EPT
TSL_Symbol![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/t7xOR.jpg)
Source: This Is Game
Tell us how you feel about about getting to the Ro16 of Code S.
I feel really good. I figured I would advance through easily after I saw my group. I am even happier because I got through so easily.
You started off with the same strategy as Roro's within your match. Were you expecting this?
Nope. That was a move that I did not expect. From studying his VODs I figured RorO would go for roaches after getting infestors. But then I saw lings coming out after I scouted with my overlord. Because I wasn't able to take him on early, I decided to go for a long macro game. I decided to go for a macro game for game two as well after winning game one. But then I scouted him and saw that his strategy was to go for lings and then transition to infestors. I realized that my infestors would come out later than his so the deciding factor would have to be a really huge battle. In a ZvZ, it is important that you gather a huge army for a really big one time hit. I just focused on winning rather than focusing on the score.
Who did you want to face for the winners' match?
Hack and Happy are both Terrans so I didn't care who made it.
You played a very one sided match against Hack in the winners' round. Were your strategies separately planned?
As of late, I had been going for no gas strategies against Terrans. But then I saw Life and how he played so I decided to mimic him. I realized afterwards that that's something that only Life can pull off. So I decided to just kind of resemble my early game to his and then throw in my own style for the transitions. When you watch Life play, you realize that it's really difficult because you have to spend your larvas wisely trying to get the right amount of both lings and drones but Life is excellent at it. I tried it out and I saw that I end up playing poorly.
You have group nominations ahead of you. Anyone you would like to face?
I haven't really thought about it yet. I did so badly last season that all I can think about is just putting on a great performance and showing people that I've changed. But I do want to face mostly Terrans.
Recently, Life won GSL and your teammate HyuN has been dominating the IPL Fight Clubs. Do you also want these kinds of successes?
When I watch Life play, I was able to realize many things about myself. Life's know how on his mentality factors and executing build orders is so good that I do get envious of that. As for HyuN hyung, he's just a really good player so I learn a lot from him. But I also want a career of my own that I'll get recognized for so I focus diligently for my practices.
What do you think will be the climax for this season?
I will know for sure once the groups get determined but I've gotten through the Ro16 before so I feel confident. So the Ro8 will be the climax in my opinion. I think I have some kind of trauma since I keep losing in the Ro8. I want to get through it no matter what.
Isn't it difficult for you to handle both GSL and GSTL?
I have a lot of teammates in the GSL and we also have GSTL. HyuN hyung and Polt hyung are both really good so I think we're all going to go to the Ro8. I also think the championship for the GSTL will not be an issue as long as everyone puts up the kind of performance they do for the GSL.
Anything else you would like to say?
I want to thank the manager and coach for coming with me to the studio today. HyuN hyung has his matches ahead of him so I hope he does well without getting nervous. My other teammates also have the qualifiers ahead of them. I hope they also do well and perform like they do for practices without getting nervous. Also, Polt and Revival are participating for this week's fall MLG so I hope they do well there and come back safely. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors, The Handsome Nerd, N Keybord (or En Keyboard), and GOMTV.
StarTale_Hack![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/RGoPw.jpg)
Source: This Is Game
Tell us how you feel about advancing to the Ro16 after fighting till the very end.
I still can't believe that I've made it. After playing my games, I would be so disappointed with my performances that I would even start to think to myself "wow I am really terrible". It's so unbelievable and amazing that I've gotten to the Ro16.
You won by a score of 2-1 against Happy today.
I went to school on Sunday so I didn't have a lot of time to practice. So I told myself even if I did fall out of my group, I would prefer it if I could get eliminated as third from my group. But then I was able to win easier than I thought I would.
You suffered a complete loss against Symbol for the winners' match.
I had something prepared but Symbol's strategies were totally unexpected to me. But then I got supply blocked so I made a lot of mistakes. That's why I think my mind got erased completely and ended up losing completely.
Who did you want to advance from the losers' match?
I was hoping Happy would make it. I felt like more TvZs would be detrimental to me since I had already lost against Symbol. I wasn't able to watch game one but I did see game two and that made me realize how good RorO was against mech. I knew it was going to be hard upcoming match.
For the final round, you had a neck and neck match.
I came to the studio without even thinking about the final match. So I just played like I normally did on ladder. I lost game two humiliatingly because nothing went like I thought it would so I decided to do a strategy I had already used for the Ro48 for game three. But then I forgot about my strategy and things didn't go like I had planned so I just decided to wing it and luckily, I was able to win.
This is your first Code S after your debut from two years ago. Why do you think you weren't able to make Code S for all these years?
I think I wasn't able to focus on the game well. I think it's because I get a lot of thoughts when I play in an actual match so the things I prepare don't get executed properly. I also didn't have enough practice. But since I have enough time until the group nominations, I plan on overcoming all my disadvantages by the time my Ro16 matches roll around.
You have group nominations ahead of you. Any specific player you would like to face?
We still don't know all the player for the Ro16 so I haven't thought about who I want to face yet. I think Curious hyung made a pretty nice impression during last season's group nominations so I would like to do something like that as well.
What are your goals for this season?
I've set my goal for the semi finals so I can go to Las Vegas. I also tend to get a lot of thoughts that I won't ever be able to beat Zerg thanks to my practices against Life. Overcoming that kind of feeling is my second goal for this season.
Anything else you would like to say?
First off, I want to thank our sponsors ZOWIE Gear, Joy Gear, and Red Bull. Lastly, I want to thank my teammates for helping me with practice, especially Life, who still helped me practice even though he had school.
