EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Q3Ceq.jpg)
(This interview is made by www.sc2.com.cn)
Here is the interview on MC(I have translated before):http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=214773
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Profile:
Name: Sun Liwei
ID: CCM.xiaOt
Race: Protoss
Team: CCM E-Sports Club
DOB: 06/17/1987
Nationality: China
As for xiaOt, it is believed that he is familiar by many e-sports players. He, with the nickname “Genius Boy”, had gained his fame through defeating Grrr, one of the top SC players in the world as early as 2001. What's more, he got numerous champions and winnings both in domestic and the world after switching to War 3. When Starcraft II: Beta released, the retired pro, xiaOt, reappeared on the state of e-sports, continued to pursue his dream of E-sports with SC II...
The Growth of Road:“I showed myself to my family that I did not addict to online game, nor became an immoral adolescent.”
Back to past, the only-13-year-old xiaOt faced double pressures from both family and society just the same as the most e-sports pros in China, after all, in many people's opinion, the adolescent sitting before the computer and playing game instead of going to school, was an incorrect way of growth. However, what fortunate is, xiaOt showed his value as an e-sports with many kinds of champions...
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Sc2.com.cn (S): Can you talk about how did you become an pro? We know that the circumstance for e-sports was not good at that time and you were very young then.
CCM.xiaOt(X): I was very simple then, my dream was to be an pro. No matter how bad the circumstance was, what I need to do was find a good club, work hard and had great performances on match. I think I must match the word “pro”, which I think is the professional attitude when we talk about.
S: With your many nicknames, probably the most familiar one is “Genius Boy”, does it bring you great pressure on the way of growth?
X: Yeah, indeed. More people bring more pressure. For example, the result of a game could not affect me, but criticism for audience and players could. But I still think that pressure could spurs me to gain better achievements.
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S: How do you deal with the pressure?
X: Honestly speaking, I have great pressure personally. As for match, I will practise more and analyze more with my teammates; as for daily life, I usually deal with them through many ways such as singing, watching TV and so on.
S: When you decided to become a pro, what kind of difficulties had you encountered? What was the attitude of your family?
X: Well, I did not have a good performance at school. My family was quite worried about me after they knew my decision, after all, I was very young at that time. After I won some games and appeared on some newspapers, they began to accept the situation, after all, I proved that I took e-sports as a career and not addicted in online games just as other peers nor an immoral adolescent. As time went on, I gained more and more national champions and the prizes were quite good as well, which brought pride to them and they became very supportive to me.
S: Until now, there still many children dreaming to be a pro, and they inevitably facing pressures from family and society just like you in the past. As an experienced man, do you have any suggestions to them?
X: I think that if you want to be a pro, first you need to find your position. You may be not become an e-sports pro just because you love it. You must keep a good attitude before you can show your good performance, you need to keep working hard and improving yourself when facing difficulties and frustrations, because a pro's daily practice is also a tough work. After seem-shining-report, a pro himself tastes all kinds of hardships.
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S: When was your hardest time as a pro?
X: In fact the hardest time was the time when an accident happened to my family. In 2007, my father died of illness. During that time, I could not believe it was my life. I wonder what was the hell of the world? I intended to retire then because I failed after a long time adjustment. I had very bad performance in 2007 and 2008 and felt more pressure which from the world, I was quite sorry for those who supported me. However, they changed me greatly and made me more mature. And I, xiaOt, come back now!
Switch to Starcraft II: “I hope I could achieve my dream of World Champion on Starcraft II!”
Since wNw Club was disbanded in 2008, xiaOt also disappeared from public. When everyone thought that xiaOt would retire someday, Blizzard released her masterpiece: Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, which helped the boy back to his stage. As the beginning of transformation, xiaOt was nicknamed “defeated boy while in upper hand”, but not long before, those who laughed at him shut their mouth up because of his following performance....
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S: We can say that you are the first War 3 players switch to Starcraft 2. Could you tell the reason?
X: In fact I was retired since 2008. In War 3, I got many kinds of champions, but the only regret is I did not get the world champion. As starcraft 2 beta released, I think it was a good chance for me. It is a new e-sports item, and I want to achieve my dream of a world champion on it.
S: Long before when you interviewed by CCTV(China Central TV, Chinese biggest and official TV channel) you said that you had gift on RTS game, so now that you switched to SC2 from War 3, compare with your switch from SC to War3, is there anything different or the same?
X: Well, as for switch to War3 from SC, I think I was quite young then, strictly speaking, I was not a pro but a gameloving player, and the reason made me turned to War 3 was just interest. War 3 was quite hot then, and many friends around me began to play. Generally speaking, I did not think too much when switching. But this time is different, though WNV club has been disbanded and I retired for a long time, I have to admit that I love e-sports very much, and I want to find a job involves with it. Though I return to SC 2 as a pro, I will become a coach or manager in future.
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S: The first SC2 you joined was VA, but not long you left VA to Nv, could you tell us the reason?
X: The main reason is regional limitation, VA in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and I want to back to my hometown-- Wuhan, Hubei Province. In addition, I think I could be a leader just as MTY, and I hope some of my concepts could operated in the daily management of the club. And just at that time NV club in Wuhan intended to establish a SC2 branch, thus I went to NV.
S: You practise very hard after join in NV and your personal level also improves quickly. Is the club gives you more pressure or just just your attitude changes?
X: There is pressure indeed, after all, fans cast their eyes to me after I join in the new club and they also hope I could win both in domestic and abroad match. What's more, I am both the player and manager of the club, thus I have a higher standard to myself and my teammates. Now, not only I should get some achievements, but also my team should become the strongest SC2 team in China.
S: After you switch to SC2, which match is the most impressive to you, why?
X:I think the most impressive one was against Loner in the final of National Invitation. First, I need a champion which was very important to me, second, I want to prove to public that even I switched to SC2, I was still a great player. Certainly I was very satisfied with my performance in the final.
About Club: “I will go to Korea for GSL this year.”
Leading his team, xiaOt gained numerous champions in domestic match, and the mainland is not his limitation. The ambitious xiaOt knows that there is a broader stage is waiting him, which is the top-level world stage---- GSL.
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S: Talk something about your practice, now how many hours do you and your team uses into practise?
X: Now we get up early and we take 1 hour in gym between 9 am to 10 am, and then we practise from 10 am to 8 pm, then our free time.
S: The time is much less than oGs, they usually practise from 11 am to next 3 am. How do you think the difference?
X:I think the arrangement is proper to us, because too long time is also harmful to our physical conditions. And after a 8-hour practice, the quality will slowly come down. Though our practise time is less than Korean club, I think our quality is good, too. In addition, after 8 pm, we come together to analyze and discuss, which is our daily schedule.
S: Not long before your club moved to Beijing, could you tell some basic info about your new base?
X: NV club SC2 branch moved to Beijing around 1 month before. The circumstance is good currently, the club rent an apartment nearby as our dorm. Including Xigua and macsed are practising in Beijing. And some more players will go to Beijing to practise together in near future.
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S: Now that your take more time to practise on China Server, which is slightly different from WE club. Why do not stay in Korea Server?
X: In fact we usually practise in Korea server, for example, we will go to Korea server when practise and improve our strategies. When China Sever opened, we take more time in China server. Because we want to get a higher rank in our nation server.
S: Now that you said you want to take part in GSL in Korea, do you confirm your agenda?
X: I will go to GSL this year. At first I want to take part in GSL held in June, but WCG China has started, and I delayed my travel to GSL.
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S: What achievement do you want to get, Round 32 in Code S or better?
X: The lowest aim I want to achieve in Korea is round 32 in Code S. Whether I could get a better achievements or not depends on my opponents I meet. However, I will practise more after I confirmed my GSL plan.
S: Besides you, is there anyone else in your team to GSL?
X: Currently, I will go there alone, I should be familiar with Korean circumstance and some cooperation with Korean clubs, and then maybe we send more our teammates to GSL.
S: Could you tell some detail of the cooperation with Korean club? Or which kind of cooperation do you plan to do?
X: Some conditions or supports from GSL official department or local club, including living and practice, etc. Of course if they go to China in future, we provide the same conditions to them.
Understandings of the Game: “The tendency of the strategy is operation-oriented, there will be more strategies in mid-or-late games.”
Just as Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, the Terran is the star character of the story, and now Terran players, such as Thorzain, are shining on the stage now. But as a Protoss player, xiaOt defend the nobleness and dignity of the Protoss...
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S: The patch 1.3.3 gave more fluence on Protoss, especial 4-gate strategy. How do you think the influence on players use their strategy?
X: I think it just affected the time while Protoss use the 4-gate rush. It did not change much if you choose to run your economics or operation. The tendency of the strategy is operation-oriented, there will be more strategies in mid-or-late games.
S: MC said that it was the most boring thing in PvP, because something it depends on luck rather than their strength. Do you agree with him?
X: Yeah. Luck is an important factor, but not absolutely. The different style may restrain opponent's style. I think it would be better if a new patch comes out.
S: Which maps do you think is a little tough for Protoss?
X: If V zerg, and if the entrance of the natural is rather wide, and it is very hard to defend if opponent use zergling+roach just like Neatea. Sentry could not help much on a wide entrance. In that situation you should defend with your buildings and FF without any mistake.
S: Who is your favorite SC2 player? Why?
X: MC, I think. He has the top-integrated skill as a Protoss player. I can learn something from his match, and what's more, he is interesting.
E-Sports in China: “I hope everyone of you pays more attention to Chinese E-sports!!”
As a eyewitness of the development of China E-Sports, xiaOt also spoke something about his views and expectations on China E-Sports Circumstance. We could see his love to this field between his words.
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S: Now there are more and more SC2 tournament is domestic with deeper and deepre prize pool, what's your feelings toward this?
X: I think the big circumstance of Chinese E-Sports has awake gradually, and there are more and more professional organizations have appeared. Many professional media, such as DUOWAN (www.sc2.com.cn) began to report the news and other things. And clubs with their members are doing the same thing. Now we pursue our dream step by step, which is unlike the “E-Sports Bubbles” in 2005 and 2006.
S: There is a challenge we must face, which is both the tournament organization and operation, Korea and Western is far better than China. As a pro, in your opinion, what are the reasons make Chinese tournament behind theirs?
X: Korea has government support and grand people basics. Besides E-sports, there are many aspects else that we fall behind. I think the social welfare system and education system lead them the edge on the development of E-sports.
S: There is a view in China that there are too many online games in Chinese Internet, and many peoples think not too many people to play RTS games such as SC2, and now due to many reasons, SC2 could not as high as SC1, do you think they are right or wrong?
X: That's the current situation and I have to admit it is true. But I believe that if you work together to tell others the concepts of E-sports and the spirit it stands for, to persuade them to accept and love E-Sports, SC2 will have a bright future in China.
S: Do you think there is a gap between Chinese players and Korean Players? If there is, how wide is the gap?
X: Indeed there is, the prize pool is very attractive to players; in addition, their circumstance is terrible strong, besides those famous guys such as MC or Nestea, there are many players who are not known by the world, they also have great level, we know this clearly while playing in Korea Sever.
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S: It is the first year that SC2 was selected in to WCG, I think everyone of you want to become the winner of WCG China. Who do you think is your biggest rival?
X: I think Xigua (literal meaning: Watermelon) is my rival. Because he practise very hard, and has his unique understanding
S: Anything else to E-sports players?
X: First thanks DUOWAN's interview, and thanks your support to me. E-sports makes us know each other. We love it, we hope it grows better and better. I hope everyone of you support Chinese E-Sports!!
Conclusion
During the interview, I think xiaOt is a persistent person, he persists on his higher, faster and stronger e-sports dream; he persists on a world champion which will belong to him; he persists on his team to become a strongest club in domestic. Just because his persistence, xiaOt could run on his way to his e-sports dream, though the way is not flat, it's tough in fact, he does not care. Isn't the persistence the hope of future of Chinese E-sports?
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