[Interview] OSL Ro16 D4 Winners

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it to the OSL Ro8?

I am glad that I was able to secure my placement in to the Ro8 like this with two wins. I had a lot of games to play recently but I have had great stars so I am even happier.

Did you expect to make it in to the Ro8 with just two wins?

There are a lot of great players in my group so I expected some regames to occur. But last game I had a lot of luck, while this game, I put in a lot of practice so I got a good result.

Practice must be difficult because of ProLeague.

Unlike SC1, SC2 is very dependent on build orders and how you implement strategies so even though I don't have a lot of practice time it is still very manageable. Actually, instead of just practicing it's more important to experience a lot of scenarios so that you can adapt to any situation.

Your PvZs are really good.

I think SC2 PvZ is pretty similar to SC1 PvZ. I am used to playing macro games where I have to match the Zerg's macro so I think all my recent PvZs have been easy victories for me.

Your two wins means that JangBi is out.

I'm not sure if it's because he had to play in the final BW OSL or not but it seems like JangBi did not get enough practice time in. But I believe that he is going to hone his skills in no time flat.

You have a Code S match soon.

The players in my group are really good so it's going to be a difficult one. I don't even have any Zergs in there so I'm concerned. I won't have much time to prepare and I'll also have to play on new maps so I am really worried. I'm just going to play with the mindset that I am there to enjoy my games.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank s2 hyung and Sacsri hyung for practicing with me. I also want to thank coach Park for always taking care of us so well.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about securing your first over OSL victory?

Of course I am excited about my victory. Back in the BW days, when it mattered the most, FanTaSy claimed my dream. That's why this victory means more to me than my usual victories. Lately, FanTaSy has been on a tear so I am glad that I defeated him.

You started off the OSL later than all the others.

I couldn't play my scheduled first week game and then it just kept getting worse from there so it was a real shame. My results lately have been terrible so I've been working hard to overcome these feelings I've been having. In order to overcome the pressures I feel and to be able to play with a clam mindset, I worked really hard. Right now, I feel what I felt back when I first made it through the Code A preliminaries. I'm feeling jittery.

Your game today was impressive.

After failing to get through the Up/Downs I realized the only thing left to do was to focus on OSL. So I got greedy as I practiced and thanks to that, I was able to play a great game. I practiced with over twenty different players (DAMN!?!!?) and that resulted in me being able to see FanTaSy's next step just by seeing his movements.

On the 11th, you have to play 2 matches on that day.

I'm sure I'll feel the pressure of having to prepare for two matches but actually playing those two matches in one day may not be such a bad thing. If I can just focus really well, I should be fine.

Are you confident enough to make it to the Ro8?

I think I can make it. My results as of late has been pretty bad but I suddenly got the confidence I needed. I'm not sure of the reason myself but I get this feeling that I can make the Ro8. Regarding GSLs and other foreign tournaments I've attended, I've gotten second, third, and fourth places a lot but I've never gotten first place. Since not getting the championship for this OSL will mean that the OSL will be like any of my other tournaments, I am going to work hard to grab the championship.

Anything else you would like to say?

Because I had to reschedule my match from last week, I've been receiving a lot of hate from many people. I know it's my duty to keep my promises to my fans regardless of the reasons so I am very sorry for that, and if we're really pointing fingers here then I should let it be known that I was supposed to arrive on the 28th originally, but a storm delaying my flight by a day was out of my hands. I tried my best to make it back as fast as possible but once again, my flight the next day was delayed by nine hours. I am actually quite curious as to how MKP made it back so fast when we were both at America together. Probably because our flights and airports were different. I'm going to pay more attention from now on to make sure something like this doesn't ever occur again.
Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors Raid Call, MSI, Steelseries, and EIZO.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about winning in the ceremony battle?

PartinG said he didn't prepare a ceremony this time but I'm not sure whether or not that is true. I announced that I was going to do a ceremony and I am really glad that it came true. Right now, it's still not hitting me that I made it to the Ro8. I think I'll start feeling it once I see who my Ro8 opponent is going to be.

Your phoenix play was impressive.

Throughout the whole game, I was in the lead. I kept telling myself that I could do a ceremony as long as I kept on focusing so I did my best. Thanks to the ceremony I prepared beforehand, I was able to win my game easily.

How did you prepare this ceremony?

After announcing that I was going to be doing a ceremony, I was actually contemplating for quite a bit as to what I would do. But then as I was getting ready to eat back at the team house, something hit me in my mind as soon as I grabbed the utensils and I realized immediately what kind of ceremony I was going to do. That's why I brought those same utensils from the team house for the ceremony.

You're showing some outstanding results in SC2.

I feel this even when playing other games. I am really good at adapting. My only weakness is probably that I have a short attention span, but because I learned SC2 and practiced a lot in order to become more focused, it had a huge impact.

What are your goals for this season?

Now that I am in the Ro8 I am getting greedy. As the opportunities keep coming, I really want to be able to stand on the finals stage. I know the games will only keep getting harder from here on out but I'm going to work hard to achieve my dream.

Recently, Protoss seems to be on the rise. Why do you think so?

There are a lot of very good spell units for Protoss. In SC1, Dragoons were mentally retarded but SC2 stalkers are geniuses. So it feels like we received a kind of buff. A lot of great things are going on for Protoss players who transition to SC2 so that's why I think Protoss players are doing so well.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank my teammates for practicing with me. The next match is PartinG vs Mvp and since I am friends with both of them I just want to pre-congratulate the winner of that match up.

Source: This Is Game

You successfully made it in to the Ro8.

I am so happy that I was able to make it to the Ro8. This is my first season as an SC2 player but I think so far, I've made decent results so I am happy about that, and I hope to ride this momentum all the way to the Ro4.

You and MC have a pretty impacting relationship

I have been anxiously waiting to play MC. I truly have been waiting for this moment.

You were in a disadvantageous situation at first when your hellion attack was blocked.

I was in a huge disadvantage. My hellion attack got blocked much quicker than I had anticipated so I was in a troublesome situation but I still had confidence in my late game abilities so I told myself let's take it there.

You've suffered multiple losses because you tend to do triple CC a lot.

As of late, I've been implementing different strategies. Truth be told, I'm not some stubborn guy who absolutely has to go triple CC. I just think that whenever I go triple CC on televised matches, I always seem to lose so people seem to have that notion.

How are you practicing these days?

I'm practicing heavily on ladder. Thanks to that I've been gaining a lot of confidence. I am working hard right now in order to build up my skills while I am feeling confident.

Are you getting help from coach Clide?

Coach Clide gives a lot of great advice as he stands by me. Thanks to him, I gained a lot of confidence regarding SC2.

Lately Protoss players seem to be on the rise. Why do you think so?

The Protoss race is just really good. A lot of other players agree as well but to me personally, Protoss is a great race. But SC2 has yet to be figured out so there are still great things to come.

Your next match is against MC.

I plan on preparing for this mostly by stabilizing my mental state. These kinds of situations and mind games are really good. It's a joy I haven't felt in a while. I am starting to get greedy about winning everything. I don't think our skill differences are that great. I'm going to practice as I view him as my equal.

Were you disappointed that you weren't able to receive a GSL seed?

Not really. It just means that that's how much I haven't been able to prove myself for SC2. It's just going to motivate me to work harder.

Are you confident enough to win the championship this season?

In my current state, I think aiming for the championship will not be a possibility. However, I do have to look forward to the fact that I keep getting better and better as each day passes. If I get to become a really good player by the time the moment for the finals arrive, I should be able to start aiming for it.

Anything else you would like to say?

I really want to thank the KT Protoss teammates for their helping me with practice. Today is Hoejja hyung's birthday so I want to wish him a happy birthday. Right now, they're all eating dinner without me, but I plan on getting there ASAP so I hope they eat slowly.