[Interview] iG.XiGua (IPL5) and Spider.Comm (BWC)

Hi Xigua. How are you? Thank you for accepting this interview with s.163.com. Before we start, can you say hello to the readers out there and also introduce yourself?

Hello everyone. I am XiGua from iG.

It doesn't feel like it, but it's already been a year since the last time a Chinese Starcraft 2 player went overseas to take part in a major tournament. The last time the Chinese flag appeared on an international Starcraft 2 main stage was WCG in December 2011.

At the finals then, you lost to the number 1 Terran in the world, Mvp. Now that one year has past since then, do you still have any memories of that match? What feelings do you have when you think back about it now?

It left a deep impression. I just feel that the Korean players this year are even stronger as compared to last year, and the distance between the Chinese players and the Korean players is widening again.

Year 2012 was a year where Chinese Starcraft 2 was shut off from the rest of the world. Apart from the start of the year, when you and MacSed headed to Korea for GSL, we haven't even seen the shadows of any Chinese players at any international offline tournament. This is such a great contrast to the two offline international tournaments that the world has every week.

Apart from Visas and plane tickets, where do you personally think the problem lies?

I think it's that the government isn't supportive, and there isn't enough concern about this. And for Chinese players, the hardest thing is that there are no invites. For the European and American tournaments, majority still hold their preliminaries online, but our internet doesn't allow that. And if we just go on our own accord without any financing, we can't afford it, and this is the result.

The result of being shut off from the rest of the world is that Chinese Starcraft 2 is entirely separated from the rest of the world. Yes, iG.MacSed did win NGF and SW7, but the distance between Starcraft 2 abroad and us is getting longer and longer.

I'm not sure if you watched BWC already, but Comm ranked Chinese Starcraft 2 at about a higher second-rate level, approximately similar to the average European American Starcraft 2 player. From your personal perspective, where do you think Chinese Starcraft 2 ranks on the international level?

I don't dare to agree with what Comm said there. To be really honest, European American players are just currently more organised and are more structured than the Chinese players.

I feel that China is still at a position similar to the top levels of Europe and America, apart from Stephano. It's just that many players do not have the chance to go out and show their skills.

Alright. Now let's talk a bit about IPL 5. This was a cooperation between s.163.com, MarsTV, and IPL, and we really must thank the parties at IPL for their tremendous help towards Chinese Starcraft 2.

Did you follow the IPL tournaments previously? Players like Stephano and aLive became really famous after playing at IPL. Do you have any evaluations or views about IPL? Or are you looking forward to any particular part of the IPL tournament?

I did follow IPL last year. The tournament is very professional, and the matches are very entertaining, and the schedule is really compact, but it's probably a bit tougher on the players.

Last year, most of the players at IPL were still Europeans and Americans, but this time IPL seems to have morphed into KPL, so it's a bit worrying. Hopefully IPL will be able to give a seed to Chinese players next year.

There are 72 top Starcraft 2 players in total at IPL 5, and it is also a gathering of many GSL Champion level players. In terms of competitiveness, this tournament will be at a completely different level from last year's WCG.

With so many stars playing in the tournament, as one of only eight seeded players, how are you preparing for this? Do you have any goals for this tournament?

The preparations are just practising on the ladder. There's no way you can prepare to counter this many players, and I can only give it my all. There are really too many Korean players this time, and so my goal is to take away as much as I can, a step at a time, and as long as I am able to show entertaining matches, I'm alright with it.

We know that in the year 2012, your results haven't been good at all. Other than G-League at the start of the year, your only other achievement is the winner of IPL 5 in China. Some people have said that you are trying to change you Starcraft 2 style, while there are others who said that you might be growing old. What do you personally think of your condition this year?

Actually, it's quite easy to understand if you look at the Zerg playstyle nowadays. Nowadays, unless you are able to win by hitting unusual timings, there is no way of making attacks work, but I like to attack. I guess that's the greatest problem.

Actually, the competition this year within the Chinese Starcraft 2 scene is more intense than before. For example, ToodMing is currently the top Chinese player in terms of winnings for 2012, and then comes Comm and MacSed, then you and LoveCD. Amongst the Chinese players, what do you think your playstyle is like? Approximately what level is your skill at currently?

An attacking style I guess. As long as there is any opportunity to attack, I'll try attacking. But in the current version of Starcraft 2 that doesn't really stand. I think that my skill is probably slightly higher than the middle of the Koreans, and there's still a gap to Code S.

Going on at the same time as IPL 5, we have WCG. Your team mates Xluos and MacSed will be taking part together, and they'll be facing players like YongHwa, Parting, and MarineKing; and the pressure and challenges that you'll be facing when you travel overseas to IPL 5 will be much, much greater than theirs.

Regarding this iG representations on the two fronts, did Edison or any other member of the management give you all any instructions or opinions?

To try our best, and not to leave any regrets.

This IPL 5 is not just an opportunity for Chinese Starcraft 2 to return to the international stage, I personally think that it could even be an excellent chance for you to get rid of your slump in 2012. Whether successful or not, at least it's a step that both Chinese Starcraft 2 and you have taken. Anything to say regarding yourself and Chinese Starcraft 2?

I hope everyone will continue supporting Starcraft 2. I will make the most of this really rare opportunity, and take down as many players as I can.

Thank you XiGua for accepting this interview with s.163.com. There are still many fans who care about you, who care about Chinese Starcraft 2. Can you end off by saying something to them?

Thank you everyone for following Starcraft 2. Currently, it doesn't even really matter to me whether people care about me personally. Chinese Starcraft 2 is really the one that needs the concern of everyone. Still the same statement "Have Fun", I guess. Thank you iG for their training, and the sponsors for their support.

[T/N: Yes it's been a long time since BWC, but I had my doubts then about the number of people who'd read that interview on its own haha. Now that's there this opportunity to release two interviews at a go, hopefully more people will read it.]



(Comm was close to tears a number of times during this interview)

Even though it feels really bitter, can you tell us where you think you lost? Let's take it apart a game at a time, starting from the first match against Suppy.

The first game against Suppy, I thought that I would be able to win it.

In the second game, I actually prepared a more offensive and fast-paced strategy, but after that I wanted to play in a more stable style, and I changed my strategy. I was a little nervous when I played, and I forgot many details and that led to being in a really passive state afterward.

In the third game, after my wave of zerglings were blown up by banelings at the early game, my entire tempo was messed up.

The European and American players are really strong this time, and it's the same as the idea that we have of them. In terms of raw ability, they're about the same as the Chinese players, but they are able to play much better during the tournaments, and so their overall ability is higher. Afterall, they've already played with the Koreans for about 2 years.

After your loss to Suppy, were there any changes to your mental state?

I personally felt that I shouldn't have lost, and according to my planning before the games I should have been able to win it.

In the loser's match, you played against Vortix. Since this was played in the player's area (where apart from the Blizzard staff and players, no media or team leaders were allowed), can you tell everyone how it went?

My second match was against Vortix, and maybe he had studied me before, and so he countered me to an extent. But I hadn't thought about that possibility, so I was really countered greatly.

For example, he hadn't done any 9 pools before, but in the first game against me used a 9 pool, and there put me in a very passive state.

The second game was similar to the game against Suppy, and I had some errors in judging the situation in the midgame and misjudged his army strength, and so that put me at a disadvantage. At the max-army battle, I wasn't able to arrange my army formation quickly enough, and I paid the price for that.

Was it a big blow to you, being eliminated?

I don't think it really counts as a blow. This BWC let me understand more clearly my ability, and to me, that serves as an encouragement, and I will probably encourage myself using this.

Can you tell us how you focused your practice before BWC?

I did some focused practice previously on the Korean ladder, and I managed to put some of it to use this time. Previously on the Korean ladder I had a 75% win rate, and the preparations were pretty well done. But in the end, this result is still because of a problem with my overall ability. Afterall, being able to perform well at the moment is still a demonstration of one's overall skill.

What level were you playing at in BWC, as compared to your usual practice level?

About 60-70% I guess. But I really have to add this, that there is the possibility that my opponents were also not at 100% either, and so the problem is still with my own overall ability.



Looking at your first person view, it seemed like your hands were slow and quite messy. Were you too nervous?

Yes. I was the only Chinese player around, and it's my first time playing at this type of international tournament, and so the pressure I gave myself was really huge. If I were able to play to my usual standard in practice it'd have been much better, but the pressure was too big, unlike some Warcraft 3 players who might have more experience in tournaments.

When you took the stage at the start, you were the one who received the loudest and warmest cheers from the crowd.

Personally, I was really touched. I feel that everyone had really high hopes for me, whether from the fans or from the comments, I could feel the warmth from the people towards me. I was really afraid that I wouldn't be able to play well and disappoint everyone, and this also added to the pressure.

Talking about pressure, my feeling of Comm in the past is that you have very good ideas, but are unable to show them properly. When you changed teams, and won the China qualifiers, you seemed to have conquered this problem. Why is it resurfacing again?

I was really level-headed during the Chinese Qualifiers, and my mindset was that I would just go as far as I can.

During WCS Asia Finals, when playing against the Koreans, I actually wasn't too nervous, and didn't commit any particularly serious errors. My thought processes were clear, and I carried out my plans to the end, and also paid attention to all the details.

But at BWC, whether it was my own expectations or the expectations of the audience, my hands were even shaking, and my mind was too rigid, and my thoughts and reactions were all delayed.

How were you feeling after losing 0-2?

I felt like I really let the audience down after I lost, but personally, I became much more relaxed. There were many friends consoling me after that, and I am really grateful to them.

Does this BWC hold any special meaning for you or Chinese Starcraft 2?

I feel that there is a type of warning in this. Because I feel that if Chinese Starcraft 2 progresses on the same way as it is going now, we might not even be able to beat Taiwan even in the second half of 2013.

From a player's perspective, what needs to be changed?

The environment. The most direct thing is the number of players playing the game.

Any professional gamer would still hope to feel that their game has an exciting and inspiring effect on people. For example, if I were to go to a lan shop and see like 30-40 people playing Starcraft 2, that would really make me excited.

And without people playing the game, there will be no new blood, and no internal competition. You can look at GSL and see how the generations change so quickly. Furthermore, there is no team league in China, and it's very hard to have interactions even amongst ourselves.

Will taking part in overseas tournaments be of help to you?

Taking part in overseas tournaments will be of great help. As my tournament experience increases, my practice amount and improvement rate will increase even more. And when you come into more contact with it, your ways of thinking will diversify even more. The improvements of European American Starcraft 2 can probably be seen by all.

Koreans have been grabbing the money in Starcraft 2 for 2 years already, but they probably are less able to make it a pure Korean top 8 like they were able to do before. Nowadays, in the top 16, we probably have European or American players appearing here and there. As for China, there might be at most 1 or even none.

So disregarding all our "face", can you give an honest evaluation of Chinese Starcraft 2, about where it ranks? First rate, second rate, or third rate?

According to what I think, the top level of the first rate belongs to the Koreans, and the middle level would be players like Stephano and Scarlett, and the other top European American players would probably be in the lower levels of the first rate.

As for Chinese Starcraft 2, I feel like it's at the top of the second rate. Against the average European American Starcraft 2 players, I think there's still a fight, but we might not necessarily win. Also, this gap is already such that it cannot be fixed in a short period of time.

Lastly, can you say something to your fans?

(Sighs) Chinese Starcraft isn't as strong as everyone thinks, but the Chinese players will still persevere and try our best, and all of you fans will definitely be our greatest motivation for working hard.

Actually, many Starcraft 2 players don't really have very good lives, and most of them get on with a heart that wants to win honour for their country. The reason they're able to still persevere is because of the group of amazing and steadfast fans, and so, thank you everyone for your support.