Wraithlins StarCraft Review: Part 1

Due to real life I had to let my SC writing slide, but recently I have had more time to jot down a few notes during games. Most of these will be a reproduction of my comments from the GomTV thread in the Basement Parlour.

These are not intended to serve as in-depth analysis, and more thoughtful comments can be found at fansites such as teamliquid.net, this is simply my rundown of which games are worth watching, and which are better avoided.

With the MSL and OSL over, I will be focusing on the Classic and selected pro-league games.

Intel AVRATEC Classic: GomTV.net

TheRock vs Bogus
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/457
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/458
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/459
Overall, definitely worth watching but if you are short on time skip game 1. I like Bogus' use of dropships in Game 2 and 3, which moved the Protoss army about quite effecively.

Game 1: Bogus really showed his rookie side in this game, though it grinds on way beyond its natural conclusion there is something mesmeric about watching the game spiral out of his control.
Game 2: Wow, someone sat in Bogus's chair, because this was not the same player as in game 1. Though Bogus did hesitate twice with his push, ultimately his agressive opening worked perfectly, this looked like a Boxer game.
Game 3: Game 1 Bogus returns, wrong build, bad timing, mediocre micro. Rocks shuttle-reaver is just embarassing again, and gives Bogus a small chance to get back in the game; Rock's army control is just negligent, but his map control is too big and advantage.


Frozean vs PePe
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/460
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/461
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/462
This would have been a really good series, if the games were all half as long. I would only watch Game 2 unless you are swimming in free time.

Game 1: TvT's reputation for long games is well disserved; somehow this manages to become a mine-out without going to BCs, and stays relatively interesting throughout.
Game 2: Mercifully short, PePe's agressive opening gives him an early leg up and, just as frozean looks ready to break out, cloaked wraiths appear to secure a game winning advantage.
Game 3: Another drawn out game, Frozean failed to close this one out after a big early lead.

Jangbi vs Bezerker(Iris)
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/466
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/467
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/468
Best of the matches from this Gom Set, definitely worth watching all 3 games.

Game 1: Really exciting game, with some pretty old-school play from Iris; his hard push early on really shaped the game despite his no Sci-Vessel counter to Arbiters.
Game 2: Another good game, fast paced and lots ofharass. I thought Iris could have made more of it if he had expanded a little sooner instead chasing the 9 o'clock expansion.
Game 3: Ok, Ok. I know Im not a pro, but is it REALLY worth holding off an extra turret when it costs you 10+ SCVs and 10minutes of running around? A single turret or goliath would have negated 90% of the reaver harass which ended up winning the game for Jangbi.


Stork vs KeKe
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/463
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/464
http://www.gomtv.net/videos/465
Game 2 is a great game, very highly entertaining; watch it even if you skip the other sets.

Game 1: Typical Stork here, nothing flashy but a few key gambits secure him an ever increasing advantage over KeKe.
Game 2: Simply must see.
I felt bad for KeKe, he played excellently in both games and couldn't even take 1 game.

SPL Jaedong vs FireBatHero 20081123 5set
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o3TtALOXn4
Everyone will be talking about this game, don't be the guy who hasn't watched it.

Almost painful to watch Jaedong play so badly; If nothing else we can always rely on FBH to extract maximum humiliation in these situations.