[5th Dec] GSL Code A Winners Interview

ST_Parting vs Killer

Q: You’ve made into Code S finally ! How do you feel?
A: I feel great. I said on the previous interview that I will get into Code S for sure, 100%. Now I look back, I think I was cocky


Q: But you’ve won today? Why are you being so moderate now?
A: After the first game was over, I thought that he was a much better player than I thought he was. He was not the same player that I was thinking of. After losing that game, so many thoughts raced inside my head. I thought I was gonna get knocked out (laughs). I decided in the second set I have to do what I prepared and pulled myself together.


Q: You were attacked on the centre of the map in the first set.
A: I have never seen a Protoss player who attacks at that timing! His build order must have been so tight. I panicked when he attacked.


Q: Your 2nd, 3rd sets were over relatively faster
A: They were not meant to be over that fast especially the second set. After I poked him once I was going to go for a macro game but that pressure damaged him more than I intended. In the 3rd game, it was a totally all-in from my side but he decided to use a very economical build so the attack ended the game.


Q: Your Code A performance had been amazing. You knocked out ex Code-S players only.
A: When I first played in my debut match I was really nervous. After I won the first set against Clide, that’s when I got over my nerves. I wasn’t nervous today at all because I knocked very well-known players so far.


Q: Your first debut in Code S is soon, you must be craving to show your skills?
A: I think I still have a lot to improve in terms of my skills. I want to prove that I belong in Code S for now. I talk with Keen often as him and I are good friends and we talk about doing good ceremonies at the end. Even looking at me outside of my games, I want to be a person who belongs in Code S who can entertain fans.


Q: Your ceremony, I found very aggressive or rather offensive, how did you feel after done such a ceremony?
A: If you watch Japanese anime called ‘One Piece’, there is this skill called ‘ambition’. I felt like Killer used that skill against me after I did a ceremony. After looking at his reaction I had chills all over my back. I did not mean to offend him! I want to get to know him and be friends! That ceremony was only for entertaining purpose!

oGsCezanne vs IMHappy


Q: You will be Code S again in the next season. How is it?
A: Starting the next year with this Code S privilege makes me comfortable. I prepared a lot for today’s game


Q: You lost more than you won lately, were you still confident?
A: I think it is just the beginning so I didn’t think about it that way. I am a long-run type of player and I have not been a progamer for a long time so I was still confident.


Q: You did bionic play in both games
A: I practice both bionic and mech play. But I felt like using bionic army today for all three possible games.


Q: Your bio play resembled.. to be Mech play.
A: I think my bionic play seems to be a bit more solid compared to other players. I prefer that sort of style too.


Q: Even if you lost today, you still would have been qualified for up&down matches.
A: I didn’t think about playing in up&down matches. I only thought about winning today. It is much harder to compete in up&down matches. I have been there once and I never want to go back there.


Q: Your Code S results were rather bad this season. Before that you were skyrocketing to the top, what happened?
A: I didn’t play my games like I practiced. I did builds that were instantaneously made and that was a fail. I want to play games as I feel but that did not work out. From now on, I think I should stick to my play styles that I execute during practice matches.


Q: You have no games scheduled until the next Code S
A: This will be the time for me to improve on my weaknesses. If I prepare well, then I should be able to get good results in the next season.

ST_Bomber vs oGsMC


Q: You remain your slot in Code S, how do you feel?
A: I am just in a position that I should be at. I am sorry for beating my friend but Bomber is a good player so I am sure he will make through his up&down matches anyways.


Q: Your opponent was such a strong player. Were you confident before starting the games?
A: I barely don’t lose to Terran players lately. I think I can take on any Terran players and still feel confident. Expectations on me are not as big as previously so I don’t feel any burdens on me so it’s easier to practice. I guess I have got confidence in me now.


Q: We didn’t get to many chances to watch your PvT lately. How did you practice?
A: Terran players go for a timing push with ghosts nowadays, I figured out many things from these pushes so I defend that timing push off rather easily. So I play normally and figured out how to win easy.


Q: In the first set, that main centre engagement won you a total victory. Were you planning for that engagement?
A: I baited my opponent by leaving 4 High Templars. 3 Ghosts who tried to get these 4 HTs got killed by my stalkers without doing a thing so Terran player must be in a hurry to do something. I had a better formation and better location.


Q: After watching your games today, your micro control and ability to set your formation was outstanding.
A: RTS game is all about controlling. The reason why I prefer using gateway units is because I am confident at microing them. Today was the same, it was all about micro. In other match-ups and games I had an advantage of having a better micro control. If other Protoss players abuse AI of Protoss units, I am sure they be able to win games relatively easy too.


Q: Blizzard Cup is coming soon, this is a chance for you to recover from recent down-falls.
A: I have heard about chosen maps today and they don’t seem to be good for Protoss. It is BO1 and a full-league format so maps will be a very important factor but all maps seem to favour other races. I will really have to practice hard. I think being a better macro game player with basic physique will not be enough. Hero and Stephano are in the same house so it will be harder to prepare for the tournament.


Q: Here is a side story, Hero lost to Puma in NASL
A: Puma is a good player but I found it pity that Hero seems to have a mental break down in BO5 or 7. It is really important for a player to stay cool even if they are losing by 3:1 or even 3:2. They need to think ‘well if I am going to lose the whole thing I have to at least lose trying to show good games’ and if they think in that way then they can maintain their skills. If this works out well and you get couple of wins and catch up to them, then his opponent will be on a nervous side. I am sure that Hero learned many things in the finals. Being a good Protoss players who is strong at BO5 or 7 takes experiences (laughs)


Q: But the youngest GSL champion is now jjakji
A: I did not notice that. Come to think of it all GSL champions should be married by now (laughs). So jjakji breaks the youngest GSL champ record but it doesn’t bother me. I knew that record could not stay forever. Also I helped jjakji’s quarter final matches.


Q: Many new GSL champs were born since.
A: After watching this final, I was disappointed. I really want to show a better of me in this coming Blizzard Cup. I would love to meet MVP in the finals. After crushing him easily in Blizz Cup, I would like to show people me dominating all other Terrans. But I am scared of Zerg players (laughs). I still didn’t get to figure out ways dealing with Zergs but I expect myself to figure something out soon.


Q: Any other things you would like to say?
A: Terrans taking over GSL. Soon I will be winning coming GSL and I will be able to show people that other races can also win GSL too. My mum texts me every time I have a game to play in tournaments, I thank her. oGstheWind is looking after me so I thank him. SKGaming manager Min-Sik GO, I also thank you. In the community I’ve seen threads about insulting my girlfriend but I really beg you, please do not. Threads about me, I do not care because I am a pro gamer. But my girlfriend is just another person who is not televised. Please be more considerate. My girlfriend came to watch GSL for me today and I won so I feel extra happier. I wish Bomber to get through up&down matches and also wish Fin and SuperNova to make into Code S also.

SlayerS_Brown vs IMLosira



Q: This was your second season in Code A and you’ve already made into Code S.
A: It felt exactly like the first Code A season. I got knocked out way too fast in the last season so I wasn’t actually confident this season. But then beating strong opponent players one by one I gained my confidence but I still feel bit meh. I just can’t believe it’s reality.


Q: Your opponent was Losira, a very strong player- how did you practice for that?
A: On ladder, his play style is just too well-known. He is also a good friend with Alicia so I got help from Alicia. I used my own build but Crank helped me for the game at Dual Site. All help from the team was effective.


Q: You used a Mother ship in the first game.
A: Mothership is good for a Protoss player who plays defensively, defending all the time does not make you win and that is when Mothership comes in handy.


Q: Vortex was super-effective. In that situation if Zerg’s Broodlords also get sucked it do you thank them?
A: All corrupters were sucked it so Zerg player had to also put Broodlords in. But then when I inserted archons in he would’ve regretted it. That is why I had those 6 Archons, it was my plan all along.


Q: Your Voidray did a good job in the second game
A: That build is already a famous build in top Korean level on ladder. But Dual Site has many areas outside of watch towers and there are so much room for a proxy pylon so I still used the build even though it is a common build.


Q: People do not recognize you well because you are a fresh player.
A: In reality, it is pretty hard for me to get attentions. There are just so many players in my team. But hopefully I also get noticed and get attention. I will show you what I am made of in the next season.


Q: Unfortunately, there is another rising star Protoss player- Parting
A: I personally don’t know Parting. But when I meet him on the Battle net I think he is a very talented player. When he was not in Code A I always wondered why he is still in Code B. It would be good for both of us to get noticed as a rising Protoss player.


Q: You have your first Code S match awaiting for you, what sort of impressions do you want to make?
A: There are many players who think Protoss is a depressing race. Protoss is not the race who should try to win but rather they are better when they try not to lose. I will prove why Protoss is strong.


Q: Do you have anyone who you like to face in Code S?
A: Not yet, I think I will be picked up by a strong player like what happened to Yugioh so I guess I will have to play a strong opponent first.