[Interviews] Code A Season 1: Week 2 Winners

IM_Squirtle



Source: inven eSports

Tell us how you feel about returning back to Code S after two seasons.

I’ve been practicing really hard recently, so I am proud of myself because it feels like the results of that are finally showing. But overall, I was not satisfied with my performance today. But I still beat everyone and advanced as first from my group so I am glad.

What did you not like about your performance today?

I was lacking in areas like micro during battles and staying on top of my warp prisms. Overall, I was able to draw the big picture, but I wasn’t very attentive.

How do you feel these days?

Our team’s Protoss players don’t necessarily have the best results but the atmosphere is good during practice, and we help each other out a lot. These days, practices are enjoyable. Our team’s current atmosphere is very good right now, and we feel good too. I want to grab the championship for this individual league, and I hope that we advance to the playoffs for this first round of Proleague.

You grabbed a 2-0 victory in the winners’ match vs Life. It looks like you won easier than expected.

I did win easier than expected. I had an advantageous start for both games. I predicted that I would be at a good spot if I defended after a little pressure since I knew that Life was a player who liked to play with a lot of zerglings.

You started off with a loss in your match against sKyHigh.

After seeing sKyHigh’s unit movements, I felt that he was in an excellent condition. But even though I lost game one, I felt that I would still be able to win as long as I didn’t make any mistakes.

Life decided not to play on Daedalus Point against you.

Honestly I am thankful, but I don’t know why he didn’t choose it. I think Daedalus Point is an excellent map for Zergs to face Protosses on. I have a problem with the fact that I have to keep playing on that map, but I am still practicing on it. So I think that maybe he just didn’t practice enough on it, or he was afraid of a Protoss all-in on that map so he decided not to choose it.

You stated that you were not happy with your overall results for last year’s WCS series. So how do you feel about this year’s first Code S?

I am going to do my very best. There are no individual leagues in Korea besides the GSL so I plan to prepare extensively.

You have a lot of experience overseas. So isn’t it a shame that you have to participate only in the Korean region?

I feel like I would be able to win an overseas tournament at least once as long as I keep on travelling here and there. But your skills can also end up diminishing if you only focus on overseas tournaments. So I think right now is the time to raise my skills first. I will aim for overseas tournaments after I do well in Korea.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank my teammates for helping me with practice. I want to thank the supervisor for cheering me on, and I want to thank our sponsor, Joonsystem.

StarTale_Life



Source: inven eSports

You’ve returned to Code S after two seasons.

It feels like it’s been six months since I was last in Code S. I had a feeling that I was going to lose in the final match because I did so terribly in the winners’ match. But I think I was able to win because I got lucky with the map pick for game one of the final match.

It looked like you weren’t using Daedalus Point against Protoss players today.

Honestly, had I chosen that map then I would have had the confidence not to lose on it. But because I didn’t want to face an unorthodox strategy and because I didn’t want to advance through because of a map advantage, I decided not to choose it. Since my skills are not the best right now, I want to advance through purely on my skills alone, and not because of map advantages.

For a while now, you’ve had no matches to play in.

Honestly, I got really nervous. I kept throwing units away and my unit control was off. I really thought that I was going to get eliminated. I will work hard so that I don’t get nervous from now on and because I want to show a better form.

All StarTale players so far have advanced into Code S.

There really is no secret behind there. I just think everyone is advancing through because Code A is easy. I see all my teammates as Code S caliber right now.

As of late, you’ve been focusing on nothing but the GSL. What about overseas tournaments?

These days there really aren’t a lot of tournaments to play in so I am starting to get bored and lazy. But the fact that I can still work hard to prepare for at least one tournament is an excellent thing. Regarding overseas tournaments, there was an announcement that I would be attending the upcoming ASUS ROG tournament, but nothing’s for certain yet. There are some financial troubles right now with our sponsors so I really can’t say for sure right now.

It’s been a while since you’ve been to Code S. Is it safe to assume that your old form will be coming back?

I guess people will see this as me QQing but PvZ is so difficult right now (laughs). I think it’s going to be difficult for me to go far as long as I have yet to figure out this matchup. I have confidence for ZvTs but it’s a shame because there aren’t a lot of Terrans available right now.

Why is ZvP so hard?

It’s difficult because I like to play an aggressive style. Every Protoss player I face knows how to defend well. I also don’t really know how to use swarm hosts. Not to mention that the number of maps where using swarm hosts is viable is limited. I’m stuck on playing straight up macro games against Protoss players right now so there is some difficulty there.

What are your goals for this season’s Code S?

Of course it’s going to be the championship. But I have to think things realistically. So I’m just going to try to get as far as I can. If I do well then I can win the whole thing but if I end up getting eliminated during the process then so be it.

Anything else you would like to say?

I am glad that I was able to advance through today along with Squirtle hyung. Both the supervisor and the coach quit recently so I hope things go well for them from here on out. Also, to our interim supervisor, Won Jong Wook, I want to let him know that I hope he keeps his strength up. I am also really grateful to our sponsors. Lastly, I want to thank Legend hyung for coming to the studio with me today.

KT Rolster Zest



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to Code S?

It’s something that I’ve wanted since three seasons ago, so I am really glad that I was now finally able to grab a chance to see the light.

Was there any pressure by the fact that you were facing a name like “Stork” in the winners’ match?

I thought that we were pretty similar skill-wise, and also, mirror matches are 50/50. I think I was able to win because I didn’t let my guard down.

Match one was against INnoVation. How did you prepare?

As everyone should know, our team’s Terran lineup is extremely strong. I also figured that I would win because it feels like INnoVation’s form has diminished somewhat since from some time ago.

This season’s goals?

I really like the GomEXP studio. I think it is the best gaming arena out of all the arenas I’ve been to. So I think I’m going to be able to make it all the way to the finals. Although there is one thing that gets on my mind, and that is the fact that Daedalus Point is such a bad map for Protosses. I read Life’s interview earlier today and I saw that he himself admitted this too. So I want to applaud him for that (laughs).

This will be your first time participating in a major tournament since your debut three years ago. Therefore, this must mean for you than for others.

I’ve been feeling confident in my skills ever since last year so I really thought a lot about how I want to win a championship. When former teammate RorO hyung (Zest and RorO were previously on WeMade FOX together) won a championship I was really envious. But now this is my start, so I hope people will keep track of me.

CJ Entus herO



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to Code S after fighting till the very last game?

I am glad that I was able to make a good result since today’s matches were so difficult. Since Code S is a stage that I’ve been craving to stand on for so long, I will practice a lot and show a great performance.

You lost the first match against Stork. How were you feeling then?

Even though I lost to Stork, I didn’t get flustered all that much and I felt confident that I would win. So I didn’t really worry much.

So there was no pressure going up against Stork?

Not really. I think it’s because I’ve faced him before for Proleague as well.

Was there any pressure regarding the losers’ match against INnoVation?

I don’t think INnoVation hyung was in his best condition today. So I was confident.

Since you had Proleague yesterday, how did you practice for today’s matches?

I caught a cold recently so I focused on resting, and then I decided to approach today’s matches by sticking to the basics.

This season’s goals?

It’s the championship. No matter what, I want the championship. I am confident.

Anything else you would like to say?

Proleague round one is over, but I am sorry to the fans for not being able to establish good results. Our team will work hard to recharge and unite together so that we can put on a good form for the next round. I am glad that I was able to advance into Code S, a tournament that I’ve been always wanted to be a part of, and lastly, I will do my very best to make sure that I can really win this time, rather than just say that I will.

KT Rolster Stats



Source: inven eSports

Click on the spoiler to read Stats' swag interview:
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How do you feel about advancing to Code S after winning today’s matches?

Even though this is my first time being in Code S, my gaming career has been going on for a while now, so it is a little embarrassing that it has taken me this long to get here. I will make up for this by putting on a good performance.

You stated that you were not in a good condition. How bad was it?

After suffering all day yesterday because I was sick with a cold and chills, I went to sleep after taking some medicine. I figured I would be fine for today, but my head started hurting as soon as I woke up. I thought that this would affect my game today but I am relieved that things went well.

If you had to evaluate today’s matches?

I was able to win the first match because things went as I expected them to, and game two was a narrow escape. The carrier build was an improvised one, so there was no guarantee that I would win. I just played to my very best as my hands would allow. I didn’t even plan to take that hidden expansion for that last game, but it just came out because I played as my hands would allow. I actually think that my performance was better because I played with improvisations.

Did you decide to go for carriers after you scouted your opponent?

If I had lost game one after I decided to use carriers, then I probably would not have used them for game three, but the power of carriers was incredible. I told myself that I would have to use it again if I saw my opponent go mech again. I think I was game three went really well because I was well off economically and because I responded well.

Do you think the answer to mech is carriers?

In my opinion, I think mech is very strong against Protosses. If Terrans go for only ground units, then Protoss can’t win in a battle. That’s why I thought that perhaps SuperNova would go for mech. Even my Terran teammates don’t really like to mech. I do meet Terran players who go mech every now and then on ladder, but whenever I do, it’s like there’s no answer unless you go carriers. For a moment I considered just going for tons of immortals, but I thought of carriers so I decided to go for it.

Your results for Proleague are not that great. However, how do you feel about how much TY is shining right now?

It’s disappointing personally for myself. I want to do well, but there are too many games where things just don’t go the way I want them to. Since round one is over, I think I’ll be fine as long as I do well for rounds two and three and stand next to Flash.

Your first time advancing to Code S. What are your goals for this season?

Honestly, as long as I can maintain the feel that I got for today’s matches for Code S, then I think things will go well. While playing this game, I think that the kind of scenario that came out today was the first time ever for me. I actually think that maybe my style of playing revolves around me playing as my hands allow me to.
I will approach my Code S matches with the thought that I will make it to the Ro16 group selections no matter what. Lastly, I want to thank coach Kang Doh Gyung for suffering along with me.

AZUBU SuperNova



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to Code S?

I think it was difficult to get here. I felt that this was anything but easy. I think I’m going to have to work harder.

You faced CoCa twice. How were the games?

I had several more strategies prepared beforehand, but it seemed like CoCa didn’t know how to handle a strategy where I transition to banshees after opening with hellions, so I decided to just stick with it. I felt that I would win if I played that way, and then it ended up coming true.

Why did you decide to mech for most of today’s matches?

A lot of times, I feel the difficulty of playing standard. Against Zergs or Protosses, it is very tiring to play the MMM composition. My win percentage for mech came out okay for practices, so I ended up using mech a lot.

In your match against Stats, carriers controlled the games. What was the situation like?

I didn’t really care much at all even after I saw that Stats was going for carriers. From what I could remember, carriers are very weak units. But then as it turned out, they were incredible units against mech. I now know the existence of the wall that is carriers, and I now realize that I have to hone and refine my mech skills. I had never experienced such a situation during practice before so I got flustered a lot.

So mech is viable against Protoss?

I think it’s just too easy for Protoss players nowadays to handle the MMM composition. And It’s not like mech is a definitive winning strategy. But it’s nice to mix it in every now and then. The air and ground upgrades being upgraded together is definitely and advantage, but Terrans need even more of an advantage than that.

So the same goes for mech vs Zerg?

I think mech has now grasped the front seat. And I also think that mech is a little better than bio.

You have yet to stand out in Code S. This season’s goals?

Personsally, I think this season will be the most difficult. But I have been working hard all this time, and that will transfer into my results. It’s all going to depend on how I do.

Aside from Maru, there are only two Terran players who qualified through Code A. So you’ll be standing out?

In this current situation, I’ll only stand out if I can take down all the Protoss players. But for right now, that is going to be very difficult to do. I think I need to play more. It’s true that it’s difficult. I am confident for TvTs and TvZs, but the key will rely on TvPs. I want to try out several things. I know for sure that things won’t go well if I just try to stick to what I’ve always been doing.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank everyone who cheered me on, and I will repay that favor with good results from now on.