[Interview] Code A Preliminaries Day 1 Winners

Source: This Is Game

You were the first one to advance through the preliminaries. How do you feel?

It just feel so so. I'm comfortable with preliminaries now. I used to get nervous a lot in the past but nowadays less and less. This wasn't even a tournament victory so I don't feel special.

You started off in the R16. Which match was the hardest?

The Ro4 match against s2 was really difficult. I started off the series with a loss in game one so it was tough but it didn't really affect me. I thought I lost cause our build orders got crossed.

You played two KeSPA players s2 and Jaehoon. How was your first KeSPA experience?

It felt very similar to when I played them on ladder. I played them a lot on ladder so I knew their skills. They did just as well as they did on ladder.

You're really good at preliminaries now. It's probably time you started making a big splash in tournaments no?

I think people will see this as me making an excuse but I tend to get really nervous during tournaments. I don't think I can even do half of what I can normally do. I don't mind losing but do want to be able to do my best at least. My homework is to find out how to overcome my nerves.

Since you've had a Code S experience, you must want to go back.

I do want to get back up there but the end result will just be the same if I can't overcome my nervous issue. I've been working hard to overcome my nerves but it's not working well. I just recently started getting even more nervous than usual. I didn't use to get this nervous.... so I have a lot on my mind.

A lot of people even say that you have rotten luck when it comes to groups.

I don't think that is it. I just lose because I suck.

What are your goals for this season?

I haven't really thought about it. I just wanted to get through the preliminaries first. I'll eventually create goals for myself as I prepare for this season.

Source: This Is Game

Your first ever GSL and you made it to Code A.

I couldn't practice this time because of StarLeague so I just emptied my mind as I came. But I am really happy because I was able to advance to Code A.

You faced Bisu in the finals.

I put everything I had to make sure I could take him down in two games but he did much better than I expected and we ended up going all the way to a game three. I started game three with an advantage so that's why I think I was able to win.

If you had to pick a specific game today that was specially difficult?

The game against Bisu was exhausting. He faced me with all he had so it was difficult.

Did yesterday's OSL loss affect you today?

I lost a game where I had the advantage yesterday so yes the affect was pretty big. But I still maintained my composure so my games went well.

The winner of you vs FanTaSy gets to advance to the Ro8 for OSL.

This is my first OSL so I really want to make it to the Ro8. I'm going to practice hard and make it there no matter what.

This will be your first ever Code A. How do you think it will go?

I don't really know yet. I'm going to have to play in it first.

What will be your goals?

Making as far as I possibly can will be my goal. After hearing about what people have done to approach the GSL, I know that if I work really hard, then making Code S will be a possibility.

Is there anyone you specifically want to face?

I really want to face GSL Zergs players. As I prepare for TvZs I tend to forget about winning and losing and focus on just having fun. I think if I meet those Zergs I will have fun even on televised matches.

Anything else you would like to say?

This was my first time making it through the Code A preliminaries so it was a very new experience. I'm going to work really hard so that I can make it really far.

Source: This Is Game

You've made it back in to the GSL after four seasons. How do you feel?

In the past, I thought that I was a good enough player that I could always make it back up even if I fell out. But then I just kept on losing game after game and then I eventually got overwhelmed. That's why I practiced really hard for this preliminaries.

If you had to pick the hardest match up today?

I don't really have one. I faced Revival in the finals and I got lucky. He's a really good player but I don't think he did as best as he normally would so I played really comfortably. I've lost to him before online so I was worried but Killer hyung gave me good advice so I was able to win.

You played KeSPA players in the preliminaries and you will also have a chance to face them in the GSL. What do you think about it?

I saw them play in the OSL and WCS and I think they are all really good. But so far I have yet to face a really good KeSPA player.

How was your match again Sacsri?

He played using mostly all ins so I just blocked those and won.

How far do you think you'll get this season?

I'm just going to work really hard so that I can keep winning the games that are in front of me. My goal is to just win all my matches.

Is there a player you would really like to face?

Right now I don't really have anyone. I don't care who I face.

Anything else you would like to say?

This is my first GSL in a long time so I think I'm going to be nervous. I hope people will be anticipating my matches as I am going to work really hard to make sure I can overcome my nerves. I want to thank our partner MYM, and sponsors Lotte and RAZER.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it to Code A for your first ever GSL?

Ever since Monday of this week I've had matches to play for three days in a row. I didn't even know the maps well so I just came today with the intention of earning valuable experience. Since I was given such a great opportunity by advancing to Code A, I am going to take full advantage of this and do my very best to try to make it Code S.

Ho was facing YongHwa in the finals?

I heard that YongHwa was really good. I just told myself that this would be a learning experience but then YongHwa got nervous so I was able to defeat him.

In the finals, you did an 11/11 proxy three rax for two matches in a row. Were you aiming for anything?

In today's first match, I faced free on Whirlwind. I heard that the map is really complicated and that it is bad for Terrans. I decided that 11/11 was the only thing I could do for a map like Whirlwind.
The 11/11 triple proxy rax build on Cloud Kingdom is something that I've used many times on ladder. I won comfortably because it worked well during an actual tournament as well. It was a good decision.

Anyone you would like to face in Code A?

Personally I would like to avoid any Protosses. It was just so hard during today's preliminaries. Regardless of who I meet, it's hard to defeat a Protoss. I just want to comfortably face a Terran or a Zerg.

If you win three matches in Code A, you can make it to Code S. How far do you think you'll make it?

In the end, I really want to make it all the way to Code S. If I can just avoid a Protoss I think I can make it.

Anything else you would like to say?

I hope all my teammates do well.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making Code A two seasons in a row?

First off, I feel really good. I hadn't been feel well for the past couple of days so I thought I would tired today but I got a lucky group today. Aside from the finals, it was pretty easy.

You faced Reality in the finals. How was it?

I just saw him as another player from GSL and did my plays. I played a macro game for game one but I ended up losing the battle so I ended up playing passive afterwards. In game two, I played aggressively and kept on pushing so I won, and then in game three, I was going to attack but then he found me out so I got flustered. But then my opponent played passively so I got lucky.

In last season's Code A preliminaries, you were eliminated.

I didn't have any experience regarding last season and it was my first tournament debut so I got really nervous. But I got stacked up experience thanks to overseas tournaments so I was able to develop confidence.

Who would you like to face during this season?

I don't really care about who I face, I just want to get past the Ro48 so I can avoid elimination. I lack experience so getting experience will be important. The fact that I haven't defeated anyone in an individual tournament was the same for SC1. Right now, getting my first victory is top priority.

Is there a specific race you are especially good against?

These days I am confident about any race match up. I think I'll be fine as long as I just play comfortably.

Anything else you would like to say?

First off, I want to thank the coach and his wife. YongHwa hyung lost once again in the finals. I hope that he can just comfortably focus on WCG now. I want to thank my teammates for helping me with practice and our sponsors LG, Googims, Nvidia, Coca-Cola, and Steelseries.

Source: This Is Game

You've returned to Code A in four seasons.

I feel really good since I haven't made it in such a while. I kept on thinking that I was going to get through the preliminaries each time I participated but I kept failing. If it wasn't the finals then the Ro4 was my obstacle. But today, I overcame those obstacles.

Your finals opponent was the newcomer Lucy. How was the match?

I was taken by surprise because I thought Ready would advance. I won the first game easily with a hellion attack but I just barely won the entire series. I lost humiliatingly in game two thanks to a warp prism rush and in game three, it was just a really difficult victory.

You faced Dear in the Ro4. That must have been your first encounter against a KeSPA player.

He was really good. However, unless I face the top of the top I think I can beat KeSPA players. I think it's doable as long as I don't have to face the best ones.

You made a comeback after being gone for a while so how far do you want to make it?

This time I don't want to fall out of Code A. Beating Genius hyung will be my goal. Genius hyung keeps making fun of me saying that I suck and he keeps on refusing to acknowledge Code B players. This time for sure, I want to defeat Genius hyung.

Anything else you would like to say?

I hope my teammates who have to perform tomorrow also do well and I want to thank our sponsors Lotte, RAZER, and our partner MYM.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it to Code A during your first GSL?

ProLeague finals are coming up and I couldn't prepare very well so I just played using the basics. I am glad that the results came out great.

In the finals, you took down Flying who is currently in the Ro8 for OSL by a score of 2:0.

In game one I had a good early game and won the macro game. In game two, I saw his intentions so I blocked it easily. It wasn't a hard match.

You met an amateur in the Ro4 who took out Samsung KHAN_Stock. How was the match?

I was taken by surprise because I expected to meet Stock. I was really taken aback. He used burrowed banelings so well that I lost game one. Since I lost game one I maintained my composure and focused on the rest of the games and won.

You seemed to have grasped the transition to SC2 pretty smoothly.

I did really well in the beginning within my team so I grabbed a lot of chances. But I keep screwing up in ProLeague so I'm really concerned about that.

So then is making it to Code A the turning point in your career for you?

In the end, I really don't have confidence regarding SC2 but if I do well for this GSL, I think I'll have the chance to create a turning point.

If you win three times in Code A, you make it to Code S. How far do you think you'll make it?

I hate preliminaries so I at least want to get through the Ro48. My initial goal is to overcome Code A and then my next goal will be to win Code S.

Anything else you would like to say?

We required a new coach recently. Coach Park Shi Hyun takes really good care of us. I hope the rest of my teammates also do well and make it to the GSL.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it to Code A for your first GSL?

This was my first GSL participation so I am glad that I was able to make it to Code A. But I do feel bad that I had to beat Check hyung in the finals.

The hardest match of today?

The finals was really tough. I play game one well but Check hyung did really well so I lost. That's why I played economically the next two games and I was able to win because of that.

How was the Code A preliminaries compared to the other preliminaries you've attended?

I think it's similar to any other preliminary. But after playing at the YongSan stadium for such a long time and then playing at a different place was something I wasn't used to. But I did have some experience thanks to WCS so I think that's why I did well today.

If you win Code A three times, you can make it to Code S. How far do you think you'll make it?

First off, my goal will be to defeat the first two player. I'm not used to the MokDong studio atmosphere so I don't think I'll do well but if I can win twice and make it to the Up/Downs, I think I'll get a lot of confidence. If I want to get experience and get adapted to Code A, I think I'm going to have to at least win twice.

ProLeague is over, so what will you be doing?

I'm still practicing at the team house. I'm still not very good so I need more practice.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank coach Park Jong Soo for always being concerned about me per every tournament. I hope that Bogus hyung can also make it and I hope my other teammates who play tomorrow can make it as well.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it through the Code A preliminaries for the first time?

It had been such a long time since I had made it in to an individual tournament that I've found new emotions. I told myself that I should play this as if it was my final preliminaries participation so I prepared hard. HotS is coming out soon so I told myself if I failed again this time, I would be done for.

How were today's matches?

The finals against Avenge was the most difficult. Avenge decided to play some mind games with me and the games became difficult because I fell for it. It was also hard because he was a Protoss. These days, Protosses are clearly powerful. Even during our team practices, Protoss is the stronger race. I'm a Zerg so I get hit incredibly frequently. But I think I won because I practiced with Tear and built up resistance.

This is your first individual tournament placement in a while since the Open seasons so you must have some high anticipations for yourself.

I really think I'm going to have to find my flare again. I really had no motivation as to why I kept on playing and I had no spirit to beat my opponents. I think my personality was the reason I kept playing so nonchalantly.

How was you experience playing against KeSPA players?

I've had prior experiences with KeSPA players from the WCS qualifiers. I lost to Stock 1:2 then. Today I faced two KeSPA players and I felt that Ryul2 wasn't quite there yet and hyvaa was really good.

How far do you want to make it for this season?

In the past, I had a really unrealistic expectation. I have minimized my expectations now but I do want to feel like I achieved a sense of accomplishment. So even if I don't do well this season I at least want to make it to the Up/Downs. I want to slowly stack up victories and gain motivation.

Anyone you would specifically like to face?

I want to face a good Terran player. If I beat a good player then I think my self awareness will rise and I will also gain confidence. I would like it if I could face any Terran player.

Anything else you would like to say?

I'm going to work really hard as if this was my last chance. I think I've finally rewarded our manager who kept on believing in me. I really want to thank my managers, coaches, parents, and friends. I will work hard since they kept on believing in me

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about returning to Code A after three seasons?

After I fell, I told myself that I would work harder and just get through the preliminaries. But then after actually playing in the preliminaries, everyone seemed to just fall right at the finals. After experiencing it, I decided not to let my guard down so I worked even harder.

You advanced as the last player today. Which match was the hardest?

The finals were hard. I started off the series with a loss in game one against Cyrano so it wasn't good. But then coach Choya mind controlled me so I was able to make a comeback.

How was it after you rested from individual leagues?

I had a lot of tournaments. I had tournaments in America and I had GSTL. Unfortunately, I couldn't grab either of those. The end result was that I just kept on practicing. I lost motivation since I kept losing in my tournaments but because my teammates kept working hard I also worked hard.

You must have different expectations for this season.

For now, I have to make sure that I absolutely do not fall out in the Ro48. Getting through Code A is the first goal and then I'll think about my other goals as things go my way.

Recently, Protosses have been on the rise and also, there are a lot of Protosses in Code A.

As far as I can see, the three race balances are pretty good right now. From a Terran's perspective whether it be a Zerg or a Protoss, it's very doable. I just wish they would do something about warp prisms though. Either weaken its health or lower its speed. You can't kill warp prisms.

Anything else you would like to say?

Code A preliminaries day one is now over. To all my teammates who failed to make it, I want to let them know that they did a job well done and I also want to say that I hope everyone who plays tomorrow will make it. I want to thank FXO_BoSs and thank our sponsors FXO and RAZER.