EPTKT Stats’ Declaration “I will prove that I am the proud son of -”
http://sports.naver.com/esports/news/read.nhn?oid=347&aid=0000087168
KT Rolster’s Stats called his parents right after he defeated Solar at the loser’s finals. Upon hearing the news of their son’s first finals in 8 years, his parents remarked shortly, “We’re proud. Good job.” Stats says he feels they ended the call soon because they thought he would be busy, and wants to have a long talk with them after he has hoisted that Starleague trophy.
SKT1’s Dark is not an easy opponent for Stats. In the winner’s bracket, it was Dark who knocked him down 3-0, and Dark’s ZvP is on point with an astonishing 10-1 winrate. Stats quoted “I think I got the hang of his playstyle” and continued, “I will have plenty of room to win if I don’t take too much damage from his aggressive plays early on.”
Stats, who is vying for the top spot in an individual league for the first time in 8 years, wants to win “for my parents, who gave birth and raised me, for KT Rolster, who was my team since high school, and for me, who is trying for his first league victory since his progamer debut.”
Here are some Q&As.
Q. Time for the Starleague Finals. Are you nervous?
A. I think I got it all out of my system during my games with Solar. I’m practicing comfortably now. I might get nervous again at the actual place. I think I’ll know when I get there.
Q. You lost vs Dark in the winner’s bracket 0-3.
I didn’t get anything to go right from the start. My build orders were messed up every game. I was focusing on my mid-late game so I was heavily shook by Dark’s aggression. However, now that I’ve experienced it, I think I can deal with it.
Q. Protoss players seem to have a lot on their mind for PvZ.
Many do say it is a hard matchup and I agree with them. It gets better once you get to the mid-late game with a good composition, but it’s hard to get there.
Q. What is Dark’s specialty?
A. He comes in hard and fast in the early game. I couldn’t do anything last time because I took too much damage from it.
Q. So do you think the Bo7 format favors you?
A. During the loser’s finals with Solar, I learned a lot of things. After my first two wins, I lost the next three. Although I could have broken apart and let it all slip, I clawed myself back. I think I have the mentality to win a series, thanks to my experience.
Q. Dark’s Lurkers are one hell of a unit.
I think getting through his Lurker aggression will be the key factor in the mid game. Even if you stop his early aggression, it’s hard to make moves when the Zerg sieges you with Lurkers. I have a few solutions, and I will show them off during the finals.
Q. For the KT Protoss, Zest’s victory at the IEM World Championship is the last victory. It has been over a year.
A. I think that is all due to my incompetence in the individual leagues. I reached the Ro4 in Starleague twice in a row after Zest’s IEM win, but I couldn’t make it to the finals. If I had, things might be different, and that’s a regret I have.
Q. How’s practice?
A. Leenock and Losira are helping me with various strategies. Manager and coach are going around other teams, trying to find more Zergs. I think I’ll get enough practice.
Q. It’s your first finals since debut. Is there anything to say?
A. Since my debut, KT Rolster has been my only team. I think I’m one of the slowest starters out there. I want to repay my team through a victory in Starleague. I told my parents and they told me they were proud. They’re coming all the way from Daejeon to see me play. I want to show them that I am a proud son and a good progamer.
There is also one for Dark, and Park Sanjin's e-Story on both.
I'll see if I can get them both.
Meanwhile, go STATS!
