TL.net: First off, congratulations! Did you expect to go through the qualifier on the first place?
MarineLorD: Hey, thanks, honestly I thought I had very low chances. I had good confidence in my TvP and my TvT, but I was afraid of the few best zergs in Europe, especially Snute and Nerchio. So, no I wasn't expecting to do that well at all.
So Nerchio probably was the toughest opponent you had to face, right? What makes him so hard to beat?
I had a lot of tough opponents honestly. I had a tough series against SortOf. Bunny was a little bit scary, the guy didn't practice the past year or whatever and he won against ShoWTimE, so I had to play very well. Against PtitDrogo I felt confident, but I had a really tough Bo5 against him—adept power—but yeah, it's obviously true that Nerchio is very good.
At the same time his gameplay is making the game really unfun to me. For example, on Frozen Temple / Galactic Process the chance of a 3rax reaper is decently high (very strong on those two maps). So a zerg shouldn't always open hatch first, especially on those two maps… Nerchio opened hatch first both times this time, he got lucky on Galactic and unlucky on Frozen. I think the early game is very random this year—more than ever—which makes it very frustrating as a pro. In a macro game I felt like it would be close vs Nerchio and most likely if the map was zerg favoured I would lose, if the map was terran favoured I would win.
Do you think the random nature of the game will help you out against the Koreans, or is it more to your disadvantage?
It depends on what the match-up is, as it can always help to be lucky of course. But I feel like those top Koreans aren't going to let me play with the luck and lock this "luck part" of the game away by accepting to be behind with a very safe opener, especially in TvZ and TvP. My best chance would be to have a zerg group and show something that was never really used in competitive matches. They play 20 times more than me, so I can't really play them in a fair macro game, as I'm most likely worse than them.
In my opinion ZvT is way easier to play from the zerg side than the terran side, so if you add both those thoughts together my chance in an extremely normal game vs a top world zerg opponent are not high. I also want to dodge terran, every time I come to Korea from Europe with my 80 to 90% winrate, I start with a great 20 to 30% winrate in TvT in practice there.
Speaking of going to Korea: Is qualifying for an event in Korea anything special for you, or do you treat it as any other tournament?
The level is way higher for the same prize, it's going to be really tough. I'm just going enjoy to see my favourite players play with / next to me, and I’ll make sure that those few days of practice make me good enough to do very well in WESG Kiev. I only had one competitive goal toward the end of this year, which is to qualify for the main event in China, and considering it will probably be on the new huge patch, I think my chances will be way higher than usually, like it was at Nation Wars.
Of the three Korean terrans in KeSPA Cup—ByuN, Maru, TY—with which one would like to practice the most?
On this current patch, it's very, very hard to say. Maru didn't do well at all outside of Proleague, but he is a god and it’s hard to rate him. I would love to know more about his TvZ. ByuN is the best player of the three, but he is streaming and he plays in every online cup, which gives me a lot of knowledge from him already. TY is very weird to me: Sometimes I love his style and it will fit me, sometimes he will play stuff that doesn't fit me at all, so I guess with a lot of thinking I would choose Maru.
What’s your opinion on the number of Global Events this year—would you like more opportunities to play against Koreans?
As usual Blizzard said they would give us a few Global Events, in the end we only have one in Korea—it doesn't surprise me anymore. But yes, obviously I would love at least two or three really big Global Events per year with foreigners against Koreans.
Nerchio just beat ByuN in SHOUTcraft, do you think he can win KeSPA Cup? Who's your favourite?
I honestly feel Nerchio can do very well vs terran, especially when you don't know him his ZvT is extremely tough. He is going to be very ahead vs most normal builds, but because of his lack of scouting if you do something weird to him he might die, if you play normal he will be ahead and kill you—your name being MarineLorD or ByuN won't change this fact. It's hard to say. I feel like since two months protoss isn't broken anymore, like it was the past three years, so I think every top tier player does have a chance. I'd say herO, Stats, Solar and ByuN are favoured.
What would mean more to you: The glory of being the first foreigner to win a Korean tournament in SC2, or banking 200.000$ from WESG?
I'm going to KeSPA Cup to slay as many Korean as I can, not to win it all honestly. If the WESG final is confirmed to be on the new patch, I'll practice as hard as for Nation Wars and I'll do my best to take the trophy home.
That is a great statement, we look forward to it! Thank you for taking the time to talk to us. Any shoutouts, special mentions or banter before we end this?
Thanks to you for the interview, shoutout to Millenium and my sponsors Logitech, Orange and Alienware. I'll do my best to change those professional Korean gamers, so they'll become some great memers before the end of the event.
Why is the other interview from Olli and not the TL Esports account? Nice interview, even though losing that much kinda humbled him against his will. It'll be an interesting event for sure.
On September 18 2016 04:50 Poopi wrote: Why is the other interview from Olli and not the TL Esports account? Nice interview, even though losing that much kinda humbled him against his will. It'll be an interesting event for sure.
Olli had only time for one interview, so I gladly jumped in. Both players gave us some pretty badass statements, KeSPA Cup is pretty fucking hype!
Yeah having hype interviews before it is amazing thank you both for the coverage . Nerchio streak came at the perfect timing to add fuel to the hype fire, with MLorD statements as well the games will have even greater stakes :D.
On September 18 2016 05:13 stardog wrote: After reading that title I was expecting an arrogant, teasing interview but in fact it was rather calm and balanced. Quite a clickbait headline
At this point after Nerchio and uThermy's interviews i think it's just intentional to enrage non-believers :D
Love the confidence from MLord and Godchio! Can't wait for KeSPA Cup!!!
Now, we just need to see an interview from Neeb. I want to know how confident he is and whether he thinks he'll rek Korean nerds or if he's more passive aggressive :D
seems like every foreigner now fighting to beat Koreans, cant wait too see their performances in big offline tours, in front of big crowd and big prize money.
On September 18 2016 11:18 zealotstim wrote: How much more do the Koreans actually practice than foreigners? I'm curious what the general impression is.
Hard to say because Foreigners don't have all the same training regimen. For instance, Nerchio seems to play a lot, MLorD much less (and he stopped playing for a few months at the beginning of the season too).
I think it's safe to say that Snute, Nerchio and such play probably as many hours or so as most of Koreans players, but that most of foreigners might be playing from one third to one half less.
The main issue anyway is not how many hours you play, but much more the quality of your training. Koreans have teams, which ups the quality significantly. And even when the don't have a team, like ByuN, they have more practice partners available it seems.
There is also a mindset and "intelligence" factor, which is hard to estimate but is a big factor in my opinion considering training quality. I'm thinking about MVP or TaeJa for instance, who couldn't play that much because of health issues, or Stephano, who couldn't play that much neither because of laziness and booze. (You can read this interview of TaeJa)
How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
On September 19 2016 00:29 Mlord wrote: How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
Winning is arrogant, you gotta stick with showing good games
On September 19 2016 00:29 Mlord wrote: How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
Don't take it seriously, it's just funny because historically foreigners get thrashed. Everyone on here wants you guys can to do your best at KeSPA cup
On September 19 2016 00:29 Mlord wrote: How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
Foreigners vs koreans is the most hype you can get in SC2. I'd trade one Dimaga win vs nestea or one bandana terran all kill off IM against all proleague finals. So, foreigners gotta go out there and represent and don't give a shit about the little cynics.
On September 19 2016 00:29 Mlord wrote: How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
In general fans have become cynical. We look up to foreigners and put all our trust in them and time and time again we are let down. Of course occasionally you have that one run, but for each of those you have a 100 full foreigner runs.
On September 19 2016 00:29 Mlord wrote: How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
Winning is arrogant, you gotta stick with showing good games
On September 19 2016 00:29 Mlord wrote: How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
In general fans have become cynical. We look up to foreigners and put all our trust in them and time and time again we are let down. Of course occasionally you have that one run, but for each of those you have a 100 full foreigner runs.
Also it's very important for your narratives that the foreigners fail. That way you can shit on Blizzard and use "welfare" in a few more sentences.
On September 19 2016 00:29 Mlord wrote: How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
In general fans have become cynical. We look up to foreigners and put all our trust in them and time and time again we are let down. Of course occasionally you have that one run, but for each of those you have a 100 full foreigner runs.
Things have also changed this year. Foreigners have notably practiced more, especially players like Nerchio who is a god now, and, imo, one of the biggest differences between foreigners and Koreans has been stage experience and mentality. We saw time and time again that foreigners got a lead vs a big name Korean then tilted on the big stage and that's because they so rarely had experience on it. Both of those have improved significantly. Foreigner SC2 isn't throws into more throws anymore and that makes all the difference.
Yes Blizzard, more global events please! What's the point of injecting more life into the foreign scene if we don't get to see them play against the best of the best!
On September 19 2016 23:12 ReachTheSky wrote: It's much easier to "slay koreans" now that the majority of highly skilled/top tier koreans have either retired or gone back to bw.
Yea, Mlord's life got a lot easier now that DRG is gone
On September 19 2016 23:12 ReachTheSky wrote: It's much easier to "slay koreans" now that the majority of highly skilled/top tier koreans have either retired or gone back to bw.
Yea, Mlord's life got a lot easier now that DRG is gone
I don't think the issue is retirement at all. The problem is actually very little new blood in the scene.
On September 19 2016 00:29 Mlord wrote: How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
In general fans have become cynical. We look up to foreigners and put all our trust in them and time and time again we are let down. Of course occasionally you have that one run, but for each of those you have a 100 full foreigner runs.
Also it's very important for your narratives that the foreigners fail. That way you can shit on Blizzard and use "welfare" in a few more sentences.
More like white privilege or xenophobic hate mongering than welfare. 2016 WCS will be as effective as Trump's 2017 Mexican border wall.
On September 19 2016 23:12 ReachTheSky wrote: It's much easier to "slay koreans" now that the majority of highly skilled/top tier koreans have either retired or gone back to bw.
Or got arrested. But saying "majority" is a gross overstatement. Also many top tier foreigners retired so it's easier for Koreans too :o
On September 19 2016 00:29 Mlord wrote: How is it arrogant to say that i am going to try to do my best and win as many match as i can? Wtf is wrong with half of the sc2 fan scene shitting on foreigner all the time while we try our best to make the foreigner scene look decent
who said it's arrogant? the only thing I saw was this
On September 18 2016 05:13 stardog wrote: After reading that title I was expecting an arrogant, teasing interview but in fact it was rather calm and balanced. Quite a clickbait headline
and it said that the title sounded arrogant but the interview not. nothing wrong with that is it?
On September 19 2016 23:12 ReachTheSky wrote: It's much easier to "slay koreans" now that the majority of highly skilled/top tier koreans have either retired or gone back to bw.
On September 19 2016 23:12 ReachTheSky wrote: It's much easier to "slay koreans" now that the majority of highly skilled/top tier koreans have either retired or gone back to bw.
Yeah. Jaedong, effort and Flash. Titans of sc2.
Suck at BW, go to SC2. Suck at SC2, go to BW. Will the cycle continue?
Props to Mlord for showing the balls that make this gig fun.
Ignore the clickbait title. It was a very insightful interview overall.
The biggest takeaway for me is this:
I think the early game is very random this year—more than ever—which makes it very frustrating as a pro.
LOTV is volatile, and even the Koreans feel it too (that's what they mean when they describe the game as "hard", I believe). The good news is that a foreigner or wild card stands a good chance of winning this. The bad news is that whoever wins it, the victory is rather hollow, considering the current game state.
On September 19 2016 23:12 ReachTheSky wrote: It's much easier to "slay koreans" now that the majority of highly skilled/top tier koreans have either retired or gone back to bw.
On September 19 2016 23:12 ReachTheSky wrote: It's much easier to "slay koreans" now that the majority of highly skilled/top tier koreans have either retired or gone back to bw.
On September 19 2016 23:12 ReachTheSky wrote: It's much easier to "slay koreans" now that the majority of highly skilled/top tier koreans have either retired or gone back to bw.
On September 29 2016 20:39 DalaiiLameR wrote: well, thats not to many koreans he slayed o0
that's as many as possible though
I guess it's a good experience for him, dunno if he plans to focus more on sc2 next year, but this year 2016 has been rich and full of emotions for him...
well given how strong korean terrans are (and thus how good the other races are vsT), it was quite impossible to do any better. Any experience is a good experience!
On September 29 2016 20:45 fLyiNgDroNe wrote: well given how strong korean terrans are (and thus how good the other races are vsT), it was quite impossible to do any better. Any experience is a good experience!
good point. the koreans are used to play against guys like byun or ty, so its alot harder for a foreign terran player to be successfull in korea.
Despite 0-4 he did well. Ofcourse things could go better (micro/macro wise) but thats always the case. No one can say he didnt tried or died to silly things, he did fight for it and showed imho good games.
On September 29 2016 21:14 PinoKotsBeer wrote: Despite 0-4 he did well. Ofcourse things could go better (micro/macro wise) but thats always the case. No one can say he didnt tried or died to silly things, he did fight for it and showed imho good games.
Losing reaper to slow ling and queen = doing well XDDD ok
On September 29 2016 21:14 PinoKotsBeer wrote: Despite 0-4 he did well. Ofcourse things could go better (micro/macro wise) but thats always the case. No one can say he didnt tried or died to silly things, he did fight for it and showed imho good games.
Losing reaper to slow ling and queen = doing well XDDD ok
That was the only thing he really messed up and it was when the pressure was highest.
On September 29 2016 21:14 PinoKotsBeer wrote: Despite 0-4 he did well. Ofcourse things could go better (micro/macro wise) but thats always the case. No one can say he didnt tried or died to silly things, he did fight for it and showed imho good games.
Losing reaper to slow ling and queen = doing well XDDD ok
XDDD on not being able to understand the part "ofcourse things could go better" , he showed good games in the other 3 and the reaper bunker micro was good. But yeah, lets focus only on the mistakes, raise your pitchforks, riot and act supercilious.
On September 29 2016 21:14 PinoKotsBeer wrote: Despite 0-4 he did well. Ofcourse things could go better (micro/macro wise) but thats always the case. No one can say he didnt tried or died to silly things, he did fight for it and showed imho good games.
Losing reaper to slow ling and queen = doing well XDDD ok
Trap lost a scouting probe to a single marine lol = ok xDDD
I didn't see the games vs Solar so I can't comment but he didn't look like a scrub at all vs Trap. It looked like he wasn't used to play against such mechanical opponents, he defended pretty well in g1 but not enough to really be in control. G2 he didn't try to scout for nearby warp prism with some medivacs before going out on the map and it cost him the game. All in all he looked like a mid/low+ tier Korean Terran such as aLive or Forte, which is still a good feat for someone with so little experience in the booth.
It surely gave him a nice experience, hopefully he will finish 2016 nicely.
It looked like he wasn't used to play against such mechanical opponents = It looked like he wasn't used to play against such superior opponents.
I'll never understand the prepdisposition to call korean players mechanical when they are better player. It's not like if he was used to "mechanical players" the games would had changed. If they weren't korean what would you have called them? Better macro? More precise? More skillful. I'll be honest though. Marinelord looked fine; Solar and Trap just played better.
Nerchios reading this thread like oh crap I better not fuck up!
Remember to take them xanax pills to help calm u down boy. Its so easy to talk tough after ur ego inflates isn't it? That smug attitude will go away quickly
On September 29 2016 23:47 Dangermousecatdog wrote: It looked like he wasn't used to play against such mechanical opponents = It looked like he wasn't used to play against such superior opponents.
I'll never understand the prepdisposition to call korean players mechanical when they are better player. It's not like if he was used to "mechanical players" the games would had changed. If they weren't korean what would you have called them? Better macro? More precise? More skillful. I'll be honest though. Marinelord looked fine; Solar and Trap just played better.
I didn't find Trap better more like PvT easier to win. The main thing is apart from ShowTIME and Neeb in foreign starcraft, there are no protoss at the level of MLorD. Since afaik those two don't play a heavy harass style such as the one displayed by Trap (DT warp prism + blink stalkers), it's kind of hard to be totally prepared against such play. He defended nicely.
EPT
Snute and 
Bunny was a little bit scary, the guy didn't practice the past year or whatever and he won against 
ShoWTimE, so I had to play very well. Against 
.
