EPT
Fighterforum.com interview with FireBatHero (Lee Seong-eun)
This is your first time reaching the semi-finals
I’m happy that I got to a position where I can look towards winning the whole tournament. When I look back on the road to the semis, it makes me feel even better.
Your opponent was Savior, how did you prepare
The Proleague and the individual leagues are both important. I placed a lot of importance on this game, so I was up until 5am for the last few days. Usually there aren’t many people to practice against if you play that late, so I thank Odin[gm], ZergMan(?), Lee Jae Hwang, and Yoo Jun Hee from my team, and Kim Jae Chun from Pantech.
You made a huge comeback in game 1
If Savior had kept attacking me when I lost my main, the game would have been over. However, since he was in such a good situation, he took it easy for a while. I lifted all my buildings and started a new base thinking that I’d at least give my hands something to do. But Zerg didn’t have as many resources as I had thought, and it turned out that I was able to harvest more resources and win. I use battlecruisers a lot in casual practice games, and when used together with medic restoration, it’s difficult for Zerg to handle them. So I went for a combination of many BCs, vessels, and medics.
You lost quite easily on Loki
My build on Loki was really good. After I pushed out after taking my natural, I thought I was in a good position. I had scouted him going guardians, but he didn’t attack for a long time. So I decided to move out, which ended up with me losing. I was stupid ford doing that, since I would have had the advantage if I had just waited longer in my base.
Your timed rush in game three was notable
I think Savior made a mistake on Desperado. I kept killing his defilers with science vessels, and he went straight to ultralisks even though he didn’t have enough defilers. It would have been a tough game with defilers.
You lost game 4 without much of a fight
Even though my early strategy failed, I wasn’t in a bad situation. The game could have gone either way from there. However, I got careless after stopping the first hydralisk attack. Also, switching to tanks too quickly made me lack the troops to properly defend. After my natural was destroyed, there was just no way.
You used a 3 barracks ‘sparks’ rush in the last game
That was actually my build order for game 1. I sent out 2 SCVs in game one as well, but I saw Savior go 9 pool so I changed my plan. In a way, I was able to save the strategy for game 5. I watched a lot of Savior’s VODs, and learned even his most minor habits. I figured out the patterns in which he sends his overlords out to scout, so I knew he wouldn’t go all the way to the natural. Also, if his zerglings don’t confirm a fast CC, he sends them all across the map to look for hidden buildings, so I had that in mind. I also hoped that the positions would be good. If Savior had started at 2:00, I might have been found out.
Weren’t you nervous?
I was very intimidated during game 1. My hands shook a lot. After a certain point though, I was able to become calm. I was able to move my hands more naturally and I felt better. From game two and forth, I was able to play like I normally do.
Your ceremony today was quite striking
I saw Zeus’ ceremony yesterday. It was quite ‘broad.’ I wanted to use a large space as
well. The dance I did at the end didn’t go as I planned. I wasn’t sure if I was facing the crowd or my opponent. I wanted to practice by watching some videos before the game, but I kept getting activex errors so I couldn’t. Also, my manager was backstage so I couldn’t practice there either. So it ended up looking pretty weird. I hope you don’t mind that dance at the end (laughs). I’ll prepare a better ceremony for the semi-finals.
You defeated a lot of strong opponents to make it to the semi-finals.
I feel like I had to play the best. It strengthened my resolve, as I thought I should do my best against such top class players. It’s fun to play against good players. I focused a lot on keeping control of my nerves. I was determined to win.
Who would you prefer as an opponent in the semi-finals
I hope Stork wins. First off, it would ensure one player from Samsung enters the finals. Second, I’ve never had to play vs Stork in a series. I think we’ll have some fun games.
A short word on your resolutions for the MSL
Up till today, I played against mostly terrans. Because of that some people said “Wow, that guy is really good at terran,” while others said “That guy is good at only terran vs terran.” So I prepared very hard for this game with Savior. If Stork wins his match, I want to work hard so I can win the MSL after beating all three races.
Any final words?
The Dcinside(A large Korean internet community) gamers gallery made a banner for me today. I’d like to thank them so much for that. I felt like I was being cheered for. I think I had a good result today because of the fans watching live and at home. My mother and brother are behind me 100%, and I hope I can repay their support in the future.
FireBatHero's ceremony was hilarious, Savior didn't show much emotion afterwards. He has the same expression most of the time anyway. After he lost game one, he did have a kind of bitter smile. Completely blank after game five though. Crowd support was pretty strongly in Savior's favor, though FBH had a pretty strong contingent of hardcore fans who would yell out some amusing things "FBH is SEXY!"
After the game, there were a handful of girls crying in each other's arms, I guess they were Savior fans. I guess I should have expected it, though it still surprises me after years of watching Boxer and his fangirls.
Klogon is cool, and I ramble too much.
; he just did not have the room needed for that performance.
