The Bbyong Fan Club

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it to Code A during your first GSL?

ProLeague finals are coming up and I couldn't prepare very well so I just played using the basics. I am glad that the results came out great.

In the finals, you took down Flying who is currently in the Ro8 for OSL by a score of 2:0.

In game one I had a good early game and won the macro game. In game two, I saw his intentions so I blocked it easily. It wasn't a hard match.

You met an amateur in the Ro4 who took out Samsung KHAN_Stock. How was the match?

I was taken by surprise because I expected to meet Stock. I was really taken aback. He used burrowed banelings so well that I lost game one. Since I lost game one I maintained my composure and focused on the rest of the games and won.

You seemed to have grasped the transition to SC2 pretty smoothly.

I did really well in the beginning within my team so I grabbed a lot of chances. But I keep screwing up in ProLeague so I'm really concerned about that.

So then is making it to Code A the turning point in your career for you?

In the end, I really don't have confidence regarding SC2 but if I do well for this GSL, I think I'll have the chance to create a turning point.

If you win three times in Code A, you make it to Code S. How far do you think you'll make it?

I hate preliminaries so I at least want to get through the Ro48. My initial goal is to overcome Code A and then my next goal will be to win Code S.

Anything else you would like to say?

We required a new coach recently. Coach Park Shi Hyun takes really good care of us. I hope the rest of my teammates also do well and make it to the GSL.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it to the second round?

This was my first GSL so I was really worried but I advanced like this so I feel good.

If you had to rate today's games?

Games one and three went the way I wanted them to. But on the other hand, game two went my way but I messed up and ended up allowing a comeback to happen. For sure, If the game goes in to late game stages, Protoss is the strongest.

In game one, you purposely revealed your intentions?

I purposely dropped my supply depot and revealed my base. It worked well during practice so I used it today.

It must have been hard to practice for this since you have ProLeague finals?

I didn't want to draw attention to myself, so I just practiced bit by bit. (laughs) I practiced whenever I had free time so I didn't lack in practice.

You showed us some great shining games. Is this your style?

I normally play safe macro games so I enjoy winning. I have to play that way so I can get good winning ratio. But today I had to attack using special ways. My hands move slowly so I get a lot of advice from coach Park. That's why I'm not great at engagements yet.

Your next opponent is Genius. Are you confident?

Genius hyung is so strong that I'm worried (laughs). Genius hyung is also really good at ceremonies so I will make sure to practice hard so I can show great games.

Are you confident enough to get in to Code S?

I have to get over a big line called Genius. If I can do well for TvPs, I can make it to Code S.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about advancing to the third round.

My entry to Code S hasn't been decided yet but I am still happy because I was able to win like this.

How did you prepare for today's match?

Genius hyung tends to play macro style so I used strategies that would match that style but after losing to him in game one, I switched up my strategy for game two. I wasn't confident in my macro but I ended up winning game three as well.

Wasn't there a dangerous situation in game three when your one hit army attack got blocked?

I knew I was in a disadvantageous situation after that got blocked but I figured I could turn it around as long as I defended against his one hit attack.

You will face Heart for the next round.

I think TvTs bring on less stress than PvPs so I think I'll be fine. I came over a huge obstacle in Genius hyung so I think I'll be able to easily advance to Code S.

What if you fall to the Up/Downs?

The games are really tight but personally the Up/Downs is something I want to experience at least once. But still, I really do want to go straight to Code S (laughs).

Is there a player who is exceptional or a role model to you?

Personally, my role model is TaeJa. He's a player I highly value.

How are the games for MLG vs ProLeague?

Foreign players have different perspectives than we do but I don't think there's that much of a difference. If I get the chance for it I definitely want to attend an overseas tournament.

Anything else you would like to say?

I bought some meat for Bong and Choi Sung Il and yet they didn't help me with practice. Those two guys don't know how to be grateful (laughs).

Source: This Is Game

Your debut season and yet you made it all the way to Code S. How do you feel?

I feel really good. I stated in my qualifiers interview that my goal was Code S so I am really happy that I was able to make it come true.

You grabbed the advantage in game one during the marine battles.

As I was preparing for my match against Heart, I got the notion that he likes marine engagements. So I decided to pump out marines from five barracks and just overpower him.

You went for a banshee play in game two but you didn't see much effect from it.

I think it was because of lack of experience. I prepared a poke build but the same engagements occurred so I wasn't able to find a solution. I wanted to play while matching the current scenario but the end result was not great.

In the final game, after some furious give and take battles, you grabbed his tanks and swiftly took the lead.

My teammate hyung sKyHigh told me that he had faced Heart before and that he noticed Heart is a really good mech player. So I focused on gathering my army and then hitting him with everything I've got to end it. Just as if I was luring a bunny in to a corner so that I can grab him.

What does getting Code S mean to you?

I am still so dazed since this is such a major tournament. I'm not sure what I can compare this to but I guess it'd be like making the Ro16 of an OSL.

Anyone you would like to face in Code S?

I want to face Terrans and Protosses and avoid Zergs. It's not easy to win against Zergs and I also don't really have any answers for brood lords.

Any goals?

First off, my goal is to make the Ro16. I'm not the type to just drink the kimchi soup so my first goal is the Ro16, and then I'll aim for the Ro8, Ro4, and the ultimate goal will be the finals.

You will probably need to prepare for the style that is Code S.

This will be my first time so it will be unfamiliar. But since coach Park was on Incredible Miracle, he knows how Code S flows that I'm going to do my best to get through it well.

What do you think about the flow of SC2 in general?

Terran has a major weakness. They are at a disadvantage for late game scenarios. Zergs and Protosses are fine since they have top tier units but as far as I'm concerned, Terran has none.

Anything else you would like to say?

I even practiced during days that I had off but I still wasn't able to perform well. I think I'm going to have to practice even more. Teammates GoJaeHeum and Bunny helped me out a lot so I want to thank them for that and I will buy them something delicious when I get back.

Source: This Is Game

You advanced to the second round of Code A. Tell us how you feel.

I feel so good because I secured my spot for next season's Code A. The only bad thing that happened today was that my booth was too cold so my games didn't play out as well as I wanted them to.

How come your games didn't go so well?

The booth was so cold my hands froze up. So I wasn't able to properly play my games.

You used a proxy two rax build and grabbed game one easily. Was it a prepared strategy?

I've used that build before. But I wasn't able to execute it properly which is why I decided to try it again for today's match.

How did you prepare for today's match?

I practiced mainly through laddering. While I was studying TAiLS' VODs, I noticed that he was a very strategic player. So I was able to prepare freely.

How are you spending your resting season?

Unlike the rest of my teammates, I have GSL to play so I am using my break to have a lot of fun during practice. As for my teammates, I think they are practicing for pro league and for OSL.

Your next opponent will be either NesTea or Heart. Who would you like to face?

I'm fine with whoever. I've beaten Heart before and NesTea is called the "대마왕 Zerg" so I think the match will be a great experience.

If you advance to the third round of Code A, you will face Polt.

It won't be a TvZ so I think it'll be possible to beat him. I know this is a bit premature but if I can win my round two Code A match, I think I'll be able to make it to Code S.

Anything else you would like to say?

I am cold even right now so I was on the verge of playing the rest of my games while shaking. I think I was able to feel better because my coach was able to give me a special prescription medicine. I am really grateful to him. Lastly, I want to thank Bong for helping me with practice.

You advance to Code A Round 3 after a full set match. Tell us how you feel

All I can say is that I'm happy since today's match was so difficult. I'm ecstatic to have beaten the great Nestea.

Your opponent was indeed the great Nestea. The pressure must have been considerable

It certainly was. Even in the games, I could feel his force. Hell, even before the match when we exchanged words, I could feel his greatness. I was a bit intimidated but in the end, I'm happy to be the winner.

You won with a proxy rax strategy in Set 1. Did you plan this?

The coach and I studied the angle of the proxy raxes and their timings specifically for Set 1.

Although you won in the end, you failed the bunker rush in Set 3

I had economy to fall back on as I did that rush, so it wasn't so bad. Rather, I did a lot of damage in exchange for marines which become less useful in the late game so I was in an unloseable position.

Do you believe you can advance straight to Code S

I believe so. Polt is a great player but with enough preparation, I can take him down.

Anything to add?

Despite the fact he was supposed to have a break after Proleague yesterday, rare helped me a lot wit practice. I want to say thanks.

Source: This Is Game

You advanced to the Premier League. Tell us how you feel.

It's been a year since I've qualified for the regular season. Since the name of the league itself also changed to something called the "Premier League", I want to do my absolute best with a new mindset.

You stated in your previous interview that you would be able to take on Leenock despite the fact that he is a champion.

I had feeling that Leenock was going to go for early game, mid-game tactics like RagnaroK did today so I really did a lot preparation. But he did the exact opposite and just played regular games so I was able to play comfortable games since he played like any other Zerg.

Today's match focused heavily around bio and widowmines.

Today's game concept was all about formulas. My micro is not that good so I was a little uneasy. But I think things went better than expected overall.

For both games, you went for a 1 rax into a triple CC build.

The key was to keep on producing widowmines. That way I would be confident about defending any attack even with a risky strategy like 1 rax into triple cc.

Currently, CJ Entus' transfer into HotS has not been going very well.

We are full of energy when we practice but things just are not working out during our televised matches. We really are working hard though. Right now, since we finished off WoL with a championship finish, we're focusing on climbing our way back to the top from the bottom for HotS. I hope everyone will continue to believe in us and keep on following us.

Next season will be held in YongSan.

Personally, I prefer to the GOMtv studio but I have a lot of experience on the YongSan stage so I think I'll have and advantage there.

Last season was not your best performance.

Last season, I had this mentality that I was going to get eliminated after only taking down one player, rather than have the menatlity that I was going to climb up. This time around, I am going to aim for the Ro16 no matter what and do my absolute best.

Anything else you would like to say?

Today was a break day for us so practicing was difficult. EffOrt hyung helped me out a lot and 8th Team's Savage played a lot of games with me. The games against Savage really helped out a lot. I promised to buy him a meal so I hope we will meet up in the future.

Source: This Is Game

You advanced to the Ro16 as second from your group. How do you feel?

I stated in the televised interview before the matches began that I grabbed advancing out from my group as second as my goal. I am glad that things went as anticipated (laughs).

In his interview, INnoVation stated that he won the winners’ match against you because you lacked concept for TvT.

Bunny recommended that I use a marine/hellion strategy. Rather than say that I lost because I lack concept for the matchup, I lost because I just didn’t put a lot of focus on my TvT.

Your hellbat drop was rather late after you went for triple CCs.

I noticed that Zergs tend to relax after they see a triple CC strategy. So I decided to go for an attack that exposed that. I used my strategy properly today but it wasn’t entirely successful.

What are your goals for this season?

I think I am really good at ladder. I think I fully capable of doing well as long as I can bring out my true skills for this tournament. My goal after getting through Code A, was to get to the Ro16. Since I accomplished my first goal, I will make getting to the season finals as my second goal.

Any specific player you would like to face or avoid for the Ro16?

I don’t really want to avoid anyone for the Ro16 since everyone will be good in the Ro16. For my Code A Ro24 match, I only practiced with Savage. We cheered each other on because we both made it to the OSL but we ended up meeting each other in the final round. I was disappointed that I had to beat a well-known friend in order to advance to the Ro16.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to apologize to Savage one more time. But so I will be treating him to a meal so I hope we can continue to hang out and not dwell on this. Bunny recommended the build order to me, but I really hope he tries his build orders out more before recommending them to me from now on (laughs). These days, my Proleague performances haven’t been the best, but I want to use today’s victory as momentum to show a good performance from here on out.

Source: inven eSports

You became the first Terran player to qualify into Code S. How do you feel?

As I previously stated, I’m sure no one expected this to happen but I knew that I was going to advance. But I was really sick with the flu, so I had to get a shot from the hospital, and a lot of negative things occurred. I was really debating as to whether or not I’d advance through even after getting two days’ worth of rest, but I am glad that I was able to advance with a 2-0 score.

Is the rumor true that you have the #1 rank in the GM league?

That is correct. But I don’t really care about it because I don’t think people are laddering these days because of Proleague.

After seeing your group, it looked like you were in for a difficult match. How did you prepare?

This time I practice mainly through ladder, but all three of my opponents in my group were also good at laddering. But I figured that I would make it through no matter what as long as I didn’t make any mistakes.

You didn’t show a particularly good for the IEM Sao Paulo qualifiers. How do you feel now?

I lost my chance because I performed so terribly. Our team was also on a losing streak so all the negativity had just piled on top of each other. I think we need to go back to the beginning and reevaluate things. Personally, I am disappointed. I blame myself because Proleague has been screwed up so much.

It looked like you used mainly mech for today’s matches. Is this the new Terran trend?

There is a rhetorical saying that this is now a trend. Widow mines and hellbats both got nerfed so it’s difficult for me to play bio like I used to. Since siege tanks got a buff this time around, I really couldn’t think of any strategies that utilized siege tanks unless I went mech.
Since Terran also got a buff where both air and ground mech units can get upgrades at the same time, in my opinion, I think the trend these days for Terrans should be be mech..

If we count you and Maru who retained his spot through last season, there are a total of two Terrans in Code S. Do you feel the weakness of Terrans?

It’s true that we are weak right now. There is no choice but for us to go through a difficult time since they nerfed all our units. So we have to win by being good at things like strategizing correctly or by forcing our opponents to mess up. Right now, Proleague has a lot of S class Terran players who can utilize those two things I just stated really well and that is why Terran has such a nice win percentage. It is not because Terrans are doing well.

This season’s goals?

As I stated in the televised interview, I want to make it to the semi-finals, and finals. I feel like I’ll train more fiercely the higher I make the aim for my goals. I will work hard so that I can achieve that no matter what.

Anything else you would like to say?

These days, our team has been getting sick because of the flu. I also caught it, so yeah, colds are scary. I thought I’d feel better after a resting for about a day or two but that wasn’t the case. I hope the fans will also watch out for colds. Right now, the team atmosphere is not good for Proleague. I will fiercely assist my teammates in their practice so that we can grab two straight victories vs Prime and MVP so that the atmosphere can start to turn around.

Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to the Ro16 after some difficulty?

I am really glad, and I’m also taking note of the significance behind the face that I am the first Terran player to advance. I think that’s why I am twice as happy. There is one point that I am disappointed about, and that’s the fact that I had to beat TRUE to get here. It just sucks because he’s a close friend. But since I did lose match one to him, I guess we’ll just see it as me grabbing revenge for that.
I remember that one time that I eliminated TRUE for OSL in the past. I don’t really have that many friends I am that close with, but the fact that I ended up facing him out of 32 potential players, just shows how strange fate can be.

There are like no Terrans. Wasn’t it burdensome that the focus was on you?

There was some pressure there, but I just thought of it as “this is the Ro32.” I had the mindset that I would not be the Terran player to get eliminated out of the remaining two of us. Since I had never gotten through a Ro32 before, I saw it as a good test on stage.

How did you practice?

I practiced mainly with people around me. But since I had my Code S match coming up, the supervisor gave me special permission and allowed me to focus purely on practicing for the GSL. So I want to thank the supervisor for that.

You were not in the best condition. Anything to say regarding your catching a cold again?

It is up to the player himself to take good care of his own condition. But I could not even fathom the idea of me catching a cold twice in a row. I hope everyone will watch out for colds. I’m not sure who is responsible for giving our team a cold.

How did you play match one against TRUE?

Whenever I show TRUE that I’m going for a starport play, his upgrades get delayed. So I purposely showed him that and then won game one because I quickly grabbed my upgrades as I played bio. But for game two, he macroed way too well. Since I was playing game three while feeling pushed back, it did not go so well for me. But I was able to regain my composure after speaking to the coach afterwards, and that’s how I was able to establish a good result for the final match.

You fell down to the losers’ match. Was there any pressure behind the fact that you would get eliminated if you lost again?

Since Terran is so weak right now, I had been feeling pressured even during practices. So no, there wasn’t any pressure there. I just focused on the concept that I would play my game. And it ended up working out well. For the losers’ match, the Protoss’ high templar usage was superb. Even though I hate dealing with warp prisms and zealots, my opponent didn’t use them. Since he played strictly WoL style, it was rather comforting.

You met the player who sent you down to the losers’ match for the final match. Was there any pressure there?

As I stated before, I had already deciphered TRUE’s style, and since I was able to re-grasp what TRUE was doing thanks to the first match, I didn’t really feel any pressure. In fact, I was more concerned about the possibility of TRUE beating PartinG with a 2-0 score and having to face him in the final match.

There are a lot of players in Ro16 who are sending you a love call. (as in a lot of players have stated in their interviews that they would like to face Terrans) Anything to say regarding that?

Since Terran is really not that good of a race right now, I think rather than people feeling that they are “confident in XvT,” it’s more along the lines of, XvT is just so much easier and easy for me to win against. If they do pick me, I’ll take them on whenever. I’ve got the honey right here. Just don’t throw up once you get it (laughs).

Would you like to take this moment and talk about balance?

I read some interviews done by Protoss players and they really have no shame (laughs). I even thought to myself, “how could they say such things?” I trust herO, but then even herO said things like that so only laughter came out (laughs). Terran is really not that good of a race right now. I’m not sure if it’s because we are so vulnerable to Protoss or what but nowadays, it’s pretty much over for us even for TvZ if we end up making one mistake.
You know, it’s a game where one person is in control of everything. So I really dislike the fact that this game has the potential to change the entire outcome just because of a couple of mistakes. But since Terran is in this state right now, I guess there’s nothing we can do. The only way to overcome this is by an enormous amount of practicing. These days, if you want to play well as a Terran player, you have to just become a machine.
Terrans can’t play strategically. Because unlike Protosses and Zergs, if our strategies get blocked, the risks are just too high. That’s why there’s just no choice but to play standard. Unless you’re someone like TY, who can master strategies and execute them, it’s really burdensome to play strategically.

Maru has his match coming up soon. Anything to say as a fellow Terran?

I think he’s going to do well. His control is great, and he does really well for Proleague too. I think he’s going to advance easily. I think he’s a player that will make it through all on his own even if people don’t cheer him on much.

Anything else you would like to say?

Be careful of colds (laughs).

Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to Code S two seasons in a row?

I am glad that I was able to advance like this in a time where Terrans are not doing well. Honestly, I came today with the plan of allowing DRG to advance first so that I could advance out as second. I was worried because I knew that DRG was the master of muta/ling/bling macro games. Since I was able to advance out as first, I feel dazed and good.

Do you still think Terran is weak?

Terran is still weka, but today my games went really well. TvZ is so difficult. Just like INnoVation said in his interview yesterday, there is no “this is it” composition available, and you just have to play with an unsure feeling. Both Zerg and Protoss have a kind of ultimate composition that lets you win, but Terran doesn’t have that. That’s why it’s difficult.
From an overall perspective, it just feels like Terran is on a wandering pathway right now. The dominant units were all nerfed so now everything has to be overcome by skill.

In game two against Impact, you allowed a comeback to occur. What was the situation like?

Honestly, there is no answer for a map like Alterzim Stronghold (laughs). I played game two with the same mindset that I had for game one. I wanted to move around the map frequently as I tried to grab advantages through engagements. But I think I lost because Alterzim is such a large map and it’s easy for Zergs to defend on it. This is the reality for TvZ (laughs).

For game three vs Impact, he went for a gas first, speed up build as if he knew that you were doing a proxy rax. What were you thinking then?

Once I saw that Impact didn’t grab his natural, I really wanted to just throw the game. That’s how much of a disadvantage I was in. But I suddenly remembered the coach’s advice about Impact’s special quality. He advised me that Impact tends to feel pressured mentally, so my decision to attack at an odd timing rather than just go for a rush, ended up being effective.

Why did you decide to do mech against DRG?

It really felt like there was no way I was going to be able to win on Alterzim Stronghold so I decided to go for mech instead of bio. However, I got pummeled in game two because I decided to utilize mech again since it worked on Alterzim. In the end, the end result was not all that great.

This season’s goals?

My goal for this season is to make it to the quarter-finals. If I can get even further beyond that, then my goal will be the championship. This is the second season that this format has been implemented and all I can think about is the pressure of falling to the qualifiers if I lose. So I want to secure myself by placing high so that I don’t have to worry about this next time.

Anything else you would like to say?

CJ Entus did not put on a good performance during last round’s playoffs and we ended up getting eliminated. So we will show a changed CJ Entus form for Round 3.