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Power Rank as of 09/15/2008
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
+1 |
1 |
Jaedong's been hot lately. He went nearly undefeated in WCG, only dropping one game to BeSt. There's not much else to say about him. |
| 2. |
BeSt[HyO]
(P) (stats) |
+5 |
2 |
It seems after his 0-3 loss to July, BeSt is back. He may have dropped a series to the #1 Zerg in the world and was knocked out of the MSL, but there is still no doubt this man is the best Protoss in the world right now. |
| 3. |
By.Flash
(T) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Flash and BeSt are so close right now skill wise and statistically that it was a difficult decision to place one above the other, but BeSt has been out performing Flash by a very small margin. Flash showed strong play in the OSL but his play was dismal in WCG. Hopefully he picks up his play. |
| 4. |
Stork[gm]
(P) (stats) |
- |
2 |
Stork has been great lately, he crushed his opponents in the MSL and the OSL and despite losing to Jaedong in WCG he managed to take down Much and fOrGG. Stork is really hot right now but not hot enough to break the top 3 yet. |
| 5. |
Much[gm]
(P) (stats) |
- |
4 |
Despite Much's recent statistics he's been playing great. He took down fOrGG and Flash before hitting a rough patch but even while losing he's losing with style and showing great play all around. So he gets the 5th spot on PR. |
| 6. |
fOrGG_V_
(T) (stats) |
-5 |
1 |
fOrGG_V_ has hit a bit of a rough patch lately but he's not losing to any scrubs (yet). Much and Stork are amazing PvTers so dropping a series to them isn't to terrible. But he needs to pick up his play to remain on the PR. So he's at 6th for now. |
| 7. |
Sea[Shield]
(T) (stats) |
- |
1 |
Sea is doing great, he's had a couple of bumps along the road in August but he is in both leagues and took down Pure, HerO, and Hades (none of which are scrubs). This is worthy of 7th on the chart. |
| 8. |
by.Fantasy
(T) (stats) |
- |
8 |
Fantasy is in both leagues, he took down NaDa twice and is currently 1-0 in the OSL Ro16. He's not had enough results to be ahead of Sea but he's getting there. He get's the 8th spot. |
| 9. |
Luxury[GsP]
(Z) (stats) |
-4 |
3 |
Luxury's been having a rough patch lately. He was knocked out of the MSL and lost in his best MU to Jaedong. But he's still in the OSL and still has one of the best ZvZ and ZvT out there. That being said Luxury is in the 9th spot. |
| 10. |
Leta
(T) (stats) |
-4 |
6 |
Leta's been on a beastly streak the past couple months. He's become OGN's star Terran in PL, he's in the MSL after taking down Shuttle twice. He's not had many games this month so I can't put him higher but he still deserves to be on the PR. |
Comments (307)
Power Rank as of 08/07/2008
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
fOrGG_V_
(T) (stats) |
+4 |
1 |
Does this look odd to you? It sure looks odd to me. Odd doesn't even begin to cover the unreal boost in play fOrGG showed in July. Results are all well and good (and with an MSL win, I'm sure no one will disagree that he's got 'em in spades), but the real matter here is that no one played better StarCraft in July than fOrGG. Breaking out of his mould in a big way, fOrGG showed the world he's capable of so much more than making thirty thousand units and throwing them away. His games were dynamic, explosive, and most importantly, they were fucking brilliant StarCraft. Gotta give credit where it's due, there isn't a player in the world that came anywhere near fOrGG in July. |
| 2. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Jaedong suffered a three game massacre at the hands of our new #1, but besides that, he looks just fine. His games against han in the OSL offline prelims were pretty good, definitely more a credit to han than a mark against Jaedong. Jaedong is still comfortably the best Zerg around. As sad as it makes me, I'm not sure how much longer he'll keep this up. Whether he performed up to what is expected of him during July, however, is a certainty. |
| 3. |
By.Flash
(T) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Another victim of forGG, Flash looked plain vulnerable during his brief MSL Semifinal. Using a 14cc build order in every game was definitely an oversight on his part, but I won't pretend it means he's down and out, never to return. He got outplayed pretty hard, but you'll notice that the man who struck him down is a few spots above, as it should be. Flash isn't done yet, and with a berth in the round of 16 in both leagues, we'll soon get a clear indicator of where Flash is heading in the near future. |
| 4. |
JulyZerg
(Z) (stats) |
+4 |
4 |
First, let me just put this out there: I LOVE JULY. I've been a fan of July for about five years now, and the fact that he overcame a grueling slump to join Nada in the Golden Mouse club says great things about his ability as a player, and his will to win. July is below the three players above him simply because his competition during OSL was relatively soft. I'd expect most Zergs to beat down Rock and Backho. |
| 5. |
Luxury[GsP]
(Z) (stats) |
+2 |
3 |
Luxury's had a slow month. He's only played two games, and he split them. His spot this month is more a result of other players moving around. Luxury is still "the other best Zerg", the man who fills the void when Jaedong is having a bad week. He's been great for months, and I don't see any change from the two games he played in July. Is Luxury destined to be middleground for the rest of his career?
Middleground or not, Luxury is a damn good player. It wouldn't be right to just drop him for only playing two games in a month, because he's been playing his ass off for quite a while now. |
| 6. |
Leta
(T) (stats) |
- |
6 |
This little guy was terrible six months ago. We all remember his single shining moment, a ridiculous game against Stork from last ProLeague season.
Okay, picture that game. Now picture that happening six times in six different games during July. Impressed yet? You should be. Leta is playing some of the finest StarCraft I've seen lately. If looking at his string of victories isn't enough for you, watch the games. He's seamless and powerful, smart and confident. Leta has become a very good player, and unlike his most often comparison, Ruby, he's managed to find the groove and perform consistently. The birth of a Terran superstar, or a flash in the pan? I honestly have no idea, but Leta's games during the month have been something to behold. Good for you, kid. |
| 7. |
BeSt[HyO]
(P) (stats) |
-3 |
2 |
Seems like the beast has been bitten back. After being completely dismantled by July, Best was the latest victim of the new dynamo above him. It can certainly be expected that a relatively inexperienced player such as Best would take the loss he suffered against July to heart, and the effects seem to have been drastic. This spot is something of a compromise, because while Best played horribly during and after his OSL finals loss, the games he played leading up to that incident were still the best Protoss I've seen in a loooooooong time. Best has certainly got the talent to bounce back from his misery, and that's why he preserves this particular spot. Get your shit together, come back and see me. |
| 8. |
Kal
(P) (stats) |
-2 |
4 |
Kal's had a rough month, but he's still a damn good player. His losses have been numerous, but nothing significant has changed. In every situation, Kal has lost through his opponent playing well, rather than he himself playing poorly. And in most cases, they were damn fine games.
Kal is something of an oddity. He's the last person I'd have expected to go toe-to-toe with fOrGG. Even old, shitty fOrGG, much less new-and-improved badass motherfucker fOrGG. But he did, and their series contained some really cool games. Kal isn't going anywhere, he'll still be around, he'll still win a ton of games. If he doesn't do it quick, however, he's off next month. There are too many good players for one good player to get away with losing for very long. |
| 9. |
Iris[gm]
(T) (stats) |
- |
2 |
These next two spots will cause some bitching in the comments, I'm sure. I don't give a shit. If you've seen Iris's most recent games, you know he's playing like a savage again. I got chills watching him dismantle the chumps in his OSL prelim group. It spoke of one thing: The goddamn Berserker is BACK. Don't prove me wrong, Iris. The Rank is yours to climb. |
| 10. |
Midas
(T) (stats) |
- |
2 |
Another fallen hero, Midas has been playing very well as of late. A recent interview showed him positively bursting with confidence, assuring his fans that the slump is over. Well, for now, his game has backed up the trash his mouth been spewin'. Midas looks like a great player once again, and something about the world just feels a little more... right. Midas gets the same warning Iris does. Don't taunt me with strong play if you aren't going to keep the ball rolling. |
Comments (260)
Power Rank as of 07/06/2008
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
Sea[Shield]
(T) (stats) |
- |
1 |
Sometimes, the definition of "Power" changes so drastically that weird things happen.
Weird indeed, that Sea[Shield] is at the top of the Power Rank without a title to his name. Friends, Power can means a lot of things. A Powerful build order can win you a StarLeague. A Powerful mind can keep your career long and properous. A Powerful heart can endear you to the masses, and create a wave of fanatics frothing at the mouth just for a chance to cheer you on.
Yum BoSung has the most Powerful heart of any progamer on the scene. For the last several days, Sea has graciously spent time between practice with his adoring english-speaking fans, playing all manner of games. That includes a brutal 2-0 of your hero, sMi.FakeSteve, that consisted of utterly flawless (and I do mean flawless) control over the growth and prowess of his armed forces. Sea's TvT is perfection wielded as a weapon of unimaginable power, something I have never been on the receiving end of before.
Sea's TvZ is a sinister love affair between Casy's aggressiveness and iloveoov's macromanagement. You think you've seen TvZ? Watch Sea vs Hyuk on Othello, a game that transcends build order and mechanics and settles promptly down to raw, unrelenting will to win.
You think you're familiar with TvP timings? Sea frequently screams out of his base with a massive amalgamation of units and delivers his Protoss foe into the eager hands of the Devil himself. Sea is the reckoning and judgment itself for the hapless children who choose the race that carrier rushes.
Yum BoSung has captivated the entirety of TeamLiquid.net with but a few days of generous (by his schedule) interaction. A fresh crop of fans have seen the light, have snapped out of a dreamy sleep of ignorance during which they cheer for... *scoff*... other players. Sea is the single greatest StarCraft player to ever walk the earth, for reasons that go above and beyond the game itself, and certainly beyond the call of duty for a ProGamer.
Sea[Shield] is #1 on the Power Rank this month, and #1 in our hearts, this day and forevermore. |
| 2. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Hello Jaedong!
So, there's been talk that Jaedong's ZvT is "shaky". There's been whispers here and there in gutters and back alleys that Jaedong isn't quite what he used to be. Well citizens, there's a reason those opinions are found in the sewers and backstreets: they're completely unfounded.
After the savage beating Jaedong laid upon Hwasin this MSL those doubts are washed away. Those three simple wins gave Jaedong's reputation a hose-down, and the strongest zerg on planet Earth is looking fresh and devastating as ever. Jaedong is a lock for the MSL final, where he will undoubtedly meet the next fellow on this list. |
| 3. |
By.Flash
(T) (stats) |
-2 |
1 |
Flash and Jaedong have been trading this spot for a while now, and usually the difference is a single game or series. The competition between these two really is that close.
In June, both these players faced essentially their strongest competition besides each other; Jaedong faced Hwasin, Flash faced Luxury. The difference here, is that Flash LOST to Luxury. However, Flash is obliterating MSL and is fresh off an impressive series with an upstart named Lomo.
Like Jaedong, Flash is looking toward the MSL final, and only fOrGG remains in his way. While he has technically been overthrown from the top spot on this ranking, he's certainly still the Flash we've grown accustomed to. |
| 4. |
BeSt[HyO]
(P) (stats) |
-1 |
2 |
Best is still great, not much has changed from last month. He came out of a grueling series with Luxury with a berth in the OSL final, where this Royal Road-walking phenom will face a two-time OSL champion. With these three players tearing everything up, it'd be real nice to have a monstrous clash in the near future so we can properly sort out what's what. For now, it has occurred to me from watching all of his games that Best is not quite at the level of Flash and Jaedong, but he's certainly closest. |
| 5. |
fOrGG_V_
(T) (stats) |
- |
1 |
Let me say right up front: This is not a position earned through bias. I don't even like fOrGG. He certainly has been playing some fine StarCraft, though. His series against Kal was one of the most entertaining TvP series we've seen in quite a while, and in my eyes this spot is unquestionably earned. fOrGG is in for the hardest series of his professional career as he tries to crash the MSL Final party this season.
fOrGG is kind of an odd player. Most of the decisions he makes are merely common ProGamer sense. His micro is laughable at times. He has always made more units than anyone on earth (besides iloveoov of course), and therein lies his strength. fOrGG is very hit-or-miss, but he displayed a surprising amount of flair against Kal. Enough for me to publicly acknowledge that he is really, REALLY fucking good at making units. |
| 6. |
Kal
(P) (stats) |
-1 |
4 |
Kal is hangin' around. He doesn't seem to be a one-hit wonder as many (myself included) suspected he might be after he was outclassed by Jaedong an MSL past. He's still one of the better players out there, teetering on the verge of S class. There isn't a whole lot to say about Kal, and there won't be until he does something impressive or unexpected. Until then, he'll cruise the middle of the PR and everyone will agree that his PvZ is much, much better than Stork's. |
| 7. |
Luxury[GsP]
(Z) (stats) |
+2 |
3 |
Luxury made a hell of a run for the OSL title this season, crown among his achievements a 2-0 slaughter of Flash. Luxury is a monster in every single Zerg matchup when he's playing well, and he certainly has been lately. His series against Best was a nail-biter, and I'm certain we haven't seen the last of Luxury in OSL/MSL this year. |
| 8. |
JulyZerg
(Z) (stats) |
- |
4 |
LOOK WHO'S BACK
July is in the OSL FINAL. THE FINALS OF THE OSL FOR A FIFTH TIME. This Golden Mouse candidate has been slaughtering second-rate Protoss players with style and grace lately. The only reason he isn't higher is that his opponents have been, well, terrible. As any strong player should win a series against a lesser player, so has July defeated Rock and BackHo. What remains to be seen is whether this is Tushin returned in earnest, or merely a hand extended longingly toward an unattainable goal. We shall see, or at least I will, because I'll be watching every goddamned July game live from now until he slumps again. It makes me very, VERY happy to put a player that held my 'favourite player' title until Sea came around on the Power Rank. |
| 9. |
Lomo[fOu]
(T) (stats) |
- |
9 |
Like his teammate fOrGG, I don't particularly like Lomo. But, this ain't about feelings, it's about StarCraft, and Lomo's been doing that pretty well lately.
Lomo has brought a unique style to MSL, and took Flash to five games before succumbing to a superior player. This is definitely a kid to watch out for. He's on his way up, and I don't see him going any other direction in the near future. |
| 10. |
Hwasin
(T) (stats) |
-6 |
2 |
Hwasin got completely totalled by Jaedong. But Jaedong is Jaedong, and if anything the existence of the series itself proves that Hwasin hasn't hung up his hat yet. How many times can I fit the letter H in a sentence? Let's hope Hwasin plays well in July as well so we can find out. |
Comments (398)
Power Rank as of 06/06/2008
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
By.Flash
(T) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Yes, Flash is still unquestionably the best player on earth. This kid has utterly exploded since his GSI win over Stork. Between that time and now, Flash has gone 23-3, a stretch of dominance that is unheard of in today's field. He has no weak matchups. His games aren't just victories, but sad, one-sided affairs that leave his opponent laying on the floor in the fetal position, weeping and wondering why they ever picked up a copy of StarCraft. |
| 2. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Jaedong is still unquestionably the 'other best player in the world'. He went 8-2 in May, dropping games to Hwasin and Mind. Jaedong will cruise through MSL until he meets Flash, and if he doesn't meet Flash, he'll win it again. I'll admit that Jaedong doesn't really look as good as he has in the past, but he's damn sure still better than everyone below him on this list. |
| 3. |
BeSt[HyO]
(P) (stats) |
+5 |
2 |
Quietly and quickly, Best became the strongest Protoss in the world. Best played nine games in May, and won every single fucking one. That includes a win over Flash, making him the only Protoss since march 15th to defeat the young phenom. Best is playing with mechanics and game sense that eclipse the abilities of the rest of the Protoss tribe right now. Though there are players with marginally comparable performances, no other Protoss has been winning the way Best has, and that's any damn way he feels like winning. |
| 4. |
Hwasin
(T) (stats) |
- |
2 |
Here's a familiar face! After a brief hiatus, Hwasin is playing great once again. 7-3 in May against all manner of opponents, Hwasin is showing games that match his previous calibre, when he was consistantly the second or third best Terran on earth. Personally, I couldn't be called a Hwasin fan, but I can't deny that he's been handily outperforming certain Terrans of whom I am a fan (cough cough). Hwasin is an immediate and alarming threat to everyone's MSL run. Yes, that includes Jaedong and Flash. |
| 5. |
Kal
(P) (stats) |
-1 |
4 |
Kal is still playing very well. Despite a few oddball losses in ProLeague (Come on, who can predict when lil' Ruby will just up and rape a sucker?), Kal looks to be in the same form he's been in for the last two months. He cemented this spot by taking a lead in his MSL series against Canata. Though Kal may not pose a threat to the four monsters above him, everyone else had better watch the fuck out. |
| 6. |
Much[gm]
(P) (stats) |
- |
4 |
You know, watching Much's games over the last month has been kinda boring. It's also important to recognize that during the last month, Much has lost more games than he's won. So, why is Much in the sixth spot?
Well, he's the only player besides Flash (OSL tiebreakers pending) who has qualified for the round of 8 in both major leagues. It certainly hasn't been pretty, and he's been utter dogshit everywhere else, but Much is winning when it counts, and some proleague games don't mean shit in comparison. |
| 7. |
Nada
(T) (stats) |
- |
2 |
Nada made it to the round of 16 in both major leagues. And though he lost to Hwasin in a close series in MSL, and though his advancement in OSL is in jeopardy, Nada has managed to once again look like a strong overall contendor. For the winningest player of all time, coming out of a slump is neither impossible nor a new experience. By watching Nada play, I see entirely modern trains of thought that show me he is still adapting and learning new things. Things are looking up for the original golden boy. |
| 8. |
Inter.Mind
(T) (stats) |
-5 |
3 |
Mind has been doing the same thing for the last couple of months. It is completely impossible to predict whether Mind will win a specific game, and even harder to predict whether he'll take a series. Mind loses almost as much as he wins, yet he remains a player who can utterly destroy every single player on the planet, and that includes Flash. But, how long are we to tolerate a lack of results? Mind is now out of both leagues, and though he certainly hasn't gotten worse since last month, a player with his errant fluctuation needs results. |
| 9. |
Luxury[GsP]
(Z) (stats) |
-2 |
3 |
Luxury is still better than people give him credit for. Yes, he lost two games to Sea in a fast exit from MSL. But he's also through to the round of 8 in OSL and currently on a 7 game winning streak. Luxury may not be an S class player at this moment, which is why he's so low on the PR. But Luxury still completely wrecks almost everyone who isn't on this list, and he's advancing in OSL. Good enough for me! |
| 10. |
Sea.Pure
(P) (stats) |
- |
10 |
Here's a new face for you all to ponder. Sea.Pure is FUCKING GOOD. His schedule hasn't been the most impressive line of opponents, but he has certainly showed some really sick play. I wouldn't dream of putting Pure anywhere above 10th before he shows me something in OSL or MSL, but for now his excellent play in ProLeague is sufficient. This guy is the real deal, and excellent player mechanically with great game sense. We'll see more from him soon, but for now he gets a polite nod for being such a great player. |
Comments (315)
Power Rank as of 05/03/2008
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
By.Flash
(T) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Yes, Flash is still the best player. He's destroying everyone he comes across right now, there is no question that he's the current number one. Its looking like someone will have to dethrone this kid for him to move. |
| 2. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Jaedong is still #2, even though his play lately has been a liiiiiiiiiiittle shaky. Missing out on OSL is pretty bad, but as far as I'm concerned, forgivable. Especially considering that this is the only 'bad' performance Jaedong has had in months. He's still a strong contendor for another MSL title, and as always, a proleague monster. |
| 3. |
Inter.Mind
(T) (stats) |
+3 |
3 |
Mind rises because there are no candidates more worthy of this spot. Mind is in both leagues, getting there by the skin of his teeth as is apparently customary. Mind is a great player, a genuine threat in any league he's in right now. |
| 4. |
Kal
(P) (stats) |
+1 |
4 |
Kal's spot this month isnt really 'undeserved', but it wouldn't be fair to say he got this high this month completely by his own hand. A certain other protoss playing like TOTAL ASS has significantly changed the makeup of the top slots. Regardless, Kal is playing pretty good. We'll probably see him go decently far in one of the leagues, but I still don't see a champion. |
| 5. |
Sea[Shield]
(T) (stats) |
+5 |
1 |
Sea advanced through his OSL group, qualified for MSL easily, and is currently 3-1 in ProLeague. What more can you ask for? Sea is playing great right now. I wish his TvP would be a little more stable, but Sea is a heavy favourite against any Terran or Zerg that he plays right now, regardless of play style. Can he advance past the round of 16 in the individual leagues? Tune in next month to find out! |
| 6. |
Jangbi
(P) (stats) |
- |
6 |
Look who it is! The worst Protoss in the world! Jangbi is a scumbag and a liar, but I GUESS he is playing pretty good. UGH. SIGH.
Really though, Jangbi had something of a breakout last MSL and he's at the top of his game right now. He can be classified as a 'dangerous opponent', and all signs indicate that we haven't seen the best Jangbi will put out. |
| 7. |
Luxury[GsP]
(Z) (stats) |
-4 |
3 |
Despite Luxury's massive, massive failure against Stork last OSL, I'm not ready to give up on him just yet. He's 2-0 in ProLeague and currently in both OSL and MSL. We'll see how he performs in the individual leagues again, and then I can move him in either direction accordingly. Right now, all thats evident is that he's playing worse than everyone above him, but with only two games since his awful performance against Stork, its impossible to give him the boot completely. |
| 8. |
BeSt[HyO]
(P) (stats) |
- |
2 |
Have you checked out this character? Turns out he's pretty damn good. Best is the sort of sleeper that will surprise people in the coming months. He is definitely, at worst, a hazard for anyone in his OSL group. I really like Best's play, he's intuitive and vicious. Welcome to the Power Rank, kiddo. Someone thinks you're good! Hurray! |
| 9. |
Bisu
(P) (stats) |
-2 |
1 |
Maybe if Bisu had MADE IT OUT OF HIS FUCKING MSL GROUP WITH A ZERG AND TWO INSURANCE TERRANS, he'd have a better spot on the PR. Maybe if he wasn't PLAYING LIKE HE BROKE ALL HIS FINGERS WITH A HAMMER, he would have gone farther in MSL. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Bisu sucks right now, but only worse than the eight people above him. The Protoss revolutionist isn't completely out of gas yet, but damn he needs a refuel. |
| 10. |
Manifesto7
(R) (stats) |
- |
10 |
This spot actually goes to Stork, but it makes me infinitely happier to put some fat dummy on the list instead.
Let me break it down real easy: STORK SUCKS. Stork has sucked for AGES, but apparently only I had noticed. Stork's games the last few months have basically been nothing but a shitstorm of terrible games against Terran. Every game he either gets completely worked, or he does some retarded proxy robo carrier rush extreme dt bullshit that doesn't even work half the time, whether the terran scouts it or not. YOU SUCK STORK. I can't wait for him to get rolled in OSL (but not in MSL because he didn't qualify!) so I can actually drop him for real. |
Comments (532)
Power Rank as of 03/04/2008
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
By.Flash
(T) (stats) |
+4 |
1 |
Holy hell, Flash has been fucking incredible this past month. Flash and Jaedong have played ten games in the last little while, in three different leagues. The total score of all those games is 5-5. Flash is the only player currently capable of consistantly hanging with Jaedong, and unlike most other Terrans, Flash is currently nigh unbeatable TvP. I don't think anyone can really argue this one, and personally I'd prefer Jaedong in the top slot, but I just can't deny Flash's performance. Despite being knocked out of MSL by Jaedong, Flash won the GSI over Stork, and has secured his first ever OSL Final. |
| 2. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
-1 |
1 |
Jaedong is still unstoppable, unless you're Flash. Jaedong's dead-even combat with Flash has been a real treat for StarCraft fans everywhere, barring maybe the exchange of tired cheeses in the GSI. With both players playing better than everyone else by such a large margin, the simple turning point of Jaedong and Flash's placement was Jaedong's poor decisions against Flash's metal build on Katrina. Such a small detail, but entirely important in seperating number one from number two. In every other respect, Jaedong has looked as fiesty as ever |
| 3. |
Luxury[GsP]
(Z) (stats) |
+3 |
3 |
Though he's had fewer televised games, Luxury has been looking strong as hell. In his first OSL, he is yet to lose a single game. This placement may look a little high, but if you watch his OSL games and read my comments about a certain Protoss, I think you'll agree. |
| 4. |
Stork[gm]
(P) (stats) |
-2 |
2 |
Stork is still winning, I guess. My problem with Stork is that his latest games have absolutely nothing that would set him apart from every other Protoss out there. His series in the GSI final against Flash was solid, but every other game Stork has played recently is either a proxy something or a carrier rush. Just like every other Protoss. Stork's incredible macro has not shined once in recent weeks, because instead of showing his skill he has been taking easy wins on easy maps with the same bullshit much shittier Protoss players use. With Luxury on the warpath, I would wager that Stork will not make it to the OSL final alive. As with Flash, Luxury is currently playing at a level that transcends proxies, and you can't carrier rush in PvZ. We'll see what happens in the OSL semifinal, but with Stork's uninspired, lazy games, I feel this placement is completely justified. |
| 5. |
Kal
(P) (stats) |
+3 |
4 |
All right, good job. Any second-tier player trying to break into first-tier status should be expected to win handily over weak opponents on favourable maps, and that's exactly what Kal has done. Kal is, admittedly, pretty damn good at PvZ, which will make this MSL final somewhat interesting. Kal will need to beat Jaedong in order to preserve this spot on the Power Rank, which, considering his relatively easy path through MSL, is really nothing more than a courtesy. Now is the time to man up, and we'll have to wait and see what Kal brings to see if he really belongs up here. |
| 6. |
Inter.Mind
(T) (stats) |
-3 |
3 |
Mind got his skull caved in by Jaedong. He's still on the Rank because he's only really lost that one series lately, and his GSI performance wasn't too tragic. I mean, his performance was better than everyone below him, so how would it be fair to give him a different spot? |
| 7. |
Bisu
(P) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Bisu has been doing all right. Not phenomenal, not terrible. He did make it through groups in GSI, and to the OSL semifinal, but along the way he got completely manhandled by Flash, Iris, and Sea. He hasn't been playing at either extreme of the spectrum, just right in the middle. A middle spot on the Power Rank is a good fit for him, and his progression one direction or another is completely up to him. |
| 8. |
Anytime[gm]
(P) (stats) |
+1 |
2 |
Anytime is currently doing something Anytime has never done before. He's playing better than most, but not dominating. Anytime has always been a big hit or a terrible miss. Currently, he has qualified for the upcoming OSL and MSL, destroyed Stork in the ProLeague Grand Final, and put on a respectable showing at the GSI. No league titles, but nothing to frown at. |
| 9. |
Much[gm]
(P) (stats) |
-5 |
4 |
Much is being demoted to the 9th spot due to his poor performance past the group stages of GSI and OSL. It's like the steamrolling, badass motherfucker that slaughtered his OSL and GSI groups took a vacation, and left a confused old man on his own, trying to figure out what all these moving colors on the screen are. He played BAD. But, there are new leagues coming, and he's already qualified for one of them. If he makes it through ODT, he's got another chance at the big time. |
| 10. |
Sea[Shield]
(T) (stats) |
- |
1 |
Well, I didn't want to put Sea back on the rank until he did something better than what he usually does. Unfortunately, there is just no one more deserving of this spot. Sea destroyed his GSI group and qualified for the next MSL in two completely one-sided games. He looked fucking good while he did it, too. When he got to the GSI round of 8, however, he ran into Stork. Stork promptly proxy robo'd him on Blue Storm, and then carrier rushed on Katrina, and Sea was back out on the street. We watched Flash walk all over Stork later in the tournament, so no forgiveness here. Still, there are new leagues coming, and another season of ProLeague is bound to begin soon. We'll see what happens! |
Comments (209)
Power Rank as of 02/07/2008
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Lordy, lordy, the new king is still on his throne. Jaedong is looking incredible right now. His only loss in his entire OSL and MSL run so far has been a single game to Best in which he tried some wierd all-in on the terrible map Demon's Forest. Every other game Jaedong has played has been complete domination from start to finish, the likes of which we haven't seen since the heyday of the Maestro. |
| 2. |
Stork[gm]
(P) (stats) |
+1 |
2 |
Stork didn't make MSL, but that happened months ago. He went 3-0 in his OSL group with apparent ease, though, looking strong as ever. Stork is still a force to be reckoned with, and he'll need to show some form of weakness besides his PvZ to make him fall, because his PvZ doesn't seem to be holding him back right now. Maybe its fortunate that the only Zerg Stork has had to play recently is Rumble. Nevertheless, his PvP and PvT are the best around. |
| 3. |
Inter.Mind
(T) (stats) |
+1 |
3 |
Mind is doing very well. His win percentage isn't stellar, but he isn't crashing and burning in his MSL title defense, and he bulldozed the offline qualifiers on his way to OSC. Everyone should be watching this guy, because I get the distinct impression that he ain't done yet. |
| 4. |
Much[gm]
(P) (stats) |
+1 |
4 |
Speaking of bulldozers, you might as well paint Much yellow and put a fat lazy union worker on his back. Every one of Much's matchups look solid as hell right now, and he's on a 5-game winning streak. He has a tough road ahead of him in OSL, so we'll be able to see exactly where Much fits in with the three players above him. |
| 5. |
By.Flash
(T) (stats) |
+3 |
1 |
Flash is looking strong too. Since dropping off the rank months ago and reappearing in January, Flash has done nothing but win. Win, Win, Win. Awkward losses to Stork and Rock in his OSL group were quickly rectified by the utter mutilation of the tiebreaker. Flash is now in the round of 8 in BOTH leagues, though his opponent is Jaedong in either case. This will be yet another massive test for the little man, who's had quite an unfortunate list of opponents in his short individual league career. |
| 6. |
Luxury[GsP]
(Z) (stats) |
- |
3 |
Damn, where the hell did Luxury come from? He slaughtered his MSL round of 32 group, he massacred his OSL group 3-0. The only black mark on Luxury's resume for the last month is his loss in MSL to Jaedong, but since it seems apparent that EVERYONE loses to Jaedong right now, we can hardly hold it against him. Luxury has finally outshone his brother somewhere other than ProLeague, and with a shmuck for an opponent in the OSL Round of 8, things are looking up. |
| 7. |
Bisu
(P) (stats) |
-5 |
1 |
Bisu ain't dead yet - but he sure pissed me off. Bisu lost two consecutive PvZs in an MSL Round of 32 group of his own creation. On top of that, he got destroyed by Luxury and July in his OSL group. What saved him was the complete domination of Xellos and July in the group's tiebreaker matches. Bisu still has the gumption to make it out of groups, and with Much as his first opponent, he certainly has his work cut out for him. Resurgence? Failure? Tune in next month to find out! |
| 8. |
Kal
(P) (stats) |
- |
4 |
All right! What started off as a joke in the ProLeague updates I wrote can now be laid to rest. Here's the deal: I don't hate Kal. I never have. At this moment in time, Kal is showing that he desperately wants to be something more than an average, second-rate protoss. He's made the semifinal of the current MSL in convincing fashion, so now my unfair hatred has a new target. FUCK YOU, JANGBI. YOU SUCK. |
| 9. |
Anytime[gm]
(P) (stats) |
- |
2 |
Anytime's ridiculous loss to Nada in MSL is what kept him from being placed any higher than this spot. Aside from that, Anytime has looked pretty good. He hasn't lost a single game in the ProLeague playoffs this season, and he easily qualified for OSC. Anytime seems to have the puzzle almost put together, but until he finds the last few pieces he won't be hefting any trophies. |
| 10. |
Light[aLive]
(T) (stats) |
-1 |
3 |
The last spot goes to Light because Light has been... well... he's been all right. He was on the rank last month, and with a passable performance in January, he preserves his Power Rank prowess for another month. I've got my eye on Light, because he seems to play really well one moment and then just terribly the next. Maybe some consistancy will follow with these repeated league qualifications he's gathering. |
Comments (214)
Power Rank as of 01/03/2008
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
+3 |
1 |
The only thing keeping Jaedong down these last few months was his hapless ZvP. He's unquestionably the strongest ZvZ and ZvT player around, and during games 3 and 4 of his OSL final victory over Stork, he looked damn good at ZvP too. Jaedong has fewer medals, but right now he's playing a more complete game than Bisu. Jaedong is the best goddamned player in the world. |
| 2. |
Bisu
(P) (stats) |
-1 |
1 |
Bisu lost to Stork in the OSL Semifinal, but the two of them are still neck-and-neck in the race for the Best Protoss crown. Bisu may have lost to Stork, but the list of players that dominate Bisu is very short. He still seems incapable of losing to Zerg, and with his MSL group containing nothing but, he's in good position. Bisu's high finishes in both OSL and MSL trump Stork this month, because Bisu is still just playing better. |
| 3. |
Stork[gm]
(P) (stats) |
0 |
2 |
Oh, Stork. Stork is STILL completely useless against Zerg. His performance against Jaedong was abysmal; he wasn't even in control of the single game he won. To top that off, Stork didn't make MSL. He got stomped by Ruby and Luxury. Is that any way to finish the month? A terrible performance on the biggest stage, and then losses to second-rate chumps in Survivor? Stork's opportunity to prove himself a champion and not just a grinning nerd is slowly slipping through his fingers. |
| 4. |
Inter.Mind
(T) (stats) |
+1 |
3 |
Mind hasn't had a busy month. He's played nothing but ProLeague, and has won more than he's lost. Mind's real test will be his performance in the new MSL, but for now I can't credit or discredit him with anything I didn't already know, so he'll stay put this month. Mind's games are still very entertaining, and he still seems always on the verge of getting his face stomped in before he wins. He reminds me a lot of Iris, and if he can borrow some of Iris' execution finesse he'll be a major Terran force. |
| 5. |
Much[gm]
(P) (stats) |
+5 |
4 |
Maybe his wins aren't the prettiest, and maybe he doesn't have the greatest win:loss ratio, but Much is on fire. He played 18 games in December. He won OSC through a difficult bracket, with a 3-2 win over Sea to cap it off. He might be 10-8 for the month, but numbers lie. Much is getting the job done, and is looking like a strong contendor wherever he plays right now. |
| 6. |
Sea[Shield]
(T) (stats) |
+3 |
1 |
Sea is on fire too. Like Much, he played 18 games in December. Sea went 12-6, with half of his losses coming from his 2-3 loss to Much. On his way to the OSC final he even wrecked poor UpMagic in a strong display of dropship chess and veteran patience. Sea is in MSL and has favorable matchups in his ODT group. Sea deserves this spot for his great play this month, but a strong performance in at least one of the major tournaments will be needed to maintain position. |
| 7. |
sAviOr
(Z) (stats) |
-5 |
1 |
Savior is standing on his last legs in this Power Rank. He only had 3 games in December, so I'm wary of moving him any further. He's a seed in MSL and if he can conquer his difficult ODT group, he'll look a lot stronger in my eyes. Right now, Savior is definitely slipping. What I can't tell right now is how far, and whether its permanent. Savior is hard to put my finger on, and hopefully the coming month will give us some definitive answers about the future of Ma Jae Yoon. |
| 8. |
By.Flash
(T) (stats) |
- |
1 |
I don't like him, you don't like him... Maybe some of you like him, I dunno. That doesn't matter. What matters is that Flash is playing really, really good. Straight wins, too. No cheese from the kid in quite a while. Flash cruised easily into both leagues this season, so we'll see what he can do. Gotta give credit where it's due, even if Flash does look vaguely like a confused fish. |
| 9. |
Light[aLive]
(T) (stats) |
-1 |
3 |
Light is still looking pretty good. His loss to Jaedong in OSL is the only game in recent memory where he looked completely outclassed. he's only 2-2 in December, but the games were decent. He's in MSL and ODT, so he has ample chances to prove himself. He's already one of the strongest Terrans around, but he'll need some results to back that up pretty quick. |
| 10. |
Xellos
(T) (stats) |
- |
10 |
Hello, old friend! Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Seo Ji Hoon. Motherfucking XELLOS. Xellos is in both leagues with a Semifinal MSL appearance and a quick 2-0 of his ODT group. Xellos is starting to look fucking good again and it gives me warm, happy feelings down in my gut. And a little farther down, if you know what I mean. We can only hope this isn't yet another flash-in-the-pan veteran resurgence, like the ones poor rA has been pulling out lately. If Xellos is getting his game back, the whole world is in trouble. |
Comments (310)
Power Rank as of 12/01/2007
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
Bisu
(P) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah. Bisu wears his crown so fashionably. Yes, he lost to Mind, but that is the only series in the last three months wherein he didn't play like the best goddamned player on earth. His heroic comeback in game 2 of his series against Savior and his brutal domination of the third knocked the wind out of any doubt that Bisu is anything but the reigning world champ. |
| 2. |
sAviOr
(Z) (stats) |
+1 |
1 |
Savior lost to Mind too, but he also pushed Bisu farther than Bisu has ever been pushed in a PvZ series. Watch the second and third games of the Savior/Bisu series and honestly tell me that any other Protoss in the world could have won those games. You can't, because no other Protoss could. Savior's ZvT remains suspect only because he used to be untouchable, but had he sealed up the series against Bisu, we'd have seen a Savior OSL Final appearance without a shadow of a doubt. There's no player that has performed as consistantly this month, besides Bisu of course. |
| 3. |
Stork[gm]
(P) (stats) |
+1 |
2 |
Stork grabs the third spot because he's had a good month. He breezed through his OSL group and dismantled the little babyface Flash once again. After bringing Bisu so close to destruction in their MSL final meeting, it's ridiculous to think Stork stands no chance in their upcoming OSL semifinal match. Like the players above him, Stork will have to be knocked off in order to fall significantly. |
| 4. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
+1 |
1 |
Ahhh, Jaedong. This is Jaedong's OSL breakout. He creamed Light, and with Hwasin gone, he's basically a lock for the OSL final. This is the draw we've been waiting to see this little man mangle. If he can step up his ZvP and if Stork takes out Bisu, Jaedong has a legitimate chance at the OSL title. A loss or two in ProLeague amidst preparation for OSL doesn't fool me. |
| 5. |
Inter.Mind
(T) (stats) |
- |
3 |
Last month I said I had my eye on Mania and Mind. I called for them to step up and show me something incredible. Mind answered that call. His macro isn't earth-shattering, his micro isn't mind-boggling, but Mind's game sense is top fucking notch. He proved to me (and everyone else) that he's a force to be reckoned with, and if he can show me this isn't just a flash in the pan, Mind has nowhere to go but up. For now he sits below Jaedong, because there's very little that suggests Mind would be capable of standing in his way. |
| 6. |
Hwasin
(T) (stats) |
-4 |
2 |
Hwasin hasn't been playing as well as we're accustomed to. Still, you'd be a fool to think he isn't going to wreck everyone that stands in the way of another MSL/OSL double berth. It's too early to tell if this is a bump in the road or the beginning of a downfall, and while it sure ain't pretty, Hwasin is still currently one of the best Terrans on the planet. |
| 7. |
Sea.Up
(T) (stats) |
- |
6 |
UpMagic, like Mind, needed to show something special to break into the Power Rank. He certainly did just that. Not only did he beat Hwasin, but he beat Hwasin with solid, standard play. Game 3 of their series is the best TvT I've ever seen UpMagic play. However, Hwasin would fare a much better chance against Jaedong than UpMagic can hope for, and he's still useless against Protoss. Since this is Power Rank, not Who-Won-The-Series Rank, UpMagic sits lower than Hwasin because Hwasin's TvZ and TvP are fearsome. Credit is due, however. UpMagic's elevated play against Hwasin in an OSL round of 8 earns him his spot on the Power Rank. Only time will tell if his success is fleeting. |
| 8. |
Light[aLive]
(T) (stats) |
-1 |
3 |
All right, let's face it. Light got mangled by Jaedong. His saving grace is that any Terran would probably get mangled by Jaedong. This was a fairly successful OSL run on Light's part, and with a different draw its entirely possible that he would have advanced further. A loss against impossible odds won't make me give up on Light just yet, though he'll have to remain competitive to retain this spot. |
| 9. |
Sea[Shield]
(T) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
I said Sea would mangle his OSC group, and he did. There isn't a single player left in OSC that could sensibly be called a favorite over Sea, because his play right now is devastating. Sea's ProLeague presence isn't as big this season, which leads me to believe there is much more preparation going into his individual league performances. He'll need results to climb the Rank, but a Power Rank without Sea would just be foolish with how good he's playing right now. |
| 10. |
Much[gm]
(P) (stats) |
- |
4 |
I loathe using TLPD stats to enforce Power Rank spots, but I feel this is worth mentioning: Much is on a ten game winning streak, dating back to early October. 5-0 in November, Much is playing like he's hungry for OSL group stages once again. His games were agaisnt Chalrenge, GoGo, free, Stork, and GoRush. Not the best of the best, but hardly third-rate chumps. The most important thing to note is that Much's overall play is better than everyone except the nine players above him. It wouldn't be fair to give the tenth spot to anyone else. |
Comments (248)
Power Rank as of 11/01/2007
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
Bisu
(P) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
This is a no-brainer. Bisu is still 'bonjwa'. Bisu is still the best goddamn player on earth. If you disagree with this selection, I have one simple question for you: Are your parents blood related? |
| 2. |
Hwasin
(T) (stats) |
0 |
2 |
Hwasin was another easy choice. I keep waiting for Hwasin to plateau, but it just hasn't happened yet. Hwasin even had Bisu's back against the wall in MSL. He's the only player currently capable of giving Bisu so much hell in a series, and for that he's a lock in the second spot. |
| 3. |
sAviOr
(Z) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
The word 'slump' gets thrown around a lot at TL, but the simple fact remains that Savior is still playing great. It's very likely he'll make a sixth MSL finals appearance this season, and he's 2-0 in his OSL group. For performing so well in both leagues, I can't give him any worse than spot #3. |
| 4. |
Stork[gm]
(P) (stats) |
0 |
2 |
Stork in spot 4 is logical. The top four on this Power Rank are a cut above everyone else in ProGaming right now, but Stork's loss to Savior in MSL means he stays a spot below him. Stork's PvZ still plagues him, but his other matchups are still top-notch. Regardless of his early MSL exit, Stork is qualified to the OSL round of 8, and still looks strong as ever. |
| 5. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
+3 |
1 |
Through the month of October, Jaedong went 5-0. That's right, he didn't lose a single game. On top of that he's on a ZvT hot streak that dates back to July, amassing 13 consecutive wins. Jaedong's ZvP is still a concern, but his ZvT and ZvZ are so untouchable right now that anything lower than top 5 is an insult to his ability. |
| 6. |
Iris[gm]
(T) (stats) |
-1 |
2 |
Iris hasn't done anything to show me that he's not in top shape. Despite a loss to SangHo on Protoss-friendly maps in the MSL qualifications, Iris is still baring his teeth. His OSL group is the 'group of death', containing Light, Hwasin, and July. If he fails to make it out of the group, he'll have to really turn it on in November to maintain his spot on December's Power Rank, but right now no one can find a legitimate fault in his play. All signs still point to Yes on Iris' OSL road. |
| 7. |
Light[aLive]
(T) (stats) |
+2 |
3 |
Light gains a few spots because of his relative MSL success and his 2-0 status in his OSL group. Though he'll be hard-pressed to escape his group over Iris or Hwasin, he's playing very well. I'll admit his losses to Kwanro looked bad, but let's not forget he beat GoRush and Lucifer to get there in the first place. Besides the hiccup against Kwanro (that's what we're calling it, for now), Light has elevated his play since last month. Moreso than the next guy on the list. |
| 8. |
free[gm]
(P) (stats) |
+2 |
8 |
I can hear you asking, "FakeSteve, why isn't Free higher than Light? Free beat his MSL Round of 16 opponent!" Yeah, he did. He beat Lomo, but it took three games, and he looked like shit while he did it. Game 1 was such a drubbing that we should be able to expect Free to take Lomo out in a similar manner in game 2. Instead he played like he'd lost his fingers in a threshing accident. Afterwards, he was thoroughly embarassed by Savior. Free is under Light because despite his statistically better MSL performance, Light was in both leagues, and is still playing great in OSL. Gotta give some credit though, which is why Free climbs to spot #8. |
| 9. |
Sea[Shield]
(T) (stats) |
-2 |
1 |
I can hear even more people saying, "Oh FakeSteve, why is Sea on the Power Rank? He lost in MSL Round of 32!" Yeah, he did. However, he played an amazing game against July, and performed exponentially better against Kwanro's slick ZvT build order than Light did. On top of that, Sea is 5-1 in the current ProLeague, and everything in his game says he'll destroy OSC with ease. Sea has a lower spot than free and Light because they admittedly went farther in MSL, but no one with a lick of sense can say that Sea isn't playing exceptionally well right now. |
| 10. |
Anytime[gm]
(P) (stats) |
- |
2 |
Ohhhh, this one is going to ring some alarms. Anytime is 8-1 in ProLeague right now, and is the largest reason his team Lecaf has a perfect 8-0 record. Anytime is playing fantastically; he's destroying everyone he comes across with style and grace. If you aren't clear on why Anytime gets this spot over GGPlay, watch Anytime's ProLeague wins, and then watch GGPlay's game against Shudder. That ought to clear it up for you. Anytime will have an easy run qualifying for OSL, and if he keeps the form he showed through October, he'll go very far in the next tournament. Remember, this is Power Rank, not The List Of People Who Qualified For OSL/MSL Two Months Ago. |
Comments (195)
Power Rank as of 10/02/2007
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
Bisu
(P) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
As excited as everyone likes to get over a stray loss or two, the fact remains that Bisu is still the best player in the world. Beyond being the two-time, defending MSL champion, he is into the Ro16 of the MSL and started off the OSL with an embarrassingly one-sided win over GGPlay. |
| 2. |
Hwasin
(T) (stats) |
+3 |
2 |
Hwasin is 18-6 since August, with huge wins over huge opponents and a WCG Korea title. But WCG Korea is not a Starleague, and Hwasin has yet to prove himself as a player who can take down the best of the best when the stakes are at their highest. That caveat aside, Hwasin is playing better than he ever has. He’s even showing the stylistic flickers of intense brilliance that define a star, moments like his “goliath bomb” against Light in their epic TvT. |
| 3. |
sAviOr
(Z) (stats) |
+3 |
1 |
Savior’s suffered some difficult losses as of late, but they’re been against the cream of the crop, players like Sea, Hwasin, Light, and Flash. Looking at the big picture, Savior is into the MSL Ro16 and 1-0 in the OSL, to say nothing of his third-place finish at WCG Korea. It’s hard to fault a player over a few losses when he’s posting such consistent results. |
| 4. |
Stork[gm]
(P) (stats) |
0 |
2 |
I felt like I was in The Twilight Zone when Stork beat July and lost to Hwasin at WCG Korea, but that doesn’t change the fact that Stork is 12-6 since August with easy wins in the MSL and OSL. |
| 5. |
Iris[gm]
(T) (stats) |
-3 |
2 |
Iris is a huge question mark for me this month. He’s only played six major games since his OSL loss to GGPlay, but I can’t help but remark upon the fact that he missed the MSL with an 0-2 loss to SangHo[Shield] in the very first round of the offline qualifiers. Losses like that don’t inspire much in the way of confidence. I don’t mean to slight SangHo—he’s very good, to be honest—but Iris is a perennial Starleague contender; we have to hold him to a higher standard. |
| 6. |
GGPlay
(Z) (stats) |
-3 |
3 |
Putting GGPlay at the #6 slot this month feels like an insult to him, but in reality, it’s a testament to how good the top four look at the moment. If GGPlay wants to retain such a high slot in the Power Rank, however, he’s going to have to show stronger play than he did against Bisu. GGPlay has never been a strong ZvP player, but a domination of that magnitude is bound to raise some eyebrows. |
| 7. |
Sea[Shield]
(T) (stats) |
+2 |
1 |
With his staggering Proleague record, respectable WCG performance, and spot in the MSL, Sea was an easy choice for the #7 slot this month. What concerns me about Sea, however, is that his MSL group consists of three hyper-aggressive Zergs. Sea could find himself in trouble if he continues to rely upon his fast expansion builds. |
| 8. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
-1 |
1 |
Jaedong is ZvT. If someone asked me to define ZvT while I was watching Jaedong play, I would simply point to the screen and say, “That’s it right there. That’s the definition of the matchup.” Jaedong is 10-0 in his last ten ZvTs, with wins over Boxer, Xellos, Light, and Hwasin. He executes in a way that no other Zerg has managed to mimic. Jaedong’s problem, however, is that his ZvP is atrocious. But he’s in luck! There are only three Protosses in the OSL, and neither Stork nor Rock is known for his PvZ prowness. As long as he manages to avoid Bisu, Jaedong could make an enormous splash this season. |
| 9. |
Light[aLive]
(T) (stats) |
- |
3 |
Light has looked amazing since July, going 11-6 with losses only to Savior, Bisu, Hwasin, Jaedong… and Rock. And in that same frame of time, Light has beaten Savior, Bisu, and Hwasin. He's also in both Starleagues. Could this be the season in which Light realizes his full potential? |
| 10. |
free[gm]
(P) (stats) |
- |
8 |
With his strong showing at WCG and easy move into the Ro16 of the MSL, Free is deserving of the #10 slot this month. My problem with Free is his consistency. Though I shudder at the thought, Free reminds me of a Protoss version of Midas; he’s as likely to beat himself as he is the other player. |
Comments (105)
Power Rank as of 08/01/2007
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
Bisu
(P) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
By this point, I sincerely hope that all doubts regarding Bisu have been put to rest. Yes, his PvT could use a tweaking. Okay, his Proleague record isn’t great. Alright, Flash managed to eke out a 2-0, cheese win against him. But is he the best player in the world right now? Without question. |
| 2. |
Iris[gm]
(T) (stats) |
+1 |
2 |
Iris has shown that he is among the very best in the world in all three Terran matchups, something that no one, aside from oov and Nada, has ever been able to claim (you could make a case for Xellos and Boxer, but I wouldn’t). Beyond putting Iris in truly elite company, that puts him at the #2 slot for this month. |
| 3. |
GGPlay
(Z) (stats) |
+5 |
3 |
Time and time again, I’ve been the person championing GGPlay’s skills. It’s no secret that I think highly of his play or that I’ve thought highly of it for a very long time. This month would have been the perfect excuse to put GGPlay in the #2 slot if I’d wanted to. I mean, he won an OSL! He beat Iris! But when I look at GGPlay in relation to the players above him, there’s no doubt in my mind that Bisu and Iris are the better-rounded, stronger players at the moment. |
| 4. |
Stork[gm]
(P) (stats) |
-2 |
2 |
Stork has really disappointed me in these past months. His record is astonishing, to be sure, but when the stakes have been at their highest, Stork has crumbled—twice. I still view Stork as a top-tier player with the world’s best PvT, but is he a championship player? I used to think so. I’m not so sure anymore. |
| 5. |
Hwasin
(T) (stats) |
+1 |
2 |
Nothing’s happened to change my opinion about Hwasin. He’s been consistent in the Proleague, and it took the eventual winners of both the OSL and MSL to oust him from the two Starleagues. |
| 6. |
sAviOr
(Z) (stats) |
-1 |
1 |
Savior is still a very strong player. I don’t see many people arguing that point. What needs to be mentioned, however, is that Savior is no longer the Jesus Zerg. He no longer has a sixth, anti-cheese sense. If you nail him to a cross (metaphorically speaking, of course), he might not come back faster, stronger, and more alive than ever. He’s still strong, though, and I don’t want to see any more people screaming “SLUMP!” when “all” he’s done lately is make both Starleagues—again. |
| 7. |
Jaedong
(Z) (stats) |
- |
1 |
Even with his horrible, horrible series against Rock, Jaedong is 21-6 since June, and he just made his first OSL. Remembering his games of past and looking at his games of present has led me to two conclusions: his ZvT is world-class, and his ZvP needs work. And for once, the statistics support my opinion! Jaedong’s winning percentages by matchup are as follows: 66.67% ZvT, 78.26% ZvZ, and a mere 50% ZvP. Does Jaedong have what it takes to overcome an OSL-caliber Protoss? Or with only two Protosses currently in the OSL (and the potential for only two more), will he even have to worry about them? |
| 8. |
By.Flash
(T) (stats) |
-1 |
1 |
After his uninspired performances against GGPlay and Stork, one might have thought that Flash was nothing but hype. I, for one, don’t think much of his late-game management—or even his mid-game management. But given Flash’s age and the fact that he just cruised into both Starleagues, he deserves a low slot in the Power Rank. |
| 9. |
Sea[Shield]
(T) (stats) |
+1 |
1 |
Sea’s recent performances have been too strong to ignore. He’s a staggering 16-5 in the Proleague, and his OSC run was stopped by a 1-2 loss to Jaedong, who’s looked practically unbeatable ZvT as of late (he’s 9-1, losing only that single game to Sea, in his last 10 ZvTs). Even with strong ODT and Survivor groups standing in his way, Sea is a heavy favorite to advance into both Starleagues. |
| 10. |
Firebathero
(T) (stats) |
-6 |
4 |
After watching his series against oov and Savior (and GGPlay in the 2006 ShinHan 3 OSL), I am convinced that FirebatHero has two legitimate matchups, though TvT is clearly his best. Watching Stork and Rock disrespect him, however, caused me to review both his TvP and his career TvP record, and neither is pretty. With few exceptions, FirebatHero only wins against weak opponents or on advantageous maps. Then there’s his recent 0-2 performance in the ODT to consider. This #10 slot is a gift to honor the memory of his consistent, strong play. If FirebatHero wants to stick around next month, he’s going to have to turn things around. |
Comments (183)
Power Rank as of 07/06/2007
| Rank |
Player |
Prev |
High |
Description |
| 1. |
Bisu
(P) (stats) |
0 |
1 |
After he trounced GoRush, I knew I had to keep Bisu at the #1 slot for this month. And the reason for that—I’ll go into even more depth later—is that I don’t think Stork would have stood a chance against GoRush in that series. Both Bisu and Stork are hot right now, and I’ll even admit that Stork is on more of a tear; his record’s a little better, anyway. (Stork is 36-16 since March. Bisu is 31-15 in that same span of time). But a strong Zerg could have derailed Stork’s tear at any point, and that’s exactly what happened. At this point in time, Bisu would be the favorite, or at least be given relatively even odds, against just about any player in the world. That’s not something you can say about Stork; his PvZ doesn’t allow it. |
| 2. |
Stork[gm]
(P) (stats) |
+1 |
2 |
I had an incredibly difficult time choosing whether Bisu or Stork should hold the #1 slot this month, and it came down to this: Stork got lucky. Bisu didn’t. By all rights, Stork should not still be in the MSL. He lost 0-2 to Savior in the Ro16, and at no point in those two games did he show any degree of feel for PvZ; he looked bad. But Oversky joined the military, and Stork managed to wriggle his way back into the Ro8.
Bisu didn’t get that chance. He lost to two cheese builds in a row, and just like that, he was out of the OSL. Stork’s record as of late is beastly, but I can’t in good conscience bump Bisu, the reigning MSL champion and most well-rounded Protoss player in the world, from his perch until he starts to falter in his play or someone clearly better rears his head, and neither has happened—not yet, anyway. |
| 3. |
Iris[gm]
(T) (stats) |
- |
2 |
I’ll come out and say it: Iris looked unimpressive in the group stages of this OSL. Reach demolished him, and he looked sloppy in his win against Shark. It’s as if, when he arrived in the Ro8 and saw Savior attempting to block his path, he screamed, “NEVER AGAIN,” and immediately started practicing 20 hours a day. He underwent a complete transformation in the course of a single week.
Iris is 15-3 since May, but more than that, he eliminated Savior and Stork from the OSL. Respectively—and there’s not much room for debate on | |
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