EPT
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/wo1fwood/OSL/OSL_np3.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/teams/icons/68.png){kind=icon}
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/teams/icons/1.png){kind=icon}
MaruPrime![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/zZ6ntJt.jpg)
Source: Daily eSports
How do you feel about winning your first ever individual tournament?
I started off the series with a 0-2 score so I got really nervous, but I am so glad that I was able to grab the championship.
After four years of playing SC2, you have now arrived at the top.
I have never gotten this far before since my debut. I think I’ve accomplished something quite big this time.
What did supervisor Gerrard tell you after you were forced into a corner at one point?
He encouraged me by telling me that I could win as long as I just played what I had prepared.
How did you prepare for the 11/11 strategy in game three?
While laddering, I realized that my opponents are almost never aware of my barracks’ placement if I build them there. It was an improvised strategy. I used it because I was behind 0-2.
Why do you think you lost games one and two so easily?
My hands were not fully warmed up. I was also feeling incredibly nervous.
You had to take down all kinds of top tier players in order all the way from the Ro32 to the finals. Any particularly difficult match you remember?
The finals was the most difficult. Of course the semi-finals match vs INnoVation or the quarter-finals match vs Symbol were also challenging but the pressure was just so huge for the finals since Rain’s PvT is so outstanding. But overall, things have gone a lot better than I predicted for this tournament.
How did you prepare for the finals?
I practiced mainly through ladder. Aside from the couple of games vs Creator hyung, I really didn’t prepare through any other way.
Did you get nervous after seeing the grand finals stage?
I wasn’t feeling all that nervous before the games but I got really nervous after the match started.
Around when did you anticipate your victory?
I knew that I had the series won when I blocked Rain’s all-in strategy on Newkirk Redevelopment Precinct for game five.
Were there any difficult times during your pro gaming career up till now?
Things were constantly difficult. It wasn’t easy to adapt to a living environment where I was separated from my family. But now I think I’ve completely adapted to it.
Anything you would like to say to your parents who came to cheer you on?
My parents tend to worry a lot about me. I wish they would stop worrying so much (laughs). My parents cheering me on played a big factor in my victory. I really hope we can grab some more sponsors quickly and that our team will establish some good results soon.
Will you take up this opportunity to change your ID to “Optimus?”
I like my current ID better.
We noticed that you were talking to a lot of people before the match began. Was it because you were feeling nervous or was it a strategy to get rid of your nerves?
I had a feeling that I wouldn’t be able to play well if I kept trying to warm up. And I also had the intention of getting rid of my nerves that way too.
What are your future goals?
As I get older, I want to keep winning more championships
Do you have a desire to win the upcoming WCS Season 2 Finals?
I would like to win the championship for the Season 2 Finals but I think it’s going to be difficult. It won’t be easy to adapt to a foreign atmosphere.
Anything else you would like to say?
I want to thank the fans that came to cheer me on. I want to thank my parents, my teammates, and supervisor Gerrard.
Methods to locating SC2 interviews!
- Go to the TL.net search bar and type in [Interview] and then search. You will find the most recent interviews at the top
- Go to the SC2 Interviews/Translation Archive
- Go to the liquipedia page for that player and look at the section titled "Interviews" http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/PartinG#Interviews
- Go to the liquipedia page for that specific tournament and find this icon:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/wfoGKzI.png)
If you click on that icon, it will take you to the interview for that group's match winners
But it's nice to not have to add another name change to my mental storage box. 
