StarTale Life Takes GSL Code S Season 4 Championship

Coming against a whirlwind of difficult opponents, underdog StarTale Lee "Life" Seung Hyu came out on top against the favored and four-time GSL Code S champion LG-IM Jung “Mvp” Jong Hyun  in Saturday’s GSL Code S Season 4 Grand Finals. The win nets the young champion about $45,000.

Image courtesy of TeamLiquid user Nicolas “nicopower5000” Chaussois

The games were back and forth as Life took the first two games followed by a three-win streak by Mvp. Life then proceeded to take games six and seven, ending the series 4-3 and becoming the youngest GSL Code S champion at 15 years and 9 months old.

Mech play dominated the build orders for Mvp with a focus on blue-flame hellions to set up strong early harassment. In game 4 the hellion harassment prompted an early GG by Life on the Zerg-favored Whirlwind, prompting some to doubt Life’s chances to win the series after losing on such a favored map.

Life didn’t let the losses affect his play, relying on transitions to Brood Lords and Corruptors to bring him victory in several of the matches. Life’s final push in game seven was set off by an encirclement of Thors followed by a push of Brood Lords and Corruptors that broke most of Mvp’s remaining army. A quick followup of roaches prompted the GG from Mvp after he vainly attempted to take back the match.

At the time of surrender Life had a 100 supply lead over his opponent.

Following the closing match Life spoke through a translator and thanked his team and family for the support to get him to his current standing.

“If my parents hadn’t loved me to become a pro-gamer I wouldn’t be in this place right now,” Life said. “I’m really thankful.”

The Up & Down matches for GSL Season 5 begins Oct. 25 at 18:10 KST.