21.01.12, Moscow - The year 2011 was great for Team Empire`s StarCraft ll squad. It was a year of formation, correction of mistakes and first big results. Firstly, Team Empire became one of the best team in CIS. Secondly, we directed our attention on Europe and won SC2CL master league. After that, we managed to win slots in Evil Geniuses Masters Cup and GosuCoaching Premier League. It was a hard challenge, since there were only top teams from around the world. Team Empire finished 2nd in EG Masters Cup and 1st in GosuCoaching Premier League, and this results are only the beginning. Because in the new 2012 year we are ready to grow and become even more stronger. And our first opportunity to do this is a new rising star in StarCraft ll - Kim "viOLet" Donghwan.
viOLet is a ex-WC3 player, with a big bunch of online cups wins and this results are only increasing since he switched to StarCraft II. His latest achievement is top4 of HomeStory Cup IV, which taked place in the beginning of 2012, and we believe, that is a great start of a year for him.
Team Empire is a team, who is participating in international team leagues now, and viOLet is a player, who can bring us to a next level.
Andrew Tomlinson, personal Manager of Donghwan and Founder of CSN, made the following statement:
"On behalf of Cyber Sports Network, I would like to congratulate Kim "viOLet" Donghwan on finally joining a very well-respected team both in Starcraft 2 and gaming in general. After being introduced to Donghwan by Rachel "Seltzer" Quirico at IPL3 and learning his story I decided to approach him about the CSN Training Camp opportunity. Joining our CSN Training Camp program in early November of 2011, viOLet has gone on to excel quickly and hone his skill in Starcraft 2, reaching Rank 1 Grandmaster on both the NA and EU server, winning over 30 online tournaments, and placing 4th in HSC4 within a few months of living here in the United States. We will continue to keep in close touch with viOLet, and treat him as family, not merely a friend, as that's what he is to everyone here at CSN. We wish him the very best in the future regarding his professional gaming career, and hope that he prospers under the Team Empire tags."
Secondly, the player himself, Kim "Violet" Donghwan, wanted to state his gratitude:
"Hello everyone! My English is not the best but I am learning slowly so I apologize if this isn't perfectly clear. I was put with hard times in the past, after being forced to leave from WC3 team SK-Gaming because of personal situations. After I made switch to SC2 I trained very hard and have been trying to become the best I can with motivation from many fans that keep me wanting to play SC2.
I meet Rachel when she visit MVP house in Korea and then she introduce Andrew to me at IPL3. After we talk he said training camp idea was a good time for me to possibly find a team since I leave MVP earlier that year over summer and he would help manage me. I train in Andrew's place for few months now and I feel like I am the best I am ever been in skill and know that with Team Empire I can become even better! I would also like to say a really big thanks to Andrew and Rachel and everyone in training camp that help me because they are like family now to me, as I am living in Texas now. To show that I thank my fans and training camp family I will wear CSN patch on shirt every tournament I go to show I love them and to show thank you to all fans that support me from day one. Also because I want to show fans I am very grateful I will try to make more time for streaming at least 2 times a week so I can show you good game and fun times.
I want to thank Empire and their sponsors for this opportunity and everyone who cheer for me and I will continue to perform my best with your support! I love you guys!"
Alexander "StrangeR" Solomonov, HR manager of Team Empire said:
"Looking at high level of team leagues, where Empire plays, it`s very important to have strong line up. It?s hard to get any top player now and today transfer is big success for Empire.
I`m very happy to announce about signing contract with Korean player - viOLet, who become the 1st Korean player in Russians sc2 pro teams. Undoubtedly, viOLet will do our sc2 squad more stronger and help us to become one of the best team in the world. In difference of many Koreans, viOLet can communicate in English, lives in USA and can play for Empire at both servers ? EU and NA. Beside European lan tournaments, he will be represent Team Empire at all major lans in USA. The first lan event for our new player will become Intel Extreme Masters in San Paulo, where viOLet will try to get a slot at the Global final in Hannover.
I want to thank all Empire`s fans for huge support and promise that we will do our best at team leagues!"
viOlet has worked his ass off to get this. I remember when he first got into the CSN training camp thing how much he would stream and practice, hitting no.1 GM on EU and NA, playing and winning in all the Playhem dailies and being super cool to his fans. Now he is part of arguably the second or even strongest foreigner team out there.
On January 22 2012 00:21 Klonere wrote: viOlet has worked his ass off to get this. I remember when he first got into the CSN training camp thing how much he would stream and practice, hitting no.1 GM on EU and NA, playing and winning in all the Playhem dailies and being super cool to his fans. Now he is part of arguably the second or even strongest foreigner team out there.
I had my money pegged almost 100% on either coL or QxG! This is unexpected but in an interesting/good way. I'm actually very scared of the possibilities for Empire especially in terms of the growing number of foreign team leagues! Empire already performs amazingly well but now with viOLet, who can pretty much take a Bo1 off damn-near anyone - Very potent combination!
my curosity is now. Where will he stay, I know he did metion that he wanted to stay in a team house. but empire doesn't have a teamhouse. Where will he be staying. afaik He won't be in the CSN house anymore.
Empire's TvZ and ZvT will become insane now when they get a little time to practice among themselves... All they need now is a top P to become the best EU team.
Did not see this coming but viOlet played amazing at HSC4 and at all his Playhem Tournament's. Loved watching his stream too! Thanks a lot for CSN to helping him up to this point ;D
Massive Gratz to Violet. I used to just see him as a Z v P Ultra-aggressor who caught others off-guard, but I've been watching more and more if his recent games / streams. I have to say, he has some really good game sense. Shame he won't be able to train in Korea, which is really the best place to train and improve.
all the players build themselfes from ground... hardworking, playing their hearts out in countless low-price tournaments. no single one was a overhyped big name, all of them showed just consistent perfomance.
the team management seems to be not such bigmouthy like some other foreign teams. i like this.
very cool for all involved, empire, the players, violet.
On January 22 2012 00:25 KillAudio wrote: lol. Definitely called it on the first thread! Team empire looks more scary now. The only thing they need now is a strong protoss.
Welmu is strong, but I agree they could do with 1 more strong P
You can't know how happy I feel about this great addition to our team. We were looking for an addition for quite some time and i feel with violet we took the very right decision
Much love to our new zerg player <3 gogo violet - gogo empire !
On January 22 2012 00:54 pStar wrote: Out of all the teams that offered him, He took empire.
I don't understand.
Trust me when I say the offer wasn't even comparable to the other teams.
Well, I guess the implication is that he seems skilled enough to be an inavaluable asset to any foreign team.
But then again, considering that this transaction came about because of circumstance, it's understandable that he preferred empire. Congrats to team and player.
glad to see someone pick up violet - he's a great player and im honestly surprised it took so long! and even more surprised that Empire was the team he chose. very interesting.
On January 22 2012 01:15 FrOsTyy wrote: wtf. Does Empire have money? I hope viOlet is getting compensated for his gosuness. He is a great player.
Look at the sponsor they have dude. Intel, Addidas, Razer, Seagate.. These are huge names.
Just to add on to that for clarification -- viOLet is legally contracted, so there won't be any "scamming" or "lapse of payment" in this pickup, so please no worries about that.
Been a fan of this guy since I casted his matches in Code A last year. He's a super talented Zerg and I'm glad to see him finally end up on a good team!
On January 22 2012 01:08 Acronysis wrote: Big congrats to violet! So glad to see him finally on a team- really making Empire look strong =). Now they just need a top class Protoss XD.
But really happy for viOlet, he deserves this. Such a genuine person and amazing player. Best of luck! <3
Just wait till I my school ends in 2weeks and I get graphics card to computer so I can play a lot cups and hardcore practise ^^
Wow. Nice pickup. Good foothold for Empire, too. Now they can have a quality representative on another continent without high-priced plane tickets (assuming Violet doesn't move to Astrakhan or Smolensk or something .
Did not know Empire is that rich. When Empire.Happy was teamless, Rox.Kis approached him to join them, he replied that he is like playing for fun, and there is no point in joining team. Then Team Empire offered him a deal, to which he could not say no.))
On January 22 2012 01:08 Acronysis wrote: Big congrats to violet! So glad to see him finally on a team- really making Empire look strong =). Now they just need a top class Protoss XD.
But really happy for viOlet, he deserves this. Such a genuine person and amazing player. Best of luck! <3
Just wait till I my school ends in 2weeks and I get graphics card to computer so I can play a lot cups and hardcore practise ^^
Hey Welmu, really looking forward to see more of you.
One of the best decisions CSN has ever made, and I am sure we will see another one in the training camp soon! Congrats to Violet for finally finding a team and I am glad it is a reputable one.
Wow thats awesome, violet is a beast player and definatly up and coming. I think empire will be good for him seeing as empire has some insane good players to practice with.
On January 22 2012 00:36 Lebzetu wrote: Ima be a little arrogant here, but Im 100% sure he deserves a better team.
lol which team? The only team in the foreign scene there is better is Mousesport and no overhyped EG arnt until they show it and start winning some team tournaments
I'm soooooooo happy violet's on a team now, and a great team at that! Also thanks to CSN for providing him with various opportunities and supporting him throughout all this time... So I guess congrats to CSN, Violet, and Empire!!!!!
this thread is so full of love with esports and everything. Along with the golden thread i am very happy for violet and it has washed over the pain from alive
CSN (Cyber Sports Network) is very proud of viOLet and believe that if it was not for his wonderful fans.. the Training Camp would not have been a success. Thanks to all of you for the support.
On January 22 2012 08:07 YpnotiS wrote: wutttttt, a Korean zerg in Empire team ?!?! what's wrong >.<
GL to both Violet & team Empire. Neeed a good top toss now in the line up !
well, since dimaga, stephano, nerchio, ret seem pretty happy with their teams or are simply too expensive, they have to pick a korean zerg to improve their lineup i guess
I'm pleasantly surprised. After seeing Violet at HSC4 (and watching him ladder in the laundry room for months) this looks like a win for everyone involved.
On January 22 2012 00:36 Lebzetu wrote: Ima be a little arrogant here, but Im 100% sure he deserves a better team.
I would say the contrary, he can really be happy to have been recruited by Empire. Dignitas or Mouz are the only 2 teams that are perhaps "better", but I'm not sure about that. Empire is a gosu-factory. When Empire-never-heard-of-him enters a tournament, you can be sure that he'll be good.
In fact I'm a little surprised they recruited a guy like Violet. They'll never be able to train together, this is the kind of recruitment I don't like much (not a big deal tho).
On January 22 2012 11:54 TheMooseHeed wrote: I think we need a dedicated thread for player transfers. The amount of new threads is about players moving is getting silly.
It's only for a couple of months, because contracts traditionally go from January to December. For the rest of the year, players don't really move around.
On January 22 2012 19:00 Hardigan wrote: does violet still live in Texas/USA? if so, then we could finally have an Empire representive in MLG
Yes, he does. One of the main reasons of empire recruiting him was because they wanted representative in the USA. Empire owners said he'll be attending every offline tournament in NA under their flag.
Glad they finally found a good zerg, hopefully a good toss to follow soon. :d
On January 22 2012 19:00 Hardigan wrote: does violet still live in Texas/USA? if so, then we could finally have an Empire representive in MLG
Yes, he does. One of the main reasons of empire recruiting him was because they wanted a represetantive in the USA. Empire owners said he'll be attending every offline tournament in NA und their flag.
Glad they finally found a good zerg, hopefully a good toss to follow soon. :d
Good, he's an awesome player and has this SICK roach/ling bum rush vs expanding terrans close spawn meto.. fantastic GM, ex wc3 player I BELIEVE? (hint there for any wc3 players, that last word there)
This is to me the most surprising news so far in SC2. I really wonder how Empire got him to sign.. Seems like a curious choice to me, maybe, hopefully, the future will prove me wrong! GLHF Empire and Violet!
On January 24 2012 00:07 Tryxtira wrote: ...I really wonder how Empire got him to sign...
Well I suppose it's a combination of trust, money, manner, perpective and respect, cause that's how you get the good players into your team. Good move, Empire is a good team with Kas ruling Europe atm. Violet was the best teamless player of the world until now and he took his time to decide, so it has to be a well thought decision. GL to both, wish the best for Violet!
On January 22 2012 00:21 Klonere wrote: viOlet has worked his ass off to get this. I remember when he first got into the CSN training camp thing how much he would stream and practice, hitting no.1 GM on EU and NA, playing and winning in all the Playhem dailies and being super cool to his fans. Now he is part of arguably the second or even strongest foreigner team out there.
On January 22 2012 00:21 Klonere wrote: viOlet has worked his ass off to get this. I remember when he first got into the CSN training camp thing how much he would stream and practice, hitting no.1 GM on EU and NA, playing and winning in all the Playhem dailies and being super cool to his fans. Now he is part of arguably the second or even strongest foreigner team out there.
Just shows what hard work can do
Ummmmm not even close
not even close eh? so there must be atleast 10 better foreigner teams then? make a list buddy
On January 22 2012 00:21 Klonere wrote: viOlet has worked his ass off to get this. I remember when he first got into the CSN training camp thing how much he would stream and practice, hitting no.1 GM on EU and NA, playing and winning in all the Playhem dailies and being super cool to his fans. Now he is part of arguably the second or even strongest foreigner team out there.
Just shows what hard work can do
Ummmmm not even close
not even close eh? so there must be atleast 10 better foreigner teams then? make a list buddy
People love to hate, just ignore the ignorant trolls
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/hf9Mi.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.fragster.de/de/esport/coverages/homestory-cup/4/galerie/samstag/sc2-homestory-cup-4-violet-nachdenklich.jpg)
Team Empire`s StarCraft ll squad. It was a year of formation, correction of mistakes and first big results. Firstly, Team Empire became one of the best team in CIS. Secondly, we directed our attention on Europe and won SC2CL master league. After that, we managed to win slots in Evil Geniuses Masters Cup and GosuCoaching Premier League. It was a hard challenge, since there were only top teams from around the world. Team Empire finished 2nd in EG Masters Cup and 1st in GosuCoaching Premier League, and this results are only the beginning. Because in the new 2012 year we are ready to grow and become even more stronger. And our first opportunity to do this is a new rising star in StarCraft ll - Kim "viOLet" Donghwan.
Violet" Donghwan, wanted to state his gratitude:
he deserves it
