[Interview] OSL Ro16 Day 5 Winners

Q: With 2W 1L, you are now fairly safe from elimination.
A: I feel like I haven’t been interviewed in a while (laughs). With a 2-1 record in the group, I’m more in the safe zone, and I’m satisfied about that. I don’t believe Kwanro is a player that will go 0-3 in a group. I will cheer for him (laughs).

Q: You sound like you don’t want the group to go into tiebreakers.
A: It should be ok; I feel like I’ve been playing to my standards lately so I should be able to advance even with tiebreakers. Still, even though it doesn’t conflict with Proleague scheduling, it could get a little difficult.

Q: Yesterday you made a comeback against Kal [in Proleague]; compared to that, how was today’s game?
A: I was really confident about today compared to yesterday. Kal played even better than I expected him to, so it could have been really hard, but I found out about the carriers early and prepared accordingly, and I think that’s why I won.

Q: Comparing yesterday and today, which game was more difficult?
A: Today’s was harder. But today’s play style was minutely different from yesterday’s. I think Kal probably felt it in my play.

Q: Kal’s play up to the midgame was quite solid.
A: I was still confident. I was just waiting for his carrier timing. I was pretty sure he wouldn’t use just arbiters and I expected him to use carriers, and that’s the key point to my win. I responded the same way I did in practice.

Q: Some say you only defend, and thus your games are boring.
A: It’s not like I defend mindlessly without any thought behind it, and I don’t even play this way that often. On air I’ve very often played by timing pushing and only defending when that fails. Those who don’t like me will always find something wrong with my play. I try not to mind those kinds of anti-fans.

Q: What is the most important aspect about ‘playing like Flash’?
A: Having the sense to know what your opponent is doing is the most important thing. I believe only I play this way on a 4-player map, and I think that’s because only I can play this way. Also, I’d like everyone to know that I don’t always play this way.

Q: Your team is on a 2 game losing streak in Proleague.
A: For the first time this season, our team lost two games in a row. But our teammates seemed more resolute during the match against STX yesterday. Yesterday we lost our game, but I think the coaching staff may have been satisfied with our showing. Even in a disadvantageous situation, our team didn’t give up. Plus, STX is a really strong team. We might have gotten a little sloppy, but we need to shape up and do our best.

Q: Last words?
A: I’ve said practice has been a little difficult recently, but I think my level of play is returning. The coaching staff was kind enough to let me rest for the Ace match yesterday, and I’m regaining my condition because of it. I’ve been doing well in Proleague, and I want to get the Most Wins Award, MVP, and team championship. Some say our team’s a one man team, but yesterday I could feel my teammates’ resolutions, and that was really cool. I hope our fans can understand this about our team and be a little more forgiving.

Q: You’ve rekindled your chances at a rematch.
A: It’s been a while since I’ve won on the Starleague stage. In Starleague, the fans’ energy is different. Listening to their enthusiastic cheers has changed my mind. Before the games, I felt that even with tiebreakers I’d lose, but after hearing the fans roar, I really want to advance through the tiebreakers.

Q: We’re curious if you practiced with Baby.
A: We were originally going to. But we couldn’t meet each other online, so we couldn’t practice with each other. I’ve already played my match, but I’ll need to practice PvT for tiebreakers, so I’d still like to play with him if he wants to.

Q: You took heavy damage from Hwasin’s vulture harass.
A: I didn’t catch his vultures leaving his base. I had a dragoon up front, so I had the vision, but the vultures must have escaped while I was looking at my main adding gateways. The game was going according to plan up until then, but that vulture harass made things very difficult. Luckily the dragoons came out of the gateway just in time, and I didn’t sustain too many probe loses in my main. I thought I could win if I could just catch up to Terran’s expansions.

Q: You must be happy today after having won Proleague and Starleague games on the same day.
A: The tiebreakers haven’t been confirmed yet, so I don’t know yet. I need to shape up. If I drop out of the Ro16, I need to wait 3 more months. Three months without individual league sounds kind of bad (laughs).

Q: Do you believe that Baby will be able to beat Movie?
A: At first I was glad I was placed in the same group as Baby. But after playing against him, I realized he’s actually really good. He’s been going strong recently, so I want him to win if only just for me.

Q: Off-topic, but did you watch Flash vs Kal?
A: The recall into 6 o’clock was very clean, and bought Kal valuable time. When I saw Kal go carriers I figured he would win. But then I fell asleep, and when I woke up 4 of Kal’s expansions were gone. Flash very keenly exploited Protoss’s weakness while transitioning into carriers. Kal could have just kept pumping arbiters, but realistically, that’s pretty hard.

Q: Last words?
A: When practice time is over, we’re allowed to practice for individual leagues. A lot of my teammates helped me during break time. I especially want to thank the Terran players who helped me.

Q: With 1W2L, there’s a possibility of tiebreakers.
A: I went into the game with an empty mind, but I’m glad I won. There’s tiebreakers if Zero wins, and as a Progamer of course I want to advance through it. I want to talk to Zero about it.

Q: Your first win in the Starleague Ro16 is a little late.
A: It’s because I’ve been playing poorly. But that’s ok (laughs). As long as I do well starting from now.

Q: Were you surprised when Fantasy got a marine behind your mineral line?
A: He went early rax because he figured I would 12 hatch, and even though I went pool first, he got his marine behind the mineral line, so I think we kind of traded some of our early advantages. But I got a good timing, so I was able to win.

Q: Did you expect Fantasy to use valkyries?
A: Even if he went valkyries, I thought he’d take his natural, but he did 1-base play, so I was a little caught off guard.

Q: Instead of adding expansions, you focused on amassing troups.
A: I thought he’d come down to take his natural. I got his valkyries at an opportune time, and I thought I could win if I just attacked. The two valkyries I got was a great profit. It let my mutalisks do their thing.

Q: So the damage you received early game wasn’t that big?
A: It is true I was caught off guard from his unorthodox play. I don’t think I was that far behind.

Q: Do you believe Zero will beat Pure?
A: These days it’s really hard to predict who will win. I think I want to share some tips with Zero.

Q: If there is a tiebreaker, are you confident you can pass?
A: I prepare for every game thinking it’s 50:50. If there is a tiebreaker, then I believe I can advance. If not, that’s ok too.

Q: It’s been some time since you’ve scored a win.
A: I’m happy I’ve won after a while, but maybe it’s because I haven’t been feeling so well recently, I just don’t feel that great. I’ve been sick for a few days, but it got worse today. I haven’t been able to practice, and I’ve been focusing on getting some rest. I trusted my instincts today, and I’m happy I won.

Q: You were on a 9-game loss streak against Terran.
A: To be honest, when I was doing well it was because of confidence. Since I kept losing, my confidence fell too, and I think that was just a bad cycle. I need to get my mind straight and win.

Q: Isn’t that the worst loss streak since your debut?
A: I thought about it myself too, but when I kept despairing by myself I think I just got worse. I got some strength back from my teammates’ and coaches’ encouragements. That’s helped a lot.

Q: If ForGG goes 3-0, you can be in tiebreakers.
A: I want him to win so there are tiebreakers. If he needs practice, I’m willing to help him with that as well (laughs).

Q: If tiebreakers ensue, are you confident you will advance?
A: I can build up my confidence by winning. If there is tiebreakers, I want to play games that I will not regret.

Q: Will today’s win help your confidence?
A: Today I broke my losing streak, so I can forget all those games I lost. I will start anew.

Q: It was a difficult game.
A: Frankly, I didn’t think about such early tactics. I was a little surprised, but I thought I could win. Anyhow, somehow the game ended up ending really fast.

Q: Do you think you can awaken again in Proleague as well?
A: In the first game of round 4, our team won. I lost, but my teammates did well so we could win. I need to get better. If we all get our minds straight our team can go up the ranks. Everyone was worried, and I am sorry, but if you continue watching me, I will show you good games from now on.