Newspaper: Jinro returns to Sweden - Page 13

On April 12 2011 20:10 Micro[TN] wrote:
Here's another article:
http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/spela/article12866788.ab
Swede Jonathan is a star - in Korea


"Jinro" is a professional e-sports player.
He gets two cooked meals a day.
He does not make the bed himself.
He lives with 15 other progamers.

- Everything is taken care of, it's almost like living at home when you are young, "says Swedish e-sport star and the Korea-Pro Jonathan" Jinro "Walsh.

A young man is waiting nervously at the entrance to the gaming cafe Inferno Online in Stockholm. Finally, he approaches me and my photographer Bilberg and asks:

- Do you think I can get "Jinros" autograph?

Jonathan "Jinro" Walsh, 22, is used to it. He's been a professional e-sports player for eight months in South Korea. The big "StarCraft II" games in Seoul bring hordes of fans. When Jonathan gets his hair cut the barber knows who he is.

South Korea has had the "Starcraft" fever for the last ten years. The major tournaments are broadcasted on sold out, huge arenas. Looking at the crowd, one might think U2 is on stage - but it's the domestic e-sports superstars.

"Lots of money"
- Those who became stars in the original "StarCraft" game can go into a restaurant and the whole staff will ask for their autograph, Jonathan says.

There are still lots of people who are not ready to accept e-sports as a "real" sport. A lot of people find it incomprehensible that you can make a living from playing video games.

- When there is a monthly tournament with the winner bringing home $50 000 (over 300 000SEK) you can live off of gaming. The matches are broadcasted on television, there are tonnes of people watching it, there are sponsors paying lots of money for you to represent them while playing the big tournaments.

Dreamhack, a driving force
With computer festival Dreamhack as its flagship, Sweden has started establishing itself as a major e-sports nation. Today - for the first time - eight of the worlds best "Starcraft II" players will be competing in Kulturhuset in Stockholm.

"Jinro" is the most successful non-Korean ever to "Starcraft II". He is the only foreigner who made it to two semi-finals in GSL - Global Starcraft League. To succeed at this level you need both tremendous powers of concentration and lightning-fast fingers. Real-time strategy games forces the player to make hundreds of decisions per minute.

- It's like playing the piano. I don't want to say it is as difficult as playing the piano at the very highest level, but the game also involves an element of strategy. One misclick and the match could end in your opponents favor.

Got to keep in shape
Practicing so much must put a heavy strain on the body.
- I notice it when I practice, practice, practice before a game. I can feel my hand complaining sometimes, but we hit the gym regularly, we live fairly healthy.

You need a healthy lifestyle to succeed?

- Indeed. If you are in good physical shape, it will make you able to play for longer periods of time and it will help your concentration. It's no wonder that most Korean pro gamers are pretty fit.

How does your personality affect your playstyle?

- I think everybody has their own playstyle because of their personality. My personality? If you look at me, I'm very "obsessive" with stuff I do. If I've lost a game I'll often feel that I need to play for 20 hours. I'm also a bit too passive, which I acredit my personality. I'd rather say the game changes my personality than the other way around. Maybe I'm too passive in real life too, but I only connect it to problems in Starcraft. Maybe I'll change that both in Starcraft and real life.

"I'm 'Jinro', come home with me!"
Jonathan Walsh lives in Incheon, the neighboring city of Seoul. He shares a flat with 15 other professional gamers. They eat, hit the gym and practice "Starcraft II" all day. They have a cook and maid who takes care of the household.

- She cleans everything, wash everything, buys groceries. Everything is taken care of, it's almost like living at home when you are young, haha. There is not much more responsibility.

Do you have time for a social life?

- Yes, but there are some difficulties with the language. There are not many Koreans who speak English well enough to be able to have a sophisticated conversation. But all the Koreans in our team has improved a lot in English since our arrival. And we at Liquid have started taking Korean lessons.

Is it easy to pick up girls in Korea if you are a progamer at "Starcraft"?

- If you are "BoxeR" (Lim Yo-Hwan, also known as "Emperor", the most famous "StarCraft" player, editor. Note.), No problem. But I do not think I can say: 'I am' Jinro ', come home with me! "

You should try.

- It would be interesting, I must learn how to say it in Korean first.