After a stiff pair of semifinal matches, the GSL 2013 Season 1 finalists have been decided: A mirror match between Zerg players Kang "Symbol" Dong Hyun and Shin "RorO" No Yeol.  

The finals will be held at "UNIQLO AX" in Gwangnaru, Seoul, at 5:10 p.m. KST. For the fortunate few living in Seoul, admission is free but reservations need to be made at http://www.gomtv.net/forum/view.gom?topicid=230588&cid=0&kind=8. Everyone following from outside the peninsula can steam the game live at www.gomtv.net/.  

The competitors will both be bringing their A game to the finals. Neither semifinal matches were even close, the eventual finalists having eliminated the competition handily. Symbol advanced after taking out Lee "Curious" Won Pyo in a Zerg vs. Zerg match that featured heavy aggression and innovation from both sides, especially in the early game. The crowd in the studio cheered as he dropped a "Creep Highway" in one of the later games to allow for steady Roach reinforcements, a tactic widely known but rarely seen. RorO, a KeSPA player, advanced by swiftly taking out the legendary Yoo "Taeja" Young Suh. Seeing the crowd favorite lose wasn't easy for the fans, but nodoby cound deny that RorO's play was excellent, as his wins became more and more decisive until his final 4-1 victory.   

Both players face high stakes. Symbol has excelled in the GSL Code S on numerous occasions but never walked away with a championship. Now that Symbol just recently signed onto AZUBU's new StarCraft II team, scoring a GSL championship this early in his run with them will prove that he's worth his salt. RorO, on the other hand, faces some discrimination due to his affiliation with KeSPA, the organization that runs Proleague. Due to disagreements, KeSPA banned its players from competing in the GSL for several seasons last year. Though players like RorO weren't involved in that decision, they are still often seen as being from "the dark side" of South Korean eSports and a GSL victory will go a ways toward earning KeSPA players some well-deserved fans.  

The finals will conclude the last GSL tournament before the Heart of the Swarm is released and a new era begins. Along with switching to the next expansion, the GSL studio will move from the residential Mokdong district of Seoul to the more popular and widely known Gangnam district in the heart of the inner city. GOMTV has already announced plans to give away prizes for anyone who can attend the final matches in the Mokdong studio.