Source: This Is Game
Tell us how you feel about making it back to the Ro16 after seven seasons.
I am so relieved because I was able to make the Ro16 for the final WoL season. Since this is my first Ro16 in a while, I'm going to work really hard so that I can place real high.
Were you not feeling pressured after you saw who was in your group?
While it's true that Sniper is a champion and a good player, Zergs are all difficult. So I didn't really put too much focus into the matches I had to play but the match against GuMiho was definitely burdensome since we have a history.
You stated that your match against GuMiho was burdensome. But how did you prepare?
I studied my past VODs where I lost to GuMiho and I realized that I followed a kind of pattern during my losses. So I focused on that part and revised it.
Was the reason why you were able to win against Sniper because you have so many good Zergs on your team?
Personally, I view every other Zerg player as exactly the same if they're not Life. Which is why when the time comes for practice, I avoid playing against Life. He plays such a different style that it actually has a negative effect.
Did you prepare for TvPs since HuK was in your group?
I didn't really prepare for TvP. I don't normally practice for TvP anyways so I didn't think there was going to be an issue there.
There are a lot of meanings behind this season. What are your goals for this season?
As of right now, I'm still not good enough to aim for the championship. So right now I'm looking at the Ro8 and beyond. Next season will be HotS so if I can remain in Code S at the start of next season then I think I'll be in a really good position.
You have group nominations ahead of you. Any specific player or race you want to pick?
I don't really care about picking specific players, I just want a majority of Protoss opponents. And then I'll go for Terran, and then go for Zerg. Although, I'm pretty sure a Zerg player will pick me to be in his group regardless of what I say, so if that happens, then I'll retaliate by picking a really good Protoss player for him.
You didn't play on any of the new maps today but you must have played on them. What are your evaluations on the new maps?
I think it's too early to discuss balance for those maps. I think they're all playable overall but Akilon Flats is rather large. I think that's a map that will be easy for Zergs to win on. Other than that, I think they're doable.
Anything else you would like to say?
Originally, the coach was supposed to come today but the head coach came instead because of my request. I want to thank him for coming with me. I want to thank my teammates for helping me with practice and thank our sponsors Red Bull, ZOWIE Gear, and Joy Gear. Lastly, I want to wish the director of Red Bull a congratulations since he is getting married next week.
FXOGuMiho
Source: This Is Game
It has been a year since you last busted through the Ro32 wall. How do you feel?
Some time ago, I realized that the Ro16 had become a tall wall. I am so happy since I was able to get through. It was so bad that I almost developed kind of a Ro32 trauma.
How did you prepare for your matches after seeing your group?
Even though I've beaten Bomber plenty of times in the past, I still feel pressured whenever I go up against him. Rather than focus on analysis, I focused on sticking to the basics for today's matches.
You were the player who gave Bomber two straight losses recently but today Bomber forced you to take two straight losses.
I created a really advantageous situation for myself in game one and I still ended up losing. For game two, I think I just lost cause I wasn't focusing. I even knew what his army composition was and yet I still just couldn't pull it off.
Were you intentionally trying to win against HuK in the losers' round by constantly putting on pressure?
For game one, it was just a light aggression. I was able to win because I dealt more damage than I thought I would. For game two, I decided to take the victory because I was expecting a double nexus build. If it turned out not be a double nexus build, then I was just going to back off after putting on a little pressure. I think luck followed me well.
It seemed apparent that you felt pressured during your final match against Sniper.
The Ro32 stage scared me. That was the main reason why I was feeling pressured, it wasn't because my opponent was Sniper.
You have group nominations ahead of you. Any specific player or race you want to face?
I want to go into a group where all three races are involved. That way, I think I'll be able to put on a great performance regardless of who I meet in the quarter finals. A group like today's would be really good.
How do you feel about the new maps?
Honestly, I didn't really get to dissect the new maps yet. I normally dissect them really well but then I realized that I actually forget the basics from time to time when I do that. So I put all my focus on maintaining the basics and didn't focus on dissecting the maps.
You're going to have to understand the new maps eventually because of your upcoming matches.
I won't know for sure until I play on them but I think that Akilon Flats and Neo Planet S don't really have anything special to them. However, I think Icarus has potential for a lot of strategies so I think I'm going to have to practice a lot on that map.
This season's goals?
Around this time last year I was able to get to the semi finals, and then I wasn't able to break the Ro32 wall for a long time. I want to use this season to show everyone everything that I can do for WoL.
Anything else you would like to say?
I want to thank Son Joon Young and Kim Ji Hwang for bringing me my bag. I want to thank my parents and our sponsors RAZER, Twitch.tv, and FXO. Lastly, I want to say to my fans "Thank you for watching my stream!" (NOTE: TIG actually wrote this part in English, which means GuMiho is thanking his foreign fans )