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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
Notes: I've never written anything for TL.net and this isn't meant as an official article (so please don't rip me to shreds over it!) I was just incredibly bored at work today so I thought I'd type out some observations on a facet of gaming here in South Korea. Yes - I am the queen of run on sentences!~
Age before Beauty?
When you consider the twelve teams of the Proleague there is no denying they each have their own set of differences. From purely superficial elements which make up the team spectrum; the designs of their uniforms, the crazy antics of the mascots for which SKT1 and KTF Magicns have now become synonymous to the concieved levels of attractiveness attatched to players such as Kim Taekyong (Bisu[shield]) and Jin Yeongsu (Hwasin.) The Proleague is nothing if not a breeding ground for diversity.
One of the most crucial factors in the structure of a typical Starcraft team which has begun to become more noticable in recent years: as successive generations of potential bonjwas emerge to challenge those who have been present in the Starcraft scene since its inception is; the generational gap.
~ SAviOr and XellOs at CJ Entus' Live Event ~
Teams like CJ Entus have strived to emphasize their potent mixture of 'Old vs New' (even going as far as to present Korean fans with an event titled 'Old vs New/Young' instead of the regular Pre-Proleague inter-team matches broadcast upon the OGN Channel earlier in the year.) With a front line of veteran players that includes the definition of world class Zerg control Ma Jaeyoon (SAviOr) - a player so beloved by foreign fans that even a piece of clothing signed by him fetched over $500 on ebay.) Along with seasoned professionals Byun Hyungtae (Berserker/Iris.) and Park Yeongmin (Much.) the CJ team has made a particular focus rest upon their balance between the percieved 'past' and the 'future' of progaming in South Korea.
~ Two Generations of Zergs ~
As the leaders of Winners League, CJ Entus have proved that despite a lacklustre performance in the regular season of Proleague their deep roster which is comprised of a wide spread of ages and experiences has been an asset in this all-kill format. Veterans of the CJ team can be seen at live events mentoring the younger players. A perfect example of this student/teacher relationship between two players is SAviOr and EffOrt (Kim Jung Woo.) The sixteen year old zerg has experienced a run of success during proleague and has been ear marked as one of the next big zerg prospects (along with Shin Daegun - Hyvaa of eSTRO.) At Pro and Winners League Ma Jaeyoon has been seen giving him post-match feedback and the inevitable pat on the back for a victory. Likewise new recruits to teams such as SKT1 - the only team in the league with a player-coach in the form of OSL champion Choi Yun Sung (Iloveoov) who straddles the boundaries between teacher and an actively competitive facet of the team and a returned army veteran in the form of the Emperor himself - Lim Yohwan (SlayerS_`BoxeR`) can rely upon the support and knowledge of those who have gone before them.
~ Bunkie - A new lease of liveliness for SKT1 ~
This symbiotic relationship between older and younger players appears to work both ways. As was demonstrated in a recent OSL commercial (Incruit Finals at COEX Mall in Seoul.) where Iloveoov was seen having his status as a mentor to up and coming Terran Jung Myung Hoon (By.Fantasy) come into question. This appeared to spur him on to get back into the game and reverse his apparent retirement. This fresh out look upon gaming has most clearly affected the T1 team. At the end of last season the were a ghost of their former selves - no longer a nursing ground of champions they wore hats and attended proleague as if it were some form of jail sentence.
However, April 2008 marked a turn around in the public image of the team. A bright new uniform, an unpredictable and much loved mascot in the form of Bunkie and players who finally once again expressed their emotions openly. Whether they were attatched to the crushing feeling of loss or the joy of winning. What made these changes all the more attractive to the Korean and foreign fans in terms of bringing back those who has drifted away from supporting T1 during their darkest days was the fact that regardless of age or status within the team, both veterans and rookies embraced the fresh image with gusto. Never was there a more obvious and remarkable illustration of team unity than the first time T1 did their signature dance and shocked the fans into loving them once again.
This is not to say that teams which do not adopt the same balance are destined to suffer a lack of success. There are several teams within the league who host only a small number of long-standing players with positive records and yet their purpose within the larger scheme of the Starcrafting community in South Korea is equally as vital and noticable.
~ Red Sniper - Jin Yeongsu. ~
STX Soul is probably the most noted example of a team which is looking to the very fringes of the future in terms of Starcraft 1. Despite the fact that they have transfered three time OSL champion Park Seungjoon (JulyZerg) whose understanding of the art of Zerg is a highly valuable asset to any team. The inclusion of experienced players like Jin Yeongsu (Hwasin who is merely twenty years old himself) upon their A-team roster has still meant that their image as a team is one of youth and potential. STX Soul visibly appears to have the largest number of high school aged players promoted as part of their public image (aka through photo books and fan meetings.)
~ By.BaBy: We Made's miniature baller. ~
Most other teams with the exception of We Made Fox (Who has promoted rookie fourteen year old Terran Jun Tae Yang(By.BaBy) to its highest tier.) have only graduated players older than sixteen to sit on the bench at Proleague and garner their first live game experiences. STX Soul's faith in these very young players was justified by a recent three kill instigated by Lee Shin Hyung (Bogus) at Winners League. This slightly different form of a breeding area for fresh talent only strives to increase the diversity of people able to achieve notority within the community and help train the next level of Starcraft players to tackle future tournaments.
~ OSL Legend JulyZerg ~
So, what becomes of the veterans when the SC world is so focused upon looking to the future in many respects? In South Korea military service is compulsory for all those without a special exemption for ill-health or other conditions that physically or mentally prevent them from performing this duty. When Lim Yohwan, adored by Korean and foreign fans alike made the decision to begin his tour of work within the Air Force the true depth of his cultural impact was demonstrated.
The ACE Air Force Esporting team was formed around the concept of Lim Yohwan's time within the military institution. Although their results might not have quite lined up with expectations their necessity within the scene still played a vital role in making the team leagues what they are today. They allowed fans to watch a player developing both professionally and personally. Soldiers from across Seoul were witnessed at matches supporting the ACE team and showing that passion (and indeed gaming passion.) could still be considered a part of life even when daily behaviour was constrained by the rules of military service.
When the ACE team came under threat from a request via the government to cease its operation fans from the other teams (KTF Magicns etc.) were seen passing round petitions loaded with signatures that denied this sudden reversal of fortunes for the team. The players themselves rallied round and several adopted earlier military service that was absolutely necessary to swell the ranks of the team with seasoned star names.
~ Reach and YellOw - brought back from the graveyard of 2v2. ~
One of the first to make this transition was Oh Yeong Jong (Anytime) from the Hwaseung OZ team. His choice was rapidly followed by a succession of high caliber veterans who could find a new lease of life where once some of them had been confined to 2v2 matches by their failure to keep up with the changing face of modern esports. Hong Jinho (YellOw) and Park Jeongseok (Reach) both returned from their 2v2 status to the team and thus continued their progaming lives in a new context. They have since been followed by Seo Jihoon (XellOs) and Park Taemin (GoRush) to form an evolved version of what once seemed like a doomed team as Lim Yohwan's departure loomed upon the horizon.
~ Recent ACE converts Gorush and XellOs ~
Some argue that the ACE team is a graveyard for players who clung to the lifestyle of professional gamers for too long to stave off the responsibilities of 'real life.' The validity of this argument is impossible to analyse on a widespread level because it seeks to generalise the personal circumstances and attitudes towards living as a professional gamer. Instead of considering the individual aspirations of the gamers in question. Certain people only need to look within themselves to their ideas about gaming and wonder if they could give up something their formative years had been so pervasively shaped by and for which they held an all consuming desire to participate in (even at the expense of a 'conventional' daily life.)
~ Veteran Woongjin player Free and his new(ish) companion ZerO ~
With the impending release of Starcraft 2 the Korean gaming scene will no doubt be forced to evolve once more to accomodate the changes surrounding the very foundation upon which it stands. This metamorphosis between different styles of game will hopefully run as smoothly as the division between old and new players has been resolved through co-operation, mentoring and sometimes the eventual transition into the ACE team.
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![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/NeverGG/Miscwork/402ub9.jpg)
I love this picture
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Very nice, thank you 
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umm... Free and Zero too close
thanks for the pics !
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Great article and some great pictures. I wasn't aware the government was trying to shut down ACE at one point O.o
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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
On March 02 2009 18:55 Abydos1 wrote:
Great article and some great pictures. I wasn't aware the government was trying to shut down ACE at one point O.o
Yeah, it came as something of a shock. I'm not sure of the actual justification they offered for it. However, the fan rage must've been pretty potent because they're very much still around this season. I'm glad because a PL without 12 teams would feel some what incomplete.
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Artosis
United States2140 Posts
who isn't jealous of me atm?
yeah thought so.
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United States20661 Posts
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Your bits about Old/New players on team are very relevant to me. I didn't really start watching SC until semi-recently and I was naturally attracted towards teams with more distinctive lines between the veterans and fresh talent. It makes the history easier/more interesting to learn and I get the chance to watch the new ones "grow up" as a player.
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What a great read. I love the emergence of the Mentor/Protege sort of thing lately, it's almost as if some of the older players are living vicariously through their younger and perhaps more able (not sure if that's the right way to put it) teammates.
It might just be because it's on the brain, but I can see Savior's style in Effort's play, with his own twists thrown in. I watched fantasy ride to the OSL finals capitalizing on a build that iloveoov invented. I watched by.hero topple the heavy favorite Bisu in the OSL after helpful advice from Julyzerg, master of the meta game.
Although it might be wishful thinking, it's also nice to think that some part of these players may live on in their younger teammates after they have gone.
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On March 02 2009 19:02 Artosis wrote:
who isn't jealous of me atm?
yeah thought so.
i am :<
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Damn, some of the photos can't get more gay... seriously...
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
I think Free-Guemchi, GGPlay-Zero are more apt combinations.
BUT HOLY SHIT GORUSH HAIRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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CA10828 Posts
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On March 02 2009 20:18 Jusciax wrote:
Damn, some of the photos can't get more gay... seriously...
meh its not really gay.
i like to think of it as like a brotherly closeness.
You know, like a family. Then it doesn't seem all gay :d
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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
On March 02 2009 20:18 Jusciax wrote:
Damn, some of the photos can't get more gay... seriously...
I'll admit the Free/ZerO photo was *totally* on purpose. But yes, don't worry looking at them won't turn you or anything >.>
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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
On March 02 2009 20:21 LosingID8 wrote:needs more nada imo + Show Spoiler +loved the pics and nice writing too!
Just for you, MOAR NADA:
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CA10828 Posts
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nevergg you are a really good photographer!
You would be epic at taking family photos and stuff :D
Photographing isn't as easy as some people think. You really need talent to get great photos.
And you have it
please keep posting these photos as they are really nice and fun to see
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
oh yea, Bunkie pic looks absolutely amazing :O:O
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that free/zero picture is creepy
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bunkie vs whatever ktf mascot name is showmatch pls
awesome pictures haha free + zero =O
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those photos of nada are cream in the pants worthy
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Zero + Free pictures sends a weird vibe. o_O
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ZerO pic made me giggle. He looks funnier than usual ^^,
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Korea (South)17174 Posts
artosis she obviously is in love with xellos
you want me to write some disgusting facts about xellos here to sway her interest back to you?
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MyLostTemple
United States2921 Posts
you really could be a fulltime professional photographer neverGG.
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AH! That picture of July is AWESOME
EDIT: And I (still) shamelessly love the zero/free pic. Because it's zero. And free.
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I wonder if they all call each other by their game names in rl.
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United States12607 Posts
haha Artosis: what a baller. Thanks for this article NeverGG...quality stuff here.
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it would be awesome to have a photo section of the 4 bonjwas somewhere (unless i missed it somehow)
oh yea btw good article specially if this is your first one its pretty nice
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fuck yeah REACH !
NeverGG <3
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Germany / USA16648 Posts
On March 02 2009 20:18 Jusciax wrote:
Damn, some of the photos can't get more gay... seriously...
insecure much?
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Ares[Effort]
DEMACIA6550 Posts
Hey this was a really great read, I didn't know what was behind this link until I clicked it. I'm glad I done so, thx for sharing!!
EffOrt fighting!
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I like the zero picture, and I don't care who knows it!
Also reach looks as bad ass as usual.
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On March 02 2009 18:55 ambit!ous1 wrote:
umm... Free and Zero too close
thanks for the pics !
looks like they want to make out.
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Damn, really good photos. I like your work a lot. The writing is also a great complement to the photos.
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Nice batch as always!
Thoughts on wallpaper size photos?
I'm not sure how good you are with photoshop but surely you could find someone to teach you or help you with that.
1680/1050! I wants it!
Also I'm not sure about other people but I'd love to see more shots of players focusing/looking serious.
Thx!
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United States17042 Posts
On March 04 2009 10:29 inReacH wrote:
Nice batch as always!
Thoughts on wallpaper size photos?
I'm not sure how good you are with photoshop but surely you could find someone to teach you or help you with that.
1680/1050! I wants it!
Also I'm not sure about other people but I'd love to see more shots of players focusing/looking serious.
Thx!
If she decided to host the full size images (heck, I would do it if she asked; bandwidth isn't that expensive), then anyone could make the background. There are probably many reasons why she dosen't though - after all, she probably makes a living with the images, and keeps the full res ones so that she can sell them (or frame them).
That being said, if you started selling prints nevergg, I would probably buy a few. Amazing amazing photos.
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holy shit the savior + effort shot is really nice
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On March 02 2009 18:55 ambit!ous1 wrote:
umm... Free and Zero too close
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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
On March 04 2009 11:35 GHOSTCLAW wrote:Show nested quote +On March 04 2009 10:29 inReacH wrote:
Nice batch as always!
Thoughts on wallpaper size photos?
I'm not sure how good you are with photoshop but surely you could find someone to teach you or help you with that.
1680/1050! I wants it!
Also I'm not sure about other people but I'd love to see more shots of players focusing/looking serious.
Thx! If she decided to host the full size images (heck, I would do it if she asked; bandwidth isn't that expensive), then anyone could make the background. There are probably many reasons why she dosen't though - after all, she probably makes a living with the images, and keeps the full res ones so that she can sell them (or frame them). That being said, if you started selling prints nevergg, I would probably buy a few. Amazing amazing photos.
Thanks for the vote of confidence - I don't actually agree with selling my photos. I do all my work as a volunteer and it just wouldn't fit in with my reasons for photographing/reporting esports here in Seoul. I don't post them because my camera doesn't do good raws at larger sizes usually - I'll probably be posting way more of the over-sized (wallpaper size etc) shots once I upgrade around July (but I just don't have the money to afford to do it until then sadly.)
I'm okay with photoshop, but I know there are some really talented people on here so in the future when I can provide larger raw sizes then I'd love to see what they can do with my work. Sorry, but the raws from all these photos were lost when my laptop's power supply died and it had to be reformated. I don't usually keep raw images for more than a week because I need the space on my memory cards/HD for new work.
P.S. To those complaining about the ZerO/Free shot - I was *not* the first one to do photos of them like that and I definitely won't be the last so deal with it please Check fomos or fifo and you will find *a lot* more photos depicting closeness/friendship/cuteness on their sites.
I don't just work for TL.net/SCforALL and the foreign community in general. If you go to eSTRO's or OGN's official sites or some of the KTF/STX/Hwaseung OZ fan cafes you can see my work is for the Korean community too - which has a whole different range of target audiences. My work has now been used for cheerfuls at MSL and Proleague so I'm working to do the biggest range of poses/moods/ideas I can for my photos.
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awesome work again, neggy :D
wow, looking at progamers' photos taken by you really moves me 
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July <3
thanks for this article, was a nice read
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Jun Tae yang is a pimp.
nice read
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Korea (South)3086 Posts
All these pictures are absolutely great...
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On March 02 2009 22:24 Rekrul wrote:
artosis she obviously is in love with xellos
you want me to write some disgusting facts about xellos here to sway her interest back to you?
Xellos is an angel and a beacon of purity i refuse to believe otherwise ; ;
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On March 04 2009 14:19 NeverGG wrote:Show nested quote +On March 04 2009 11:35 GHOSTCLAW wrote:On March 04 2009 10:29 inReacH wrote:
Nice batch as always!
Thoughts on wallpaper size photos?
I'm not sure how good you are with photoshop but surely you could find someone to teach you or help you with that.
1680/1050! I wants it!
Also I'm not sure about other people but I'd love to see more shots of players focusing/looking serious.
Thx! If she decided to host the full size images (heck, I would do it if she asked; bandwidth isn't that expensive), then anyone could make the background. There are probably many reasons why she dosen't though - after all, she probably makes a living with the images, and keeps the full res ones so that she can sell them (or frame them). That being said, if you started selling prints nevergg, I would probably buy a few. Amazing amazing photos. Thanks for the vote of confidence - I don't actually agree with selling my photos. I do all my work as a volunteer and it just wouldn't fit in with my reasons for photographing/reporting esports here in Seoul. I don't post them because my camera doesn't do good raws at larger sizes usually - I'll probably be posting way more of the over-sized (wallpaper size etc) shots once I upgrade around July (but I just don't have the money to afford to do it until then sadly.) I'm okay with photoshop, but I know there are some really talented people on here so in the future when I can provide larger raw sizes then I'd love to see what they can do with my work. Sorry, but the raws from all these photos were lost when my laptop's power supply died and it had to be reformated. I don't usually keep raw images for more than a week because I need the space on my memory cards/HD for new work. P.S. To those complaining about the ZerO/Free shot - I was *not* the first one to do photos of them like that and I definitely won't be the last so deal with it please Check fomos or fifo and you will find *a lot* more photos depicting closeness/friendship/cuteness on their sites. I don't just work for TL.net/SCforALL and the foreign community in general. If you go to eSTRO's or OGN's official sites or some of the KTF/STX/Hwaseung OZ fan cafes you can see my work is for the Korean community too - which has a whole different range of target audiences. My work has now been used for cheerfuls at MSL and Proleague so I'm working to do the biggest range of poses/moods/ideas I can for my photos.
I look forward to seeing some NeverGG based wall papers in the future, because that would be omgwtfbbq awesome.
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United States3824 Posts
man nevergg how did you manage to make July look good in a pic?
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NeverGG
United Kingdom5399 Posts
On March 08 2009 09:17 cgrinker wrote:
man nevergg how did you manage to make July look good in a pic?
LOL Don't be cruel. Thanks though - I was worried about the light affecting the photos, but luckily the STX Soul practice room foyer is really well lit so the photos turned out okay.
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On March 02 2009 18:55 ambit!ous1 wrote:
umm... Free and Zero too close
thanks for the pics !
Indeed ^^
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What are you talking about nevergg, nobodys gonna rip you to shreds for a well written article
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sweet bump, i missed this article before and that effort/savior picture is awesome
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Ilikestarcraft'in' that shit! Nice article.. But could have used a couple of subheadlines, I suppose.. Too late now, I suppose
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Nice! That was a good bump! Very well written and informative.
Liked the pictures and I hope that ACE can do better in the future.
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Speaking of young players,  Snow from CJ is 15 and first played on A-team as a 14 year old I think. Currently on the B-team but the way he's tearing up dream league he should be back soon.
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Free and Zero... it's a long story...
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EPT![[image loading]](/staff/NeverGG/Miscwork/18.jpg)
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