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WCS Challengers: RiSky talks repping New Zealand and the d…

Forum Index > SC2 General
24 CommentsPost a Reply
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TL.net ESPORTS
Profile Joined July 2011
4 Posts
May 10 2019 00:20 GMT
#1
Two months after playing for the United Kingdom at WESG, (Wiki)RiSky looks to represent New Zealand at WCS Spring after winning the Oceania/SEA qualifier. TL.net talked to RiSky about playing the SEA qualifier from Korea, his desire to represent New Zealand at WCS Spring, and the dilemma of going full-time in competitive StarCraft II.

*This interview has been edited and condensed.


[image loading]
Image: Blizzard

(Also, he's not on Team Revolution anymore, but it's the only Blizzard photo I could find.)


Wax: How'd you get into competitive StarCraft II?

RiSky: I actually got into StarCraft II through esports and casting. I watched HuskyStarCraft, Day9, and all those people in the beginning, 2010-2011. I think I started playing in 2010, but I was bronze and like really terrible.

I don't know why, but at some point I just decided that I really wanted to be good at the game. And what I mean by that at the time was reaching masters or something like that. But then, StarCraft is like, the better you get, the more you realize you're not good at the game. So that's what spurred me on. I wanted to get masters, and I kept masters for like 2~3 years. And then at some point I got Grandmaster, and that's where I...

For a lot of people, I think—well at least a lot of people I know—they get GM and they sorta feel like that's their accomplishment, that they're kinda done with the game. They just play it casually from then on. They don't really focus on improving. OR they feel like they want to take it a step further and try and get REALLY good, try and get top 50 GM or top 100 GM or something like that.

And I was the latter, so when I got GM, I just wanted to get even better. That was when I started taking it much more seriously.

You're a UK player who won a spot at WCS Spring from the SEA/Oceania qualifier due to having dual New Zealand citizenship. Could you explain how that went down?

Basically, I only found this out last year—that I had citizenship because my mum is a full New Zealand, kiwi citizen. Last year I decided to play with 400 ping from Europe and I got top eight both times. At that point I was heavily debating going to Korea to try and get the better ping. Once I realized it was kind of possible with saving money and a lot of other stuff, that's when I sorta decided that I would try it this year. I was in the foreigner team-house with NoRegret. I just stayed there for like ten days or so, just for the qualifier basically.

How did you feel about your chances of winning a seed from Oceania/SEA?

I was confident that I was at least as good as the best players, I'll say that. I wasn't confident I would BEAT them, because I had to play with Korea-to-Australia ping, which was a lot more than I thought it would be. I didn't necessarily expect to beat the top guys, but I was basically hoping for a good bracket. Basically I wanted to avoid Probe and Seither, and then Meomaika and HuT, and luckily I avoided them all in the qualifier.

Why didn't you take a shot at the New Zealand qualifiers for WESG?

I didn't want to take a spot from there. I felt like WESG is more of a national pride thing, whereas WCS qualifiers is very much like a competition. I felt like it would have been a bit... I really didn't want to take a spot from the New Zealand qualifier for WESG. I had the UK qualifier as well, which I was fairly confident in winning since DeMusliM decided not to play.

Did you know any of the Aussie players before competing in the WCS qualifier? Did you talk to them about competing in their region?

Yeah, I met NXZ, Seither, and HuT at WCS Valencia last year. I didn't necessarily talk to them about it, because it's kind of like a touchy subject, so I wasn't sure how to bring that up. I didn't ask specific people, HuT or Seither about it, but I asked some people how they would feel if I did this. I came to the conclusion that it's kind of bulls*** if I'm allowed to play the qualifier, but it's what's best for me, and it's a competition at the end of the day. And if you're not good enough to win it, you're not good enough to win it, based on the rules of the competition. So as brutal as it is, and kind of how unfair it is, it's just kind of the way of the world, I guess. If I want to take this full time, this is the way that I have to go.

What flag do you want next to your profile and graphics during the WCS broadcast?

I definitely want the New Zealand flag. I was actually going to ask someone there when I got there to change my flag to New Zealand. It's only right, you know? That I represent NZ while I'm there. Honestly I would like to have both my flags, but I'm not sure how possible that is.

Are you balancing SC2 competition with school?

Yeah, I'm going to university, I'm finishing my final degree for uni this year.

Have you thought about going full-time?

I did take [my gap year before], just to see if I could get as good as possible, break into the pro scene basically? But I didn't prove much that year, and I think it's because I took it way too seriously. Like, I would get a lot more upset because I was full-time, if I was not improving as much, or just in general. So I would get a lot more upset and that would ruin my practice and that sort of stuff. I didn't actually improve at all during that gap year, the year after I finished high school.

I think a lot of people have the same experience, that part-timing helps relieve the pressure. They feel like they perform better in tournaments and stuff because they're not relying on THIS, you know? Whereas if you're a full-time progamer, this is your only thing, so you HAVE to perform, and you have to make money from being a full-time progamer. Having that side plan, for a lot of people—obviously me—has helped quite a bit. And I can always fall back on the degree—it's never all-in. It's games programming, I'm a very games oriented guy *laugh*.

Are you satisfied with your competitive results so far? Do you think you'll eventually have to go full-time again to reach your goals?

I'm a super competitive person, and I wouldn't say I'm satisfied with my results or my skill level. But I don't think I'll ever be, you know? I would like to be one of the Serral's or the Neeb's or Reynor's—a top pro. But I do think you need to be a full-time pro to be at that level. So it's a difficult thing for me to handle, cause you know I've got that past experience of going full-time in my head. I'd have to change something about how I think about the game and my mentality in general to be able to go full-time. And I don't know how possible that is. I have thought a lot about this subject, how ingrained the way you take losses is, and how much you can improve that aspect.

Because I feel like people like Reynor or Serral take losses really well, and obviously there's loads of other progamers who are good at that, who have a very good mindset. I'm not sure how much of that is just their nature or how much they've just trained that. Because I have tried, obviously, to improve my mentality, my mindset in StarCraft, because it's been basically one of the most negative aspects of my StarCraft play. So yeah, I'm not exactly sure, but I'll probably be going full-time, so I'll be trying to improve that aspect.

How do you feel about your chances at advancing from group stage #3 at WCS Spring/Kiev?

Well, I can't really say until I see the final groups. It's hard for me to say how my chances are of getting out of the round of 32, but... feel like I'm in pretty decent shape. I'm in top 25 EU right now [note: at the time of the interview], in ladder at least. I'm just generally feeling quite good in all the MUs, but it can so easily change.

Is getting this far as a seeded player already a success for you?

Yeah, for sure. In terms of my skill, this sounds... I get criticized for this a lot, but I just feel like I'm realistic with my skill level. It's quite likely that I just lose in the RO32. It's not like I'm not confident or something, I just think that's my realistic chances. But I think it's possible for me to get RO16 if I get the right group and the right players. It's definitely POSSIBLE, but not likely, I don't think. I mean Europe is just super hard, the depth of Europe is insane. The top 32 players of the event are gonna be really good. So it would be tough for me to say I'm really confident about getting out of the RO32.

Okay, here's our traditional pirates question. Your girlfriend has been kidnapped by pirates and is being held on a boat in the middle of the ocean. You can recruit three people from the StarCraft II scene to take with you on a rescue mission. Who do you choose and why?

This is hard. Cause, you know it's my girlfriend right? I don't want to get her stolen by a too attractive guy. So I was thinking about ShoWTimE, but I just realized, f***, he's way too good looking. So that's tough.

I think I just have to take Harstem cause he's just a great guy to hang out. But then again, he is also quite good looking so I still have that problem. He's a good storyteller, I feel like we'd have a good time.

Could I take CSGO playerS? Could I take Pasha to be the muscleman? PashaBiceps?

Sure, it's better than "I don't know." How about the brains of the operation? Is that you?

The brain... nono, that's definitely not me. Let's take Lambo. I feel like Lambo is probably the smartest guy. He's a good problem solver I think.

Okay, any shoutouts or final comments?

Shoutout to my team Epikk Esports. They're a new team in StarCraft II. They were previously in HotS, but obviously due to certain things happening they've decided to go into StarCraft. And I was their first pickup, so I'm really happy about that. Shoutout to the UK scene, shoutout to my managers Zervaz
Henning, and Figaro!



WCS Spring, the first WCS Circuit stop of the year, begins on May 17th.

You can follow RiSky and Epikk Esports on Twitter at @RiSkysc2 and @Epikk_Esports
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TL+ Member
vyzion
Profile Joined August 2016
308 Posts
May 10 2019 02:20 GMT
#2
That was a fun read, thank you!

Risky you can do it man. Look at losing as a way to identify weak areas.
BigRedDog
Profile Joined May 2012
461 Posts
May 10 2019 02:48 GMT
#3
So nice to see new players coming to the pro scene.
Big Red Dog!
ZigguratOfUr
Profile Blog Joined April 2012
Iraq16955 Posts
May 10 2019 07:40 GMT
#4
Risky's opinion about qualifying using a different citizenship is interesting. Stephano representing Tunisia at WESG and Heromarine representing Italy at Pyeongchang were pretty controversial.
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33360 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-05-10 07:47:50
May 10 2019 07:44 GMT
#5
On May 10 2019 16:40 ZigguratOfUr wrote:
Stephano representing Tunisia at WESG and Heromarine representing Italy at Pyeongchang were pretty controversial.


I don't recall those two examples being controversial at all—fans seemed happy that the most competitive players were in the tournament (and in Stephano's case, several previous tournaments where he competed for Tunisia). Feel free to correct me if you have insights from the Tunisian or Italian scenes tho .

I feel the more analogous 'controversies' would be Polt, TRUE, and MaSa competing in WCS Circuit from North America or Winter (Swedish national) competing from Japan.
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
Wardi
Profile Blog Joined November 2011
England896 Posts
May 10 2019 07:48 GMT
#6
Did he essentially call Lambo out as not good looking? Bm
CommentatorOwner of WardiTV. Streamer, caster & event organizer. / / www.wardi.tv
Elmonti
Profile Joined July 2018
Spain299 Posts
May 10 2019 07:51 GMT
#7
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...
Need
Profile Joined March 2019
566 Posts
May 10 2019 08:47 GMT
#8
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?
Elmonti
Profile Joined July 2018
Spain299 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-05-10 09:31:04
May 10 2019 09:22 GMT
#9
On May 10 2019 17:47 Need wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?


He shames the NA region but has to play in a much worse region to have some chance to get a seed for WCS (he wouldn't in EU or NA)... Don't you really see the hypocrisy there?... Or maybe hypocrisy is not the correct word... lack of ethics?

I didn't say he shouldn't try to avoid EU because it's too much for him, I understand that his only chance is to play in SEA. I said he is an hypocrite.
Need
Profile Joined March 2019
566 Posts
May 10 2019 09:58 GMT
#10
On May 10 2019 18:22 Elmonti wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 10 2019 17:47 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?


He shames the NA region but has to play in a much worse region to have some chance to get a seed for WCS (he wouldn't in EU or NA)... Don't you really see the hypocrisy there?... Or maybe hypocrisy is not the correct word... lack of ethics?

I didn't say he shouldn't try to avoid EU because it's too much for him, I understand that his only chance is to play in SEA. I said he is an hypocrite.


Nope, not seeing it. Hypocrisy would be if he had shamed NA for being bad, but then he would've went to play in EU cause he thought he had higher chances. As it is, it's perfectly coherent to claim NA is worse than EU and KR, and go play in the easiest region you're allowed to in order to qualify. These are very orthogonal events imo.

In regards to lack of ethics... I don't know, maybe lack of unnecessary pride. Is it more ethical to fight the losing battle of qualifying via EU or fight a winnable battle using the windfall NZ citizenship? Up to everyone's moral compass, but I don't think should be an ethical dilemma
Synchrx
Profile Joined September 2017
United Kingdom29 Posts
May 10 2019 10:58 GMT
#11
Glad to see some spotlight on my boy Risky, will be rooting for him in WCS!
This, indeed, is the secret of the thing. This is why the demon of impermanence is beneficent. Because it is forgetting about things that renews their wonder.
Elmonti
Profile Joined July 2018
Spain299 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-05-10 11:06:24
May 10 2019 11:05 GMT
#12
On May 10 2019 18:58 Need wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 10 2019 18:22 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 17:47 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?


He shames the NA region but has to play in a much worse region to have some chance to get a seed for WCS (he wouldn't in EU or NA)... Don't you really see the hypocrisy there?... Or maybe hypocrisy is not the correct word... lack of ethics?

I didn't say he shouldn't try to avoid EU because it's too much for him, I understand that his only chance is to play in SEA. I said he is an hypocrite.


Nope, not seeing it. Hypocrisy would be if he had shamed NA for being bad, but then he would've went to play in EU cause he thought he had higher chances. As it is, it's perfectly coherent to claim NA is worse than EU and KR, and go play in the easiest region you're allowed to in order to qualify. These are very orthogonal events imo.

In regards to lack of ethics... I don't know, maybe lack of unnecessary pride. Is it more ethical to fight the losing battle of qualifying via EU or fight a winnable battle using the windfall NZ citizenship? Up to everyone's moral compass, but I don't think should be an ethical dilemma


I think it's hypocrite to shame NA for being bad, and then admitting he is worse by going to the weakest region as the only way to do well in a qualifier. He made an statement (we EU are way better than you NA players) and then behaves like the opposite (I'm only competitive in a region with lower level than NA). He claimed to have some qualities (being better than NA players) that he didn't really possess (he is only good enough to play in SEA qualifiers). That's the definition of hypocrisy. Either that, or he knew he was a worse player than NA challengers and still made fun of them, which makes him just plain stupid, like at twitch chat "NA LUL" levels. You choose.

You forgot to complete your question with "while shasming the entire NA region, which is way better than the one he is playing in". So yes, it is more ethical to shut up and have some respect for people better than you at what you do. Then you can go on and play the easy region to get the seed.
Arcair
Profile Joined April 2010
United Kingdom26 Posts
May 10 2019 11:06 GMT
#13
Let's go RiSky. Looking forward to watching the games!
'Somethings awry'
Wardi
Profile Blog Joined November 2011
England896 Posts
May 10 2019 11:18 GMT
#14
On May 10 2019 20:05 Elmonti wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 10 2019 18:58 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:22 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 17:47 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?


He shames the NA region but has to play in a much worse region to have some chance to get a seed for WCS (he wouldn't in EU or NA)... Don't you really see the hypocrisy there?... Or maybe hypocrisy is not the correct word... lack of ethics?

I didn't say he shouldn't try to avoid EU because it's too much for him, I understand that his only chance is to play in SEA. I said he is an hypocrite.


Nope, not seeing it. Hypocrisy would be if he had shamed NA for being bad, but then he would've went to play in EU cause he thought he had higher chances. As it is, it's perfectly coherent to claim NA is worse than EU and KR, and go play in the easiest region you're allowed to in order to qualify. These are very orthogonal events imo.

In regards to lack of ethics... I don't know, maybe lack of unnecessary pride. Is it more ethical to fight the losing battle of qualifying via EU or fight a winnable battle using the windfall NZ citizenship? Up to everyone's moral compass, but I don't think should be an ethical dilemma


I think it's hypocrite to shame NA for being bad, and then admitting he is worse by going to the weakest region as the only way to do well in a qualifier. He made an statement (we EU are way better than you NA players) and then behaves like the opposite (I'm only competitive in a region with lower level than NA). He claimed to have some qualities (being better than NA players) that he didn't really possess (he is only good enough to play in SEA qualifiers). That's the definition of hypocrisy. Either that, or he knew he was a worse player than NA challengers and still made fun of them, which makes him just plain stupid, like at twitch chat "NA LUL" levels. You choose.

You forgot to complete your question with "while shasming the entire NA region, which is way better than the one he is playing in". So yes, it is more ethical to shut up and have some respect for people better than you at what you do. Then you can go on and play the easy region to get the seed.


The fact he plays in new zealand proves his point no? He calls NA out for being worse than EU and because EU is tough he goes to qualify elsewhere. That doesn’t invalidate his statement, if he was allowed to qualify through na im sure he would try to qualify there instead of EU too, just look at the difference in na and eu challenger


CommentatorOwner of WardiTV. Streamer, caster & event organizer. / / www.wardi.tv
RiSkysc2
Profile Joined September 2011
696 Posts
May 10 2019 11:45 GMT
#15
On May 10 2019 20:05 Elmonti wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 10 2019 18:58 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:22 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 17:47 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?


He shames the NA region but has to play in a much worse region to have some chance to get a seed for WCS (he wouldn't in EU or NA)... Don't you really see the hypocrisy there?... Or maybe hypocrisy is not the correct word... lack of ethics?

I didn't say he shouldn't try to avoid EU because it's too much for him, I understand that his only chance is to play in SEA. I said he is an hypocrite.


Nope, not seeing it. Hypocrisy would be if he had shamed NA for being bad, but then he would've went to play in EU cause he thought he had higher chances. As it is, it's perfectly coherent to claim NA is worse than EU and KR, and go play in the easiest region you're allowed to in order to qualify. These are very orthogonal events imo.

In regards to lack of ethics... I don't know, maybe lack of unnecessary pride. Is it more ethical to fight the losing battle of qualifying via EU or fight a winnable battle using the windfall NZ citizenship? Up to everyone's moral compass, but I don't think should be an ethical dilemma


I think it's hypocrite to shame NA for being bad, and then admitting he is worse by going to the weakest region as the only way to do well in a qualifier. He made an statement (we EU are way better than you NA players) and then behaves like the opposite (I'm only competitive in a region with lower level than NA). He claimed to have some qualities (being better than NA players) that he didn't really possess (he is only good enough to play in SEA qualifiers). That's the definition of hypocrisy. Either that, or he knew he was a worse player than NA challengers and still made fun of them, which makes him just plain stupid, like at twitch chat "NA LUL" levels. You choose.

You forgot to complete your question with "while shasming the entire NA region, which is way better than the one he is playing in". So yes, it is more ethical to shut up and have some respect for people better than you at what you do. Then you can go on and play the easy region to get the seed.


I'm not going to get into the EU vs NA debate again. It's been talked to death, but i do want to say this:

I've never included myself in the EU vs NA debate. It's not "WE are better", it's "THEY (the EU pros, in general) are better", that's not to say that NA is bad, they're still very good and deserve respect. I just think the mid-high level and the high level EU scene is not respected enough as they maybe should, they are insanely insanely good, there's a ridiculous amount of depth in skill in the EU scene.

That's all, no drama please <3
Elmonti
Profile Joined July 2018
Spain299 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-05-10 12:31:11
May 10 2019 12:01 GMT
#16
On May 10 2019 20:18 Wardi wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 10 2019 20:05 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:58 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:22 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 17:47 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?


He shames the NA region but has to play in a much worse region to have some chance to get a seed for WCS (he wouldn't in EU or NA)... Don't you really see the hypocrisy there?... Or maybe hypocrisy is not the correct word... lack of ethics?

I didn't say he shouldn't try to avoid EU because it's too much for him, I understand that his only chance is to play in SEA. I said he is an hypocrite.


Nope, not seeing it. Hypocrisy would be if he had shamed NA for being bad, but then he would've went to play in EU cause he thought he had higher chances. As it is, it's perfectly coherent to claim NA is worse than EU and KR, and go play in the easiest region you're allowed to in order to qualify. These are very orthogonal events imo.

In regards to lack of ethics... I don't know, maybe lack of unnecessary pride. Is it more ethical to fight the losing battle of qualifying via EU or fight a winnable battle using the windfall NZ citizenship? Up to everyone's moral compass, but I don't think should be an ethical dilemma


I think it's hypocrite to shame NA for being bad, and then admitting he is worse by going to the weakest region as the only way to do well in a qualifier. He made an statement (we EU are way better than you NA players) and then behaves like the opposite (I'm only competitive in a region with lower level than NA). He claimed to have some qualities (being better than NA players) that he didn't really possess (he is only good enough to play in SEA qualifiers). That's the definition of hypocrisy. Either that, or he knew he was a worse player than NA challengers and still made fun of them, which makes him just plain stupid, like at twitch chat "NA LUL" levels. You choose.

You forgot to complete your question with "while shasming the entire NA region, which is way better than the one he is playing in". So yes, it is more ethical to shut up and have some respect for people better than you at what you do. Then you can go on and play the easy region to get the seed.


The fact he plays in new zealand proves his point no? He calls NA out for being worse than EU and because EU is tough he goes to qualify elsewhere. That doesn’t invalidate his statement, if he was allowed to qualify through na im sure he would try to qualify there instead of EU too, just look at the difference in na and eu challenger




I don't know why you are talking about proving his point, when we are not debating whether he is right or not. I don't see where I say something along those lines in my messages. I agree EU scene is much better and deeper than NA. I think any of the top16 of EU Challenger would make it top4 in NA and none of the NA Challengers besides Neeb and Scarlett would make it into the top 16 EU. I think that is a fact. And that being true has nothing to do with Hypocrisy.

So yep, I agree with everything you said in your message, and imo I think that's not what we were debating.

On May 10 2019 20:45 RiSkysc2 wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 10 2019 20:05 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:58 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:22 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 17:47 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?


He shames the NA region but has to play in a much worse region to have some chance to get a seed for WCS (he wouldn't in EU or NA)... Don't you really see the hypocrisy there?... Or maybe hypocrisy is not the correct word... lack of ethics?

I didn't say he shouldn't try to avoid EU because it's too much for him, I understand that his only chance is to play in SEA. I said he is an hypocrite.


Nope, not seeing it. Hypocrisy would be if he had shamed NA for being bad, but then he would've went to play in EU cause he thought he had higher chances. As it is, it's perfectly coherent to claim NA is worse than EU and KR, and go play in the easiest region you're allowed to in order to qualify. These are very orthogonal events imo.

In regards to lack of ethics... I don't know, maybe lack of unnecessary pride. Is it more ethical to fight the losing battle of qualifying via EU or fight a winnable battle using the windfall NZ citizenship? Up to everyone's moral compass, but I don't think should be an ethical dilemma


I think it's hypocrite to shame NA for being bad, and then admitting he is worse by going to the weakest region as the only way to do well in a qualifier. He made an statement (we EU are way better than you NA players) and then behaves like the opposite (I'm only competitive in a region with lower level than NA). He claimed to have some qualities (being better than NA players) that he didn't really possess (he is only good enough to play in SEA qualifiers). That's the definition of hypocrisy. Either that, or he knew he was a worse player than NA challengers and still made fun of them, which makes him just plain stupid, like at twitch chat "NA LUL" levels. You choose.

You forgot to complete your question with "while shasming the entire NA region, which is way better than the one he is playing in". So yes, it is more ethical to shut up and have some respect for people better than you at what you do. Then you can go on and play the easy region to get the seed.


I'm not going to get into the EU vs NA debate again. It's been talked to death, but i do want to say this:

I've never included myself in the EU vs NA debate. It's not "WE are better", it's "THEY (the EU pros, in general) are better", that's not to say that NA is bad, they're still very good and deserve respect. I just think the mid-high level and the high level EU scene is not respected enough as they maybe should, they are insanely insanely good, there's a ridiculous amount of depth in skill in the EU scene.

That's all, no drama please <3


Of course 0 drama here, just chill debate about something.

And no need to get into that since we were not talking about the EU vs NA debate... I think there is no debate, EU has way more and better players, period (See my reply to Wardi).

If you say you don't consider yourself better than NA players then you're not an hypocrite, so my apologies.

Now you are a player who has mocked an entire region for being worse than other WHILE being aware that you can't be competitive in none of their Challengers... I'm not sure that's better. It's even worse in my opinion.

And then again, I was talking about the time you used to shit talk NA like that. I guess after what happened in WCS Winter you changed your attitude towards the NA scene, and started to show the respect you say they deserve. Your message shows this at least.
Harris1st
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
Germany6906 Posts
May 10 2019 12:14 GMT
#17
Cool interview!

Gimme MOAAAR of these :D
Go Serral! GG EZ for Ence. Flashbang dance FTW
Need
Profile Joined March 2019
566 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-05-10 12:34:59
May 10 2019 12:33 GMT
#18
Risky mentions that he thinks he'd have to go full-time to be more competitive. Does anyone know which pros in NA are full-time aside from the usual Neeb/Scarlett/Special? (not related at all to the Risky vs NA discussion above, just curious)
fastr
Profile Joined February 2011
France901 Posts
May 10 2019 13:18 GMT
#19
I don't think RiSky has ever claimed to be personally better than the US players and him posting here to clarify his thoughts shouldn't even be necessary. I'm a scrub at the game yet I can still confidently say that the EU scene is deeper in skill than the US one. My skill at the game should have no bearing on that opinion, and neither should RiSky's level have.

Thanks for the insightful interview!
DomeGetta
Profile Joined February 2012
480 Posts
May 10 2019 21:02 GMT
#20
On May 10 2019 21:01 Elmonti wrote:
Show nested quote +
On May 10 2019 20:18 Wardi wrote:
On May 10 2019 20:05 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:58 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:22 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 17:47 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?


He shames the NA region but has to play in a much worse region to have some chance to get a seed for WCS (he wouldn't in EU or NA)... Don't you really see the hypocrisy there?... Or maybe hypocrisy is not the correct word... lack of ethics?

I didn't say he shouldn't try to avoid EU because it's too much for him, I understand that his only chance is to play in SEA. I said he is an hypocrite.


Nope, not seeing it. Hypocrisy would be if he had shamed NA for being bad, but then he would've went to play in EU cause he thought he had higher chances. As it is, it's perfectly coherent to claim NA is worse than EU and KR, and go play in the easiest region you're allowed to in order to qualify. These are very orthogonal events imo.

In regards to lack of ethics... I don't know, maybe lack of unnecessary pride. Is it more ethical to fight the losing battle of qualifying via EU or fight a winnable battle using the windfall NZ citizenship? Up to everyone's moral compass, but I don't think should be an ethical dilemma


I think it's hypocrite to shame NA for being bad, and then admitting he is worse by going to the weakest region as the only way to do well in a qualifier. He made an statement (we EU are way better than you NA players) and then behaves like the opposite (I'm only competitive in a region with lower level than NA). He claimed to have some qualities (being better than NA players) that he didn't really possess (he is only good enough to play in SEA qualifiers). That's the definition of hypocrisy. Either that, or he knew he was a worse player than NA challengers and still made fun of them, which makes him just plain stupid, like at twitch chat "NA LUL" levels. You choose.

You forgot to complete your question with "while shasming the entire NA region, which is way better than the one he is playing in". So yes, it is more ethical to shut up and have some respect for people better than you at what you do. Then you can go on and play the easy region to get the seed.


The fact he plays in new zealand proves his point no? He calls NA out for being worse than EU and because EU is tough he goes to qualify elsewhere. That doesn’t invalidate his statement, if he was allowed to qualify through na im sure he would try to qualify there instead of EU too, just look at the difference in na and eu challenger




I don't know why you are talking about proving his point, when we are not debating whether he is right or not. I don't see where I say something along those lines in my messages. I agree EU scene is much better and deeper than NA. I think any of the top16 of EU Challenger would make it top4 in NA and none of the NA Challengers besides Neeb and Scarlett would make it into the top 16 EU. I think that is a fact. And that being true has nothing to do with Hypocrisy.

So yep, I agree with everything you said in your message, and imo I think that's not what we were debating.

Show nested quote +
On May 10 2019 20:45 RiSkysc2 wrote:
On May 10 2019 20:05 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:58 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 18:22 Elmonti wrote:
On May 10 2019 17:47 Need wrote:
On May 10 2019 16:51 Elmonti wrote:
So this is the guy that shit talks the entire NA scene and then goes and compete in the lowest skill region thanks to a surprise NZ citizenship?... He says it himself, it's bull****, but it's legal, so...


I fail to see the contradiction. Why would he not try to avoid EU if he had said in the past EU is better than NA?


He shames the NA region but has to play in a much worse region to have some chance to get a seed for WCS (he wouldn't in EU or NA)... Don't you really see the hypocrisy there?... Or maybe hypocrisy is not the correct word... lack of ethics?

I didn't say he shouldn't try to avoid EU because it's too much for him, I understand that his only chance is to play in SEA. I said he is an hypocrite.


Nope, not seeing it. Hypocrisy would be if he had shamed NA for being bad, but then he would've went to play in EU cause he thought he had higher chances. As it is, it's perfectly coherent to claim NA is worse than EU and KR, and go play in the easiest region you're allowed to in order to qualify. These are very orthogonal events imo.

In regards to lack of ethics... I don't know, maybe lack of unnecessary pride. Is it more ethical to fight the losing battle of qualifying via EU or fight a winnable battle using the windfall NZ citizenship? Up to everyone's moral compass, but I don't think should be an ethical dilemma


I think it's hypocrite to shame NA for being bad, and then admitting he is worse by going to the weakest region as the only way to do well in a qualifier. He made an statement (we EU are way better than you NA players) and then behaves like the opposite (I'm only competitive in a region with lower level than NA). He claimed to have some qualities (being better than NA players) that he didn't really possess (he is only good enough to play in SEA qualifiers). That's the definition of hypocrisy. Either that, or he knew he was a worse player than NA challengers and still made fun of them, which makes him just plain stupid, like at twitch chat "NA LUL" levels. You choose.

You forgot to complete your question with "while shasming the entire NA region, which is way better than the one he is playing in". So yes, it is more ethical to shut up and have some respect for people better than you at what you do. Then you can go on and play the easy region to get the seed.


I'm not going to get into the EU vs NA debate again. It's been talked to death, but i do want to say this:

I've never included myself in the EU vs NA debate. It's not "WE are better", it's "THEY (the EU pros, in general) are better", that's not to say that NA is bad, they're still very good and deserve respect. I just think the mid-high level and the high level EU scene is not respected enough as they maybe should, they are insanely insanely good, there's a ridiculous amount of depth in skill in the EU scene.

That's all, no drama please <3


Of course 0 drama here, just chill debate about something.

And no need to get into that since we were not talking about the EU vs NA debate... I think there is no debate, EU has way more and better players, period (See my reply to Wardi).

If you say you don't consider yourself better than NA players then you're not an hypocrite, so my apologies.

Now you are a player who has mocked an entire region for being worse than other WHILE being aware that you can't be competitive in none of their Challengers... I'm not sure that's better. It's even worse in my opinion.

And then again, I was talking about the time you used to shit talk NA like that. I guess after what happened in WCS Winter you changed your attitude towards the NA scene, and started to show the respect you say they deserve. Your message shows this at least.


Hes going SEA because he literally has a citizenship there - not because he "fears" NA lmao - he doesn't have 3 citizenships - as far as I'm aware - so I don't understand why you are confused about why he isn't trying to qualify on NA.

He can play from KR with reasonable ping on SEA - and the key here.. in case you are still confused - he has citizenship..so he's allowed to? How does this possibly say to you that he's scared to try qualifying on NA? He's absolutely good enough to compete in the NA qualifier - the top tier of Na is strong - but below Neeb/Scarlett(who I'm not sure is in the equation) Special there is a giant gap... and since well.. he's not allowed to.. and even if he was allowed to has no means to with playable ping.. in what universe does this translate to your position?
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