[Interview] Code A Ro32 Day 1 2013 GSL Season 1

Liquid`HerO



Source: This Is game

Tell us how you feel about winning.

It was a mirror match and we had a new year's break thrown in so I lacked practice. So I approached the match with the thought of sticking to the basics. I think I was able to win cause luck also followed me.

It must not have been easy practicing since there was a new year's break. How did you prepare for today's match?

Orginally, the break was supposed to last until the 13th but my home was far away so I came back early. My opponent didn't have a lot of VODs available but I studied intensely the ones I did find because I also had maps that I never played on before.

You won game one with a quick rush. It felt you won pretty easily.

I was orginally planning on macroing it up after poking around a little bit but our build orders got crossed over so the win was easier than I expected.

You won game two in a quick warp gate rush.

Orginally I had planned out a different build. But all of a sudden I felt this urge to want to us that build order. I had already won game one and I saw that my opponent hadn't scouted me so I had this feeling that I was going to win if I used the strategy so I went for it.

Your next opponent will be Bomber. What kind of match are you expecting?

Bomber is a really strong macro player. I remember that I got beaten pretty easily last time we met in the Up/Downs. This time, I want to successfully grab my revenge.

Do you think it will be possible for you to get to Code S?

I think my performances have risen lately. So I am booming with confidence.

It must be difficult to practice since you also have Proleague. How are you preparing?

From afternoon to evening is all team leagues preparation. Afterwards, I prepare as much as time allows for my individual leagues.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank our sponsors Twitch.tv, Razer, Barracuda Networks, and TLAF. I want to thank EG-TL's supervisor Hwanni, coach Park, the many players who helped me with practice, and my parents. I want to apologize to my parents for being unable to spend a lot of time with them over the break. Lastly, I know I'm late but I hope the fans and everybody else will have a happy new year's.

ByuNPrime



Source: This Is Game

You advanced to the third round of Code A. How do you feel?

I didn't want to start preparing HotS just yet but my teammates were preparing for it so I succumbed and started practicing as well. Thanks to that, I wasn't able to prepare properly for WoL but I was able to win like so I am glad.

Weren't you lacking in practice because of the new year's break?

I didn't go back home for this year's break. A lot of my teammates also didn't go back home so it wasn't difficult finding practice partners.

You won game one because of you coiled your opponent with your siege tanks.

Game one was almost a lost cause. I still had a 1% chance of making a comeback though so I capitalized on it. I remembered that I lost to Center before during the previous season of Code A. Game two's scenario was the same as last season's so I started thinking that I was going to get eliminated again but I am glad that I was able to win (laughs).

You will face the third place player from group C of the Ro16.

If I end up facing GuMiho hyung then he is going to be a difficult opponent. He's not a top level player during practice but the minute he steps foot on stage for televised matches he turns into someone different. I am going to have to really extensively prepare for him.

You only have one more match left before you can advance to Code S. Do you think you'll be able to make it?

I still get nervous to this day. I want to play as many televised matches as I can so I would prefer to lose by a score of 1-2 in the third round so that I can head to the Up/Downs and grab my Code S spot that way. I just want to experience at least one more game if possible.

You've been a player in the GSL for a long time now but you still get nervous?

I checked out my record and I saw that I had about 150 games played. I still don't know why I keep getting nervous. I got so nervous today that it was actually difficult to play.

You stated that you had some preparations done for HotS. How is it so far?

I think Terran is very doable now that we have hellbats. I'm not sure if it's because the game is still in its early stage or what but I think Terran can do really well since players don't know how to properly respond. I've played over a hundred games so far and I haven't experienced a game with tempests yet. I heard a lot of rumors about the tempest but I haven't experienced it yet so I don't really know about it (laughs).

Anything else you would like to say?

Since my mouse broke, Maru lent me his this morning. He also helped me by playing one more game with me before I came to the studio and the scenario was exactly the same as the game two I just played. I think I was able to win because of Maru. I really want to thank him for that.

Quantic_HyuN



Source: This Is Game

You took down LabyRinth and grabbed your victory. How do you feel?

I think that was a match that I obviously had to win. I think the third round will be the biggest obstacle. I think that match is going to be difficult regardless of who my opponent turns out to be. So far, I've never been able to just advance straight into Code S and I would always fail in the third round (laughs). This time, I want to make it through no matter what.

You won pretty easily with a score of 2-0. How were today's games in your opinion?

My opponent liked to mostly go for a mech composition. So I think I was able to take a complete victory cause I focused on responding to mech plays. I think the games went the way I wanted them to go.

Wasn't it difficult to practice?

I didn't find any difficulty practicing. I found difficulty in eating (laughs). I wanted to lose weight but things just aren't panning out that way (laughs).

You scouted your opponent's proxy two rax in game one.

I thought for sure that he would do something like that at least for one game if not two. When I scouted his SCV, I was only halfway surprised. I wasn't worried about it initially since it was just one barracks but I eventually realized that he built it really close to my base. I could have prevented him from landing his barracks at all but I kind of messed up defense so things did look kind of bad for a minute there. I also made too many lings cause he caught me by surprise.

Your opponent for round three will be either Maru or Sniper. Who would you like to face?

They're both excellent players so regardless of who makes it up I just want to do my best. I want to make sure I play a match that I won't regret.

Seems like you'll probably get to Code S this season.

Next season will be HotS so I want to practice a lot and make it through no matter what. I've been preparing for HotS lately and even though I keep losing since there are so many new things I am still having fun. I hope a lot of people will by hyped up for HotS. That way, both the players and the fans will have fun.

Anything else you would like to say?

These days, the weather goes back and forth from being really cold to loosening up. I think the season is changing so I hope everyone will watch out for colds. I want to thank Center for helping me with practice yesterday and I hope he can make it up to Code S through the Up/Downs. Lastly, I want to thank Quantic Gaming's manager and owner.

LG-IM_YoDa



Source: This Is Game

You advanced to the third round of Code A. How do you feel?

I am satisfied with the end result so I am glad (laughs).

You didn't have a lot of data on your opponent so it must have been difficult to prepare for him.

I told myself to play as cautiously as I possibly could as I prepared. I wanted to decipher my opponent's style for game one and then play game two with sheer force. But I luckily was able to win game one and then I just finished off the match.

If you had to evaluate today's games?

I think my victory was much more easier than I expected. I'm not sure if my opponent was nervous or what but I think he lost in the micro battle.

You will face MarineKing for round three.

Regardless of the end result, I am expecting a fun match to occur. Whenever I play against MarineKing, I would always end up losing if I let go of my focus for even a second so I think this will be a great experience.

A lot of players are preparing for HotS.

I've also played it several times and I think that fighting hellbats and oracles is difficult. You get attacked way too easily even if you do set up widow mines. I still haven't grasped the concept of the game so I'm not sure what to do yet. I think I need to test some things out.

You have one match left before getting to Code S. Do you think it's possible to get into Code S?

I can't make an accurate prediction of what could happen so I need to play the match first.

GSTL HotS Pre-season will occur soon.

I'm not sure what's going to happen since our entire team started practicing HotS late but we are all going to do our absolute best so that we can make good results.

Anything else you would like to do?

I hope MC hyung and LosirA hyung will do really well for their Code S match tomorrow. I want to thank our sponsors Steelseries, Kingston HyperX. Googims Company, LG Electronics, Coca-Cola, Nvidia, and ASRock. I also want to thank the coach's wife. I wasn't able to meet my parents during the new year's break. I will try to meet them soon though. I hope our LoL team will do well for their match today.

MVPSniper



Source: This Is Game

You advanced to the third round of Code A. Tell us how you feel.

I'm not really feeling anything significant. I'm just relieved that I won.

You secured a 2-0 victory against Maru. Were you expecting such a result?

It was the end of WoL so I wasn't practicing it. I just told myself that I would be relieved if I won. I have been playing HotS lately but I couldn't even practice that much because of the new year's break.

You made some mistakes in game one with your infestors.

I had put my infestors in patrol position. I was fighting with my brood lords when I realized that my infestors never arrived. I think they were taken off patrol somehow.

You showed a baneling/roach all in for game two. Was this planned out?

I saw that he likes to go for late game macro so I was trying to exploit that.

Your next opponent will be HyuN. Last season's GSL finals rematch.

I can't help but think that I'm going to have to practice mainly through ladder. I need to keep doing what I've been doing up till now.

If you had to evaluate HotS?

I think Zerg is kind of so so. The two other races each have an OP unit but I don't think Zerg has any. The ignite booster feature for medivacs is ridiculous. If I lose focus for even a second then the medivacs are at my base. I think it's the same for Protoss.

Anything else you would like to say?

Today is my mother's birthday. I want to wish her a happy birthday. I also want to thank the coach's father for coming to the studio with us today. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors Lotte Chilsung, Razer, Gomtv, and partner Wayi Spiders.

LG-IM_YongHwa



Source: This Is Game

After fighting till the end, you advanced to the third round of Code A.

I am glad that my chances of getting into Code S got higher. I am going to prepare well for my next match so that I can win.

You won game one with a proxy pylon play. Was it a planned our strategy?

It was a prepared strategy. I normally go for 13 gateway but this time I went started with a 12 gateway. I studied Creator's VODs and noticed that he doesn't put his pylons around the corners of the map. The map was also Daybreak so I think my strategy fell right into place.

You lost game two quite easily. It seemed like you weren't aware of Creator's incoming attack at all.

When I was practicing, that kind of thing never occurred. I know it's obvious that my opponent was going to grab an army but I just wasn't expecting it. I thought he went for a nexus build so in the end, he got me.

Were you expecting Creator's stalker build for game three?

I scouted 5 - 6 stalkers with my first zealot scout. I was surprised that he had that many stalkers even though he had already seen my build order. I noticed that he wasn't scouting and knew something was up so I prepared for an incoming attack.

You will face the winner of Bbyong vs Leenock. Who would you like to face?

I'm confident in my PvT so I would like it if Bbyong would advance (laughs). Leenock knows how to play multiple styles within the game so preparing for him is going to be a pain.

GSTL HotS Pre-season will occur soon. How are your preparations for HotS coming along?

For now, all the rookies have transitioned over to HotS and the regular WoL players will slowly be making the transition. All the players give each other advice and work together regularly anyways so even if I do start late I think I'll be able to catch up right away.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank Ruin, First, Tear, and Stork for helping me with practice. The LoL team had a match today so the coach came instead of the head coach but he did a great job of mind controlling me just like the head coach normally does so I want to thank him for that. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors LG Electronics, Steelseries, Googims Company, Coca-Cola, Nvidia, ASRock, and Kingston HyperX.

FXOLeenock



Source: This Is Game

You advanced to the third round of Code A with a score of 2-0. Tell us how you feel.

I am disappointed that I fell to Code A for the final season of WoL but I am glad that I was able to win. I am going to work hard so that I can start off the first HotS season from Code S.

How did you feel after falling to Code A from Code S?

My ZvPs haven't been going very well so I was expecting to face some difficulties. I am disappointed that my results for Code S were bad but I didn't dwell on them.

Bbyong didn't capitalize on the moments where he held the advantage so he ended up losing.

Today's scenarios were just like my practices. I think today's match flowed just the way my practices went.

You won both games with a muta/baneling/ling composition. Was that the concept for today's match?

It's been a while since I played that kind of style. It was an old build order but I didn't think KeSPA players had experienced that kind of build order so I saw it as the same thing as using a new build order against them.

Your next opponent will be YongHwa. YongHwa stated that he wanted Bbyong to make it up.

I feel a little less confident since I've been facing difficulties with ZvPs, but I am going to prepare well and work hard so that I can win.

You've become an adult now. Has anything changed?

I was born early so I'm not quite an adult yet. And I'm still being treated like a kid so I haven't felt anything different yet.

The HotS transition will occur soon. Have you been preparing?

I had to prepare for Code A so I only practiced WoL. I watched my teammate hyungs play HotS and I noticed that all the Zerg hyungs were sweating (laughs). So I am a little worried about what's going to happen.

GSTL will start soon. The pressure must be enormous because you guys are 2x champions.

I shouldn't want more as long as our results are good but I haven't played HotS yet and neither has GuMiho hyung so I'm not sure what kind of results will come out (laughs).

There is only one match left before you advance to Code S.

Even if I do lose my final match, I still have a lot of experience with the Up/Downs so I think I'll be able to make it up to Code S regardless.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank the fans for always cheering me on. I was disappointed that I wasn't really able to visit my relatives over the break but I hope to have a lot of fun with them the next time we get a vacation. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors FXO, Razer, Twitch.tv and GOMtv.

KT Rolster_Flash



Source: This Is Game

You took down Ryung and grabbed the victory. How do you feel?

I am so glad that I was able to win. I would always get eliminated from the first round but I was able to advance to the third round like this so I want to do my absolute best so that I can get to Code S.

Your opponent was Ryung who gave you a loss last season. Were you feeling any pressure?

It is true that I was feeling the pressure. I was worried cause the styles were similar even in practice. But I was able to grab a victory today so I think I'll do well for round three as well.

You met a moment of crisis for both games but you were able to respond properly and grab the victory.

I think I created the situations really well as the game progressed. Ryung scanned me but I think he failed to notice my sky Terran transition. I think I was able to win because of that.

You tried a medivac drop for game two but you were unable to drop a single unit and lost everything.

I didn't scan ahead so I had no idea that he had that many missile turrets. I focused my attention on something else after I sent my medivacs and then later on I noticed that I lost everything. But I was still in such a good situation that I didn't mind that I lost my medivacs since I was able to free up supply.

You will face the winner of Rain vs KeeN for round three.

They're both troublesome players. I know that KeeN is also a good player. I think it's going to be a difficult match regardless of who makes it.

MLG Winter Championships in March will progress as HotS.

With my current schedule, it is really difficult to prepare for HotS. Since I have Proleague, I need to keep focusing on WoL for now. I honestly think I won't have time to prepare for HotS until the time for MLG arrives.

Since you've been unable to get past the Code A wall, you were constantly being evaluated.

It seems like all the KeSPA players, including me, have been receiving a lot of evaluations. It was disappointing for a while but it does feel like all the KeSPA players are progressing forward so I feel good about it. I've been saying this all along. There are no differences between a KeSPA player and an eSF player.

Anything else you would like to say?

I will make it to Code S regardless of who my round three opponent turns out to be and make good results.