"It's no good just to be living. I deserve the nickname 'The Living Legend' only if I keep winning titles and stay at the top. Then I will be a true legend."
- Nada
The interview took place after Nada lost to Jangbi on MSL round of 8.
The loss to Jangbi must've been bad experience for you
- I've tried to feel better, but it's hard. I even feel like this is the toughest time I've ever had. I've cleared up my brain but not my mind. I just wanna relax a bit and reflect. To think of "let's try again" I've been taking a walk and reflecting.
What do you reflect when you're taking a walk?
- What will I be in the future. What will I be doing after the army duty. That kind of worries. I don't even know why but I think about lots of things. I walk a lot by myself but lately I've been walking with Pepe too. He's close to my age so we have good talks. He's been practicing a lot so we take a walk and encourage each other.
The mood got smoother as Pepe is mentioned. Nada said Pepe's into fashion, "We borrow clothes from each other a lot. But lately I borrow more," Nada said. "Pepe's good-looking, so you would think he attracts girls a lot but not really; he's kinda shy; no gf," he revealed.
Tears after you lost to Jangbi on MSL round of 8?
- I had practiced with my everything. I wasn't even in the best condition, but I gave up everything and focused on practice but I still lost. I didn't want to cry, but I did. I felt sorry to Jangbi for crying. I usually don't cry, but after I lost I felt sad and just a burst of thoughts and emotions made me cry.
Most regrettable moments from the match?
- The second set on Carthage. I lost completely. During practice I win 80%. I was totally ready for proxy Gate but I didn't locate the Gate. Jangbi was the first player to build Gate there. I thought if I win second set I was good to go. I was confident of second, third, and fourth sets, so I felt good when I won first set. I was even expecting 3:0 but I lost second and third sets completely.
Some people worry that your physical has got slow
- I think it's because I didn't see the Probe at 3rd set. But even back in the days I wouldn't have seen it. Another Probe was attacking my SCVs. For a Terran user, that's really annoying, because it feels horrible to lose an SCV that's building something. So my mind was all into that.
Not many people thought you were gonna win the latest MSL
- I actually feel more confident at the finals. I feel like I can win anybody at the finals. Round of 4 and round of 8 feel tougher. For me, the process is harder than the finals. I think about the moment I win 4th MSL and try to recollect my memories of championship wins, and that makes me confident at the finals.
It's been 3 years since you won a title
- It's been long. I feel bad about myself for losing so many opportunities. Whether it's OSL or MSL, the 4th individual league title is mine! Don't worry. When the league starts, every cell of my body yearns for the title.
For a while, Nada's been called "Genius Terran." Lately, he has another nickname - The Living Legend. The name is a tribute to his 8 years as a progamer and 6 individual league titles (most titles ever).
What do you think about the nickname "The Living Legend"?
- The Living Legend...I really appreciate that. I have to try hard for the fans. It's no good just to be living. I deserve the nickname "The Living Legend" only if I keep winning titles and stay at the top. Then I will be a true legend.
When old progamers are doing bad, you're doing good in individual league
- That's not that big of a deal. I can always do better. It's not about how others are doing; it's about me continue to win. I know the support of long-time fans are crucial, but I don't wanna entirely depend on it. The moment I do that is the moment the life of a progamer ends.
What's the way to continue to do well?
- I don't think I've been doing continuously well enough to deserve this question. But if I have to answer, it would be that my passion about winning championships is the strongest. The feeling I had after winning the Golden Mouse is something I've never had. I wanna feel that again. When you've been down a lot and you win, that feeling is unspeakable.
You're known for your long-time fans
- I feel very supported. After the loss to Jangbi many fans have said good things to me. Some say they laugh and cry because of me. Some worry if I'm satisfied with where I am, pointing out if I'm even more popular than Boxer or if I'm doing better than the current players. It's all true. I can't just say, "I'm above Boxer"; I have to show it. I welcome fans comments as well as their criticism.
Any episodes with fans?
- Someone once neatly typed out and categorized every single one of my achievement. Some fans are even older than I am, so their sharing of life stories helps a lot.
A lot of progamers admire you as the long-time progamer
- After the All Star games, July said that he wishes that I can keep my place like that until the end. I felt appreciated. I should stop feeling sad. Many progamers look up to me, so I wanna continue being their model. I wanna make people who never won a title yearn for one.
Compare yourself now when you're 26 to yourself when you were 20.
- I was really young. I acted like baby. I feared nothing and had no anxiety, and just kept pushing myself. Kinda like Flash nowadays? But it's not like that anymore. I have my company (WeMade Fox) behind and fans and family look up to me. They expect a lot and that's a lot of pressure at times. Their hope gives me strength, but I do feel pressed sometimes. When I was 20, I was nothing but a progamer who loves to play and win, but now I have a lot more responsibility and have gotten better at interview too (laugh).
What do you see in yourself when you turn 30?
- Even when I'm 30, my mind will be like when I'm 20. By that time I would've finished my army duty and probably be looking to get married? I will still be a progamer, but I don't wanna exhaust myself into being one. That's meaningless. I just wanna do my best until the end. I don't just wanna be a 30 year old progamer; I wanna be a good 30 year old progamer, and I currently plan that way.
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Poll: Will Nada be the first to win the 4th title (OSL or MSL)?
(Vote): Yes
(Vote): No