2013 WCS Korea Season 2 Premier League Ro8 Winners
Maru vs. Symbol
Soulkey vs. INnoVation
Rain vs. SuperNova
Bomber vs. First
MaruPrime
Source: This Is Game
Your first time qualfying for the semi-finals. How do you feel?
I was really glad about the fact that I didn't have to face Soulkey for the quarter-finals. Still, I was worried about the match vs Symbol since it was a TvZ but I am glad that I won.
With your semi-finals placement, you are now qualified for the Season 2 Final as well.
I am a little worried since I'll have to travel to far away country (laughs).
How did you prepare for today's match?
Symbol is a player who frequently utilizes roaches so I wanted to hit him fast as I prepared responsive strategies. There were a lot of ling/bling strategies today rather than roach plays but I've responded to those kinds of strategies on a daily basis so I wasn't worried.
You built three command centers at the same time for game three.
It was an 8/8/8 strategy so there was no back. I was at such a disadvantage for the late game so I wanted to start off as rich as possible.
You didn't make any marauders even though you saw his ultralisks for game three.
His ultralisks invaded me as I was making my barracks. I didn't have any leeway time-wise.
Who would you like to face for the semi-finals?
I hope INnoVation makes it. I think things will be easier since it'll be a mirror match.
You must have new goals now that you've advanced to the semi-finals.
Now that I've made it to the semi-finals, getting the championship will be my goal. I am going to do my best. I am a little greedy for that royal-roader award, but I don't think I'm quite there yet (laughs).
Anything else you would like to say?
A lot of my Zerg teammates helped me out in preparing for the quarter-finals. I want to take this moment to thank them.
STX SouL INnoVation
Source: This Is Game
Tell us how you feel about advancing to the semi-finals.
These days, I had been losing quite frequently and my hands haven't been moving the way I want them to. I was anticipating a difficult match to ensue and I was feeling anxious. I was able to win today because a lot of luck followed me and Soulkey hyung failed to bring out his true skills.
What did you think after you saw your bracket?
I was thinking that it was okay since I saw that it was a TvZ, but then things got more and more difficult with each practice game. I was worried that I wouldn't even be able to qualify for the Season 2 Finals. I tried to make sure I could take down whatever opponent I was pitted up against for the quarter-finals.
You will face Maru in the semi-finals.
TvT was really simple before the hellbat nerf occurred. But I think I am going to have to practice a lot, now that the game has changed because of the nerf.
With today's victory, you secured your spot for the Season 2 Finals.
I don't really like to travel on an airplane. I put more meaning into the fact that I qualified for the Season 2 Finals rather than the fact that I get to go to Europe.
You successfully advanced to the semi-finals. This season's goals?
Honestly, I wanted Symbol to advance through. I know for a fact that Maru has been picking up some serious momentum these days and his ladder record is excellent. I can't help but feel that a difficult match will ensue. My first and foremost goal was to advance for the Season 2 Finals, but now that I've made it to the semi-finals, the championship will be my goal.
You have Proleague finals next week.
I don't think I'm going to lose any practice time just because we have a Proleague finals coming up. I plan on preparing extensively for both tournaments.
There will be a lot of tournaments coming up in August.
I can win the Proleague finals with the help of my teammates, and I can win the championship for OSL as long as I can take down Maru. I can also aim for the Season 2 Finals championship as long as I don't get conceited.
Anything else you would like to say?
Jin Air Green Wings' Savage helped me out a lot with practice. I want to thank him for that. I also want to thank Leenock and Size.
SK Telecom T1 Rain
Source: This Is Game
You succeeded in advancing to the semi-finals.
I am glad because it feels like I'm finally making some results in individual leagues. I was shaken up mentally because I lost game one but I was able to win because I maintained myself well.
You showed a shaky start after losing game one.
I had to endure some difficult beginnings because of hellion harass. I merged all my templars into archons because I felt like I was just too much at a disadvantage. I think I was able to do well because I was able to keep on elongating the disadvantageous game.
Why didn't you void the map Anaconda?
I know that it's a very disadvantageous map for Protoss, but I think it's even more disadvantageous to play on Gwangalli Beach. My planned out strategy didn't get executed that well but a lot of luck did follow me. I probably would have lost had things gone regularly. I don't know if SupreNova experimented a lot on that map or what but his defenses for zealots and dark templars were done thoroughly.
You are the first Protoss player to advance to the semi-finals.
Currently, Terran is in a really good shape. I am just glad that I was able to defend against a critical situation.
You can now start to aim for the championship.
I am glad that I achieved my goal for advancing to the Season 2 Finals. My semi-final opponent will be an excellent player, but I think he will be a little easier compared to playing against someone like INnoVation, Soulkey, or Flash. I've taken down both Bomber and First before. If I had to pick, I would want to face First. If I have to play a PvT for the semi-finals then I won't have any strategies left for the finals. In fact, I already think that too much has been exposed.
Anything else you would like to say?
I want to thank FanTaSy hyung, Sorry, and Mercury hyung for helping me with practice. I am finally making some results in individual leagues after a while. I will make sure that I can get to a higher place and not be satisfied over the fact that I've already won a championship. The supervisor and the coach cheered me on before I came here to the studio. I think I was able to win because of their support.
StarTale Bomber
Source: This Is Game
You are the final player to advance to the semi-finals. How do you feel?
This is my first semi-final appearance for a tournament in Korea so I am so glad. I want to make sure I establish good results for the semi-finals and the Season 2 Finals.
You made it to the ever so desired Season 2 Finals.
I am so glad. Thanks to today's win, the chances of me advancing the global finals got higher.
You took a 3-0 victory. Was that an expected result?
I had the map choice so I planned on taking down my opponent with a reaper strategy. I think I was able to win easily because things fell right into place. I had a feeling that I was at least going to win by a score of 3-1 because I had such a good win percentage for practice.
First took a hidden expansion at 7:00 for game two.
I had no idea until the game ended. I actually think things went better for me because he took an expansion.
You will face Rain in the semi-finals. You've lost to him before.
I'm confident in a boX series for TvP. But I'm sure he feels the same way because it's going to be a bo7 and he's won a championship before. But I was able to hide strategies because I won today's match with a 3-0 score so I think I have a little more advantage.
You have the opportunity to become the oldest royal-roader.
If I win the championship, I will be OSL's oldest royal-roader. I'm sure that it will be difficult for anyone to break that kind of record if I can pull it off. That's why I am a little greedy for that achievement (laughs), It's a little hard to say for sure that I'll win the championship since all the players in the semi-finals are phenomenal, but I still think I have a chance.
Looks like you are getting more and more support as things progress.
I've noticed that more and more people recognize me whenever I come to the studio and people cheer for me more now (laughs). I frequently check out community sites to see what the responses are and I've noticed that I come up in conversations a lot more often these days (laughs).
Anything else you would like to say?
I want to thank my fans for cheering me on, my teammates for helping me with practice, and our sponsors Red Bull, ZOWIE Gear, Joy Gear, and Yuyu Pharmacy Incorporated.
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