[ISL] Ro56 Day 1

bw.de: Hallo Bakuryu. Please introduce yourself. For what are you known for in the BW-scene?
bakuryu: My name is Mike Lange, I am 21 years old and I am from Crailsheim, Germany. I play Broodwar for almost three years now (Zerg only). I was a not well known (bad) player for most of the time, because I stayed in the background usually. 99% of the better German BW-players switched to SC2 or totally stopped playing and that’s why I’m the last one. My only bigger achievement was my participation at the German WCG National Finals 2010, where I lost 1:2 to Kolll and 0:2 to Klauso.
bw.de: What do you think of the non-Korean BW-scene right now?
bakuryu: There are still opponents out there who beat me every time, so it’s OK for me :D. SC2 banged into the community like a bomb and only some widespread parts were left. Thanks to some ICCup-Events, like ICCup Attack!, Showmatches and the ISL, all casted by Sayle, the parts regathered again. A new “elite” exists, with known players, who know each other and are seen as the better ones by the observers.

bw.de: Thanks for the assist. The ISL has started! You qualified for the group stage without major problems. Did you doubt it at any point of the ladder stage?
bakuryu: In the beginning– No. At the end– Yes. Only a few days before the end of the ladder phase I was ahead of place 56 with a huge margin. Only one day later place 56 came a lot closer, so I had some doubt. I didn’t want to ladder anymore, because I didn’t want to lose points. But after all I was ahead with ~1000 points and qualified as #15.

bw.de: You are in one group with Ramms, sOte and BigPio. You have to prepare for every matchup. What do you think of your opponents and will you advance to Ro32?
bakuryu: Ramms put together the group and I was sure that he was going to select me. He has won 14 out of 14 against me so I was his “safe-pick”. sOte is my opponent. I’ve never played him and haven’t found a replay yet (bw.de: He found some replays 10 minutes after the interview). That’s not optimal but I guess my 4-hatch-style should help to win. I am 3:1 on 2-player-maps vs. BigPio so my odds are relatively good. My bet is: Ramms beats BigPio at FS, I’ll beat sOte at colo2. Ramms at Hithhiker is a loss for me, so I’d have to play sOte or BigPio at HBR, but I think that I will win that one. I am prepared for HBR and Destination, the maps for Finals- and Losersgame, because they were MOTW.

bw.de: We hope so. The Ro32 is played in single-elimination. So the grid is relatively luck-based. What’s the best place you can achieve?
bakuryu: If the grid is perfect for me (all good players in the other bracket) I can get to the Quarterfinals. Realistically Ro16 is absolutely possible. I’m curious about Kolll.

bw.de: The question about Kolll was supposed to come later, but let’s talk about him now. How far will he advance?
bakuryu: He’ll get into the Ro8 for sure. Everything else depends on how much he practices.

bw.de: Besides Kolll there are other candidates for #1. Who has a shot at #1?
bakuryu: There are so many good players with unpredictable skill. Scan, Technics, Sziky, Ramms, Heme.... One of them will win it all.

bw.de: The #1 will win 500$ and plays a showmatch against the Ukrainian legend White-Ra. Do you hin Ra has some skill left or will he get destroyed?
bakuryu: That’s a good question. I think, with all respect to White-Ra, that he’ll lose 0:3. He could win if he practices only BW for 2-3 weeks. So it depends on how much he prepares.

bw.de: Well, we are curious and looking forward to an exciting tournament. Thanks for your time and the precise answers. Good luck in your matches today, Bakuryu.
bakuryu: Thanks, I am happy, to help.