WC3L or Standard Format

In the well known WC3L format, 4 solo matches on randomly assigned maps are played, and a 2v2 match with a random map is played. Each player chooses to veto one map that their opponent cannot choose. After each game, the loser chooses which map to play on next. Best 2 of 3 games wins a match. Best 3 of 5 matches wins the round / playday.

The player can take tactical control of a match by either:
A) Winning on the opening map so that they can lose on their opponents map choice and still win the match just by winning their map choice.
B) Winning on their opponents map choice, seizing the opportunity of A from his or her opponent.

Beyond that it all depends on map matchups. Take WC3L Season 12 finals in a classic match between SK and MYM

 

vs

XlorD

vs

Susiria

Secret Valley

ReMinD

vs

Lucifer

Gnoll Wood

Lyn

vs

FoCuS

Lost Temple

SoJu

vs

Moon

Twisted Meadows

ReMinD SoJu

vs

Susiria Lucifer

Gnoll Wood

 

Here the limitations of MYM’s lineup this season really shone through.

SK was extremely overconfident to put Lyn against FoCuS where Orc Mirror on LT is both Focus’s best matchup on his best map for that matchup

It was almost guaranteed that Focus would be playing on Lost Temple for MYM because Undead and Night Elf are put at a severe disadvantage on this map. MYM really couldn’t know what SK would put on LT, it could have been Insomnia, Miou or Lyn. As far as this though, I think SK was extremely overconfident to put Lyn against Focus where Orc Mirror on LT is both Focus’s best matchup on his best map for that matchup

The other 3 maps each manager just picked for the players' strengths, and it went about even.

Susiria is one of the best Undead mirror players in the world, conversely Soju is probably the best Night Elf mirror player in the world. Remind v Lucifer on GW is about even.

Looking at this lineup, you would probably expect the match to be determined by the 2v2 and the GW match.

Expected results would be Susiria > Xlord, Focus > Lyn, Soju > Moon, giving us a score of MYM over SK 2-1. In fact, this is exactly what happened, except Xlord beat Susiria and Moon beat Soju. MYM up 2-1 over SK.

The memorable image of Xlord's upset over Susiria

Soju / Remind won the 2s and Remind won the GW match. Every match went the full 3 games except the 2v2.

It's important to note that Soju / Remind is widely regarded as the strongest 2v2 team in the world, granted that Susiria and Lucifer have also always been amazingly solid as well. It's still an obstacle stacked against any team that plays against SK.

What if SK put Miou or Insomnia against Focus, and put Lyn on Gnoll Wood against Lucifer? It would have given a much better chance for Lyn to win, with it being his best matchup on the best Orc map.

To MYMs credit, they were banking on the fact that Susiria would defeat Xlord as most would expect

To MYMs credit, they were banking on the fact that Susiria would defeat Xlord as most would expect, and that Moon would overcome Soju. However Soju has a great history versus Moon (in fact beating him in the Grand Finals the next day 2-0), and that matching Moon against Soju is likely wasting his talent, where he could be better used elsewhere.

You can see where better management might have helped SK, or where a more diverse team could have helped MYM.

- Photo taken from readmore.de