[Int] GSL Super Ro8 D2

Polt – ‘Now I am greedy for a championship.’

- Congratulations on your victory, your thoughts on making the first semifinals (round of 4)?
I grew up watching Starcraft 1. I didn’t know anything back then, but the players who made the semifinals always looked impressive. I am really glad that I was also able to raise my name to this stage.

- You had a perfect victory.
I knew as long as I won the 1st set, I would win 3:0. I think I was pretty lucky in the 1st set. In my mind, I had sets 2, 4, 5 won no matter what. But I thought the 1st set would be around 50/50.

- With today’s win, you have recorded a perfect win rate against protoss (**In GSL with at least 10 wins). This is a surprising record, what do you think?
It is surprising even to me. After beating MC in the open season, I have always wanted face protosses if possible, but I have not had the chance to face them often. I have faced protoss twice this super tournament, so I believe that is the reason for my good result.

- It may be a teamkill final (against Marineking). But who do you want to face in the next round?.
Since the finals will definitely be against a terran, I want to try my hand at beating a zerg. In this super tournament, I have beaten 2 protosses, 1 terran, and 1 zerg. I hope I can face a zerg so I can record two wins against each race.

- But wouldn’t it be easier for practice if 4 terrans were in the semifinals?
Because time for practice is short, it will be a battle between our base skill levels.

- Because of your good results, you must be expecting some fans.
I am just happy because I feel like my real skill has been showing. I would gladly welcome more fans but I don’t really know much about that.

- What would you say is the biggest reason for the difference in your play level today as compared to previously?
Mouse setting, I think I was not able to do that well before. Also previously, I always wondered why my skill wouldn’t come out, but now, I don’t worry about it.

- It always seemed like the early game wasn’t too good for you, how do you flip the momentum back?
Not just in the 3rd set, but in the 2nd set, because of the DTs I thought that it would be tough. But the tide turned in my favor both times, when I went in for an attack, he had a lot less units than I thought and by destroying the Nexus, I was able to pull out the win.

- You must be more greedy for this championship.
Now I feel it even more. Before this, the championship felt so far away, but since now it’s in front of my eyes, I want it so badly.

- Is it true that you do not live at the team house?
Yes, it is good because I can control my pace when I am tired and control how I practice. It is similar to when I plan out my studies. I have never been one to just sit still and continuously study.

- Marineking’s match, who will come out on top?
I feel like Marineking has better skills, but MMA might have the recent momentum. I believe the win at MLG Columbus has had a large effect on his play.

- Any last comments?
I want to thank fOu’s Choya, Imori, Crane, and StarTale’s Squirtle for helping me practice. I guess I will finally have a match on the same date as Marineking, I hope we can both give each other strength as we advance together to the finals.

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TOP – ‘I want to ask the fans for their support not their criticisms.’

- Your thoughts on making the semifinals (round of 4)?
I am still shaking. I thought I was behind in the last set. I am thrilled to have won the match.

- You must have been happy to have advanced by beating Nestea, but because of that, you must also have had some pressure.
After the match, unlike what I would have thought, I was able to see a variety of reactions from the fans. For some, they dismissed my skill that day as a ‘fraud’, which made me a bit disappointed.

- So then did you have the thought “I will show you my real skills”?
I don’t lack that kind of motivation. But I was able to practice even harder.

- This was a full set affair. Your code A victory was tough, but it seemed like today’s match was even tougher.
When things went well in the beginning, I thought to myself that ‘I can win easily.’ But Line was too good at coping with the stress. Even during practice, I have not had gamews where it was this neck and neck.

- If you were to pick the toughest game?
The 4th set was pretty hard, but I would have to say the 5th set was the toughest. During the game, when I thought that I had won, all of a sudden brood lords popped out, that was both surprising and difficult to handle.

- Was there any games you would say ‘I should have won...’
In the 3rd set, I lost my hellions really early. I really wanted to keep them alive, but letting Line surround them and losing them was especially disappointing.

- Your next opponent will be Polt. What do you think about him?
I have faced him previously during the open season. I have also faced him often on the ladder since then, and we have even practiced with each other. I believe we both know each other pretty well. So I believe he will be a tough opponent.

- The semifinals is composed of 4 terrans. What do you think?
I am not that fond of it. It’s not like I am bad at TvT so I am not against it, but I do not think it is good overall.

- What do you think about your chances to win the tournament?
Rather than thinking about those kinds of chances, I plan to put forth my best effort to just take the win. Percentages are meaningless.

- Your team must be giving you full support. Anything you want to say to them?
All of my teammates have really been helping me practice. I do not think they are treating anyone differently or giving me special treatment. But every time someone has a match, the team usually gets behind them to help him no matter what.

- There isn’t much time for the next match, will you have enough practice?
Supernova, Nada, TheStc, our team is full of great terrans so I will definitely have enough practice.

- Anything you want to say going into the semifinals?
I don’t have much time, but I will give it my best to practice and win the match. I want to thank my teammates who helped me practice and also my coach, manager, and parents for their support. During this super tournament, I have seen the reactions from many fans. I hope that they can be more supportive rather than critical of the players. I had a long slump previous to this, and I was really able to come out of it because of the cheering from the fans. For gamers, even the smallest criticisms can cause a big wound but the smallest of cheers can be the biggest of strengths. If there are things I need to fix, I will make sure to put from my best effort to fix them.

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Ro 8
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Ro16
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Ro32
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Ro64
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