EPTArticle and interview with Thorzain on life as a Starcraft pro, Swedish E-sports Championships - http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/E-Sport_SM_2012-2013/Finals - and the 'rival' Naniwa on Sweden's biggest news site Aftonbladet that I decided to translate for you guys (hype!).
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/yvU2rqd.jpg)
Source: Aftonbladet
Pending Swedish Championships-player Thorzain has something to say about 'Naniwa'.
But first: the bomb alarm.
And the lasagna.
It's hard to think of 'Thorzain' without thinking of Kim Jong-un.
Seoul glows of neon. Pyongyang is darkened. South Korea is one big cluster of gaming cafés with the world's fastest internet connections. In North Korea only parts of the elite are connected. Nowhere else is the contrast between distress and excess as sharp as on the Korean peninsula. Between the powerlessness and hopelessness of the northern side, and the ambitions and dreams of the southern, the distance is only four kilometers.
The Swedish 'Starcraft' player Marcus 'Thorzain' Eklöf came home in March from his latest professional sojourn in South Korea. The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un - called 'The Great Successor' - had harshened his tone while Marcus was still in the country.
- I woke up from a bomb alarm one morning. The time was barely 6 am. I was a bit disoriented. "Where am I? Oh, right, Korea." I was a bit scared at first, but no one else seemed to care.
"Not worried at all"
Only three years ago North Korea bombed the island group of Yeonpyeong. Four people died. Despite threats from the north life in the south goes on as usual.
- No, I never heard anyone mention anything about the conflict. You don't feel any worry at all. I wouldn't be too worried to go back, says 'Thorzain'.
Marcus is one of biggest stars in Swedish E-sports. It's what you become after having played in the best Korean league there is. It's what you become after winning Dreamhack Open on the home field in Stockholm. The Koreans gave him a nickname, "Spoon Terran", for his methodical and thoughtful play. "Like killing someone with a spoon." I suggest to Marcus that he's one of the players where you can most clearly tell how his personality colors his playstyle. Not because he's capable of killing someone with a spoon, but because he appears wise, thoughtful and patient.
- Yeah, that's probably accurate. I usually plan things ahead. But my way of playing probably has a lot to do with fear too. Sometimes I don't know if I'm ahead or if I'm behind. Or: I'm not sure how far ahead I am. Then it's easier to choose not to take risks.
"Would like to become a psychiatrist"
Recently, Marcus' teammate in Evil Geniuses, the french player Ilyes 'Stephano' Satouri, announced that he was going to quit playing 'Starcraft', at only 20 years of age. And when you talk to Marcus, who is now 22, you can sense the ambivalence that often shows itself in interviews with other 'Starcraft' players. Those who understand that maybe they should start thinking about a life after E-sports.
- My shape right now? A six or a seven. I could have been playing more than I have lately. I'm a bit rusty. I've been busy with the SATs. I would like to become a psychiatrist. I've always been very interested in psychology.
After having been in South Korea multiple times, at one point staying and training in the legendary Slayers house, Marcus went back once more late last year. Excited for another three month stay he'd bought a Korean dictionary and a textbook to practice the language. But his energy ran low.
- It feels good to be back home in Sweden again. I shouldn't have been in Korea as long as I was. You get tired of it after a while. All the food starts tasting the same. They're of course different dishes. But after a while you realize that it actually tastes the same.
He got lasagna when he came home to his parents in Stockholm.
E-sports, a display window for big businesses
In its haste to be taken seriously the E-sports industry is often looking to paint a flashy picture of young stars in a modern world. Often competing over having the largest prize pool and which players have the biggest sponsors. E-sports is an ultra commercial display window for business logos. But when the lights go out, the cameras turn off and the set is dismantled, the E-sports stars, often merely teenagers, reenter everyday life. They go back home to mom and dad and eat lasagna.
When Marcus Eklöf was competing at Dreamhack Open in Stockholm last year he used public transportation to get to the event. Once there he entered the bubble of the world of E-sports and became the mighty 'Thorzain'. The fans held up signs with his name. He sensationally won the whole tournament by defeating the mighty Korean Choi 'Polt' Seong Hoon in the finals. In the emotinal high of victory he raised both his arms towards the sky. In the left hand holding a bottle of champagne. He can't quite remember how he got home afterwards, but it was most definitely not in a limousine.
- I believe I used public transportation then as well.
"Quite rude in real life"
- You have to separate all that from everyday life. Like an off switch almost. When you arrive at the competitions you're prepared for all that, you're prepared for the photographers. You're a superstar on the 'Starcraft' stage. But as soon as you get off you're Marcus Eklöf again. Even if you occasionally get recognized on the streets.
Do you feel like you adopt different personalities?
- No, I'd say I'm probably the same person. I guess there are some that try to alter their personalities. Some are quite rude in real life.
Are you thinking of someone in particular?
- No, I don't want to mention any names.
Now Marcus is leaving for Gothenburg to compete in the sixth Swedish Championship qualifications to reach the playoffs at Dreamhack Summer. He's the reigning Swedish champion and his participation has increased in intensity because of what happened a month ago. When his countryman Johan 'Naniwa' Lucchesi during the qualifications in Malmö was asked who is the 'King of the north' - a title both 'Naniwa' and 'Thorzain' has shared between them - Lucchesi attacked Eklöf:
- I don't want to be compared to 'Thorzain', I think I'm much better than him. The only reason I'm playing the Swedish Championships is to beat him.
"Laughable"
You can almost hear how Marcus sighs when you recite the statement.
- The last time we met I won. His best results have exceeded mine. But we're both very up and down when it comes to results. I don't know what he has against me because I haven't done anything to him except like... playing 'Starcraft'. I've never said anything bad about him.
But don't you become upset by hearing that kind of statement?
- ...I'm used to it. He's been doing this for a while. I almost think it's just laughable.
Who is Sweden's best player right now?
- It's probably 'Naniwa'. But if we'd both be in top shape then I'm not sure.
What does the Swedish Championships mean to you?
- It means a lot now that 'Naniwa' has been making a big deal out of it. He almost made it into a Swedish derby between him and me.
It has become a competition about who is the 'King of the north'.
- Yes, exactly.
Here's also the small Swedish Championships fact blurb and tournament schedule listed after the article:
Marcus' tough road towards a new Swedish Championship gold.
It's of course not a given that Marcus will succeed to defend his title from last year. It's not even a certainty that he'll make the playoffs. In Gothenburg on Saturday he'll be pitted against accomplished players such as Kim 'Sase' Hammar, Jeffrey 'Sjow' Brusi and Joacim 'Runa' Persson. Should Marcus lose in the qualifications in Gothenburg he'll have two more chances, in Norrköping in May and Jönköping in June.
Should he make the playoffs the stage is set for a thrilling struggle between him and Johan 'Naniwa' Lucchesi. 'Naniwa' outclassed all competition when he won the qualifications in Malmö in March.
Schedule for the qualification tournament on Saturday, Apr 20 2:00pm GMT (GMT+00:00):
14:00 GMT (+00:00) Live broadcast begins of the sixth qualification tournament of the Swedish Championships @ aftonbladet.se/spela
14:30 GMT (+00:00) Fifa 13 finals.
16:00 GMT (+00:00) Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition finals.
16:30 GMT (+00:00) Counter-Strike: Global Offensive finals.
19:00 GMT (+00:00) Starcraft II semifinal 1.
20:00 GMT (+00:00) Starcraft II semifinal 2.
21:00 GMT (+00:00) Starcraft II finals.
