[Interviews] 2014 GSL Season 2 Code S Ro16 Winners

SK Telecom T1 Classic



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time ever?

I’ve had a lot of greed for individual leagues all this time. I wanted to advance to at least the quarter-finals, so I am glad that I was able to make it. I’ve also found a lot of confidence because I advanced through by beating prominent players and going through team kills.

There were three teammates in the same group. Wasn’t it difficult to practice?

The team went to a workshop several days ago so we did not have that much time. So rather than increase practice time, I focused on image training as I watched VODs.

In game one of the winners’ match, you did a cannon rush four times. What happened?

If you do a cannon rush on the entrance for Frost, then Zergs find it very cumbersome. So I attempted it with the mindset that it would work no matter what. Even during practice, Zergs regularly found it difficult to handle. I was able to win today because my cannon rushes went better than I thought they would.

soO grabbed revenge in game two with a baneling all-in. What were you feeling then?

I was thinking of it. But I didn’t do my sim city well, and I easily gave up a game that I could have easily won so I started reminiscing of last season’s trauma.

Game three turned out to be an elimination race. Did you think that you could beat him?

Honestly, I had no idea that the game would play out like that. In order to not fall behind in momentum, I just decided to go for it. I think that’s how I won.

This is your first time advancing to the quarter-finals. What are your next goals?

Since I had never gone to the quarter-finals before, my first and foremost goal was the quarter-finals. I think an opportunity has arisen for me this time around. The championship is my goal.

Since this is your first ever quarter-finals, is there any pressure regarding bo5 matches?

This will be my first time facing this kind of format so there is pressure there. But there are a lot of players on my team who have won championships and have gone far in tournaments before so I plan to get advice from them.

You will face the second player to advance out from Group B. Who would you like to face?

I am always regularly confident when it comes to PvZ. Since I lost to Life in the Ro32, I want to face him. I intend to grab revenge.

You advanced out as first. But there are still two teammates remaining.

I think out of the two remaining, one will definitely make it through. Since one player is bound to be eliminated, I think I’m going to have to comfort him.

Anything else you would like to say?

This is my first time advancing to the quarter-finals. I will work hard so that I don’t miss this opportunity and even grab the championship. I hope the fans will cheer me on a lot.

SK Telecom T1 soO



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to the quarter-finals after taking down PartinG?

I don’t feel glad. I think I don’t feel that glad since I had to undergo a team kill and because I had to face PartinG again.

After getting hit a by cannon rush in the winners’ match, did you prepare a baneling all-in as a sign of retribution?

That is correct. But I didn’t prepare the baneling all-in in advance. Since I lost game one without being able to do anything, I just decided to attempt an all-in myself (laughs).

PartinG also attempted a cannon rush for game one of the final match. What were you feeling then?

I fell victim to it again without any choice. Even before today, I lost to Zest a lot because of cannon rushes. I think Protoss players feel that that is my weakness. I was really mad when I got hit by a cannon rush from PartinG as well. But I am relieved that I was able to win.

There were a lot of team kills today. But the matches were so fierce that it was hard to believe that they were between fellow teammates. What are you feeling right now?

When we were preparing for today’s matches, we told each other that we would congratulate the other player(s) regardless of who made it through. But now that the matches have ended, I think we all feel a little hurt right now.

Do Protoss players attempt cannon rushes a lot during practice as well?

That is correct. They do so many cannon rushes. There are so many scenarios where I haven’t actually blocked it even when I do block it.

For game three of the final match, you grabbed gas really quickly. How come?

Since I opened with a no spawning pool, double hatch build order in the previous game and played economically, I was feeling off-putting. Honestly, if it had been any other map, then I would have lost that game. During game two, when my lings saw his robotics facility, it felt like I was going to win today.

Any moments today where you had to overcome the most difficult obstacle?

Game two against PartinG was the most difficult. I thought that I wouldn’t be able to block PartinG’s immortal all-in.

Whenever you face PartinG, you always win through the GSL. Anything you would like to say to him?

Honestly, whenever I beat PartinG, I always feel really glad inside. But for today, I feel rather sorry than glad.

Jin Air Green Wings Maru



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to the quarter-finals?

I’m not really feeling it since all the games ended so quickly. I had no idea that they would end that quickly. It just happened whenever I went to attack (laughs).

You probably didn’t have a lot of time to practice because of all that recent Jin Air promotion. How did you prepare for practice?

I practiced mainly through ladder.

How come you went for so many early game strategies?

They were improvised decisions. I just wanted to do them. I wasn’t even trying anything specific for may match against Stork. I never saw his VODs. If I had gotten scouted, then I probably would have just given up right there.

It feels like the usage of hellbats has gone up since the patch. Did the patch influence you as well?

I don’t really like hellbats. So I think the patch is useless to me.

In game one against Dark, it looked like had the upper hand during the engagement but it got blocked in the end. Did that shake you up at all?

I almost had it won all the way, but I thought I had too good of advantage so I ended up losing. But it didn’t shake me up or anything like that.

You chose Alterzim Stronghold for game two and showed us a reaper play style. Was that also an improvised decision?

That is correct. I was debating between doing a macro build or a reaper build, but then I decided to do a reaper build since I felt that it would be the first time Dark would get hit by something like that. But I felt confident enough to have won with a macro game even after selecting Alterzim Stronghold.

Did you state that you wanted to face Zest because you have that much confidence in your TvP?

I don’t care if I face Zest. I just think it would be good for me to face Protoss. It’s the matchup that I have the most confidence in.

Was the GangNam Terran strategy you showed us on Habitation Station also an improvised decision? (GangNam Terran is a phrase used by Koreans whenever Terran players lift off their main CC and fly to the gold base)

That is correct. I don’t really like to do it but I really wanted to try it out today for some reason.

Last season, you were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Do you think you’ll be able to grab the championship for this season?

I need to see who my opponent is going to be first. I think I’ll be fine as long as it isn’t Soulkey. I don’t care if I do end up facing him but I am hoping that Soulkey will advance out as first from his group (laughs).

INnoVation is in Group D. Anything to say about the fact that he is the only remaining Terran alongside you?

I think he’s going to perform even better than I did.

Anything else you would like to say?

I am hoping that TRUE hyung will win no matter what and advance to the quarter-finals. I want to thank the Jin Air organization for all their hard work with the recent promotion that they did for us.

Jin Air Green Wings TRUE



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time ever?

Today was really difficult. When I first saw my group, I thought it was doable. But after I came back from my break, Terran became stronger, I kept losing during practice, and I wasn’t in a good condition. I even came to the studio today after losing all my games this morning. So I feel good that I was still able to win midst all this.

Was there any pressure in your mind after losing 0-2 to Stork in the first game?

When I arrived at the studio with Maru, I told him “let’s just end this quickly and go home.” I suggested that if one player makes it to the winners’ match, then the other should lose and head to the losers’ match so that we can avoid a team kill and just end this quickly. But I felt uneasy because that’s really what ended up happening. But I think my games went well. Thing started going well for me all of a sudden once I started playing Dark.

You took a 2-0 victory in your match against Dark. How come?

Because this was the losers’ match, I think that’s why Dark decided to really play it safe. Thanks to that, I think I was able to win because I had guts.

You forced out a rematch against Stork for the final match. Were you confident for this one?

Originally, I was feeling confident. I had even beaten him before for Proleague. But I lost to him 0-2 in the first match and fell to the losers’ match, and I even started off the final match with a loss in game one so I thought I was going to get eliminated, but something went well towards the end. I think I was able to establish a good results because the supervisor mind controlled me well.

Looking at your performance for the final match, it was not a clean one. What do you think?

Even I see it that way. I feel like this always happens when I play. I really want to win through clean plays.

For game three in the final match, you built up a lot of economy and then went for mutas. What was that like?

I made that decision once I saw what Stork’s composition was like. The situation was really neck and neck towards the end, but I figured that mutas would be the best choice since Stork didn’t open up with a stargate build so he had no phoenixes. I’m sure brood lords also wouldn’t have been a bad choice but I was worried about a timing window for Stork so I went with a safe decision.

This season’s goals?

The original goal was the championship but I think I’m doing really badly these days. So for now, I’m going to prepare carefully so that I can advance to the semi-finals and onwards.

This will be your first time playing in a bo5 format. Are you confident?

It will be my first time but I think I’ll be able to do well.

You will face the player who advances out of Group D as first. If possible, who would you like to face?

I think ZvZ will be comfortable. I’m also okay with ZvT. In my opinion, I think INnoVation will probably advance out as first. Terran has gotten stronger all of a sudden these days so I think he’s going to establish good results.

Anything else you would like to say?

I am so relieved that I didn’t have to go through a team kill today. It was really difficult to practice so I am relieved that I was able to advance like this. I want to thank the supervisor and the coach for always working so hard for the team. Lastly, I want to thank Hydra hyung, Rogue, Pigbaby, and Cure for helping me with practice.

Samsung Galaxy KHAN Solar



Source: inven eSports

Your first time advancing to the quarter-finals of Code S. How do you feel?

Before my Ro16 matches even began, a lot of people were expecting Rain and Life to make it through. Because of that my pride got hurt, so I am glad that I was able to advance through as first from my group like this.

The casters complimented on your performance.

I didn’t like how I performed for my match against Rain. I was capable of blocking his attack but I wasn’t able to respond properly. I don’t know, maybe because it was a televised match or something like that. But my winners’ match against ParalyzE was a clean victory because things played out the way I wanted them to.

The casters even said that you were a contender for the championship as long as you keep on performing like you did for today and refine your performances here and there.

I think I really lack in meticulous, nitpicky plays. I will show refined forms for both the quarter-finals and the semi-finals, and then I will try to aim for the championship.

You won all your games on Alterzim Stronghold even though that is a preferred map for Protoss.

It is a very large map. It’s a map where I can do my play styles that I like. Protosses always seem to pick this map right after they lose. But for me, I’m actually thankful when they do that. Other Zergs don’t like it but I like Alterzim Stronghold.

You played against ParalyzE in the winners’ match. Weren’t you probably expecting to play a ZvZ vs Life instead?

I prepared very extensively for the winners’ match since Life is so good at ZvZ. But personally, I liked it when Life ended up failing to make it through his first match. But I didn’t feel good about it since I’m close with Life and I had to watch him fall to the losers’ match.

You secured your personal best Code S record during your second Code S run. What’s different about this season compared to last season?

I think I really didn’t practice enough compared to other players for last season. But for this season, other than meal breaks and bathroom breaks, I did nothing but practice. I think I have been able to secure good results thanks to that.

Your form for Proleague and individual league is very different.

I think I’m weak at single set format for Proleague. I really want to do well for single set formats also though. I have to be good at all-ins, and I have to be good at responding to all-ins as well, but I am lacking in those areas. I want to do well for Proleague by showing my individual league form whenever I play. I want to make sure that our team secures a great record for Round 4.

You will face soO for the quarter-finals. What do you think ?

I think soO is a really excellent player. I think he is the best Zerg player currently. But this is a chance for me. I have a lot to gain if I can take down soO and advance to the semis. And because this will be a bo5, I am fully confident.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank PenguiN and Hurricane for helping me with practice. I want to thank the coaches for coming to the studio with me today. And to Life, who is currently playing in the losers’ match, I hope he will advance out as second from our group and make it to the quarter-finals no matter what.

SK Telecom T1 ParalyzE



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to the quarter-finals of Code S for the first time?

I feel good but it’s a weird kind of good. I like that I didn’t have to go through any team kills but since Rain got eliminated, I didn’t like it. It’s not like I was the one who eliminated him or anything but It’s disappointing since we weren’t able to advance through together.

You took down Life twice. You played a total of five sets against him. Any set you particularly remember?

Game two of the final match on King Sejong Station was such a bland finish. I worked real hard to block his attack but I ended up losing anyways (laughs). I would say that game three of the final match on Overgrowth was difficult. My expansion nexus got destroyed so I wasn’t able to control the pace thanks to that. Even though I had all the intel regarding his Zergling movements, I wasn’t able to upgrade my warp gates in time so I lost my nexus. I realized that I could very well lose this.

How come you were able to win game three in the end?

After I lost my nexus, I thought that I was in a disadvantage, but after scouting Life with my hallucinated unit, I saw that his tech was really late. So that’s when I started thinking that I still had a shot if I could just harass with my void rays as I tried to expand again. I felt that he wouldn’t have that many drones since he spawned so many zerglings. But I also made mistakes too. I made too many probes during all this and I wasn’t able to properly mine gas. Because of that, this game was not an easy one.

You took on a complete loss against Solar in the winners’ match.

I wasn’t impacted by the fact that I lost to Solar. The only thing I was upset about was the fact that it would become impossible for both SKT players to make it through if I lost the winners’ match. I really wanted to win the winners’ match no matter what so that was disappointing. When I think back on my performance for that match, I see that my build order decisions were not good overall. But the loss wasn’t so bad to the point where I felt like I had hit a wall.

You will face teammate Classic for the quarter-finals.

Orginally, soO told me to come face him in the quarter-finals after I advanced out as first from my group (laughs). But I ended up having to face Classic hyung. I’m going to see this as a good thing. After all, it’s an SKT player in the semis regardless of who wins, right? But still, I want to be the one to advance. Mainly because I think that I should come out as first for now.

Are you confident that you can win against Classic?

At this point, we both much know each other well enough that it’s pretty much 50/50. Whenever he has a PvP matchup for Proleague, he practices for it by playing me. So I think I’m going to have to do separate thing for Proleauge practice and individual league practice. But for this match, rather than care about who knows the other better, it’s going to be an important battle of mindsets and build orders. So that’s it’s difficult to predict exactly who’s going to win and who’s going to lose.

What is so different with this season compared to your Ro32 elimination from last season?

During last season, I really didn’t play well. I was lacking in skill. I was especially weak in PvZ. My PvT is still similar right now, and my PvP has gotten better lately. I’ve been learning a lot about PvP from Rain. These days, my PvZ has gotten a lot stronger. Since I room with Soulkey hyung and soO, my understanding of the PvZ matchup has gotten a lot higher. Soulkey hyung advised me to do a good job when it comes to expanding, and that became a huge help.

Anything else you would like to say?

I will work hard and prepare well for the next match as well (laughs).

KT Rolster Zest



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to the quarter-finals?

Since the first map of the final match was going to be Merry Go Round, I came with the intention of grabbing two straight victories. The amount of weight I put on for the winners’ match was as heavy as the weight I put on the very first match. Things went well once I grabbed the first match.

After losing to Rain in Proleague, your performance took on a sudden decline. Were you feeling haunted by the loss?

I even lost confidence during practice. I was at a risk of performing worse and worse, but I was able to take my losses and motivate myself to work even harder and so I was able to find confidence through that. My style became too passive after I won the championship. I think that issue was why I kept losing. Even if it wasn’t a build order problem, my movements were still too passive. Thanks to that, it was easier for my opponents to take me on so the problem was quite severe. But now that I know what the issue was I think I’m going to be able to do well again from here on out.

Did you think your group was going to be difficult since you were put in the same group as Soulkey and INnoVation?

Even though last season’s group was also incredibly difficult, the thought that this group was also going to be difficult did cross my mind. But the thing is, I was able to get through the group of death for last season anyways. The way I saw it, my chances of winning the championship get higher if I can get through the group of death. I wasn’t feeling good for about five minutes after I saw my group, but then afterwards all I could think about was winning.

In your match against INnoVation, you spread your observers widely across the map so you could keep tabs on his movements. How come?

I saw INnoVation’s shoutcraft match against herO this morning. It felt like he liked to do cheese rushes a lot. I made sure I had vision of him at all times so that I could block his attacks whenever he came. The end result was that the shoutcraft match helped me out. I even stated that “I can win against INnoVation since I saw his match this morning” during the interview because I wanted a battle of wits to occur for him. Since I won, I think it worked (laughs).

In your match against Soulkey, you lost game two rather easily because Soulkey exposed your weak points. Did that loss affect your mindset?

Since I had the choice for the third map, I thought to myself that I would win no matter even if we went to a game three. Honestly, even though Soulkey hyung is heavily known for not being an all-in player, he still likes to do it from time to time so I didn’t eliminate the possibility. But I didn’t think of the possibility of an all-in for game two so I fell victim to it.

You will face TRUE for the quarter-finals. Are you confident?

Last season, I had to face sOs, whom I was close with, in the quarter-finals. This season, it’s no different since I’m also close with TRUE. So I want to let him know in advance how sorry I am (laughs).

For the quarter-finals and semi-finals, you will only face Zergs. What do you think about this?

I’m not complaining or anything but even Solar himself said that Zerg is a good race right now. If it’s to the point where he would say that he likes his own race, then that means it really is that good. Because of that, it’s not necessarily a good feeling for me, but since I have to face all these Zergs, I might as well prepare my build orders extensively and win it.

From the quarter-finals and onwards, it will be an uphill climb. Is this season’s goal also the championship?

That is correct. My goal for this season is also obviously the championship. I don’t think anyone else wield the championship weapon like I do. I will use whatever time I have left to prepare build order for PvZ so that I can win the championship.

Anything else you would like to say?

I am grateful to the fans for always coming to watch the games even though the weather is so hot right now. Even though I am on a losing streak right now for Proleague, I am feeling confident enough to start doing well again so I hope people will keep on tuning in.

SK Telecom T1 Soulkey



Source: inven eSports

How do you feel about advancing to the quarter-finals after such a close call?

All my matches were difficult overall, but my match against INnoVation was so difficult. But since the victory was so difficult, I am even happier.

Why do you think you lost against Zest?

My decisions were not good. I did too poorly. It was disappointing, and if we face each other again, then I want to make sure that I win next time.

There was no one in this group who had a clear advantage over all the others. So how did you play your matches?

I was aiming to advance out as first. But I disappointingly advanced out as second. I was told that all my opponents were predators, but practice went so well that I didn’t think so.

You showed us all-ins today from time to time. How come?

I didn’t have enough time to practice, so I prepared some all-in builds. I prepared them since I thought it’d be good to do them every now and then. But in all honesty, I feel that it only worked against Zest because he didn’t consider the possibility, so it’s not really something to be proud of.

Your last match against INnoVation was a fiercely aggressive one. What was the situation like?

I had never gotten hit like that before during practice so it was a really dangerous situation. I had no other thought in my mind except that I had to block it. I think I ended up blocking it well.

You will face Maru next. It would seem like you clearly the upper hand. How do you feel?

In all honesty, ZvT has gotten more difficult. It won’t be easy but I’m going to work hard so that I can find a way out specifically for me. I am leading by a lot but I think it’s going to be difficult this time around.

Aside from maru, your side of the bracket consists of Classic, ParalyzE, and yourself, so it looks like the chances of a T1 player advancing to the finals is very high. What do you think about this?

It didn’t matter if I advanced out of my group as first or second. The chances of a team kill occurring in the semis were really high no matter what. A team kill is going to occur regardless of where I go but if I do make it to the finals, then I want to avoid a ZvZ matchup. That’s why I tried to advance out of my group as first so that I could avoid the possibility of a ZvZ finals but I wasn’t able to so it was disappointing.

You finally ended your losing streak against Shine. Anything to say about that?

I’m not really all that glad about it. I was feeling confident from the very start. But overall, my movements were very passive today. Our history really did influence me, but there won’t be anything like that from here on out. But seriously, for game one especially, I was passive in every aspect.

This season’s goals?

The goal is the championship. But I’m still lacking in ZvP so it’s going to be difficult unless I can overcome that. I need to be able to overcome my ZvP weakness.

Anything else you would like to say?

I am glad that I was able to secure my seed for next season with my quarter-finals placement. I will work hard so that I can show a good form for ZvT and I will work hard for all the remaining Proleague matches.