[Interview] 2012 GSL Season 2 Code S ro32 Group H

Continuing on from last season, this is your second time in Code S round of 16

Arriving in Korea just yesterday, I was worried about having to play today. I only had 10 practice games and hadn’t adjusted to the time difference yet but since it was PvTs, there wasn’t too much of a problem.

What happened in the US was regrettable. Was it hard for you?

I didn’t think anything about it. I went into the game thinking that it was possible for me to lose so I didn’t dwell on it for long.

The fourth set against MKP resulted in a regame

Since I’m only human, I felt a little cheated by the decision but I shrugged it off. I was in the mindset that having to regame wouldn’t matter. I think I was a bit ahead at the end but it can’t be helped. It was bad luck.

Your PvT has gotten even stronger since last season

Frankly, my mirror matchup and vZ are quite weak. I am confident that I can win against any terran though. My vT was already strong but t seems to gotten even stronger today.

Last season, you were defeated by DRG 0:3 quite handily

I made too many mistakes. I’d never been nervous since my debut match but in ro8, I was so nervous. I couldn’t defend against attacks that I should have been able to and overall, just made a lot of mistakes. Since then, my vZ had gotten worse. Also, last season, not meeting a lot of Zergs, my practice against the race was lacking. However, lately, I am practising my vZ a lot so I can win against most Zergs. I can’t say that for DRG but he’s no longer in this season. So I am glad.

Polt is also a Protoss killer. Was he not difficult?

People tell me that Polt is great in TvP. Many even predicted my loss. However, I am confident against any Terran that I meet and I did beat Polt. My confidence in my PvT has grown even more.

In your games against forGG, the opponent was very aggressive. Did you feel threatened at all?

Defending my additional expansion in Set 1 proved to be a difficult process. Going for a rich build, spending too many chronoboosts on my nexi meant that charge was delayed. However, I did not think I was going to lose.

Your image is one of a Terran killer. However, that’s not the end of the story (T/N: they're talking about PartinG's vZ not being as good)

Losing to DRG 0:3 made me think of JYP (T/N: JYP is the opposite, great vZ, terrible vT). I did worry about one of my match ups just crumbling. However, it will not be so. Ah, and of course I don’t mean that JYP is a bad player. I hope no one misunderstands.

You are raising the expectations of those around you. How far do you expect to go?

Round of 8 definitely. In my mind, I have the goal of winning but I think was too arrogant last season. This season, I’ll first get to the round of 4 then really work on my desire to win the whole tournament.

You say you want to battle against MKP

I’m actually great friends with MKP. Whenever I play against MKP, the games are great. Meeting him again should be fun. However, I don’t want to meet him in the ro16. I want a best of 5 or 7. It’s not for the purpose of revenge for GSTL. I care about two things: showing great games and getting as far in the tournament as I can. I have nomination rights for ro16 so if any Terran wants to take me on, I’ll pick them straight away.

Anything to add?

I want to thank IMYoda who helped with practice. I also want to thank my teammates Bomber and Sound who helped despite not having adjusted to the time difference themselves. Tomorrow plays Squirtle, and the day after plays Virus and I hope they get to nominate their groups alongside me. In the team house today, July made a mean joke about me falling down to Code A. But I’m still here and I could pick him for ro16 so he should get practising his ZvP (chuckle).

Your thoughts on making ro16 after such a struggle?

The original plan was to beat forGG and taking on Parting in a PvP. However, losing the first match made things so difficult.

Your lost to forGG in the first match. Your play didn’t seem like the great Oz was playing

It might sound like an excuse but travelling so much meant I couldn’t play much. I prepared for the matches mostly through theory so my fundamentals got weaker. Still, ramping my concentration up a notch, I was okay in the loser’s match. Overall, I was not happy with how I played.

Was there a reason you wanted to meet Parting in the winner’s match?

Because he’s a Protoss. I love PvP and think of it as a free meal (chuckle). I am good friends with Parting and everyone’s been going on about how good he is, so I wanted to try taking him on.

Last season, you dropped in ro16. After getting to the ro4 the season before (laugh).

In ro16 last season, I lost to MMA twice. It hit me hard since I lost to him after picking him in the group nominations. I realised that my style had become exposed. I am trying hard to come up with many varied styles. I am even studying styles that are the opposite of what I like to do. There is still time until ro16 so I will once again practise with the goal of winning the championship.

You met forGG again in the final match

I hadn’t prepared much so I wasn’t familiar with his style in the first match. I had no idea he would be that aggressive. In the final match, I tried to play with a calm mind and it worked.

Anyone you want to meet in ro16?

If possible, I hope Protosses pick me. It’s a matter of practicality. I’ve also head people tell me my vZ isn’t great so while I’m not confident about the match up, my record against Zerg recently seems good. I hope I get Zergs in my group too. When I’m strong against Terran, my PvZ is weaker and vice versa. I think other Protosses are like this too.

You attended IPL but couldn’t show off any great results

It was Terrans who stopped me. Thanks to Terran, I got a bit of a vacation. I had a good look around Las Vegas as a result. Next time, I hope I’m really busy overseas. It feels like all I do overseas nowadays is sightseeing.

Your goal this season?

There’s something I always feel. I always play impatiently. I’m a bit older and even after getting to ro4, it my results don’t seem significant enough. I want to use this season to take care of my mindset rather than go for the win. It will be the season that prepares me for the championship in the future.

Anything to add?

I need practice partners who are willing to study the game with me. I hope other Protosses help me out. Partners who are willing to research and develop together. Choya’s style is so different that he’s not much of a help (chuckle). Also, I hope all FXO players do great and want to thank FXO and Razor.