ADC 2007 playoff: KingSurf vs Zenith

The 2nd playoff matches of ADC 2007 between KS (Malaysia) and Zenith (Singapore) were held yesterday. An awesome series of matches, even more interesting especially because I was able to watch the streaming matches LIVE!!!!!

GGC thread

Game 1 (winner: KS):

Bans:
Ks: NA, POTM, Zeus
Zenith: BB, SF,QoP

Picks:
Ks: Lina, Skel King, TS, Sand King, Silencer
Zenith: Magnus, Tiny, WL, Viper, Spectre

comment: I was about 17 minutes late into the streaming, fast-forward to the current Live-stream. In the mean time I see the progress of the match, seeing Zenith leading the kill score from the early to mid game. But then, looking at the overall progress, KS did a better job, gunning down more towers, better creep kills and items, and near the end, better positioning in ganks. KS opted to use their strongest hero in this first match (Yamateh with Lina, Papaxiong with Sand Kind), and it paid off when Yamateh got 6 kill streak, before getting pawned by Magnataur+Viper in mid lane (I already expect him to die when he still stood near the creep waves, farming while Magnataur -with Blink Dagger- and Viper is just in front of him). In the end KS outfarmed Zenith, and ever since the match has been decided. The best item on Zenith side is probably Spectre with Radiance (farmed within around 50 minutes omg!), who was unable to finish radiance due to repeated ganking by KS. I'm a bit surprised to see their viper opted for Hood of Defiance rather than buying carry item, which definitely become one of the main reason for their loss - lack of late carry.

KS 1:0 Zenith
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Game 2 (winner: Zenith):

Bans:
Zenith: Bristleback, ShadowFiend, Skel King
Ks: Nerubian Assassin, Zeus, Warlock

Picks:
Zenith: PotM, Tormented Soul, Sven, Puck, OmniKnight
Ks: Queen of Pain, Tiny, Lina, Viper, Warchief

comment: Looking at the lineup, it's hard to predict who will take this match. I was about 13 minutes late. When I see Omni in the lineup, I thought Zenith will take Pudge as their final hero, instead they go for PotM. Through series of ganking, there is no guessing which one will win, however Zenith manage to push tower fast enough, causing KS unable to defend effectively. In the end, Omniknight's repel on Mirana decides the game, as it enable her (who is heavily farmed) to destroy the barrack with ease, especially since KS has run out of Diffusal' Purge charge. Mega Creep, Zenith won the 2nd game.

KS 1:1 Zenith
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Game 3 (winner: KS):

Bans:
Ks: Puck, PotM, Bristleback
Zenith: Shadow Fiend, Nerubian Assassin, Queen of Pain

Picks:
Ks: Lina, warlock, zeus, sandking, terrorblade
Zenith: Tormented Soul, Skelking, Viper, Twin Head Dragon, Tiny

comment: The decisive games. I stream the match on time, but unfortunately in the middle of the match I got disconnected, so as many others who also watch the match stream, and unable to reconnect back. I was so nervous about the result, because by the time I got disconnected, Zenith did amazingly well, leading the kill score, ganks much better, better cs score as well as tower score. Terrorblade submit to an easy first blood, and was 0-5 even until I was disconnected. All I can do then is wait until the match is over and look at the replay.
About an hour later, the result was announced: KS WIN!!!!!! I'm so relieved as well as curious on how could they win in such condition. So I watch the replay. Oh wow, an amazing comeback by KingSurf, one of the best match I ever see in ADC 2007. At 50th minute mark, Zenith was able to destroy KS's both mid barrack, and Zenith Bangala even says global 'GG', indicating that the match has already over. However they was wrong, as Terrorblade proves to be the man to turn the tide of the match. With Sange and Yasha equipped, late he was able to farm radiance and Eye of Skadi, making him an unstoppable pusher/defender. Zenith was equipped with 2 aegis+1 cheese, yet they was unable to break the top and bottom barrack, sacrificing the precious Aegis and money on buy back. In the end, KS was able to push and destroy top and middle barrack, then proceed to throning, and win the match.
This match shows the lack sportsmanship in one of Zenith player - Bangala (Leoric). As previously said, he global type "GG" around 51th minute mark, being overconfident that the match is already over at that point. His word beefed up KS's morale, enable them to fight back.

In the end, by 80th minute, KS-Yamateh replied: "Hey Zenith. GG back u"
serve Bangala right.