GSL Code S Group E Recap

Group E contains some interesting players that will battle for the chance to compete in the round of 16. It also has the final Protoss group we will see until next round. Many will be expecting Parting to make it out of this group given his absolutely stellar performance in Korea and around the world, and many foreigners will hang hopes on Ryung for his first performance under the Axiom banner. It will be interesting to see Losira for his first time back in Code S for a while too, does he have what it takes?

GSL Code S Group E

• Set 1: LG-IM Losira (Z) vs AX.Ryung (T)
• Set 2: SKT1 PartinG (P) vs ByuNPrime (T)
• Set 3
• Set 4
• Set 5
• Final Results
• Gameplay Summary

Set 1: LG-IM Losira (Z) vs AX.Ryung (T)

Ryung makes his 8th appearance in Code S, making him one of the highest appearing players in the league. Recently acquired by the newly formed Axiom Esports, he’ll be looking to make a mark in Code S while being one of the first players to fly the flag for his team. His first opponent is no pushover, but it’ll be interesting to see how this strong Terran deals with the other players in the group too.

Losira is appearing in Code S for his 6th time after what many would consider one of the biggest slumps for any player in Korea/SC2. But he has made it back to Code S after strong performances in the Up&Down matches.

DUCK EXPECTS: 2:1 Ryung

Game 1: Neo Planet S

Ryung puts down an engineering bay to block while opening up with a 1 barracks expansion build. Losira is forced to put his spawning pool down and delay his expansion by quite a long time until the ebay is cancelled.

It’s interesting to see a bio play coming from Ryung on this very mech-popular map, as he throws down double ebays in his main and puts some light hellion pressure out on Losira during the early phase as per standard TvZ. His third base gets into action, all the while Losira is able to establish his third base, prepare infestor/bane tech, and start up his fantastic creep spread.

Both players play reasonably passive, with Losira getting his standard high queen count on the field with 8 roaming around stopping hellions, and getting massive amounts of creep tumours slowly pushing towards Ryung. Losira is going to a ling/bane/infestor/ultra style, something that has been gaining quite a lot of popularity lately.

Losira starts pressuring Ryung through the top section of the map where his third base is but Ryung is finally able to take advantage of this melee army with drops around the map.

At the 22 minute mark Ryung is finally able to establish his third base, but his SCV count sits around 40 and Losira is flourishing with a gold base, and a scary looking ultra/ling/bane/infestor army. Shortly after, Losira is able to storm through the fourth base and crush the entire army of Ryung with ultras stomping all over the tank/marine/marauder army with ease.

Game 2: GSL Cloud Kingdom

Ryung opens up with a cheesy but not cheesy 12 rax just near his own third base and with a drone scout (and then a hatch first) Losira does see that they could be something fishy going on. The first marine runs across the map and a bunker is started, but Losira wisely pulls some drones to stop it. The “faux cheese” causes some lost mining on Losira’s behalf, but no practical damage is done. Ryung follows up with a double command center, attempting to switch to some economic cheese to start up a lead for himself.

Ryung proceeds to the blue-flame hellion build that a lot of Terrans have been doing lately in TvZ, and controls the map for the most part with a small pack of them. Losira is able to deflect the pressure for the most part, but his creep spread is stifiled for some time. Bio for Ryung again, and we see Losira start up an infestation pit and baneling speed.

Once the hellions are pushed back by queens and a large amount of lings, Losira is able to get his creep started and despite the delay, he is able to get a fantastic creep spread going, and by the 15 minute mark he is already covering half of the map.

Losira yet again goes for an ultra-based tech style, controlling a lot of the map with small ling attacks, and of course a large biomass of ultralisks and zerglings. Losira does do a decent job of this, but eventually Losira is forced back by a large marine/maruader count from Ryung.

We start to see Losira fall into the hole that Sniper made for himself in his group; sticking on ultralisks without the option of switching his tech around. Ryung starts to try and stabilise with his fourth base, while doing very minor drops around the map. Unfortunately he cannot do any full push outs with his whole army because he needs every single thing to defend from the large zerg army. After a few more large-scale fights where Ryung continues to lose ground, we see him GG out.

Losira wins 2:0

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Set 2: SKT1 PartinG (P) vs ByuNPrime (T)

Byun is in his 7th Code S, proving his worth and showing that he can come back time and time again. His first opponent today will be one of the absolute best powerhouse players in the world though, so we’ll have to see him pull out some brilliant manauvers if he is to take this first set though. He commonly takes games to long, drawn out matches, trying to utilise his strong macro power.

There isn’t too much to say about Parting. A fantastic player, recently joining one of the most prominent teams in the KESPA side of the scene, SKT1. He is incredibly strong, and not only is expected to take this group with ease; he will be expected to take each set 2:0.

DUCK EXPECTS: 2:0 Parting

Game 1: GSL Akilon Wastes

Standard opening from both players, very simple one gate expand from Parting, and a one barracks expand from Byun. Byun shows us his slightly stylised TvP play, picking up a Factory and Starport extremely quickly. After switching the Starport over to the techlab, he begins a banshee. It’s possible from what we can see that Byun might be looking towards an old style 3-2-1 build.

The first cloak banshee of Byun flies into the mineral line of Parting’s natural, but isn’t able to get any damage done due to a well prepared observer and some stalkers. Parting moves up and looks to be going for a stalker/colo push and he catches Byun completely off guard. With no stim, Byun is rushed to defence, but is ok in the end. Byun has quite a few tanks sieged up and is able to hold against the gateway/colo army of Parting.

With a large Marine/Marauder/tank army moving across and SCVs trailing behind, Byun pushes in for the attack timing on Parting. The m/m/t push comes and catches Parting off-guard this time, and with 5 tanks on the low ground providing covering fire outside Parting’s Natural, Parting falls to a very very powerful push from the Terran. GG from Parting as his collosi and gateway units fall.

Game 2: GSL Icarus

Parting continues on with the legacy of Squirtle, building a proxy robo on Byun’s side of the map. It looks like he is going to go for an immortal bust, and not one to disappoint, Parting picks up 2 immortals before proceeding with the bust.

While Parting is able to push up the ramp given the much more standard one barracks expand from Byun; Parting is stopped yet again like in the previous map by a couple of quick siege tanks. Unfortunately for Byun though, with high-ground vision and enough gateway units to supplement his immortals, Parting is able to finally bust through and seal the deal.

Game 3: Neo Planet S

Parting gets started with a delayed nexus after 3 gates, while Byun goes for a very interesting hellion based opening. Parting does control the game quite well though, with many stalkers out on the map he is able to keep Byun inside his main base, all the while building up his own macro/production back home.

This weird style from Byun does transition into siege mode quite well, which helps him in defending the main, but the problem is that he is falling so far behind in income that he may be forced to do an all-in. Parting plays very nicely, teching straight up to storm back at home, and with a lucky break, is able to storm almost every single marine as Byun moves out, effectively sealing the deal.

Parting wins 2:1

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Set 3: LG-IM Losira (Z) vs SKT1 Parting (P)

DUCK EXPECTS: 2:1 Parting

Game 1: GSL Bel’Shir Vestige

Parting plays out a very interesting strategy, gateway first, cybernetics and then of course an expansion. Luckily for Losira though he took a quick gas and will have very fast zergling speed out which will give him a great position to control the map.

Despite this, Parting is able to continue on with his build, though it is scouted by a random Losira zergling that is able to sneak inside the main base. The game proceeds at a very standard pace, and even with quick control of the map, Losira starts to fall behind with Parting picking up his colossus tech, and a third base. Partly this is because Losira is continually sending in mid to large packs of zerglings into the clutches of Parting, while not taking his own fourth base.

Parting with free time to macro up and pick up a large, powerful army, is shortly able to slowly push across the map and simply just… annihilate Losira. It was a very weird game.

Game 2: GSL Cloud Kingdom

Interesting to see Losira pick CK against a Protoss player, not to mention against a Protoss of Parting’s calibre. We’ll see if he has something sneaky in mind, given that this is a very easy map to immortal/sentry.

Parting starts out by blocking off the natural expansion of Losira, and follows up with a nexus first build. And of course… he gets started with an immortal/sentry based play. +1 weapons are on the way, the gateways finally go down, and the second immortal pops out at the 8:20 mark.

Losira should definitely be prepared for this, and to his credit he starts a massive round of zerglings, and a very quick infestation pit. Because he has stopped at 55 drones he will look to defend this, and given the position he’s in, he may be able to. He is even able to get a fantastic surround on the immo/sentry initial push, putting him in a nice position.

All is looking good for Losira… but… the soul train arrives at the station. Parting pushes in with some amazing forcefields is easily able to crush Losira, regardless of any prior counter-pressure that Losira put on him. GG

Parting wins 2:0

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Set 4: ByunPrime (T) vs Ax.Ryung (T)

DUCK EXPECTS: 2:1 Ryung

Game 1: GSL Bel’shir Vestige

In this first TvT we’ve had for a while, we see Ryung open up with some cheese a slightly proxied barracks, with a tech lab. It’s not actually very far from his main base, as it’s positioned just outside his main. With the techlab barracks Ryung produces a single reaper, and gets minimal damage and scouting done, as Byun saw it all coming.

Both players stick to 1 base, as there is a lot of tech going on, with Ryung getting a lot of hellions out, and Byun picking up cloak banshees.

Finally at the 10 minute mark both players have their natural bases and are preparing for mid game. Ryung goes for a heavy hellion style mech, while Byun is going for a standard marine/tank build.

Things  take an interesting twist when Ryung pushes up to the natural of Byun, and is able to catch him off guard while the army of Byun is out on the map. There was a base trade starting up, as Byun decided to forget the army in his natural and move across the map… until he changed his mind. It seemed like Ryung wasn’t watching properly, because his mech was caught off guard and is killed in the end. Things even up relatively speaking, though of course Ryung does have a much stronger mech army.

The game moves on to a macro phase again, with both players on three and then four bases total. Byun of course has a much more mobile army because he has m/m/m and while they both battle for possession of the middle of the map they continue to macro up. Byun starts drop play finally, wanting to abuse the immobility of mech by sending in 4 medivacs into the main base of Ryung. The drops are cleaned up eventually, and perhaps didn’t get anywhere near what they should have done.

Byun starts trying to run the tank lines with large amounts of maruaders and marines with a small amount of tank support but Ryung’s positioning is just impeccable, point defence drones providing cover for tanks, along with vikings up in the sky able to help keep the forces at bay. After continuous failed attacks from Byun, and as we see his fourth base go down, Byun GG’s out.

Game 2: GSL Daybreak

Marauder rush opening from Ryung, with his opponent going for a gas-first build which means this has some potential to do some very decent damage. Adding to this is the fact that Byun has not scouted at all.

Weirdly, Byun lowers his supply depot wall, and when the marauders push inside, the SCVs are pulled and due to some back micro from Ryung, the first 2 marauders get caught. The pressure at first has been deflected, and when the banshee pops out, Byun is able to return some pressure to Ryung.

After some back and forth with marauders inside Byun’s base, and the banshee’s pressuring Ryung’s base the players look to stabilise until the 12-13 minute mark where they reveal their true tech path; mech for Ryung again, and bio for Byun again. Once again we see a very heavy hellion count in Ryung’s army while he tries to maintain map control. With all that said Ryung suffers in his supply count, and against an aggressive bio player, Ryung is in a lot of trouble.

When Ryung finally establishes his third base, Byun pushes across the map with marine/maruader and tank support, siegeing up the base of Ryung, stopping any mining and eventually breaking through clearing out the natural too, and finishing off the game. GG from Ryung.

Game 3: Neo Planet S

Cloak banshee opening from Byun, looking to try and capitalise on the quick 1 barracks expand from Ryung. Minimal damage is done as Ryung was aware of what was coming about. Cloak also comes along from Ryung too, and he is also able to get a small amount of damage done, though nothing too huge. Both players happy to setup and stabilise for the time being, yet again we see mech from Ryung, and bio from Byun.

Ryung is looking decent at the 24 minute mark, with 3 bases established, and an attempted fourth and fifth going up towards the upper portion of the map. Byun does have a small economic advantage at this point, but given how aggressive Ryung is at expanding, we’ll see how long that lasts. Both players continue to try and butt heads with each other, and Ryung is able to defend adequately, though continual trading does wear thin against the meching player.

At the 40 minute mark Byun has finally started to slowly make his way towards Battlecruisers. The trouble is that he still has a very heavy ground army comprising of marauders and tanks. So while he will start off the BC’s before Ryung, he is still going to have to sacrifice army if he wants to get a useful amount. Ryung meanwhile has pumped up his viking count, with 28 out on the field, against the 21 of Byun. Ravens also comprise of a large portion of Byuns army, totalling 9.

The match continues on in a very slow, stagnant style, with Byun trying to slowly gain ground, but without a gold base, if a large-scale battle occurs and with only 800 minerals in the bank, if he loses too many units he’ll have trouble recovering. Meanwhile for Ryung, because of the gold base and a much more defensive viking/tank/thor presence on the map, he is in a very comfortable position.

The battle does initiailly go the way of Byun, and with a small marine/marauder ground force he is looking to push forward, but the viking/tank defense of Ryung holds out and gives him the win.

Ryung wins 2:1

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Set 5: Ax.Ryung (T) vs LG-IM Losira (Z)

DUCK EXPECTS: 2:0 Ryung

Game 1: GSL Daybreak

Command center first from Ryung, going for an economic build, followed by 1 barracks after. Hatchery first from Losira, followed up by the pool and a reasonably quick first gas. In a very interesting move, Losira sends a queen out on the map, and using the hatchery trick gets creep started in the middle of the map, and also near the third of Ryung.

When Ryung moves out to take his third base he is unfortunately greeted by a large amount of creep covering the third base. Ryung however cleans it up reasonably quickly, including some of the tumours in the middle of the map.

Losira is sitting in a very comfortable spot, with baneling speed, +2 on melee attack and carapace on the way, and with a third base and a fourth on the way he will be feeling quite content with the state of this game.

Ryung moves into a standard marine/tank style, but given how late his third was he has missed a couple of standard timing pushes. But with his own +2 weapons and armour about finishing up (ahead of Losira) he’s still in this game and things are looking quite good for both players. Ryung attempts a couple of drops, and is able to deny the fourth base, but his other attempted drops in the main and natural are deflected.

At the 17:30 mark on the clock Losira’s first batch of broodlords have hatched, and Losira pushes forward getting quite a lot of damage done, including destroying the fourth of Ryung. Ryung has been completely caught unawares by the broodlords (despite the very standard timing) and Losira with a large clutch of banelings is able to push into Ryung’s natural, almost completely uncontested. GG from Ryung

Game 2: GSL Cloud Kingdom

Double proxy barracks from Ryung, not completely on the opposite side of the map, but still outside the main. Regardless, Ryung does get the 2 barracks up but they have been spotted by Losira’s early drone scout.

The push begins, but Losira despite not making a spine is able to deflect the attack. Pulling a lot of drones, and getting a beautiful surround on the first batch of 3 marines, taking them down.

Losira in complete control of the game now, continues to drone up, takes his double evo chamber and zergling speed his third base. Ryung attempts to power up his economy after the failed cheese, and is able to secure his own third base, with his +1 weapons and armour just about to finish up.

Both players continue to power up and macro up and Ryung even gets a lucky break, with a drop into the natural of Losira he is able to take down the baneling nest mere seconds before baneling speed finishes. A battle ensues at Losira’s third base, and Ryung is somehow pulling into a bit of a lead in this game, especially seeings Losira is on 3 base and is only going for Ultra/Infestor.

Losira continues to sit on a heavy ultra/bane/ling/infestor composition, but still is struggling to get a fourth base mining he really needs to pick up a big kill on Ryung’s remaining army, or needs to fully secure a base. But yet again, the drops from Ryung are fantastic killing a lot of drones at the fourth of Losira, and denying mining for quite a long time.

At the 25 minute mark Losira is sitting on a very scary ultra/infestor/ling composition, with his army supply up to 123 total. Ryung’s mining is starting to dissapate himself, given that he does not have a fourth either.

Losira is finally able to bust through the remaining forces of Ryung, and with the final thrust of Ultralisks, banelings, zerglings and some infestors in support, Losira is about to take the win and secure his round of 16 spot.

Losira wins 2:0

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Final Results

Losira and Parting advance from the group.

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Summary of gameplay:

Losira:
The Losira of old has returned! While not completely immaculate to the tune of Life or perhaps Symbol, Losira showed us some signs of his old high level play. His use of bane/ling guerilla attacks were fantastic to see, and throwing in Ultralisks was a great thing to see.

Parting:
Perfect.

Ryung:
Ryung has some incredibly impressive mech skill and for the most part showed us that style today; but his bio seemed to be lacking in some aspects, especially when up against Losira. He made some fantastic moves in the TvT with Byun though, and I was very impressed with the way he played that out. It’s unfortunate to see him drop out, but we will see him back at some point, no doubt about it.

Byun:
The puppy Terran showed us some of his long-term “come at me bro” style today, but unfortunately some macro mistakes and positional mistakes cost him a spot in the round of 16 here. If he continues with play like today he may struggle to come back to Code S with the form we’ve been seeing from the other players.

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