EPTOn February 15 2013 03:52 Zealously wrote:
So happy that Curious advanced, and in first place especially. Shouldn't be facing Life if everything goes as planned tomorrow, but the most important thing is CURIOUS ROUND OF 8 WOOHOO!!
So happy that Curious advanced, and in first place especially. Shouldn't be facing Life if everything goes as planned tomorrow, but the most important thing is CURIOUS ROUND OF 8 WOOHOO!!
ST_Curious![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/fN3MIT3.jpg)
Source: This Is Game
Tell us your thoughts on advancing to the Code S Ro8 in 1st place.
Although I'm happy that I've risen up, it feels ironic that I've advanced now of all times. Since this is the last season [of WoL], I have a strong desire to get good results.
Did you anticipate that you would come out of your group in 1st place?
I thought I would make it out in around 2nd place. I had no confidence when I went into the first match, but I thought I could manage to pull it off after the first set. At the moment when I won that game, I got a good feeling that I would come out victorious.
When you watched GuMiho play against LosirA, which player did you look forward to facing?
I am okay with ZvZ, but since I have a bit more confidence in my ZvT, I would say that I preferred that GuMiho rise up as opposed to LosirA at about a 6:4 ratio.
You waited for a fairly long time before playing in the winners' match.
I felt that LosirA was in a bad position [during the second set], and since it was already a 1-0 situation [in GuMiho's favor], I went into my booth to prepare for my games. But the match didn't end, and when I went out, I saw that they were at a stalemate [in the third set]. After watching that game that went on for 1 hour and 30 minutes, I thought to myself, "I shouldn't play like that. I'd better end it quickly."
Is that the reason why you went for early-game aggression?
You could say that. I was very worried about what GuMiho would think about me. I predicted that he wouldn't think that I would go for early attacks, so I improvised my strategy on the fly and went for the attack.
You'll be facing the 2nd-place finisher of Group D in the quarterfinals. Which player do you want to fight against?
Since Life is both a skilled player and my teammate, I would like it if he made it out first so that we wouldn't have to face each other. I want to face him in the finals if I ever make it that far. As for the other three, I don't care about which player I face.
In contrast to the self-defeating play you showed before, you exhibited a confidence-filled performance this season. Did you find some kind of solution to your problems?
There wasn't any solution in particular, but I lost often during my recent practice. It was through the experience I gathered from all of those games that I gained the knowhow [that I needed].
From today onward, you have graduated from your position as gatekeeper. Which player are you thinking of asking to replace you?
[Note: The title that Curious has been given is actually "Code S Reader" because he determines who is or isn't worthy of Code S, but gatekeeper means the same thing so]
I felt very worried at the Ro16 because of my status as gatekeeper. Although I originally said that I saw GuMiho as my replacement, since we're friends, I want him to come up to the quarterfinals. If LosirA gets left behind in Code S, I think it would be okay to give him the title (laughs). But still, it was thanks to my title as gatekeeper that I was able to talk so much during the last group nominations. I think that other players are in the process of becoming gatekeepers, but since I don't think that you stop being one just by making it to the Round of 8, I'm going to make some.
Tell us anything more that you have to say.
I want to send my thanks to my team's sponsors, ZOWIE, Joy Gear, and Red Bull, as well as my Protoss teammates for helping me practice. I'm also very grateful to ByuN for helping me with practice after his own matches were finished. Since this is my first time in the Code S quarterfinals, I'll work hard to show a better performance.
SK_MC![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Z83Awj1.jpg)
Source: This Is Game
You've successfully managed to advance to the Round of 8 in 2nd place. Do you have anything to tell us?
I wanted to go up together with LosirA, so it's disappointing that I had to knock him out. It's a shame that I lost to Curious.
What results did you anticipate after the group nominations?
First of all, I believed that I would not lose. I had confidence that I wouldn't fall to Curious, but I did feel concerned when I saw my first map, because my only option there was an Immortal all-in. Since I often lose on that map during practice, I tried to rely on the second set, but I ended up making mistakes that cost me that game. I'm disappointed in my decision-making [on that map].
You had a very long break in between your matches.
When I saw that GuMiho had two SCVs left during the third set of his match, I felt that the game would go on for at least 30-40 minutes longer, so I took a quick nap.
You performed a feint attack during your first game in the loser's match.
Even when I practice with LosirA, he gets all shaken up whenever I make Phoenixes, so I took advantage of that.
Unlike during your previous seasons' matches, you played a lot of macro games this time around.
That's a bit funny because there are actually quite a few VODs out there of me playing macro games. I macroed up when I performed my Blink Stalker build. When I macro up after performing 3-Gate pressure, there are a lot of players who think, "If he's pressuring me, of course he's going to attack!" So nowadays, I take advantage of that.
This is your first time in the quarterfinals in a while. Is your goal to take the championship?
Of course my goal is the championship. Mvp and NesTea were knocked out of Code S, so I want to maintain the pride of the old guard.
Whom do you want to face in the Round of 8?
I want to face Life. They say that he's good, but I don't really know about that. I'd like PartinG, my long-time friend, to rise up as well, but I also would like to have him drop out and leave me as the only remaining Protoss (laughs). Of course, it's fine if I end up facing anyone else.
You've also secured a place in next season's Code S. This is a period where you'll have to prepare for Heart of the Swarm.
Because of the GSL, I've played almost no Heart of the Swarm. I did practice a little at MLG, but aside from the new units, the game was almost identical [to Wings of Liberty]. I will have to find out how to cope with the other races' new units.
What are your plans for preparing for Heart of the Swarm?
I think I might have to practice side-by-side [with Wings of Liberty]. For example, I might do WoL in the morning and HotS in the afternoon. The [new] interface is a bit confusing, so I haven't adapted yet.
Tell us anything more you have to say.
Because I've had a bad case of insomnia recently, I haven't been able to stick to my practice schedule, so I'm thankful to IM manager Kang Dong-hoon for being understanding. A long time ago, I had to go to the hospital for shoulder problems, and I started feeling my shoulder hurt again during today's matches, so I think I'll have to go to the hospital and see a doctor soon. Since I haven't usually shown a good image towards the fans, they might think I'm making excuses, but every pro gamer has some sort of injury due to his job. Even though he doesn't express it very well, Mvp has an enormous desire to win despite his pain; I think that it's the same with all pro gamers. Please bear with my complaining. Today is Valentine's Day, so please enjoy your chocolates. Finally, I want to apologize to my teammates, manager, sister-in-law, family, girlfriend, and everyone else for making them worry because of my insomnia and shoulder pain. I'll make up for it with a strong performance in the Round of 8. I'm thankful to the boss of SK Gaming, my manager, and my team's sponsors.
