[5th Jan] Qualified Code A Players Interview

Q : You made into Code A two times in a row

I feel very good. I was too outgoing during the recent holidays but I made into Code A since I didn't face any Protoss players.

Q : Weren't today's games hard?

I definitely lost my gaming sense a lot. They were all very hard in general. The hardest match was against Ui-Jin Hwang who plays Terran. I got lucky in that game.

Q : I can't help myself from talking about the last season. You were very hyped by fans.

My first opponent in the last season was Curious so I am not too disappointed. As a progamer I am meant to win against anyone. But what was disappointing is that I was not able to show plays that I prepared during practices and allowed him to come back. But sometimes I think I was unlucky to face Curious out of other fallen Code S players.

Q : 2012. I bet you want to make something happen.

I have to think about my age and the future since I am older now. I think I have to make some sort of achievements this year. I sorted out my compulsory military service problem so I should be easy on myself but I am the second oldest in the team. I feel mentally pressured.

Q : Who would want to face in the earliest rounds?

I don't want to play against 4th ranked Code S players in their groups. I wouldn't know who to practise against and won't have enough to time to practise. I wish I could find out who the opponent is so I can concentrate on preparation.

Q : There are still bit of time until Code A matches.

I could make a use of as much as time as possible. I lost gaming senses as I didn't practise much recently.

Q : oGsFin made into Code S in a single season.

Well, so I moved my computer next to Fin. I thought 'he can play this much so he deserves to be promoted'. I learn a lot from him.

Q : What's your new years resolution?

I want to get into Code S in the first half of this year. And in the later half I want to be in the semi-finals. Hold on.. Nope, I want to get into the finals (laughs)

Q : Anything else you want to add?

I thank our sponsor Corsair. Our team seems to have an image of being weak compared to who we are. I hope that all our team members read this interview and work together to recover our image.

Q : How do you feel after being qualified?

It has been a year so I feel good. It's very refreshing.

Q : What's the reason of your downturn?

I rather get nervous a lot so I often couldn't play like I usually play so fell down several times.

Q : Did you have any tough games today?

I thought I would lose to Check. But he got knocked out before facing me so I rather had a easy run.

Q : How did you prepare for Code A qualifiers.

Protoss rushes are very strong so my main focus during practices to defending them off. But they were too hard to stop so I prepared all-in strategies. They all worked well so I got into Code A.

Q : The format of Code A has been changed.

Winning one game will get me into Up/Down matches so I better bet my life and compete.

Q : What is your goal for this season?

Not coming to Techno Mart in Sindorim (T/N : The venue for Code A Qualifiers). I really hate this qualifiers. I get more nervous here than televised matches.

Q : Anything else you want to add in?

I thank to all the team mates and players who helped with practices. I wasn't able to show my parents anything but they were very patient and still supported me. I also thank our sponsors TtSPORTS.

Q : You came back to Code A after a year.

I thought I would come back straight away but took me a year. Now I will try very hard so I don't fall down to Qualifiers again.

Q : What was the hardest game for you today?

The final games were the hardest. I started with losing the first set and even the last set was very unstable. But my betting worked luckily to get me a win.

Q : You didn't play any televised matches for a while, how have you been?

After I left Zenex I didn't practise enough. In the last qualifiers I lost to Rainbow which stimulated me to be motivated for this season

Q : When did you join Prime?

Two weeks before the qualifiers. Byun recommended me to the team so I was able to get in. After I joined Prime I set myself up straight mentally.

Q : What is your goal for this season after the long absent period.

Surviving in the Code A is the first goal. I really don't want to go through qualifiers ever again. The second goal is to get into Code S straight away.

Q : Did you make any new years resolution?

Winning Code S finals would be the goal.

Q : Anything else that you want to add?

First of all, I thank Prime team mates very much. I also thank our sponsors TtESPORTS. I know Byun and Coca very well and they still try very hard and still regret what they did. I hope they cheer up soon. I also thank my parents.

Q : You made into Code A for the first time.

Code A is the stage that I really wanted to be on. I am happy that I finally achieved my dream after one year.

Q : You are the first team member to make into Code A from ZeNEX. How do you feel?

I hope I am the beginning and I wish all our team members come up too.

Q : How were today's qualifiers?

The semifinals against yCh[z-zOne] was really hard. I went for a macro game with a strong economic advantage but kept being rushed. I somehow held them off and won.

Q : Now you need to prepare for upcoming televised matches.

I won't be too nervous. I got used to how tournaments are through qualifiers so I don't think I would have a problem.

Q : What is your goal for this season?

Getting into Up/Down matches is the first goal. I don't ever want to go down to qualifiers again.

Q : Anything else that you want to add in?

I thank my dad, team members and the coach for supporting me. I also want to add that Nam-Jung bro doesn't have a brain (laughs)

Q : This is the first time you made into the main stage.

I have been trying to get through the qualifiers since the Open Season 2 and I made in finally after a year. I feel really good since I have been trying for a long time.

Q : Any particular games that you found hard?

The finals against Dream was the hardest. I had a problem with my mouse in the first set and even requested to pause. I lost that first set to start with so I finished the finals with difficulties.

Q : You haven't been televised for a rather long time.

I only practised at the team house. I just spent all my time playing.

Q : What was your motivation to break through the qualifiers?

I was always confident but failed every time. But this time everything got worked out as I wanted them to.

Q : What is your goal for this season?

Getting into Code S directly. I know I haven't got much of experiences in televised series but I think I will get better as I get more experience.

Q : Anything that you want to add in?

I thank the coach and his wife for trusting me for a long time. It was recently my Mum's birthday and I think my successful results from today could be the good present for her.

Q : You have successfully made into Code A three times. How do you feel?

I was about to be unemployed for five months. I am relieved.

Q : You didn't like living as unemployed? How bad was it?

It's just really boring. I only practised on the ladder. Had evaluating matches inside the team a week ago though.

Q : You won against Puma in the finals. Wasn't it hard?

Not that hard. He was very aggressive but I kept on defending his rushes calmly into a victory. There weren't really hard matches today in general.

Q : You have experiences of being qualified twice. Have you learnt a lot?

Not really. However I did realize that I need to improve a lot.

Q : How are your recent plays though? Have you improved?

The problem is that my skills are pretty much on the same level as before. I did practise a lot but I don't seem to get better.

Q : Then wouldn't you need to improve before the main stage?

Yes, I think practising will be the only way

Q : Do you want to say anything else?

I thank my team mates who helped me to practise. I hope they all get good results tomorrow. I also thank my parents.

Q : You made into the GSL after a year. How do you feel?

I am happy, very happy.

Q : I bet you had hard times over a year. How are you?

I am rather old among other progamers so I had bit of rough time. I had many thoughts. I thought this was not going to work even if I kept on trying.

Q : Then you must have practised harder for this qualifiers.

I practised frequently as I always did. To be honest, I think I made it through as I got lucky.

Q : If you were lucky today, which match was the luckiest for you?

I had my final games with Sleep who I personally think is a great player. But he must have been nervous and didn't play how he usually plays.

Q : You had a previous experience on GSTL.

I learnt how not to be nervous very much. I used to get too nervous but during GSTL televised matches weren't so frightening as I played. But I still do get nervous whether games are televised or not.

Q : I wonder what results you want to get in 2012.

To be the best player. I want to win. But I wouldn't know whether I will get into Code S until matches begin.

Q : Prime players performed really well today especially Zerg players.

Not particularly. But all players did not make into Code A for a long time and I bet they were more determined.

Q : Anything else that you want to add?

I thank the coach and team mates who came to the qualifiers today. I also thank our sponsor Tt-eSPORTS. Also please shop often on PrimeZZANG (T/N : A very decent online clothing in my opinion. They actually have really good clothes that aren't nerdy)

Q : This is the first time you getting into GSL. How do you feel?

I haven't tried out qualifiers for Open Seasons but I kept trying qualifiers since January last year. I finally made in for the first time and now I am still a bit shaken.

Q : Which match was the hardest?

Games against oGsTOP were the hardest. The first set went into a late game for about an hour and I lost. I was mentally disturbed after losing a long match. But I decided to forget about the first set before beginning remaining sets and it worked. I knew play styles of my final opponent so it was rather easier.

Q : What were the driving forces that helped you to be qualified this time?

I was stimulated a lot when Jjakji won GSL. I am not sure whether it made me confident but it surely did wake me up.

Q : Were other players stimulated by Jjakji's success?

I think so, everyone in general would've felt the same way.

Q : The results from Terran players today weren't that great. What's your personal opinion?

Maps are generally hard for Terran. They are particularly harder against Protoss players. I think that might be one of the reasons.

Q : You have been into GSTL previously.

I couldn't make up my mind to be determined after GSTL. I don't know the reasons but I just couldn't concentrate during the games. Even in this qualifiers, I had bad concentrations and didn't really have a good mind set.

Q : So this is the first GSL for you. How do you think it will go?

All players who are currently qualified in GSL are amazing. I have to catch up to them. In order to do so I have no other ways but to practise harder.

Q : What is the first goal of your first GSL?

I want to get into Code S no matter what. That is the goal. I don't even have any other goals.

Q : I think you may have gotten used to televised matches.

I personally think that I did too. After I have failed to be qualified in WCG I have a stronger desire to be televised. I somehow think I can do well in this season.

Q : Anything else that you want to add?

I thank my parents and my brother who supported me even when I had bad results until now.

Q : How do you feel getting into GSL after a long time?

Just feels great (laughs).

Q : You came back after five seasons.

I didn't know it had been that long. It maybe because I quitted a game momentarily. When I left MVP I didn't play the game and just rested awhile then started to play again.

Q : What made you start playing again?

I figured that this is the only thing that I am good at. I am telling you the truth (laughs). So I just wanted to play again.

Q : Preparing for the qualifiers without being in a team must have been hard.

Many bros (T/N : Hyung, 형) in ProS helped me out. Preparing wasn't as hard as I thought.

Q : Do you want to go back into a team again?

I am still thinking about it. Going back to MVP would be nice but I don't have a definite plan.

Q : Who knocked you out in Code A in May?

I lost to IMMVP. I was just so nervous back then and couldn't even play fully. It was really disappointing.

Q : Who do you want to face in this GSL?

I hope to have the first game with the easiest opponent as possible. I don't ever want to be back to the qualifiers. I don't really care about race a player plays. A player who isn't well known would be good.

Q : You must want to make some achievements in this season. What are your goals?

I think I still need to improve a bit. Staying in Code A is my goal.

Q : How are you going to practise?

I will ask my ex-team members. But if situation is right I think getting a new team would be also good.

Q : Anything else you want to say?

I thank bros in ProS team house and the coach as well as Min-Woo Ahn bro. I really appreciate and thank for supports that my parents give me.

Q : You made back into GSL after a while. How do you feel right now?

I was always confident about being qualified again as I participated but I never got the results. I will try to reset my mind set and try really hard from now.

Q : Were today's matches tough?

Not tough in terms of how the games went. But there was a long waiting time between games and I got anxious. It was hard maintaining a good condition.

Q : You got an award for the best ceremonies in GSL 2011.

That was more nervous than when I was in a booth playing. I kept thinking about what I should be saying about receiving the award. All team members, particularly July, thought about this with me.

Q : There were other players who competed for that award.

I didn't really do good ceremonies in the individual league but I am sure that I did the best ones during GSTL. I will do stronger ceremonies from now on so players like MC and DRG cannot catch up with me.

Q : Protoss players in Startale seem to be weak nowadays. Isn't that because of Ace? (laughs)

It's also because of Squirtle (laughs). We got our mind sets straight as we spent the new years. We were bit laid back since June-July last year. But we all got fired up while watching GSL awards. I like how my starting of 2012 is good. I will try to make upsets in this season.

Q : What's your goal then as you returned this season?

Getting into Up/Down matches. Parting went into Code S straight away and so did Oz. I am a particularly good friend with Oz and I learnt from him that capturing the first opportunity is the most important. I will try to get into Code S right away.

Q : Did you learn something new while you were having a down time?

I didn't improve much in my game plays but I mature up my personalities. I learnt a lot.

Q : Do you have any players that you would like to face in particular?

I think I am the challenger no matter who the opponent is. I won't try to pick a player. But I want to avoid team kills.

Q : Anything that you would like to add?

All team members are practising really hard. We are going to win the upcoming GSTL. We are going to show more wonderful games and ceremonies to you so I hope you love Startale a lot.