Interview with Naniwa at Dreamhack - Translated

I = Interviewer
N = Naniwa


I: Bobhund from Rakaka.se reporting in, I'm here with Naniwa who unfortunately just went out of the tournament, how does it feel?


N: It doesn't feel too bad, I knew it could happen, I haven't practiced against Zerg for about a month cause I've only been playing against Terrans and Protoss in GSL. It still feels really bad of course, since I know I'm the better player, it just feels like.. I knew these maps would be played here but I went here anyways. I didn't think it would be as big of a problem as it was.


I: Yeah, we can get back to the maps later, I wanted to ask you about why you went here. You could have gone to spring arena, MLG. Why did you chose to come here?


N: Well, Sweden is where I'm from so that was a big factor. It's fun to come to Sweden as often as possible as I live in Korea, it's nice to speak your native language for once. And Asus wanted us to go here rather then to MLG, so it was either going to MLG alone, or come here with SaSe. And that felt like the better option. As well as being able to relax a bit here in Sweden before GSL.


I: You've said that you don't really care about what the fans say, except for the Swedish fans, why are the Swedish fans so much more important to you?


N: It feels like the international fans are more of fair weather fans, if you do well, you're the best and everyone loves you, but as soon as you do bad you get a hate-thread with 600 comments, that's what HuK got, and still he's one of the most loved players, which is just absurd. But from what I've seen on Rakaka and so on, I've always been supported by the Swedish fans. It's always nice to have a website you can go to and read without just reading a ton of shit.


I: Yeah I agree. You've been at a lot of Dreamhacks, and you say you love the Swedish fans. Would it be bigger for you to win a Swedish tournament rather then any other tournament. Or doesn't it really matter to you?


N: Oh yeah, that's one of my dreams I guess. I would much, much rather win a Dreamhack than an MLG for example. It would feel incredible to be able to stand at the top with the trophy in Sweden, with all the Swedish fans cheering, it would be incredible, but unfortunately that haven't happened yet.


I: As I said, you were just eliminated from the tournament, you talked a bit about the maps. What kind of maps did Dreamhack chose and how has it affected you?


N: Both me, SaSe and a lot of other progamers had a lot of complaints about the maps before we got here, we contacted “Hugge” who is the head admin here but we never got any assistance about it. He just said that's how it is and that it was nothing he was gonna change about it. And finally we were told that he was gonna modify the maps with supply depos and “space sharks” to solve the problems. So I guess that's when we realized the admins weren't very competent, but it was too late at the time.


I: Yeah SaSe said something similar when I talked to him at IPL. You said it was nice to be back in Sweden, has there been a lot of fans, interviews etc? Do you feel like a real star when you're here?


N: I wouldn't say I feel like a star. But there has been a lot more people now then before, of course. And that's always fun, but I never played to become famous, it's always just been a bonus. I get annoyed in USA with fans swarming you, but here it's fun. I think that's cause I'm not used to how people act in USA, they are a lot more “forward” and they always speak their mind. But it's mostly nice.


I: We can talk about something fun, GSL. You're trough to ro8 now, and you're gonna play MVP. I was thinking we could go back to the start of this GSL, when you were placed in the same group as MVP, Puzzle and Ryung. How did it feel before the tournament started? What did you think about your chances to advance?


N: To be honest with you I only practiced to win one map. I had lost code A three times, I just didn't want to embarrass myself. So if I just win one map I can at least say I gave it my best in the hardest league there is. But it seems like that attitude, not caring as much, removed all nervousness and made it possible for me to play as normal. So this resulted in me making good decisions, and at the end I felt at home in the GSL so I kept playing well.


I: Yeah, you beat Puzzle 2-1 and Ryung 2-0 and advanced. A lot of gifs were made after this, the double fist pump etc, and you looked really happy, and everyone at home was of course really happy for you! So if you went in expecting to win one map, and then advanced from the group, how did this feel after your victory? Did it feel unreal or...


N: Yeah absolutely, I got back to the ST house and I felt nothing, I didn't even think I had won, I didn't understand what had happened. But as I got in the house Bomber and the other guys high fived me so, it seems like I won! I didn't really realize it until I read TL, it did indeed feel unreal. It was just like when I won MLG, I just remember going home, feeling nothing. And then I read about it and I saw that I had won, which made me feel that I actually won.


I: So to continue on the unreal stuff, the next group play. That's when you beat Genius and Virus 2-0. When you went into this second group play did you have any more confidence?


N: Not really, I felt that out of the 16 that was left, I was the worst player. That's what I thought at least. And I wasn't surprised when I was picked first either. I thought to myself, alright Genius got second last GSL he's an amazing player, he has been in code S for two years now and it's not surprising that he picked me. When I was gonna play, all I had in my mind was which build to use while trying to stay calm, as well asking the Startale guys for some tips, I came up with a few ideas how I was going to play. And everything went exactly as I planned, it felt amazing!


I: SaSe came running into your booth after the game after the win. How important is SaSe to you? Both when it comes to practice and on a personal level, how important is it to have someone to talk Swedish to, over in Korea?


N: It's very, very important. I used to live on my own in the MVP house, and I was almost never at the house, I went out and met other friends as often as possible, like five times a week. So I barely got any practice. When you're that alone you can't really practice well either. I guess you could say me and SaSe have become best friends, we both think it's great to hang out with each other and it never gets boring. SaSe is perfect to me when it comes to practice as well, he practices a ton, and I'm more of a slacker. But when I see him play I get motivated to practice.


I: That's great to hear. Let's talk about ro8 and MVP, who haven't been all too impressive this season, he got second in both his groups for example. What do you think about your chances?


N: I have this rule, that I don't predict games before I play. But to be realistic I think I have an OK chance at beating him. I don't think he's that much better then Ryung or Virus. What I've seen from him in TvP this season he haven't been unbeatable. I will just do what I always do, prepare as much as possible. If I win, I win.


I: We all hope that you'll beat Jinros ro4 record and get to the finals! Do you have anything you'd like to say, shoutouts etc?


N: Thanks to Asus for flying us out here. And well... Thanks to SaSe for being funny, so that I'm not bored when I'm out of the tournament, I'm just sorry to all the Swedish fans that I still can't get far in a Dreamhack tournament. I just really hope Dreamhack starts listening to the players, or else the players will eventually pick other tournaments over Dreamhack.

I: I'm sure all of E-sport Sweden wishes you the best of luck in GSL, bye!