By David Michael Wise
@wiselingsc2
THE BACKSTORY
Few events can match the passion and excitement that eSports competitors and enthusiasts are producing at Major League Gaming Anaheim this weekend. Among the myriad games and tournaments at MLG on Saturday were the Collegiate StarLeague finals featuring the University of Toronto and Western University. These CSL finals marked the second time that two Canadian schools faced off for the StarCraft collegiate title.
Western University blazed their way through the playoffs as they took out notable schools such as the University of Florida and the University of Chicago. Western reached the finals off of clutch Brood Lord play from Christopher ‘Ostojiy’ Ostojic. Toronto’s ascent into the championship series was no less dramatic as Henry ‘hendralisk’ Zheng held off a Blink Stalker timing from Zifeng ‘HelloKitty’ Wang on Frost to secure a place in the title match.
THE RECAPS
Hendralisk vs BlackOwl takes the stageThe finals kicked off with an exciting Zerg versus Zerg between Western’s BlackOwl and Toronto’s hendralisk. BlackOwl attempted to hit with an early, Speedling-heavy timing attack. However, hendralisk scouted out the offensive attempt in time and held off BlackOwl beautifully. Hendralisk transitioned into early Brood Lords and took game one for Toronto in commanding fashion.
In game two, Western’s Korlith dueled with Toronto’s Chenwei in a TvP on Frost. Korlith committed to bold maneuvers as he hit with Hellions, followed up with a Marine Medivac timing, and attempted to establish a hidden third base. However, Chenwei held off the aggression and spotted the hidden third Terran base. Chenwei and Korlith traded armies and bases until only the main bases for both players remained. In an epic final battle, Korlith proved victorious and evened up the series for Western.
2v2 time!The 2v2 followed in game 3 with a Zerg-Protoss mirror-matchup. Toronto’s Roach-Ling-Zealot-Sentry stood valiantly against Western’s pure Stalker-Ling composition but Western’s army proved too much in the end as it overran Toronto and secured the game and the series lead.
Ostojiy stepped up in game 4 in order to extend the series lead for Western against Toronto’s Zero in a TvZ on Deadalus Point. Ostijiy repelled Zero’s early Bio-Hellion timing and followed up with a Mutalisk transition that dealt heavy damage to Zero’s SCV count. Zero couldn’t repel Ostojiy’s unit production and creep spread as Western took the game and forced the series to match point.
Ostojiy's game faceIn Game 5, Toronto stood at the brink of elimination. Its Protoss maestro LxAnki stood off against Western’s Zerg Sooch in order to keep Toronto in the series. LxAnki took a bold Gold Base as his third and successfully held of Sooch’s Mutalisk timing. LxAnki countered with a SkyToss composition and finished off his opponent to keep Toronto in the series.
Game six featured Western’s BrownRa and Toronto’s thenextslash in a PvZ on Polar Night. BrownRa’s Zealot harass succeeded in killing numerous drones. The Western Protoss followed up with a Void Ray-Colossus composition that proved too difficult for thenextslash to overcome. BrownRa overran his Zerg opponent and clinched the title for Western University. A team that made it into the playoffs by the skin of their teeeth in the wildcard tournament proved that they had what it takes to be champions in the end.
RESULTS: WESTERN 4 - 2
Western hugging it out after the win displaying their strongest asset: teamwork
The MLG Anaheim event exemplified the special comradery and fellowship that can only be found in the eSports community. The thousands of eSports fans and competitors lent their energy this weekend to the loving, chaotic atmosphere in Anaheim. These CSL finals and the players on both Western University’s and the University of Toronto’s StarCraft II squads illustrated that special spirit. Thanks for tuning in and supporting us. See you next season!
