CrunCher vs Mondragon in TSL3

BY Andrew Miesner / April 17, 2011

Postgame

Today saw the last match of the TeamLiquid StarLeague 3’s round of 16. In the final match compLexity’s CrunCher took on the old Brood War veteran Mondragon from Meet Your Makers.

The first game was played on GSL Terminus RE and saw CrunCher open up with a Stargate. Mondragon on the other hand went with a double fast expand. CrunCher was the first to get aggressive moving out with a few Void Rays and Stalkers. Mondragon quickly put an end to this push with a few Queens and a ton of Roaches. Mondragon returned the favor by pushing at CrunCher’s front door. CrunCher manged to hold off the initial push, but quickly fell when Mondragon made a follow up push at the front while dropping Roaches in the back.

Game two was on Shakuras Plateau and, again, CrunCher opened up with a Forge fast expand into some Stargate play. Mondragon stuck with his Roaches and, despite constant harassment from CrunCher’s Phoenixes, managed to establish two expansions. CunCher took a third base (12 o’clock position) and began to mass up Void Rays, Colossus, and Gateway units. Keeping with the same theme of the previous game, Mondragon made several attacks at the front while simultaneously CunCher’s third base. Somehow CunCher managed to hold off every attack and, after massing up a big enough army, move out across the map forcing Mondragon to GG.

Game three was on GSL Tal’Darim Altar. CrunCher opened up with what looked like a Forge fast expand build, but after seeing Mondragon’s Hatchery before Spawning pool, it turned into a good ol’ fashion Cannon rush. Caught by surprise, Mondragon pulled all his Drones in an attempted to thwart the rush. Thanks to some clever building placement, CrunCher killed a large majority of Mondaron’s Drones and forced the GG.

Game four was on Metaopolis and CrunCher stuck to his guns using another early Stargate build. Mondragon made some adjustments and went with a Roach, Muta, Infestor unit composition. Mondragon kept CunCher on the back foot by constantly pushing out with the Roaches while harassing the main with Mutas. CunCher was able to hold off these pushes thanks to some nice Force Fields and Psy Storms. Once CunCher hit a critical mass of Gateway units, Phoenix, Void Rays and Templar, he retook the map. Despite his best efforts, Mondragon was unable to hold off CunCher’s “death ball” and was knocked out of the TSL3.

Both players put on a fantastic show with exciting games and unique play. It is important to note that Mondragon was the last Zerg player in the TSL3, so now only Protoss and Terran players are left. Be sure to tune in again next weekend when the round of 8 kicks off.

Day 6 – Round of 16

Starting today (Sunday) at 2:00PM EST, CompLexity’s Abdulaziz ‘CrunCher’ Abed will take on MYM’s Christopher “Mondragon” Semke in the Team Liquid Star League round of 16. This will be CrunChers second straight PvZ matchup in the TSL after taking down Idra in the Round of 32.

The match will be casted on Team Liquid’s stream which can be found below.