In a best-of-seven Zerg vs. Zerg match played into the final game,  Kwon “Sniper” Tae Hoon barely defeated  Ko “HyuN” Seok Hyun, earning himself the title of champion in the 2012 GSL Season 5 Code S.

The Season 5 finals, unlike most GSL matches held in Seoul, took place in Las Vegas, Nevada this year as part of a partnership with IGN Pro League which happened at the same place and time. Also held in Vegas that weekend were the GSL Semifinals the day before and the GSL World Championship over the whole weekend.  

Sniper, who plays for our partners team MYM.MVP, made it to the Grand Finals after beating Terran players  Kim “Ryung” Dong Won the day before in the Semifinals and  Lee “MarineKing” Jung Hoon in the Round of 8 in Seoul.

“I’ve never been more glad in my life, after winning,” he said through a Korean translator. “This is the best moment of my gaming life.”

After being tied 3 to 3, what was to be the final game got off to a rocky start for Sniper, after his keyboard malfunctioned at around 12 minutes in, causing him to ask for the game to be paused. It was soon decided that the players would restart the game, making the match the first “eight game GSL Finals” as casters  Dan “Artosis” Stemkoski and  Nick “Tasteless”Plott put it.

But the game restarted smoothly, with both players using nearly identical openings as they had used prior to the malfunction. The advantage went back and forth as each confrontation favored a different player. HyuN built up a stronger economy, but Sniper snuck a hidden fourth Hatchery at a main starting location that HyuN failed to scout until it was up, running and properly defended.

He used this to maintain a strong army, until finally at 30 minutes in, HyuN moved up a ramp to attack Sniper’s second expansion, where he was met by a supply-maxed army. After getting a near-perfect concave unit formation and littering the creep-covered high ground with Infested Terrans, HyuN’s army was nearly destroyed, giving Sniper a staggering 100 supply lead.  Sniper ran straight for his opponent’s natural base, where he picked off the last of HyuN’s roaches and earned himself a GG.

“At the last game I was at an advantage, but I became too nervous and almost lost that advantage,” Sniper said later in an interview with GOMTV’s StarCraft II manager Mr. Chae. “But I was able to hold my advantage and manage to win.”

The victory also comes after Sniper’s notable contributions to MYM.MVP in the team-focused GSTL, where he achieved an “all-kill” against Team SlayerS, taking out all five players in the opposition. This gave him a win rate of 6-1. Thanks to Sniper’s win, MYM.MVP now has twice the GSL Code S champions on their roster, his new trophy adding to  Park “DongRaeGu” Soo Ho’s. The two champions along with the rest of the team’s roster will also be playing against team FXOpen this weekend at the GSTL Grand Finals.

Michael Morhaime, CEO and Founder of Blizzard Entertainment, presented the GSL trophy to Sniper as they both stood before an audience of Americans. For his accomplishments, Sniper had a number of people to thank:

“First of all, I’d like to thank my coach. This was my first journey overseas. My condition wasn’t so good, but he looked after me really well. And I also thank   “Killer,” the team captain, for giving me lots of confidence. And most of all, my parents and relatives who always support me.”