As we draw near the close of the 2011 MLG Pro Circuit Finals at MLG Providence, among other large end-year tournaments such as the GOMTV Blizzard Cup and Dreamhack Winter 2011, another team has emerged from the shadows and is hoping to take their first step towards the spotlight at the MLG Providence 2011 Pro Circuit Finals. Team Clash is a unique case when it comes to newly formed teams, having a roster comprised of both Korean and “foreign” talent right from the onset. Due to the fact that Clash is a very fresh team, they can’t field an entire roster at MLG Providence, but the two players in attendance from the team are looking to make a splash in the already churning whirlpool that is the MLG Providence Open Bracket. Going up against the likes of GSL Code S champions QIMMVP and QIMNesTea, among other Korean superstars is no small feat for any player, but combine that with the threat of big foreign names from teams like Complexity, Quantic, ReIGN, and more makes even signing up for the Providence Open Bracket a test of wills. I got a chance to talk with Manager Paul Kim about the beginnings of Team Clash as well as the upcoming trip to MLG Providence.
Virgil: Hey Paul, can you tell us a little bit about where the team came from, and how you guys got started? It’s not every day a team crops up with a roster featuring players like Legalmind.
Paul: Well, my staff and myself know a lot of professional players in Korea, and it came to my mind that it would be a good team if I could have a few of them practice together, and have them join offline tournaments, etc. I asked them individually if they want to sign on, and those who gave positive answers basically are on our team.
Virgil: That’s certainly very interesting, who is the current full roster for the team?
Paul: Our full player roster is:
ClashLegal (Previously Legalmind) [Protoss]
ClashImagine (Previously Raindrop) [Protoss]
ClashMoOk (Previously MVPJoshua) [Protoss]
ClashMercy (Previously Injisangjung) [Protoss]
ClashSura (Previously AttackDDang) [Protoss]
ClashPresto (Previously DarKChiGo) [Zerg]
ClashPanther (Previously PinkPanda) [Terran] and ClashRoger [Terran] you already know, and
ClashDon’tASK (Previously SerapisPRIME) [Terran]
We also have caster Kevin “KatuStarcraft” Albert on hand to stream our content.
Virgil: Can you tell us a little bit more about the team?
Paul: I think it’s important to note we’re not exactly a Korean team. We are based in the United States. Hopefully we can get some major sponsorship so we can look towards a team house in the future. About half of us actually live in the States.
Virgil: Usually we hear of “foreign teams” really establishing themselves before adding Korean players to the roster, what makes Clash so different?
Paul: Well, our case was that I was close to many Korean pro players, so approached it the other way around, and we decided to start with Korean players first, and then add our “foreign” players.
Virgil: Did Legalmind attempt the November Code A Qualifiers? I know a lot of netizens have been questioning his sudden disappearance from the scene for some time now.
Paul: He did not, He’s in his graduating year, and he had some seminars to attend, but he will be playing as almost full-time starting from next month.
Virgil: Understandable, it’s tough to walk the path of a pro-gamer in Korea, there’s a reason some players, like Polt, choose to stay in school.
Paul: Well, my belief is that they should either finish High School or College if they are attending one, and gaming comes next, so I basically recommend all my players to prioritize their schooling first.
Virgil: How do you feel about your players and your upcoming trip to MLG Providence?
Paul: I think our players are competitive, and that they certainly have a chance at passing through the Open Bracket. The only thing that makes me really worried is that they didn't have much time to spare on StarCraft. They've been pretty busy with their school work, and it's just that they are not well-prepared for such a competitive tournament. However, I do believe that our players can pull something off this tournament, and I hope they bring great results. As for me, it's just one of the only chances to communicate with the SractCraft 2 fan base person-to-person. It will be a great chance for our team to show that we are around here, and we are competitive players.
Virgil: Is there anything else you’d like to add before we wrap up?
Paul : Well, I’d just like to say that we are a new team, and we could really use fans’ support, so please cheer for us at Providence and in the future! The Starcraft 2 scene is dominated by big name teams, and it’s tough for smaller teams to survive, and we just want to prove that the smaller teams can compete as well!
Paul: Well, my staff and myself know a lot of professional players in Korea, and it came to my mind that it would be a good team if I could have a few of them practice together, and have them join offline tournaments, etc. I asked them individually if they want to sign on, and those who gave positive answers basically are on our team.
Virgil: That’s certainly very interesting, who is the current full roster for the team?
Paul: Our full player roster is:
ClashLegal (Previously Legalmind) [Protoss]
ClashImagine (Previously Raindrop) [Protoss]
ClashMoOk (Previously MVPJoshua) [Protoss]
ClashMercy (Previously Injisangjung) [Protoss]
ClashSura (Previously AttackDDang) [Protoss]
ClashPresto (Previously DarKChiGo) [Zerg]
ClashPanther (Previously PinkPanda) [Terran] and ClashRoger [Terran] you already know, and
ClashDon’tASK (Previously SerapisPRIME) [Terran]
We also have caster Kevin “KatuStarcraft” Albert on hand to stream our content.
Virgil: Can you tell us a little bit more about the team?
Paul: I think it’s important to note we’re not exactly a Korean team. We are based in the United States. Hopefully we can get some major sponsorship so we can look towards a team house in the future. About half of us actually live in the States.
Virgil: Usually we hear of “foreign teams” really establishing themselves before adding Korean players to the roster, what makes Clash so different?
Paul: Well, our case was that I was close to many Korean pro players, so approached it the other way around, and we decided to start with Korean players first, and then add our “foreign” players.
Virgil: Did Legalmind attempt the November Code A Qualifiers? I know a lot of netizens have been questioning his sudden disappearance from the scene for some time now.
Paul: He did not, He’s in his graduating year, and he had some seminars to attend, but he will be playing as almost full-time starting from next month.
Virgil: Understandable, it’s tough to walk the path of a pro-gamer in Korea, there’s a reason some players, like Polt, choose to stay in school.
Paul: Well, my belief is that they should either finish High School or College if they are attending one, and gaming comes next, so I basically recommend all my players to prioritize their schooling first.
Virgil: How do you feel about your players and your upcoming trip to MLG Providence?
Paul: I think our players are competitive, and that they certainly have a chance at passing through the Open Bracket. The only thing that makes me really worried is that they didn't have much time to spare on StarCraft. They've been pretty busy with their school work, and it's just that they are not well-prepared for such a competitive tournament. However, I do believe that our players can pull something off this tournament, and I hope they bring great results. As for me, it's just one of the only chances to communicate with the SractCraft 2 fan base person-to-person. It will be a great chance for our team to show that we are around here, and we are competitive players.
Virgil: Is there anything else you’d like to add before we wrap up?
Paul : Well, I’d just like to say that we are a new team, and we could really use fans’ support, so please cheer for us at Providence and in the future! The Starcraft 2 scene is dominated by big name teams, and it’s tough for smaller teams to survive, and we just want to prove that the smaller teams can compete as well!
Having taken a look at the managerial side of Team Clash, I also spoke to players WooHyun David “ClashPanther” Lee and Brian “ClashRoger” Lee about their upcoming trip to MLG Providence and their experiences so far, both in Starcraft and with the new team.
Virgil: Hey guys, can you tell us a little about yourselves and your past history in Starcraft?
Panther: My name is David Lee and I live in Glendale, California. I am a college student and I’ve been looking to jump into the professional gaming scene. I had a little bit of Brood War experience and when Starcraft 2 came out I started playing heavily. I was certainly getting better at the game and I realized that I have a little bit of talent, and I might be able to go pro.
Roger: I am ClashRoger, I have played Starcraft for about 10 years I guess. When I was in middle school I played Brood War like crazy and once I moved to the states I kinda stopped playing too competitively. Four months after StarCraft 2 came out I started playing it and since then I have been trying to play at the upper level. About myself, I haven't been able to practice that much recently, so I’m trying to pull off a miracle here. I love SC2 like no other and I am very excited to compete in MLG.
Virgil: What race do you play, and what do you think your biggest strength is during games?
Panther: I’m a Terran player, and I think one of my biggest strengths in-game is my unit micro-management.
Roger: I’m also a Terran player. As for my strengths, I feel I understand the Protoss race very well, and I’m the most confident playing against it, even with the most recent patch.
Virgil: Will MLG Providence be your first LAN event? If not, what was your first LAN event?
Panther: I just had my first LAN event 2 days ago. It was the SoCalESPORTS LAN and I didn’t do a great job at that event because my opponent in the semi-finals was a Master Zerg player and he cheesed me twice in a row. That was my mistake, but I learned about the offline atmosphere and learned what mindset I need in offline tournaments and realized what I have to work on to improve.
Roger: My first LAN even was a WCG Qualifier for Brood War in Korea, I was 13 at the time I believe, I met a Protoss player from KT and lost. MLG Providence is my first LAN experience for Starcraft 2, however I’ve been playing in many online tournaments.
Virgil:How prepared do you feel for the daunting MLG Providence Open Bracket?
Panther: I am not getting enough practice time that I need, but I think I’m well prepared because now I have experienced my first LAN event, and I’ve had success against many famous players and Korean players on ladder. I might be a little bit nervous when I face great players such as QIMMVP or SlayerSMMA, but as long as I play confidently and play my game I think I have a good chance.
Roger: I’ve been very busy, so I haven’t been able to practice too much, but I’m the type of person who is able to pull it off when it is really needed. Hopefully my hands will move like NaDa’s and my decisions will reflect NesTea’s! Other than that, I’m very excited for my first StarCraft 2 LAN event, and hopefully I won’t meet NesTea on the first round.
Virgil: Who would you like to face most at MLG Providence?
Panther: I’d really like to face MVP. He would probably beat me easily, but I want to play him to learn from him, and a match against MVP would be great motivation for future practice.
Roger: I’d feel most comfortable playing against Protoss players, except maybe the Korean pros, however I would hate to play against Sheth, I think he has one of the best gaming senses in the scene. He really understands the game, and I’ve never been able to best him on the ladder. I’d be scared of SjoW as well, but he’s all the way in the Championship Bracket. I’m usually scared of people who really seem to “get” it.
Virgil: How are things going with your new teammates, and your new team, Clash?
Panther: Team chemistry is really good, and I love my teammates. They are all skilled players and I respect all of them. My manager gives me great support and everything, it was a good decision to join Clash.
Roger: It’s been great. I really do feel sorry for them that I haven’t been too active since joining the team, I’ve been having a very busy semester, but really there’s no excuse. I’m going to try to practice more, and more efficiently. I’m loving everything about Clash and personally I think Panther is going to rock at MLG.
Virgil: Before we wrap this up, is there anything you’d like to say to the fans and viewers at MLG Providence?
Panther: My main goal is to get through the Open Bracket, but I just want to feel the atmosphere of a huge tournament like MLG and meet as many people as possible. I will be challenging many future tournaments as well, so please wish me good luck!
Roger: This will be the first time for many of you ESPORTS fans to hear about Team Clash, and we will try to make you hear it loud and clear!
Panther: My name is David Lee and I live in Glendale, California. I am a college student and I’ve been looking to jump into the professional gaming scene. I had a little bit of Brood War experience and when Starcraft 2 came out I started playing heavily. I was certainly getting better at the game and I realized that I have a little bit of talent, and I might be able to go pro.
Roger: I am ClashRoger, I have played Starcraft for about 10 years I guess. When I was in middle school I played Brood War like crazy and once I moved to the states I kinda stopped playing too competitively. Four months after StarCraft 2 came out I started playing it and since then I have been trying to play at the upper level. About myself, I haven't been able to practice that much recently, so I’m trying to pull off a miracle here. I love SC2 like no other and I am very excited to compete in MLG.
Virgil: What race do you play, and what do you think your biggest strength is during games?
Panther: I’m a Terran player, and I think one of my biggest strengths in-game is my unit micro-management.
Roger: I’m also a Terran player. As for my strengths, I feel I understand the Protoss race very well, and I’m the most confident playing against it, even with the most recent patch.
Virgil: Will MLG Providence be your first LAN event? If not, what was your first LAN event?
Panther: I just had my first LAN event 2 days ago. It was the SoCalESPORTS LAN and I didn’t do a great job at that event because my opponent in the semi-finals was a Master Zerg player and he cheesed me twice in a row. That was my mistake, but I learned about the offline atmosphere and learned what mindset I need in offline tournaments and realized what I have to work on to improve.
Roger: My first LAN even was a WCG Qualifier for Brood War in Korea, I was 13 at the time I believe, I met a Protoss player from KT and lost. MLG Providence is my first LAN experience for Starcraft 2, however I’ve been playing in many online tournaments.
Virgil:How prepared do you feel for the daunting MLG Providence Open Bracket?
Panther: I am not getting enough practice time that I need, but I think I’m well prepared because now I have experienced my first LAN event, and I’ve had success against many famous players and Korean players on ladder. I might be a little bit nervous when I face great players such as QIMMVP or SlayerSMMA, but as long as I play confidently and play my game I think I have a good chance.
Roger: I’ve been very busy, so I haven’t been able to practice too much, but I’m the type of person who is able to pull it off when it is really needed. Hopefully my hands will move like NaDa’s and my decisions will reflect NesTea’s! Other than that, I’m very excited for my first StarCraft 2 LAN event, and hopefully I won’t meet NesTea on the first round.
Virgil: Who would you like to face most at MLG Providence?
Panther: I’d really like to face MVP. He would probably beat me easily, but I want to play him to learn from him, and a match against MVP would be great motivation for future practice.
Roger: I’d feel most comfortable playing against Protoss players, except maybe the Korean pros, however I would hate to play against Sheth, I think he has one of the best gaming senses in the scene. He really understands the game, and I’ve never been able to best him on the ladder. I’d be scared of SjoW as well, but he’s all the way in the Championship Bracket. I’m usually scared of people who really seem to “get” it.
Virgil: How are things going with your new teammates, and your new team, Clash?
Panther: Team chemistry is really good, and I love my teammates. They are all skilled players and I respect all of them. My manager gives me great support and everything, it was a good decision to join Clash.
Roger: It’s been great. I really do feel sorry for them that I haven’t been too active since joining the team, I’ve been having a very busy semester, but really there’s no excuse. I’m going to try to practice more, and more efficiently. I’m loving everything about Clash and personally I think Panther is going to rock at MLG.
Virgil: Before we wrap this up, is there anything you’d like to say to the fans and viewers at MLG Providence?
Panther: My main goal is to get through the Open Bracket, but I just want to feel the atmosphere of a huge tournament like MLG and meet as many people as possible. I will be challenging many future tournaments as well, so please wish me good luck!
Roger: This will be the first time for many of you ESPORTS fans to hear about Team Clash, and we will try to make you hear it loud and clear!
On top of boasting a skilled roster, Team Clash is off to a good start in the professional scene! Just recently, in their last Team Match in the ESEA tournament, Clash was able to triumph over the very talented Infinity Seven team, with ClashPresto winning 2:1 over iSMaker in the ace match. ClashPanther, who will be one of the MLG attendees from Clash, started the series off with a 2:1 win over iSEdge. His win was followed up with an impressive 2:0 victory over iSOwnMyGroin by ClashMercy. Infinity Seven would then pull out their big guns in the form of Mentalist, the impressive Korean Protoss, and Maker, their recent Terran acquisition from CheckSix. Mentalist managed to take down ClashMoOk 2:1 and Maker would edge out his first series 2:1 against Presto, forcing the ace match, and rematch between Presto and Maker. Here’s what manager Paul Kim had to say about their victory over Infinity Seven:
“iS is certainly one of the strongest teams on ESEA. I'm really proud of our players, and it was a good chance to sort of throw messages to other teams that we’re a real competitor, and not just playing the league for fun. However, we should note that iS is not the only strong team in the league. We will have to see as we play towards the end of the season.”
This victory brings the team to 4-1 in this season of the ESEA tournament, with victories over teams including not only Infinity Seven, but also vVv, Keyd, and Convergence Gaming. Their only loss in the league so far has come at the hands of Impressive Play.MLG Providence will be a ruthless gauntlet for even the most seasoned players, and Team Clash has chosen to make their first stand against some of the top talent in the world. Having spoken to most of the team, and management over at Team Clash, I can confidently say that these guys have a great mindset and attitude coming into the scene, and are a solid group of players. Make sure to keep your eyes out for Clash players in both Online and Offline events in the future moving into the 2012 season. I hope to bring you guys much more exciting content from Team Clash in the future!
If you’d like to keep a closer eye on Team Clash, please check out our website and follow us on Twitter!