When I first transitioned to StarCraft II, it wasn’t my choice. All the Brood War teams were forced to practice StarCraft II for the hybrid Proleague. At first I felt very rebellious at the notion, but I also thought it presented a real opportunity. There were already so many great players in StarCraft: Brood War that it was hard to see myself surpassing them, even after four years of experience. Gradually I started believing I could make it to the top in a new game.
I went through so much stress when I initially started. There were already many StarCraft II progamers, so there were a lot of builds and entire playstyles I had to learn. I didn't know anything about the game so I felt extremely lost at the beginning. It was very satisfying to get better as I put in effort and, although there were many times when I wanted to quit, I ultimately decided to tough it out and continued practicing hard. I thought I would be able to win a championship if I kept on working hard.
During this period there was a lot of turmoil within SK Telecom T1. Based off good results in a ranking match, the team trusted me enough to send me out in Proleague. My actual results were poor and they temporarily kicked me out. And there were times when I was hated by the fans. Once I was so stressed out that I BM’d my opponent and left a ladder game, with the screenshots ending up all over the StarCraft forums. Still, I told myself people would look upon me favorably if I continued to put in consistent effort and earned good results.
I owe my existence as a StarCraft 2 progamer to GSL: it means that much to me. I made it to the finals for the first time in late 2013 after beating Soulkey 3-0. I was so happy to have made my first finals I was euphoric, almost drunk on happiness. I felt pressured to create new builds though, and I wasted my time before the finals trying out too many different things. I ended up losing to Dear without putting up much of a fight, but at the time I was satisfied with second place.
The feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment were only halfhearted. During my struggles towards becoming good enough to reach the finals, many of my teammates quit StarCraft II. I often imagined leaving with them as I was very close with all of them and frankly, I didn't want to be part of SKT without my friends. But I eventually found that being with the new members was fun in its own right. In the end I was happy with them too.
I made it to the finals next season as well. I was very pleased but this time, I told myself I wouldn't make the same mistakes and that I would have good results if I used the preparation time efficiently. Yet I couldn’t help feeling intimidated by Zest; he was on top of his game in those days. Still, I was confident leading up to the match. My preparation went incredibly well and I put in a lot of practice. During the series I was so far ahead a few times, but unfortunately because of my hubris I was overtaken and finished second once again. On Yeonsu in particular I felt invincible. Even when I stubbornly insisted on only making mutalisk/corruptor and taking careless engagements, I thought the outcome was already decided. Whenever I daydream about the past, that match leaves me feeling so regretful. If I won back then, everything that followed might have changed.
I regained my focus and faced my next finals, a team kill against Classic. Honestly, I wasn't quite as close to Classic back then as I am now. I told myself I could play without reservations, be merciless and win no matter what. Unluckily, there was a Proleague match the day after the finals so it was difficult for either of us to get much practice. The final was obviously more important, so I didn't want to pay attention to the matches right after. But I got instructions from the team to participate in Proleague and focus solely on Proleague. In the end, Classic prepared so well that I couldn’t help but accept the results. This was the hardest loss yet. Getting second place for the third time was tough to accept mentally, and the fact that I was being nailed down as a Kong was terribly sad.
Every tournament seemed to follow the same tragic script. When I went to DreamHack Stockholm, I didn’t drop a single map until the finals. It finally felt like my opportunity to break the curse. No one seemed capable of stopping me and I had beaten Solar many times before. But once the finals began it was like something came over me. I collapsed in a 0-3 rout.
GSL Season 3 was just as bittersweet. Getting revenge on Zest in the semifinals remains one of my most vivid memories. I consider the victory one of my greatest matches and I still watch it sometimes to reminisce. This time I faced a Terran, INnoVation, in the finals. At the time I was confident in ZvT so I entered with great self-assurance. I got some advice from Soulkey that INnoVation was weak against roach/ling/bane builds and I went up 2-0 using them. I thought, “Oh, this time is really different. I could win this”. In hindsight I regret not getting advice for the next games as well. I got swept up by INnoVation’s superior planning and ended up in second place again. This time I really gave up on everything temporarily.
If anyone gets second place five times in a row they would understand what it does to you. Getting second place once didn’t affect me that much. To me it was a roadblock, a temporary hitch on my journey to winning a championship. But once it started piling up, the suffering increased tenfold. I began losing faith in my skills and my self-esteem plummeted. On top of that, it was distressing to become an object of mockery. Before, I believed becoming a good player alone was enough to garner respect from the fans. Instead I received their insults and pity. Soon I thought it was better to drop out quickly if the alternative was to suffer like that.
The only one who understood what I was going through was FanTaSy. FanTaSy had gotten second place four times in Brood War; he truly understood what I was feeling and I really appreciated his friendship through that period. We became even closer and FanTaSy was always supportive.
There were these videos called T1 Camera where they filmed daily life in T1. When I made it up to my first finals, FanTaSy mentioned that he had gotten four second places, and Rain and I were filmed making very mocking faces having heard that. But I ended up surpassing that record, and after that FanTaSy looked at me more fondly. Years later, he even attended my sixth finals against GuMiho. He assured me I would definitely win this time, but I lost which made me feel guilty for betraying his faith. So 2014 passed like that.
I was knocked out of the qualifiers right away in 2015. Simultaneously, the teammates I was close to from 2014 all left SKT T1. Both combined left an enormous void in their wake; It felt as if there was no purpose left for me to live on as a pro. At least there was Classic. He was my anchor during this time. We relied on each other, encouraged each other to do well and we were able to perform well in Proleague.
In a way I got my wish. I finally earned a championship when I defeated Dark in the KeSPA Cup finals. For the first time I felt that this was why someone dreams of being a progamer. I thought, this was why I play StarCraft II. It was a great experience when I got my first championship; I even remember feeling good because I was trending on Twitter. I did feel guilty over taking out one of my teammates to do it, and I told Dark he would become a champion in the future. I was proud to see that he eventually did.
But I couldn’t get results after that.
I can’t remember what exactly I was thinking in the second half of 2015 and 2016. While the younger players were improving I was becoming indolent. I had lost motivation and was dropping out early in individual leagues. As friction started with the team my interest as a progamer dropped even more. I guess I thought I was getting old and wouldn’t be able to make it to the finals again. I was preparing for the future, concentrating only on Proleague and receiving my salary.
For some reason I didn’t completely give up on my dream. It probably had to do with dissatisfaction. Rain and Soulkey achieved results before I had, so I think they left without regrets. I had not won a tournament yet, so I decided to stay on because I really wanted one. However I was receiving a salary, so I needed to perform well in Proleague. I put in my best effort for Proleague and achieved an ~80% winrate. Even then management didn’t trust me, so that made it even harder. Then SKT disbanded, which forced me to reappraise my determination to continue as a progamer. I thought very hard about my plans for the future. I felt betrayed by the team, so I wanted to show them that I could still achieve good results without one. While everyone else was fussing about plans instead of practicing, I was the only one working hard. I think that’s why I was able to get good results in the first season.
When I first started streaming I had no idea fans were so eager to support me. I gained a lot more aid than I expected. Living expenses were quite a problem after the team disbanded, but the fans gave me a lot of donations. I feel so grateful to them because they helped me to continue as a progamer. There were almost no occasions to directly interact with the fans while I was on SKT, so it was hard to communicate with them or understand how they supported me. When I started working individually it seemed like my fan base had increased, and that revitalized me. I think it made me work harder. When I was a part of Proleague it was depressing because it felt like the fans were leaving, but it's always a good feeling to gain more fans.
I remember one particular match that rekindled my passion for the game. I watched Classic and Dark battle in the semifinals of SSL Season 2. I was so moved that I couldn’t wait to practice when I got back to the team house. It made me think, “Classic’s older than I am and he still plays so desperately. It’s no coincidence that he’s won tournaments.” That memory is still fresh in my mind. Watching it made me work hard again. I’ve put up decent results so far in 2017 and even managed to make it to two more finals. I really want to thank Classic. But I knocked him out on the way to both finals, so I feel a little sorry.
I met Stats, a good friend, in the first GSL finals of 2017. I was extremely confident; I practiced incomparably harder than I had in 2014. Yet two days before the finals I came down with a fever. I was doing fine in practice though, so I optimistically believed it wouldn’t be a problem. However, when I actually went on to the stage my reaction time slowed to the point that I was caught off guard by the oracles. Anyone who’s reading this might think I’m making up excuses, but I really regret overestimating myself. I think it's important to know the reasons why I lost, but it seems like the fans don't always view it that way. It might be uncomfortable to hear something like this, but it's my personal regret. I hope they understand where I’m coming from.
I made it to the finals again in Season 2. I usually lose to GuMiho so I wasn’t very confident, but I also think I was too complacent about preparing for mech. I prepared a lot against bio but ultimately I couldn’t find a solution to mech. I ended up disappointing my fans by losing without much of a struggle. The people who support me expect great things from me, so I feel sharp regret when I show myself being powerless.
In Season 3 I got into a group with three Zerg and one Protoss. I read people saying I was hindering Zerg from winning the tournament since I had to sacrifice other Zergs to advance. I couldn’t focus on preparing after hearing this. I thought maybe it really would be better if I dropped out; maybe I was standing in their way. As a pro I shouldn’t let such things affect me, but it felt like the games I played over the years were meaningless and my motivation cratered. I think my results reflected that. Of course, Dark and Rogue approached the games seriously and prepared well.
I’ve worked very hard in 2017. I can’t recall another time when I practiced as diligently as I have this year. That’s why I was able to reach the finals from the very start. I thought my momentum would be enough to win a tournament, but I guess it wasn’t in the end. I think Stats and GuMiho were even more desperate than I was and worked even harder. Their efforts need to be respected.
Even though I only got to second place I wanted some encouragement, but I only became a pariah which was agonizing. Of course there were people who congratulated me, but on an immediate level the criticism had a stronger impact. As for the fans cheering for me and wanting me to win because I've lost so many times... I want to repay you for your expectations, but there's nothing I can say besides “I'm sorry”. I feel you are the driving force that keeps me working hard at the game. It's not over yet so I still want to become a champion, if only to repay your kindness. The younger Zerg players are all so much better than I am, but I'll make something happen with my own style.
I was on a self-imposed break for some time, but since I have BlizzCon left, I’ll ignite my fighting spirit one last time. Currently I’m struggling hard in ZvT. I reviewed nearly all the Zerg players' ZvT VODs and tried to imitate them while focusing mostly on ZvT in practice. It seemed like it was making my results worse though. So now I think it would be better to try overcoming ZvT in my own particular fashion. That’s how I'm going to try preparing from now on. I’ll get myself ready until BlizzCon no matter what and I’ll show you a different side of myself. A career can be decided in a single moment. BlizzCon is my time to redeem my past mistakes.
Very good read, his struggles when his old teammates left, the constant second places and even problems with the team But also reading about why he kept going, the fans, his progamer friends, etc. I hope soO can win his tournament so he doesn't have to regret all these finals as much.
Thanks for creating this content soO and TL, very unique and interesting.
On October 04 2017 00:40 EsportsJohn wrote: On another note, soO played the ASL qualifiers (Brood War) for fun and nearly made it through. His mechanics are off the charts.
I remember always rooting for soO's opponent in the finals because it made for an even more amazing story every time he got 2nd place. I forgot about the human behind the tag. If soO makes the finals this time, I'll be cheering like mad for him no matter what.
Good article and nice to see his thoughts. 6 second place finishes is maddening though. Amazing that he hasn't went mad from that lol. Best of luck soO! On that note, I would've liked to see him make it past the ASL qualifiers. His Jin Air OSL run was amazing and he almost beat Jangbi back then. I think he can make it far regardless of what game he plays nowadays.
Damn ninjas cutting onions.....Seriously never thought i would feel so strongly about a kid in south korea playing a video game. Crush those nerds Soo!!!
Edit : Please god make that a pre Blizzcon series of interviews!
SoO i am sad to hear that you let the haters get to you, they suck and are garbage losers, you are a hero and your determination and grit are admirable. doesn't matter if you never win, you've inspired many and have earned their respect!
soO, you've incited strong feelings in me as a SC2 fan for a long time, for your first three finals you were the greatest of antagonists. You stood as the ultimate opponent against my favorite protoss players, after the third finals and during the time leading up to the fourth I became a really big fan of yours. Since then I've cheered for you and will continue to do so,good luck with everything!
I am a big fan soO! My interest in sc2 has been reignited in 2017, and you're a big reason for me. I watch a lot of the major tournaments and I've been following you all year, I chose Zerg and I was so impressed at how many different play styles you use. K will be cheering you on for blizzcon, I hope it won't be your last; but, if it is, you should be proud of what you've accomplished and be happy with this part of your life. Thank you
Anyone know what he said specifically in those screenshots? I'm curious.
I've always liked soO, I remember wanting him to get 2nd place during his 3rd and 4th finals just to create a "kong" legacy in SC2, but ever since then I've wanted him to win a GSL. Was bummed he still hasn't won one of those, and I probably root for him now more than any other player in individual leagues.
"I read people saying I was hindering Zerg from winning the tournament since I had to sacrifice other Zergs to advance. I couldn’t focus on preparing after hearing this. I thought maybe it really would be better if I dropped out; maybe I was standing in their way. As a pro I shouldn’t let such things affect me, but it felt like the games I played over the years were meaningless and my motivation cratered. I think my results reflected that."
That is also such a bullshit and whoever wrote it was rude. Other zergs had their chance to beat soO many times in the past. They also had their chance aswell to reach the finals in GSL, but they didn't/couldn't. So he earned his right to be in those finals. Plus in last GSL even tough Rogue advanced he played such a bad series in RO8. That also felt like a waste. Yes, Dark played good vs Innovation, but unfortunately couldn't win.
"I’ll get myself ready until BlizzCon no matter what and I’ll show you a different side of myself. A career can be decided in a single moment. BlizzCon is my time to redeem my past mistakes" - SoO
On top of that, it was distressing to become an object of mockery. Before, I believed becoming a good player alone was enough to garner respect from the fans. Instead I received their insults and pity. Soon I thought it was better to drop out quickly if the alternative was to suffer like that.
This is exactly what I've been saying. SoO should be greatly praised for his crazy feat of making it to the finals so consistently & often.
The focus on "oh he only got 2nd" just spits on his incredible achievement.
I would be pissed too if after making to the finals so many times people instead focused on how I never won instead of how crazy a feat it was to make it there so many times in a row.
soO don't retire after blizzcon! You are so good and you have even more fans than you realize! Do some more streams and I think you will get a lot of donations to continue! Also: Plenty have won a championship. Nobody has been able to do what soO has.
On top of that, it was distressing to become an object of mockery. Before, I believed becoming a good player alone was enough to garner respect from the fans. Instead I received their insults and pity. Soon I thought it was better to drop out quickly if the alternative was to suffer like that.
This is exactly what I've been saying. SoO should be greatly praised for his crazy feat of making it to the finals so consistently & often.
The focus on "oh he only got 2nd" just spits on his incredible achievement.
I would be pissed too if after making to the finals so many times people instead focused on how I never won instead of how crazy a feat it was to make it there so many times in a row.
I have thought of soO as a crème de la crème player ever since I saw his match vs Zest in the semi-final, the match soO said he re-watches sometimes. Zest looked as if he played better, but he still lost. soO won using more than mechanics and macro/micro.
I am also of the oppinion that there is generally too much focus on "winning the finals". In code S, getting first place or second place is a difference of winning 7 matches or 6 matches. Not only are some casters making jokes about the 'loser', even the price money is heavily in the winners favour. The second place often has half the prize money of what first place has. WESG gave TY 200 000, while Maru got 100 000, as an example. The latest code S had an even more askew monetary distribution, where the first place awarded 40 000 and 15 000 for second place. How are the other players supposed to make a living if #1 takes most of the money?
tl;dr soO is great and winning isn't all that matters.
Well, I never BM'ed soO for loosing all those finals. To be honest, I really think that becoming second so many times in the toughest sc2 tournament on the globe, is really something to achieve. You're one of the best players I ever seen soO. I wish you good performance on Blizzcone, and hope to see You winning more in the future.
On October 05 2017 21:52 Synchronize` wrote: Just imagine if he actually won Blizzcon, I think it would be the most perfect story line after all these second places. Rooting for him!
Im not saying he can't do it, but the competition is tough. Nuances can decide. All i hope he won't quit sc2 after blizzcon.
One of the most jaw-dropping matches in SC2 I've ever seen was soO vs. TY on Newkirk Precinct. 2017 GSL Season 1 quarter-finals. soO was DEAD yet he kept staying alive and somehow won... I should go re-watch that.
soO has always been one of my favourite players... I'd hate to see him retire after Blizzcon.
On October 05 2017 02:12 The_Red_Viper wrote: The thing with it is that i would love to hear more about the specific topics he brings up. Really interesting stuff. Maybe one day!
On October 06 2017 00:07 SoleSteeler wrote: One of the most jaw-dropping matches in SC2 I've ever seen was soO vs. TY on Newkirk Precinct. 2017 GSL Season 1 quarter-finals. soO was DEAD yet he kept staying alive and somehow won... I should go re-watch that.
soO has always been one of my favourite players... I'd hate to see him retire after Blizzcon.
Me too. But he was also talking about that in the Dankshrine interview. Go and watch
I also think his semi finals vs Zest is his best match, i got chills when he won that game 7, not only because Zest was unstopabble but also because he made it to his 4th finals in a row.
On October 06 2017 08:05 Morbidius wrote: I also think his semi finals vs Zest is his best match, i got chills when he won that game 7, not only because Zest was unstopabble but also because he made it to his 4th finals in a row.
Yeah, that's 100% his best match. I'm of the opinion that his game against Stats on Nimbus is his single most dominant display ever, though.
Sorry, but fuck Rogue and this massive hypetrain/bandwagon he got right going atm. While he has earned it with his outstanding if not impeccable play. I really want soO to be the zerg who wins Blizzcon. He needs the biggest win ever in his career to get the haunting memories of all those second places away from him.
I play T and P but I always has been cheering for soO, I really hope he can win a tournament like GSL soonish and even if he can't I will be still supporting and cheering for him!
On October 06 2017 08:05 Morbidius wrote: I also think his semi finals vs Zest is his best match, i got chills when he won that game 7, not only because Zest was unstopabble but also because he made it to his 4th finals in a row.
Yeah, that's 100% his best match. I'm of the opinion that his game against Stats on Nimbus is his single most dominant display ever, though.
On October 06 2017 08:05 Morbidius wrote: I also think his semi finals vs Zest is his best match, i got chills when he won that game 7, not only because Zest was unstopabble but also because he made it to his 4th finals in a row.
Yeah, that's 100% his best match. I'm of the opinion that his game against Stats on Nimbus is his single most dominant display ever, though.
on the bright side, with all the pushback toward innovation being GOAT...a lot of people will still say MVP is GOAT...in which case, soO being the king of silver, will probably be remembered as the 2nd best player of all time! even above innovation! ...well maybe not.
honestly i've always respected king kong. and this finals was heartbreaking. soO! i really hope 2018 is your year.
On October 06 2017 08:05 Morbidius wrote: I also think his semi finals vs Zest is his best match, i got chills when he won that game 7, not only because Zest was unstopabble but also because he made it to his 4th finals in a row.
Yeah, that's 100% his best match. I'm of the opinion that his game against Stats on Nimbus is his single most dominant display ever, though.
This match really highlights how far SC2 has come. It's crazy that this used to be the standard pace of a match. So slow. So blobby. Limited player interaction outside of big army fights or donating units.
All of the WCS/GSL games I've watched this year have been action-packed with player interaction from like the 2:00 mark until the bitter end. Harrassment. Mindgames. Skirmishes. Multiple engagements happening at the same time for the majority of the match. Constant run-bys and drops, expansion denials/snipes etc. The game is better. Players are better. Everything is better.
I really don't understand how people can long for the WoL/HotS days over what LotV has become.
On October 06 2017 08:05 Morbidius wrote: I also think his semi finals vs Zest is his best match, i got chills when he won that game 7, not only because Zest was unstopabble but also because he made it to his 4th finals in a row.
Yeah, that's 100% his best match. I'm of the opinion that his game against Stats on Nimbus is his single most dominant display ever, though.
This match really highlights how far SC2 has come. It's crazy that this used to be the standard pace of a match. So slow. So blobby. Limited player interaction outside of big army fights or donating units.
All of the WCS/GSL games I've watched this year have been action-packed with player interaction from like the 2:00 mark until the bitter end. Harrassment. Mindgames. Skirmishes. Multiple engagements happening at the same time for the majority of the match. Constant run-bys and drops, expansion denials/snipes etc. The game is better. Players are better. Everything is better.
I really don't understand how people can long for the WoL/HotS days over what LotV has become.
while for the most part I agree with your sentiment, I still miss HOTS TVZ and WOL TvT. Ive never seen pro level TvZ that was as entertaining to watch as early hots, constant parade pushing, constant tug of war, It was amazing. I also really miss old TvT, the introduction of medivac boost permanently changed the matchup by making it much easier to doom drop. This has really cut down on player ability to make bio tank games go to the super late game because often games are decided by some crazy doom drop or base trade instead of a long positional siege tank chess match. I do however think that PvZ and PvT and PvP are all significantly better in LOTV than they have ever been before, reducing Protos's reliance on the collosi and changing several other aspects of there race to compensate has made protoss so much more interactive and interesting both to play and play against.
Great post, thanks soO and thanks verecunda. Great to hear that you have passion and spark to go on! And believe me, all your fans still have a passion to cheer for you, now more than ever! So please stay focused and be happy)
Great read! soO is true champion i dont care what anybody says. Just the fact that he made it to all those finals is a totally insane record and proof of true high level skill in starcraft 2. One of the best zergs ever!
On October 06 2017 08:05 Morbidius wrote: I also think his semi finals vs Zest is his best match, i got chills when he won that game 7, not only because Zest was unstopabble but also because he made it to his 4th finals in a row.
Yeah, that's 100% his best match. I'm of the opinion that his game against Stats on Nimbus is his single most dominant display ever, though.
This match really highlights how far SC2 has come. It's crazy that this used to be the standard pace of a match. So slow. So blobby. Limited player interaction outside of big army fights or donating units.
All of the WCS/GSL games I've watched this year have been action-packed with player interaction from like the 2:00 mark until the bitter end. Harrassment. Mindgames. Skirmishes. Multiple engagements happening at the same time for the majority of the match. Constant run-bys and drops, expansion denials/snipes etc. The game is better. Players are better. Everything is better.
I really don't understand how people can long for the WoL/HotS days over what LotV has become.
while for the most part I agree with your sentiment, I still miss HOTS TVZ and WOL TvT. Ive never seen pro level TvZ that was as entertaining to watch as early hots, constant parade pushing, constant tug of war, It was amazing. I also really miss old TvT, the introduction of medivac boost permanently changed the matchup by making it much easier to doom drop. This has really cut down on player ability to make bio tank games go to the super late game because often games are decided by some crazy doom drop or base trade instead of a long positional siege tank chess match. I do however think that PvZ and PvT and PvP are all significantly better in LOTV than they have ever been before, reducing Protos's reliance on the collosi and changing several other aspects of there race to compensate has made protoss so much more interactive and interesting both to play and play against.
Well i do kinda miss the collosi we barley ever get to see them.
On October 06 2017 08:05 Morbidius wrote: I also think his semi finals vs Zest is his best match, i got chills when he won that game 7, not only because Zest was unstopabble but also because he made it to his 4th finals in a row.
Yeah, that's 100% his best match. I'm of the opinion that his game against Stats on Nimbus is his single most dominant display ever, though.
Thank you SoO for being truthful. I think it takes lots of courage to do so. What you are giving us are not only beautiful games, but also beautiful mind and work ethics. You are doing great so you really dont need to feel bad about the whole thing. Maybe a little regret from the missed opportunities, but hey, that's life. Just pay the due respect and then move on. I am totally your fan! Btw, I am from the original SC era and mostly just enjoy the story of the game, but I do follow the competitive plays.
...to the Elysian plain...where life is easiest for men. No snow is there, nor heavy storm, nor ever rain, but ever does Ocean send up blasts of the shrill-blowing West Wind that they may give cooling to men.
On October 06 2017 08:05 Morbidius wrote: I also think his semi finals vs Zest is his best match, i got chills when he won that game 7, not only because Zest was unstopabble but also because he made it to his 4th finals in a row.
Yeah, that's 100% his best match. I'm of the opinion that his game against Stats on Nimbus is his single most dominant display ever, though.
The 4-3 game with Life was also very exciting. I also liked his Blizzcon game vs Gumiho. He suffered losses from him troughout the whole year, and not just in the GSL final. It was really scary..
Then the GSL semi vs Classic, when he 4-0'd him. That didn't turn out as exciting, but before this match Classic played so well, people started to think it might be his 2nd GSL win. Until he got destroyed by soO.
What if by finally wining, soO shed some negative emotions that held him back in some of these finals, and starts wining more tournaments? a gsl this year? and then blizzcon? Oh man
I didn't read this article before, soO is incredible, really a credit to the human race.
Nice to see how that semifinal series against zest (when he was best) is in the memory of other sc2 fans, really great victory where i agree with what someone said, that he used more than mechanics to win. Remember how he used misinformation by making and mining from an extra extractor, selling a fake intent to go macro instead of all ining? The whole series, so different than the other 2 series against zest that year.
On March 06 2019 04:46 Uberfather wrote: What if by finally wining, soO shed some negative emotions that held him back in some of these finals, and starts wining more tournaments? a gsl this year? and then blizzcon? Oh man
I didn't read this article before, soO is incredible, really a credit to the human race.
Nice to see how that semifinal series against zest (when he was best) is in the memory of other sc2 fans, really great victory where i agree with what someone said, that he used more than mechanics to win. Remember how he used misinformation by making and mining from an extra extractor, selling a fake intent to go macro instead of all ining? The whole series, so different than the other 2 series against zest that year.
SoOjwa is best Bonjwa. Also interesting statistic, Stats has been in 1 fewer finals since LotV (11) than soO has in his entire career (12). Really shows how good Stats has been these past few years.
On March 06 2019 04:46 Uberfather wrote: What if by finally wining, soO shed some negative emotions that held him back in some of these finals, and starts wining more tournaments? a gsl this year? and then blizzcon? Oh man
I didn't read this article before, soO is incredible, really a credit to the human race.
Nice to see how that semifinal series against zest (when he was best) is in the memory of other sc2 fans, really great victory where i agree with what someone said, that he used more than mechanics to win. Remember how he used misinformation by making and mining from an extra extractor, selling a fake intent to go macro instead of all ining? The whole series, so different than the other 2 series against zest that year.
SoOjwa is best Bonjwa. Also interesting statistic, Stats has been in 1 fewer finals since LotV (11) than soO has in his entire career (12). Really shows how good Stats has been these past few years.
Is Stats the goat protoss in achievements? He is the boat protoss for sure.
On March 06 2019 04:46 Uberfather wrote: What if by finally wining, soO shed some negative emotions that held him back in some of these finals, and starts wining more tournaments? a gsl this year? and then blizzcon? Oh man
I didn't read this article before, soO is incredible, really a credit to the human race.
Nice to see how that semifinal series against zest (when he was best) is in the memory of other sc2 fans, really great victory where i agree with what someone said, that he used more than mechanics to win. Remember how he used misinformation by making and mining from an extra extractor, selling a fake intent to go macro instead of all ining? The whole series, so different than the other 2 series against zest that year.
SoOjwa is best Bonjwa. Also interesting statistic, Stats has been in 1 fewer finals since LotV (11) than soO has in his entire career (12). Really shows how good Stats has been these past few years.
Is Stats the goat protoss in achievements? He is the boat protoss for sure.
Feel like it's between him, Zest and MC for the title of goat protoss now, maybe Rain and PartinG as well. I think MC edges it and it's rather close between him and Zest. Stats wins another starleague or Blizzcon and I put him ahead of Zest.
EPT
Soulkey 3-0. I was so happy to have made my first finals I was euphoric, almost drunk on happiness. I felt pressured to create new builds though, and I wasted my time before the finals trying out too many different things. I ended up losing to 
Dear without putting up much of a fight, but at the time I was satisfied with second place. 
INnoVation, in the finals. At the time I was confident in ZvT so I entered with great self-assurance. I got some advice from Soulkey that INnoVation was weak against roach/ling/bane builds and I went up 2-0 using them. I thought, “Oh, this time is really different. I could win this”. In hindsight I regret not getting advice for the next games as well. I got swept up by INnoVation’s superior planning and ended up in second place again. This time I really gave up on everything temporarily. 
