MC, a progamer dreaming of being a prosecutor

Interview by Sang jin 'Vallen' Park (@wallen_kr on twitter)
Translated by Seron (KAIST OPt,LTE / NEXSeron)
Special thanks to SK,Kim for helping the translation.

Source : http://www.inven.co.kr/webzine/news/?news=47070

Hi guys, I have MC's interview posted on SC2 Inven.
It's a long interview and It took a long time to translate it T_T

** My English skill is not good T.T sorry
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April 24th, 2010, Shinhan bank Proleague 09-10 season 4th round 3rd week's Match was taken in Yong-San I-park mall e-Stadium. MBC game has took their 1st set against KT but lost 2 games in a row, and made 2:2 by taking the last set.

KT has chosen Kim, Dae-Yeob as the ACE card of the team, and MBC game Heroes has chose a Protoss player, who has broke the 16-winning-streaks of Kim, Jung-Woo.

Even though he lost that game, we could find him holding the GSL Trophy in 6 months. He was MC.

* Dreaming of being a Progamer

People's life after making a debut as a progamer differs person to person, but most of them will share the reason of being a progamer. MC also was one of them.

"Many friends of my age dreamed of being a progamer and I also did. I kept trying to the Semipro Draft, and I entered MBC Game after winning a Semipro Draft competition. I've started my trainee life in December of 2007, and officially entered in march of 2009, so I've lived as a trainee about an year and a half."

Trainees are known to have a hard life, doing housework and other things. Many people give up their dream at this level. How did he withstand this? He answered so naturally.

"Those are what all trainees do. It's weird to see older players doing housework, isn't it? All senior players treated me nicely because they also had hard time before. So I could feel more comfortable. Park, Ji-ho, Kim, Jae-hun, Seo, Kyeong-jong... They were all star players of MBC Game and good senior players to me. Also Lee, Jae-ho and Yeom, Bo-seong. I'm actually younger than Yeom, Bo-seong."

But MC also had a complaint about his trainee life.
"The only one Complaint about my trainee life is that I couldn't eat what I want. I had no money. So I think I bought many foods to my teammates after I've stated SC II."

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MC lost his first official match. But he got people's attention by breaking Kim Jeong-Woo's winning Streak.

MC tried to snipe Flash in Proleague Ace Match, but KT has used Stats as their Ace card. MC's guillotine ceremony has 'guillotined himself'. After that match, he has lost more games, and he was not able to get chance anymore.

Many people will regret their decision but MC was different. "I would never started this if I was attempting to give up that quickly. I didn't have thought it would be an easy road, and I had belief on myself.

Suicide Toss, becomes the President Toss.

MC, the one with high confidence but no chance to play, had listened a breaking news that changed his whole life. It was the opening of the GSL. He has challenged to the new league with no hesitate.

"My income that time was not that different with doing part-time jobs. But GSL provided enough money when a person can be in top 32. So I left my own team and started playing SC II. And Park,Ji-ho has connected me to the oGs Coach and I've entered the oGs.

MC started his new life in oGs with theWind, Inca, Ensnare. He proved his decision with by being qualified in GSL Open season 1. But unfortunately he lost to Polt in Ro.64, and he lost to NesTea in Ro.32 of next season. But finally, he has got a chance.

He became a finalist of GSL Open season 3. He has beat Hyperdub, July, Marineking, Jinro, and he had faced Rain(TSL -> Fnatic) in the finals.

The result was victory of MC, 4 to 1. Rain liked using cheese rush to his opponents but he couldn't do it against MC.

"I've met many people using cheese rush during Brood war games, and I knew how to defend it. So I was confident that I can defend whatever he does, and he tried to do something different, and that made him confused a bit. So I was not that happy to beat Rain because he was not in a good condition. But anyway I was happy to show myself to the people, and tell them my decision was right."

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MC became the last champion of 2010. Some people said MC's victory was just luck, but MC had another chance to show them it was all because of his ability. He faced the Brood War Legend 'July' in 2011 GSL March finals.

The owner of the 'Golden Mouse', the most aggressive Zerg player in the world, MC had to face the 'God' in the finals to prove his ability in Starcraft 2, and MC was confident enough. He was happy to face July.

"I don't like defending either so I prepared aggressive plays like July. I prepared fake-double 4 Warp gate all-in to trick him. It was good during the practice so I thought I could win this championship again."

The result was MC's 4 to 1 victory again. MC has announced his was the guy who deserves second trophy with no doubt. But MC was just calm about his second championship victory. "It was just another victory. There was nothing special."

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Slump, between confidence and conceit.

The only Protoss champion, and winning two GSL Championships, but slump also came to the mighty MC. He has fallen to the Code.B, the ones who are not playing in Code.A or S, and also failed to be the WCG representatives.

"The problem was PvZ games. I played in my style and other players started to prepare their strategies to break my style, and I was dropped out of the tournament. And people criticized me that I'm not practicing because of my GF. So it was very stressful for noth me and my GF."

The critics about the slump of MC, especially the ones related with his GF was making them so stressed and 2011 MLG Orlando was the peak. MC ranked 3rd in his Group pool and he got a call from his GF.

"Please advance higher! I don't want to be stressed!"

These words by his GF has stimulated him more than others. And MC's games has changed from the next day.

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He has beat Rain 2 to 0 in MLG Championship Bracket, and also Ret. Next round's opponent was Puma, who has beat him in NASL finals. But MC was different this time. He won Puma 2 to 1 and also beat MKP 2 to 1 in the next game.

MC was so powerful, he beat idra 2 to 1 in Loser's Semifinal and also beat his teammate, theSTC 2 to 1 and advanced to the Grand Finals, to face Huk.

Eventhough He lost the finals 2:0, but there were two gifts waiting for him in Korea. His girl friend has greeted him with smiles, and Code.S was given to him as a MLG seed. This gave a new chance to him, and was turning point for MC.

"I was confident about myself always, and it changed into conceit one day. I would never knew it was conceit for the rest of my life if there wasn't my GF."

*MC, leaving his old home to head overseas

MC transferred from oGs to SK Gaming early 2012. He chose international team over Korean teams so he could focus more on international tournaments.

“It is easier to compete in foreign tournaments, and SK gamings manager Ko, Min-shik help me a lot before, and that affected a lot in choosing the team. He helped me a lot during tournaments and that was very impressive. And I'm now the only SC2 player in SK Gaming so he takes care of me better. The big problem when people move to foreign teams is that they feel hard to find practice partner, but I can practice with players who are close with me in online.”

But there is one grievance MC has, his girlfriend lecturing him.

“It was better when I was living together with the team but my girlfriend started nagging about everything since I live alone. When I practice late night and sleep in the next day she wakes me up saying such as ‘Why are you still sleeping! It’s time to wake up and practice! You want to be called Jang Go In(Go in: Korean term for the dead) again?’ She is acting as my manager in Korea since our team manager Go Min Sik is abroad. I don’t feel alone because of her and I’m always thankful for that.”

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As a result, the transfer helped him and it showed in tournament results. He continuously moved on to quarterfinals and Round of 16 in GSL and won 1st place in IEM World Championship and HomeStory cup. The victory of GSL was revival for MC. His chance to prove himself once again came soon. He advanced first in his group in Ro.16 of GSL Season 3 and moved on to quarterfinals.

Still, his road to victory was not easy. He won LiquidTaeJa by 2:3 but the next opponent was MVPDongRaeGu who is ranked first in GSL..

“On my way to the game I joked around with my girlfriend saying ‘wish I don’t lose 0 to 3’ but I was confident after watching DRG’s game with Naniwa. I was able to concentrate when I got in the booth though I was tired that day. It was easier than I thought because DRG was impetuous unlike him.”

After beating DRG 3 to 0, MC faced Incredible Miracle's Seed. Two players, who made the first PvP finals, has competed to be the best Protoss player in Pusan's Hae-Un-Dae. MC, has lost the game 1 to 4, it was a big shock. Many people said that MC is favored but MC couldn't overcome the Incredible Miracle's know-how.

"It was the same situation when I faced NesTea in GSL Open season 2. It would have been better when I played more aggressive. I tried to think 'my opponent did well' but my GF told me that my face was like an angry pig's face. I think I was angry a bit."

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*President Toss, looking at the bigger world

MC has won two GSL Championships, more in foreign tournaments, he has done far enough as a progamer. What is his final goal?
"As the time passes and if I no longer can stand in Code.S, I'll stop gaming with no regrets. Holding the place with ability that doesn't deserves the place just harms other progamers. I want to leave when people still remember my truimphs. After that, I want to be a prosecutor." We asked him why he is willing to be the prosecutor. And his answer was, "It's cool."

"Prosecutor who previously was a progamer, it looks cool I think. I'll keep challenging in the qualifiers even I become a prosecutor. In fact, I want to be a president, just like my nickname 'President Toss'. I am confident that I can do well no matter what I decide to do. I believe 'if I live a day hard, the day after it will be a good day', and I always do my best every day.

So I'll do my best on the OGN Starleague. It feels like returning to my hometown after a big success in my life. Starleague champion is one my dream as a gamer, and I want to be remembered as the first protoss champion of both GSL and Starleague. You'll think I deserve it when you see my previous games.(laugh)"

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If there is a person who has a excellent talent but always lack confidence, can't get the chance to show all his ability. But, the one who has confidence will show people the more than his ability.

That's why he is called as 'president Toss', not just a Protoss champion. Fans will cheer for him and remember him as an everlasting President Toss, who is always confident about himself.
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