[Interview] 2012 GSL S4 CodeS Semi-finals

You have reached the finals after a close and action packed full set match. Tell us how you feel.

I found TvP very difficult in practice. I lost a lot of my confidence so I'm ecstatic to be moving on and the fact that it's a chance at a fifth title is the icing on the cake.

You started off by botching a timing attack in Set 1

Once the immortals had broken through, I knew I had lost. I stayed in the game to get warmed up.

Your cloaked ghosts got off great EMPs in Set 2. Was this planned?

Not at all. I was reacting to the situation and it happened to work out.

You tried all-ining repeatedly in Set 3. Honestly, it felt like you were giving up that set.

I knew very well that there was little chance it would work. However, starting off with an all-in meant that I had no other option. To be honest, I didn't have much planned for that set so it was a bit of a hassle. Then again, I believed that going for timings like those would give my opponent the impression that I was well prepared.

That's why you went for a triple orbital strategy in Set 4?

That's correct. I thought an all-in in Set 3 would make my opponent play more safely in the next set.

You got ahead in Set 5 after fending off DT harass. You seemed more than ready

I saw that he was preparing something and guessed it was DTs. Coincidentally, the engineering bay was about to finish. I knew that my opponent had a trick up his sleeve and it felt like DTs.

In yesterday's OSL Ro4, Rain had much trouble against Last's strategies. How did you feel about those games? Did they affect your games today?

I really didn't think much about those games at all. I thought Last played well. His strategies were well thought out. Rain seemed to think that he couldn't lose as long as things went his way.

Rain usually has great use of observers and scouts his opponent effectively

I knew that he liked to make a lot of observers. I was planning to kill all the ones I came across. That's about all I thought of that.

Many people counted you out after your dropped out of OSL. However, here you are once again in the finals

I thought I would have an easy time once I reached Ro8. I think I worked really hard in Ro8. I usually find it difficult to practice for a long time with different players. I also had to deal with enteritis so I was under-prepared for today.

If you had lost today, people would have laughed at ESF players for losing against Rain. Didn't this place a lot of pressure on you?

I guess but Rain has already beaten so many great players that it wouldn't have been that bad. In terms of both macro and micro, he's comparable to the best ESF players.

You said earlier that you wanted to face a Zerg in the finals so does that still stand?

Honestly, I feel like I can take down either player. However, for the sake of record keeping, I hope it's the Zerg who advances. Also, Life is in Startle which is a team with several second placers so he should pose less of a challenge (laugh) (T/N: reference to Squirtle, I guess)

Anything to add?

I want to thank Yoda, Happy, Dreamertt, Yonghwa, Seed and First for practising with me. Seed left for China to attend WCS today. The coach had to accompany him and he was worried that I had to attend by myself. I want to tell him to relax now that I've won. I want to thank my parents and say that I love my girlfriend.

This is your first time advancing to a Code S finals. Tell us how you feel

I feel great. Our team's Squirtle lost to MVP in the finals once before. I won't repeat history.

The Zergling pressure followed by Mutalisk play was impressive in Set 1. It could have become a base race too

I didn't know it was a three racks build. I had never encountered it in practice. In fact, the Mutalisk transition usually ended the game. I was a bit taken aback but the well-timed Baneling nest and its speed upgrade meant that I could attack in and win.

In Set 2, you went for Zergling/Baneling followed by Infestor

Taeja was more aggressive than I expected. Most Terrans play defensively but Taeja was the complete opposite which gave me a hard time. It was almost like being smothered.

You had great tempo early in Set 3 but couldn't finish the game until Hive tech really kicked in

I should have won with the Broodlords. However, I made too many Banelings when I should have made more Broodlords. I couldn't make use of the Banelings so I had a harder time that I should have.

MVP said that he would like to face you in the finals. If MVP wins, he'll have beaten every race in the finals

Not against me, he isn't. Watch out for my ceremonies in-game.

Do you think you can break Startale's second place curse?

Definitely. I'm originally from Zenex anyway. No problem.

Every potential royal roader has been stopped in the finals so far. What do you have to say about that?

I can't lose. Confidence alone has won me games so far. That's why I know that the finals is mine.

You and MVP are both aggressive in style so do you think that works in your favour?

I haven't studied MVP much so I can't say. I'm still going to win though.

In your interview for Ro8, you said you couldn't practise as much as you wanted because of school

I wasn't lying. I don't get to practise at all. Laddering occasionally is all I get to do.

Did people treat you differently once you made it to Ro4?

Not really. However, people keep making fun of me comparing me to someone whom I can't reveal. I wish they would stop (laugh)

Tell us your determination going into the finals

Honestly, it's my first finals and I don't have much to say yet. All I know is that I'm going to win.

Anything to add?

I want to thank my teammates and Hack in particular for practising with me. He was a great help in analysing my opponent. I want to thank all the fans who came to cheer me on. I was able to attend today because my school was so understanding. I want to thank my teacher. Lastly, I want to say thanks to the sponsors RedBull, BenQ, Zowie and Joy Gear