[Interview] Code A Ro48 Day 1 2012 GSL Season 4

Source: This Is Game

You made it the second round of Code A. How do you feel?

I'm so glad because I don't have to go through the preliminaries. Last season, I lost in the third round and failed to make it through the Up/Downs, but I was conceited so I kept on going. This season, I want to put on a modest feeling as I do my best to get through the rest of my games.

Game one was hard game consisting of a roach/infestor composition. You seemed stable

I deciphered my opponent. I thought that I would be safe if I played a macro game. My opponent was someone who didn't have a lot of televised matches experiences so I was able to shake him up early with my lings but I didn't do as much damage as I should have.

The mood was looking good for you because your upgrades were ahead all the way through mid game.

My opponent attacked me with roaches and hydras but I threw away my infestors. I even sustained drones losses so I kept taking damage as I tried to play defensive. So I played with low economy and the game became difficult.

In game two, Sleep came at you with a ling/baneling all in.

Build order wise, I won that battle early game but I got supply blocked and couldn't make any queens. I didn't think he was going to come at me with banelings. It was a game that looked like I was done for but my opponent messed up his baneling micro and I was able to salvage it.

The preliminaries weren't that long ago so you must have had very little time to practice.

It was actually better for me because it started early. I was already prepared anyways so I wanted to get it over with. GSTL was coming up soon and other preliminaries so I know I knew I was going to be busy.

GSTL is about to commence for TSL soon. Last season, you guys disappointingly lost in the Ro4.

It was a realy shame. I felt like we just idly let it happen. People even expected us to make it through easily because SlayerS was going through a tough time but we got in over our heads. But for this season, I feel like our teammates' spirits has gotten higher. If we just make sure not to get conceited, we should be able to do this.

You will face YoDa in the Ro32. What do you think will happen?

Yesterday, I made it through the IEM qualifiers. In the winners' round semi-finals, I lost to YoDa by a score of 1-2. He was really good. So even though I advanced, it wasn't easy. I am going to practice a lot so I can beat him.

This season's goals?

I lost last season because I got conceited. This time, I just plan on focusing on my games.

Anything else you would like to say?

These days I am participating in the IPL Fight Club and currently I am on a six win streak. I am establishing a new record. I took down Squirtle, MajOr, CranK, Tear, Grubby, and aLive. These days, my games are going really well. I want to request that people watch these matches and root for me.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about easily advancing to the second round?

I feel like this is my first Code A in almost a year and a half. Rather than the truth that I could lose to my opponent, I was more worried about the truth about falling out of Code A and having to go through the preliminaries. I didn't want to feel pressured but I kept getting poked so it was difficult.

Were you nervous that this was your opponent's debut in Code A?

The opponent had nothing to do with it. The situation is what made it nerve wracking. And the fact that there was no guarantee that I would win.

Was your proxy two rax rush a planned build to target a newcomer?

That's right. I figured he would be really nervous and so my build worked out well. If he wasn't nervous, I'm sure he would have blocked it.

Game two was a macro game. Your battles weren't going well so you were in a tough situation.

If that kind of situation had happened on ladder, the ratio of me winning would have been like 3 : 7. But then I saw my opponent wasn't hitting his fungals very fast so I got the thought that I could win this. I also got a real good inclination of how different tournaments were from ladder. I don't my opponent played as well as he could have.

What have you been doing during your recent break?

I just kept on playing. I participated in online tournaments and foreign tournaments so I played a lot more games than usual. I just spent my time playing games.

GSTL will start this week. How busy do you think you are going to get?

If I get sent out, I need to make sure I win for the team and for myself. I think I have to do well in the GSTL in order to also do well for the GSL.

Your next opponent will be the winner of AcE vs RorO. Who do you want to face?

I want to face RorO hyung. When I was with WeMade for a year, the ace player was RorO hyung. And RorO hyung took good care of me back then. In order to pay him back for treating me well, I want to knock him out of Code A (laughs). I will test his skills.

Are you confident that you'll make it back to Code S?

It's impressive that I keep making it back to Code S but there is no meaning behind it in the end if I just keep losing. I really don't know what the issue is but all I know is that I definitely need to change something.

Anything else you would like to say?

I really hope RorO hyung could make it up so he can face me. I had a hard time at WeMade but RorO hyung took such good care of me that I endured it for a year. I really hope he makes it so we can face each other.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the second round two season in a row.

I think I am happiest when I make it to the second round. I didn't want to fall back to the preliminaries so I practice hard with my teammates.

After you kind of showed your colossus in game one, you pushed your way to victory.

As I was playing, I used a more theoretical approach than the one that I was practicing up till then. My practices were mostly mid-late game scenarios but I had a lot of counterattacks before the real engagements could occur so I was able to just end it.

How much did you anticipate your opponent's attack in game two?

I really didn't see it coming. I thought he was going for a reaper expand. But the minute I saw that it was banshees with my probe, I prepared for it immediately.

This was your first match against a KeSPA player. Were you feeling any pressure?

There was definitely pressure there and I also did not want to lose. I think these days, I've really been giving it my all. I didn't have a lot of time to practice after seeing who I was going to be up against. I checked out what map I got, ate dinner, and did nothing but practice.

How skillful was the KeSPA player?

The top of the top KeSPA players are really good even during televised matches. But on the other hand, the other KeSPA players who don't know how to play are perfectly beatable.

Your next opponent is PartinG.

He's a really great friend of mine. We're really close so we help each other out. I always had the urge to want to face PartinG at a high level situation. I want to do my best and make sure we both give great games. It'd be great if the winner could make it to Code S and then if the loser made it through the Up/Downs.

What did you do during your break?

I played a lot on ladder so I could fix the areas I needed to work on and try out new builds.

What are your goals for this season?

I want to make it to Code S but my opponent is PartinG so it's going to be difficult. But making it to Code S somehow will be my goal.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank my teammates for helping me with practice. I also want to thank my parents and tell them that I love them. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors Lotte and RAZER.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the second round of Code A.

Dream called me out in his interview after he won the preliminaries. I talked to him after seeing the interview and he stated that he was going to send me to the army after beating me. I retaliated by saying "Even if I do end up going to the army, it will only happen after I've defeated you." I so glad that it happened like I said it would.

Game one was a timing rush consisting of immortals and stalkers. Was it a planned build?

I just wanted to do some harassment. (공성전차의 위치가 중혁이 다운 위치더라.? WTF is he saying?) I knew that it was over the minute I went to attack.

In game two, you also won easily with colossi.

He just came to my base and gave me his army. (laughs) As I went to attack, I figured I would hurt him extremely badly.

You fell to Code A last season from the Ro32 of Code S. Wasn't that a shame?

That was not a match that I should have lost but I did so it was a shame. But I think I'm going to get back up there.

What do you think about people saying that Protoss is good right now?

Personally, I think Zerg is really good. We win because we do all ins against them, but a we would lose to Zergs in straight up macro games.

Your next opponent is either First of Bbyong. Who do you want to face?

I want to face Bbyong. He was a practice partner back when I was in CJ. That's why I want to face him. Honestly I think it's going to be relatively easy. (laughs)

How have you been doing ever since joining SlayerS?

Honestly, at one time, I considered switching to League of Legends. I wasn't making any results in Code S or WCS so I tried out LoL and it was really hard. I'm good in lane but if I make a mistake from both sides, there's just no answer.

So you plan on focusing on SC2 from here on out?

A lot of people around me talked to me. Coach Choya and coach Cella talked to me very nicely so I am grateful for that and will be focusing only on SC2.

What are your goals for this season?

To make it back to Code S. Up/Downs are fun but they're tiring.

What do you plan to do about the army?

It's been delayed thanks to college. I just want to focus on SC2 right now.

GSTL starts for you this week. How are you preparing for it?

I don't really have confidence in myself right now so I'll know once I keep on practicing.

Anything else you would like to say?

I really hope Dream has learned his lesson.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the second round of Code A.

This was my first GSL so I was really nervous while also really excited. And that's why as the match began I got really nervous. I felt my my full skills weren't coming out.

How did you practice for this?

All my teammates were focusing on Proleague. My practices were so we could win the ProLeague championship so I didn't prepare anything special for GSL. I just came with the mindset that I would stick to the basics.

You have a lot of high expectations because of WCS. Weren't you feeling any pressure by that?

WCS went far better than my expectations (laughs). That's why I felt like losing in the first round of Code A would probably diminish what I accomplished back in WCS. I'm so relieved that I won.

You showed a very strong roach play style. Is aggression the right style for you?

I knew that most games you can win by playing defensive so I was thinking about doing that. But then as the match began I saw my opponent's weaknesses and the situations were flowing in my favor so I decided to be aggressive.

With your advancement to the second round, you saved yourself from the preliminaries.

The most concerning thing today was the fact that I would have to go through the preliminaries again today if I lost. That's why the urge to win was so big for me.

Since you have caught so many people's eyes, a lot of people wanted to see you play in the OSL. Was it a shame that you were knocked out in the preliminaries?

Regarding the OSL preliminaries, I didn't have the confidence that I do now. And my skills developed significantly after those preliminaries. I also regret that so far I have only been able to show my ZvP for GSL.

Your next opponent is the Terran player Ryung.

Honestly, when I practice I prefer to face Terrans rather than Protosses. That's why I'm confident. As long as I don't get nervous, I'm sure I'll be able to show some great games.

How likely do you think it will be for you to get to Code S?

After I saw what my group was going to be, I saw the very likelihood that I could make it to Code S.

Recently, Samsung SC2 players have been showing great form. What's the secret?

Ever since SC2 was released, all the teammates practiced satisfactory amount of games with each other. The secret is how much we practice.

Anything else you would like to face?

My next opponent is Ryung. He's a friend from back in the WeMade days. So far, of all my former WeMade opponents, I've only lost to Squirtle. I really think I can beat Ryung. I also hope that Ryung doesn't get his feelings hurt if I do beat him. If I do end up winning, I'll buy him dinner (laughs).

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about advancing to the second round.

This was my first victory in a while so I feel good. I was worried since I had been eliminated in a lot of tournaments but I was able to win so it's good.

Your opponent was a newcomer in the GSL.

I knew this was his GSL debut. But since I had been doing so badly in TvZs I decided to consider myself a new comer as well as I played.

Your play style consisted of ravens using seeker missiles as you used nukes from the back.

It went much better than expected. Honestly, that nuke strategy was something I came up yesterday. It wasn't working well in practice so I decided to use medivacs and it ended up working well.

In game two, was your 11/11 bunker play a planned build?

The game one build was something I wanted to use against Sniper in the winners' match and the game two all in was a build order I wanted to try out since I always tend to play macro games.

How did you practice for this?

I didn't have much confidence in my micro so I practiced while focusing mostly on micro. I didn't expect him to scout me though. I was a little flustered after he found out but my opponent played the way I wanted him to so I was able to win.

It must not have been easy to prepare for your opponent since rare was such a new player with no data.

At first, I was really nervous. I didn't even know his style or what he was going to do since this was his debut. But I remembered the advice my coach game me so I released those nerves.

Your recent results haven't been as good as they could be. What do you think is the reason for this?

I recently realized that I get nervous a lot during my games. My head feels fine but my hands move mechanically. But I think I'm overcoming this thanks to advice from people around me.

You have GSTL and Code A round two coming up soon. How do you plan on overcoming your nerves for these tournaments?

They just go away on their own as I keep playing. I'm becoming busier and busier but I want to get sent out as much as possible and overcome them.

Anyone specific you want to face?

Personally I want to face finale. KeSPA Zerg players are really good. Also, I think Jaedong is Code S level so I'm envious of that. I've also never played any TvPs since taking out Puzzle in the Up/Downs.

How did you feel about playing on a new map?

I've only played on Abyssal City but I've noticed that if Zergs can use zerglings well, then Terrans are screwed. In my opinion, that map is hard for Terrans.

Are you confident that you'll make it to Code S?

When I first made it in to the GSL, I got eliminated in the first round and had to go through the preliminaries again. But I have been climbing up higher and higher step by step. So I think Code S will be a possibility for me this time.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank SoN, Life, Curious, Whale, Sirius and Golden for practicing with me. I also really want to thank the people who gave me advice. I want to thank our sponsors Red Bull, BenQ, ZOWIE, and Joy Gear. I promise to make it to Cpde S time time so I want the fans to keep on cheering for me.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it to the second round?

This was my first GSL so I was really worried but I advanced like this so I feel good.

If you had to rate today's games?

Games one and three went the way I wanted them to. But on the other hand, game two went my way but I messed up and ended up allowing a comeback to happen. For sure, If the game goes in to late game stages, Protoss is the strongest.

In game one, you purposely revealed your intentions?

I purposely dropped my supply depot and revealed my base. It worked well during practice so I used it today.

It must have been hard to practice for this since you have ProLeague finals?

I didn't want to draw attention to myself, so I just practiced bit by bit. (laughs) I practiced whenever I had free time so I didn't lack in practice.

You showed us some great shining games. Is this your style?

I normally play safe macro games so I enjoy winning. I have to play that way so I can get good winning ratio. But today I had to attack using special ways. My hands move slowly so I get a lot of advice from coach Park. That's why I'm not great at engagements yet.

Your next opponent is Genius. Are you confident?

Genius hyung is so strong that I'm worried (laughs). Genius hyung is also really good at ceremonies so I will make sure to practice hard so I can show great games.

Are you confident enough to get in to Code S?

I have to get over a big line called Genius. If I can do well for TvPs, I can make it to Code S.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the second round of Code A.

This was my first victory in an individual tournament so it feels very good. I'm going to work hard to make it to Code S.

How did you prepare for your match?

I worked hard to reveal the weakness that Jaedong had started SC2 later than I did. I studied his VODs and decided to use all ins to against him. I figured he couldn't block them.

Your next opponent is Hack. How do you think it will go?

If I don't focus well I'm going to get nuked a lot. (laughs) But I think he's just like any other Terran. I have the most confident in PvTs so I think I'll be able to win.

You must have been on a long break. How did you spend your time?

I focused on online tournaments and played EWM so I could earn this Code A seed. I think if I fall back to the preliminaries it'll be difficult to make it back up.

You do well for EWMs but you can't seem to do the same for tournaments. What is the reason for that?

I get nervous for offline tournaments. I feel the gaze of people on me so I feel pressured. For online tournaments, I only get nervous. I think these are the differences.

You played KeSPA's Jaedong. Did you feel any difference between KeSPA and GSL players?

I lost to BaBy in the WCG preliminaries. In our current state, I think KeSPA and GSL players are similar. And within those groups of people, there are some really good players there.

Is there any player you want to specifically play against?

My role model was KT_Reach. It was so disappointing when he retired. As of right now, I don't really have anyone I want to face.

How is the team's current atmosphere?

The team's atmosphere has always been good. The atmosphere has gotten better with our recent addition of Killer hyung.

You have to prepare for GSTL as well right?

I plan on preparing well by playing a lot of games with my teammates.

What are your goals for this season?

Whether it be going through the Up/Downs or just straight through Code A, I plan on getting in to Code S.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank Monster and Sniper. I also want to thank my teammates for all their good advice. Our coach got sick a couple of days ago with a cold so I hope he feels better as I try to make it to Code S. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsor RAZER and partner MYM.