[breadfan]

Photo: MLG Live Stream

If you chose sleep last night, the VODs are a must watch with many impressive games. It's heartbreaking that I can't cover nearly every game in explicit detail.

View the MLG Summer Arena Brackets

Day 2 Highlights

LosirA vs aLive, WB round 3

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The 2-0 scoreline doesn't necessarily tell the full story of this series. Game 2 on Tal'Darim Altar in particular was intriguing, with LosirA choosing the anti-meta strategy of rushing for a fast lair. aLive responded with ultra passivity, unsure and maybe wary of a trap. aLive's upgrades were lacking and heavy losses to less-than-efficient banelings on creep were enough to squash the Terran's late game aggression, and give LosirA the series.

Stephano vs Ryung, LB round 4

This series was particularly incredible. I recommend you watch it if you haven't before reading spoilers below.

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In a clash of lower bracket titans, Stephano faced off against the SlayerS star in a match that would send one of them home. Game one went to Ryung in convincing fashion.

In game two, Ryung chose an unusual hellion-thor-banshee style of mech on Entombed Valley in a bold move that was incredibly effective early on, but suffered as the game wore on. Stephano had previously admitted to not being confident against meching Terrans, which may have influenced Ryung's choice. Stephano stubbornly refused to deviate from his beloved infestor-heavy style, a move which paid off and he was able to take the win on the back of a strong engagement, using Ultras as a meatshield as lings surrounded and killed tanks while fungals and infested terrans rained down on the battle.

Game three was a fitting conclusion to the series. Stephano made mutalisks, and managed to do quite well, winning some major engagements, to the point where the game seemed in the bag. However, Stephano squandered an enormous lead, and Ryung's relentless drops and hatchery-killing brought him back into the game. The game progressed to a state where both players essentially killed off each others' economy, and Stephano's broodlord-corruptor army proved just too much. Stephano took the series 2-1.

Oz vs Stephano

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It seems Stephano has finally found a protoss who can handle his impressive ZvP. The players met in round 3 of the winner's bracket today, and will face off once again in the loser's bracket tomorrow, the winner of which will receive a place in the semi finals.

Oz knocked Stephano out of round 3 of the winner's bracket 2-1 in a thrilling series. After taking the first game, a very un-Stephano-like blunder cost him game two, and Oz took game three in strong fashion, denying the zerg third on the back of solid warp prism play, before transitioning into void rays and managed to win the battles that counted. Stephano fans may be disappointed that the foreign hero's losses might largely be attributed to his own unforced errors.

Stephano fought through the lower bracket after his loss to Oz (perhaps still showing some uncharacteristic mistakes throughout) but nevertheless taking out serious contenders Ryung and Hero; he will once again face Oz in the final round of the lower bracket. Oz fell to Alicia, landing himself in a rematch with Stephano in the final match of the lower bracket. Will Oz prove too strong once again, or will Stephano pull out a clutch performance when he needs it most?

Latest Results
To catch you up on the last couple of rounds - for the full picture see the brackets.

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WB Round 4
Alicia > Oz 2-1
TaeJa > LosirA 2-1

LB Round 5
Stephano > Hero 2-1
First > aLive 2-1

LB Round 6
Oz vs Stephano 0-0 scheduled for tomorrow
LosirA vs First 0-0 scheduled for tomorrow

Future Highlights

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The tournament will be won by a Korean, with Alicia to face off against the winner of Losira vs First, while TaeJa will face the winner of Stephano vs Oz.

Lower Bracket Contenders

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Yesterday's picks didn't work out so well, with Welmu going down to GoOdy 0-2 in an ultra passive PvT series. Grubby fell at the hands of Rain's strong bio drop play 0-2.

With the Lower Bracket reduced to just 4 players (with two more to fall down from the WB tomorrow), all players are actual contenders (and not just in the way that people paid by MLG say).

You can catch the remaining MLG Summer Arena action here tomorrow.

[TheGentleman]

Really looking forward to the Oz vs. Stephano rematch! I want Oz to win ^^

Quick Comments

nirvAnA:

THIS!!!!!!!!

[nirvAnA]

Although I didnt get the chance to watch it (was doing work so only listening to the audio) - i heard game 3 of Stephano vs Ryung was the game Stephano made an incredible comeback and the commentators were in disbelief for 5 minutes.

Quick Comments

AxS.Sorathez:

I was so pissed that I only saw the last two minutes of this :'(

[SmirkToT]

extended series**

[mushistar]

want replys for stephano match x_x