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Violet ISL Championships
by unknown · 2012-12-24
We began the tournament with hopes of a Protoss savior, but the last one fell in the Ro8 when Nal_rA got dropped by Badger . The final Terran, Xello was knocked out in the last round as well. On the otherside, Mafia Zerg has advanced through incredible ZvZ play, arguably his best matchup since defeated BIRDMAN in ISL 7. Since then, his mirror matchup has continued to impress, and he defeated his old nemesis HidE in a stunner, surprising all of Shakuras. Now is it time for Mafia to grab his gold, or will Badger send him into the Kong line? Mafia definitely has the intangibles, as he wins in surprising matches, but Badger has been crushing fan favorites left and right, dropping TORRES , Nal_rA, and Xello all in a row. If anyone can stop Mafia despite popular opinion, Badgers the one to do it.
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#Past Matches
---
We began the tournament with hopes of a Protoss savior, but the last one fell in the Ro8 when Nal_rA got dropped by Badger . The final Terran, Xello was knocked out in the last round as well. On the otherside, Mafia Zerg has advanced through incredible ZvZ play, arguably his best matchup since defeated BIRDMAN in ISL 7. Since then, his mirror matchup has continued to impress, and he defeated his old nemesis HidE in a stunner, surprising all of Shakuras. Now is it time for Mafia to grab his gold, or will Badger send him into the Kong line? Mafia definitely has the intangibles, as he wins in surprising matches, but Badger has been crushing fan favorites left and right, dropping TORRES , Nal_rA, and Xello all in a row. If anyone can stop Mafia despite popular opinion, Badgers the one to do it.
---
#Past Matches
---
All Time Series : Mafia Zerg 0 - 1 Badger
* These two have only met in official match once, Nov. 28, 2011, an early clash of two titans. The two 9 pooled into a massive engagement, one that Badger won. Badger proceeded to bully Mafia into the GG. Not very exciting, but this match was over a year ago, these two have improved dramatically. This series will bring the very best out of the tandem, and hopefully Shakuras will enjoy it.
---
#Stats and Exp
---
This is the mirror of mirror matchups. Unbelievable. 1 scouting and 1 exp seperate the two, both in the advantage of Badger . However, when the matchup by the numbers is this close, there's nothing that gives one or the other a definitive advantage. The slight lean towards Badger means nothing, as Mafia Zerg has shown his ability to turn disadvantages into clutch wins. Coming off his win against HidE , he'll have all the momentum in the world. Badger has yet to play a ZvZ in a long time though, so I wouldn't count him out to just stomp his way to a win reminiscent to his other victories this tournament.
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#Maps and Prediction
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* Neo Requiem - Mafia's record - 0-1. Badger's record - 1-0.
One match per player isn't much to say, but Mafia lost a ZvZ here, while Badger won a ZvT. I believe that Badger will come out to an early lead in the series with a reckoning, crushing through Mafia with cheese. It will be a quick, gruesome game, that I predict Badger will win.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 0 - 1 Badger
* Grand Line SE - Mafia's record - 3-1. Badger's record - 7-0.
This is one of Badger's better maps, and he is undefeated here. Will I make a bold prediction? and say that Mafia will win? Heck no. Badger, in his villainous ways, cheeses again. Mafia is drawn out of his game plan, and gets shut out by Badger into another early GG.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 0 - 2 Badger
* Benzene - Mafia's record - 5-2. Badger's record - 5-0.
One of the more popular maps this ISL, I expect Mafia to win here again. Both players won in the last round here, but ZvZ and ZvT are different. Mafia beat HidE here, need I say anything else? Badger won't be out of it though, instead of the 2 early cheesey games, I'm predicting this to past the 100 minute mark, as the two sides macro up to give us a fine shown of late game ZvZ.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 1 - 2 Badger
* La Mancha - Mafia's record - 8-0. Badger's record - 2-2.
Mafia strikes back again. La Mancha is the map that Mafia told himself heading into this that if he reaches it, he will win the series. Badger hasn't played difficult ZvZs here, but Mafia shut down Kolll here once. Mafia wins in his key map to take this to ace.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 2 - 2 Badger
* New Empire of the Sun - Mafia's record - 2-1. Badger's record - 1-0.
Neither player has played a ZvZ here, and so this will be the hardest map to predict. This tossup map will come down to the intangibles. It is now a Bo1, whoever wins this will win the series. I'm going with Mafia to take the W here. He has been to the big stage before, and Badger has mostly dominated his opponents. With his back up against the wall, I call that the nerves get to Badger, and, like Lightning before him, Mafia completes the reverse sweep gets his gold, joining Lightning as the only players to have a Gold and Silver ISL medal.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 3 - 2 Badger
Mafia Zerg Wins
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#Prominent Players Pitch In
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God - I am not an expert on ZvZ, but from experience I can tell you that when two players this good and motivated clash in a match as important as this, no punches will be pulled. Having played and practiced a lot with Mafia Zerg in the past, I know that he will hungry for that first gold and that he has what it takes. Badger has had really good results lately, but Mafia Zerg has grown a lot since his last ISL defeat and his new strategies seem to be paying off. I know that I will be cheering Mafia Zerg on and hope that he repeats his semifinal performance with a 3-1 victory!
---
Wizard - As a player who had the opportunity to bring the Protoss flag into the Round of 16 but fell short, I am disappointed in my own play. However, TORRES knocked me out, and Badger defeated him. I believe Badger will win, if only to save my own face and say that I was knocked out by the guy who got knocked out by the champion. While I do think Mafia Zerg has the best ZvZ in the game, Badger has been on a monster roll, and I expect him to follow up his momentum with a 3-0 victory.
---
Frusciante - Another ZvZ imba matchup. So sad for we protoss. Oh well. Statistically, Badger should have the advantage between the slightly higher stats, xp, and ZvZ win rate, but this ISL run for Mafia Zerg has just been brutal. Beating Don Bilbo , Kolll , and HidE , back to back to back makes me think that Mafia Zerg has been doing some serious ZvZ practice since his second place finish in last ISL. I'll give him the slight edge going into this season's finals.
---
KevinSorbo - Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I'm Sorbo, you may remember me from such games as "sit down HidE" and "Seriously Nada, enough is enough!"
I'm here not as an absolute badass, but as an even more badass, which is impossible, is it not?
Anyway, enough loving me, time to love Badger and Mafia Zerg , now would I be wrong in saying I'm looking at someone looking in an approximate mirror? Because these two are IDENTICAL, I would vote on Badger because he is simply just a tiny tiny bit stronger in that important scouting(experience), NO CHEESING FOR YOU MAFIA naughty naughty.
All in all I would say it's going to be a close series of clone vs clone of 3-2 in Mafia Zerg favor, dropping game 1 and 3
---
Purple - I remember that match, bit after we clinched the league 2.3 title back in Season 2. Monster had a great up and coming team, with a decent zerg lineup : Bauer, Bates and Badger . The latter was their promising rookie from the draft, a zerg I played a few times in Clanwars on Fish. I actually lost to Bates that match. We had our own rookie zerg we caught from a disbanding team on the market a few months ago to play the 3rd set, against Badger . Both of them were young and promising rookies, expected to play a greater role in both teams, both to support and be solid core players. Both opened 9 pool and Mafia Zerg took the lead in early micro, before losing on lair tech. It was a solid game, only rookie mistakes, but who doesn't make. My point is actually that while both were expected to play supporting roles in their respective teams, both ended up the respective aces and went on to destroy everything in their way to the top. Both play the exact same style as well. While Badger isn't ace anymore, since he plays with HidE , he would be in any other team, any. This final is just dumb and retarded, nobody should watch it nor predict on it, it's like watching 2 bulls running headbutt into eachothers.
---
Whisper - I've never heard of these players. What kind of a stupid ID is 'Badger'? I guess the other guy will win, because I can't imagine someone with such a retarded ID can be any good.
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Arsenal - I am just glad to see our race dominating in the fashion they have been. Back when I became pro all the talk was about Terran dominance. But those days are long over. For my pick though I sorta have 2. My mind says Badger . He just seems to be a lot more calculated and focused since Monster's manager was arrested in that scandal and NB picked him up. But my heart says Mafia Zerg . Our team and his have always been close and we've spent a lot of time training and sharing strategies together. He has also torn through quite a few Zergs including two S class zergs to get here.
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Tyrant - My vote is Mafia Zerg all the way. He is playing on another level right now. One day I wish I can stand toe to toe with players like Kolll and HidE like he has this season. Truly an inspiration.
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IdrA - I really just want a good series. I enjoy both players play style. But If I have to choose one, Id say Badger takes it. He has a higher level of scouting which makes all the difference in my eyes.
---
Thanks VaultDweller, Somenignog, UnnamedSG, Whisperkill, Ascent, and tslStrange!
---
#Past Matches
---
We began the tournament with hopes of a Protoss savior, but the last one fell in the Ro8 when Nal_rA got dropped by Badger . The final Terran, Xello was knocked out in the last round as well. On the otherside, Mafia Zerg has advanced through incredible ZvZ play, arguably his best matchup since defeated BIRDMAN in ISL 7. Since then, his mirror matchup has continued to impress, and he defeated his old nemesis HidE in a stunner, surprising all of Shakuras. Now is it time for Mafia to grab his gold, or will Badger send him into the Kong line? Mafia definitely has the intangibles, as he wins in surprising matches, but Badger has been crushing fan favorites left and right, dropping TORRES , Nal_rA, and Xello all in a row. If anyone can stop Mafia despite popular opinion, Badgers the one to do it.
---
#Past Matches
---
All Time Series : Mafia Zerg 0 - 1 Badger
* These two have only met in official match once, Nov. 28, 2011, an early clash of two titans. The two 9 pooled into a massive engagement, one that Badger won. Badger proceeded to bully Mafia into the GG. Not very exciting, but this match was over a year ago, these two have improved dramatically. This series will bring the very best out of the tandem, and hopefully Shakuras will enjoy it.
---
#Stats and Exp
---
This is the mirror of mirror matchups. Unbelievable. 1 scouting and 1 exp seperate the two, both in the advantage of Badger . However, when the matchup by the numbers is this close, there's nothing that gives one or the other a definitive advantage. The slight lean towards Badger means nothing, as Mafia Zerg has shown his ability to turn disadvantages into clutch wins. Coming off his win against HidE , he'll have all the momentum in the world. Badger has yet to play a ZvZ in a long time though, so I wouldn't count him out to just stomp his way to a win reminiscent to his other victories this tournament.
---
#Maps and Prediction
---
* Neo Requiem - Mafia's record - 0-1. Badger's record - 1-0.
One match per player isn't much to say, but Mafia lost a ZvZ here, while Badger won a ZvT. I believe that Badger will come out to an early lead in the series with a reckoning, crushing through Mafia with cheese. It will be a quick, gruesome game, that I predict Badger will win.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 0 - 1 Badger
* Grand Line SE - Mafia's record - 3-1. Badger's record - 7-0.
This is one of Badger's better maps, and he is undefeated here. Will I make a bold prediction? and say that Mafia will win? Heck no. Badger, in his villainous ways, cheeses again. Mafia is drawn out of his game plan, and gets shut out by Badger into another early GG.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 0 - 2 Badger
* Benzene - Mafia's record - 5-2. Badger's record - 5-0.
One of the more popular maps this ISL, I expect Mafia to win here again. Both players won in the last round here, but ZvZ and ZvT are different. Mafia beat HidE here, need I say anything else? Badger won't be out of it though, instead of the 2 early cheesey games, I'm predicting this to past the 100 minute mark, as the two sides macro up to give us a fine shown of late game ZvZ.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 1 - 2 Badger
* La Mancha - Mafia's record - 8-0. Badger's record - 2-2.
Mafia strikes back again. La Mancha is the map that Mafia told himself heading into this that if he reaches it, he will win the series. Badger hasn't played difficult ZvZs here, but Mafia shut down Kolll here once. Mafia wins in his key map to take this to ace.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 2 - 2 Badger
* New Empire of the Sun - Mafia's record - 2-1. Badger's record - 1-0.
Neither player has played a ZvZ here, and so this will be the hardest map to predict. This tossup map will come down to the intangibles. It is now a Bo1, whoever wins this will win the series. I'm going with Mafia to take the W here. He has been to the big stage before, and Badger has mostly dominated his opponents. With his back up against the wall, I call that the nerves get to Badger, and, like Lightning before him, Mafia completes the reverse sweep gets his gold, joining Lightning as the only players to have a Gold and Silver ISL medal.
Prediction - Mafia Zerg 3 - 2 Badger
Mafia Zerg Wins
---
#Prominent Players Pitch In
---
God - I am not an expert on ZvZ, but from experience I can tell you that when two players this good and motivated clash in a match as important as this, no punches will be pulled. Having played and practiced a lot with Mafia Zerg in the past, I know that he will hungry for that first gold and that he has what it takes. Badger has had really good results lately, but Mafia Zerg has grown a lot since his last ISL defeat and his new strategies seem to be paying off. I know that I will be cheering Mafia Zerg on and hope that he repeats his semifinal performance with a 3-1 victory!
---
Wizard - As a player who had the opportunity to bring the Protoss flag into the Round of 16 but fell short, I am disappointed in my own play. However, TORRES knocked me out, and Badger defeated him. I believe Badger will win, if only to save my own face and say that I was knocked out by the guy who got knocked out by the champion. While I do think Mafia Zerg has the best ZvZ in the game, Badger has been on a monster roll, and I expect him to follow up his momentum with a 3-0 victory.
---
Frusciante - Another ZvZ imba matchup. So sad for we protoss. Oh well. Statistically, Badger should have the advantage between the slightly higher stats, xp, and ZvZ win rate, but this ISL run for Mafia Zerg has just been brutal. Beating Don Bilbo , Kolll , and HidE , back to back to back makes me think that Mafia Zerg has been doing some serious ZvZ practice since his second place finish in last ISL. I'll give him the slight edge going into this season's finals.
---
KevinSorbo - Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I'm Sorbo, you may remember me from such games as "sit down HidE" and "Seriously Nada, enough is enough!"
I'm here not as an absolute badass, but as an even more badass, which is impossible, is it not?
Anyway, enough loving me, time to love Badger and Mafia Zerg , now would I be wrong in saying I'm looking at someone looking in an approximate mirror? Because these two are IDENTICAL, I would vote on Badger because he is simply just a tiny tiny bit stronger in that important scouting(experience), NO CHEESING FOR YOU MAFIA naughty naughty.
All in all I would say it's going to be a close series of clone vs clone of 3-2 in Mafia Zerg favor, dropping game 1 and 3
---
Purple - I remember that match, bit after we clinched the league 2.3 title back in Season 2. Monster had a great up and coming team, with a decent zerg lineup : Bauer, Bates and Badger . The latter was their promising rookie from the draft, a zerg I played a few times in Clanwars on Fish. I actually lost to Bates that match. We had our own rookie zerg we caught from a disbanding team on the market a few months ago to play the 3rd set, against Badger . Both of them were young and promising rookies, expected to play a greater role in both teams, both to support and be solid core players. Both opened 9 pool and Mafia Zerg took the lead in early micro, before losing on lair tech. It was a solid game, only rookie mistakes, but who doesn't make. My point is actually that while both were expected to play supporting roles in their respective teams, both ended up the respective aces and went on to destroy everything in their way to the top. Both play the exact same style as well. While Badger isn't ace anymore, since he plays with HidE , he would be in any other team, any. This final is just dumb and retarded, nobody should watch it nor predict on it, it's like watching 2 bulls running headbutt into eachothers.
---
Whisper - I've never heard of these players. What kind of a stupid ID is 'Badger'? I guess the other guy will win, because I can't imagine someone with such a retarded ID can be any good.
---
Arsenal - I am just glad to see our race dominating in the fashion they have been. Back when I became pro all the talk was about Terran dominance. But those days are long over. For my pick though I sorta have 2. My mind says Badger . He just seems to be a lot more calculated and focused since Monster's manager was arrested in that scandal and NB picked him up. But my heart says Mafia Zerg . Our team and his have always been close and we've spent a lot of time training and sharing strategies together. He has also torn through quite a few Zergs including two S class zergs to get here.
---
Tyrant - My vote is Mafia Zerg all the way. He is playing on another level right now. One day I wish I can stand toe to toe with players like Kolll and HidE like he has this season. Truly an inspiration.
---
IdrA - I really just want a good series. I enjoy both players play style. But If I have to choose one, Id say Badger takes it. He has a higher level of scouting which makes all the difference in my eyes.
---
Thanks VaultDweller, Somenignog, UnnamedSG, Whisperkill, Ascent, and tslStrange!