On September 14, at FreecUP Studio in Daechi-dong, Seoul, Lee Jae-ho advanced to the quarterfinals of Google Play ASL Season 22 by taking first place in Group C of the Round of 16.
In Match 1 between Lee Jae-ho and Jeong Yeong-jae, Lee opened with a No Barracks Fast Expand, while Jeong opted for a Factory Double, giving Lee the better start. Lee built an Armory and Starport to launch his first attack with a Goliath drop, while Jeong used Vulture Spider Mines to secure vision and poked with Vultures, trading them for SCVs.
Jeong Yeong-jae prepared Cloaked Wraiths following Vultures and Tanks, which Lee Jae-ho countered with Valkyries. As both players secured their third bases and expanded their armies, Lee broke through the bottom of the map aiming to damage Jeong's 6 o'clock expansion. However, Jeong defended successfully and harassed Lee's 11 o'clock expansion using Wraiths and Vultures. Although Jeong held a slight advantage with more resources, Lee held out without major incident until maxing out his supply at 200.
Although Jeong was the first to secure the 12 o'clock starting location, he conceded the 12 o'clock expansion far too easily, while directing his own Dropships toward Lee's main base. While the pathing itself was good, as Jeong's Tank-heavy force dropped, Lee's Battlecruiser completed just in time to successfully hold off the doom drop. Given that it was a three-player map, controlling the third starting location at 12 o'clock was the key to victory, making Jeong's easy concession a poor decision. Despite being slightly behind in Battlecruiser count, Lee brought a large group of Goliaths to strike Jeong's main base, securing momentum to take Match 1.
Next was a Zerg vs. Zerg matchup between Kim Min-chul and Cho Il-jang. Both opened Spawning Pool first before taking their natural expansions and preparing Mutalisk production. Cho picked off one of Kim's Mutalisks with a Scourge produced from his natural and gained a slight edge in air control to kill several of Kim's Drones. Kim retaliated with Zergling damage. Though Cho was in a more advantageous position, Kim won the air fight through superior Mutalisk control, but Cho built a Spore Colony to retain the upper hand. Kim had two Mutalisks remaining, but could accomplish little against the Spore Colony. Cho produced Scourges and Zerglings to close out the game and advance to the Winners' Match.
Set 1 of the Winners' Match between Lee Jae-ho and Cho Il-jang began standard, with both players securing their natural expansions into a macro game. Lee added Valkyries to a Bionic setup and launched an attack before the Zerg could secure Defilers. Lee targeted Cho's expansion held by Lurkers with his Bionic force, but was easily repelled, buying time for Cho to get Defilers. After the failed push, Lee established another expansion and transitioned to a Mechanical composition. Settling into a solid position, Cho secured a fourth gas and added Hatcheries to prepare Ultralisks, ultimately taking the set by raiding the Terran natural expansion via a side path with Zerglings and Defilers.
Both macro-oriented players started standard again in Set 2. However, Lee Jae-ho built four Barracks after a fast Engineering Bay and marched out with his Bionic army. Taking control of the center, the Bionic force picked off two Mutalisks at a choke point to seize initiative. Cho's expansion was threatened by the large Bionic army, but Cho defended it by picking off Medics with Mutalisks. Nevertheless, right before Cho's Defilers completed, Lee seized control of Cho's main base with a two-Dropship play to tie the series 1-1.
Set 3 featured a Barracks Double versus 12 Hatchery matchup. Lee Jae-ho went for a four-Barracks Bionic attack, while Cho attempted to counter-attack Lee's main base with Mutalisks while holding off the push with Sunken Colonies. However, Lee's Bionic army broke through the Sunken line, giving Lee a 2-1 victory and sending him through to the quarterfinals.
