With this particular finals ahead of me, I had a lot of worries. For a long time, people had this image of me that I would always lose whenever I went up against a teammate. Having to undergo a team-kill in the finals was really cumbersome. But I approached my match after letting go of those feelings and it ended up getting me a good result.
It must have been difficult to prepare for the finals.
Both TY and I chose one teammate to help us practice. I focused practicing with jjakji and TY chose to practice with Stats. Whenever we’d meet up with each other we’d joke around a lot. We’d say things like, “Hey, why are you working so hard?” And, “Practice went so well for me yesterday.” We’d show off to each other and joke around like that so that we could enjoy ourselves while preparing for our match.
You fell in game one to TY’s multi-tasking aggression.
As game one was going on, I noticed just how well TY was utilizing the map. My mentality busted open and I was on the verge of becoming someone that wasn’t Zest. But I was able to cut that off because of game two and I was able to prevent that kind of change from occurring.
You won game two really easily.
That strategy was almost entirely formulated by jjakji alone. The use of the warp prism and the unit composition that was needed, and even the build order itself was all possible because I listened as much as I could to jjakji’s advice. He was a really big help.
You faced a lot of Terrans this tournament. Was TY the best out of all of them?
After playing against TY today, I was able to realize once again just how cumbersome of an opponent TY can be. The TY that I knew all this time during practice was not the TY that showed up on the finals stage. When TY performs on camera, especially on a finals stage, he becomes much more stylish.
What was the deciding factor?
As I mentioned before, it has to be game two. I lost an advantageous game one so I was about to lose it. If I had lost game two as well then I would have become someone else other than Zest. But I decided to play it strategically and I was able to grapple onto my mentality again and also grab the momentum.
TY made the mistake of constructing two factories in game six. Were you aware of this?
I scouted it using my oracle. I assumed it was a result of him being so preoccupied with trying to handle the adept/oracle pressure. So I figured I’d be fine if I just kept making the right units and blocked his attacks well.
You’ve grabbed a WCS Global Finals placement spot.
All this time, I’ve kept on getting matched up against strong players for the Ro16 so I kept on getting eliminated. So I hope that this time around that some bracket luck will follow me. I’m sure that I can think about aiming for the championship as long as I can just get to the Ro8. I want to win the Global Finals as well.
In the GSL/SSL crossover match, there will be three KT players and SKT’s Dark present.
I know that I’ll be going up against Stats. I have a lot things that I need to pay back to Stats. I want to win my match against him this time and break the image of being weak in team-kill matches. And I also want to face a Zerg. Since Dark is the SSL champion, if I beat him then that means I can become the best champion.
Were you able to say anything to TY afterwards?
We didn’t really have much time to talk. I just let him know that he did a job well done and I also said that I thought I was going to lose because he did so well in game one.
Anything else you would like to say?
I don’t ever want to undergo a team-kill again. Even though I have to endure one anyways for the crossover match, it doesn’t change the fact that I dislike them. Since it was difficult for us to prepare for our match, I want to let TY know that I understand how much he suffered and also thank jjakji for helping me with practice. As promised, I’m going to treat him to something big. I want to thank the supervisor and the coach, and thank my mother, my family, and my friends for coming from so far away to cheer me on. I am able to find more and more strength because of my fans that kept cheering me on. Lastly, through this championship victory, I want to become a Zest that can fly to even higher heights.
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 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
On May 02 2016 17:34 Seeker wrote: You won game two really easily.
That strategy was almost entirely formulated by jjakji alone. The use of the warp prism and the unit composition that was needed, and even the build order itself was all possible because I listened as much as I could to jjakji’s advice. He was a really big help.
From someone as smart as Zest, this is remarkable praise. As always Seeker, thank you for the translation.
On May 02 2016 17:34 Seeker wrote: You won game two really easily.
That strategy was almost entirely formulated by jjakji alone. The use of the warp prism and the unit composition that was needed, and even the build order itself was all possible because I listened as much as I could to jjakji’s advice. He was a really big help.
From someone as smart as Zest, this is remarkable praise. As always Seeker, thank you for the translation.
People tend to forget, but jjakji is a very smart player.
On May 02 2016 17:34 Seeker wrote: You won game two really easily.
That strategy was almost entirely formulated by jjakji alone. The use of the warp prism and the unit composition that was needed, and even the build order itself was all possible because I listened as much as I could to jjakji’s advice. He was a really big help.
From someone as smart as Zest, this is remarkable praise. As always Seeker, thank you for the translation.
People tend to forget, but jjakji is a very smart player.
On May 02 2016 20:03 Charoisaur wrote: It seems jjackji was a better practice partner than stats who convinced TY that it's a good idea to 2 base zest.
2 base is still viable. It's what forgg does vs some protosses. Just because he didn't succeed doesn't make it an inferior way to win.
On May 02 2016 20:03 Charoisaur wrote: It seems jjackji was a better practice partner than stats who convinced TY that it's a good idea to 2 base zest.
2 base is still viable. It's what forgg does vs some protosses. Just because he didn't succeed doesn't make it an inferior way to win.
It's not just that he didn't succeed but zest crushed those timings so easily it was laughable.
On May 02 2016 20:03 Charoisaur wrote: It seems jjackji was a better practice partner than stats who convinced TY that it's a good idea to 2 base zest.
I don't have the same insider information as you do, I was naively thinking that game 2 taught TY that being too greedy was a bad idea...
Anyway :
-game 1 : 3rd CC, win -game 2 : 3rd CC, looses to strong, well-thought build -game 3 : tries something with thors that fails, but it was prion terrace in a bo7, you gotta take chances. Moreover Zest's ultra fast third was certainly not part of the plan... -game 4 : TY goes for 5min 50 3rd CC, base trade, TY wins -game 5 : failed EB block into 2 base push to use the map specificity, it fails mainly because Zest easily fended off the first 2 medivacs 2 tanks + marines pressures -game 6 : we'll never know, but TY had prolly a 3rd planed if he hadn't built 2 factos.
So only real 2 base play is game3 (tired something, didn't work) and game 5 (Zest just outplays him) on 2 maps that are somewhat favouring agressive builds...
All this time, I’ve kept on getting matched up against strong players for the Ro16 so I kept on getting eliminated. So I hope that this time around that some bracket luck will follow me. I’m sure that I can think about aiming for the championship as long as I can just get to the Ro8. I want to win the Global Finals as well.
Well, I'm not afraid for the bracket luck in the Ro16 at BlizzCon this time. I have a feeling that... khm... every Korean will have a lucky draw.
All this time, I’ve kept on getting matched up against strong players for the Ro16 so I kept on getting eliminated. So I hope that this time around that some bracket luck will follow me. I’m sure that I can think about aiming for the championship as long as I can just get to the Ro8. I want to win the Global Finals as well.
Well, I'm not afraid for the bracket luck in the Ro16 at BlizzCon this time. I have a feeling that... khm... every Korean will have a lucky draw.
All this time, I’ve kept on getting matched up against strong players for the Ro16 so I kept on getting eliminated. So I hope that this time around that some bracket luck will follow me. I’m sure that I can think about aiming for the championship as long as I can just get to the Ro8. I want to win the Global Finals as well.
Well, I'm not afraid for the bracket luck in the Ro16 at BlizzCon this time. I have a feeling that... khm... every Korean will have a lucky draw.
Lol true
well it could be better if the weakest korean blizzcon participant lined up vs polt, then we might see WCS advance to ro8
Was rooting hard for TY, but Zest left no doubt who is best. You could see how much respect they both had for each other during the post-match interviews, as I've never seen a more subdued Starleague champion (despite Zest's obvious inner elation). Better buy Jjakji a nice meal for that preparation!
In my previous post on the finals preview, I explained why I already considered Zest the greatest Protoss in SC2. And now, his path towards being the greatest ever becomes even clearer. If 2016 becomes in essence a repeat of his historical year of '14 (as it's strongly looking like early on), there will be legitimate grounds for GOAT standing.
Before this year ends; if Zest is able to capture a third Starleague title, and/or win the WCS Global Finals, while continuing to dominate PL as KT's ace player and leading them deep into the season-ending playoffs, there will be little left for the Kingslayer to prove.
Assuming Life has left the game for good, the only other two comparables moving forward for GOAT consideration are Innovation and Maru.
The latter w/ his mind-numbing 10-0 PL record, as the ace player for a thus far historically dominant JAGW, looking like the biggest potential threat to Zest's universal claim going forward.
Wonder if jjakji would consider becoming a coach whenever he decides to retire. Or if he'll find his stride again in LotV and make one last push, like he did in 2014 before he had to move out of WCS Europe.
Congrats to Zest though! And hope TY stays strong and keeps trying, he'll get his just desserts soon enough!
On May 03 2016 04:08 Orr wrote: Awesome translation as always Seeker!
Was rooting hard for TY, but Zest left no doubt who is best. You could see how much respect they both had for each other during the post-match interviews, as I've never seen a more subdued Starleague champion (despite Zest's obvious inner elation). Better buy Jjakji a nice meal for that preparation!
In my previous post on the finals preview, I explained why I already considered Zest the greatest Protoss in SC2. And now, his path towards being the greatest ever becomes even clearer. If 2016 becomes in essence a repeat of his historical year of '14 (as it's strongly looking like early on), there will be legitimate grounds for GOAT standing.
Before this year ends; if Zest is able to capture a third Starleague title, and/or win the WCS Global Finals, while continuing to dominate PL as KT's ace player and leading them deep into the season-ending playoffs, there will be little left for the Kingslayer to prove.
Assuming Life has left the game for good, the only other two comparables moving forward for GOAT consideration are Innovation and Maru.
The latter w/ his mind-numbing 10-0 PL record, as the ace player for a thus far historically dominant JAGW, looking like the biggest potential threat to Zest's universal claim going forward.
Could happen. Crazy he was barely on the radar coming into 2014 :p
I'd say he's now the #1 Protoss in sc2 history. Even MC thinks so (MC still #1 in my heart though):
On May 02 2016 20:03 Charoisaur wrote: It seems jjackji was a better practice partner than stats who convinced TY that it's a good idea to 2 base zest.
EPT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/BFvswcj.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/teams/icons/2.png){kind=icon}
Zest![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/FwdupH4.jpg)
![[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
