EPT
Soul_Dear"I don't know about any other day, but today I'm the champion of the world."
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/staff/monk/DearWins2.jpg)
Revised transcript of the post-finals press conference.
What does it feel like to win on Canadian soil with so many fans watching you?
I've played in front of so many fans before in the Korea finals, and I'm happy to be able to play in front of so many people again in the season finals. I feel like I could go crazy.
The finals ended in a 4 - 0, but the games themselves seemed closer than the scoreline might indicate. How did the finals feel to you?
I prepared for the WCS Korea finals together with Min-cheol hyung (Soulkey), he helped me. So I thought that I was at a big disadvantage. Soulkey played really well, and I think I played the best that I could.
Do you consider yourself the best Protoss in the world?
(Laughs) Honestly, I had some doubts about my own skill. I've gained more confidence from winning today. I don't know about any other day, but today I'm the champion of the world.
When you were up 3 - 0, were you worried at all that Soulkey might make a comeback like he did against INnoVation in the WCS Korea Season 1 finals? When did you know you had won?
When I was winning 3 - 0, it seemed like my opponent had already been broken mentally. When my phoenixes and zealots went into attack, I was sure that I had won.
Looking forward to Blizzcon, you're going in with a lot of momentum having won two big tournaments back to back. What are your expectations for Blizzcon? Do you feel like you have a bull's eye on your back?
I didn't have that many expectations originally, but winning in WCS Korea and the Season Finals this season were a really big help to me. So I would like it if the other players at Blizzcon were a bit afraid of me. I think I my momentum has gone way up with these two consecutive wins.
You and Trap have had a lot of success in individual leagues, but Soul is not doing well in the GSTL. Is there any reason your good individual performances aren't carrying over?
Me and Trap, we've always had an individual league game a day or so before our GSTL match days. We focused a lot on individul leagues, and kind of relied on our fundamentals in team league matches. Because of that, I think we lost to our more prepared opponents.
Looking at the balance of the game right now, lots of Korean players are saying Protoss is too strong right now, and they point at the Mothership Core as a big reason. What are your thoughts on this?
People say Protoss is strong, but Protoss didn't really win many tournaments before me. I think that kind of talk is coming out because I won two tournaments in a row, so I'm actually happy to hear it. The Mothership Core is good, but it really depends on how you use it. I don't think it's so good it's imba.
You went to MLG before, but you didn't do as well as some might have expected. Did you learn any lessons from that experience that were a help to you this time around?
That was my first international tournament, and I wasn't able to adjust well to jet lag. This time, it had been a really long time since I had gone to a foreign tournament, so I jet lag affected me again. If I keep getting foreign tournament experience, I think I'll be able to adjust better.
You've had success in both the GSL where the matches are more spread out, and a fast-paced event like the WCS Season Finals. As a player, which format do you think you are better at?
Me, personally I think I'm stronger at tournaments where there's preparation. But what I want is to become a player who's even better at short tournaments.
You played Soulkey, a player many consider the best Zerg player in the world. Who do YOU think are the best Zerg and Terran in the world?
Obviously, I think INnoVation is the best Terran, and I think Soulkey is the best Zerg.
A lot of Korean pros who come from BW backgrounds have been losing motivation and retiring. Have you ever lost motivation or thought about calling it quits?
I've moved teams a lot, and it's tought when you move teams. Also, it was rough when I was practicing consistently and hard, but didn't get results when I went out in tournaments.
Any words you want to give to the awesome fans in Toronto?
It's something I felt when I went to MLG before, but coming to a foreign tournament it really feels great to play the game. The fans cheering at each and every moment, that's the reason I can play the game. It helps me a lot, and I'm always thankful to you guys.
Amidst the recent Korean domination of the SC2 scene, are there any foreign players that can potentially compete with Koreans or even take a championship?
Of course, NaNiwa who has the most points now, I think he's a really good player. He has skill equal to Koreans.
Soul has stopped focusong as much on team tournaments after losing STX as a sponsor. If the team were to find a sponsor and compete in big team tournaments again, would the focus change?
In the current system, individual competition is more important than team competition. But if you're on a team, you can't prepare too poorly for team matches just because you have individual matches. You have to think about both of them importantly.
Given the current WCS point standings, it seems like you are going to play TaeJa as your first opponent at Blizzcon. What do you think about him? And are there any players you want to face or don't want to face at Blizzcon?
I've always watched TaeJa in tournaments, and he's very good. I'm excited to face him at Blizzcon, and I hope we play fun games. There's no one I want to face in particular right now, but I do want to avoid HerO, a player I'm personally a fan of.
Any final comments?
I won two championships in a row, and I think it's because of all the people cheering for me and coming to watch the games. Blizzcon, the biggest goal of the year for every player is left. I'll get good results at Blizzcon and become a great player.
