[Winners Interview] OSL Ro16 - Day 1

Jangbi - http://esports.dailygame.co.kr/news/read.php?id=60412
Grape - http://esports.dailygame.co.kr/news/read.php?id=60415
Soulkey - http://esports.dailygame.co.kr/news/read.php?id=60417
Zero - http://esports.dailygame.co.kr/news/read.php?id=60419

For Starleague there is always a winner’s jinx. In the previous competition, the last winner had difficulties and could not pass the Round of 8. Especially for Protoss champions, minus Stork they have all fallen out early.

Even with the Starleague has opened after a long delay; Samsung Khan’s JangBi has prepared a bridgehead to easily pass on to the Round of 8. In the opening game with Lee Shin Hyung (Bogus), Jangbi did a proxy gateway and robotics strategy and attempted to pressure, while gathering his army and winning handily.

Q. How do you feel winning the opening game?
JangBi – Maybe it’s because the Starleague hasn’t opened in a while, it was long enough to even forget my win in the Jin Air Starleague. As long as the waiting time was, this was a meaningful 1st win.

Q. The Starleague finally opened.
JangBi – I was concerned that the Starleague might never open again. Even though the thought of me becoming the last Starleague title holder did make me a little happy (laugh). When they announced the opening of Starleague, I also became happy at the thought of winning the tournament twice in a row.

Q. You brought a proxy gateway strategy.
JangBi – Honestly my practice amount was lacking. Even looking this game, I could not trust my own gameplay. Also during my Shuttle Elevator the Shuttle blew up from a turret. I knew this would work even if Bogus saw this coming, and that pressuring was a key point.

Q. You’re practicing SC2 as well. Isn’t it tough?
JangBi – Practicing two games at once is extremely frustrating. Since my hands are used to SC1 already, there is no choice but to focus on SC2. Looking at this in the long run, SC2 has a high chance of becoming the main so we’re focusing more on SC2. Because it has been a long time since I played SC1, my hands did not listen well. All the units have different speed so it was hard to adjust. Especially I struggled with the Dragoon and the Stalker’s differing movement speeds. It should be the same for other players as well.

Q. What was the most difficult point of adjusting?
JangBi – I’ve talked about the dragoon and stalker but truthfully having different probe production keys was the hardest. When I play SC1 when I make probes sometimes I press E.

Q. Your goal for this Starleague.
JangBi – While practicing hard for SC2, I want to thank the juniors who helped me practice SC1. This should be the toughest time for all Progamers. I hope they all do well. In the midst of that, I hope I make the best record (laugh).

TVing Starleague 2012 Ro16 Group B minus a Starleague winner Terran Jung Myung Hoon (Fantasy) has three Royal Roaders.

[T/N – A Royal Roader is someone has made the Ro16 for the first time]

Amongst the 3 Royal Roaders, two of them Grape, and Yoo Young Jin (Rush) played on the 15th with Grape winning and one step closer to entering the Round of 8. Maybe he was nervous in his first game ever in a Starleague and banked a lot of money, but Grape still came out with the win.

Q. How do you feel winning a match between Royal Roaders?
Grape – Feeling great. Personally I thought the map gives an advantage to Terran, I thought it would be a hard fought battle but everything went well since the beginning.

Q. Did your MSL Round of 8 experience help you?
Grape – I’ve practiced with Rush-sunbae before, he was really strong. Even if I had some experience in the individual leagues, I knew I could not take it easy against him.
[T/N – Sunbae is like referring to a senior in an organization]

Q. Isn’t it difficult practicing SC1 and SC2 side by side?
Grape – It’s hard playing just one game, but trying to do well in both is extremely difficult. With different interfaces there are difficulties but even if the races are the same the management style being different is the most difficult point. In SC2 Protoss, you have to defend first and bust out kind of race.

Q. Proleague is starting soon, are the preparations going well?
Grape – They are going so-so.

Q. Your next opponent is Byun Hyun Jae (mini).
Grape – I have the least confidence in PvP. If I prepare well I see my way to victory.

Q. Will it turn out good for you?
Grape – Since my first start was good, 2nd, 3rd game will turn out good.

Q. Anything you want to say.
Grape – I will do my best.

Woongjin Stars’ Neo.G_Soulkey in the SK Planet Starcraft Proleague Season 1, shared the most wins in Zerg together with Lee Jae Dong (Jaedong), and rode a nice rising momentum. Also passing through the Dual Tournament, entering the Starleague main stage, Soulkey who has never beaten Shin Dong Won (Hydra) before took home the win and continued his momentum.

Q. You beat Hydra and got your 1st win.
Neo.G_Soulkey – Because I entered a group with four Zergs, preparations were comfortable. I only have to prepare verses Zergs. After beating Hydra, my start is good and now in a favorable position.

Q. You had a 0-2 head to head record against Hydra.
Neo.G_Soulkey – There is no need to make fuss about lost games. I lost because I was bad. My strategy was good so I was overflowing with confidence. This build was recommended by our teams Kim Sung Woon (Woon) and it worked well. I will buy him something yummy.

Q. You prepared a Zergling timing rush?
Neo.G_Soulkey – In the practice environment this had a good win rate. It’s good against a 9 drone strategy, and even better against hatchery first builds. I did not think I would lose.

Q. In Starcraft2, there is talks about you being a Grand Master, is it true?
Neo.G_Soulkey – Yes it is. But my skills aren’t Grand Master. I was fortunate to get this Grand Master rank, but I don’t have faith in my skills yet.

Q. Isn’t it hard to practice both at the same time.
Neo.G_Soulkey – Very hard. It’s hard to control. In SC2 if you attack, they go attack by themselves but in SC1 you need more detailed control. When I play SC1, I don’t receive the amount of stress when I play SC2 so it’s nice.

Q. Your next game and the one afterwards are all verses Zerg. Are you confident?
Neo.G_Soulkey – I am overflowing with confidence. I said in like this before, but in confidence I think I am the world’s best.

Q. Proleague opening day is coming soon.
Neo.G_Soulkey – It’s difficult playing both SC1 and SC2 together, but I think it is a chance for me right now. If Zerg just gets modifications on the weakest things, I think this is a great chance for me to become big.

Q. Anything you want to say.
Neo.G_Soulkey – Woon helped me prepare a lot. I’m so thankful to him. I will show good appearances in Starleague and in Proleague.

Woongjin Stars' ZerO who met in the last Dual Tournament against Lee Kyung Min (Horang2) beat Horang2 in a complete victory. ZerO who attempted to be aggressive with Zerglings in the early game, succeeded in his run-by and afterwards his hydralisk/mutalisks follow up showed a smooth transition management play and won.

Q. You got your first win.
ZerO – I’m glad and happy I won my first match. The game did not turn out the way I wanted.

Q. In what points of the game were you lacking?
ZerO – I received damage from the Zealot moving to 1 o clock and because I missed it moving out. I could not do my planned build, and went into freestyle. The result was good but I was slightly frustrated because I had to change my gameplay. My play wasn’t clean as well.

Q. Seems like it was a blessing in disguise.
ZerO – I reacted in a fit of anger and made a lot of Zerglings, I think Horang2 was surprised. I won because of my opponent’s mistake.

Q. Why do you think your play has weakened?
ZerO – It is probably the effects of practicing SC2 side by side.

Q. In what aspect is it hard to practice them together?
ZerO – Not just the Zergs, but I think all the players are having troubles.

Q. How did you prepare for the Starleague?
ZerO – Since Proleague is opening soon, while practicing for Proleague I am practicing for Starleague in the spare time. My teammates helped me well. Since I didn’t play like I practiced, I think they’ll say something about it.

Q. With the soon approaching Proleague, how is your condition?
ZerO – I will do better than last season. I hit rock bottom last season, so it will be easier to climb up.

Q. Your next game is against Uh Yoon Soo (n.Die_soO).
ZerO – After today’s 1st win, game two and three should turn out good for me.

Q. Any last words.
ZerO – Proleague is starting soon. Of course for our team and I hope all Gaming Team players will do well.