EPT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/QNzhTiE.png)
Group A
MarineKing, INnoVationGroup B
sOs, RainGroup C
Soulkey, sKyHighGroup D
Bbyong, ZestMVP_MarineKing![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/f5agwcR.jpg)
Source: inven eSpots
How do you feel about advancing out of your group as first into the quarter-finals after not having done so for a while?
It has been such a long time since I’ve participated in an individual league. Just the fact that I could travel to the gaming studio and play matches made me glad. There was a good chance that my energy could have died since I was facing such tough opponents but I took on my matches by believing in myself so I think my performance came out well. It feels really good to feel the gladness of winning again.
How did you feel after your found out about your group?
I’ve never faced the top players in a league before so all I had to go on was that I heard that they were good players. But rather than focus on the players themselves, I just focused on my plays since I felt that my skills had increased a lot through practicing.
Your games got severely delayed towards the middle so did that affect you in any way?
Thing is, I arrived without eating dinner so I was planning on eating after finishing my matches off fast (laughs). So I took that delay opportunity and went out to grab something simple to eat and thanks to that, my mind became calm so I think I used it well.
In your opinion, do you think you’ve revived?
I performed even better than I anticipated for myself (laughs). But since I’m at a level where things are just starting for me, I don’t think I’ll receive recognition until I win whatever tournament I’m in.
While you were temporarily gone, soO took over the Kong line.
I think soO is the best Zerg player. But I felt bad for him because it felt like I was watching my old self whenever he went into a finals (laughs). I also feel bad that I can’t help him out even though I want to since I haven’t actually overcome that area myself yet.
There is a chance that you could end up facing soO for the quarter-finals.
Proleague is bo1 format but I am confident against whoever I face for a boX format.
The notion is that the current top three Terran players are Maru, INnoVation, and Flash. What do you think?
There is no doubt that they are good players. But if I can revive this momentum from today and I’m able to find my feel for the game a lot, then I will make sure to work hard so that I can raise my name up into that spot.
Anything else you would like to say?
I want to thank my teammates Center, YongHwa, SalvatioN, Dignitas’ Seed, and Invasion’s GuMiho for helping me with practice. I want to thank supervisor Choya for creating a comfortable environment in which players can practice in. As a supervisor, he is clearly known for his pros and cons. I’ve stated his pros in this interview, so I’ll state his cons in the next (laughs). Lastly, I want to thank our sponsor Lotte Chilsung.
SK Telecom T1 INnoVation![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/gNnymtD.jpg)
Source: inven eSports
How do you feel about advancing into the quarter-finals as second from your group?
My group was really difficult but I’m glad that I was able to make it through even if it was tiring. I’m going to work hard so that I can show a better form for the quarter-finals.
Your first match against herO was a total loss. If you had to explain the situation?
I got nervous and I also hadn’t adjusted the monitor properly.
The winners’ match got delayed so the losers’ match was played first.
I didn’t really think of it as a big deal. If things had progressed as usual then it would have been tiring since the wait time would have been long so it wasn’t bad.
You seemed to be bringing yourself back through the losers’ match.
My condition was not perfect. But I think I was able to grab a one end difference and win because Stats also didn’t seem to be in good condition.
How did you feel when you met herO again in the final match?
Recently, I had lost a lot to herO. So I wasn’t feeling confident, but I found confidence after I won game one of the final match. Then I thought to myself that I might be able to win the second game as well if I rode this momentum.
Have you finished adapting to SKT?
I feel relatively at ease because Proleague hasn’t started yet. I think I won’t know for sure until Proleague begins.
In the WCS Global Finals, you got eliminated in the quarter-finals. Wasn’t that disappointing?
Even though it was disappointing, I didn’t have any regrets since I knew TaeJa was such a good player.
Anything else you would like to say?
(Unfortunately inven never asked INno this question :/)
mYinsanity_Rain![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/dwHSduz.jpg)
Source: inven eSports
How do you feel about winning today?
I could have advanced out easily but I ended up getting caught because I wasn’t able to properly check on what sOs was doing in my match against him. I think I was able to advance because I got lucky. My performance today was just so so.
Your matches against sOs were quite exciting.
I am good friends with sOs on a regular basis. He tells me that he doesn’t practice regularly but he did so good today against me. I felt that he actually may have practiced a lot (laughs). I lost because there was a difference in our build order.
You grabbed a sure victory in the losers’ match.
Today’s matches were tiring though. I won in the build order battle. I actually should have won easily for game one because of my build order but I ended up struggling.
It looked like you preferred to use a lot of oracles in your PvTs. Was there a reason?
I just used them because the maps weren’t good. I think oracles are not that good right now. If I’m up against Terran players who have worked hard on playing against oracle related plays then they’re more than capable of blocking it.
You joined a new team, mYi. Was there a specific reason?
I received a lot of offers from various teams. But mYi was the most aggressive one. I chose them because I wanted to play with a free feeling first and foremost. I also think it was a good choice because they have other Korean players.
Have you made friends with the other players?
We have our own mYi skype chat. But we can’t seem to talk to each other well so I haven’t befriended them yet. I hope to become friends with them fast.
You are now streaming.
There’s no real benefit to that though. I do it because it is purely fun. I also like to communicate with my viewers. I can also show my skills as much as I want.
Anything else you would like to say?
This was my first televised match after moving teams. I am proud and glad that the result was good. I have yet to win a championship this year. So I want to win one no matter what before the year ends.
CJ Entus Bbyong![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/0SaWX36.jpg)
Source: inven eSports
How do you feel about advancing to the quarter-finals?
I’m not really good at TvP but the maps were good for me. Terran is not a good race at all. It’s to the point where we need to have emergency meetings regarding balance (laughs).
CJ Terrans are doing well for HOT6 CUP.
I think our practice skills are finally blooming now. I think that sKyHigh hyung has good skill overall but he really excels within the team.
You showed us an amazing engagement. Was that strategy prepared beforehand?
I feel like PartinG gets taken aback whenever he faces me. I also engaged well against Zest. I normally pursue that kind of play style on a regular basis, but today’s strategies were me benchmarking the strategies that sKyHigh hyung often uses.
You will face sKyHigh for the quarter-finals.
sKyHigh hyung is really good at TvT. I seem to undergo team kills often. But I feel little pressure regarding the fact that it’s a mirror match since you’re always bound to meet teammates at a high place if you’re a good player. I’ve seen him play from the sides before and I also think it’s better to face him than Flash. After all, don’t I give Flash a lot of wins?
What are your goals for this tournament?
I was feeling really anxious today. All I could think was that I needed to get over this Ro16 hurdle. After watching Group C’s matches yesterday, I thought to myself that I could even get to the semi-finals as long as I did well. I think that thought probably came to me because Flash, who is cumbersome to play against, got eliminated.
Anyone you don’t want to face?
My main enemy is Protoss. For some reason, on a regular basis, when I look like I’m winning for sure, and then I end up losing, it’s like a complete and boring loss. What I showed you today was not all that Terran is capable of (laughs).
Anything else you would like to say?
Personally, this week was really tiring. But I think I’ll be able to spend a comfortable weekend this week since I won today. I want to tell myself that I did a job well done. I also want to thank all my Protoss teammates for helping me with practice.
Interviews by taeaholic:
Zest, sKyHigh, Soulkey, sOs+ Show Spoiler +
I translated an interview Zest did with eSports Daily afterwards:
It was hard, but you succeeded in advancing to the Quarter Finals. How do you feel?.
Honestly, today I felt confident enough to even beat Terran and thought I could finish in 1st place, but I was pushed around more than I expected so it seems I ended up losing. I wanted to show live that I can do well against Terran too, so I’m frustrated.
You were defeated by Terran once again, this doesn’t help your image of being weak against them…
The original maps needed to be changed this season and the maps being used this time are good for Terran. At least on maps I’m capable at I can blame it on my ability, but it’s usually hard to win against Terran on those maps.
It looked like you were getting contained.
If Terran contain you, you must block them from the absolute start. If you can’t do that you’ll continue to get pushed around, and I was unable to block the first one. I depended on watching him play against Won Lee-sak (PartinG) as my preparation, but after suffering the mines in Set 1 strangely the match didn’t turn out very well.
You’ve ended up against Zerg in the Quarter Final.
I’m not sure, but I think at live matches I might have better results against Zerg than Terran, but I have similar confidence with both races. Still, I feel more comfortable facing Zerg live.
Unfortunately, you were eliminated in the World Championship Series Global Final.
Since I was overseas for 3 weeks I wasn’t able to practice much during that time. Being defeated by Lee Seung-hyun (Life) really knocked my confidence, but since my Quarter Final opponent is Kim Min-chul (Soulkey) I have confidence.
It could have helped you make 2014 your year.
My poor results in Seasons 2 and 3 and the Global Final are frustrating. I’ve been told I’ve done well this year but personally I feel my results don’t seem satisfactory. If I can finish the year by winning the Hot6ix Cup I think it will help me feel at least a little more satisfied.
Do you have any final words?
I want to thank my team-mates and Nam Ki-woong (Hurricane) for helping me practice. It’s also Coach Kang Doh-gyung’s (H.O.T-Forever) birthday on Sunday, so I’d like to wish him a Happy Birthday.
Here's sKyHigh for you~~
You played Kim Doh-woo (Classic) and Lee Youing-ho (Flash), both of which have had good pace lately, consecutively and caught them out.
I feel really great. Since I passed the Qualifying Round I felt like I could beat anything. Lee Young-ho (Flash) has been getting good results in foreign competitions and Kim Doh-woo (Classic) made it to the WCS Round of 16, and I felt my pace improving as I was defeating them.
Your final game against Lee Young-ho (Flash) was really impressive.
I came with the mindset that I will not lose to Terran. I've been confident against Terran since Starcraft 1, and Starcraft 2 is no different.
In your first set against Lee Yong-ho (Flash) you had to pull a reversal, and then in set 2 you won overwhelmingly.
I trapped Lee Young-ho (Flash) with psychological warfare. Lately I often end up playing against him in ladder matches, and I had a build I used every time. This time I changed that strategy pattern and as a result I was able to dominate him.
Who would you like to face in the Quarter Final?
I want to avoid my team-mate Jung Woo-yong (BByong). I don't care who it is as long as they're Terran or Protoss, and I wouldn't mind Joo Sung-wook (Zest) either.
What kind of resolve do you have going into the Hot6ix Cup Quarter Final?
My fans have had to wait a really long time to see me play, I've had very little chance to show them me playing Starcraft 2. I'll try harder so that they can see me play well and more often.
And here's Soulkey too
You got through by beating Terran players Jo Byung-se (sKyHigh) and Lee Young-ho (Flash).
It's not easy playing against Terran since they have a lot of different play patterns layely, so I prepared in several different ways. I've not looked very good in 2014, but I'm preparing hard to change that in 2015.
You often moved aggressive.
I'm practising in a lot of diverse ways, and it seems like an aggressive approach is best for live matches. I do it since I realise everyone thinks I plan for mid-to-late-game.
Your first set against Lee Yong-ho (Flash) was really difficult.
I thought I'd lost. When I tried attacking with the Banelings I did so thinking "I need to believe in my luck". I was really lucky.
Who are you hoping to face in the Quarter Final?
I want to play against Jin Air Green Wing's Ha Jae-sang (Terminator), it seems like I can easily beat him and get through to the Semi-Final. I hope he can become a support for my revival. It doesn't seem like Ha Jae-sang (Terminator) has much chance of surviving, but he practised hard so I hope he makes it to the Quarter Final (laughs).
Are you close with Ha Jae-sang (Terminator)?
Yes, we're close. He seems to understand how I feel.
And sOs
Any thoughts on advancing to the Quarter Final?
I had a couple of difficult matches where I had to come from behind to win so I feel really good. Personally I thought Group B was the worst group to be in so I’m even happier about finishing in 1st place.
You managed to defend against Jun Tae-yang (TY) in a dramatic Set 3.
Since I’d already shown my proxy Stargate strategy in Sets 1 and 2, I was wondering how he might prepare for Set 3. I thought he might try a concussive shells Marauder rush, so I established a safe strategy and easily stopped him.
Your proxy Pylon strategy in Set 1 broke down.
Even when I’m practising I’m not very good at placing pylons well, so difficult situations often come up. Because it was the most important match today I concentrated on placing them well, but I still messed up. I need to practise more before next time (laughs).
You used the proxy Stargate strategy again in Set 2.
Jun Tae-yang (TY) seems to plan for the early game, so I used it to try and shake him. It seems I was able to get through this time by successfully mobilising my Stalkers and Zealots.
Did you plan the proxy Gateway strategy you used in Set 2 with Jun Yoon-jong (Rain) beforehand?
It was impulsive. In Set 1 I wrongly thought I had the advantage and could easily win, but Jun Yoon-jong (Rain) had good sense to attack with Dark Templars mixed in with his army. Actually, I went into Set 2 with more of a care-free attitude and was just going to see what happened. Even if my worker was discovered, if I had won as a result, would it not have been a successful strategy?
You’re facing Lee Shin-hyung (INnoVation) in the Quarter Final.
At last year’s WCS Season 1 Finals he defeated me completely. Back then he was a player everyone thought was unstoppable, and I still think he’s a great player now, but I don’t think he’s Super S grade. If I try hard I can beat him.
You couldn’t go to Blizzcon, was that not frustrating?.
I took consolation in the fact it gave me some time to rest, but after seeing the others playing at Blizzcon I felt regretful and thought “I should have been playing in that seat”. Since I expect I’ll show even more strange strategies in the Quarter Final, I hope Lee Shin-hyung (INnoVation) comes back after doing a lot of thinking.
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
