[INTERVIEW] Khan vs CJ 09-10 R2

Q: Your feelings about leading Khan to a 5 win streak?
A: I lost to Effort before in an ace match in round 1 of the proleague. However, since our team was on a roll and I had my revenge, I am happy.

Q: Your simultaneous attack on Effort's 5' expansion and his main was very successful.
A: That was all part of my plan. The goal was to wreak havoc and confuse the Zerg player. The attack was successful, but I lost focus and lost my corsairs that I had saved up. Because I sniped so many drones and his spire, the game was easy after that. I knew that it was impossible for Effort to make mutalisks afterwards.

Q: Effort was on a 9 Win vP streak.
A: I was among one of the protosses he had beat, so I had to defeat his record. I cannot let my name as part of a record streak. Therefore, I practiced even harder, knowing that Effort would be sent out for the Ace match.

Q: Getting eliminated from the MSL must have been tough.
A: I really don't want to talk about the MSL. I was so confident that I would win - it was so awkward that I lost. Previously I had lost in the same way to Backho where I was ahead 1:0 but lost 1:2, and it was a similar experience as then. It was somewhat regretful and like a dream; it was just that unbelievable.

Q: You shed your Round 1 slump and are doing well right now.
A: I resolved strongly to do better in Round 2 as it began. Much of my slump in Round 1 was caused by lack of confidence. Like I said in interviews before, a lot of things happened in Round 1 that I didn't like. Towards the end of it, I decided to work harder from a depressed state. That change in mentality is reflected in my results.

Q: Your insights on set 4? (Between M18M and movie)
A: M18M got lucky ^_^. Still, I was happy and grateful that he dragged it on to the ace match. Even though he got lucky, a win is a win. Movie's play disparaged a bit, but M18M's game plan was sound.

Q: Your next match is against KT. Any particular players you want to play?
A: I don't really have in mind an opponent I want to play. I think Samsung Khan has been beasting it up lately and we can beat KT. Round 2 Khan is a different story than Round 1 Khan.

Q: Any last words you want to say?
A: The year 2009 is drawing to a close. Looking back on it, it was somewhat of a regretful year. If I had worked a little harder, I would have won gold medals instead of the many silvers I got. But that's all in the past now. It's almost 2010 and I will work harder. Samsung Khan will ride its momentum and dominate the proleague again.
Lastly, today's our Coach Choi Woo Bum's birthday. I wish him a happy birthday!

Q: Your feelings on Khan's 5 win streak?
A: It feels great that we're doing so well. After losing so much in Round 1, it feels like a miracle and I think we can continue the streak.

Q: Skyhigh had a lot of troops but played very passively.
A: I know Skyhigh's style pretty well, so my aim was to play defensively early-mid game until Ultras, which would ride me to victory. Because my plan fit so well, the game was smooth sail for me. I first made a lot of defilers to defend, because I knew going offensive with ultras later would win me the game.

Q: Your muta micro, however, was somewhat lacking.
A: My muta micro is often horrible, so I get teased a lot by my teammates for it. It is a weakness I need to fix.

Q: How did you feel during your team's slump in Round 1?
A: Losing consistently pissed me off too. My goal for this season was to never lose to CJ, and I managed to win both my games against them. If I had won in my match against CJ in the playoffs last season, we would have advanced 4:0 but Effort still managed to turn around a build order loss. Our team practiced especially hard for matches against CJ.

Q: How is the Zerg line of Khan doing currently?
A: Odin won his last game and I just won mine so the Khan Zs are currently on a 2 win streak. We think we can continue this momentum.

Q: Any player you wish to face in the upcoming match against KT?
A: None. I will just practice hard if I am put on the entry against KT.

Q: Any last words you want to say?
A: 2010 is coming, so I wish every fan finishes the year well and hope good things are in store for them. I also want to wish our coach Choi Woo Bum a happy birthday!

Q: Your feelings on saving the day for Khan.
A: I didn't feel extra worried because our team was losing. I felt that because I was a rookie, expectations wouldn't be high of me. I just wanted to give my best game.

Q: You stubbornly refused to use reavers until the end of the game.
A: Because of the cliffs, reavers aren't that effective in this map. I was also ahead by a lot so I thought I could win with just sheer numbers.

Q: Was sniping reavers with goons on cliffs related to that?
A: Reavers can't shoot dragoons on hills even if it sees them. Because of it, I had no intention of going reavers at all. All I needed was just goons and zealots.

Q: Even your citadel->templar archives tech was slow.
A: When Movie uses reavers, he always goes zealots + archons, so I thought I would take the center with simply more units. I think it was a good analysis.

Q: you have a good winning percentage, but your appearances in the proleague are rare. Is it because of Stork and Jangbi?
A: For sure, I am still worse than either of them. If I played them 10 times, I wouldn't even win 3 times. When I first started playing, I realized winning was winning. Even if I can't win all 10 games, I would make sure I won that 1 game. As a result, I still play focused on very small things while Stork and jangbi are able to look at a broader scope.

Q: Today is your first winner's interview.
A: When I won my match, I wondered about the possibility of doing the interview. Before he went up, I told Jangbi about this.

Q: Anything you are confident about when compared to Stork or Jangbi?
A: I'm confident at analyzing the opponent's play and coming up with builds. Personally, I wish KESPA didn't have the race-limitation rule in matches. Then I would get more chances to play. Even though I am confident with my builds and analysis, thanks to that rule I don't get to play as much.

Q: (Nal_Ra appears just at the right moment) I heard you respect Nal_Ra a lot. Any particular reasons for that?
A: Having the same game every time is not fun at all. Each game should be entertaining fun, with something unique in it. That's why I respect Nal_Ra a lot.

Nal_Ra who was watching says, "You'll be a great player one day. Your play today was excellent and your interview is excellent as well."

Q: Any last words?
A: A lot of my friends that I used to play with have given up already. Many of them have been drafted and some have returned to their studies. I wish them the best of luck.