Also I just wanted to say how happy I am with this final 6. They've all developed their own stories to get here, and this season has gone so well. I mean, it's probably the most "obvious" result looking at the cast and their general ORG success as well as show knowledge but just within this game they've all developed so well.
Ahyoung: The person in everyone's back seat, driving the anti-strawberry movement and constantly paranoid that she was the target when she was actually fairly under the radar until the recaps
Really been at the centre of a lot of the game's big moments but in a very subtle way. Hasn't had a lot of Main Match success (her only win was in the very first round)
Eunji: The opposite of Ahyoung and as the story has developed they've become rivals of sorts which is perfect. Similar Main Match Success (only winning the big team win in Sword and Shield). Eunji and Ahyoung have been very complimentary in their storylines as Eunji has really come forward as the figurehead of the Strawberries. Main Match 7 they were meant to go head to head to see who would be sent to the Death Match but unfortunately Kyunghoon's departure put that all on hold and let it fester. Still, these two have been the centre of the main conflict since Blind Man's Bluff.
Hongchul: The man who became a fan through playing this game. Hongchul is probably my favourite of the players left in this game and the one I'm rooting for to win. While the game has been driven by Ahyoung in many ways, in my eyes Hongchul is the main character here. He started off very quiet and had a very rocky beginning as he learned about the format and kind of bulldozed through but after essentially leading his team to victory in Sword and Shield Hongchul has emerged as the protagonist (and even before then in Zombie Game he had started his heel-face turn) an agent of chaos turned into somebody that almost everyone trusts, and the only player to be given immunity more than once (by two different people no less). Hongchul has really taken the very concept of The Genius to heart and at the same time been a force of levity and humour. He's probably the player most like the real Sangmin and that could see him do very well.
Jinho: The dark horse from the very beginning. Now the only player to have not seen the show but he has also come into his own as a formidable Genius player. He's adapted at every turn and is making the game his own, and the recaps have given him a chance to jump ahead of the competition since he in his own words was a sheep among wolves. He can just sit back and watch everyone tear each other apart and I wouldn't be surprised to see him make the final 2 from here, no matter who else does.
Kyungran: I think in terms of casting, Kyungran is probably one of the best representations of her real life counterpart. Many have done well (particularly Kyunghoon, Junghyun, Hongchul, Jinho and to an extent Sunggyu) but I think Kyungran is playing herself to a T. Like her real life counterpart she is the only player to never enter the Death Match, and she has done an excellent job of staying around the wins without ever seeming like a big threat despite the fact that she has the 2nd most wins behind Sunggyu. I can see her following a similar path and potentially not heading to the Death Match until the final 3 but I think like the real Kyungran she's going to come up just short and it could very well come down to lack of Death Match experience. I wouldn't be surprised if this season ends with an identical matchup and result of the first season of the show with Jinho defeating her in the finals.
Sunggyu: Tries to play the fool, occasionally succeeds, often is outright playing people. Sunggyu has really taken his role and character seriously and I've loved his dedication to that. He's also been one of the most successful in Main Matches like the real Sunggyu as well, and proven to be insanely skilled at manipulation as we saw in the Jury Game, but Sunggyu lacks that real killer instinct to work the rules to his advantage the way Hongchul or Kyungran are. It could be part of the act but the actions as well seem to back this up. Sunggyu is a wild card but I can see him losing this death match (particularly in light of his real life and other ORG commitments) I think it makes sense for his storyline to end here and for Eunji to carry the Strawberry torch.
Prediction / How I think the story should/could end:
Sunggyu will lose this death match, and the Eunji/Ahyoung feud will come to a head as Eunji is sent to the Death Match in Border Patrol through people working against her and she chooses to fight against Ahyoung. Eunji will finally overcome the Anti-Strawberry queen and Ahyoung is eliminated. Hongchul/Kyungran make use of Jinho (who no longer has Ahyoung) and they will work together in Queen's Favor to ensure Eunji is in the Final 4 DM which she will lose since her teammate would probably sabotage her in Tactical Yutnori).
Jinho, Hongchul, Kyungran final 3. Jinho wins and Hongchul has to play Betting Rock Paper Scissors again but loses against the more conservative Kyungran.
Jinho/Kyungran final 2.
Jinho has the most Garnets and chooses Twelve Janggi for Game 1.
Kyungran gets given "Choose B" advantage and chooses Mystery Sign.
Jinho wins Twelve Janggi and Mystery Sign
