NEXGenius Interview 'Package'

NEXGenius, ‘Skill doesn’t disappear’.

NEXGenius has qualified for the GSL two seasons in a row.

Q. Your feelings on qualifying for the GSL twice in a row?
A. I’ve been nervous until yesterday, but I realized that skill doesn’t disappear after playing today’s matches.

Q. Last season, you were eliminated in a disappointing fashion.
A. Be it strategy or management, a loss is a loss. I don’t blame myself for losing, I even got a nickname for being bunker rushed twice.

Q. How did you deal with the disappointment?
A. I felt better after qualifying for Blizzcon.

Q. Your expectations for this season?
A. My goal is always to win the whole thing. However, I got knocked out in the Ro64 after saying that I wanted to win, so rather than to guarantee that I will win, I’ll just do my best this time.

Q. Due to Blizzcon, your GSL schedule has been very tight packed.
A. If I advance to Ro32, I have to play my match right after I arrive back in Korea. If I overcome that, I think I can do well.

Q. You’re about to play games in North America, how do you feel?
A. I’m very honoured. Foreigners are known to play games freely, but I think that Koreans are still better gamers. I’m expecting the Blizzcon main events to be a lot easier than the qualifiers.

Q. Who do you want to play in GSL?
A. If I win against NaDa or BoxeR, I’ll be sure to get flamed. So I want to avoid those two. I would like anyone that is not zerg, because I’m not too confident in that match-up.

Q. You’re being considered one of the top protosses.
A. People compare me a lot with sSKS, but since he didn’t qualify this time, I think I’m the top protoss (laughs).

Q. Any comments?
A. I hope many NEX teammates can make it through qualifiers.

NEXGenius, ‘I still think I’m a favourite in this tournament’.

NEXGenius quickly defeated rainfOu with a score of 2:0 to advance to the Ro32.

Q. Your feelings on advancing to Ro32?
A. I didn’t play like how I practiced, but I’m glad that I won.

Q. Were you reminded of your Ro64 exit from last season?
A. Last time, I didn’t practice as much due to overconfidence, but I’ve learned my lesson and practiced hard.

Q. Last season, you were considered a favourite to win, but lost.
A. I still think I’m a favourite in this tournament. I will clearly show how well I can play.

Q. Wasn’t it a big blow to lose 4 zealots in the first set?
A. It was ok, because he made just as many zerglings. When he attacked me with roaches, I think I could lose, but I reacted well.

Q. After the recent patch, more zergs started using roaches offensively.
A. You can defend against roaches with FF placed further away from you. Stalkers have longer range, so it’s not especially hard to defend.

Q. There were no protosses in the Ro4 from last season.
A. I was knocked out way too early. I thought sSKS would advance, but he was surprisingly knocked out as well. This time, you can think that there is already one protoss in the Ro4 (me). I hope more than 2 protosses can make it though.

Q. People consider protoss to be a weak race.
A. After the recent patch, protoss did become a lot weaker. However, I’ll show everyone that it’s still a good race with my play.

Q. There are discussions on who the top protoss is between you and oGsMC.
A. The top protoss is definitely sSKS, but oGsMC has been improving. I hope we can all do well.

Q. You will soon leave to North America for Blizzcon.
A. I have huge expectations, and I want to win, even though it is my first time playing overseas.

Q. Are you close with MakaPrime, who will be going with you to Blizzcon?
A. Not sure about closeness, but we do talk a lot.

Q. Recently, Zenith and NEX merged into ZeNEX.
A. Now we have the most players qualified into this GSL. There are more decent players, which is good for practice.

Q. Who do you consider to be the rival of this season?
A. I don’t consider NaDa or BoxeR to be my rival, but I’m scared of them because if I win, I will be flamed. Since I practiced a lot, I’m not particularly concerned about a specific player.

Q. Your goal at the moment?
A. I have come up with new builds, which I was able to hide in the Ro64. I want to show off these builds in the tournament. I think last season was a punishment for not practicing.

Q. Any comments?
A. Thanks to IMLosirA, Leenock and NEXSikari for practicing, I’ll be sure to buy them a present if I win.

NEXGenius, ‘Protoss can trust me and just follow me along’.

Blizzcon winner NEXGenius defeated ‘Flame Terran’ Sync with a score of 2:0 to advance to Ro16.

Q. Your feelings on advancing to the Ro16 with a sweep?
A. Like I said last time, you can count on me being in the Ro4 (laughs). There are very few protosses left, but you can trust me and follow me along, so don’t worry.

Q. What has changed after winning the Blizzcon?
A. Friends and family have treated me differently, so I’m proud about that. Not sure about Korea, but I’ve gained many foreigner fans.

Q. Were you worried about fatigue or lack of practice?
A. I fell asleep right after arriving in Korea, but only slept for 2 hours at night due to jetlag. I’m going to stay up all night to overcome the jetlag, and my condition is fine.

Q. Did you prepare for the ‘Flame Terran’ playstyle?
A. I was aware of it, so I was able to win with ease.

Q. You will play against oGsInCa in the Ro16.
A. There are only 3 protosses left, and I have to play him already, this is bad news. I think the winner will be the top protoss. Since it is fall, I think we will have a protoss winner.

Q. oGsMC said that he can’t be the top protoss, because he was knocked out.
A. oGsMC is very good, but I think he lost due to the recent zerg buff. I think it will get better, so I hope he cheers up.

Q. Since you were victorious in Blizzcon, do you want to win again?
A. I definitely want to. I think it’s a pity to take all the victories, so if I do win, I will not participate in the next season.

Q. Don’t you think your fans will be disappointed if you win and don’t show up in season 3?
A. There are many good protosses without me in the mix, so it’ll be ok. There is no guarantee that I’ll win, I just said that for the sake of saying it (laughs).

Q. Any comments?
A. Thanks to those who helped me practice. If I mention their names, people will look through match history, so I won’t.

NEXGenius, ‘There is nothing to stop me’.

The Blizzcon champion NEXGenius defeated oGsInCa 2:1 to advance to the Ro8.

Q. You feelings on the victory?
A. My goal is to win the tournament, and I’m happy that I just beat the hardest opponent. There is nothing to stop me. It feels great.

Q. Are you still fatigued from Blizzcon?
A. I slept at 2AM after my Ro16 match. I was very dizzy, but I was energized.

Q. You started off slow losing the first set.
A. oGsInCa’s strategy was good. I have nothing else to say.

Q. You won strategically in set 2 and 3. Were these builds prepared?
A. My opponent expanded too early, so I grabbed the opportunity to go blink stalkers. In the third set, I was sure to beat his DTs if I managed to get a robo up.

Q. Your next opponent is last season’s runner-up HopeTorture.
A. He is indeed the runner-up from last season, but he is weak compared to other terrans I know. Since sSKS did not qualify, I think I can win for sure.

Q. Any comments?
A. choyafOu is great in practice, I think he can make it far next season. I also want to thank Kim Sang Jun for practicing with me.