February 16, 2012 Sports
_Yuzhny Korea is one of the most highly developed Asian countries: the “computerization of the population” is very high here, and in terms of the quality of the Internet “South Khan” from 2007 to 2010 it went to the leaders: an average of 34.14 megabytes per second, according to the company Ookla. Powerful channels and slightly recluse lifestyle of Koreans resulted in a huge love for network computer games. Koreans play mainly in Online roe deer And Real Strategies , A _Counter-Strike 1.6 In this exotic country – on the second roles.
[Bullet]] Despite the respect for ancient traditions and beliefs, South Korea is today among the most developed countries in the world.
Nevertheless, the Korean CS-seekeeper in ten years gave the world several strong teams ( Maven , Lunatic-hai , Projekt_kr , Hacker.PK , Estro , WEMADEFOX ). The identity of their unique school is that, unable to train with the best European teams, the Koreans developed their game style. Europeans sometimes simply did not know what to contrast them with "frantic" shooting and extraordinary tactics. For example, Koreans trained grenades with manic persistence, and their “scatters” sometimes turned out to be an unpleasant surprise even for top teams.
The collapse of the last hope
Regrettable, but now cs 1.6 in the Republic of Korea gradually dies. In a society where Starcraft is almost a religion, version 1.6 today is inferior in popularity to such network shooters as A.V.A , Point Blank And Counter-STRIKE Online. At the beginning of last year, management Wemade Entertainment stated that their professional organization WEMADEFOX Refuses the team in this discipline, and this was the last nail in the coffin of the Korean CS.
[[Bullet]] Intergalactic war of protosss, Zergov and terrane – number one game in South Korea.
Despite the collapse of the best team of the country, South Korea was still presented at WCG 2011: the honor of the "people of Khan" was defended by the team of players with the once legendary name Project_kr. But this was the wrong team at all, and the wrong people played in it. Very similar to the situation with the "new" Russian project Virtus.Pro , Isn't it true?
However, as they say, "no one is forgotten and nothing is forgotten". Let's plunge into the events of past years and recall the best Korean teams and their achievements.
Lunaticians, hackers, foxes
The first triumph
The debut of the Republic of Korea in CS 1.6 took place in 2001: then unknown guys 1VS1 From the whole group we beat only the Japanese. And on WCG 2002 In Dijon, they could not repeat this modest success, took the last place.
It is not surprising that on WCG 2003 , In the same Seoul, the country was represented by a new team – Maven (Oversoul, Mal, Filibuster, Bebe, Rishnarchk). The backbone of this squad will form after a couple of years Lunatic-hai , One of the strongest Korean groups of all time. The 2003 tournament became a turning point for the Korean CS-Maven first left a weak group (Turks, Spaniards, Portuguese and Austrians), but in the first round of the playoffs lost to the fundamental rival-Chinese-Chinese Devilu.
The next WCG is new then Counter-Strike: Condition Zero He took place in San Francisco. Here Maven created a real sensation, taking third place. Many Europeans complained that the Koreans were lucky with the net. But the “bronze” match denied the words of skeptics: newcomers, without strong tactical developments, surprised both the audience and the great Swedes from SK (Potti, Spawn, Fisker, Hyper, Heaton) Fantastic shooting quality. They simply “shot” rivals with a score of 2: 1 (16:13 on de_train, 4:13 on de_cbble, 13: 5 on de_aztec).
Maven bronze was the first bell of the impending Korean threat for the best European teams. Soon after this victory, Mal and the company moved to Lunatic-Hai, with the name of which the largest successes of this five are associated.
Through thorns to the stars
Ahead of the "lunatics" was a Parisian ESWC 2005 , in early July. All top groups of the world came to the capital of France without exception ( mousesports , SK, NIP , Astralis , Complexity , Virtus.Pro, WNV , Clan -it , A-Losers and many others). To enter the playoffs, the Koreans had to overcome as many as two group stages: in the first they lost only the Germans of Mousesports, and in the second they went around everyone, leaving behind such teams as Goodgame , Hostile And Team3d.
In the quarterfinals, the offenders of Russians-the Danes Clan -it (16: 5) were defeated on de_inferno. But then something did not work out among the eastern guests, and they lost the semifinals to future champions, Americans Complexity (9:16 on De_TRain), and the match for third place-Mousesports (10:16 on De_DUST2).
[[Bullet]] lunatic-hai-Best Korean team of the beginning of the two thousandth.
Lunatic-hai did not pass the qualifying for Singapore WCG 2005 – By Counter-Strike: Source, And the new composition of Maven (River, Duckstar, Orcshanck, Vlad, Hee) went to protect the honor of Korea. The game was very different from the usual CS 1.6, and in Singapore, many of the best teams of the world, including Maven: in a group of three teams, they lost to the owners, the team Titans (in 2005 they changed the system – only one team came out of the group), and completed their performance at the tournament.
Revenge from SK
And lunatic-hai, without getting to the "e-sports Olympics", went to American Dallas for CPL Winter 2005. The championship in Dallas was one of the last in the year, and it was visited by forty -six mainly staging teams, although European guests were also present. Consistently chopped off Devastation (16:11), Tec (16:10), mousesports (16: 8) and twice JAX Money Crew (19:15, 16: 8), Koreans went to the final, where they were supposed to fight with the old acquaintances from SK (AHL, Fisker, Spawn, Vilden, Snajdan) on de_inferno.
[[Bullet]] Best Frags of the Lunatic-Hai team.
The composition of the Swedish five since their last meeting has seriously changed. SK their former leaders no longer played – Emil Kristensen (Heaton) and Tommy Ingmarsson (Potti). Both talented Swedes were shaming with the leadership because of money and created NIP. Therefore, the organization gained a new composition, in which, then, before the beginning of CPL, no one believed in Europe in Europe. And "on paper" he looked much weaker than competitors.
[Bullet]] After a number of achievements, the famous American manufacturer of Razer gaming devices became the new title sponsor.
However, in the decisive game, the teams were flush, and only the wonderful game of Abdisamad Mohammed, who in the last rounds crushed the enemy either with AWP, then with M4A1, did not allow the Asians to win. By the way, the famous “Sk Believ” video tells us exactly about these events. SK had many different victories ahead, but the second place Lunatic-hai was perhaps their highest achievement.
Lunaticians against hackers
Then it seemed that the leadership of Lunatic-Hai in South Korea would last a long time, but gradually the players of the promising team Projekt_kr (Solo, Termi, Bail, Ryu, Hee) began to step on their heels. And on April 13, 2006, Solo and the company signed a six -month contract with a professional Chinese team Hacker Gaming and changed the name to Hacker.PK.
[[Bullet]] Genechul Kang (Solo) – Best Korean player in CS of all times.
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The first international success was not long in coming: in Chinese Weg 2006 "Hackers" on the move became the third. And May 19, 2006 in the final of the Korean tournament Mil 2006 , Where, among other things, quotas were also played for the summer CPL, Solo and the company confidently defeated the irreconcilable opponent of Lunatic-Hai (16: 3, 16:12).
[[Bullet]] Stressed Korean derby on the qualifying ones to Wef 2006.
A new top command flashed through the Korean CS. Many fans of the Korean CS-scenes then noticed Solo, which in the future will become one of the best initiators in the world in CS 1 discipline.6.
The main goal of the Koreans in 2006 was the October WCG in the Italian city of Monza. Hacker.PK went to Italy for victory, but already at a quarterfinal stage they were stopped by the Polish team Pentagram (Neo, TAZ, LUQ, Loord, Kuben). This was for 25-year-old Yongwan Ruu (Ryu) the last straw, and he decided to complete his playing career. Miffy replaced him. Soon the terms of Hacker contracts.PK expired, and on March 12, 2007, a professional Korean team was the new house of five Estro.
[[Bullet]] with Estro Koreans have new prospects.
The era Estro was very ambiguous. On the one hand, the guys showed a beautiful game and invented new tactics (there is still a round on de_inferno, called “estro-b”), and on the other, some players (in particular, Solo and Bail) sometimes behaved unsportsmanlike and,,,,,,, by Simply put, they dogs with judges and organizers of the tournament.
Damn Mannestad
WCG 2007 In Seattle, many were remembered by their scandals, and Koreans were associated with the loudest of them. In the 1/8 finals, they lost their way to the Norwegians on two cards Mym , But after the end of the game, they turned to the judge with a protest – they say, the Norwegians used a prohibited technique in the game " Double Duck "(Double squat, which gives the effect of jumping). After three -hour views of the records, one such jump was found (it was made by the Norwegians almost at his own basis and could not influence the outcome of the match). However, the northerners were given a yellow card, and the result of the second card was canceled, which shocked the e -sports community.
[[Bullet]] Team form in the style of costumes for astronauts – a traditional Korean chip.
Korean organizers of the tournament suggested playing a third, decisive, card De_DUST2 (“trump” for Estro, by the way), but the Norwegians, outraged by the decision of the judges, refused and left the tournament. In parting, Ainwin Magnestad (KF3) addressed the offenders the famous phrase: "Get Cancer and Die". The echo of curse returned to the Koreans already in the next round: Estro lost to future champions, the French Emulate (MSX, HARTS, IREK, R!Go, mat).
[[Bullet]] Frag Rolik with a selection of the best gaming moments of the Estro team.
In general, the only positive result of the team in 2007 was fifth place in Intel Extreme Masters: Los Angeles. At most other tournaments, Koreans lost in the early stages. Looks like Viking cursed from the heart … At the end of the year, due to bad results, the team left Miffy, and Ari came to replace him.
Back of second places and psychologist in addition
But 2008 was one of the most successful for the Korean five. Intel Extreme Masters Season 2 Finals , passing in Hanover, was one of the first major tournaments in the year. Here Genechul Kang (Solo), along with the team, took the second place (Mousesports became the champion). However, since then the Koreans fell on a new curse: "Eternally the second". The five could not win a single big finale for a long time.
[[Bullet]] In the final of the Parisian ESWC 2008, Estro's luck turned away.
This was confirmed by August ESWC 2008. Koreans confidently got off with SK, Roccat , Lowlandlions , Alternate And Fnatic , That is, we beat almost the entire European top, except for the Poles. But the sons of the Commonwealth, who stopped Koreans at the WCG 2006, were able to beat them in Paris, however, in a very stubborn final fight with overtime.
The most productive month was November: Estro was the third twice (first on WEM 2008 , and then at the Köln WCG). The SKS SKG finally defeated the “these Koreans” on WCG, because historically it happened that Korean teams were very convenient to play against the Swedes. The point is probably that the Scandinavians have always been considered supporters of a tactically organized and correct game, while Koreans rushed on the map with a heady head.
[[Bullet]] Sun Ho Pyun (Termi) was one of the most stable Korean players. Together with Solo, he managed to play for Projekt_kr, Hacker.PK, Estro and WEMADEFOX.
At the beginning of each year, the five certainly presented fans with a surprise. 2009 was no exception. The Korean composition moved to another team – WEMADEFOX , large Korean media corporation WEMADEENTERTainment. After the Internet appeared on the Internet, the video from the training base of the team. It turns out that the guys were given a team psychologist who tuned them to the game and instilled in Buddhist values.
A week before Intel Extreme Masters III Global Finals The team had to replace two players: ARI and Hee veterans left. Their places were taken by Garcia Garcia Yisunguk (LSW) and Min Su Kim (Glow). If the first used to play mainly for the middle Korean teams (like Seouljinhwa ), then the second once played for lunatic-hai and was much more experienced by colleagues.
Koreans on the Dnieper Kruchi
Although in 2009 the Fox sensationally lost Korean qualifying on WCG to a weak team ESQ.Wind , They traveled decently around the world and visited many championships. From achievements, the second places can be noted for Intel Extreme Masters III Continental Finals Asia , Gamegune Mexico 2009 And E-STARS SeUL 2009. In addition, WMF became third on IEM Global Challenge Chengdu.
But deserves special attention DTS Cup 2009. The tournament in Dnepropetrovsk gathered many strongest European teams, and Koreans visited it. In the final of the lower grid they had to play with the best Ukrainian team A-gaming. The decisive games were held at the cinema, and a lot of people appeared to see the match.
[[Bullet]] General Complex joy about the next round.
Ukrainians quickly seized the initiative, and when only a few rounds remained before the victory, the Koreans remembered their “secret weapons”, once successfully applied against mym. Their manager said that Ukrainians were prompted from the audience (the A-Gaming players themselves later admitted that they did not hear any tips). Koreans began to put pressure on the judge, and he decided to completely outplay the second half.
[[Bullet]] The original composition of the WEMADEFOX command (from left to right: Solo, LSW, Termi, Bail, Glow).
AG, like MYM in 2007, were simply shocked by this solution and could not gather at the replay. The round was especially indicative when Glow – he played for ST – was left alone in three in a very difficult situation and independently knocked out point A. But WMF, who fell into the final after this victory, “leaked” all the same Poles who then represented the team Wicked (16: 8 on de_train). These guys really knew how to win the daring Asians!
Interrupted flight
Devil and Coltonism
At the very beginning of May 2010, the team made the next replacement. LSW, who was taken for the role of a strong shooter, clearly could not cope with his task, and he was replaced by a young and promising ESQ player.Wind – Peri, at that time one of the most brilliant Korea shooters. He quickly joined the new team and became one of the best.
[[Bullet]] beginner Peri alone straightens out with three Natus Vincere players.
In a recent interview to the portal SK Gaming Peri said that he, as the youngest player, was obliged to unquestioningly obey senior colleagues and follow all their instructions – up to the dragging of other people's bags. In South Korea, tradition is obliged to obey the elders, even if they were born before you for only a few years. The revelation for many was the fact that the location of Korean players on the map directly depended on Solo: he poorly distinguishes the colors (and always played with glasses), so he could not cover some points.
At the peak of fame
2010 was the last for the Korean team. It began with victory on IEM 4 Asian Championship Finals. Wemadefox confidently beat the best Chinese and Australian teams, having won a ticket to Global Finals. But the greatest success came at the end of the year.
[[Bullet]] WEMADEFOX – Best Asian team and champions IEM 4 Asian Championship Finals.
In November, Termi, Bail, ARI, Solo and Peri went to China on World Esport Masters 2010. The tournament has gathered eight best world teams (SK, Fnatic, Na’vi, Eg, Tyloo , Powergaming , Frag Executors ). But the Korean five rolled up on all the "Atlanteans". In the final of the lower grid was broken Frag Executors (16:11), and in the large finale the “foxes” dealt with SK (16: 2 on de_nuke, 16:10 on de_tuscan).
[Bullet]] What, but these Koreans always knew how to celebrate (victory over SK in the WEM 2010 finals).
The curse of the "second places" at major international tournaments was removed! And so, only two months later, as a thunder among the clear sky, the statement of the team’s leadership thundered that they no longer need Counter-Strike 1.6.
For athletes, this news was a shock. Koreans still tried to find a normal sponsor for some time (there were some agreements with the team Redcode ), but in April 2011 their best player Genechul Kang (Solo) went to the army. The obligatory call, dictated by the proximity with the DPRK, ruined more than one promising team in the country.
Solo departed on the already existing problems with the search for a worthy sponsor, and the Koreans, not finding a way out of the situation, put a cross on all their efforts. After many years of joint performances, the team broke up, and new professional groups, according to the WWW website,.HLTV.Org, on the horizon is not visible-unfortunately, Counter-Strike finally lost popularity in Korea.