Soma defeats Jaedong to advance to ASL Season 22 semifinals
Soma (Park Sang-hyun) has secured a spot in the ASL Season 22 semifinals after a 3-1 victory over Jaedong (Lee Jae-dong). The win, achieved during the quarterfinals at the FreakUp studio in Seoul, extends Soma's series winning streak to seven consecutive matches.
The Zerg vs Zerg matchup saw Jaedong take an early lead on AttitudeSE, securing the first map in just 4 minutes and 10 seconds. However, Soma responded immediately on Backrooms, dismantling Jaedong's economy to level the series.
The turning point occurred on OdysseyRE in the third map. Soma utilized a 6-drone build—a tactic he had observed while helping player Kim Yun-hwan practice—to catch his opponent off guard and take a 2-1 lead. Soma closed out the series on OctagonSE, using a combination of Mutalisks and Scourge to overwhelm Jaedong's defenses and secure the victory in 13 minutes.
Reflecting on the win, Soma admitted that Jaedong has always been a difficult opponent due to his overwhelming momentum, but he felt prepared for the matchup. The defending champion noted that his previous title win against Lee Young-ho significantly reduced the pressure he feels now, allowing him to chase a third consecutive championship with focus rather than anxiety.
Looking ahead, Soma is eyeing the finals but acknowledged the high probability of facing Kim Min-chul in the upcoming rounds.
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