As some of you may know, I have been recently involved in many SEA Lan tournaments/events within the last fortnight (16-09 -> 25-09), such as the Blizzcon Invitationals in Sydney, the Gigabyte E-Sports at the Respawn Lan in Melbourne, and the WCG Brisbane Qualifiers. During this time, I got to meet some truly amazing people, and am really stocked I can now call these people my friends. I had quite some ups and downs in terms of StarCraft, but came away at the end of the fortnight with a lot of positive energy and motivation to continue the pursuit of excellence. I really wanted to share with you guys this experience so I've decided to begin this blog, it may be a long read, but I hope you guys would be able to enjoy it and feel abit of the amazing experience I've went through. Me and Benji recorded quite abit of footage (including some awesome AZKziek moments), and we'll get to uploading them as soon as we can.
This part will mainly focus on the Gigabyte E-Sports Event held at Respawn LAN.
Part III - Gigabyte E-Sports Event - Zerg player solidifies his place as one of the best in SEA
After 2 hours of being stuck in traffic, with the police and fire trucks all there, the flaming truck was finally put out, and we were able to move through the highway, where we saw literally a Charcoal Skeletal of a truck with steam still coming out of it (Got video footages of it).
3 Stops (Goulburn, Aubury, Seymore) and 5 cans of V later (All Benji), we finally arrived in the city of Melbourne at... 12am. We worked very hard to avoid road tolls (cuz were are Asian), and going WTF at driving on tram lines and watching people just randomly getting on and off the Tram in the middle of the road, aswell as finally seeing the Trademark of Melbourne - The Hook turn (which Benji avoided because he's a pansy). We finally arrived at our hostels, got our rooms and pretty much went to sleep straight away in anticipation for the big day the next day. I was pretty anxious about the whole idea of staying at hostel, after seeing the movies Hostel I and II, I was obviously not a fan of a place called "Hostel". Tim never saw the movies, bet you he wouldn't have stayed if he had seen them, hahaha! Anyway we slept on bunk beds which made alot of sounds and the sheets made me itch so I didn't sleep too well, but for 30$ a night I really need to just shut up.
We woke up the next day around 8 and I realised the most disasterous thing ever. I left my freaking jeans back in Sydney when I was getting something out of the pocket... So pretty much the entire time I was in Melbourne I was walking around in shorts... with it being like 10 degrees outside or something. Unluckily for Ben and Tim, they have learnt that I make extremely strange sounds when my legs gets cold. & Unluckily for me and Ben, we learn that Tim ALMOST walks faster than an old lady!
ANYWAY, we got to Latrobe University - The University that was hosting Respawn LAN, and met TAFourby, his girflriend, Deth and nom already waiting there. It was there that we learnt that Darren Kwan (Event Organiser) and YYJ got mugged the night before by some people in the city and did YYJ's knee in, poor lads. After waiting around for a while, Rossi, Noodle and Serial Killer.... I mean Pinder joined us too. We waited around and saw Nerds with the sickest computer hardwares ever, like wow I thought I was nerdy. After Yoon with the busted knee arrived with Starhunter and Darren, we went in and found the area set up for us to play, some seriously sick looking computers. I was so eager to get practicing on one of them because I haven't played a game since Wednesday and my hands were shaking from SCII withdrawal.
Eventually most of us got our gear set up on computers and got ready to practice. I had to borrow Nom's (Deth's lovely gf) pink headsets, because I don't own a headset myself (I like speakers okay!). Trust me, people saying "hey it suits you" wasn't getting old at all T_T. Anyway, since the event was held at a LAN, we naturally didn't expect the latency to be very good, but it was actually horrible, averaging at about 300ms (In comparison, I play at 150ms at home while Singaporians play at 1ms), with constant lag spikes that was really irritating me. Those of you that know me know how much I complain about lag, especially in tournaments, and for a race where the only thing you really need to do is control your army and your forcefields, and having a low margin for error, the thought of losing because of lag-related issues really sticks to my nerves. But nevertheless, I decided I wasn't going to talk myself into getting annoyed or annoy those around me because nothing could have been done, so I just shut up and tried to do the best that I could since everybody has pretty much the same latency.
The brackets were generated a little later, and we were quick to note at how stacked the top half of the bracket was, and how unfotunate that me and Mafia would run into each other if we won our games (we wanted to go 1 and 2). Nevertheless, complaining doesn't achieve anything, so we just went ahead and played our games.
My first opponent was a Zerg GM on SEA called GGist, a very solid player who has beaten me a few times on ladder, but yea I felt like people pegged me to be the seed so I was just going to act confident and like a massively favoured dick to intimidate my opponent. Which I think may have succeeded, because he 8 pooled me in game 1 on Tal'Darim. My defense against 6 pools on big maps is very refined so I easily defended the incoming cheese pool and transitioned into a stronger economy and eventually a strong army that crushed him - Choosing not to rely on chancy 1-2 base timing attacks despite the cheese pool because I didn't want to risk losing to anything. Game 2 was on XNC, going my standard Forge FE into my revised version of Warp Prism blink stalker play, I managed to hit him at 3 different areas at once, and being no Mafia, he had no answer. The game suddenly disconnected however at that point, he came around and said there was no way he was gonna win and did not ask for a regame, classy guy!
My round 2 Opponent was a very scary opponent, being one of the most mechanically sound, intelligent and experienced Terran in SEA, vsing Deth definitely had my heartbeat sky rocketing. Game 1, on Tal'Darim, a successfully built bunker managed to deter my economy a fair bit whilst Deth got his own 1 rax expansion up, I followed up with a 6 gate timing attack (I always do this when I get nervous) which failed miserably, gging soon after.
Game 2, on Shakuras Plateau was quite a different story. Having a feeling that Deth was going to make a half-finished building to block my natural expansion after him only scouting my 1 gas, I made an early zealot, which quickly killed the building SCV and 5% made engineering bay. Chronoboosting a Stalker right after to join the Zealot in poking up the Terran ramp. I was rather surprised and delighted that Deth had no bunkers, and only 2 marines as I got up his ramp, straight away I chronoed more Stalkers to join my initial group whilst getting up my natural. Doing significant amount of damage with reinforcing units, I managed to get a significant economy lead and pinpointed Deth's build to a Bio Expansion. As I knew how much of a lead I was in, I wasn't going to draw the game out long, quickly going to +1 Collosi to seal the deal.
Game 3, was played on Shattered Temple. I originally planned for a very fast expansion, however I saw a very quick SCV in my base, which alerted me that we were in fact close positions. My poking Stalker was horrified to find a bunker already being finished at the low ground with a CC already beginning just behind it. I made a pretty coinflippish decision there to make 3 extra gates instead of a Nexus at that moment (As I did not want to vs Terran timing attacks on close ground in a macro game). Building up a large enough force and making pylons around Deths base to get ready to warp up ground, I attacked, being horrified to see 3 bunkers greeting me. Quickly surround the bunker with my units, I gave his SCVs no surface area to repair and quickly took out the 2 bunkers close to the ramp, having lost quite a proportion of my army, I decided to go run up the ramp after a marine running away, being able to run past the supply depot before it could get raised. In there I used the remains of my initial army (a few stalkers) to run around his main picking off as much units as I can whilst massing up another army at the front. A second attack came from me at the front whilst a few of my stalkers is still drawing about 6-7 marines at his main. However a quick reaction from Deth allowed him to get enough SCVs on the bunker to prevent it from falling, knowing that bunker would not fall, I ran up again up his ramp with a big enough army to just camp at his barracks, at this point I believe he has already lost too many SCVs to afford to lose anymore. Nevertheless, one last ditch of marine scv at my army failed and I was able to take the series 2-1. PHEW! I was relieved but felt a little dirty, resorting to 4gating to take out a friend. But I was not playing on those positions against a 1rax expansion (Timing attacks that follow such an expansion is almost impossible to defend in such close positions).
I was now in the semifinals of the Winner's bracket ready to face my teammate and good friend Mafia, who just took out Targa. There was one point where Targa was watching a replay of him vs Mafia and got really irritated when he saw 10 more drones being made by Mafia as a response to Targa making a shark move, moving up the Xelnaga Tower to kill Mafias ling (indicating a potential attack). He is crazy!!!
Anyway, game 1 was on Tal'Darim, probably my favourite PvZ map now, and using my new Stargate opener into 3 base turtle into deathball style, I manage to play really well despite making a few mistakes... like letting too many roaches up my natural ramp before forcefielding them off. Not taking credit away from Mafia making a sick move where he threw a bunch of infested terrans over the forcefields to specifically target down all the sentries. After transitioning to Triple Stargate way too fast instead of making a second Robo to build up my Collosi count (which keeps getting sniped by fungal and a lack of forcefields) I eventually overextended when I was chasing after his Hydras. Having no Collosi at all, his Roach + Hydra combo eventually overpowered me. I was absolutely distort after that game because I felt I was playing so well, having a better economy and solid micro/macro. But I definitely felt the Triple Stargate transition was way too early and I woulda had been much better off making an extra Robo to try to build up that Collosi count as well as control my sentries outside of danger abit better. Oh well, I was happy that I was able to show my game but was abit dissappointed that I made a few avoidable mistakes on a map that I should usually win on.
Game 2 was on Shakuras Plateau, where I pretty much did the same build. Except this game my multitask completely fell apart. Although harrassing well with my Stargate units, I was getting supply capped and making everything too late in my base, resorting to a low Collosi count and army size when I finally decided to expand at 12 minutes in. 20 or so Overlords flew into my base, unleashing a hell(yes thats right, Roaches comes in Hells)of Roaches and Hydras soon after, having a way smaller army size than I needed and a way lower Collosi count that I woulda wanted at that point in the game, I gg'd cannot believe I lost another series to Mafia (He's like 9-1 against me) in our last 10 games.
Never the less, I was actually able to play games without nerves or anything these 2 games and actually played the builds I wanted to instead of some crazy no-thinking strategy. So I was feeling pretty good and ready to go all the way back in the lower bracket for a finals rematch against Tim.
On the other side of the bracket, YYJ knocked Rossi down to lower brackets whilst Starhunter amazingly was able to defeat Targa 2-1, setting himself up against the Monster that is Deth. Deth quickly 2-0'd Starhunter and seemed to eager to rematch against me. I was confident but nevertheless afraid, because well I am playing against Deth.
Game 1 saw us both open greedy macro, with the game ending when Deth invariably ran into a really sick zealot/archon arc that I set up. Game 2, was the game where Deth played like the monster that he is, slowly picking me apart with drops like he was MMA/Select. I normally do Okay with drop heavy play, but because I havent played a long macro PvT game in quite a while, its like I've suddenly forgotten how to play it. Multitasking horriblly, not splitting units, and you know, just getting completely outplayed.
Realising my macro PvT game was not in the best shape after that game (You need to play a few of those to really remember everything you need to do), and wanting to test a build that I've been thinking for a while. In game 3 on Shattered temple, I went a 1 gate 2 gas expand (Huk style) into 4gate Robo with mass Sentry, 3 Immortals and a few Stalkers. Doing the usual Stalker sentry type of attack but using Immortals as the primary dps in this build, Deth's 3 bunkers with even pre-pulled SCVs to the front of the bunker stood no chance to the newly buffed Immortal. The bunkers dropped almost instantaneously and so did the units inside them straight after. This attack is actually sick, and I'm sure it made Deth feel a little sick as he went for a walk. Feeling a little bad for beating a friend and knowing he would probably beat me in a macro game if we played in my state there and then. However, Rossi quickly reminded me that it's 1v1 tournament, and in a tournament we are competitors before we are friends.
Rossi was able to take apart Techtron handily and head into the lower brackets semifinals against myself. Having just beaten Deth in 2 straight series, I was feeling very confident against Terran and must say I definitely underestimated Rossi, as in game 1 I did something I usually don't do, a DT expand, which didn't go really well, nevertheless I was some good fights in my favour and got into a position where I had entire map control and still a ton of army out. Instead of doing the right thing, taking a new base and transitioning into Collosi, I decided I was going to kept suiciding my units into the wall of China (bunker wall) with marines behind it. It was only until I lost my last archon did I remember how good Rossi's macro was, having all my units dying and giving Rossi a good minute or two to build up another army, and having not taken a 4th base, Rossi stomped on my neck and went after me as I tried to rebuild up an army, to no avail. Rossi takes a 1 game lead.
Game 2 had me deciding whether I should do the 2 base 4 gate robo attack I did against Deth, however I decided that I wasn't going to lose to Rossi in a macro game and decided to play standard. Unfortunately, many bad army placements and mechanical errors made me suicide army and losing bases left and right, with Benji just shaking his head beside me. Taking no credit away from Rossi, he was playing his standard solid macro style with even a few Red-Archonesque drops now and then. However at the end of the day, you always have to look at yourself to see what you need to do better, and I played so miserably bad that I wasnt even surprised when I tried to fight Rossi's superior better concave/better unit compo/bigger sized army and subsequently lost the battle, and we all knows what happens in PvT when one side loses THE big battle.
Feeling abit distraught because I didn't think I was going to lose, I sat there for a moment to let everything sink in and remain cool. Maybe I was too tired from vsing Deth, maybe I was too tired from the trips, maybe I just needed to play some long PvTs to remember how to play that way again. Many thoughts went through my head, but the one which stood out the most was - ***! Never underestimate TARossi, what a bloody champion. He came over to shook my hand and I felt much better immediately. I was satisfied with my placing, the prize (4th 250$, covering about half my total travel expenses), and the lessons, positive energy I got out of this event, but I was pretty dissappointed with the way I played to get knocked out, and losing that macro game against Deth had me thinking that I need find Iaguz and practice a bunch of hour long PvTs to get that gameplan back.
Anyway, I was't going to let myself feel down as I need to be positive and energetic heading into WCG Brisbane the next day. I sat around and chatted with some friends (TA pretty lips Hocus showed up too! Such a delight to see him) and got in a pretty good mood, because I love being able to talk Protoss strats to someone, and Pinder being there allowed me to actually have the chance to do so. Rossi fell to Yoon and Yoon was getting a rematch from Mafia. However, the beastly Zerg was not going to show any weakness. He clearly showed why he was the favourite coming into this tournament, taking out Yoon 2-1 and losing only 1 game the entire tournament. Mafia's recent accomplishments has pushed him so far up the ladder of SEA players right now that I personally consider him the 2nd/3rd best player on the server at this moment. I'll let you guys guess who I'm alluding to as the other 2 from 1st to 3rd. (Hint they are both Zerg). I understand that at the top of SEA, every player can beat each other quite often hence I'm not making an opinionated judgement of skill, but rather based on accomplishments - where players really make a name for themselves. & right now, it is simply too hard to argue against Mafia's accomplishments.
Since no brackets was released for Gigabyte E-Sports event. Here is my very sorry yet effortful attempt at showing you guys the brackets on Saturday. I don't remember the scores that well but every series was a bo3.
Winners Bracket
xGKing.Mafia
xGKing.Mafia
Starhunter
xGKing.Mafia
TAFourby
Targa
Targa
xGKing.Mafia
GGist
xGKing.Light
xGKing.Light
xGKing.Light
Bielsko
aMSI.Deth
aMSI.Deth
xGKing.Mafia
aMSI.Rossi
aMSI.Rossi
TANoodle
aMSI.Rossi
Gezza
Gezza
aMSI.Pinder
iM.YYJ
aMSI.Voices(Didn't Show)
Techtron
Techtron
iM.YYJ
Kyura
iM.YYJ
iM.YYJ
Lower Bracket
nGenStarHunt
nGenStarHunt
TAFourby
nGenStarHunt
Targa
aMSI.Deth
xGKing.Light
Bielsko
GGist
GGist
aMSI.Deth
aMSI.Deth
xGKing.Light
aMSI.Rossi
iM.YYJ
iM.YYJ
TANoodle
aMSI.Pinder
aMSI.Pinder
aMSI.Pinder
Gezza
Techtron
Kyura
Kyura
aMSI.Voices(Didn't Show Up)
Techtron
Techtron
aMSI.Rossi
aMSI.Rossi
Finals
xGKing.Mafia
xGKing.Mafia
iM.YYJ
We stayed around for photos(One guy told us to open our eyes in a picture of me, YYJ, and Mafia, I made sure to let him know that I thought he was racist ), and watched Nerds watch porn/hentai on their computers whilst trading porn/hentai with each other, hot stuff. We said bye to everyone and headed off (I think Deth has forgiven me, but I'm sure he hasn't forgiven my race, I mean the Protoss okay!) Then we headed off to dinner, with me still walking in shorts on a windy 10 degree night, we grabbed some Nandos where I learnt that Benji and Mafia are softies that eat "mild"... HAH! Ofcourse Mafia shouted, being 2.5k richer, and was willing to shout us for more "activities". But as Benji was exhausted and I had to wake up for my flight really damn early the next day, we called it a night and did not explore Melbourne City.
As I lay on my bed, I realised how happy I am to be able to play and compete in a game I love (Actually my gf reminded me of that with a text message to cheer me up after hearing I came out 4th), and that I had so much positive motivation to do well, not just in StarCraft II but in everything about my life. Being motivated to up effort level of my job searching (I just got a job offer today btw xD), ready to hit the gym, start caring about my appearance again, get on a nice healthy food plan, being a better friend, boyfriend, etc etc. With all that positive energy mind and excited about going to Brisbane to meet finally meet Sensai, Lost, JimDiddy, KJH and Zanooku, as well as being able to hang out with Paz, Dox, Raamon and Andy after partying from Sydney, I fell asleep at ease... getting ready for the PvPs that was coming the next day... or so I thought...
Part 4 - Zerg Domination, Internet Warrior Faces His Victim.
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