[Interviews] 2014 GSL Season 3 Code S Ro32 Winners

2014 GSL Season 3 Interviews:
Code A Qualifiers
Code A Winners
Code S Ro32 Winners
Code S Ro16 Winners
Code S Ro4 Winners
2014 GSL Season 3 Grand Finals Winner

I've gotten rather bored of the same old "put out the interviews everyday after the group matches occur" routine so I'm going to try something new. List off which interviews you would like to read the most and I will translate based on how high the demands are.

Players in the Ro16:
(P)

sOs,

Stats,

Rain,

Zest,

PartinG

EffOrt,

Soulkey,

soO,

DongRaeGu, (Z)

TRUE,

Solar

Cure,

INnoVation, (T)

Maru,

Reality,

Flash

DongRaeGu

Source: inven eSports

It’s been a while since you’ve advanced into the Ro16. How do you feel?

I made it through after three seasons. I say three seasons but it really has been almost a year. I worried a lot about what I’d do if I had lost in the final match after I had just lost in the winners’ match. But since I won in ZvP even though I’m weak at that matchup and because I feel like I was able to overcome myself through the final match, I feel really glad.

You were in a rather complicated group with a strong opponent like soO, an expert like Stork, and a newcomer in Trust. What did you think about it?

I was already lacking in confidence for my ZvP before getting into Code S but then things got even more difficult than I thought since soO was in there. But I think I was able to make it this far because my ZvPs went well.

soO stated in his interview that he got lucky during the winners’ match. What do you think?

Even if he says that, build order luck is still skill. I had something prepared for game one but I ended up losing too easily so that bitter feeling was still there for game two. I also think that soO came prepared well and that he defended well.

Who did you predict would advance through in the losers’ match between Stork and Trust?

I thought Stork would make it through after game one ended but then I changed my mind after I saw that Trust had tied up at 1-1. And just as I thought, Trust pulled off a ridiculous comeback and made it. I figured things would get cumbersome after seeing Trust’s aggressive style during his games. I was hoping for Stork to make it through since I knew it was going to be difficult to defend if I got hit with build orders that I had no idea about.

Throughout your games, you used speed lings often. Did you do that because you were aiming to expose the double nexus build? What if the Protoss had gone for a MSC expansion build or a forge expansion build?

Of course I would be put at a disadvantage in those situations but I knew that Protoss players like to play economically these days so I was aiming to expose that. And even if I did fall behind because of my opening, I still thought to myself that I would be able to overcome that disadvantage with my macro.

You are currently teamless. Is it difficult to practice?

I practice mostly on ladder. It was like that for me for last season and the season before that. Since individual leagues are all about responding to what your opponent does, I practiced mainly through ladder this time as well. There really wasn’t that much difference from when I was on a team.

Why did you decide to leave MVP?

I was just exhausted with the team in itself. It felt like there was just no progress going on with everyone, even me included. I felt that I needed to change my situation, even if it meant that I had to attempt something new and take on a difficult path on purpose. I think that’s why the majority of us left the team. I really struggled during the moving process. It was very difficult to move all my things out of the team house and go to Busan. It was so bad to the point where I thought I had made a mistake.
But once I got home, I realized that rather than struggle, I was able to focus on the game for longer periods of time since I was alone. I feel like I am able to utilize like 80% of all the time that I have. I think that I have been able to focus on the game better than when I was on the team.

So do you prefer to live by yourself like Bomber? Do you have no plans to find a new team?

Even if this kind of lifestyle is good for me right now, there is no way that I can keep this up forever. There have been several teams that have contacted me already but I want to keep observing my situation as I slowly decided on a team. I still think a team is necessary.

It looks like supervisor Choya would like for you to come back. Any thought on rejoining MVP?

Honestly, I have listened to what the team had to say but I personally feel that there would be no change for me. It just felt like I would have gone back to the way it was. I needed change in my life. I don’t think I have any plans to return to MVP. But I have had fans tell me that it just doesn’t feel right without the MVP in front of DongRaeGu, and every time I hear that my heart hurts. I know that I need to accept what is happening since I was with that team for a very long time. But that’s why this change was so urgent.

Does that mean that you want to join a team in Korea or an overseas team?

Right now I am putting more importance on joining an overseas team rather than a KeSPA team. Proleague was really difficult. But I think that I could also join another KeSPA team if the conditions are right.

How do you plan on approaching the group selections?

Honestly, since all the players that are in the Ro16 are so strong, I feel that there won’t be any easy picks. I’m just going to stay quiet and then proceed on as the picks occur. I can’t help but feel that I’ll be picked first. Since I’ll have the chance to pick the next player the faster I get picked, I’ll try to come up with the best possible scenario.

So you left from Busan to come to play in today’s matches since you live at home?

That’s correct. It’s the holidays right now so there really were a lot of people. It took me thirty minutes just to get a ticket. But I found out that there are a good number of seats available if you grab the early morning times. Since some former MVP players are around, I plan on having meals with them and have a lot of fun before going back tomorrow.

This season’s goals?

If it was last season then I would have said something like the quarter-finals so that I could secure my spot for next season. But that doesn’t mean as much anymore since I would still have to wait for next year to arrive. So even if it’s going to be difficult, I’ll aim for the championship as I work hard.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to say t-h-a-n-k y-o-u to Avenge for helping me with practice in an insincere mindset. I want to let my family know how grateful I am that they put up with me when I practice late into the mornings. I want to thank Super, Billowy, and Dream for cheering me on. I have been showing a good form as of late so I hope that my fans lie in eager anticipation for me.

(T)

KT Rolster Flash

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Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing into the Ro16?

I am glad that I was able to get into the Ro16 and I think it’s going to be fun since it’s been a while and my momentum is good.

It’s been a year since your last Ro16 appearance. Why did it take you so long to return?

I think you could see it as because I had no skill. But I came back since I worked hard so I really want to do well this time around.

How come you had a proxy barracks build prepared for Dark in game one?

I had this sure feeling that it was going to work. My current momentum is good so I figured Dark would expect me to play it safe, and that’s why I felt that I would win no matter what if I went for a strategic approach.

You went for a strategic approach for game two of the winners’ match as well, but wasn’t that a dangerous decision?

It’s true that the decision carried a risk. But I won game one after being in such a disadvantageous state so I figured it would be okay for me even if it the match went all the way to a game three so I went for it in a comfortable mindset. But I think I was able to win because he went for a speed ling build and I was able to micro well.

Overall, you played a style where you made a bunch of medivacs. But you didn’t use any widow mines, how come?

I just played as my hands allowed and I ended up making a ton of medivacs. I didn’t even know that I had made that many. I do widow mine plays during practice but the composition that I am using right is a composition that I have been using before the patch even took place so I keep using it. But I will show a form in the future where I utilize widow mines too.

It looks like things have been flowing very well for you ever since the Proleague championship. What do you think?

It’s true that things have been going well for me these days but it’s not yet to a point where I can drop my guard. I won’t feel calm until I keep working hard and establish good results, and since it’s still only the Ro16, I plan to work hard.

How do you plan on approaching the group selections?

For me, I plan on staying still for now. People tend to focus on me a lot but I would prefer it if other players took some hits. It’s been such a long time since I debuted as a pro gamer but the fact that I get targeted is really sad. PartinG is going to say all kinds of things to me during the group selections. It will probably get on my nerves but I plan on staying still if possible. I have no plans to respond even if PartinG provokes me.

By saying things like “he cheats” and “he plays dirty” your speech towards him are getting stronger. How come?

He comes at me strong so I just respond strongly also. There’s no instance where I instigate it. I hope we can stop this since this is earnest (laughs). I don’t know why he keeps trying to butt heads with me.

Are the chances of you and PartinG being in the same group high?

I’ve thought about it but it’s not going to be easy. They have two choices over there and we have Zest on our side so it probably won’t be easy. Since they both don’t have power I am hoping that things will flow comfortably. If I do end up facing PartinG again, of course I will be confident.

This season’s goals?

I want to grab the quarter-finals seed.

The KeSPA qualifiers were difficult as well. Will you be able to perform for the KeSPA cup as well?

That was also difficult. It was really tiring but I think the end result will mean just as much because of that. I plan to do well.

Anything else you would like to say?

I wasn’t able to rest during our break time. That’s how hard I worked. Since my fans keep on cheering me on, I want to make sure that I pay them back with good results for all the rest of my matches.

(P)

SK Telecom T1 PartinG

[image loading]

Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing into the Ro16?

Honestly, I had no idea that it was going to be this difficult to get through. Dear had such cutthroat strategies prepared beforehand. I couldn’t anticipate them at all. I was struggling mentally after I fell down to the losers’ match but I was able to regain my strength after hearing some fans cheering for me during the break. I am once again grateful to the fans.

It looked like you had prepared really hard for your matches.

We’ve been on break ever since the Proleague finals ended. But I did nothing but practice hard even when I was at home. I am sorry to my fans because it feels like I put on a lackluster performance for my matches today and I even failed to qualify for the KeSPA Cup. I think I’m going to have to go back home today and practice as I look through my VODs. It’s going to be difficult if I stay like this.

You faced Dear twice.

I felt that Dear really understood me well. He came with such good responses to the build orders that I normally do. I’m sure that I still would have lost 1-2 even if I had tied it to 1-1 in the first match. But for the final match, I had deciphered all of Dear’s strategies. I think I was able to win because I finally came up with responses for him.

You have been losing in a lot of tournament related matches ever since Proleague.

I kept getting taken down by cheese rushes. I lost to one during my match against Flash hyung in the Proleague finals and I also lost to one against TY during the IEM qualifiers. For my match against Flash hyung, I especially felt that he had come fully prepared with responses to my movements. If you look at it from certain angles, cheese rushes really are great strategies. But to the player who falls victim to it, it’s just annoying because that player ends up losing without being able to do anything. I think I’m going to have to hone my cheese rush responding skills for my next matches.

You challenged Flash in your televised interview.

I did make sure to omit any names for my televised interview. But everyone knew who I was talking about (laughs). I have such a different personality when I’m on camera as opposed to when I’m off camera. But I still want to face players who already have well developed stories. I have fun when stories become more abundant.

This season’s goals?

I always stated in the past that it was the championship. This time, it’s also the championship. I feel this kind of desperation whenever I face a tournament. My mindset is that it always feels like my last tournament. That’s why I practiced so hard. I really hated to lose. I was able to advance through because of my fans cheering me on.

Anything else you would like to say?

Today, out of all the matches I’ve ever been in for the GSL, I had the biggest number of fans show up. I’m not sure if I’ll get cursed out for saying something like this but I feel that my memories have been declining as I get older. So I want to win the championship for all those fans who keep cheering me on and believing in me.
ROOT Gaming’s CatZ really helped me with practice a lot. We practiced a lot in preparation for my match against TRUE. I also want to thank SuperNova, Miniraser, and Harstem for helping me with practice. I also have even more players who helped me with practice on top of them so I want to thank them as well. If ever they need my help then I will rise to the occasion.

(T)

Jin Air Green Wings Maru

[image loading]

Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to the Ro16?

I was feeling really anxious but it was good that I was able to win. My condition really was not good. I was feeling kind of sick yesterday but my health really took a toll this morning.

It looked like you were going to grab the win for match one but then you lost game two against Hush. Were there any thoughts that you might fall to the losers’ match?

I had blocked it well but I made things more difficult for myself when I decided to move out needlessly. But I didn’t feel like I was going to fall to the losers’ match.

You were known for having a bad TvP record. Were you worried about today’s TvP matches?

Not really. My TvP was okay. I’m fine as long as it’s not a Terran that I’m facing.

There are a lot of Terrans advancing through this season so there is a possibility that you will have to face a Terran. What do you think about that?

I’m going to have to prepare real hard. I don’t like to face Terrans so I don’t really like scenarios where lots of Terran players advance through. There are too many variables involved with mirror matches.

Currently, 100% of Jin Air players have advanced through. Do you think the others will make it through as well?

Everyone is really good vs Protoss so I can’t help but feel that we won’t have any trouble. But every one of our groups is difficult. But I think we can make it through as long as we just prepare well.

There will be a group selection ceremony. How do you plan on using your pick?

I’m just going to pick my first guy and then stay still. I want to make sure there are no Terrans in my group but I have a feeling I won’t have to worry about that since all the other players will probably pick the Terran players first since Terran is the weaker race.

Did you get to go on a vacation?

I received break time but I stayed in the team house only. I have no plans to go anywhere even If I do get the time. Time actually flows better since I’m just comfortably lazing around (laughs).

Jin Air made it to the playoffs but wasn’t able to advance to the finals. Wasn’t that disappointing?

I wanted to make it all the way to the finals since this was my first Proleague appearance ever but I wasn’t even able to play during the third match day as we ended up losing so I wasn’t feel good about that. But I still think we did well.

Anyone specific you’d like to face this season?

I think it will be fun to face Dear. I’ve lost to him a lot in the past. But I have found confidence these days because I won. I want to face him again no matter what.

Looking at the WCS standings for points, it looks like you won’t be at the Global Finals. What do you think about that?

That’s why I currently regret not attending many overseas tournaments (laughs). Because of that, I plan to work really hard for the KeSPA Cup.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank the supervisor and the coach.

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: If you click on that icon, it will take you to the interview for that group's match winners

[Interviews] 2014 GSL Season 3 Code S Ro32 Winners

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