[Interview] WCS LR1 D1 Winners

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about taking out sC in the last set and advancing to the second round of the losers' bracket?

I didn't have much expectations when I arrived so I feel so great that I won like this.

Why didn't you have any expectations?

I am still lacking in so many areas that I just told myself that I wouldn't sweat over this and just play with a calm mind. I'm playing in this tournament with the mindset of gathering valuable experience.

Was it a shame that you lost to aLive?

If I look back at my games vs aLive I definitely have regrets. My games against aLive helped me realize I still have a lot of things to work on.

How were today's games?

I think I some luck followed me today. I won the games but I felt that I was still lacking a lot in certain areas. I realized that my games still aren't going the way I want them to. But I feel good because I was able to gain some confidence through today's victory.

In game 3, you made a comeback.

The game had a lot of shakes and turns. It seems that when KeSPA players go up against GSL players, the KeSPA players have the advantage. GSL players' burden of losing to KeSPA players is heavy so if it goes all the way to the third game, that burden gets even heavier. In my case, I was able to play peacefully so I think I was able to make a comeback.

It seems that your performances have gotten better lately.

As of right now, I still don't feel like I'm improving. My performances have their ups and downs so I can't be certain. At least my style still works well in ProLeague.

Thanks to today's victory you'll probably get a lot of recognition. Aren't you burdened by this?

Lately I've been dropping a lot my burdens. I just play to be rewarded for my efforts so I do my best. Right now I'm not the best but I have the confidence that one day I will be the best so I am gathering a lot of experience for that day.

Your next opponent is SlayerS_Genius.

I can't say that I am completely confident since I am still lacking in a lot of things. I will do my best to make sure I don't lose easily. It's going to be hard to ensure my victory but I won't show a performance where I lose easily.

If you had anything to say to your fans.

I really appreciate all their support. I think it's because of my fans that I can focus better on my games.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about overcoming DongRaeGu and advancing to the second round of the losers' bracket?

I thought there was no losers' bracket to begin with but after I heard that there was one I got excited again. Playing someone who is good at ZvZ like DongRaeGu made me 50% excited and 50% nervous.

You were able to win the first game, how was that?

I was really dazed after winning game one. I think I won game one because it went the way I wanted it to. Normally if KeSPa players get to the third game, they request that Tal'Darim Altar or Shakuras Plateau be removed but I wanted to win in a battle of wits so I didn't exclude Tal'Darim Altar.

In game three, you won in the final battle.

I didn't really prepare for it. When it came to Tal'Darim Altar, it was a map that I had practiced on before the ProLeague. So I played with those past games in my mind.

In game three, you ensured your victory toward the end.

I don't really know myself. Physically and multitasking wise, I think they're about the same. While I was playing I felt like I was doing really well, and luck was on my side today so I won.

It seems that KeSPA players have made a lot of progress towards the GSL players. What do you think?

Personally, I feel like we've made significant progress. It's just that since we have many areas in which we still need to work on, we are practicing harder so that we can get the skills that can be comparable to the GSL players.

You face GuMiho next.

I am confident. If I prepare extensively, I can defeat GuMiho like I did with DongRaeGu.

If you had to evaluate your own SC2 skills.

If I had to evaluate myself I would say I'm still lacking in SC2. As long as I work hard, I think the fans will understand my performances.

Are you confident enough to become a representative for Korea?

I still have a long way to go so I can't say for sure. But since I'm practicing so hard for each of my games I am slowly thinking that I am getting to the point where I deserve to be a representative for Korea.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about defeating YugiOh and advancing to the second round of the losers' bracket?

It was the losers' bracket so I came without much expectations but I am so happy that I was able to win like this. Thanks to the WCS, I am gaining a lot of confidence.

Exactly what parts are you getting your confidence from?

I am gaining confidence through my games against GSL players. I am feeling and learning so many things through my games with GSL players so I feel really good about that.

How did you prepare for today's games?

I prepared as I would have prepared for any other game but today the build orders got criss-crossed so I think I won easily.

You must be feeling regret because of your last loss.

The games went really well but I lost by a foot so it was a shame.

Ever since converting to Protoss for SC2 you seem to be doing really well.

If I look at the results I've made I think it was a great choice. Aside from having to practice BW from time to time I'm satisfied with everything.

Jaedong and EffOrt both won before your match so did you feel like you also had to win?

I don't know if I'm simple or what but I didn't think that way. For some reason I seem to be less nervous for my WCS games than my ProLeague games. I felt like I had nothing to lose from playing against people who were better to begin with but I'm playing against GSL players like this during the WCS with a calm mind.

You face TAiLS next.

It's a PvP so my chances of winning are 50/50. My opponent is really good but since it's a PvP I think I have a good chance of winning.

You're doing really well in the ProLeague. What is your driving force?

I think I decide build order better than the other players. I've had many instances where I won because I picked the better build order. My teammates help me as well and I optimize build order that fit SC2 really well. That's why I create a lot of great strategies and do really well for ProLeague.

Is there a player in SC2 that you study?

I study StarTale_Squirtle a lot. I think Squirtle is a really good quality player.

Liquid`HerO also uses the ID 'Hero'.

I'm still scared of him. I still think I am the inferior 'Hero'. I want to get better and become the superior 'Hero'.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank my teammates who helped me out even though it was their day off.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about defeating HerO and advancing to the next round?

I am friends with HerO hyung so rather than feeling happy about it I actually feel really down.

How did you prepare for today's games?

It was not easy to prepare for this. I kept thinking that the more I practice, the more harm it would do to me so I just focused on laddering.

In game one, you lost in a base race.

Recently I've been working on my mentality so it didn't affect me all that much. Before the final battle occurred I thought that I was going to win for sure. From my view, I had more stalkers so I was confident that I would win but as it turns out, HerO hyung had hidden some of his stalkers. He got me with that.

Didn't the loss from game one follow you to game two?

I was confident that I could turn it around. Recently, I've started laddering again and my skills from when I was at top of the ladder is coming out again. So I was confident because of that.

How did you feel about the matches that went on before yours?

KeSPA players have a lot more televised match experiences than GSL players. So I think they are better experts at performing for televised matches than us.

GSL players seems to be feeling a lot of burden about losing to KeSPA players.

I wish this wasn't so. Most of them say they've only been practicing for three months but in reality, a lot of them started way before that. Just like they were preparing for SC2 before ProLeague, these players have been practicing SC2 for a long time.

It seems the gap between GSL and KeSPA players has shortened.

In the beginning there was a huge gap but that gap's gotten a lot smaller now. Since KeSPA players are getting better it's really good practice for us.

You face Puzzle in the round of eight.

PvP is all about luck and build orders so I will believe in that. Skill is important too but PvP is more about luck.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to apologize to HerO hyung for beating him. I hope he can make his way back to the top through the losers' bracket. I want to thank NaGi for practicing with me, my acquaintances, my friends, and my family. I want to thank our sponsors Ttesports, Summer Take, and OCZ.