[ASL16] Ro8 Preview Pt1: Rematches

The third meeting for the third year in a row between Rush and hero, both at the peak of their game this time, followed up by a rematch of last season's Ro8 banger between Soulkey and JyJ, what a great week of Brood war.

Workhorsemen

The one thing that should go without saying about Rush and hero is that they are absolute workhorses who generally always have the most matches played in a month. Usually in that case both players are very aware of what the other is capable of. Expect some planned builds going into this series.

Another season another Ro8 appearance for hero, this time beating ample twice while falling short to Soulkey in the winner’s set of their Ro16 encounter and in general has shown some of the most crisp ZvT plays we’ve seen all season.

Rush also has managed to decisively make it through the Ro16 only dropping a single set to Mind in the winner’s game, his only show in TvZ has been against the rookie ivOry in the Ro24 whom he dispatched with ease.

This will be the third time hero and Rush face off against each other in the bracket in the ASL, first time in the Ro8 and not the Ro4, both prior series Rush has won(4-1 in ASL 12, 4-3 in ASL 14). Seems like you can always count on Rush and hero to face each other in the fall.

No surprise here that Rush pickedPolypoidand La Campanella. Polypoid is the most figured out map in the pool and being that kind of standard favors Terran players a lot more than the other two races.

La Campanella is one of those maps where you can truly just look at it and scream tank imba, its really good for Terran to take bases from others very easily, especially someone like rush who really knows how to push those bases, plus having that wide open area behind the natural tends to be good vs Mutas, if Rush can prepare hero’s lurker play which he loves to do more than Mutas he will have it in the bag on La Campanella.

Neo Dark Origin and Invader were hero’s pick, both maps that both online and in this ASL have shown to be pretty good for Zerg against Terran for how well they are for Zergs to keep bases against Terran

Final map is Tempest (Map), which based on online results so far has been a map that slightly favors Zerg over Terran.

Overall the feeling is that maps favor hero while their history has favored Rush, both players are very much in good form and honestly we are most likely to be disappointed if it doesn’t go all the way to game 5 than any result.

Question becomes if Rush can overcome that map disadvantage or not, I think he can.

Rush To Advance To The Semifinals 3-2!