Hi, Tyler, and thanks for joining us. How have first few weeks of 2011 been for you? Been hitting the ladder much?

2011 has been nice so far. I have been spending most of my time working on new builds in single player, especially on specific things to do around 15-20 minutes into the game. I'll hit the ladder more when I've got some things to work with.


You've been representing Liquid in both the Machinima Realm Invitational and the Gosu Coaching Premier League. How has this experience been?

I like participating in team leagues but it is hard to really get that old clanwar feeling. Since we are often scheduling matches individually, they're almost like individual events with a twist. We've got a tough match coming up in GCPL. If we can get another good result, I'll feel very confident about entering the semifinals with a good seed.


The year hasn't really opened up in North America yet in terms of SC2. What are you doing to make sure that you'll be in top form when the MLG events of 2011 rolls around?

I'm glad to get a breather from MLG events. After MLG ended, I snuck Dreamhack in and then took a bit of a winter break. But since then I've had a few showmatches, the team leagues, Assembly to prepare for, and TSL3 to look forward to. By the time MLG events get going again I'll be in great shape.


Liquid continues to cause waves in Korea, with Jinro finishing again in the top 4 of the GSL. Is there a part of you that wishes you were in Incheon with your teammates, or are you fully satisfied with your current role as North American ambassador?

It'd be nice if I could teleport to the house at 9am and teleport back home at 5pm. But I wouldn't want to live there. And while it's great that Korea has a good thing going with GSL, I really want good things to happen in NA and EU too, but they won't happen if all the talent goes to Korea. Ideally, I'll be the best in NA and when GSL players and non-GSL players mix at international events, I'll beat the GSL players. I'd be much more proud of accomplishing that than consistently being S-Class in GSL.


What would you say is the best and worst thing about being a progamer from home and in effect being your own manager?

The best and worst thing is setting my own schedule. I know what works for me so I can make it just right without having to convince anyone else. But it's extra responsibility that isn't part of what I like about being a progamer.


The TSL is coming up! Excited?

Yes. It'll be a perfect stage to show the SC2 world how good I am at StarCraft. The SC:BW guys already know that, of course, but I haven't hit the SC2 scene as hard yet.

Would you like to meet Idra again? Anyone else you'd like to play?

Yeah I think it would be fun to play IdrA again. I just want to play against all three races.


As the reigning TSL Champion and de-facto brand ambassador for the event, what is your take on the tournament? In what ways is it both similar and different to other big foreign events like MLG and IEM?

It automatically has an excellent community feel to it because it's coming from the best community site. And the production of the event is great with all the promotional things they do, the artwork, the videos, the music, etc. The commentary is always top notch. And since it's an ongoing event, not a single weekend event, it generates an epic feel.


On a scale of 1 - 10, how important is this TSL to you? How badly do you want to retain your title and how hard are you training for it?

10. This is what I do.


The TL Open qualifiers for this TSL have begun. As a player who once upon a time made it through a very difficult ladder to qualify for a TSL, what advice would you give people who are contemplating taking a shot at getting into the TSL3?

Treat every match like the finals.