[Interviews] 2014 GSL Season 1 Code A Winners

Leenock



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about returning to Code S after two seasons?

I feel like it’s been such a long time since I’ve rested for so long. It’s been a while since I’ve played at the game studio so I think I feel good about it, and I since I rested for such a long time, I will work hard to ensure that I stay around for as long as possible.

With fOu disbanding, how did you practice?

The fOu team house is still around. It wasn’t really all that difficult to practice since we still had player remaining there.

In match 2, game 3, had you already prepared that nydus strategy for Habitation Station beforehand?

My original plan was to use mutalisks against BrAvO and use nyduses against Flash, but the situation didn’t call for strategies remaining hidden so I ended up using it. It was a separately prepared strategy.

In the winners’ match game two, you got hit by dark templars in your main base. Did you have no idea?

I noticed that it was dark Templars, but I had no idea that he was going to hit me in my main base. I checked around my base with an overlord, but I missed this one spot, and then that’s where the DTs decided to show up.

Game 2 of the final match was a really close back and forth game. What was the situation like?

I grabbed my expansion with ease, and my mutalisk upgrades were done well. I finished off my 3/3 and I had a good composition once my brood lords finished, so I thought I was going to win.

BrAvO went super defensive for the third game. Did you think that you were going to lose?

He was in a situation where it wouldn’t have been weird if he had just decided to give up, but then he started retaliating. I thought that I had won that for sure, but then my opponent decided to even go up to a third base. He was trying to max out very late but I figured that I still had it won no matter what, but then his resilience was so strong that I was taken by surprise. I think it was impressive. I had no idea that he would fight back so much.
We were pretty equal when he hit 2/2, and then I had ultras when he hit 3/3 so it was playable. It wasn’t a situation where he could make a comeback. I had plenty of money, and I laid down a ton of spine crawlers just in case.

This season’s goals?

Since it was really tiring to advance through, until Code S begins on February 5th, I plan on working really hard even if I have to do it alone from home. I will make sure that I don’t burn out. I will make it as far as I can and work hard to show a good form.

How do you feel about the format change?

The good thing about this format is that I like the fact that it’s now possible to go from the qualifiers to the finals. I think this format makes the players work really hard.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank my fans who have been cheering me on even since from the qualifiers, and I am also thankful to my parents. I want to thank supervisor Choya for all his hard work for the team, and thank my fOu teammates for all their hard work. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here on out, but I hope we all do well and meet at a high level place.

Jin Air Green Wings sOs



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to Code S?

Rather than be happy about making it to Code S, I am really glad that I was able to win in a televised match after a long time.

You are currently on a losing streak for Proleague.

I don’t have good results for Proleague, but the pressure’s not really there since my teammates are doing well and our team is winning. But I do think that we could do better if I stepped it up.

Why do you think you are losing in Proleague?

The games I’ve played so far have generally ended in a very lame manner. Since I’ve just been simply preparing macro builds all this time, I decide to plan more strategically for today.

You tried out proxy gateways for today’s winners’ match. Was that a prepared strategy?

That’s a strategy that I have fun with on ladder on a regular basis. But it’s not like I had this plan to use that strategy no matter what. I’m glad that I still have builds that I have saved up to use for Proleague.

Your defense against your opponent’s cannon rush attack was superb.

I’ve done cannon aggressions a lot myself, so I knew how to react. So I didn’t get flustered, and I calmly responded.

What are your goals now that you’ve made it to Code S?

Since I still have a lot of time until Code S begins, my number one goal for now is to end my losing streak on Proleague and do well there.

Anything else you would like to say?

Recently, I’ve been on a losing streak for Proleague, but people have shown a lot of support for me. I am really grateful for that and I will work hard so that I can show a good form from here on out. I had this plan to call my parents as soon as I won my first game for Proleague after joining Jin Air, but I haven’t been able to do so yet. I really hope I get to call them soon.

Samsung Galaxy KHAN RorO



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to Code S?

I am satisfied because it feels like I was able to get through much easier than expected. After I played, I saw that things went better than I thought they would.

Preparing for your matches must not have been easy since you also have Proleague.

I didn’t have any time to prepare separately for today’s matches since we didn’t get any time off until after the third week of Proleague. I approached today’s match with improvisations after arriving at the studio.

How do you feel about returning to Code S after experiencing the qualifiers for once?

Once I fell down to the qualifiers, I was actually proud of how long I was able to stay in GSL. So I didn’t really take a hit mentally. Instead of thinking negative thoughts, I just focused on working hard so that I could prepare well.

In your match against Cure, you showed a very aggressive macro oriented play style.

I have a good win ratio for practice on a regular basis. I have a good feel for the game and I have a lot of confidence right now. I think that as long as I can pull off macro games like I did for today, then I can’t lose. The thing I was anxious about for today though was that my understanding of the maps was low. But I was able to win with ease because there weren’t any surprise builds or strategies today.

You lost game one of the winners’ match vs Panic.

After losing game one, rather than think about what my opponent did, I just thought about how embarrassing my performance was. I really just wanted to hurry up and start game two. I even did a build order that I should not have done for game one. But I was still able to do plan things out for game two so I was able to do well.

If you want to establish good results for Code S, then your understanding of the maps will probably have to be high.

It’s more comfortable for me when I play in Code S. It’s also more easier on my mind when I prepare for matches. I also get motivated when I play against good people, and I can also increase the amount of practicing that I do. I like situations where I have to practice hard.

Anything else you would like to say?

I am actually anxious because I haven’t been losing as much lately (laughs). But I will show an even greater form from here on out so I hope I receive a lot of support.

CJ Entus Bbyong



Source: inven eSports

You became the first Terran player to qualify into Code S. How do you feel?

As I previously stated, I’m sure no one expected this to happen but I knew that I was going to advance. But I was really sick with the flu, so I had to get a shot from the hospital, and a lot of negative things occurred. I was really debating as to whether or not I’d advance through even after getting two days’ worth of rest, but I am glad that I was able to advance with a 2-0 score.

Is the rumor true that you have the #1 rank in the GM league?

That is correct. But I don’t really care about it because I don’t think people are laddering these days because of Proleague.

After seeing your group, it looked like you were in for a difficult match. How did you prepare?

This time I practice mainly through ladder, but all three of my opponents in my group were also good at laddering. But I figured that I would make it through no matter what as long as I didn’t make any mistakes.

You didn’t show a particularly good for the IEM Sao Paulo qualifiers. How do you feel now?

I lost my chance because I performed so terribly. Our team was also on a losing streak so all the negativity had just piled on top of each other. I think we need to go back to the beginning and reevaluate things. Personally, I am disappointed. I blame myself because Proleague has been screwed up so much.

It looked like you used mainly mech for today’s matches. Is this the new Terran trend?

There is a rhetorical saying that this is now a trend. Widow mines and hellbats both got nerfed so it’s difficult for me to play bio like I used to. Since siege tanks got a buff this time around, I really couldn’t think of any strategies that utilized siege tanks unless I went mech.
Since Terran also got a buff where both air and ground mech units can get upgrades at the same time, in my opinion, I think the trend these days for Terrans should be be mech..

If we count you and Maru who retained his spot through last season, there are a total of two Terrans in Code S. Do you feel the weakness of Terrans?

It’s true that we are weak right now. There is no choice but for us to go through a difficult time since they nerfed all our units. So we have to win by being good at things like strategizing correctly or by forcing our opponents to mess up. Right now, Proleague has a lot of S class Terran players who can utilize those two things I just stated really well and that is why Terran has such a nice win percentage. It is not because Terrans are doing well.

This season’s goals?

As I stated in the televised interview, I want to make it to the semi-finals, and finals. I feel like I’ll train more fiercely the higher I make the aim for my goals. I will work hard so that I can achieve that no matter what.

Anything else you would like to say?

These days, our team has been getting sick because of the flu. I also caught it, so yeah, colds are scary. I thought I’d feel better after a resting for about a day or two but that wasn’t the case. I hope the fans will also watch out for colds. Right now, the team atmosphere is not good for Proleague. I will fiercely assist my teammates in their practice so that we can grab two straight victories vs Prime and MVP so that the atmosphere can start to turn around.

KT Rolster MyuNgSiK



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to Code S for the first time since your debut?

I feel good about the fact that it’s my first time, and I am feeling greedy since people around me keep talking about me being a royal roader. I get the feeling that I want to work even harder.

You got through your very first qualifiers and advanced straight into Code S. Was this an expected result?

In my opinion, this new season’s format for Code A allows for the better skilled player to advance into Code S. I was feeling confident for today’s matches and I got this huge confidence boost and the feeling that I was going to advance through once I saw my group.

Did you lose game one of the winners’ match to Symbol’s aggression because you let your guard down?

That’s not it. During my final practice game before today’s matches, I got hit by ultras. So when I saw that Symbol went for ultras, I thought that he only had ultras. Because I wasn’t able to realize that he also had brood lords, I ended up losing easily.

You were in a troublesome situation after your proxy gate strategy got blocked in game two, but your ability to focus throughout the game was phenomenal. What was the situation like?

I thought a lot about how I was at a disadvantageous situation, but I saw that my opponent had also made a lot of units so I told myself that it didn’t make sense to just give up. I decided to just kind of go with the flow, and somehow I was able to pull it off.

Why did you decide to be aggressive for game three on Daedalus Point?

That map is a difficult map for Protoss because of the wide entrances. There’s no way to play a macro game on that map so I decided to improvise. I was already at a disadvantage so I attempted an attack, but as expected, the end result was not good. I really think that is a disadvantageous map for Protoss.

What are your goals for Code S?

I always aim high, so I am looking at the championship. I want to work hard to the point where I have no regrets and establish good results.

Anyone particular you would like to face?

I don’t really have anyone I want to face, nor do I have anyone that I want to avoid. The player that prepares the best, and the player that can focus the best will win so I am not really going to worry about who I face.

It feels like your opportunities to come out for Proleague have been getting lesser because of how vast your team’s roster is. Isn’t that disappointing?

It is disappointing, but since we can only field four players per match, I’m just going to try to grasp opportunities whenever they arise, and hope that those will all eventually add up as I work hard.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank everyone who has been supporting me and giving me strength.

IM_YongHwa



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to Code S as first from your group?

I came to my matches today with low confidence because of my lack of results in Proleague, but I am glad that I was able to advance through undefeated.

Why do you feel that you have a poor 1-3 record in Proleague?

I lost all three games due to proxy build orders from my opponents. I didn’t scout and well and just played like I always do, and so I think my opponents were able to get a specific read on me since I was diversifying myself. PartinG stated that I lost because of skill, but I think that my opponents overall just deciphered me well.

Since today’s group was not an easy one, how did you prepare?

I had no idea about the depth of my group. I didn’t even pay attention to other groups. I don’t visit community sites after I’ve lost my Proleague game, so I didn’t even know that people considered my group as the group of death. I just played the way I wanted to since I didn’t even know what people around me were saying or thinking.

Was the dark templar strategy for game one on Daedalus Point a one of a kind solution?

I think it’s difficult to face Terrans on Daedalus Point as a Protoss. The rush distance is too close and it’s too open. So I pretty much just prepared well for my game one against Flash, and then the rest of my games I practiced mainly through ladder and improvisations.

Game two on Heavy Rain was a rather fierce one. What did you think about it?

I threw away my third nexus because of Flash’s attack in that game. I had thought that Flash had no third CC when he attacked me with pulled workers, but as it turned out, he did have a third CC. I thought to myself that I had won at first, but he had a third CC, and he had lots of SCVs, so I thought that I had actually lost.
I thought that there was no way I could fall back on this, but I’m not sure if it’s because Flash focused on my upgrades or what, but he rushed through the game. I was in a situation where I would have been forced to attack but my opponent came in first, and so I think that’s why I was able to win.

Was the in base dark Templar strategy for winners’ match game two an improvised one?

I had to switch computers because of lag. Since my opponent chose Daedalus Point, I decided to use that downtime to plan out what I was going to do since I had nothing prepared initially. I suddenly remembered this dark templar build order that I used to do three years ago, so I decided to go for it since it worked out for game one as well. Since there always a game three available, I decided to be bold and went for it. I think it ended up working out well.

You probably didn’t expect to advance through undefeated. What do you think about that?

I thought it was going to difficult for me to get through, but since I was able to advance through with no losses, I feel dazed right now. I also feel that this was a good trigger to gaining back some confidence.

You have never been able to get through the Ro32 for Code S before. What are your goals for this season?

I was always eliminated during the Ro32 because it was Dual Tournament format. I really had no idea how to prepare for a format like that back then. Now that I know what to do and since Code A and Code S will be the same, I feel confident. I also developed a know-how for the game since then so I think I’m going to be able to make a good result.

Has practicing for Proleague helped you out?

Since I didn’t really get to participate in a lot of tournaments in the past, I think it’s good that I get to participate for Proleague. For all gamers, you have to participate in a lot of tournaments to gain fans. I like the fact that I’ve become busier since I have to participate in a lot of things individual league wise and team league wise.

Anything else you would like to say?

We have found a new sponsor for our team and so I would like to thank Joonsystem. I am showing a weak form right now with three losses in Proleaue, but we’re all working really hard right now so I will try to show a different form.