[Interviews] GSL S3 Ro8 Winners

TSL_Rain, "I will show macro-oriented plays in semi-finals."



Dec. 6th, TSL's Terran Park Seo-Yong, managed to defeat Season 2's defending champion Lim Jae-Duck (IMNestea) and moved onto the semi-finals.

Q. You made it to the semi-finals.
A. I'm happy. I can't believe I made it to the semi-finals yet.

Q. Did you expect to make it to the semi-finals?
A. I wanted to, but due to the lack of practice time, I prepared specific builds for today's matches. The expected chance was half-half. I could have lost, I could have won.

Q. IMNestea was your opponent.
A. The first two maps were good maps for the Terran, so I practiced around Lost Temple. But, I was in a lot of trouble when I lost in the Terran-favored maps. When IMNestea produced fast Mutalisks instead of building them later to deal with the Thor drop, my builds went haywire then.

Q. You won a lot of matches through cheese rushes.
A. I didn't have a lot of practice due to some personal issues. I had to prepare quickly, so I did not have a lot of time to practice macro-oriented games. Also, in maps like Steppes of War, if Zerg manages to get his expansion going, there's no way I can stop that. So I prepared cheese for it. Overall, I didn't really get to practice. I wasn't confident in the Shakuras Plateau either, due to IMNestea being in diagonal direction from me.

Q. Terrans are doing a lot of cheese recently.
A. That depends on the map and how close we are. There are maps where it's possible to block them, and maps where it is not possible to. I didn't expect to end it so fast in the last map, Xel'naga Caverns. I wanted to retreat after applying pressure, but Zerg took unexpected heavy damage. That caused the game to go in the favor of me, and after that, I thought that I won. I lost focus suddenly, and mis-managed my resources. But after, I managed to take it carefully and win.

Q. Did Lee Un-Jae coach help you?
A. He helped me greatly with mind control. He told me repeatedly that as long as I play as I prepared, I would win.

Q. There's going to be some reactions from the fans if you win with cheese
A. I only had 2 days in which I was able to practice properly. I had personal problems, and I didn't have the time. Not to mention the matches being best of 5, so I couldn't prepare for all maps either. For me, I did my best.

Q. The semi-finals will be either TSL_FruitDealer or HongUnPrime.WE.
A. TSL_FruitDealer is in my team, so it would be good if he will be in the semi-finals. However, I will think about how to deal with the semis once the opponent has been decided.

Q. Do you have the desire to be the champion?
A. I will prepare properly for sure according to the maps chosen. I think I can make it to the finals if I prepare properly.

Q. Anything else?
A. I want to say thanks to teammates Kim Dong-Hyun (TSL_Revival), StarTale's Tak Hyun-Seung (sAviOr), SlayerS clan's Jo Myong-Hwan (GoldenfOu), and oGs' Jo Man-Hyuk (oGs.jookToJung). Also, in the semi-finals, I will show more macro-oriented plays than cheese rushes. I don't feel really like I have won due to all-ins, but I hope the fans will be understanding.

Original interview can be found here: http://www.fomos.kr/star2/news_read.html?keyno=113169&db=interview

HongUnPrime.WE, "My goal is to show entertaining games rather than winning."



Prime's An Hong-Uk (HongUnPrime.WE) is the first Protoss player to make it to the semi-finals.

HongUnPrime.WE managed to defeat Season 1's winner, TSL_FruitDealer 3:2, and succeeded in making it to the semi-finals.

Q. You are the first Protoss to make it to the semi-finals.
A. Right now, I'm really happy that I managed to defeat TSL_FruitDealer. I always thought that he was the best Zerg (excluding my team). He is a good player in that his actions and words are helpful. So, winning over such a player, it does make me very happy.

Q. Aren't you happy that you have won the title, "First Protoss in the Semi-Finals"?
A. TSL_Rain certainly showed how powerful he is in the Ro 8 today. I am already worried about the semi-finals. Therefore, the title "First Protoss in the Semi-Finals" don't really feel like it yet. First of all, I need to win in the semi-finals, then I will enjoy the title of being the 'first'.

Q. The first match's strategy seemed very good.
A. I thought that I lost when the Hydralisks came out. I thought my hidden two Stargates at 3 o'clock weren't discovered. So, when I saw the Hydralisks, I thought "A Zerg playing like this is certainly refreshing!" while playing.

Q. You showed exceptional defending skills in the Scrap Station in the second match.
A. In the case of the Scrap Station, I thought to block whatever all-in it may be. I delayed my tech tree as much as possible, then built 6 Gateways quickly, allowing me to block it. I kind of expected there would be an all-in.

Q. You lost barely in the third match.
A. I expected that. However, I was hoping for a Nydus. I prepared for the possible Nydus, but TSL_FruitDealer just broke through. Also, I was really short on the minerals too. TSL_FruitDealer's strategy was brilliant here. I honestly didn't get to use every strategy that I've prepared today, and that was the case after the third match.

Q. Your simcity defense was like an art in the fourth match.
A. I used to do a play like this a lot during the beta. I alone used to do double Nexus, so I am used to being attacked. So, such simcity would happen naturally. This match made me remember the days of the beta.

Q. You successfully did the Dark Templar strategy in the fifth match.
A. It was the last match, and it is the map that favors the Protoss the most -- Blistering Sands. I expected that TSL_FruitDealer will be able to deal with me properly should I play normally. That might cause me to lose, so I chose to bring out the last card first. With that mindset, I went fast Dark Templar.

Q. You seemed really happy after winning.
A. I greatly respect TSL_FruitDealer. Winning against him, and in best of 5, how can it not be great? It made me very happy. I couldn't even control myself.

Q. You made it to the semi-finals. Do you not desire for the champion title yet?
A. I am playing StarCraft 2 because I'm having fun in it. I would like to make people entertained with my matches, rather than winning. Instead of showing the usual, I want to play games where I could watch it later as VOD and enjoy it. My goal is to show entertaining games rather than to win.

Q. You will be challenging Park Seo-Yong (TSL_Rain) in the semi-finals.
A. To be brutally honest, I expected to see IMNestea instead. My teammates also expected the same. But the winner was TSL_Rain, and all the plans I thought up in the team all went to the trash can after that. I think TSL_Rain is certainly amazing. I will do my best to win, and to show quality matches deserving of someone like TSL_Rain.

Q. Anything else?
A. I want to say thanks to Lee Hyong-Ju (CheckPrime) and Mun Hak-Seon (AnnyongPrime) for helping me practice. I also want to say thanks to "PpungPpungPrime" as well. That skilled player is the one that lost sadly in the prelim finals. I want to say thanks to those three players. Finally, I want to say thanks to Park Wae-Sik coach for helping me emotionally all the way up to just one hour before the matches.

Original interview can be found here: http://www.fomos.kr/star2/news_read.html?keyno=113179&db=news

oGsMC, "I showed the basis of an offensive Protoss."



In Dec. 7th, Jang Min-Chul (oGsMC) defeated Season 2's second place winner Lee Jeong-Hoon (MarineKingPrime.WE) by 3:1 and has qualified successfully for the semi-finals.

Q. How do you feel now, after winning?
A. It feels really great! I made some mistakes in the second match, so I'm a bit worried I might get negative feedback for that. I underestimated the skills of MarineKingPrime.WE, and thus, I was too careless.

Q. Do you feel you have properly shown "Pdangdang" (Proud Protoss)?
A. 2nd match was the minus point. I could have shown perfect victory, so I feel a little disappointed in that. Other than the second match, I believe I have shown the basis of what it means to be an offensive Protoss.

Q. How do you become good vs. Terran?
A. Basing on the knowledge of situational awareness and unit movement that I learned during StarCraft 1 Progamer days, if you move around within the view of the opponents, they tend to get scared. After that, it is important to put down appropriate Force Fields to win the battle (laugh). There's no real set method though. In today's matches, I only used a prepared build order in the first match.

Q. You won in the first match with a good build.
A. I knew what MarineKingPrime.WE was going for. So, I practiced with the build I showed, then came to the match. The opponent knows it's coming, but can't stop it. I used it to cut down his fighting spirit.

Q. You said you'll never fall to the Marauder push timing in an interview. You have certainly shown us today.
A. I thought the game would be in my favor after stopping Marauder push timing from 9 Barracks 9 Gas, but as expected, the power of the Mules are amazing (laugh). I was surprised after losing. I pondered a lot after losing due to attacking in an unsure way. I sent in the Warp Prism because I thought there would be only 1 Barracks, but there were already 3 of them. I also thought to do a timing push early in the game, but I couldn't make it.

Q. You showed forward proxy Gateways in the second match.
A. When I watched MarineKingPrime.WE's replays, I found out he plays matches a lot where he doesn't block his ramp. So I did that thinking "Take this!". The outcome didn't really matter to me since I was confident that I would win in the next matches.

Q. You showed powerful plays in the last match at the Jungle Basin.
A. There's a backdoor rock in that map, and MarineKingPrime.WE was going for no-gas double. Since it appeared he wasn't going for a cheese rush after scouting, I decided to make the push. I can't be patient when the opponent is starting by expanding a lot. I thought the game would end with the first attack, but he blocked it well. However, I still was confident that I would win, although I didn't think the game was in my favor yet. I thought I definitely had it down after building High Templars.

Q. Whatever happened to the Zealot ceremony?
A. Zealots were already broken (laugh). Not killed, were already broken (laugh). I love the units, so I can't bear to kill them for no reason. Recently, Lim Yo-Hwan (BoxeR) appeared in some show (editor's note: Probably referring to that particular documentary) where he said "E-sports exists because fans exist together with it". I was deeply impacted his speech, so I did my ceremony with the fans. I will continue to think of ceremonies that involves fans. In the semi-finals, a fan with the best cheerful (cheering poster) will receive a StarCraft 2 package, and everyone who brought a cheerful would receive a 1 day free play pass for StarCraft 2. Please come and be part of this (laugh).

Q. An Hong-Uk (HongUnPrime.WE) qualified for the semi-finals.
A. HongUnPrime.WE definitely plays amazingly. I enjoyed watching his games. I thought that he would make it to the semi-finals. Maybe the finals will be between him and me. I can't yield any further, I am definitely thinking of PvP finals, and if HongUnPrime.WE can block cheese rushes well, he should definitely make it (laugh).

Q. Who do you want to challenge in the semi-finals?
A. I wish to challenge Jonathan (LiquidJinro). I helped LiquidJinro with fixing up his build a bit before coming to the stadium, and I told him "good luck". Then LiquidJinro told me, "Don't worry, I think I have a good luck". I told him that he should win, so that we may meet in the semi-finals.

Q. Anything else?
A. Finally I made it to the semi-finals. I want to say thanks first of all, to my mother, whom suffered a lot of stress. Then, I also want to say thanks to Kyu-Hoon hyung, Sang-Ik hyung, Seong-Gon hyung, and the captain, Jeong-Hwan hyung. Also, I practiced for the Ro8 with Yun-Sik hyung, and he played almost like MarineKingPrime.WE, helping me greatly. I will win for sure, so I hope he picks out something that he wants (laugh). I also want to say thanks to Song Jun-Hyuk and Kim Jeong-Kyun for coming to support me at the stadium.

Original interview can be found here: http://www.fomos.co.kr/board/board.php?mode=read&keyno=113210&db=interview

LiquidJinro, "I am always thankful."



Hailing from Sweden, Jonathan, also known as "Chamisul Terran" (editor's note: Chamisul is a name brand of an alcoholic beverage made by a Korean company named Jinro), qualified for the semi-finals as the first foreigner to do so in GSL.

LiquidJinro defeated Lee Hyung-Seup (choyafOu) by 3:2. While LiquidJinro allowed the game to be tied at 2:2 after smooth plays granting him 2:0 first, he won in the last match by playing it easy into a long match.

LiquidJinro will be facing his friend, 'Pdangdang Master' Jang Min-Chul (oGsMC) in a best of 7 match.

Q. You made it to the semi-finals. How do you feel?
A. I don't know what to say. I'm so ecstatic. I practiced a lot -- playing from 2 PM to 5 AM every day. Since oGs Protoss are so good, I had some stress thinking "Is the opponent also going to play very well?". But, I am still very happy that I won.

Q. Wasn't it difficult for you to practice so much? According to Song Jun-Hyuk (oGsInCa), you have been practicing 50 to 60 games a day.
A. I am not sure if I played that long, but now that I think about it, I probably have. When I ate meals after practice, I had difficulty eating because my hands were shaking. But it was definitely an worthwhile investment.

Q. You tried again and again since Season 1. Now you made it to the semi-finals. You should have something special to say.
A. My first goal was to just make it to Ro 64. I never thought that I would make it to the semi-finals. I always focused what's right in front of me.

Q. You allowed 2:2 tie to happen after leading comfortably at 2:0.
A. I tensed up a little too much when the score became a tie. I have never been nervous in my life like that before. I wasn't even nervous during MLG finals. I wasn't so sure I was going to win in the last match either, because I did not practice a lot on that map. It is very fortunate that I managed to win.

Q. Looking back on the final match, what do you think of it?
A. I didn't know at all that choyafOu didn't research Thermal Lance upgrade during the match, because there weren't many encounters. But, during the time where I defended my natural expansion, I thought "Huh, why is the Colossus walking towards me?". After the match, I found out that the range upgrade wasn't researched. I feel bad for choyafOu, but I can't help it that I'm happy right now.

Q. As a foreigner, you've achieved the very best so far. Do you think this will cause more foreign fans to watch GSL?
A. It is a good thing to have someone to cheer for. It was rare to cheer for a foreigner during StarCraft 1 days. But, we foreigners don't see Korean players as "aliens". There are plenty of foreign fans who cheer for the Korean players. Although, I do believe a foreigner playing so well in Korea will certainly be a positive thing.

Q. You will be facing your best friend, Jang Min-Chul (oGsMC) in the semi-finals.
A. oGsMC is very strong. I think he has the highest chance of winning this GSL. I got a lot of help from him, since he's especially strong in vs. Terran. I think I'll probably have a hard time in the semi-finals. But of course, I will practice hard to win. I don't think I'll feel bad for losing though. When we first saw the brackets, oGsMC told me, "Let's meet at the semi-finals!" (laugh)

Q. But if you have come this far, don't you want to be the champion more?
A. Of course, I do want to be the champion, but being brutally realistic here, I think oGsMC has far higher chance than me.

Q. You gained a lot of Korean fans. Have anything to say to them?
A. I couldn't see them very well in the stadium. However, after the match, a lot of them came to me to give me words of encouragement and requesting my signature. I'm very happy, and I'm always thankful.

Q. Anything else?
A. I want to thank Song Hyun-Duk (oGsHerO), Song Jun-Hyuk (oGsInCa), Kim Tae-Young, Jeong Ji-Hoon, Jang Min-Chul (oGsMC), Lee Sang-Hun, Kim Jeong-Hoon (oGsTOP), and IMyonghwa. Also, I want to say thanks to Kim Seong-Gon coach for helping me whenever possible. I used his ID to play in StarCraft 2, then other players played on that account to hide my win-loss rate (laugh). Also, I want to thank Nazgul from my team, and our sponsor, The Little App Factory.

Original interview can be found here: http://www.fomos.co.kr/board/board.php?mode=read&keyno=113225&db=interview