The guys running TL Fan Clubs are back to present another exclusive interview to teamliquid.net, this time featuring the WCS EU Season 2 Champion MVP duckdeok. This player has become a household name and a fan favorite after winning one of the most prestigious titles of 2013. His underdog story and show of emotions quickly garnered a tremendous following. Duckdeok's career in 2013 cumulated to a climax as he took on the world's best in Acer INnoVation at Blizzcon. What should have been an easy lopsided victory for Innovation turned out to be one of the best PvT series of the year. Using his wits, skills and bravado, the MVP Protoss player bested Innovation in five heartstopping games that any fan of Starcraft should not miss.
Yet, seemingly at the height of his career, duckdeok shocked the world once again with his announcement to retire. Without much closure, it has become hard to stomach the loss of one of our more popular players. This is where we, the fans, have come to fill in the gaps. Thank you to duckdeok for allowing us this opportunity:
1. You were doing very well in 2013. What made you decide to retire? I was actually considering retirement ever since HotS was released. I actually had already announced to the supervisor and all my teammates that WCS EU Season 2 would be my last run, but then I got lucky and ended up winning the whole thing so my retirement got delayed somewhat because of that. The reason for my retirement is because I am now about to enter my 20’s, and if you see my WCS EU Season 3 profile interview, you will see that I stated in there that I like change.
2. Do you think you will work in esports after retiring? Such as become a coach or team manager? If not, what other careers do you want to go into? As of right now, I have no immediate plans to stay within eSports. I’m currently considering trying out to become a firefighter, but nothing’s set in stone. I want to try all kinds of things in life and find the right path for me.
3. WCS EU was the biggest achievement in your career...How did your teammates react to you crying on camera? They comforted me, they congratulated me, and I think they were also envious of me. I also think that my teammates were motivated by my victory. They told me that I pulled off a comeback in life as they celebrated along with me.
4. Can you tell us more about how you felt at that moment? I felt like I was going to fly away. I was so thankful to everyone that was there during that moment, and I even remembered that time back when I was 3 years old and I overcame how to ride a two wheel bicycle.
5. Who were you closest to in the team house? Will you remain friends after retiring? I was close with pretty much everyone, but if I had to choose then I would say that I was the closest with DRG, TAiLS, KeeN, and Super. I really hope we do stay friends even after my retirement.
6. Of all the MVP players, who is the best with girls? Among all the MVP players, I was the most popular with girls, and then DRG was in second because of his good looks.
7. I heard team MVP plays soccer together. Who is the best soccer player and who is the worst? NAKSEO and Swagger were the best players. They even participated in weekend get-togethers with other people who enjoy soccer. The worst player would have to be DRG. He is so bad.
8. Tell us a funny story about your experience living with team MVP. Living in the MVP team house was always a blast. I particularly remember all those happy times I spent with DRG and KeeN as we rode our bikes around during dawn because we didn’t have cars this past summer. We even went to the beach. (For some reason, duckdeok decided to give us this kind of answer rather than a funny, humiliating story)
9. What made you decide to put school on hold and become a progamer, initially? Well first off, I didn’t quit school because I wanted to become a progamer. I quit because I just didn’t like going to school. My decision to become a progamer happened because it had always been a dream of mine since my elementary school days.
10. Who are your favorite musicians/what are your favorite songs? I don’t particularly have favorite musicians or groups. My favorite songs always change too. Right now, I really like The Royal Concept - Cabin Down Below, The Royal Concept- BusyBusy, The Royal Concept - Damn, Venom Is Bliss - Patience (OFFICIAL), etc. etc.
11. Do you have a girlfriend and is it true that having a girlfriend is detrimental to a pro gamer's career? Yes I do have a girlfriend. I’m not really sure about girlfriends being detrimental to progamers. In fact for me, things became so much better once I found love. I guess you could say that it’s different for everyone?
12. Is there anything you want to say to your teammates in this interview? To all the current MVP players, former MVP players, and MVP officials, let us make sure that no matter what we do in life, we don’t cause trouble for others and that we always do our very best so that we can keep being awesome people. Fighting along with me!
13. Is there anything you want to say to your fans? Hello to all eSports officials and fans all around. I am Kim “duckdeok” Kyung Deok. Since joining team MVP back in December, I can’t believe that already 3 years have passed. I’ve been a progamer for 3 years now, but I’m sure that most of you who are reading this interview did not know who I was until very recently. I was probably just another player that you had heard about up till now right? First off, I was also very sad and disappointed in my own retirement announcement. I had no idea that so many people had taken an interest in me. I’m sure you guys are disappointed about this, but it’s not like I died or anything like that. I’m still alive and going strong so please keep on rooting for this little duck. I am just really so thankful to everyone for everything. I am where I am right now in life because of all of you. (I did not translate this next part. duckdeok actually wrote this part in English) Fly on, little duck.
For more on duckdeok and his legacy, be sure to head over and read stuchiu's fantastic character spotlight on this amazing and memorable player: Here
Special Thanks to: Duckdeok, again, for being awesome and allowing his fans to interview him. Seeker for translating, both ways. And to teamliquid.net ...for providing us StarCraft fans a defacto home on the internet.
****brought to you by neoghaleon55 (some crazy fan who roams TL.net)****
It's really hard to find the right words for this. My initial thoughts are just that it's a shame he's retiring because he's got such a likeable personality, but I should be more concerned about the game or something. Ah well. I'm thankful for the moments he gave us and his three years of hard work! I'll miss him.
"let us make sure that no matter what we do in life, we don’t cause trouble for others and that we always do our very best so that we can keep being awesome people. Fighting along with me!"
On December 24 2013 16:46 LockeTazeline wrote: "let us make sure that no matter what we do in life, we don’t cause trouble for others and that we always do our very best so that we can keep being awesome people. Fighting along with me!"
Such a young player since the beta days, playing for WeRRa, suffering a traumatic incident on the team, moving on the to MVP second team. He finally broke into the scene when he defeated JD in that one season of Code S, called a faceless Korean who took out a ever fan favorite JD. But just as he was going to retire, he finally won his first major title. It's such a moving story, a strong strong one too. It really is the best story never told. I am in tears while writing this post at Narita Aiport, thinking of how far he has come.
Duckdeok had a ton of trouble registering for WCS EU? It was literally 1 hour until qualifiers that he got his name into the system...
And then at WCS Season 2 finals where he won the whole thing...duckdeok was stuck at a hotel lobby before his match and was panicking because nobody came to pick him up. Luckily Kennigit came and saved the day.
He took Taeja's advice :D He's quitting while he's young. I'm glad he knows what he wants in life, instead of just living with the momentum of the present. It's always a shame to see such an uprising player quit during his prime, but it is his life and his decisions; no matter how much we hate to admit it, as fans, we're happy for him and his future endeavors.
Fly on! I never realized how much I like the guy until he announced his retirement, it's really heartwarming to see how genuine of people these "faceless Koreans" really are. Thank you for bringing this interview to us!!
Thanks for doing this interview Neo, really enjoyed it. Really happy for him that he was able to achieve all he did and that we got a chance to know him before he retired.
as a gamer, choosing a fitting career that has nothing to do with esports is important imo. you want something that offers new challenges on a daily basis, and excitement, and is gonna keep you fit and happy. Firefighter is an EXCITING job and it's a very good step in the right direction for someone like him who has spent a successful career being a professional gamer.
my bf is now a police officer after hardcore gaming for YEARS (Never pro, but semi-pro at war3, and always a high level player in BW/WoL/HotS. he loves what he does and says he is glad he chose a career that offers some of the perks i mentioned above.
thanks for all the games duckdeok, i really will miss you. love the replay pack i have :D!
It was the greatest year of my life being your fan, duckdeok. Loved your all-ins, smiles, positive attitude, confidence, humour, and the taste of music. Fly on, little duck!
On December 25 2013 11:53 Shinta) wrote: For people trying to make a living off SC2, I'd be pissed that he won 1st and retired.
why? doesn't that mean other people trying to make a living off of it have less competition? :p
never understood this getting mad at people for not doing what you would do with their opportunities... if he doesn't want to play sc2 it would be psychotic to keep playing just so other people who WISH they could play pro sc2 feel better about themselves
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/neU5bio.jpg)
MVP duckdeok. This player has become a household name and a fan favorite after winning one of the most prestigious titles of 2013. His underdog story and show of emotions quickly garnered a tremendous following. Duckdeok's career in 2013 cumulated to a climax as he took on the world's best in 
Acer INnoVation at Blizzcon. What should have been an easy lopsided victory for Innovation turned out to be one of the best PvT series of the year. Using his wits, skills and bravado, the MVP Protoss player bested Innovation in five heartstopping games that any fan of Starcraft should not miss. ![[image loading]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/11526288264_7a8a8cbd69_o.gif)
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/i5UGZB5.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3667/11526243495_7732403707_o.gif)
