[Interview] Code A Ro48 Day 3 2012 GSL Season 4

Source: This Is Game

You took down Salmosa and made it to the second round.

I am so happy. It was a much easier win than I thought it would be.

You won easily in game one with your use of roaches.

I think my opponent was really nervous. He threw away a lot of his roaches so I was able to win.

In game two, was the early harassment with your lings a planned strategy?

Indeed it was. All my opponent's drone movements and queen movements went exactly as I had practiced them. I didn't expect to meet a roach/hydra army in the final battle but I think he got really nervous because he messed up a lot. Therefore, I was able to kill his entire army with my fungals.

Was your GSTL performance an aid to your GSL debut?

I really think my GSTL performance did help me. I'm not sure if it was because my opponent's debut on stage or not but I could sense his nervousness. That's why I think I was able to play more calmly.

You face MMA in the next round.

It's true that I'm feeling a lot of pressure because he's such a great player. I plan on doing my best. I don't know who is going to win but I do feel confident.

How did you spend your ChooSuk break?

A lot of my teammates left for their break so I didn't get to work much but aside from ChooSuk day, I spent my days practicing at the team house.

How much of a chance do you think you have of making it Code S?

Making it to Code S is my number one goal. Personally, I really want to defeat MMA hyung no matter what. Since he's such a famous person with many acknowledgements, I wonder if beating him would bring me some acknowledgement.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to let my coach and manager know that I am always grateful to them. I also want to thank GuMiho hyung for coming with me and my teammates who helped me with practice. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors, FXO and RAZER.

Source: This Is Game

You successfully made it to the second round of Code A.

I was worried since I didn't have a lot of practice partners because of ChooSuk. But I think my opponent also was lacking in practice, so I exposed his weakness and utilized the fact that I had more televised matches experience and was able to win.

You diminished inori's debut with your flawless play.

I looked at inori's b.net records and was able to see his build orders. I was able to decipher his play style through that so I was able to comfortably prepare for my match.

You won game one with an easy late game play.

I normally lose my battles against Protosses but I saw his history and knew that there wasn't any early game pressure coming my way so I was able to win today.

In game two, inori did the opposite and attacked you.

I'm supposed to go transition in to a triple CC after my barracks but I accidentally made two gases. I was actually asking myself exactly what I was doing as I was playing. I was pretty much in a total mess as I had to improvise my build orders but I was able to win as inori was preparing to get his high templars. I think I got lucky there.

Recently, you've been going back and forth between Code A and Code S.

It had been a long time since I had been back in Code S and I was lacking in practice so I wasn't able to make any good results in Code S. Rather than say I get nervous for my Code S games, I guess you could say that I actually shoot myself in the foot because I constantly try to keep my play styles alive. I feel confident if I just play like I normally do.

In the next round, you will face fellow teammate Sniper.

I think it'll be obvious that the winner between the two of us will eventually make it to Code S. Snipe is really good during our practices. But as expected, KeeN holds priority in Code A (laughs). I looked at my record in the GOMTV player records page and I noticed that aside from my five appearances in Code S, my results were abysmal. I got really angry at myself. For this GSL, I want to do really well and put up good results since there is a chance to go to Las Vegas.

How did you spend your ChooSuk break?

Aside from the small time I took to see my parents before the actual ChooSuk day, I just kept on practicing.

What's different about you this season than last season?

I feel confident enough to absolutely make it in to Code S. I was confident last season as well but I underestimated MaNa too much so MaNa was able to take me down. But thanks to that loss, I was able to learn a lot of things. I think I'll be able to do well for this season.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank my teammates for practicing with me. After seeing my record on the GOMTV player page, I did a lot of thinking. I had beginner's ambition back then but as time elapsed, I developed bad habits and I began to grow intimidated by my opponents. But for this season, I'm going to reintroduce that beginner's ambition. Since there's a chance to play in Las Vegas for next season, I want to show everyone a different side of me for Code S. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors Lotte, RAZER, and our partner MYM.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it to the second round?

I told myself that there was no way I could get eliminated here since the next step would be going through the preliminaries again. I even gave up my ChooSuk break in order to prepare for this match so I wanted this win even more than usual.

In game one, you fell to his all in.

I think the biggest reason was that I gave up my hellions too easily. I didn't have enough hellions by the time his attack arrived so I didn't have the proper number of units to defend.

In game two, you started off with a disadvantage because of YugiOh's roach/ling attack.

I guess you could think of it that way, but actually to me, I think it put me in an advantageous situation.

Weren't you holding the initiative in game three?

That was a planned strategy. My opponent was using mostly zerglings. So I roasted his lings with my hellions and played with an advantage from there on.

By watching today's matches, it seems like you still have some stuff to work on.

I'm supposed to micro well but I focused too much on macro. I think I'm going to have to work on that a bit.

Your next opponent will be a Terran. Are you confident in your TvTs?

Mirror matches are difficult but I have a good win ratio in my practices I think it's going to be similar regardless of whoever makes it.

What are your goals for this season?

I want to make it to Code S. If possible, I want to avoid the Up/Downs as I make my way up.

Anything else you would like to say?

I came back up early without even taking my ChooSuk break so I knew I was going to be hurting if I lost but I am so relived that I won like this. I want to thank Size for practicing with me even though he was on his ChooSuk break.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the second round?

I had never beaten a GSL player before but I am so happy because I was able to win today. I think I'll be able to play the rest of my matches with more confidence from here on out.

You won easily with a score of 2-0.

In PvPs, I think it's important to know early on what your opponent's intentions are. Oz didn't scout so I think that's why I was able to win easily.

Your build orders were off for game one.

I originally had a planned build in store for game one but after I scouted him, I decided to improvise in to a phoenix build.

In game two, you won with a surprise warp prism.

That was a planned strategy. I wanted to show a macro side of me and I also wanted to a strategic side of me because it was a bo3.

You must have felt some pressure by the fact that you were seeded in.

If I had to go through the preliminaries I don't think I could have promised my qualification. But I was able to get a lot of time to practice since I was seeded in. I think I've gotten a lot better than my previous preliminaries.

You advanced to the second round today along with fellow teammate Bogus. He says that he even gave up his ChooSuk break for this?

As did I. I gave up ChooSuk to prepare for this match so I am happy that I was able to win like this. We don't have ProLeague for a while so I can focus on individual leagues. I will work hard so that I don't become unemployed (laughs).

With today's victory, You secured your Code A spot for next season and a placement in the Up/Downs.

My first and foremost goal was to avoid being eliminated in the Ro48. Since I won today, I want to avoid the Up/Downs and work hard so I can go straight to Code S.

Your next opponent will be SuperNova. If you had to predict who would win?

I've seen SuperNova's games before so I will say this, he is a really good player. Personally, I feel this greed to win and do my best since I gave up my ChooSuk break for this.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank the fans for coming out and cheering me on today. I will work hard so I can do well in the individual leagues as well.

Source: This Is Game

How do you feel about making it to the second round of Code A?

I am normally good friends with TheStC so this victory is a disappointing one.

You had a good start with your victory in game one.

I was in the lead since the very beginning. So I easily teched up to ultras and grabbed my victory.

Did you not expect the hellion/banshee for game two?

I did expect it. But my reaction just wasn't enough.

In game three, TheStC's proxy two rax build was able to destroy your natural.

I told myself that I still had a chance as long as I saved my drones. I saved as many drones as I could and then I saw my chance when I saw TheStC go for a triple CC transition. Luck followed me there.

Were you nervous for today's match?

I am still shaking right now even though the match is over. The coach came over and encouraged me well after I lost game two. Thanks to the coach, I was able to get it together afterwards.

Your next opponent will be GuMiho.

I wish GuMiho would take it easy on me (laughs). Personally, I think he is a really good player. Just from watching his games it is clear how solid he is.

What are your goals for this season?

To win against GuMiho.

How did you spend your ChooSuk break?

I went home before the ChooSuk break happened. So I kept on practicing during my ChooSuk break. I'm happy I won today but I'm still not satisfied with my play.

How much more time has to pass before you no longer get nervous?

I think I will keep getting nervous as long as I am a pro gamer.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank my friend for constantly helping me with practice and our sponsors Ttesports and OCZ. Lastly, I want to thank the coach for all his help today.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the second round of Code A?

NesTea is a GSL champion so I was really nervous but I didn't give up till the very end and kept at it so I was able to win.

In game one, you faked a gas build and tried an all in with four barracks but failed.

My marine micro didn't go like it did during my practices. I also got nervous so I messed up my build in the beginning.

In game two, your medivac play shined.

I studied a lot of NesTea's VODs and noticed that he lacks in certain areas, like defending against medivacs. So I figured I would be fine as long as I implement my medivac plays properly.

In game three, it seemed like you were at a significant disadvantage.

I got so nervous that I made a ton of mistakes. I was in a bad situation because I let go of my mouse during the middle. But then my coach came over and told my to keep on doing my best till the very end so I calmed myself and focused again.

What was the driving force behind your comeback in game three?

I think it was my medivacs. I used my medivacs and turned the impossible in to possible.

Your next opponent will be Woongjin Stars' sHy.

All the KeSPA players are really good so I think it's going to be a hard match. But I still have the confidence to win.

What kind of player do you want to become?

A player that is capable of showing flashy and fun games.

What are your goals for this season?

When I got through the preliminaries, I stated in my interview that securing my placement in Code A was my goal. But now that I won today's match, I think I'm going to want to start aiming for Code S now.

You must have prepared extensively for today's debut.

I prepared mostly through VODs. I didn't even go home for ChooSuk and just kept on studying NesTea's VODs as I focused on analyzing NesTea's habits.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank Pet, Hello, Life, and Curious hyung for practicing with me. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors Red Bull, BenQ, Joy Gear, and ZOWIE Gear.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the second round of Code A.

I really didn't want to fall to the preliminaries so I am so relieved that I was able to win like this with a score of 2-1.

In game one you started with a disadvantage because of his banshees.

It's true that I was in a disadvantage but BaBy kept on throwing away his units so it was actually easier than I thought it would be. Personally, I think the mech composition for Terran is really good.

You lost game two because you tried to force a drop play to work.

I couldn't practice at all because it was ChooSuk. I pretty much prepared through image training but my hands and feet weren't listening to me and I couldn't penetrate BaBy's solid defense.

In game three, you attempted a proxy dual rax. Was this a planned build?

It was a pre-planned strategy. I noticed he likes to go for FE from our previous games so I figured he would go for it again so I decided to go for it.

Like you previously stated, it was ChooSuk so it must have been hard to find a practice partner.

Not only did I have no practice partners, there were two new maps added to the pool. I wanted to end it early but it didn't go the way I wanted it to.

In the next round, you have to face yet another KeSPA player.

There are a lot of rumors that Bogus is the #1 Terran on ladder and that he is really good. I think I'm going to have to prepare extensively for him.

These days, you seem to keep on showing a lacking form.

There have definitely been times where I lost because I did bad but there have also been times where luck just didn't follow me. My prepared builds weren't getting through effectively and I lost the winners' round so that effect followed me to the losers' round.

Do you feel confident enough to revive yourself?

These days my games have been going well so If I make it back to Code S, I'm sure I'll be able to show everyone my good form.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank our sponsors Red Bull, BenQ ZOWIE, and Joy Gear. I also want to thank the Terran players who helped me out on ladder.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the second round of Code A.

I'd been feeling a lot of pressure because of tournaments but I decided I would just have fun today. I am relived that the results were good.

In game one, you were in trouble at the beginning.

I expected a six pool to come at me from the start but then it didn't come. That's why I figured I would win as long as I comfortable went to the late game.

How did you spend your ChooSuk break?

I didn't go home and just practiced on ladder as I prepared for my match.

You blocked SuHoSin's strong attack in game two.

I scouted his infestor pit and realized I could win as long as I blocked this one attack. For a while, my teammates would all use infestory related strategies so I learned how to defend against them.

Of all the Team 8 players, you made it to the second round of Code A quite comfortably.

I haven't seen my teammates in a while since they're on break but everyone cheered for me.

What are your goals for this season?

My only goal is to do my best with whatever match comes my way. I don't necessarily have a specific goal.

You will face Shine in the next round.

I think it's going to be fun. Ever since I changed my attitude, I think I'm going to enjoy this tournament.

Do you think you'll make it to Code S?

I think it is highly possible.

Anything else you would like to say?

Alone helped me with practice. I met him in the finals for the preliminaries and he told me that if I lose, I should prepare myself for the worst. He helped me out a lot so I think that's why I was able to win. I want to let him know how grateful I am.