EPT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/RiSGxVN.jpg)
2014 GSL Season 1 Interviews:
Code A Qualifiers
Code A Week 1 Winners
Code A Week 2 Winners
Code S Ro32 Winners
Code S Ro16 Winners
Code S Ro8 Winners
Code S Ro4 Winners
2014 GSL Season 1 Grand Finals Winner
Day 1 Winners:
Zest, RainDay 2 Winners:
Life, soOKT Rolster Zest![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/zmabdO2.jpg)
Source: inven eSports
How do you feel about advancing to the semi-finals?
I was actually worried since things went so well during practice. I tend to get worried whenever I do poorly or too well during practice. I expected myself to advance, but I feel dazed since I advanced so easily.
Did you anticipate your match to finish this quickly?
I had anticipated a 3-0 victory as long as I was able to win the first game but I feel strange because it ended up really happening. The first game was that important because this was a mirror match and I put that much priority to it. I think this end result was possible because I was able to win the first game as I had anticipated.
Why were you able to win in such a dominating fashion?
I’m not sure why sOs was like that but it felt like he was feeling impatient, and I felt at ease as I blocked sOs’ attacks. It just felt like sOs was playing impatiently.
You are taking down all the champions. Do you become stronger if you’re matched up against a strong opponent?
The players that I face are all there because they’re so good, and that’s the only reason that I keep getting matched up against them. I don’t necessarily think I get stronger against strong opponents. I don’t really think about it much.
Since Protoss seems to be so strong right now, don’t you have an advantage since you’re so strong in PvP?
Everyone keeps saying that Protoss is strong right now, but among the gamers, we feel that Protoss has been rapidly suffering ever since the patch. I am anticipating that Protoss will weaken for next season. But I don’t want to be included in there and keep remaining as a strong player.
Who do you think will advance to the semi-finals between Rain and herO?
I acknowledge the fact that they are both good players, and though I don’t necessarily care who advances, I would like to avoid facing herO since I am good friends with him. It’s a little too much for me to say that I want him to lose, but I can’t help but feel that I’ll be at ease if Rain advances.
Now that you’ve advanced to the semis, the finals are within your eyesight. Are you confident?
Since I’ve been looking at the championship ever since I got through the qualifiers, I feel indifferent since I have always been thinking about the finals. I will do my best no matter what so that I can win the championship.
It seems like the SK Telecom all-kill ignited you up. What do you think about this?
With the start of this season, I was bursting with confidence, but I was worried because I wasn’t performing as well as I had thought I would. After all-killing SK Telecom, I found confidence, things became easier during televised matches, and I figured out how to perform for televised matches.
The weather is still pretty chilly, so why did you wear short sleeves?
It’s a new uniform, so I put it on because I wanted to play with a good feeling. I wasn’t really cold because there was a heater (laughs).
It seems like you’ve been becoming more attractive lately as well. Is this related to your winning streak?
Personally, I don’t have any confidence in my looks. I’m growing my hair out right now, but it covers my face, so I guess maybe that’s why (laughs).
Anything else you would like to say?
I want to thank MyuNgSiK and Stats hyung for helping me with practice even though we’re supposed to be on break. I also want to thank First for helping me with practice even though he’s on a different team. I want to thank my family for always cheering for me, and I want to thank my friends all the way back from my hometown as well.
I also want to thank the fans, and lastly, I want to thank the supervisor.
SK Telecom T1 Rain![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/zw0uOBh.jpg)
Source: inven eSports
How do you feel about advancing to the semi-finals after taking down the predator, herO?
I have lost a lot of televised matches to herO. I don’t feel this way at all, but the fans and people around me all keep saying that herO is my predator. I was confident that I could win since I viewed herO as any other Protoss player, and I think I was able to show that today satisfactorily.
In your televised interview, you stated that your momentum was not at its best. How come?
I think that I am lacking in skill because I’m not performing as well in Proleague, and I feel that Protoss has gotten worse with this new patch. I still have a lot of practicing to do. Recently, I’ve kept on playing PvPs so I think that’s why my confidence is at an okay level. But I still haven’t adapted to the game as well.
A little off topic, but I am relieved that all those Terran players were eliminated from the GSL before the patch took place. If not, then I feel that only TvTs would have occurred.
So is Protoss really in that bad of a situation? Some could argue that you’re exaggerating.
Right now, the top 16 spots on ladder is taken by 10 Terran players. Normally, Terran players don’t do so well on ladder but I feel that things have gotten very serious now that there are 10 Terran players up there. When I see things like that, I feel that I’m not the only one who does badly in PvT. Widow mines have become very OP. In fact, I actually think that BW spider mines were better.
That additional damage against shield was really big. Now Protoss can’t play using a templar build order. Once Terrans realized that, they are now so much more daring. And even without all that, Terran is still too strong. It’s like WoL Brood Lord/Infestor/Corruptor level.
You will face Zest for the semi-finals. Are you confident?
On a regular basis, I feel that Zest is an excellent player. He is so good at PvP. I normally don’t really acknowledge that anyone is particularly good at PvP since everyone has such a different style, but Zest has a chosen concept that he sticks to, which is similar to how I play, and overall, he is just very good.
You have a chance to grab revenge against Zest. What do you think about this?
I do need to grab revenge since I’ve lost to Zest many times for Proleague, but it’s not like I have any hard feelings about it. I do have the desire to grab revenge though. It’s strange, because I’m close with KT players, all except Zest.
Zest is taking down all the SC2 champions so doesn’t that put pressure on you?
That’s still better than facing a Terran (laughs). I don’t want to make a sick comment but it is better than facing a Terran. I think I would actually welcome it. I have confidence in PvP. I think it will be doable.
Do your teammates also agree that Terran is strong?
Even the practice players acknowledge it. Protoss got screwed because Terran players are overwhelmingly free styling it (laughs). Protoss sucks too much. Out of a Terran buff or a Protoss nerf, only one is supposed to occur at a time but it’s so difficult since they both occurred. It’s difficult to win unless you go blink stalker, but Terran players who know how to block it block it really well.
It seems like your play style has become more diversified after watching today’s match. Is this an advanced side of you?
Rather than say it’s a style, it’s more like there are a lot of situations these days where going for a maxed out 200/200 battle is not possible anymore. So for boX matches, I prefer to stick to the basics. I have moments where I like to choose which build order I’m going to do when I’m actually at the scene, but for today I came with chosen build orders. So my strategies were prepared beforehand.
Now that you have arrived at the semi-finals, the finals are within your eyesight. Are you confident that you’ll win the championship?
For the finals, as long as the preparation time is long, I think I’ll be able to overcome all kinds of difficulties. Now, normally the correct thing to say would be that I will win the championship after overcoming difficulties, but I don’t think I can because Terran is so OP. That’s how much confidence I am lacking. But I am relieved since there’s only one Terran player. I didn’t think that I would even make it to the semi-finals, but I think I was able to because I played a PvP.
In fact, I think I could grab the championship as long as I can overcome Zest. I think I’ll find confidence once that happens.
If Maru can defeat Life, then he will face the winner of PartinG vs soO. Do you think they have what it takes to stop Maru?
It will be difficult for PartinG since he’s Protoss (laughs), and I think it will be possible for soO if they meet. You know, even back when Zerg was dominating for WoL, I never said things like this in an interview. These days, things are very difficult. Even before the patch took place, Maru himself stated that Terran was doable. Now that the patch is here, just imagine how much stronger he got.
Anything else you would like to say?
I’ve been worried since I haven’t been feeling the best because of my poor Proleague performance, but since I was able to make it to the semi-finals, I will do my best to make sure I can advance to the finals. We will face CJ this week for Proleague, and I will make sure I use this confidence that I earned from today’s match to win in Proleague too, so I hope people will tune in for that.
StarTale_Life![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/X082VwV.jpg)
Source: inven eSports
How do you feel about advancing to the semi-finals after such a long time?
Honestly, I thought I was going to get eliminated once I fell down 1-2. But the build orders cross over a lot. I think I got lucky.
Your opponent was Maru, whose momentum was really good. What did you anticipate for today’s match?
Honestly I told myself that it was going to be difficult. I saw my match against Maru as my biggest obstacle to overcome this season, and my skills died off a lot because I had to attend an overseas tournament and I couldn’t practice for about a week. It feels even better that I was able to secure a victory during this difficult situation.
Contrary to the value of your name, it’s been such a long time since you’ve made it to a semi-final. How come?
I wasn’t able to advance all this time because I did so poorly. But now it is time for me to extend my wings.
You won game on but you lost game two right away and the situation got dicey. What was the situation like?
I dropped my guard too much since the build orders got crossed over so much. I thought I was in an okay situation since I forced a CC cancel on game two but I fell into a disadvantageous situation as the game progressed.
After Maru won game three, you were in a very disadvantageous situation. Wasn’t there pressure there?
I just released all thoughts and played. During game four on Alterzim, Maru went for a one rax dual CC, and then for additional barracks and triple CC play. I decided to go for roach pressure, and because Maru went for blue flame, luck followed me from there on out and I was able to win.
It looked like Maru’s hellion play for game five was detrimental. How come you were able to make a comeback?
I saw a timing opportunity once my mutas were up and running. I felt that I would be able to break through if I sent them to attack and I think that was the right decision. It worked out because I had no backup plan.
Now that you’ve advanced to the semi-finals, it seems like the finals is a possibility?
I don’t know about that yet but it does seem like an opportunity has risen for me once more.
Who would you like to face for the semi-finals, PartinG or soO?
I don’t really want to face either of them since I’m close with them both. But I think facing a Zerg will be better than facing a Protoss.
You will face a Protoss player in the finals. Do you have a good record for ZvP?
I have a good record on ladder, but honestly, I wonder why I am able to win when I win. I still don’t know right now. I think I might find hope though if I keep preparing up until the finals.
Did that incident where you detonated all your banelings affect your performance afterwards?
That happens to me quite a lot on ladder as well. I’m thinking about switching keyboards. I don’t even know how it keeps happening so of course it’s going to be on my mind. I think that’s why I eventually lost that game on Heavy Rain.
Is it safe to say Life has been revived based on today’s victory?
I always dream about a revival. Since my game is going so well right now, if I can win the championship during the finals then I think I can say that I’ve been revived.
Anything else you would like to say?
I want to thank Red Bull for sponsoring us. I will work even harder for my fans who cheer me on and win the championship this season so that I can show a good form.
SK Telecom T1 soO![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/tcP3pJQ.jpg)
Source: inven eSports
How do you feel about advancing to the semi-finals after taking down PartinG again?
I am glad that I was able to make it to the semi-finals but this was just like last year. I once again had to take down PartinG to get there. I’m sure that I’m a jerk from PartinG’s perspective. I am going to have to work hard and win so that I can at least make up for it.
How come you always have the advantage vs PartinG?
Whenever PartinG is about to face someone, he always corresponds to what the opponent is doing. But he says he can’t do that for me because whenever he asks about me to the other teammates, all he gets are answers that I play multiple styles. I think he keeps falling to me because he doesn’t know me well.
Your play style has become more diversified. Is this an influence from Soulkey?
That is correct. I absorbed a lot of Soulkey hyung’s traits ever since he arrived. He has been a big help in my skills increasing. Thanks to him, I think I’m at a point now where I am capable of doing all kinds of different things.
What kind of score were you expecting for today?
Honestly, if the score didn’t turn out to be a 3-0 then I was expecting our match to be difficult. I thought that I would be able to finish it off quickly, but I wasn’t able to block his immortal all-in on Yeonsu so that shook me up mentally. But I was able to win because I was able to get it together.
How come you weren’t able to block his immortal all-in even though you saw it early on?
The fact that I saw it so early on was the downfall. I got way too nervous because I thought that his rush was coming really early. He delayed his attack and sent his warp prism over, so I thought he pulled a fake and decided to play a macro game, and right there when I let me guard down, that’s when he appeared. I think that was the reason as to why I lost.
Maru was eliminated. Did you expect to face a Zerg for the semis?
Nope. When Soulkey hyung got eliminated after the season started, I really didn’t anticipate that I would meet any Zergs from there on out. I am a little flustered since now I have to play a ZvZ, but I have confidence in my ZvZ so I don’t feel any kind of pressure even though it was Life who made it through.
Your situation is very similar to last season’s. You will face a Zerg in the semi-finals, and then you will go on to face a Protoss for the finals. Do you think you’ll be able to win the championship?
I’ve said this to my teammates many times. This scenario is exactly like the JOGUNSHOP GSL from last year. When I think about that time, it’s a good sign as to the possibility of me advancing to the finals.
Last time, you settled for second place because of Dear’s zealot aggression. Do you have confidence in your ZvP?
In all honesty, isn’t the finals stage more nerve wracking? Because of that I tend to miss a lot of things, but if I can just keep working hard with all my experience piled up from last season, then I think I’ll be able to do well and not get shaken up.
The other semi-finalists are Zest and Rain. What do you think will happen there?
I don’t want to face another team kill. I really want to avoid a team kill for the finals if possible. I really want to avoid a team kill to the point where I want to face Zest for the finals. But I can’t really say for sure who will win since they’re both so good.
According to Life, Protoss still have the advantage vs Zergs. What do you think?
Recently, a lot of players have been talking about race balance through the media. It seems like the race that gets talked about the most receive the buffs. So from now on, I’m also going to be taking part in that (laughs). Zerg is very difficult. It is difficult to hit your injects as soon as 25 energy is available and it is cumbersome to have to lay down creep tumors. Overall, you have to use your hands so much. I guess you can see it as having to do a lot of labor work. I wish aspects like that would get a little easier. Maybe something like auto-injects (laughs)?
Anything else you would like to say?
For the Ro16, Classic hyung, PartinG, and Rain all had to be in the same group. After PartinG won against Classic hyung, he stated that he was going to treat Classic hyung to something delicious. So just like that, I’m going to do the same for PartinG. I am grateful to the fans who always cheer for me, and I think I am able to find strength whenever coach Hyuk lends me his earphones. I always win. So I want to take this moment to thank him for that.
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
sOs already won $100k so losing isn't a big deal here XD 
