Before the match began, the players were introduced by the two commentators: Bunny and Tasteless. The South Koreans answered a couple of questions on the stage. The players were asked if they were prepared for their match and both players seemed to respond with a similar answer, they were not. Due to the past couple days being spent traveling, both of these players did not really have the time to practice much for this event.

With hundreds observing, crowds screaming, and a small group of diehard Starcraft fanatics yelling out the player’s names before the match, the stage was set for a great series.

Game 1 on Longinus

The first match of the series begun on Longinus with IriS playing at the 3 o clock position with terran while YellOw was playing as zerg at the 11 o clock position. YellOw choose to open up the match with a fairly standard build by quickly taking his natural expansion. IriS, opened up with a supply depot and barrack block his choke. Shortly after the zerg laid down his spawning pool, IriS chose to quick expand while pumping marine out of his one barrack.

With the expansions being mined from and both players building up their armies, you could feel that we would see that a fight was about to happen. Producing from mainly one barrack, IriS was able to push out with several marines, firebats, and medics. YellOw chose to quickly tech to lurkers using his natural expansion to build his lair and placing his hydralisk den at his main. Seconds later with a quick scan from IriS, he scouted that the zerg only had two sunken colonies. The terran took advantage of this situation and stimmed his marines past the sunken colonies, immediately causing serious damage to the zergs economy. Luckily for YellOw though, his two lurkers saved the day and IriS was forced to return home with his force.

Deciding to make a large adjustment in his strategy, YellOw began to produce mutalisks quickly with hopes of slowing down his opponent. With YellOw’s mutalisk effectively harassing the terrans base, IriS was forced to play on the defensive mode, at least for awhile. However, knowing that YellOw was just trying to buy time, IriS went for a bold moved in which he moved his entire force to YellOw’s base, not paying any attention to the mutalisk. IriS attacks and is able to destroy the expansion of YellOw. Knowing the he was in trouble, YellOw was able to micro his mutalisks very well. However, his force just wasn’t enough and IriS was able to completely overpower his opponent. YellOw types GG and the game moves onto the next match.


Game 2 on Neo Arkanoid

The second match began on Neo Arkanoid, a unique map which has several neutral buildings that can be destroyed by any of the races. IriS started on the bottom left with YellOw on the top right. Both players began with fairly standard openings, the terran choosing to build two barracks and an expo and the zerg quickly putting up two expos to try to gain a slight economic advantage.

Using his marine and medics early, IriS decides to destroy all the neutral buildings in the way to YellOw’s base. YellOw, seeing the terrans units with his overlord, builds mutalisks from his three hatcheries. Right when the marine and medics destroy the final neutral building at the zergs choke, the mutalisks are finished. With exceptional micro from YellOw, he was able to fend off the terran force with relative ease. Hoping to take advantage of the situation, YellOw counter-attacks with his mutalisks. The terran knowing that he must play defensively, it seems that the game could very well be over for the terran. With a well placed irradiate made directly in the middle of the zergs stacked mutalisks, he was able to force YellOw to retreat.

Due to heavy loses from YellOw, he is forced to return to his base. IriS now realizes that now would be the perfect time to make his move. IriS quickly builds up and prepares for another offensive hoping to seal the deal. YellOw, knowing that he is in trouble begins to put up several sunken colonies along with a couple of lurkers. The final attack begins, but YellOw’s forces were just not enough. IriS was able to finish off the rest of YellOw’s army and Yellow says GG.

The final score of the match ends in favor of the youngster IriS 2-0.