You have once again made it to the Ro8. Tell us how you feel.
I feel really good. I thought it was a hard group so I am so happy that I was able to get through it like this.
Did you expect to advance to the Ro8 as first from you group?
Several days ago, I lost to Symbol hyung during an online tournament so I was worried about my facing him. I believe my games went well today though.
This was a group with four Zergs. How did you prepare for the matches after the group nominations?
For every single player, when they're playing ZvZs, you can see their habits. So I focused on dissecting those habits by watching everyone's VODs.
You lost game one to Symbol's nydus play. Were you not expecting it?
I knew that Symbol hyung was a player who likes to use nydus plays. But I did not expect him to use them that quickly. Game one I felt like I over reached a little bit for game one. However, even if I did end up losing game one, I told myself that I'd be fine as long as I just won games two and three. And that's exactly what happened.
In the winners' match, it seemed like you were put in several highly unfavorable situations.
I wasn't feeling good about the game as I lost my infestors to his mutas but then Soulkey ended up making mistakes of his own.
With today's victory, you've secured your spot for next season's Code S.
I've never won a GSL before. I really want to win this season no matter what. ZvP is difficult since Protosses are a little stronger but it's still doable.
You will face Sniper in the Ro8.
It's disappointing that I have to face him because I am good friends with Sniper. I'm going to have to practice extensively because Sniper is a really good player. But I am confident about the mind games that will occur. I think I've gotten stronger because I kept on observing NesTea hyung.
If you can overcome the quarter finals, you will head to Las Vegas. You will also have a chance at the championship.
If I can just get through the Ro8, I should be able to make it to the finals. But Sniper is a really tough opponent and so will be Creator from the other side of the bracket. And if Life comes out of this group as second then yet another scary player will be joining the quarter finals. This season, I really think the Protosses and Zergs are really powerful.
Anything else you would like to say?
I want to thank the fans for cheering me on. I really hope they keep cheering me on for my next match as well. I haven't gone home in a while but when the league is over, I will do my best to go back home. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors FXO, RAZER, GOMtv, and Twitch.tv.
You achieved your first Code S Ro8 appearance. Tell us how you feel.
I felt confident about my ZvZs even before I came to the studio. I am glad that that confidence allowed my games to flow well and so I think I'll do well in the Ro8 as well.
How did you prepare for these mirror matches after the group nominations?
I thought that facing four Zergs for SC2 would be a lot more comfortable than SC1. But I had to come up with so many more strategies than normal so it was actually more annoying. The loser picks the next map so I just focused on preparing for my first games. I told myself that I should win all my first games.
You grabbed royal roader, Life, twice and advanced to the Ro8. How were the matches?
I knew the amount of matches that I was going to have to play would be annoying. Which is why I prepared extensively for my matches. I'm a defensive Zerg player so an aggressive opponent like Life fit me well. I thought he was a player who was superior with apm but as expected, I didn't lose to him in the apm game so I had the confidence.
It seemed like you were totally prepared for Life's early aggression during that first match.
I pretty much had deciphered Life's strategies by the time I came to the studio. I scouted Life's location with my overlord and immediately knew that an attack was headed my way. But even if he hadn't attacked, I still never once thought to myself that I was going to lose.
In the winners' match, you lose 0-2 to Leenock. Why do you think this happened so?
I think the biggest reason was because I paid too much attention to only Life. I came to the studio telling myself "let's take down Life and only Life." It's not like I completely ignored Leenock but I just wasn't ready for him. Leenock also played well and I wasn't able to use my prepared strategies. I just don't think I dissected my opponent enough.
You secured your spot for next season's Code S. Did you achieve your goal?
My goal was not to make it to the Ro8. I was always looking at the semis and then if I can get to the semis, I plan on aiming for the championship.
You will face fellow KeSPA player Bogus in the quarter finals. How do you think the match will go?
We don't have a lot of KeSPA players in Code S so I really didn't want to meet him. But since we have to, I really want to play some fun games with him. Fantasy hyung helped me so I could get used to bo x games so I think I'll be able to handle bo x matches. It's also ZvT so I am even more confident.
Thanks to MLG, you've been to America twice. If you can make it to the semi finals, you will be heading to Las Vegas.
If I do end up winning the Ro8, then the Ro4 will end up becoming an obstacle. I've been to America twice but overcoming jet lag is really difficult. Which is why I believe trying to win the Ro4 in Las Vegas will be the most difficult for me.
Have you adapted to overseas matches?
I don't really know for sure yet. It's still unfamiliar to me so I am going to have to adapt really well if I do end up making it to the semi finals.
Anything else you would like to say?
I'm pretty sure no one expected me to make it to the Ro8. I am so happy that I made it. I don't think my name has been acknowledged yet. But I will show that I do deserve to be recognized through my Ro8 match.
With today's victory, you've secured your spot for next season's Code S.
I've never won a GSL before. I really want to win this season no matter what. ZvP is difficult since Protosses are a little stronger but it's still doable.
Oh dear. But then again, he tends to not rush to hive, going for mass broods/festor/spine etc.
On November 16 2012 02:11 Asha` wrote: Interviews are sponsored now?
My higher ups told me that since I am an FXO employee, and these are interviews translated by me, these are FXO Feature Interviews.
Or something like that, lol. I just do what the higher ups say
FXO trying to take content away from us, -100 points.
Wait what, the interviews are still there, so we don't lose out on anything and a member of our community that did a ton of work now gets his work appreciated by his employer.
Gratz to Leenock, I like the little cuddly Zerg, even though he's always been the most awkward balance whiner. P powerful, haha.
I love how NesTea is still so stronk. After all these Leenock interviews about him I really want to see him back to Code S!
But anyway, thanks for the interviews! Funny how how Leenock thinks zvp is diificult... and the fact that he says "protosses" are good - there is only one left!
On November 16 2012 03:04 trwkling wrote: I love how NesTea is still so stronk. After all these Leenock interviews about him I really want to see him back to Code S!
But anyway, thanks for the interviews! Funny how how Leenock thinks zvp is diificult... and the fact that he says "protosses" are good - there is only one left!
Sadly the Nestea era is over. He can no longer overcome brilliant mechanics with his strategies.
On November 16 2012 03:04 trwkling wrote: I love how NesTea is still so stronk. After all these Leenock interviews about him I really want to see him back to Code S!
But anyway, thanks for the interviews! Funny how how Leenock thinks zvp is diificult... and the fact that he says "protosses" are good - there is only one left!
Sadly the Nestea era is over. He can no longer overcome brilliant mechanics with his strategies.
He shall rise again with all the new possibilities of HotS.
I really disapprove of Leenock's comment about the OPness of Protoss. Considering the limited amounts of Protoss in this GSL, I really can't agree with the statement that Protoss is very strong right now. He may find ZvP the hardess matchup, but its not to most Zergs.
EPT
FXO_Leenock![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/knwvk.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/T47nF.jpg)
