EPT
Q: How does it feel to make it to the finals two seasons in a row?
▶ It was a match that was just as difficult as last year's finals. Luck really was on my side, especially in the 4th Set where I managed to pull off a ridiculous come back. I rushed in thinking that I'll just focus on that one moment and fight, and I won. That's how I knew I would absolutely win 5th Set.
Q: You were really touched by all of this. We saw you crying.
▶ Winning is winning, but when I came out of the booth, the noise from fans cheering were really something. I cried because of their cheers. Last season's finals were also quite extreme, but this match was on it's level.
Q: What were you thinking as you went into the 4th Set behind 1:2?
▶ I was really angry after losing the 3rd set. I knew what my opponent was going to do and I still couldn't stop it. I was so angry that I didn't leave the booth and I just prepared myself mentally.
Q: You were also quite behind on the 5th Set.
▶ Someone who was observing may have thought that the Zerg was ahead. I was quite flustered too when the Hydralisks were attacking the cannon lines. Hydras are quite imbalanced ("cheating") [laugh]. When I mustered up the one shot army, I wanted to end it right there but Zero built so much sunkens that I thought it'd be okay if I just went into a macro game. But it's true that you have to try end it before then. I really wanted to just break through but the defensive lines was really thick so I turned towards a macro game with harassment. I was lacking minerals because I made a lot of cannons at the beginning of the game. But the zerg had as many expansions as I thought they would even without having to scout. So I didn't even think that I would lose.
Q: You are getting a lot of attention as the final Protoss.
▶ If it was before, I'd have been quite burdened by it but my mind and mentality has improved quite a bit so I've been able to enjoy the attention. I think this is the main thing that is helping me grow.
Q: How did you prepare for the RO4?
▶ There wasn't anything that went wrong during practice. I went with psychological warfare in 1st, 2nd, and the 3rd set, so my opponent must have been thinking a lot. I did One Gateway, 2 Gateway, and then a double Nexus, so I think Zero may have started overthinking.
Q: Who do you want as your opponent in the finals?
▶ There's a lot of responsibility since it's the final Starleague. I think it'll be a fun match no matter which player makes it. If I feel burdened I'll just lose in the finals so I'm planning on enjoying the matches by reducing the burden. They're both the strongest Terrans so it doesn't matter who comes up, but since I beat Fantasy during last season's finals, I think it'd be better if Flash makes it to the finals. I think I'll be able to shine more brilliantly if I manage to beat Flash in the finals, since he has been consistently good.
Q: Kim Carrier requested that you launch Carriers.
▶ There were maps where you would be able to use Carriers, but nowadays there's only flat generic maps, so I personally don't want to use them, but I'll have to see after practicing. But since Commentator Kim Carrier is asking me, shouldn't I be using it at least once? Last finals had a map where Carriers were quite good so I've used it once.
Q: When are you going to start preparing for the finals?
▶ I don't think there's any time. It's not like I'm able to practice just StarCraft 1 since I have to practice StarCraft 2. You lose all your matches after playing StarCraft 2 after playing StarCraft 1. Although I'm at the Starleague finals, I have to play StarCraft 2 for the future.
Q: This Starleague is the last one for StarCraft 1.
▶ If I had to make a metaphor... it feels like I'm breaking up with a girlfriend? It's really disappointing and sad that a game that I liked so much is leaving. Even when StarCraft 1 ends, I'll be going to PC Bangs every now and then to play StarCraft 1. StarCraft 1 is really the best game. I've been realizing once again how difficult StarCraft 1 was as I play StarCraft 2. It's an honor to be participating in the last StarCraft 1 Starleague. I'll continue this honor and win the finals and enjoy this honor a bit more.
Q: What does the Starleague mean to you?
▶ After I won last season, I was really worried that the Starleague would end just like that. If Starleague started again right away, I would have carried that momentum and would have done even better in Proleague. The little gap was disappointing, but I'm proud of myself for overcoming this gap and climbing up to the finals. Starleague is the tournament where I had my dreams during my life as a Progamer. The first match I watched on TV was a Starleague game. When MyCube RO8 and RO4 was in Pusan, I went to the outdoor match and watched it live. Starleague is an entity that grew my dreams.
Q: Is there anything else you want to say?
▶ I want to thank the Zergs on my team.
RorO, Shine, Juni, Kang Min Soo, and playing coach oDin. I'm also thankful to Coach Oh and Coach Choi, and our manager. If a lot of fans show up to the finals like last time, I feel like I will play just as well as I did in JinAir Starleague and win. I hope a lot of you come. I'm really thankful to the fans who came to the matches today. And it's not like great games are created just by myself, so while I'm sorry that I won, I'm really thankful to Zero for creating these great matches with me. It feels like I'm killing him twice [laugh]
