GomTV Star Invitational: Group A preview

The GomTV Star Invitational kicks off on Feb. 17, starting with Group A. The tournament features 16 of Korea’s most elite in the StarCraft universe. Players begin in a group stage, with the top two in each group advancing to the elimination brackets. While every player has a reputation to maintain, only one can emerge as victor.

The Stars of Group A:

Name: Ma Jae-Yoon
Alias: sAviOr[gm]
Race: Zerg
Team: CJ Entus

Strengths: sAviOr needs little introduction. Coming up as an unknown player, he dethroned many legendary names before taking a championship from Lee Yoon-Yeol ([ReD]NaDa) during the Shinhan Bank OSL finals. He plays like a war machine, using both macro and micro intensive strategies and tactics to overwhelm opponents. His game sense is perfect, positioning units and buildings deliberately and methodically. sAviOr is feared by many, and his name today receives much respect and reverence.

Weakness: Unfortunately, sAviOr has been seen as slumping as of late. His career seems to be dwindling, playing only a 2v2 match in the last team match he participated in. Savior’s last solo game was considered lackluster, ended by a failed rush and a poorly constructed defense. His record for the last ten games. Some consider the fall temporary; others believe it is the end.

His stake: Savior needs another breakout, and the GSI is a perfect place to do it. With so many big names, even moving out of the group stage will prove he isn’t down for the count.

Name: Young-Ho Lee
Alias: Flash
Race: Terran
Team: KTF Magicns

Strengths: Flash brings in good results in all matchups. His current win-loss record is 48-28. That comes to a 63.16% win rate, very good for a player in the Korean leagues. His last ten games resulted in 7-3, losses to firebathero, stork, and rock (the first two names are also participating in GSI). Flash could be a significant player in the group if he plays perfectly. He is not to be underestimated.

Weakness: Consistent means predictable. Flash doesn’t have any incredibly unique plays. His loss to Stork opened with a failed bunker rush, raising flags that he might be better off sticking to a conventional playstyle. His Zerg matchup is somewhat lacking compared to others. His Achilles’ heel seems to be his average micro, possibly hampering him if other players use very surgical micro-intensive strategies.

His stake: Flash is the only member of his team playing in the GomTV Star Invitational. He also doesn’t have too many individual accomplishments, so winning the GSI would give him the recognition players dream of.

Name:Young-Jong Oh
Alias: AnyTime[gm]
Race: Protoss
Team: Lecaf OZ

Strengths: AnyTime plays as the powerhouse Protoss for Lecaf OZ. He ranks in right now at number 10 on the KeSPA ladder, up two rungs from January. In the second term of the 2007 Shinhan Bank Proleague, he received the Most Wins Award. He was runner-up in the 2006 OSL, losing to NaDa in the finals (also participating). The match was close, going to the final game in a best of 5 in an insane high tense series of battles.

Weakness: AnyTime may make it out of group play, but his losses to NaDa show he could have trouble in the brackets. While he can tango with some of the big names, the remaining players could knock him out early.

His Stake: AnyTime needs to play his best all the way through and take a title for himself. He’s a good player, but he needs more titles under his belt to back it up.

Name: Sung-Kyun Park
Alias: InteR.Mind
Race: Terran
Team: WeMade FOX

Strengths: Coming in at only 16 years old, Mind defeated both sAviOr and Bisu to become the youngest person to win an individual proleague title. He, like sAvior, was relatively unknown at the time. He completely denied eager fans begging for a Bisu/Savior rematch, and upset the reigning bonjwa of another title.

Weaknesses: Mind lacks the long-term veteran experience some of his GSI peers have picked up. At a young age, he hasn’t had as many games televised. His record is currently 27-21, considerably less than any other player in the group.

Stake: Mind needs this win to prove his MSL title wasn’t a fluke. He needs to come out swinging to prove his genius and show the world age means little when the mouse is in the right hands.

Group Overview & Prediction
Two Terran, One Zerg, One Protoss. Each player in the group has his reputation to defend, and no one will go quietly. SaviOr must return to legend and conquer Mind, while Mind must solidify his status. Flash and AnyTime both need a title for themselves. Everyone has something to lose.

Predictions:

SaviOr > Flash
AnyTime > Flash
Mind > AnyTime
Mind > sAviOr
sAviOr> AnyTime
Mind > Flash

Savior (2-1)
Flash (0-3)
Mind (3-0)
AnyTime (1-2)

Big thanks to TeamLiquid for their pro gaming database.