Joona “Serral” Sotala has made history once again, winning his first Esports World Cup title and his third StarCraft II world championship with an impressive 5-2 victory over Kim “Classic” Doh-woo. The victory came during a best-of-nine final, a unique format introduced by the Esports World Cup, making this win even more memorable.
This title adds another remarkable achievement to Serral’s legendary career and comes at the perfect moment on the 15th anniversary of StarCraft II.
A Thrilling Best-of-Nine Final
The final between Serral and Classic was a battle of skill, strategy, and nerves. Casting legends Artosis and Tasteless guided fans through every moment, making the series a treat for long-time StarCraft followers.
Classic, the last Protoss player standing in the tournament, came in determined to stop Serral. He opened aggressively with double Stargate and Oracles, but Serral stood firm, countering with his own air units before following up with a devastating Roach/Ravager push to take the first game.
In the second game, Serral punished a canceled Nexus with Nydus Roach/Ravager aggression, quickly going up 2-0.
Classic Fights Back, But Serral Holds Strong
Classic showed his resilience in the third game, using Adept and Oracle pressure to overpower Serral and claim his first win. He tried a similar strategy in game four, but Serral adjusted perfectly, using Banelings and Hydralisks to destroy Classic’s fourth base and regain control.
In game five, Classic went for a macro-heavy approach, but Serral’s Zergling rush destabilized him early. Despite some excellent Blink Stalker control and perfect Psionic Storms, Classic couldn’t fully recover.
Championship Point: Closing It Out
Game six on Torches LE played right into Serral’s strengths. The map’s close third bases helped his Roach/Ravager/Queen timing, which crushed Classic’s Disruptor-based defense, putting Serral on championship point.
In the final game, Serral scouted Classic’s longer macro build perfectly and responded with a deadly composition of Zerglings, Banelings, Hydralisks, and Drop Overlords. He launched a massive multi-pronged attack, devastating Classic’s economy. With his bases destroyed and his defenses broken, Classic had no way back Serral claimed the final game and the championship.
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