[Interview] OSL non-KeSPA dual tournament winners

Your thoughts on advancing to the paly offs in first place of the group?

It has taken me five years to get into the OSL. As long as it has taken me to achieve this, it makes me all the happier.

What did you think after seeing your group?

Since it was with just GSL players and no KeSPA players, I didn’t think too much about the groups. Despite not liking PvZ, I felt like I could advance.

You tried a photon cannon rush in the first set

It was planned. Lately, I haven’t been doing early probe scout against Zerg in either the GSL or in foreign tournaments. So this time, I did a scout after forge to catch my opponent off guard as he goes for a 15 hatchery.

Did you expect your opponent in Set 2 to play as well as he did?

MVP tried to trick me out by building his command centre at the back of his main but I didn’t fall for it. I still expected a quick expansion from him and focused on unit production and upgrades. It seemed like a 2 armour timing would break him.

Lately you are very inconsistent so why do you think that is?

I agree with the statement that I am very inconsistent. I do well when I practise and vice versa. I think this shows in my official games. Recently, I’ve reached the bottom so it’s time to start practising a lot more.

Who do you want to face in the playoffs?

I’ve already played a lot of games against the GSL players so I want to try facing players from KeSPA. I think it’d be fun to take on CJ Entus players such as Leta and Horang2. Only thing is I can’t be sure they will be advance too (laugh).

Your goal for this season?

Rather than the royal roader title, I’m focusing more on the fact that this would be my first championship in my Starcraft 2 career if I win. That’s why I want to take this season really badly.

Anything to add?

My teammates helped me practise so much. I am very grateful. I’m a bit disappointed by the fact that the audience was rather small. I believe more people will attend once the KeSPA players have held their qualifiers and the playoffs start.
Lately, the issue of KeSPA vs GSL is becoming a hot topic and this is a good thing. I just ask that you support us in a positive manner as both sides are working very hard. Once the playoffs start, this is going to be even more of an issue so rather than dishing out criticisms, I think it’d be better for us to have an enjoyable time.

Your thoughts on advancing in second place of the group?

It’s been a long time since I came to play in Yong San in the OSL so I’m very happy to have won. I’ve been slumping lately but I think I can carry the momentum from this victory and play as I used to.

You used the same strategy for your TvZs today.

Just recently at the Home Story Cup, I played a very common marine-siege tank centric style in the TvZs. Then, Min told me today that he’d seen all of my HSC games. That’s why I switched up my style and it worked excellently. So I also employed it in the final match.

Your thoughts on the best of 1 format?

I love the best of 1 format so I was very happy with the dual tournament. Multi series play is very demanding in terms of stamina but best of 1 is much quicker so I like the latter.

This is your first time in ro16 of OSL so how do you feel?

I’ve dreamed of this since the Starcraft 1 days. I feel like a victory on my dream stage will give me a boost in motivation.

Anyone you wish to face in the playoffs?

No one in particular. Then again, Flash was a BonJwa in Starcraft 1 and he seems excellent in Starcraft 2 so I do want to face him sometime.

Lately, Woongjin is doing well in Starcraft 2 so did you have a hand in that?

I tend not to share strategies with Starcraft 1 players. I think it’d be silly for professionals to just give away their secrets. Actually, I’ve noticed that Soulkey gets sent out in the ace match of proleague quite often but I smashed him in a ZvZ the other day. I can’t fathom why they would send out such a novice player for the ace matches(laugh). It made me very sad to see him lose three times in a row in his ace matches. It’d be nice if he refined his play a little bit. Also, Zero lost in his recent ro4 match so I want to wish him the best.

Your goal for this season?

The championship. I will work hard for this goal.

Anything to add?

I want to thank Happy, True, Losira, Nestea and Horror for helping me with practice. Also, my girlfriend came to cheer me on today and this is why I won today.
Lastly, the anti-noise curtains on the stage were really well done. I want to give my thanks to the producers.

Tell us how you feel advancing in first place of the group

I’ve been in a lot of tournaments recently so I couldn’t practise much. So I relied on my fundamentals and it’s great to advance to the playoffs that way.

What did you think about your group?

There was one of each race so it was difficult to practise for the matches. On top, all of these players are doing really well lately. I thought practising hard only to lose would be too disappointing so actually just focused on GSL and GSTL instead.

If you were to evaluate today’s games?

There were a few mistakes but I think I played about as well as I do in practice.

Set 2 was a close game in which you came back after falling behind so how did you manage that?

I had more infestors and had more firepower in general. Symbol’s expansion was late and the subsequent fact that he wasn’t maxed out was a great help too. I was able to overtake him because I forced him to expend a lot of his infestor energy before the last engagement.

Who do you want to face in the playoffs?

I want to face the top KeSPA players. I also want to play against TaekBangLeeSSang whom I always wanted to play against in my Starcraft 1 days.

You are attending a great number of tournaments these days so how are you taking care of yourself?

Nothing special other than making sure I practise hard and rest up well.

You are thought to be the potential champion for this season so are you confident you can live up the expectations?

It’d be possible if the map pool was changed but as it is, against the best players, it’d be difficult. I wish they would add maps like Daybreak and Cloud Kingdom to replace the ones they have now.

Anything to add?

I want to thank the coach, my teammteas, family, friends and my girlfriend and fans who stayed late til the end to cheer for me. I also want to give my thanks to our sponsors Lotte Chil Sung, Razer and our partner MYM.

Your thoughts on advancing after some very close games?

I have been slumping for a long time so maybe this OSL is the beginning of its end.

Why do you think you have been slumping?

I play badly in official matches. I get jittery and impatient which leads to me throwing games.

Have you gotten rid of that impatience?

I was still a bit affected today so I think luck was on my side for me to advance. I think I will have to have a good mindset to do well in the playoffs.

What did you think after seeing your group?

After the coach handed me the list, I despaired. The only hope I had was that there were two Zergs in the group.

You lost to DRG in the first set

I made a huge mistake in that game. I was supposed to research Charge but forgot. That’s why I lost. If I had had to play another game straight after that, I would have been broken mentally and lost but during the break, the coach and teammates helped me recover and made sure I could play my best in the loser’s match.

You seem to play better in the OSL

I’m not aware of any major differences. Maybe it’s the noise-cancellation curtains in this studio. GomTV ones make ocean noises but OSL ones play a background music.

You are once again being called ManZenith (T/N: the Korean word was 갓초원, a play on his name but I’m not sure what it means) so do you feel like you are at your best once again?

Not even close. Once I get to ro4 of Code S in the GSL, I will have lived up to the name of ManZenith.

Anyone you wish to face in the playoffs?

No one in particular. I just hope that my friends Parting, Seal and Yugioh all advance. KeSPA players have gotten so good that it will be daunting to take them on.

Anything to add?

I want to thank my friends for coming to cheer me on as well as my coach. Also, I wish Kim, Do Kyun the best of luck in his high school finals and Daisy who is in Germany by himself. Lastly, I want to thank my practice partners Life, Pet and MentalKingand want to dedicate today’s victory to Parting. Parting lost to Symbol in Code S recently but I just avenged him so I hope he feels better and works hard (T/N: PartingxSan ship? Parsan? Santing?).