EPT
STXSouL_INnoVation![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/ugS1g.jpg)
Source: This Is Game
You've reached the Round of 4 with a comfortable victory.
I'm incredibly happy that I was able to concentrate and play out my matches well today. The thought of going to Las Vegas also puts me in a good mood.
Through today's match, at least one KeSPA player was guaranteed to advance to the semifinals.
Soulkey has always been confident in his ZvT. There was too much at stake during today's match, though, so I resolved not to lose no matter what and prepared thoroughly.
How did you prepare for the match?
I focused on the psychological aspects of the match, but I think I got luckier today than I thought I would.
You gained a huge advantage during the second set with a surprise Hellion attack. Could you tell us why you prepared such a strategy?
Bio play is incredibly hard nowadays. I thought that winning purely with bio play would be difficult in a Best of X series, so I decided to mix up bio and mech. Watching Soulkey's VODs, I saw that he tends to go for 3 Hatcheries into Roaches, so I felt that I would do well if I neutralized the Roaches by following the Hellions up with Banshees.
Your next opponent is HyuN. How do you think the match will go?
I think that HyuN-hyung will be a difficult opponent because his skill level is on the rise this season, so I feel that I will have to prepare harder than I did for today.
Along with HyuN, you are a potential Royal Roader candidate. You must feel some ambition.
When I saw a photo of Life being given the Excalibur sword, I felt a strong desire to receive one for myself. I'll be going to Las Vegas with my advancement to the semifinals, but since I'll obviously lose my chance if I get knocked out, I want to make it to the finals at a minimum.
If you were to reach the finals, whom would you want to face?
I think that I would prefer to face a Terran player over a Zerg.
Although you haven't played many games, your official GSL match win rate of 77.3% is on the very high side. Do you have some sort of special practice regimen?
Rather than paying attention to how much I practice, I concentrate my practice time, no matter how short it may be, around focal points. I feel that maintaining your bodily condition is very important, so I'm working on being able to practice efficiently.
STX has often done well up until the Round of 4 but performed poorly afterwards.
I don't pay much attention to that.
Could you tell us about any determination you may have, and do you have any last words?
I'm grateful to those people who have always cheered for me. I practiced a lot with my teammate, Size, so I'm thankful for his help, and I hope that he can help me against HyuN, too. Although I'm going to Las Vegas, I'll do my best to concentrate on my match instead of my trip so that I can reach a high spot.
MVP_Sniper![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/UpJBn.jpg)
Source: This Is Game
This is your first Code S semifinal. How do you feel?
I viewed Leenock as my greatest obstacle for this season, so I'm really happy that I was able to win against him. Also, knowing that I'm going to Las Vegas feels unreal. Anyone could have been chosen to go there, so I can't believe that I'm the one who's ending up going.
How did you prepare once you were set to face Leenock in the Round of 8?
Even back since I prepared for the Round of 16, I had confidence that I would make it to the Round of 8. Even when I had trouble against Zerg on ladder, I paid extra attention to practice in order to prepare for my quarterfinal match. I practiced on ladder as I have always done.
You took the first set by keeping Leenock at bay with Roaches and Infestors. Was this a strategy that you had planned in advance?
I tried to go for Mutalisks after attacking him in the early game, but things didn't go as expected. My opponent was opting for +1/+1 Zerglings, so I went for the Roach-Infestor composition, adapting my strategy to the situation.
Conversely, you let your opponent tie the score by losing the second set to a Baneling attack.
After blocking my opponent's 10 pool and harassing him with speed-boosted Zerglings, I was in an advantageous position. If I had been able to produce Mutalisks, I would have been in a situation from which I couldn't lose, but he went for a good timing attack while I was transitioning.
You won today's match largely using Roach-Infestor.
I was at an advantage during the early games, so I both had more resources and more Infestor energy, which allowed me to make good engagements.
Your opponent at the semifinals is Ryung. How do you think things will go?
Ryung said in his Round of 4 interview that I would be an easy opponent, so I will say the same. Even when everyone thought that Leenock would advance, I had confidence in myself.
If you were to make it to the finals, whom would you want to face?
HyuN is a very good ZvZ player; you can tell just by watching his Fight Club games. I lost to INnoVation in the Round of 16 in a ridiculous way, so I want to get revenge on him at the finals.
Both the semifinals and finals will occur within a short period of time. How are you planning to prepare?
I'm thinking of building up my fundamentals by mainly practicing on ladder, as I've always done.
By advancing the the GSL semifinals, you've also qualified for the IPL Season 5.
I haven't played in a single overseas tournament before, so I think that participating in the IPL Season 5 will be a good opportunity for me.
You'll have to deal with both the IPL Season 5 and the GSL within a tight schedule. Don't you feel worried?
To be truthful, I'll have to play to find out. I don't have any information about Las Vegas yet, so I don't know how things will go. People around me have said "you don't know because you haven't gone there" and "traveling by plane will be too hard on you." I don't know because I haven't traveled, so I'll have to experience it to find out.
Do you have confidence that you will win this season?
I think that this is my opportunity. I've played good games and won a lot of matches this season, so I think that this is my chance to win.
Please tell us about any determination you may have regarding your future matches as well as any last words.
A lot of people have said that the semifinal games will be boring if I advance, but at any rate, I won. My victory felt bittersweet because of such talk, but I hope that people still keep their eyes on me. I want to send my thanks to my manager and his dad for coming with me to the studio today, as well as my family and relatives for always cheering me on. Also, I want to thank my team's sponsors, Lotte Chilsung, Razer, and GOMTV, as well as our partners, Wayi Spider and MYM.
