EPTI will aim for the season finals.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/tsL2i7O.jpg)
Source: thisisgame
The winner of the 2011 Sony Ericsson November GSL, Jjakji (of team MyInsanity) has made it to the Ro 8 for the first time in 664 days.
On the 27th of September at WCS KR Premier League Season 3, held at the GOM TV studios in Gangnam, Jjakji defeated soO (of team SK Telecom) and INnoVation (of team Acer) in succession to top Group C and progress to the Round of 8.
This is the first time in 2 years that you’ve made it to the Round of 8. Can you comment
on today?
I feel good about making it to the Round of 8 for the first time in a while. I practiced really hard, so I feel like I’m being rewarded for it.
How did you practice for these matches?
Before, I prepared for all 3 opponents for the group. This time, I decided that that method was inefficient and instead prepared just for the first match and concentrated on getting the basics right for the other matches. Since the Ro8 will be just one opponent, I think you can expect stronger results from me in that format.
Did you expect to come first in the group?
I felt that if I could beat soO I could come first in the group. Until now, I’ve never progressed from the Ro32 and the Ro16 in first place. In the winners match today, it felt really good to come from behind to go through to the Round of 8.
In the first map you used the 8-8-8 build. Were you taking advantage of features of the map in some way?
It’s hard for the Terran when soO plays standard. I tried out the build on ladder without much thought and found it to be really good. Since the amount of damage you do depends on just your control I didn’t practice it separately.
In the 2nd map you could have finished the game easily but it went to the late game.
At first when the Mutalisks arrived, I saw them take damage from the mines. When that happens, the Terran gets a big advantage. When I tried to go attack, there were many opportunities to win the game. Because of the early advantage, I got over eager and it ended up going to the late game. Reassessing the situation, I realised I could win the game if I stayed composed. From the point on, I played much more cautiously.
You came back from behind to beat INnoVation. You said that you had confidence that you could come first in the group, so does that mean you felt confident that you could beat INnoVation?
Both of us have the reputation for being bad at TvT (laughter). In practice I have a good win-ratio so I felt like I had a 60% chance of winning. In the first map, I made an error with my army and regretfully lost, but I was able to get my mind in the right place after I won the 2nd map.
Your next opponent will be the 2nd place finisher from Group D. Who do you want to face?
Honestly, all 4 players are really strong. The player I want to face is KangHo/Losira. His aggressive style makes for scrappy games, which I think would be fun.
Now you can look toward the season finals.
When I won it was the final season of the year. It’s like that this time too. Before there was nothing, but now there are even playoffs to make the season finals. I will practice really hard and make sure to secure a spot in the season finals.
Any thing you’d like to add?
I want to thank Hurricane, Hyun and inori for helping me practice. Thanks to former NSH players Sage, SSanaEE and Madbull for coming out and supporting me today. I think I’m going to have to run off and go eat tasty things with them.
soO - “After the restructuring, everyone on the team is feeling satisfied”
soO never gives up, makes it to the Round of 8!
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/VdYFHJH.jpg)
Source: thisisgame
soO makes the Round of 8 for the first time in his Starcraft 2 career.
On the 27th of September at WCS KR Premier League Season 3, held at the GOM TV studios in Gangnam, soO defeated Super (of team MVP) and INnoVation (of team Acer) to come second in Group C and progress to the Round of 8.
Firstly, how do you feel about making it to the Round of 8?
At first, after losing 3 maps in a row I thought I was going to go out in the Ro16. Maybe it’s because I practiced so hard, but I felt like it would be really unfair if I didn’t make it to the Round of 8. So I kept playing hard, and to get through makes me feel good afresh.
You were able to beat the WCS rank #1 player INnoVation.
At first, I was a little fearful. I’ve played him on ladder, and watched him play, so I did have thoughts that I could win. I decided to do my best regardless, and maybe because of that I was able to get a good result today.
This is your first Round of 8 in Starcraft 2.
I wanted to make it. However, just making it to the Round of 16 gave me a great sense of relief. Lately, after the restructuring of the team, the team has really helped us out with preparing for individual tournaments. I think it’s also due to the fact that I’ve practiced a lot. They’ll help me prepare for the Round of 8 also, so I think it’s fair to anticipate further good results.
The second map with Jjakji showed your ability to hold on like hell.
If I had been able to hold on in the first map, I think I could have won. I made some mistakes early on, but as time went on I didn’t feel like I was in particular difficulty. Because of that I felt like it would be a shame to fall out of the tournament at this stage and it motivated me to try even harder.
In the final match, your all-ins particularly stood out.
It was a strategy that I had prepared for INnoVation as part of Proleague. I wasn’t able to use it then, but I had the opportunity to use it today. As I thought, it was his weakness.
From the Round of 8, it’ll be individual BoX series.
I don’t have much practice playing a Bo5 in Starcraft 2. Since Rain also made it to the Round of 8, I’m going to have to ask him for some advice. I’ll have to increase my skills a lot too.
Who would you like to face in the Round of 8?
From the Round of 16, I thought all the players were strong. There are no easy opponents. No matter who makes it out of Group D, I don’t think that they will be a difficult or easy opponent.
If you win once more, you’ll be in the season finals.
I do feel that greed of wanting to be at the season finals, but I don’t think I should fixate on it. I am going to aim to win, and practice hard. Since the global finals are the ultimate goals I want to get a lot of WCS points.
How is the mood inside the team house after the restructuring?
It’s still a little disorganised. Since iloveoov returned, he’s holding the team together. I think the mood is good. It feels active, and everyone seems satisfied. I think it’ll go well as long as we practice well.
Anything you’d like to add?
Every time I come to the studio, the coach cheers for me. He offers me kind words, and helps me prepare for the individual leagues. The team stays behind and helps me practice even when they could leave. I want to thank them all, and I hope it works out for everybody.
