night
VODThis was the final match of the most cheese filled series at WCS, where every set saw a different face of Genius. This match in particular has Genius going for a dark templar rush and Trap missing the forcefield at his ramp, allowing the templar in. A clutch forcefield at the very mineral line fixes the mistake, however, and allows Trap to engineer his come
Why was it good: Although Dear defeated SoulKey 4-0 in the finals, the sweep didn’t come with ease. The Zerg season 1 GSL champion deflected nearly all of Dear’s attempts at early game harass, but eventually fell to Dear’s engagements and counterattacks.
Soulkey's swarm host transition into late game starts a series of tech and base snipes and counter attacks that color the rest of the game. Though Dear's zealot drops are able to slice down Soulkey's spire, Zerg's retort ends with a dead base for the Protoss, essentially reducing him to one base. Barely mining, Dear has to do something, and fast. The final engagement that comes is one of the most impressive battles we've seen in a while.
Why was it good: MaruPrime once again displays the aptitude with which he controls his units and makes his marines dance before soO's eyes.
Coming in at number four on this list is the opening game of Group D where the Korea Season 2 champion Maru faces the most recent runner-up of the same circuit. Although an excellent TvZ series overall, the reason this match in particular is on the list is because of the insane control exhibited by Maru. Before its last moments, the game is mediocre until in the final engagement Maru splits his units perfectly nearly four separate times in a matter of seconds, quite the deed to behold.
Why was it good: PvPs are not famous for being the most attractive match-up in SC2 but there are exceptions to be seen. One of that is Dear vs HerO in the Season 3 finals, featuring tempest flanking armies. Yeah.
?
At number three we have HerO vs Dear game two on day one in a tense back-and-forth match. At the climax of this game, HerO takes a fantastic engagement where his tempests snipe Dear's mothership core which forced the Korea champion to engage. HerO then proceeded to snipe all of Dear's colossi with his tempests and simply walks over Dear's army.
2. [Group A] MC vs Hack on Derelict Watcher VODWhy was it good: MC is known for surviving situations normal players die to and this one is no different. Badgered and bullied by Hack's harassment, MC pushes his psi storms to the limits to defeat the final push of the Terran.
It was a difficult decision between this game and the match that was chosen for number one. This was the final game in the series and both players put everything they had into this match with Hack dropping everywhere and trying to catch MC off guard. After MC manages to defend all forms of harass with minimal losses, Hack pushes into MC’s base and decimates his army and it is only Boss Toss' fantastic storms that stop Hack's advancement. One of the greatest clutch plays I personally have ever seen.
?
1. [Group B] Jaedong vs MMA on Derelict Watcher VODWhy was it the best: The two titans go at it for a whole hour as the supply counts swing dramatically, leading to mind-blowing comebacks and admirable displays of perseverance.
To quickly demonstrate how epic this match really was, I’ll highlight this one point – by the end of the match there was essentially one mining base left on the entire map. Hatchery and command center snipes are in abundance this game, with MMA’s aggressively sniping bases with drops and widow mine/bio pushes while Jaedong doing the same with an intimidating mutalisk flock. Although blows are traded back and forth, they are often more favorable for the Terran who was able to anticipate and counter mutalisk strikes while pushing Jaedong’s outer expansions.
Jaedong, fed up with widow mines, transitions into Ultralisks, eventually forcing a lift on MMA's outer bases and cutting his income to 0 at one point. MMA responds by taking advantage of Ultralisks’ lack of mobility, pressuring locations across the map, while at the same time turtling on two bases.
Preparing for the forthcoming economically-starved battle, Jaedong transitions into broodlords in hopes that free units could help him end the game. An intelligent decision but one coming too late. MMA re-maxes his army through mules and pushes on one of Jaedong’s last remaining mining base, causing the Zerg player to take a poor engagement. With his army staggering in, Jaedong doesnt’t have the durability to win the fight and loses almost everything as an outcome.
