Jinro and HuK represent the World, their team and us this week in Seoul as they take on the best foreign and Korean progamers in the GSL World Championship 2011. We caught up with them after the first day of the GSL WC to see what they had to say about the event, their groups and the games ahead.



Hi Jinro! Hi HuK! You guys just got back from the 2011 GSL World Championship group selection ceremony. We watched you on stream but how was it up in the studio?

Jinro: Hot. Fun too of course, looking forward to honouring my pledge of acquiring pink haird should the world team win.


HuK, you play MVP and Jinro you're matched against Anypro. Are you happy with your draft? Anyone else you'd have rather played?

Jinro: I'm happy enough, I didnt have any strong preferences for the early rounds.

HuK: I didn't want to play MC or any of my teammates other then that I don't really care, I mean mvp wouldn't of been my first choice but its ok will have to beat everyone evetually anyways.


Are there any other Ro16 games you're looking forward to? What is this round's must watch series?

Jinro: HuK/MVP. MarineKing/Sen.

HuK: Mine and my teammates'. No others.


Let's talk about Korea vs the World. The foreigner vs Korean skill level has been discussed a lot lately, especially with reference to the TSL. Given that you guys are some of the few foreigners living and training in Korea, would you say that both groups are getting closer together, or is there still a visible skill gap between them?

HuK: There is a visible skill gap between them although at the highest level both groups are more similar then some may have thought.

Jinro: I dont know, I think there is no question which scene has the deeper pool (just look at the people getting knocked out of code A qualifiers....) but top seems pretty close. I thought the difference would be bigger to be honest, and I assumed many of the koreans would do better vs the non-korean players than I had done against them in teamleagues etc.


Your teammates are in Dallas this weekend for MLG but you guys chose to stay behind and play for the World Allstars team. On a very personal level, what does this event mean to you? Are you looking forward to it more than others? Why? Why not?

HuK: Came down to not wanting to travel. The prize money was good too and I would prefer to play in the GSL anyway.

Jinro: It's fun, makes me wish we could play GSTL, or that WCG was a team event. I always prefer to play in Korean events, the closer they are to where I live the better.


While other players have chosen to move back West to play more LANs in Europe and in America, and yet the two of you and HayprO have been pretty adamant about staying in Korea. Why?

Jinro: I like Korea, the format of GSL suits me. I dont like travelling, and you must travel a lot if you live in europe or the us.

HuK: I want to play vs the best, in the best league, and be the best ultimately. The easiest way to accomplish all of these things are Korea.


Looking forward to Wednesday, what do you expect from MVP/anypro and what kind of play will you bring to the table to combat their respective styles? Will the nature of this tournament allow for some experimentation or will you just play solid like you always do?

HuK: I think my styles is pretty good against MVP, so I'm probably going to just stick to what I know (reactionary PVT) for the most part and will try to exploit any weaknesses if I see them.

Jinro: Uhm, I dont know much about Anypro PvT. As I said in our interview, we have really never played. I will watch his games and talk to friends, but thats about all I can do.


In closing, if you could play one SCBW progamer (who doesn't yet play SC2) in an exhibition match like this, who would you pick?

Jinro: Nobody, there's nothing to gain and everything to lose -.- There are plenty of players Id love to see play SC2, however - just the obvious choice of Bisu, Jaedong, Flash.

HuK: Yup, Jaedong, Bisu, Flash!


All right! Good luck guys, and see you in the GSL WC! Jinro HuK fighting!

Tyler, you placed 6th and 4th respectively in your last two MLGs and sat at number 7 on the 2010 MLG overall rankings. What are your expectations for MLG Dallas 2011?

Tyler: It's time for me to win one.


TLO, you did well at MLG Dallas last year, placing 5th shortly after switching over to Zerg. Now that you play Terran again, what sort of chances do you give yourself in Dallas again?

TLO: I think I can win the tournament, even though it will still take some time for me to regain my true strength and skill, like I had in Korea. However, only playing Terran right now showed me what an idiot I had been. I made things harder for myself than they have to be.


HayprO, The last LAN you attended was the PokerIdol.com SC II European Championship, where you placed 4th. What are you most looking forward to the most about playing outside Korea again?

HayprO: I'm looking forward to meeting my team mates. Last time my mouse broke before the tournament started and I had to use Ret's mouse. This time I'm bringing two mice with me.


Ret, you had a great run through your last MLG, losing only to fellow Liquidians and still ending up in 7th place. Combined with your MLG DC points, this placed you at #13 on the MLG overall ranking for 2010. Now that you're back in Europe, how much of your SC2 focus will be on MLG 2011 in the months to come?

Ret: I really want to do well in the MLG 2011 Season. I'm going to practice really hard these next few months and hopefully I can win at least one of these events and make a run for the national championship at the end of the season.


The whole of Liquid met together for the first time at MLG Dallas last year. This time, only four of you will be there. What will you miss the most about not having the entire team at the event?

Tyler: It's more fun with all of us together!

TLO: Well Chris and Jonathan in general but I am really lucky to see them again very soon again in Stockholm! I am happy to see my mates more often these days now! ♥ ♥ ♥

HayprO: victor will be there, so I'm not really gonna miss anyone. Living with Jinro and HuK is enough. I'm happy about this break.

Ret: Of course we won't feel truly complete with two of our players missing, but it's still going to be a really strong Liquid showing and hopefully we all manage to do really well. It would be awsome if one of us can be king of Dallas once again while Jinro and Huk dominate the GSL World championship!


Apart from this MLG, you have Columbus, Anaheim, Raleigh, Orlando and the National Championship in Providence on the 2011 MLG Pro Circuit. Seeing that you have other MLG events coming up, what are your long term goals when it comes this year's circuit?

Tyler: I want to win the national championships and I want to be first in the rankings going into the national championships.

Ret: I'd really like to win an event and also place very high in the ranking at the end of the year. I'm really excited for MLG and want to get great results in the US with NASL starting up soon as well.

TLO: I want to place in the Top 3 of this year's ranking.

HayprO: I wanna get high up in all the tournaments and win the big one.


All of you have been to at least one MLG. What do you like the most about the circuit?

HayprO: The spectators are great. It was such a nice feeling, with people everywhere cheering.

TLO: I loved the tournament. It was big and professional and gave you as a player the feeling that you were a part of something really awesome and great. Plus the crowd was really active and interacted nicely with the show and players.

Tyler: I like that it's in North America. International travel is tough.

Ret: The atmosphere is really good. Lots of gamers everywhere, and everyone's friendly. Starcraft players know how to have a good time too so it's nice to socialize with the people you play with online. Also as a player it's a nice tournament to play in because everything is well organized.



The Double Elimination format makes the MLG experience somewhat different to most other LANs. Do you like this format? Why? Why not?

HayprO: DE is always the better option when time is not an issue. there is nothing to dislike about it.

Ret: I really like the fact that players get a second chance. There's nothing more epic than someone losing early and making an epic comeback through the loser's bracket. I also feel it rewards the more skilled player in the end.

Tyler: Yeah I like it because it's more accurate. It also gives players more opportunities to show what they can do.

TLO: I love double elimination! It really makes you more resistant to cheese and it's always nice having a 2nd wind. It also creates cool comebacks and upsets.


Anyone in particular you are looking forward to playing? Anyone you'd like to call out?

TLO: It's gonna be fun playing Incontrol, I will destroy him.

HayprO: Not really. I don't care who I play as long as they are Z.

Ret: No one in particular, although I look forward to clashing with all of team EG's players and hopefully Liquid can come out on top again just like during last year's friendly rivalry.

Tyler: Nope. This one is all about me. I have an idea of how well I want to play. If I play how I want to, I'll be happy, no matter who I'm playing against.


Dallas gives a lot of SC2 fans in the region the chance to see you guys up close. What's the best way for a fan to approach you at an event like MLG? How can he/she be sure that you are ready to say hi and not in do-not-disturb mood?

Ret: Only time I might be too busy to say hi back is when I´m playing, other than that feel free to approach me anytime.

HayprO: I'm never in DND mode. Well, when I play I'm in DND mode, but other than that feel free to approach me!

TLO: Rule number 1: don`t approach a player after he lost a series. Most people just want to be left alone after a defeat. Try not to interrupt conversations, but in most cases you can just come and say hi and I don;t have a problem with that at all!

Tyler: If I've just lost or I'm about to play or I'm walking really fast, do not disturb. Just say "hey, Tyler?" and I'll say "what's up?" and then you say "have you seen TLO around?" and then I'll start walking really fast.


If there's one thing you're looking forward to doing at MLG apart from playing, what would it be?

Tyler: Meeting up with my friends. I also want to see the new setup. SC2 with more computers, a real stage, a prominent place on the floor plan, etc. It's gonna be awesome!

HayprO: I'm looking forward to meet Jos, since we parted on bad terms. I didn't know he was leaving the day after and we had a big fight over the effectiveness of Ultras in ZvP. I will use this trip as a chance to say sorry.

TLO: Right now it's just the fact that it is in Dallas. I NEED SUNSHINE... this winter has been far too long and dark.

Ret: Well ROOT.Catz told me hes bringing a soccer ball to the event so I look forward to teaching those kids how to play football!