EPT
Airforce Ace Web-zine
Reach the Mantoss Interview
Do you plan on progaming after your discharge from Ace?
...
"That was my entire reason for joining Ace"
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Reach the Mantoss InterviewDo you plan on progaming after your discharge from Ace?
...
"That was my entire reason for joining Ace"
I feel like it was just yesterday that I visited the Ace house when you were still a private and I played you in starcraft only to have you beat me pretty miserably... but now you’ve already become a sergeant. Do you feel that your discharge is coming soon?
It wasn’t that miserable was it? I was being easy on you too haha. Time does feel like it’s going by quickly but being discharged is still far away T_T.
Since entering the 4th round, it seems you’re doing the best in Ace.
That’s not true. Most of the wins came from purely strategic plays so in terms of management or micro I’m still lacking in a lot of areas. I feel like luck has been on my side too. Also,
Anytime (before his recent loss against KT) was also on a 3 win streak. Recently you beat
Really, Major, and Violet – of these games, your game with Really really (t/n: no pun intended) stuck out. Without observers, with a combination of zealots and dragoons you pushed out and wiped out his tanks to emerge victorious – was that your original plan? The strategy was to expand and go 4 gateways. Though a management game was possible, it was a half all-in strategy, and because this strategy hadn’t been used recently, I thought it would work at least once. When going double nexus, terran don’t immediately research siege so this strategy optimizes on that fact. Mines are also rarely researched at that timing. However, I was disappointed that the game lasted as long as it did because of some errors on my part, when it could have ended with a proper first push with dragoons. My dragoons running confusedly in my opponent’s line seemed to be a direct representation of my nervous feelings at the time T_T.
But still you finished the game with spectacular usage of recall – isn’t that better?
In terms of the result, that’s true. However, if
Really had prepared better for recall I could have lost. It’s better to finish the game as soon as you have the chance. In the 09-10 season, (for both you and the team) it seems two digit wins are possible.
It’s the last time I can spend a complete whole season with Ace. Personally, I do want to achieve double digit wins, and I really hope the same for the team as well. In the remaining time, I want to contribute as much as I can to the team for all the times I couldn’t thus far. This is just my desire and hopes, but I believe that it will happen.
![[image loading]](http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/8306/reach2.jpg)
This is a question you don’t have to answer right away. Right before
OversKy retired, because he was doing well people thought he could have continued playing as a progamer but he chose not to – are you planning on continuing progaming after your discharge? That was the entire reason I joined Ace. I definitely want to continue being a progamer, and my goal is to continue progaming into my 30’s. Of course after my discharge, to return to KT again I’ll have to compete to survive, and if I’m to do that I’ll have to start showing good results from now on. This isn’t just me but I’m sure every progamer that joined Ace came with the mindset of returning to progaming afterwards. Though it’s true that while doing service, because of personal reasons your mind can change, my personal desire has not changed.
As a fan, hearing that you want to continue being a progamer makes me happy. I’ll have to put some pressure on KT by releasing this article with the title as you wanting to continue being a progamer.
Though I’m grateful, if I were the coach myself I wouldn’t choose a player who lacked in skills. I’ll just have to work very hard.
![[image loading]](http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5379/reach3.jpg)
In March, April, and May three months in a row, Ace has been in the process of recruitment. Starting with
ggaemo who has officially been selected, several players are enlisting. Watching the process of hoobaes* enlisting, do you feel as though you’ve become a veteran? Because these are players being chosen to replace our generation once we leave, I am feeling that (though not that many have been selected yet). Because I’m a sergeant now, there is a self-awareness I feel of having become a veteran. So in order not to hear that I’ve been slacking after becoming a sergeant, I’ve worked even harder, and I believe the recent wins by me and
Anytime are a result of such increased effort. “Now that you’re being discharged are you just playing like shit?” is something I don’t ever want to hear. Until the day I discharge, I will not change this mindset. You must be especially close to
Anytime and Casy who enlisted together with you. When we were newly enlisted, we were physically exhausted and had so much to do so there were times we argued. Because we were in a situation where if one person made a mistake, everyone got in trouble, I think that was inevitable. However, after passing a year of service, I realized that there really was no one but them. We began to depend on each other and understand one another better. Even after leaving (though I am their hyung*) I feel I can meet up with them casually to have a drink.
If there aren’t additional protoss players added to the roster, with you and
Anytime leaving, Much will be the only protoss player left. Even now, there is a lack of zerg players and the imbalance of races is already a critical matter – this could possibly become a significant issue in the future. Two months after we leave,
YellOw and ClouD are also discharging so I expect that they will start recruiting with more of a focus on protoss and zerg in the future. With a lack of players already, having a race imbalance in the roster would double the problem. I feel like these things will be taken into heavy consideration.![[image loading]](http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/5313/reach4.jpg)
Are you still working out nowadays?
When I was a first-class, second-class private I couldn’t work out often because of how it would look (t/n: not as appropriate for lower classes to spend ‘leisure’ time working out), but nowadays I work out a lot. Right now because there are no second-class privates, all of us just comfortably play soccer together and work out a lot as well.
In the future do you have any plans on writing a work out book? I feel it would work out well.
I think you’re misunderstanding something, but I definitely don’t have any expertise knowledge when it comes to working out or exercising and I’m also not a momjjang*. I’m just exercising based on very shallow knowledge on the subject. Actually,
GoRush and Anytime are really good about controlling their diet and systematically working out. They never eat ramen or snacks, but I do. However, I did like exercising since I was little, and because I don’t have the body type that gains weight easily, I may just seem that way. But yea...writing a book is out of the question. Recently the Ace coach has been chosen by OGN staff and workers as the most attractive coach – what do you think about that?
Our coach has always had a very affable persona, and because he’s the youngest of all coaches I think he was chosen. Since it’s our coach that was chosen I’m happy. Also,
RuBy was voted as the best looking player, and though I’m a bit disappointed I wasn’t chosen, I’m happy about that as well. You’re also very popular for your looks. After you discharge and grow your hair back, you’ll get number one!
Because 80% of my looks comes from my hair, I have to say I am looking forward to that aspect a little bit haha.
![[image loading]](http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2445/reach5.jpg)
In the program “Nal_rA’s Oldboy”,
YellOw’s loss to Nal_rA has become a hot topic of discussion. Has there been talk of this in the Ace house as well? I also played
Nal_rA, and thinking “what do I do if I lose?” I kept worrying as well. I just ended it with proxy gates, and though he might not be physically in shape after retiring, because he’s always been a strategic player, you can never lose focus with him. Even if an active player wins against him, it’s bound to be a serious, pressuring game. Though YellOw may be laughing on the surface, I’m sure inwardly his pride was hurt and it was a big blow, so in the Ace house there wasn’t much talk about it. Though “Nal_rA’s Oldboy” is a good program since the fans enjoy it, I’ll be honest and say for active players it’s a bit pressuring. Since
Nal_rA has been brought up, let’s talk a bit about the past. You have the nickname of “hero toss”, (and of course, it’s a very honorable name) and I feel like this came about because of your “magic storms” and “magic reavers”. But the truth is, (before Nal_rA) you popularized the double nexus build, and (before Bisu) you managed corsair-dark templars. Despite the fact that you are judged as one of the best players, I feel as though in terms of being a pioneer, you aren’t receiving as much attention. Hm, I’ve never really thought about those points. To be honest I don’t even really remember. Because I used so many different strategies, I’m sure I used the double nexus build and corsair-dark templar strategy, but the ones who systematically implemented those builds are those players. In terms of ‘who used it first’ or ‘who used it later’, I don’t really feel offended.
![[image loading]](http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1678/reach6.jpg)
Last words you want to leave with fans?
In our last match against KT, many old time fans came and it was so nice seeing them – I was very thankful. I’m sure they’re always hoping that I show good games and win, and because I haven’t satisfied those expectations thus far I’m sorry. Though I probably won’t be able to win every game in the future, I’ll continue to grow and show games where I put in my all. I’ll try to get double digit wins while I’m still at Ace, and in order for Ace to get double digit wins as well I’ll always work very hard.
Korean words:
*hoobae: term for younger person or lower ranked person, often in a certain setting (i.e.: school, military, starcraft players lol)
*hyung: term for "older brother", not necessarily by blood
*momjjang: term for a person with a crazy ripped body
source: fomos
Really enjoyed translating this - mantoss is <3
Hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I did.
Feedback is always welcome and appreciated!!!
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