[Interview] GSL Nov. Code S RO16 Groups C&D Winner

SlayerS_Puzzle



Q: How does it feel to advance into the round of 8 for the first time?
A: I am very happy. However, I had to face Ganzi in the first match I played. This made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Before the game, Ganzi hyung and I agreed that we would both play to the best of our abilities. This is why I was able to play without any reservations.
Before the game, I always thought that if I could beat Ganzi, I would make it past with 2 wins without any losses, but if I lost to him, I would have lost with 2 losses without any wins. I am very happy to be able to make it through to the round of 8 with 2 straight wins.

Q: Did the 1.4.2 changes have any impact on the games?
A: When I saw my opponent's EMPs, I realised that the radius was really reduced by quite a lot. Feels like I really benefited from the recent changes.

Q: Your strategies were very successful.
A: I have been practising such strategies ever since the round of 32. I actually wanted to use them in the round of 32, but didn't have the chance to. That's why I was able to show it in the round of 16.

Q; You've successfully attained Code S qualification for the next season.
A: My original goal was the round of 8, and I am very happy to have met that goal. However, I am now readjusting my goals, and I hope to make it to the round of 4 or even the finals.

Q: Who do you wish to face in the round of 8?
A: I've always lost to Gumiho in the up and down matches, so I hope for a chance to be able to get revenge for that. I always practise with Jjakji, so I hope he'll be able to come in first in the group stages, and that Gumiho would come in second.

Q: Any final things you wish to add?
A: I want to thank Ga Yeon noona and Boxer hyung for always taking care of me. I also want to thank coach Ryu Won who helped me analyse the strategies. I seem to win every time coach Cella comes to watch the competition live. I am very grateful to the coach for coming to the studio to give me support even though his leg was injured. I also want to thank all the players who helped me practise.

MvPsC



Q: Thoughts on advancing to the Code S Round of 8?
A: After a long time I've risen to the Round of 8 so I'm really happy. The Round of 8 is my first in 4 seasons.

Q: After experiencing a stagnation, you've risen again to the Round of 8.
A: It was a really hard time. I didn't want to fall to Code A again. It was really hard when I was in Code A.

Q: You beat MC twice.
A: I didn't think that would happen. I thought if I won the first game I would advance with two wins, but my opponent excluded my management so I was flustered. The game was really messy, but thankfully I rose to the Round of 8 so I'm happy.

Q: Did Patch 1.4.2 have an impact on the games?
A: In the game with Puzzle, I excluded the possibility of him getting a fast expansion, but he got one. So I was worried and thought I would lose. My teammates call ghost's EMP "Kong-Al-Tan" [T/N sorry this is some kind of pun and all Google turns up is an adorable dog video]. The area of effect is that small. After the patch games got hard. It's really hard to hit High Templars with EMP.

Q: Lately there's a trend for Protosses to go for heavy upgrades.
A: I'm confident about mid-late game management, but I don't know how to end an upgrade-heavy Protoss opponent. Since my management is good, if I can just finish my opponent off well I think I won't have problems in the future.

Q: Who do you want to meet in the Round of 8?
A: I think MVP will rise first out of his group, but I want to play against Jjakji. MVP's management is really good so he is a tough opponent, and Gumiho has a lot of strategies so he is demanding. I think out of the three, playing Jjakji would be the easiest.

Q: Are you confident you can advance to the Round of 4?
A: If I can just improve my TvT, I think I can try to win. Unlike the other matchups, if I don't get help with TvT it's really difficult.

Q: Anything else you want to say?
A: Since I am playing in MLG Providence, tomorrow I'm flying to the United States. Since it is my first foreign competition I hope people will cheer for me a lot. I think if I get out of the open bracket I can advance to the Round of 4.

IMMvp



Q: How does it feel to qualify for the round of 8 three seasons in a row?
A: I felt very nervous on the way to the competition today. I had a really bad headache before the competition, and was in very bad shape, I am really happy to be able to qualify for the round of 8 and secure a spot in Code S next season.

Q: The way you played the first game, it almost felt like you could see and predict what your opponent was doing.
A: I got a feeling that he would get an expansion after the reapers, and so I chose my strategy to counter that. It so happened that he really played as I had predicted.

Q: In the second game, Gumiho had the advantage all the way up to the mid game.
A: After my proxy barracks were found, I had a feeling it would be a very difficult game to play. However, as I played on, I realised that there was still a chance for me to come back. I was not in that bad a situation. Moreover, Gumiho seemed more nervous when he was in that advantageous position. He should have played as he usually does.

Q: You've been in red hot form recently. Who do you think has the most chance of stopping you from victory?
A: I just wish to be able to play against MMA again at bigger tournaments. I really want to avenge that loss against him. I don't think that there are any particular players that are a stumbling block to me.
After the GSL finals where I lost to him, I was able to beat him 4-2 at the Korea MLG Global Invitational finals. If we were to face each other again at any bigger tournaments, I am confident that I would win.

Q: You are going to leave Korea tomorrow to participate in MLG.
A: I am leaving tomorrow, but to be honest, I am not really very confident. The tournament schedule recently has been really packed, which caused me to neglect my body condition. If I had to play immediately after ten hours of flying, that would be really tough. Looking at Huk recently, I think he's really great. (T/N: Probably referring to the fact that Huk flies around alot and still is in Code S (or was). Thanks pdd :D)

Q: Any final things you wish to add? (Retranslated thanks to Lixler)
A: I want to thank the teammates who helped me practise. Recently, Happy has been in some kind of a slump, only managing to come in fourth at the WCG tournament, and also getting knocked out of the GSL. I hope he'll be able to pick himself up.
I will be leaving Korea for America with Nestea hyung, Losira, and the director. Hope we will all be able to return home safely and with good health. I also want to thank my parents, who have been very supportive of me. Finally, I want to add that recently, there have been some cases of fans harassing the girlfriends of players. I hope they can control themselves because that is very hurtful to us.

NS HoSeo Jjakji



Q: Thoughts on advancing to the Code S Round of 8?
A: I'm so happy. I was playing in a daze but I won so I'm happy, and yesterday when practicing I was very stressed, but with today's win it feels like I have gotten compensation.

Q: You lost to MVP and got put into a crisis.
Q: I predicted that MVP would use that strategy and prepared for it, but because it was a broadcast game I was anxious and made mistakes.

Q: You've secured a Code S seed for next season.
A: I'm remaining in Code S so I'm really happy. I'm playing against a Protoss in the Round of 8, so I think I can rise even higher. I usually practice a lot with Puzzle so I am a little worried, but as he is a Protoss I think it's okay.

Q: What did you think of your game with Gumiho?
A: My early game build was good so I was confident, but after losing to MVP in the last game I had gotten a little worried. But I think Gumiho was more nervous than me.

Q: You showed a style of using ghosts actively.
A: Since I started the game with ghosts and didn't take damage from banshees, I thought it would work. I saw that some players used them on ladders, so I used them and they are good. In cases where you go ghost-expand, your opponent can know you have ghosts, but with this strategy you can the fact that you have them.

Q: Are you confident you can win in the Round of 8?
A: I think that I am still only able to show half of my ability in broadcast games. For now, trying to show proper broadcast games is primary.

Q: Anything else you want to say?
A: Player Ju-Hoon and NsHS_Sculp really helped me in practice. I really thank them, and I also thank my family for always cheering for me. When I get prize money, I will buy my teammates some drinks.