Cure gave an interview to Hajin after qualifying for GSL Ro8 and she allowed me to post it on TL.net so people can read it!
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Hajin: Nice to see you Cure, it has been a while!
Cure: Hello!
Congratulations on qualifying for the Ro8!
Thank you!
When I saw the group nomination, I really wondered who would advance to the next round because TY is a strong player, so are Solar and Stats who have been performing well lately. But you won 2-0, 2-0 to top your group and qualify to the next round! What were your first thoughts after the group nomination?
Any player would prefer an easy group but it’s not like I had the first seed to compose my group. So even if my group wasn’t the easiest one, I thought it was still winnable if I’d prepare well.
“Winnable”!? Your performance was amazing in the Ro16, we could see you prepared well your matches. In your first match against Stats, you did some successful early harass with the widow mines then proxy barracks on the second map. Oh btw, did you see the games today? (The interview was conducted on the 13th, the day of Group C matches, ed.note) Bunny did the same build you used against Stats. Is it a good build in TvP right now?
I think it’s a good one if you don’t get cheesed in the beginning; well I THOUGHT it was good. I thought in an even game like Bunny Trap earlier today, it was better for Terran, but when Bunny was harassing with his mine drops, he was too passive, hesitant. He wasn’t able to do enough damage and even in that case, he should have tried to optimize his build to get an economic advantage, but it wasn’t the case. The situation was ambiguous.
You think he was too hesitant… Does it mean you have to be bold and reckless when you play that build?
I think your movement matters a lot. Even if your opponent is ready and expects you there, I believe that you can still do damage [with that build]. Even if you lose your medivac your mines can still borrow and make your opponents pull out his probes or kill some of them. That’s why I think it’s good. But I felt sad watching today’s games.
Is there something like a number of probes you have to kill with a mine to make it worth?
I think if you kill 5 it’s 50/50.
That many?
Okay, 5 is just a bit good and more, even better!
Haha I see. So after 2-0ing Stats, you also beat TY but with other strategies this time! Actually, on the first map, you were pretty behind but you were able to come back. What was going through your head during that game?
First, I’ve slept literally not even 5 minutes the night before. I ate 2 burgers in the night with apple pie and stuff. I couldn’t digest and was feeling bloated. That’s why I haven’t slept at all and you know, people say taking care of you is also part of your skills so I went to the venue on match day telling myself, man, I’m screwed. But surprisingly I was rather focused in my first match against Stats and it was really a relieve. But then against TY I lost many workers to Hellions and Ravens at the beginning and during the game, I told to myself, what the hell am I doing?! But I knew I had the leading build and if I tried to catch up, I could eventually win, especially on this map (Eternal Empire). I practiced a lot against Maru and I was confident in my late game. That’s why I tried my best to slow down and take the game to the late phase despite the early damage that hurt me.
It’s impressive to be able to keep your calm and play like this! Weren’t you nervous?
I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t slept at all, but I didn’t feel any pressure or stress like usual.
Did that help you to play better?
I think it did because I’m usually very nervous!
It’s true that you tend to perform better online than offline, I hope you won’t be that nervous on the next round as well. So after this close match vs TY, you did a proxy build again. I always wondered: how do you decide when to cheese? Does it depend on the map, on the opponent? How do you prepare and decide.
I spent much time reflecting on what to do. On Nightshade, it’s rare to see a double proxy barracks. So I did a triple proxy barracks knowing that it was actually a losing build. But, iirc TY chose the first map and I feel thankful for that. My plan was to double proxy barracks the first game after completely walling the entrance and then do a triple proxy on the second map. Everything went well from the match against Stats to the second one against TY.
It’s also the price you get for preparing well your matches, I guess! You mentioned Maru earlier, did you practice a lot with him? How did you prepare for today?
Maru always helps me. He is excellent at analyzing players: which build they play, which game style. When we saw the groups, we both agreed on practicing together. For example, for the triple proxy barracks reaper build, he taught me a lot! Somewhat basic things like when you triple proxy, build your barracks closer, it’s better to go in the natural first because of the opponents’ placement, etc. He was sure of a great help!
What a great mate! Now you joined DPG but you seem to have kept a good relationship with JAG players. How are things now?
JAG players all practice hard and are good players so I keep practicing with them to learn from them. I pay them a visit like once or twice a month because I might get bored if I visit too often (*laugh*). We drink together whenever I go there, we have some great time.
They must feel like family to you!
Sometimes I think it’s even better like this than before when we were in the same team. It’s better to see them just from time to time.
That sounds like the definition of family! It’s great to see them from time to time but when you are with them too often, you keep fighting each other ^^
I think it’s accurate indeed!
Let’s now talk balance. Have you read the patch?
I just heard Terran will get slightly buffed but it’s not sure yet so I haven’t looked into the details.
When I talk with other players, we know you are all balance whiners but right now, it almost sounds like a fact that Terrans are OP! Protoss is weak, Zergs are getting nerfed, what to do? Any comment on that?
Listen…
Please be honest and talk with your conscience! Haha
Every time I hear something like that I can’t help myself but frown and feel uncomfortable because when Terrans were weak, Maru was the only one to perform and now that they [other races] slightly fall behind, they start to whine but seriously, when Terran players win, it’s never in a standard way, they have to prepare well beforehand. I think when Terrans win it’s thanks to their effort. In the PvT matchup I think if both players go for a conventional game style, the Protoss wins for sure. They can just spam triple blink and win. That’s why I thought I had to change my style, to make it more unconventional. I think Protoss can win by playing like Parting, they lose because they always do the same thing!
So you mean, Protoss players have to make more effort and invent new builds?
Yeah, now they whine because they lose a little bit…I hope they will make some effort!
Gotcha, I will let them know next time I interview a Protoss player (*laugh*)
I really think I won today because I made a lot of effort.
Of course! You were able to achieve these results because you prepared and worked hard for today. We talked about PvT and well, your next opponent is Dear! I checked your head-to-head record and you are behind as 6-14 on LoTV. When you play against someone, are you aware of these kinds of stats?
I used to but lately I don’t because I think that I changed from the old me and the way I prepare my games became more brain work based on unconventional builds. Before I based my practice mostly on the ladder game play. That’s how they practice at the JAG gaming house and I guess I got influenced by it. I was convinced that playing like on the ladder based on the basic skills was enough but I kept losing and recently I changed the way of playing so even if I’m losing in the head-to-head record, I don’t think I will lose because of that.
As you showed a good performance in this round against Stats, I also expect something greater against Dear! We have one group left now, the group of Death: what kind of results do you expect?
I really don’t know… I think INno and Maru are too strong. But Ragnarok is also pretty good. He has enough skills and even if Zest loses a lot to INno in online matches, in offline and important matches, Zest steps up so I don’t know what’s going to happen! I’m so curious that I won’t miss their games.
I wish I could attend the matches but damn COVID… Now that I’m thinking, it feels like it’s the first time I’m having such a long interview with you. I think many foreign fans don’t know you well personally either, so I prepared a few questions to get to to know you better! First, why is your ID Cure?
It’s really basic. I actually changed my real name and I made my ID before that, maybe around 20 or even before. My real name was Seong-Su KIM. Seong-Su can mean curing so it just comes from that.
Oh wow I didn’t know you changed your name!
Yeah, I get that a lot, that my current name (Doh-wook) fits me better! People don’t know that I renamed.
I see. Seong-Su, Cure… okay now, why Terran?
I used to love StarCraft 1 and I was a huge fan of NaDa. But at that time, I was better as Protoss, you know when you are a kid and start on the game. But because my favorite player was Terran, I couldn’t give up. That’s why I kept practicing as Terran and that’s how I came until here.
How would you describe your game style?
I used to like solid game style, but now it’s still solid but unconventional. That’s the kind of player I want to be at least and will keep working hard for that.
Thank you for your precious time! Any last words?
I’m in the GSL Ro8 after a long time and the beginning of this season feels good, I will try my best to show you even better performance next times!
You can catch Cure stream at Cure.
You can follow Hajin Twitter at @HajinsunTV and catch her stream at Hajinsun.