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Champion. What does this word mean to you? Is it the stoic athletic machine on your Wheaties box? Perhaps the Olympian astride the winner's podium? The dictionary would tell us that a champion is simply the person who takes first place in a competition, however, the word champion means something different to me. For me, a champion is someone who has a goal of being great and puts his heart and soul into that task; A champion battles not an opponent, but himself.
![[image loading]](http://www.cws.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/champion.jpg)
Champion?
Within the space of our own community, there are several "champions." There are many tradititional champions, athletes who achieved excellence through their hard work and won championships; IMMVP, IMNestea, EGIdrA, QIMNaNiwa, EGHuK, Mil.Stephano, MouzThorzain, SlayerS_MMA and many more. Everyone loves a winner. While no one would take anything away from these excellent players, I would argue that this is not the only type of champion. A viewer of ESPORTS is apt to adopt a personal champion; someone whose journey speaks to you. Maybe that player doesn't win every event, but he is a champion. Weather you follow Artosis because you love the passion he exudes, follow BoxeR's innovative play to revel in his past and future glories, or follow NaNiwa because you love his dedication, there's something that keeps you coming back to that player. I have several personal champions, and today I would like to talk a little to you about one of them; EG's Machine.
![[image loading]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qqKwy1H1Q9E/TRlZJ3X5dMI/AAAAAAAAAT0/s83SMPtIkz4/s1600/DSC_3887.jpg)
Champion
I have always been a big fan of EG's SCII division. When I first started watching VOD's of BW games to get ready for SCII, I devoured tons of IdrA games trying to learn what made him so succesful, and started to really appreciate the power of mechanics. As I diversified into other foreigners of the time, another who caught my eye was iNcontroL, always backstabbing and using fun tactics. I followed the team ever since beta, and I have been entertained all the while.
For a long time, though, I looked past Machine. It's rather easy to forget Machine when his mark for comparison is one of the best players outside of Korea. I always thought Machine was a good player, don't get me wrong, but I never thought of him as a champion. That all changed when I started tuning into iNcontroL's streaming sessions of EG's practice sessions.
One thing I noticed when watching EG's practice sessions was that Machine always wanted to play. He was always eager to put in more games. He was never satisfied with his play, he always was asking for advice and trying to implement those tips into his play. One phrase I heard over and over was some variant of "I need to do [X] better." I can't use any other word than I was impressed by Machine's attitude. Nothing leads to more improvement than self criticism and hard work, both of which Machine showed in spades.
Beyond his attitude, one thing that strikes me about machine seems so perceptive to change. I would hear iNcontroL say something and the very next game that was worked in and they'd have a discussion about it. One thing I notice about zerg players is that they're not really trendy for the most part. They kind of have their own style and usually play to that. When you think of someone like IdrA, generally you can characterize him as a powering type player. He's going to get a lot of drones then overrun you. When you think of someone like DRG, your mind jumps to aggression. He's going to pound you apart with great control and decision making. One thing that excites me about Machine is that he's very quick to mix parts of other players style while keeping his own identity. One thing I'm seeing a lot in his play recently is mixing in a lot of countering, like you'd see ViOlet or Darkforce do a lot. Also, some of the earlier tech styles instead of relying so much on mass drone styles (2 base mutalisk, etc) that the EG zergs seem to like so much. Machine is adding a whole lot of things to his repitoire while still keeping something that makes his play his own, rather than just copying someone.
![[image loading]](http://www.gamer-source.com/image/news/2010/8-25/mineralline.jpg)
Baller
With IdrA in korea to snag some ideas from as well as some of the best practice partners available with a strong team atmosphere, I think the 2012 season looks very promising for Machine, and I would encourage you to check him out. With Machine's great attitude and a great environment for him to practice, Machine's going to be a very scary player in the coming season.
![[image loading]](http://esporteye.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/EG.png)
EG Fighting!
Check out Machine...
Stream
Fanpage
 
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I really love posts like this, Great Write up I also think Machine is a great player really looking forward to him taking an MLG this year.
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doesnt he also only use his index finger?
that thing must fly
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I've been watching DeMuslim stream in house practice games w/ obs the past couple days and Machine has been looking pretty decent. Incontrol and Demuslim in particular have been giving him some really good feedback in game and post game that I think he really needed. He definitely has the mechanics and potential, so hopefully he can put the advice given to him to good use.
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I don't think Machine is going to start winning all the MLGs and Dreamhacks, but I do think we'll find him climbing up the rankings (like in the top 20 or 15) sometime in the near future.
Machine has the attitude of the champion, lets just see if he can bring it home someday 
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Be honest, Team Liquid, your brain thought "IdrA' at the first picture before you thought 'Machine'.
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The best part of Machines attitude is that he will take advice from anyone if its not to crazy. He is a super nice person to the point that I would put him in league with White-ra and Sheth on the nice scale. So for when he finally has his break out tournament Machine Fighting.
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I guess it's time to bring out this old picture:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Ce73b.png)
Jokes aside, Machine has a ton of dedication, and I really hope that will eventually pay off for him. He comes off as a really nice, passionate person, and I hope he achieves success soon.
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Machine seems like a cool guy from my limited online interactions with him. I hope he can have some success.
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Awesome post, very strong opening, and I agree with everything said. I think that the EG training sessions are very fun and interesting to watch, I'm glad for a refreshing streaming style (hopefully other teams catch on to the trend and follow suit).
<3
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Machine has been around forever, and never been very good. Why would he start winning now?
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On January 21 2012 13:58 m3rciless wrote:
Machine has been around forever, and never been very good. Why would he start winning now?
Assholes have been around forever, and never posted anything very good, why would they start posting anything good now?
To answer your question, because of his surrounding. He's now surrounded by some of the best players in the world for PP and instead of isolated practice, they're doing a team training style of practicing which should be really good for Machine.
On a related note, please don't bring anything negative to this thread.
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I hope we see more of these! I love player hype articles <3
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On January 21 2012 14:17 Arisen wrote:Show nested quote +On January 21 2012 13:58 m3rciless wrote:
Machine has been around forever, and never been very good. Why would he start winning now? Assholes have been around forever, and never posted anything very good, why would they start posting anything good now? To answer your question, because of his surrounding. He's now surrounded by some of the best players in the world for PP and instead of isolated practice, they're doing a team training style of practicing which should be really good for Machine. On a related note, please don't bring anything negative to this thread.
It's been way too long. If he does something, I'll be impressed and surprised. Until then, I won't be holding my breath. m3rciless is right.
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On January 21 2012 14:42 PH wrote:Show nested quote +On January 21 2012 14:17 Arisen wrote:On January 21 2012 13:58 m3rciless wrote:
Machine has been around forever, and never been very good. Why would he start winning now? Assholes have been around forever, and never posted anything very good, why would they start posting anything good now? To answer your question, because of his surrounding. He's now surrounded by some of the best players in the world for PP and instead of isolated practice, they're doing a team training style of practicing which should be really good for Machine. On a related note, please don't bring anything negative to this thread. It's been way too long. If he does something, I'll be impressed and surprised. Until then, I won't be holding my breath. m3rciless is right.
And so was I, please don't bring anything negative to this thread
(read: your post is negative and no one reading a machine support thread gives a flying fuck what you think, so please don't post negative comments here)
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The writeup is nice. But as for Machine himself... I'll see it when it happens. He's been around since forever back in the BW days too. Was never a top foreigner unfortunately.
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FuDDx
United States5018 Posts
<3 Machine Such a nice guy. I am glad I have had the pleasure of meeting him!! I wish and hope for the best for him!!!
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Watching his stream recently compared to the games I've seen from him at LANs and MLGs his play has changed in a way I can't quite describe because I'm not terribly good at analysis, but more and more I see his actions in game seem very deliberate when before I'd sense mild indecision by watching his screen and where he clicks to. Machine's a player I've enjoyed talking to and watching play at events. I'm happy to see his desire to improve paying off and am excited to see what will come this year.
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JIJIyO
Canada1957 Posts
Machine is da best. Hope you still remember me buddy =]
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EPT
