Sources:
www.fomos.kr
www.dailyesports.com
Lee Young Ho (Flash), "I 100% expected Best, and wanted to show off my skills."
I'm glad I was able to wrap up with the finishing win in the telecom companies rivalry [T/N: KT-SKT rivalry]
I'm glad I was able to wrap up with the finishing win in the telecom companies rivalry [T/N: KT-SKT rivalry]
Q: Your thoughts on having dealt the finishing blow in the SKT-KT rival match?
A: First and foremost, I'm happy we were able to defeat SKT, simultaneously our rival and the number one team right now, and I'm especially happy that I was the one who was the one to win the decisive match.
Q: You must have had something to pay back to Best.
A: If Best made it into the MSL or OSL, I was awaiting eagerly to pick him into my group in the group selection ceremony. Unfortunately Best was unable to make it to either individual league, so, 100% expecting Best to make his appearance on Fortress, I asked the coaches for a chance to be fielded on set 6.
Q: Is that why you kept torturing him with your dropships?
A: In my case, a few fans sometimes claim that I am out of form or weak against a certain opponent with even one loss, and I wanted to show them that my skills had not deteriorated. I also wanted to show that I am in no way weaker than Best. You will not hear that I am weak against Best ever again.
Q: Your team seemed very happy when Bisu and Fantasy lost.
A: We have nothing against Bisu and Fantasy themselves, it was merely that their losses brought us closer to our victory, which of course, is what we wanted. I am happy that I was able to regain the lead in most Proleague wins though. I honestly expected my teammates to win. In the case of Action, he is nigh-unbeatable by Protoss in the practice room and it's extremely difficult for Terrans as well. I think today's game reflected his true practice room skill.
Q: There was also the factor of Coach Choi Yeon Sung's (iloveoov) trash-talk / challenge as well.
A: Personally, I think of it as a positive thing. Coach iloveoov has always had that side of him, and I personally enjoy those kinds of things. He's a little similar to me in that regard. But I thought maybe he had the loss at Gwang-an-ri [T/N: PL finals] in mind, which disappointed me slightly. But on the bright side, Coach Kang Do Kyoung (H.O.T-Forever) paid him back well, so it's all good.
Q: Your MSL and OSL games are coming up shortly after. Anything to say regarding that?
A: I need to head off to play OSL immediately, but I was able to practice enough because of the Coaching staff's consideration. So I'm pretty confident about both today's OSL match and tomorrow's MSL match. On a related note, I think player Choi Ho Seon (Ssak) is showing a level of confidence slightly disproportionate to his achievements so far, so if he doesn't win against me tomorrow, he may end up seeing a command center in his base.
Kim Seong Dae (Action), "I wanted to play against Bisu."
I have faith in my teammates, so I believe we will rise again.
I have faith in my teammates, so I believe we will rise again.
Q: Your thoughts on having defeated Bisu?
A: I've been showing some kind of weakness against SKT players since I've been transferred to KT, so I was a little worried, but I wanted to play against Bisu, and I was confident in my ZvP, so I'm especially happy about this win.
Q: Your play was very solid.
A: There were times when I occasionally made some mistakes such as forgetting to rally some of my hatcheries, but I thought I would be able to win after the defilers were out. Even while thinking I was ahead, I caught myself from being overconfident because I was against Bisu. While playing, I thought his ability to adapt his play to my own was really good.
Q: Flash speaks very highly of your skills in the practice room.
A: I am pretty confident about my skills, but usually my win-rate in the practice room aren't quite as good, so I'm glad Flash thinks so highly of me.
(Violet): I really wanted to see Action play against Bisu in today's match; he's that good at ZvP.
(Stats): Our whole team really looked forward to Action vs Bisu. We all expected it to be a great game, and we're all glad it turned out to be so.
Q: You're not originally from KT; what were your feelings on the SKT-KT rivalry today?
A: I've done it once in round 1, and it was a heavy burden back then as well. And this time there was the challenge from Coach iloveoov as well, which made it more fun in my opinion. There are no hard feelings about it though.
Q: Do you think you'll be able to perform better from now on?
A: I think I've gotten over that initial burden. With my newfound confidence, I think I'll be able to keep on winning.
Q: KT's record is pretty poor right now.
A: Even while losing a few times, I didn't notice, but all of a sudden we were at the bottom of the barrel. But I have faith in my teammate's abilities, so I believe we will rise again.
Q: Any last words?
A: I'll be facing Sea soon in the MSL. I personally think that a player's momentum is more important than the map or the opposing player, so with my current momentum, I think I'll do fine. Thanks for those who helped me practice and I'd also like the players who lost today to not be too discouraged.
Kim Dae Yeop (Stats), "I'm doubly happy I won against SKT."
The losses I've suffered recently have motivated me to work harder.
The losses I've suffered recently have motivated me to work harder.
Q: Your thoughts on having contributed to the rivalry match?
A: I'm glad we won against the number one team right now, and more than anything else, we beat our rival, so I'm about doubly as happy as usual.
Q: The game seems to have gone well.
A: In today's game, everything went as I wanted it to. Up until the midgame everything went perfectly, but afterwards, my harassments didn't work as well as I had planned, so I was a little worried that I might not get the chance for a Han-Bang attack timing. It was a little bit of a risky situation but the Han-Bang attack worked out well, so I was able to win.
Q: With Flash still in top form, when you lose, the team tends to lose as well. There must have been some kind of pressure regarding that.
A: The pressure was definitely there because it seemed like every time I lost, the team did as well. I think that kind of pressure has helped me in the end though. The losses have motivated me to work harder, and earning an interview like that is definitely satisfying.
Q: Do you think you've been able to shake off that mental pressure now then?
A: Not quite yet, and compared to the level of understanding of the game Flash has, I have a long way to go. To be honest, there were lots of people in the audience today and it being a rival match and all, I was very nervous in thinking that I needed to win. Strangely enough, I'm always so nervous before the match, but once I get past the early stages of the game, the game tends to go my way. It's really quite amazing (laughs).
Q: You've been showing a bit of weakness in your PvP lately.
A: In practice, I'm confident in my PvP, so I'll show good games in live matches as well.
Q: You won along with Violet today. How does that feel?
A: It's very satisfying (laughs). He does so well in practice, and yet watching him make those mistakes in live matches was quite sad to watch as a Protoss hoobae [T/N: kind of like dongsaeng (younger brother), but in terms of seniority, not age. Opposite of senpai (seonbae in Korean), if you will]. But I am very happy to watch him win like this.
Q: Last words?
A: Suny has been exclusively helping me practice. I'm very thankful for him and the coaching staff in trusting me and sending me out to play.
Woo Jeong Ho (Violet), "Our mindsets have not changed since our Proleague Championship."
We will show you good results from now on.
We will show you good results from now on.
Q: Your team beat SKT. Any thoughts?
A: Among our opponents, I think SKT is the best team, so I think these results are extra satisfying. I thought the game might be tough, but my teammates played very well, so I'm happy.
Q: Your record against SKT is 8-0.
A: All matches are equally important, so it's not like I practice extra hard against SKT. But I think the surrounding atmosphere during the rivalry match makes me concentrate harder than usual.
Q: You haven't quite shown great results as the team captain. It must have been difficult for you.
A: It's because of my own faults. Instead of finding excuses, I just think I need to work harder. There hasn't been a change in mindset or the practice environment, so I think the fact that I've been losing so much reflects that I am not using my time as wisely as the other players. At least now I realize it, so I'll try to make more efficient use of my time.
Q: There seems to be a curse on the KT captain seat; those who take the position tend to do worse.
A: I did say as a joke: 'Isn't this because I became KT's captain?' (laughs) But I believe I can break that curse, and will try my best to do so.
Q: You won a perfect victory today.
A: I practiced about 70% PvP, 20% PvZ, and merely about 10% PvT. But starting yesterday I had this strange feeling that a Terran would show up, so I started thinking up some strategies, which helped a lot. This combined with Fantasy's mistakes let me win easily.
Q: Watching KT fall apart recently, you must have felt some level of responsibility as the captain.
A: I think people will think that since we've won the Championship, that we have gotten complacent. But that is definitely not the case. Having tasted the sweetness of Championship, we are craving its sweet taste once again. I've come to realize that instead of dwelling on our losses, it's more important to accept it as reality and move on, working hard to overcome those losses.
Q: Do you think you'll be able to keep on posting good results?
A: I think we will be able to keep this momentum going. But after losing I've always said 'We'll do better, so keep cheering for us' but now I feel like I'd rather save those words. I'd rather be a player who shows good results and expresses his gratitude towards his fans.
Q: Any last words?
A: For Hoejja and Tempest who lost today, I would like to tell them not to be too discouraged, and instead win by working hard. I'm very thankful for the people who have helped me practice. I've been thinking recently that if we changed our mentality from 'me' to 'us' that we might be able to do well. If we all think 'we', we will be able to climb higher and higher. KT Rolster Fighting!