GomTV GSL News: Starcraft 2 Tournament RO4 Results Day 2  | read this item

*Spoiler Warning: Results will be revealed in this story*

Following up some pretty epic matches between NEXLiveForever and a Fruit Dealer, we’re going to be looking at the games between oGsEnsnare and HopeTorture. This is the last day of the semi-final rounds for the first season of GomTV’s GSL Starcraft 2 tournament.

Just a reminder that there will be no GSL games tomorrow, but we’ll be bringing you a recap of the complete GSL bracket for this season. The finals will be played Saturday and we’ll be bringing you the recap that morning following the live matchup.

Kim, Sung-Je (HopeTorture) vs Kim, Sang-Cheol (oGsEnsnare)

Game 1 Metalopolis

In the first game of the second day of semi-final games, HopeTorture is placed in the western base and oGsEnsnare is placed in northern base. Neither player opts to wall in. Ensnare places a Supply Depot in such a way that no probe or rush sneaks in undetected.

Both players go Refinery and Barracks followed by an Orbital Command. At this point the build paths deviate. Hope goes fast expand as Ensnare goes Factory. Ensnare sends 4 Marines but holds back waiting for a hellion before moving in. Hope attempts to build a bunker but loses his SCV just a couple seconds before completion. At that point HopeTorture pulls a lot of SCVs to beat down the attacking force losing a lot of harvesting ability.

During the battle, Ensnare pushes into Starport and produces a Medivac and a couple of tanks. On a push and fallback, HopeTorture was forced to support his army once again with SCVs, losing a few more.

One final push from Ensnare with Banshees, Siege Tanks, Medivacs, and Marines tears apart HopeTorture’s defensive army of Marines and Marauders. Forcing the GG from HopeTorture.

Game 2 Lost Temple

In game 2, we find HopeTorture in the southern base, and Ensnare in the northern base. Ensnare once against places a Supply depot to establish a wall of vision within his base. Both players go Racks, Orbital Command and Refinery however Hope’s Gas is slightly late. Once again, Hope goes fast expand. A better choice than last game thanks to the far base placements.

A bunker goes up solidly to defend Hope’s natural. During the next couple minutes, Ensnare sets up a Hellion drop. He nails it right in Hope’s natural. Taking out quite a few SCVs before picking the Hellions up and dropping them again in Hope’s main to get away from the Marine/Marauder fire. A few more SCVs drop before finally losing the Hellions.

Both players establish the rest of their tech as Hope opts for a bio build of Marines and Marauders and Ensnare going more of a mech build with Hellions for harass and Siege Tanks with Vikings. HopeTorture sets up a double drop in the meantime. Landing one set in Ensnare’s natural and one set in his main. After performing a very successful drop, Hope pulls back the drop and sends in Marauders and Sieges and nearly takes out Ensnare’s gold expansion.

HopeTorture continues to establish a huge macro advantage. Up to five bases versus Ensnare’s three with Hope’s Orbitals producing many MULEs. As he sets up a huge army for a drop.

Going three Medivac drop, he lands right in Ensnare’s natural before sending the rest of his army in to flank Ensnare’s defense. Overwhelmed by Hope’s push, Ensnare gives the GG.

Game 3 Xel’Naga Caverns

In the third game of the last semi-final match, Hopetorture finds himself in Northeast base and oGsEnsnare ends up in the southwest base. Again, we look at similar openers. Hope again goes fast expand. Seeing that, Ensare sets up a proxy Factory. At the same time, Hope goes three racks.

HopeTorture get a bunker set up but not enough to defend his natural from Hellion harrass. The SCVs are pulled as the Marines chase out the Hellions.

oGsEnsnare then works upon his proxy factory to create a Thor timing push. He pulls the SCVs off his main to support the push by repairing the Thor. During the push, the Thor actually outranges the Bunker. Losing the bunker, Hope nails the Thor with some quick marauders. Even producing another Thor isn’t enough to finish off HopeTorture. With Ensnare pushed back.

HopeTorture uses the momentum by sending the extra units he produced to counter the Thor push to continue pushing back Ensnare. He eventually pushes Ensnare back into his main allowing Hope’s economy to start to pull ahead of his opponent.

Hope then tech into Medivacs and sets up a Marine/Marauder/Tank drop. Its deflected at first but Hope just sets up the drop just outside Ensnare’s defense. Ensnare then setups up a heavy bio/tank defense and simply hopes that HopeTorture screws up and walks into the defense. Hope simply uses this opportunity to continue to expand.

Ensnare does attempt one last push out by dropping Marauders directly onto Hope’s Siege line. This forces Hope to unsiege the tanks and that buys Ensnare time to set up his own Sieges. However, Hope simply has too many backup units and earned a GG from oGsEnsnare.

Game 4 Delta Quadrant

In the fourth game of the semi-finals, HopeTorture ends up in southwestern base with oGsEnsnare in the northeast base. Once again we look at the same openers as we’ve seen the last three games. Hope goes fast expand while Ensnare goes fast factory. Again we see Ensnare setup for Hellion harass.

Ensnare does set up things slightly different by going quick banshees. He sends in the Banshee and takes out a lot of SCVs and forces a defensive Marine Marauder ball to stim multiple times before a turret could be set up.

Ensnare performs some strategic tank drops to allow for even more harass. He has clearly adapted to Hope’s choice of going heavy macro every game.

Hope then uses Ensnare’s game against him as drops hit SCV with a hugely sucessful drop. This sets HopeTorture up for a heavy counter attack. Ensnare is caught out of position a few times before Hope performs the final Bio tank push into Ensnare’s base. Forcing the GG.

Heavy late game macro has allowed HopeTorture to get so far ahead with economy that Ensnare couldn’t compete in endgame.

Final: HopeTorture 3:1 oGsEnsnare

This sets HopeTorture up to face a Fruit Dealer in the finals on saturday. Check back here for all the coverage from the GomTV GSL Starcraft 2 Tournament finals live from Korea.