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![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/QOtPC.jpg)
Starcraft2.nl interviews the owner and founder of TeamLiquid. In more than 30 questions he telling us his current life style and his thoughts on many subjects.
Introduction
Victor "Nazgul" Goossens, the founder and owner of TeamLiquid, was one of the first non-Korean to play in Korea. His Korean adventure started in December 2002 when he joined up with the AMD team. Won matches on national TV versus Korean stars but despite his success moved back to the Netherlands to continue his studies. He continued to represent the Netherlands at the World Cyber Games during 2001-2004.
TeamLiquid was a clan founded by Nazgul at the end of 2000. Victor picked his members based on personality and talent. It grew from 4 to 8 players in about a year. Its founder wasn't the only Dutch member, he started with 3 other Dutch Broodwar players: Liquid`Meat, Liquid`Spy and Liquid`Trip. The last two Dutch players that joined up were Liquid`Raszi and Liquid`Oaral.
In the past 10 years the website survived due to a dedicated community, one that loved their game. During that time the community and its website lurked in the dark. Something happened. Blizzard planned their Blizzcon 2007 in Korea and stated a new game would be announced. It just couldn’t be anything else but Starcraft 2. The trailer started, and hell, it was about time.
The community exploded.
Starcraft II was a success, being sold more than 1 million copies on the first day of the release. It is the best selling strategy game ever.
With the release of the beta in February 2010 the website statistics exploded. It is now up to two million unique visitors per month and still going up. These days the website is not only the main English Starcraft:Broodwar community but as well the main English Starcraft 2 community in the world.
The clan and website are currently living their own lives. After the release of Starcraft 2 the clan added six players: the Swedish duo Jinro and Haypro, the Canadian Protoss Huk, the German star TheLittleOne and the two oldschool Starcraft:Broodwar players Tyler(US) and Ret(NL).
On August 13th 2010 TeamLiquid posted the announcement about the Homecoming of the clan to Korea. Liquid was going back once more. Since then almost all of the TeamLiquid members had their chance in competing in the best Starcraft 2 league in the world: The GSL. Currently, the Swedish player Jinro has been the most successful non-Korean player in the GSL.
Their latest project, the third edition of the TeamLiquid StarLeague, it is their new pillar of liquid success in the Starcraft 2 community. Having ten thousands of spectators it crushes the website with its success.
Its more than 1 year now since the beta got released. The team, the website and its league haven living in a new era, a new e-Sports era. Each project writing history with their successes. Time to ask the founder of the brand TeamLiquid how he experienced it all.
Some quotes of the interview
Starcraft2.nl: Does it feel that TeamLiquid is living in a new era of e-Sports?
Nazgul: There's definitely a lot of things changing in our surroundings. At the same time we don't do a whole lot different from what we used to do. We run the site the same way and the TSL is also something we already did in Broodwar. To see the scene develop this fast is a great experience and hopefully it will be something that 10 years from now other people will look back wish they would have been a part of.
Starcraft2.nl: What are your thoughts on NASL?
Nazgul: The NASL is taking a big risk by investing this much money into their project. They haven't gotten off to the best start in the announcement period but if they put on a good showing in the first season everyone will accept them with open arms.
Starcraft2.nl: Tell us about your fulltime staff and their job description?
Nazgul: We have two people working full time in New York right now and are thinking about expanding the full time staff more. Our voluntary staff holds about 200 people right now. Our fulltimers pretty much need to do anything from management to design and programming. The large staff sections are writing, design, Liquipedia, moderating, TLPD, translating and programming.
Full interview here
excuse me forgetting Tyler. He is off course still in the TSL3 tournament!
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Nooooooooo it sounds like he's not going to go to MLG or anything this year! You're my favorite dark horse of the Liquid team, Nazgul, I want to see your blink powers again!
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Wow great post, loved reading about how TL was started and how it grew over time. I am so glad for E sports and sc2 as a community. TL continues to bring in more and more members and is only growing. TL to take over the world! Great interview. TL fighting!
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Pretty sure one of the liquid guys said in the Liquidweekly that Nazgul would be at Dallas, maybe not as a competitor tho. But still selling player passes at the door, maybe he will pick one up
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Wow, lots of new information about the backstory of TL, great news (no really new though I guess).
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Why did the interviewer say that all of Liquids Team had been eliminated from TSL3? Did someone forget Liquid Tyler or am I missing something here?
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On March 31 2011 00:42 Hydrox911 wrote:
Why did the interviewer say that all of Liquids Team had been eliminated from TSL3? Did someone forget Liquid Tyler or am I missing something here?
I think they forgot.
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Thanks for the great interview!!
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Did they just spoil the results from Tyler?
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Blizzard planned their Blizzcon 2007 in Korea and stated a new game would be announced.
It was actually the World Wide Invitational. That's what they call their game announcement events.
Otherwise, pretty good read. Thanks. 
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Err .. Was this a spoiler, or just a mistake ?
+ Show Spoiler +Starcraft2.nl: All of your players have been eliminated of TSL3. What happened?Nazgul: We're not happy with the result but it's single bo3s and these things happen. We'll be looking to redeem ourselves at MLG Dallas where we are defending Jinros title. To my knowledge, LiquidTyler is still in the tournament?
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Braavos36401 Posts
Tyler is still in the tournament. You guys can relax about it, typically the matches are played for TSL close to the broadcast day. We don't play matches 2 weeks in advance, that's kind of insane 
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added six players: the Swedish duo Jinro and Haypro, the German star TheLittleOne and the two oldschool Starcraft:Broodwar players Tyler(US) and Ret(NL).
Forgetting someone here as well.
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On March 31 2011 00:53 Toons wrote:Err .. Was this a spoiler, or just a mistake ? + Show Spoiler +Starcraft2.nl: All of your players have been eliminated of TSL3. What happened?Nazgul: We're not happy with the result but it's single bo3s and these things happen. We'll be looking to redeem ourselves at MLG Dallas where we are defending Jinros title. To my knowledge, LiquidTyler is still in the tournament?
almost certainly a mistake, i really doubt tylers even played the thorzain match yet. shame nazgul isn't playing much though, seeing him at MLG was really fun to watch
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Thanks for the interview! Team Liquid has came a longgg way.
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What ever happened to Trip and Spy btw??
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Great interview, really love these. Always nice to have a look behind the scenes
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I really hope nazgul could start playing again! Still, big thanks to naz for making this community possible
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The European practice house = secret?
Hope hes talking about the one in Stockholm.
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United Kingdom36161 Posts
On March 31 2011 00:46 Alpina wrote:Show nested quote +On March 31 2011 00:42 Hydrox911 wrote:
Why did the interviewer say that all of Liquids Team had been eliminated from TSL3? Did someone forget Liquid Tyler or am I missing something here? I think they forgot.
More amusing is that Nazgul didn't correct him
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It's pretty clear to me that TL has developed a time machine and went forward in time to interview Nazgul.. duh.
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Awesome interview, always love hearing from Nazgul. Can't wait to see Liquid represent dallas.
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hmmm. NASL is a bit of a gamble. It's not the same here compared to Korea. In Korea, gaming is accepted. Here, it still isn't. But I have a feeling htat's about to change.
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Actually I'm pretty sure hardcore gaming is still stigmatized by adult society at large in Korea.
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Awesome interview, really recognized myself in the daily routine (check things online, for a few hours, then shower).
A pity that there is not going to be anything in the Netherlands, but what'd you expect for a country that size.
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Good interview, interesting to hear wht he has to say about the difficulity of SC2 compared to BW.
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What was your major in Nazgul?
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For the love of all that's holy you forgot LiquidHuk! Please oh please make an edit
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An honest interview. I like that.
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Another minor correction: Tyler joined Liquid` before SC2 came out (I think shortly before he went to Korea, but I don't fully trust my memory there).
Edit: And thanks for doing the interview!
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Nazgul is my favourite Thanks for the interview
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Great interview, and I hope we hear more soon from Nazgul about the "more secrets" regarding the European practice house
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ten thousands spectators? More like forty five thousands!
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I was hoping to see Nazgul in the NASL... I don't think they ever accepted my votes, though.
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On March 31 2011 04:35 Murlox wrote:
ten thousands spectators? More like forty five thousands!
I figured they meant "tens of thousands"--"ten thousands" is a pretty uncommon construction in English, and would only really make sense when you have reason to think about each thousand separately.
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On March 31 2011 02:15 Liveon wrote:
Awesome interview, really recognized myself in the daily routine (check things online, for a few hours, then shower).
A pity that there is not going to be anything in the Netherlands, but what'd you expect for a country that size.
I disagree with you why is it possible in Sweden to host dreamhack and Finland ( correct me if I am wrong ) to have Assembly and in our country it wouldn't be possible? We got a bigger population the only thing holding us back is ourself imo.
On topic: very nice interview with Nazgul he looks like a nice guy ^^.
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He seems to be a clever person indeed ;]
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An interesting read and a good interview!
I like his attitude towards the whole koreans/foreigners thing.
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History is always fascinating! GJ
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I've always had huge respect for Nazgul. I think he's really dedicated and passionate person that really cares and helps out both the community and team. Of course I've never met or talked to him just from my own perspective of course. But yeah really respectful guy who always got something important to say.
Great interview btw!
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This is an awesome post! Let us know a lil bit more about the guy who made this awesome website. (like how he plays left handed, but Tyler says he's right handed lolll)
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I hope Nazgul will play more showmatches or tournaments for fun in the future.
I think Nazgul's skill is still as good as oGs TheWind. Meaning: if he enters tournaments, he can still get decent results.
Maybe someone should make a tournament of coaches and managers, LOL.
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Nazgul's the man =)
OK I actually read the thing now, nice interview
Does anyone know whats gonna happen at GamesCom? Will there be another IEM SC2 invitational?
If so I hope victor can make it again
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Starcraft2.nl: What are the most popular items(pages) on the website?
Nazgul: Our progaming database, tournament calendar, the player streams, forums, wiki, news, VODs, blogs.
Hahahahahah this made me laugh
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Nice. Team Liquid has come a long way!
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On March 31 2011 00:54 Hot_Bid wrote:Tyler is still in the tournament. You guys can relax about it, typically the matches are played for TSL close to the broadcast day. We don't play matches 2 weeks in advance, that's kind of insane
wouldn't it be kinda worth it though in the case of White-Ra and Sen, since both of them play koreans and are currently in Korea? that'd kill 2 thirds of the future lag complaint (just Nada left with it).
oh and nice interview!
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he seems less optimistic about esports but i find it refreshing that he's more cuatious about it and things like NASL.
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Awesome stuff and good intel of the past!
Hope Nazgul can perform in future MLG Events soon!
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EPT
