[Interview] 2012 GSL S1 CodeS Ro32 Group G Winners

It's been a year since you last made it to the Ro16.

I was aware of that. I kept getting knocked out in the Ro32 and it really has been a year since I last got to the Ro16 stage in an official league. All I want is to go further.

Why did your results suffer so much?

I went down to Code A and always got knocked out during the Ro32 in Code S and that was a problem. I was too at ease. I trusted myself too much and there was also a bit of ego. The situation changed a lot and unlike a long time ago there are now a lot of players better than me. Since the period of time where I couldn't post any results was so long, I prepared with the intention of making it further this season.

You were very aggressive against Happy.

I think that Happy prefers to go to the late game in TvT. I intended to gain a reasonable lead in the early game and finish him before it gets to the late game. Luck favoured me in both games so I started out with an advantage and everything went as planned.

Happy is on the same team as MVP. Did you consider that point?

Since they're on the same team their styles are very similar. However I think when it comes to MVP I lost because of the trauma. Happy is different. Since I have beaten him before I could be more confident.

Against Alive you maintained your style. However going mech in the second set was unexpected.

Since the loser chooses the next map I intended on just going with the flow from the second set onwards. Whenever I played against Alive I had never gone mech before. I chose to go mech to take him by surprise. I think he got thrown off by that.

Once upon a time people were saying you were slumping because you were too aggressive.

I've heard that being said since quite a long time ago. I've also tried changing my style up until now. However I decided to play the way that is most fun for me. Of course I've tried practising defensive play but as expected, my style and trademark is still aggressive play.

You were also criticized for being very stubborn.

I've been holding myself back from playing the style that I'm known for in tournaments as much as possible. My coach gives me a lot of advice on this point. Since I've heard a lot of good advice I think I'll be able to fix this completely.

The GSL format has changed a lot in that time. Who do you want in your group for group nominations?

Everyone except MVP (laugh). If I absolutely had to meet MVP I want it to be in the finals. I'm confident against anyone else.

MVP has first picking rights. If he were to pick you?

If that's the case there's nothing I can do about it. I will prepare hard and win. I'll also make a group of death. I'm considering Genius who is doing well recently.

King of Kong was a tournament made especially for you but you only made it to the semi-finals.

When this tournament was announced I felt it was my duty to win no matter what. The conditions didn't work out in my favour though. Since I went to the Homestory Cup in Germany I had to connect to the Korean server from Europe. There was a bit of lag. It was a tournament I really wanted to win so I am disappointed. Since it turned out this way I'll just take it as meaning that my life as a Kong is over this year. I want DRG to succeed me in the Kong Line. Ever since last year he has been demonstrating the qualities of the Kong line.

What is your goal for 2012?

I couldn't win GSL in 2011. This year I want to be the first player to win a GSL. Overall for 2012 my goal is to be first more than second.

How many times do you think you'll need to win to escape the Kong line?

I'm guessing I'll need to win as many times as I have been runner-up.

Any last words?

Thanks to Tt-ESPORTS who sponsors our team. A lot of our players made it through the qualifiers this season so I hope all of them come to Code S. Thanks to our coach who always gives me advice and takes care of me.

Source: ThisIsGame

T/N: Since this is a sensitive issue, please take into account that this is a translation. I hope people won't argue semantics over what is said in the interview as it's only a translation based on my own interpretation and often there aren't words in English that have the exact same connotations as some Korean words.



What are your thoughts on making it to the Ro16?

It's a meaningful Ro16. It was a difficult situation but luck favoured me so I was able to move on. If I get good results I'm hoping that all the bad views focused on me will change to be more positive.

You are currently teamless. Were there any difficulties in preparing?

Saying that practice was difficult would just be an excuse. Even so, in reality it wasn't that easy. I focused mostly on the thinking aspect while preparing. I played 5 ladder games a day and then played practice matches with players I know.

An article about your team situation was released today. Is there anything you want to say about that?

It's true that I was at fault at first. I admitted it clearly and Coach Lee told me that he understood. Even so he said he'd get compensation no matter what. He contacted me on Sunday and said that he told the reporters that he had received the transfer fee and everything had ended amicably so he said I could relax. That was what I thought but I was taken aback when an article like that came out on the day of my match. I think he's only understanding through his teeth.

What are you at fault for?

I think the dual contract is exaggerated. I haven't signed a contract yet [with Fnatic]. I received an offer from Fnatic's translator last Sunday saying that they wanted me. I said I wanted to speak with Fnatic's manager on Monday and we talked a few more details then. After that Coach Lee called me over about something. He showed me the conversation I had with Fnatic's manager that he had printed out. The Skype conversation was on my computer so I'm curious about how he got it. Even so I was at fault so I admitted it and asked for understanding.

That seems more like an explanation of the circumstances. What do you think you did wrong?

I think not telling my coach and contacting Fnatic was wrong. I was initially going to leave TSL and be teamless before changing teams to Fnatic. However Coach Lee found out before that and I think that hurt his feelings. So I admitted my fault to him and was prepared for this series of events. A lot of TSL members had left before this, and we had signed contracts as a formality. Before Puma's incident we didn't have contracts. When Clide and JYP left Coach Lee said we could leave if we didn't like things. I wanted to leave then but due to personal reasons I said that I'd stay a little longer but that I didn't want to be a team member. I thought Coach Lee had accepted it then, but it turns out he did not.

Does that mean you spoke with Fnatic's manager after you had said you wanted to leave the team?

When Killer and Clide said they were leaving, JYP and I also said we'd leave. I thought I couldn't stay in the team any longer so I wanted to get out, and there was also a good offer.

When does your contract with TSL end?

July of this year.

Why did you want to leave even still?

All my other team mates had left and the team's image wasn't very good. There are also selfish reasons. I thought that the more I stayed in TSL the less it would help me as a player. So I said clearly that I wanted to leave.

Even so a contract needs mutual agreement from both sides. Didn't you attempt any talks on that regard?

The coach found out about my talks with Fnatic first. Since he found out before I was going to tell him I couldn't bring myself to talk about it. Before that happened I told him that I had something I wanted to say and that we should talk. On that regard I was definitely at fault. I didn't fulfil my side of the contract. I think that I was immature and rash. There's nothing I could say if you were to say that I lost sight of things because of money.

Since there is a contract we can't ignore penalty fees. Is there a clause for that?

There is. I think that's why he wants to receive a penalty fee from me. I thought that the article released would have nuances about a transfer fee. He had also said that even if I were to pay a penalty we should make the article benefit both sides with an amicable end. But I was surprised when the article mentioned a penalty fee and dual contracts.

Even so it looks like you've gone AWOL. If you were to pay the penalty fee how much would it be?

Around $8,700

Did Fnatic say they'd pay the penalty?

It's not certain but I think he said he'd make the announcement saying that the penalty fee was a transfer fee instead.

How is the contract with Fnatic going?

I'll only be able to sign the contract when the current situation ends. I think that is the only way. There have been a few talks.

A contract is still a contract.

No matter what I thought that I couldn't stay any longer so I said I'd leave. I left with the intention of paying the penalty fee even from my own pocket. I was going to deal with it with my own money and the money I was going to receive from Fnatic. But I was surprised that the talk of a dual contract came out first.

What do you intend to do now.

If worst comes to worst I am considering going to court like Coach Lee said in the article. I would prefer to end things amicably though. But the situation is already bad. I also want to pay the penalty fee and just end it.

Couldn't Fnatic back out from taking you in as well?

They could. However Fnatic also played a part. I hope that doesn't happen. I'm only able to accept this situation because I'm certain that Fnatic sign me.

Fnatic is a foreign team. Couldn't there have been misunderstandings in communication with the translator?

Of course I've also thought that. I also left because of money. But if that were the case there's nothing I could do. I'll accept it.

Is there anything more you want to say on this topic?

I admit my fault in this. However the contents of the article that were released today are surprising. Even so I don't want to end things badly. I hope fans won't criticize me too harshly and are understanding. I created this situation but I hope people will consider both the player and coach's perspectives.

Did you have the time to think of your goals for this season?

I didn't have the leisure. For this tournament I want to get to around the Ro8 like last season. The most important thing is the current situation. I want to resolve it quickly. Group nominations are the day after tomorrow but I want to concentrate on solving this situation quickly.

Source: ThisIsGame