[Int] GSL Code S Semifinal Winners

Inca – I want to repay my parents

- Your thoughts on making the finals?
It feels amazing. Many fans wanted Nada to get to the finals, but I will make sure to show games that those fans can also enjoy in the finals.

- Did you have any difficulties preparing for this match?
Nada practiced double for this match than regularly. So I was really nervous, but I came into this match knowing Nada’s play style and matched my strategies for that. I think my strategies played out well today.

- Were all the builds you showed today made for Nada?
In the closed beta, when the zerg balance was completely broken, I called it “Inca rule” where I used all-ins every game. I remembered myself of past and prepared 4 all-ins for this best of 5 set match.

- Did you predict that Nada would not be able to block them?
When I practiced with Nada in the past, I focused 100% on macro-oriented play. I thought that he would not know about my usual all-in builds so I tweaked a couple of strategies I used in the past for today’s match.

- How about the last set?
That was one of the builds that MC used against Marineking in the GSL world championships which failed. I tried to succeed where MC couldn’t by using the build. But it seems that the strategy was stopped before it even started.

- How were you able to turn around the game after that failure?
I don’t really know. I knew that I was behind, but I also felt that I could also catch up. I basically got a lot of high templars and tried to stall out the game. I was confident that I could win the emp vs. feedback battle. And in the last battle, I got good psi storms so I was able to win.

- MC has become the standard to which protoss players are judged, what are your thoughts?
In the past, I was more ahead… But now, he has already piled up a career to which I don’t know if I can catch up. I wanted to be the first protoss player to win (in the GSL) but MC was able to accomplish that first. After that, I tried to keep that out of my mind. Jealously makes a man bitter, so instead of focusing on his wins, I tried to focus on playing better.

- The difference between you and MC?
MC is a former SCBW pro, so he has a great understanding of this game. In the past, I tried not to watch too many other protoss players play since I wanted to develop my own play style. And although I was really tempted to see MC’s games, I kept my perseverance and didn’t watch them, and further developed my own style. In the future, I hope to incorporate the good aspects of other players into my play.

- This will be your first finals.
In my opinion, I think it has taken me too long to reach this stage. I thought I could do it during the open seasons of the GSL, but after those seasons, I haven’t had a lot of success. I have come all this way believing in myself, and I think that belief has finally paid off.

- Who do you want to face in the finals?
To be honest I haven’t faced a zerg in 3 weeks. And in the LG special league preliminaries I lost to a zerg. But I will have 1 full week to prepare for the finals match and get used to the matchup. Plus with MC’s help I believe I can win against anyone, so I think both players will be ok.

- Any last comments?
I want to thank prime’s Maka, Marineking, Polt, and my team’s Supernova, for helping me practice. The coach and our manager were able to arrange practice partners for me. I am thankful. A lot of my friends back from middle and high school keep calling me from their military service and I hope they stop calling so often. They keep calling and saying ‘play well.’ And they tell me they watch the games and call out my name. I just hope they have a good time in the military. I want to also thank my parents who were at first against me being a progamer. One day, I will repay my dues back to you.
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Nestea – As the ‘zerg president’ I will repeat as champion.

- Your thoughts on making the finals?
As the first zerg player to make 2 finals, I am really happy. When I first saw the brackets at the round of 16, I thought my path to the finals would be easy if I wouldn’t have to face sC. But I am happy that I was able to beat him and advance.

- Why do you find sC difficult to face?
I have faced him often on ladder and he was really good at cheese rushes. He isn’t someone who lets you alone to do what you want, so it becomes really hard to face him.

- How did you prepare for today’s match?
To be safe, I tried to use pool first builds rather than going hatch. I didn’t want to lose without a fight. However, that kind of safe play also had some downsides. I was safe but I lost in economy so when he stopped his aggression, I was basically in an unfavorable situation.

- When did you know you had the win in the last set?
In the last 1 minute of the game, I first thought that I had lost. But when I was able to get out infestors and his forces dwindled, then I saw that I could win.

- It seemed as if you were a bit less patient than usual.
Facing sC can do that to you. He is really good at playing mind games. He puts you in many situations where you feel that you are not able to do what you want, then you feel like the situation is getting worse and worse.

- How did you practice?
There was basically one day in between the games, so I didn’t get a lot of practice. But I was able to get some practice and studied builds together with Yoda, Happy, and MinseOk.

- How are you different from other zergs?
I don’t think I am that different. But I have been told by my practice partners that I usually notice things quicker and have more drones and most people so I am able to switch between techs more easily.

- You will be facing a protoss in the finals.
I think Inca is a really good player. I know I complained a lot previously about ZvP matchups when I faced Anypro, but in practice I was win rate against them were around 90%, so I have some confidence in the matchup. However, Inca’s style is so different that I don’t know what to expect. Since I have made it to the finals, I will try to ride my momentum and take the championship.

- Were the burrowed banelings something you specifically prepared for the 5th set?
Originally, I prepared to be really precise on where I would put them, but after being down in the game, my baneling placements were not very good.

- Your ambition going into the finals?
There is a lot of talk in the community who want a zerg to win this championship. As the ‘zerg president’ (**This nickname is similar to MC’s nickname in Korean just the first syllable changed to represent zerg), I will try my best to repeat my victory. I want to show that zergs can be powerful.

- Any last comments?
I want to thank my teammates Yoda, Happy, and MinseOK for helping me practice. Horror really wanted to see T-ara, so I am happy I could fulfill that promise. Additionally, I want to thank my coach. I hope that many fans will show up in Daegu to cheer us on. I saw that Cocoshoo was cheering on sC so I was really happy about that. I hope she cheers on Inca in the finals.


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Code S
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Code A
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