Credits go to Daily e-Sports and Reporter Nam Yun-sung. Thanks again for hosting these Twitter Q&A's.
Best - "I'm not showing my abs anymore"
Question by @Eunhwaaa
If you were a girl, which SKT1 player and other team player would you have fallen for? Please give a reason too. Also, is there a player that you don’t really know but want to become more friendly with?
If I had to choose from SKT1, it would be s2. Doesn’t he even look just like a family man? If I was a girl I would want to live with someone who is consistent and loyal and that would be s2. I’d have to think a little more when it comes to players from other teams. I think I would fall for STX’s Kal because he looks so reliable. I really like his open-hearted appearance and his +190cm height (T/N: For the Americans, that means taller than 6’ 3’’).
There isn’t a player in our team that I do not know well. There shouldn’t be any players that you are not yet friendly with after seeing them for 5 years. I’d pick CJ’s horang2 as the player that I want to become friendlier with. We are both Protoss players but his games are a lot more refreshing, which I think is very attractive. He also seems to have a really bright personality.
Question by @happy_jieun
I have heard that you really like to eat at restaurants that specialize in chicken. What kind of distinction does a business need in order to compete among the tons of different restaurants out there? Do you have any preferences for the type of chicken?
I believe that in order to be competitive you need something special that sets you apart from others. That is true not only for chicken restaurants but for progamers too. I don’t see much difference in taste among the restaurants. Wouldn’t the distinctions be from the kinds of services they give you? For example if one business offered you one can of cola while another gave you a 1.5L bottle, or if they give you two cans. I don’t discriminate among the choices in the menu and can eat them all. But I don’t really like bare chicken because it feels too thick to eat.
Question by @hyerran
If you were a progaming team coach, which players would you pick for your team lineup?
I think everyone would think pretty similarly for that. I would pick Bisu and Stork for Protoss, Fantasy and Flash for Terran, and Jaedong and Zero for Zerg. But I think you’d have to give them significant salaries. I bet these players’ salaries combined would be about $1 million…hmm…if I had to be economical about my team, I think Jangbi and Horang2 for Protoss, Light and Hiya for Terran, and soO and Modesty for Zerg would be good. Light might have a pretty high salary but he is one of the main players on his team so I’d pick this lineup. I think the operating cost would be about $500,000 then, while producing the records they have been producing. Including Modesty is simply because he is totally necessary to win in ZvZ.
Question by @bbosyuk
SKT1’s Protoss line’s power is very great. What do you think is the reason why they are so strong? Also, if you could have another job in e-sports aside from being a progamer, what would you want to be? I’d also like to know if it’s true that Bisu learned how to play Protoss from you and Coach Kwon. Please also tell if there is a player that you want to become friendly with or if there was a funny incident at your practice house.
I think SKT1 Protoss players have the ability to shift the metagame better than the players from other teams. Bisu especially has a concept about Protoss much better than the others. Add Sun and Paralyze as our younger players and we have a very reliable line. Bisu and I usually are not the kind of players to directly talk about build orders, strategy, or macroing but the younger players watch our styles and talk about it together. I also think we have a good record because Coach Kwon tells us what we lack as well as suggestions during practice when he plays against us.
If I had to become a worker in the e-sports industry other than a progamer, I’d be someone who sets the PC before games. I know everything about our team’s mice and keyboards but I don’t really know about other players’ hardware. I’d like to busy myself before every set and work to create comfortable playing environments for the players.
And like I said before, I usually don’t talk directly about our opinions or thoughts with Bisu. It’s because we are both busy and the younger players fill their roles as the middle-men well. I have said before that Bisu learned strategy from me in an interview but that was probably at the beginning when he first joined our team. Bisu is someone who is very good at managing improvisation while I follow the build order from start to finish. Coach Kwon once suggested to Bisu about following a build order after the beginning of the game and they both talked about it so perhaps that story might have been interpreted differently as such.
Question from @frompolaris
I’m wondering if you still continue to exercise and who among SKT1 players are the most dedicated and least dedicated to managing their body.
I’ve recently started working out a lot again. When I go to the fitness center, Paralyze is the one who works out the hardest. He runs 10 km on the machine everyday and also lifts weights a lot too. There are also players who do not like to exercise. That would be Captain Hyuk and Sun. When the other players go to exercise together, they sit in the practice house or surf the internet.
Question from @Joooo41
When did you start liking cola? From whom do you want to get the most congratulations when you reach 100 wins in Proleague? (T/N: This article appeared about a month before Best won his 100th win in Proleague.)
I earnestly (kind of a weird word to use here) began to drink cola beginning in 7th grade. My allowance at the time was $2.00 and it bought exactly a 1.5L bottle of cola and one bag of chips. From then on, I drank cola for about 5 or 6 years until now. Recently, I started to think about my health so I stopped drinking cola and now am drinking water. If I had to choose among different kinds of soft drinks, it would be cola. I drink water normally but if I go to a special place, cola starts to tug at me.
If I got 100 wins in Proleague, I’d like to be congratulated by the fans who cheered for me from the very beginning. They are the ones who watched me from my first win to my 100th. I want to celebrate the happiness with them. I’d also like to be congratulated by my parents and the coaching staff. If I got 100 wins I might do a special ceremony so please anticipate me.
Question by @LeeXion
I’m very happy as a fan that you keep playing better and better these days. What is the secret?
Like I mentioned before, I increased my practice amount.
Question from @Daumpotplayer
This is a question regarding the “glutton gif”. How much do you eat everyday? Also, do you eat like you are macroing?
I think someone made that gif after a clip of me eating was caught on OGN’s ESC program. I don’t eat as much as you might think; I eat similarly to a regular person. The way I eat might be a little different, however. I like to put a lot of food into my mouth at one time. I think you need to eat food with a lot intensity. It doesn’t look good if a guy is timid at the table. The older adults seem to like how I eat.
Question from @kalie_j
I know that you recently switched roommates. Has anything big changed after the switch? It seems like you enjoy using carriers a lot and I’m wondering if you enjoy the micro involved with them. What do you think are the pros and cons of carriers and arbiters?
I use the same room as Bisu and soO. We sometimes change rooms and floors to promote friendship. I’ve started to talk a lot with Bisu and soO. Both players don’t have any particularly different sleeping habits. They sleep pretty normally but I have gotten a new habit that I haven’t had before. I don’t know if it’s because of the room switch but I often wake up to find myself on the same bed as soO. Don’t misunderstand me. Hahaha.
There are maps that are good for carriers. There are other maps that are good for arbiters. Starting to use carriers has diversified our PvT matchup. Depending on how you micro them, carriers can become an imba unit or can become the cause of messing up the game. The recent game I had with Really is an example of the carrier being an overpowered unit. I thought that game was over for me so I did nothing but focus on my carrier micro and then I ended up winning. This is a genuine example of how unfair carriers can be.
Arbiters also have their advantages. If their stasis field goes in well then it’s amazing but if you freeze only a few units, then you’re in trouble. Losing a huge battle in a total defeat is often because the stasis fields did not go through well.
Question by @Killo
It seems like there is a lot of interest in your unpretending appearance. If you were to compare yourself from when you debuted and yourself now?
I don’t think there is too much interest. If something has changed, it’s the thickness of my wallet. When I first started, I didn’t have a lot of money and it was hard even to cover my living expenses so I didn’t have any freedom to spend money on my appearance. After I started getting a salary, I’ve been able to spend a little money on things that I want. So I occasionally buy new clothes and can also afford to do my hair, which has led to my appearance getting better after time.
Question by @hyerrran
What is the reason for you becoming more and more handsome? You’re right in front of 100 wins, you’re handsome, and you’ve left the “King of Losers” line. I congratulate you. What is the secret?
I answered the question about my appearance above. I don’t think I’ve left the “King Loser” line yet. It really annoyed me while I was on a losing streak. My win rate is getting better but I don’t really like it. I wanted to get over 30 wins in Proleague and it makes me feel bad. I am slowly getting over a 50% win rate so I’m thinking they should add two new players to the “King of Losers” line. I once talked with Jangbi on battle.net about it. He asked me “King of Loser Best, do you wish that I lose my games?”. We don’t fight about anything and rather encourage each other. We are both on winning streaks in Round 6 and so I feel good. Jangbi hwaiting!
Question by @HTTSF
Who do you believe is the best player of each race? And what is the reason? Because you’ve been getting better at your PvT, you’re showing the image of a PvT god. The reason must be because of you increased the amount of practice you put in? Also please give me a tip on producing units from gateways.
I will substitute my answer for the previous question where I was asked which players I would pick if I was a coach. I don’t think I am yet a PvT god yet. To be honest, I was always confident in my PvT since I started. I actually chose Protoss because it was so hard for me to defeat Protoss as a Terran. When I first started Brood War, my main race was Terran. But I just couldn’t beat Protoss no matter how strong my contains were. So, in a fit of anger, I switched to Protoss. I changed with a mind to defeat Terran no matter what so I should be good at my PvT.
I don’t really have a set of secret techniques when macroing from the gateways. It’s meaningless to even have a lot of gateways if you don’t know when to time your production. I personally think players should the production times for zealot, dragoon, high templar, and dark templar by heart. For example, after producing a bunch of zealots in the gateways, do something else and then when it’s about time to produce them again, go back to the gateways and repeat. This is the best way to macro. My mind has been trained to select the gateways when units are at 95% of being produced.
Question by @hye_jy.
You’ve said that you don’t have a close friend in your team but is that really true?
I am pretty friendly with the younger Protoss players Sun and Paralyze. I often poke fun at them. Some fans think I am being too harsh but that is my way of showing my affection for them. I often buy them food. These days, they’ve been winning in Proleague and now they say they’ll buy food for me. They are good-natured people.
Question by @nyOng7
You’ve often been on seen on broadcast playing with a smartphone. I’m wondering if you have any interest in using SNS like Twitter. Also, when you were on Battle.net Attack, you suggested to Commentator Yu to be friends with each other. Did you guys ever go eat together afterwards?
I got a Galaxy S from my company. I haven’t yet maximized the usefulness of the smartphone. All I really do is listen to music, use KaKao Talk, and play “Mat-go”. I occasionally manage my Cyworld C log as well. I haven’t entered the world of Twitter yet.
I once said that I wanted to be friends with commentator Yu because I respect him. Like I said before, I used to play as Terran. At the time, I was taken away by his “Space Defense” Terran (T/N: not sure what that is..) and watched his replays with great interest. And he lives near Dong-daemun (T/N: Literally “Great East Gate”, a landmark that used to be one of Seoul’s original walled gates during ancient times). I have relations around that place too so I wanted to go get something to eat with him but after he hurt his leg I haven’t been able to ask him yet.
Question by @BbakjiS2
Did you start using high templars in your PvT in order to get out of the “King of Losers” group? Or did you get this new style during practice.
I used to use them but they didn’t really make much of an impact at the time. I actually didn’t really have any interest in using them. I thought that I could defeat Terran using only zealots, dragoons, and arbiters. But because Terran players are doing well these days and because I wanted to change the image of my PvT, I started to use high templars and carriers too. You ought to just see it as my struggle to win. Hahaha.
Question by @clover2109.
I heard that you started to work out after gaining weight. What kind of a workout do you do?
I usually focus on my upper body when I go to the fitness center. When I was a kid I was in an auto accident where I hurt my lower body so I can’t put strain on it so I concentrate on my upper body. I go through my chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps, and abs. I’ve recently started to put my efforts into my abs. I either do sit-ups or raise my legs for that.
Question by @Maria_0502
You changed your roommate as you changed your room too. What are the pros and cons of that?
I answered that question above.
Question from @happy_jieun
I’m really glad that your momentum seems to be going up. What do you yourself feel that you need to work on and what you need to fix to become even better than now?
I have a bad habit of getting lazy after going on a short winning streak when I am playing poorly. My poor performance in the middle of the season was because of that. I also wasn’t able to focus on my practice because I got sick and had personal troubles. I also need to stop getting arrogant and cocky.
Question by @KINeco_CF
A while back you said in an interview that if you continued to slump you would think about entering military service this year or next year. You mentioned that you had no interest in ACE and that you would go into full-time service. I’m wondering if you still feel the same. I wish that you would play in ACE in the future.
If I am stuck in the “King of Loser” line for more than a year I could announce retirement as an apology to the fans. I feel that a progamer who cannot win is in his team for no reason. I don’t plan on continuing as a progamer if I continue to get frustrated. I guess I should worry about military service since I’m getting older. Even if I do end up going into the Air Force, I don’t want to go as a “King Loser”. I would want to be a player that helps his team while I’m in ACE; I find it totally ridiculous that someone would go there in order to solve the problem of service. Even if I did go into ACE, I’d want to be a player that consistently produces results. Much contacted me a while back asking me if I wanted to go into ACE. I think he asked me because they lack Protoss players. I feel that I can still contribute to SKT1 in more ways. I’m thinking of applying to ACE when I am producing a good record.
Question by @RedMoreT
I know that you got hurt in a car accident but when do you think you’ll become better at playing soccer? I heard that you harass the younger players in SKT1. Is that true? I heard that you often make fun of Sun.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to play soccer. The accident I was in when I was in grade school was very serious and I don’t have any strength left in my right leg. So I can’t even run well either. The aftereffects don’t seem to go away I guess. That I’m pushing the younger players around is a false rumor. I’m the kind of person that doesn’t even try to talk with players that I don’t have any interest in. I hope that people will know that by being with them and messing with them shows that I really like the younger players.
Question by @agogo__2
Your macro in PvT is so amazing when I see you player but why doesn’t that happen in your PvZ?
My macroing skill doesn’t necessarily not show during PvZ. They come out similarly to my PvT. The problem that I believe is that I keep fighting ineffective attrition battles. My low winrate in that matchup is also because of that reason. Thank you for pointing out my strong points.
Question by @zoxn9
I’m curious about the way you macro. What is the reason behind the way your units pour out?
I answered that question above. You have to feel the timing of the unit production in your body. If you only have 6 gateways but if you can produce units continuously without any rest times, you can produce much more units than having 10 gateways. Assume that the opponent produces his units intermittently.
Question by @kikikisyung
Do you like your mom or your dad more? And you said on battle.net attack that you would buy something nice for Commentator Yu. Has that happened yet?
I like my mom a little more. I haven’t been able to meet with him yet. I will make sure to meet him before this year is over.
Question by @hee0618
Is there are special reason why you are so friendly to Paralyze? I’m also interested if you still workout and if your abs are doing fine. Will you show us your abs if you play in the Proleague finals?
I just really like the younger players. And I continue to work out. Although I am concentrating on my abs, I don’t have any plans to do an ab ceremony in the finals. I felt kind of shameful after I showed them last time. There were a lot of people who took it critically. Unless I end up becoming a successful bodybuilder, I won’t show my abs in any e-sports event.
Question by @ondo89
Please tell me if in these days you are doing something a lot in particular or if you are doing something with a passion.
I play “Mat-go” on the phone a lot and am living on the drama “Best Love”. I really like the actress Gong Hyo-jin for her smoothness and beauty and Cha Seung-won and Yoon Gye-sang make very manly appearances. So I watched “Best Love” a lot during the off-season but once Round 6 started, it got really hard to stop watching it. I think there’s about 2 weeks left so I hope it quickly ends at which point I’ll watch all the episodes at once.
Question by @Bling_Sprout
You did the “jjuk-bul dance” ceremony (T/N: a dance sequence by the group 4minute, shown in the above picture too) when you beat Flash. Is there a reason why you chose to do that? Also, when you were playing with Leta in teamplay during the All-star match, did you know that he had switched spots with Suh Yeon-ji (T/N: One of the stargirls)?
I had prepared a ceremony in case I won because Flash is really such a strong opponent. That day, the B-team players had come to cheer for us so I had to do something as a senior player. So me and s2 had a ceremony planned after Coach Kwon gave us an idea. s2 was supposed to dance too but they had changed the plans when we got to the match location. I was very embarrassed after I did that ceremony. But I still thought it was necessary to do it. Ceremonies that celebrate victory with fans and teammates alike, rather than humiliate the opponent, are things that I believe help e-sports. I am going to continue to do them.
I didn’t know that Leta and Suh Yun-ji would switch. Before the match, Leta told me that “you need to make up an act” as a tip but I didn't know even then. I was ecstatic when she came into the player box. I’ve never played an official game with a girl sitting next to me in the player box. The air inside the box was different. Hahaha. My readers! Please don’t make up any weird imaginations.
Question by @nalraeng
Are you friendly with any players outside of the ones in your team?
If I had to choose, it would probably be Jangbi, Sharp, and Midas. My relationship with Jangbi is kind of strange. We play the same race and we are the same age but we really don’t have any connections. But in one interview that I did, he got angry at something that I had said, which he had misinterpreted. So I offered an apology first and said that I didn’t mean anything, and we became pretty friendly afterwards. Midas used to be in our team and I talked with him a lot so I’m friendly with him. I’m friendly with Sharp even though he is three years younger than me. He is really nice and cute, despite his appearance and body shape.
Question by @tptpl
[i]What does “bbong-bbob-ki” mean to you?
I interpret as when someone does an all-in. I don’t really do that. I make a decision after looking at the situation. I’m not necessarily against other players doing all-in builds. Players all have their own styles and personal preferences. I don’t think playing with a macro style is the right answer nor do I oppose those who use strategic builds. There is no right answer in the game. I think that if you win given the circumstances of the game rather than in an unfair way you deserve recognition.
Question by @ondo89
Please let me know what are the top 5 songs you listen to through your mp3. What is a recent incident that you remember the most? Do you have anything that you want to do for the rest of the year now that half of 2011 has passed? I’m interested in personal goals, rather than passing preliminaries or winning a starleague.
Wait a minute. Let me check the music that I have in my phone. I listen to A-pink’s “I don’t know”, Soya’s “I love you everyday”, 4minute’s “Heart to Heart”, Sunny Hill’s “Pit-a-Pat”, and G.na’s “I’ll Kiss You” quite often. I notice that they are all recent singers or recent girl groups. I don’t really like male singers.
I want to travel Europe by myself before the year is over. I once saw a picture of a region in Greece where all the rooftops are red-colored. I’m not that good at English but I’ll still go by using body language to get around.
My goal is to recover in the starleagues and winning Proleague. I want to get over the second place finish we had last season. I want to show myself slowly overcoming my challenges without getting hasty.