Source: This Is Game
Please tell us how you feel about advancing to the round of 8 first.
I didn't know I would make it out first. I feel great because I went through comfortably without even having to face the final match. I didn't perform any special practice, but I played on ladder in order to sharpen my fundamentals.
Your first match today was against TaeJa, who has been on a roll lately.
I knew that TaeJa was a player with good TvP. But since I even beat Byun, whom I felt was the best Terran, I thought I would do well against TaeJa, too. That's why I picked him during the nominations.
You showed some strong Psionic Storm play. Your style is different from those of the e-Sports Federation players.
In BW, I remember frequently stopping Zergs using Photon Cannons and High Templar. I think playing against BW Zerg is similar to playing against SC2 Terran. Now that my matches are over, the reason I think I advanced so easily is because storm play is so suited to PvT.
During the winners' match, you went up against Polt. You must also have anticipated that you might play against DongRaeGu.
Recently, I didn't want to play against Zergs. Playing macro PvZ is just too difficult for me. When I first faced Polt, I planned to 4gate, and it worked out well.
During the second set, you lost against Marauders.
The reason I think I was crushed was because I played too badly. My game sense during that game was also shaky. The map was bad, too, but I wasn't able to grasp the game concept.
Now that you've made it to the round of 8, you've secured a seed for next season's Code S.
I felt burdened when I was seeded into Code S this season, especially after watching Jaedong, who was also seeded, fall out of the GSL. Since I advanced like this, I will try my hardest to show good games.
You've made it to the quarterfinals in both the GSL and the OSL. As long as you get good results, you can get seeds into the next season for both.
I'll be playing against PartinG in the OSL. Since I get along with him well, it doesn't feel very good, but since things turned out like this, I want to make sure that I make it to the semifinals.
You'll be facing the second player to advance out of Group B. Whom do you want to play against?
I haven't thought about it too hard. I've been feeling that my skills have been inadequate recently, so it's strange that I've been winning these broadcasted matches. I went in today with a mindset that I would play for fun, too, so these results are quite puzzling for me. During practice, I took things slowly, but for broadcasted matches, I play very quickly. When I think about it, it's strange.
Do you feel an ambition to make it to the GSL finals?
During BW, I showed good results within my team and had lots of expectations placed upon me, so I wanted to perform that much better. But when I played, I didn't play as well as I thought I would. In SC2, I think I'm doing well because I'm playing with a casual mindset.
Fans are beginning to call you the top KeSPA player.
Because I lose a lot in practice and don't understand a lot of aspects of SC2, I don't think I'm worthy. I get a bit frustrated because I want to practice much more, but I have to devote time to playing in so many broadcasted matches. I had BW builds down pat, but I still feel inadequate in SC2. I'm not very good at fighting build order wars, so I don't feel confident no matter what I do.
Any last words?
I've been playing in a lot of tournaments, but I've only been showing good results in individual leagues, so I'm sorry. I have a lot of opportunities, so I will make an effort to advance through at least either the GSL or the OSL. I'm grateful to the fans who have cheered for me, and when we play soccer against KT tomorrow, I would like it if we won.
Liquid`TaeJa
Source: This Is Game
Please tell us how you feel about advancing to the round of 8 in second place.
I thought I would make it through first, so I'm slightly disappointed in myself, but it's a good thing I still did advance.
This is your third consecutive time making it into the Code S quarterfinals.
I think fortune has been on my side.
In today's first match, you lost to Rain 0:2.
I felt the wall-like force of Rain. I can see now why Byun-hyung lost four games to him.
What do you think was the decisive factor for your loss against Rain?
I ran out of steam after being constantly hit by harassment.
You were freshly introduced to Rain's Psionic Storm harrassment play. How was it?
E-Sports Federation [T/N: basically, non-KeSPA Koreans] Protosses primarily use storm harassment against Zerg players. I was caught off guard because I was hit with storms in TvP.
Did you have a hard time against DongRaeGu in the losers' match?
I was very worried. Luckily, I won the first set, so I was able to get good results.
On the other hand, you managed to win effortlessly against Polt in the final match.
Today, I was planning to advance along with Polt-hyung. It's unfortunate that things turned out like this. I thought people would cry, "Two Terrans got through, Terran OP!" if we had advanced together, but it's good that at least one of us made it through.
You've made it into the Code S quarterfinals three consecutive times, but you've always gotten knocked out from there.
This season, I have a good feeling. I think things will turn out well. Since I eventually advanced even after losing my first match, I feel very lucky. I predict that I'll show good results in the quarterfinals.
Whom do you think you will face in the quarterfinals?
I think I will face HerO or Leenock, whoever makes it through first.
But if you play against HerO, you will be facing a team kill.
Well, it can't be helped. It's not as if he can purposely try to make it out second to avoid a team kill.
Fans call you the top Terran player. How do you feel about this?
I feel great, of course. I feel like I'm being acknowledged by the fans. I do feel pressured, but I want to win this GSL and make that title mine.
What players would you consider to be stumbling blocks to a victory?
I would say, Rain. Even if we meet again, I think I'll lose. I would like it if he went up against a Protoss and got knocked out (laughs).
Any last words?
I am thankful to my parents, my aunt, and my older brother. Even while my brother was busy studying, he called me over the phone and told me, in this kind of situation, you have to play like this, and his advice was very helpful. I'm grateful to all of my fans, and I would like to thank my team's sponsors, Twitch.tv, The Little App Factory, and Razer.