Zenio has been very busy in the past few weeks, not only preparing for his Code A match but also going through the transition to becoming a Liquid member. He will not be ready to begin streaming for 2 to 3 weeks. Even so, he found the time to talk to Team Liquid and let the fans know him better.
To begin, could you introduce yourself briefly? Tell us how you began playing games, and how you became a progamer.
Liquid`Zenio: Hi, I'm Choi Jung Min, 21 years old. I was practicing to become a Warcraft III pro-gamer, but when I heard Starcraft II was coming out I decided to play Starcraft: Brood War in preparation. I started playing SC II as soon as the closed beta came out. I remember that my first game was against a Blizzard Korea employee on the Korean ladder.
You were gaming with the goal of becoming a pro-gamer; were you fixed on playing RTS games? Did any other genres or games catch your interest?
Liquid`Zenio: It's not that RTS games were my goal, it's that I liked Starcraft and I was always watching OnGameNet during my school days, thinking that I would become a pro-gamer for sure.
You spent a lot of time at oGs before departing. How was your time there, and what led you to join Liquid?
Liquid`Zenio: oGs is always trying to improve their practice environment, and they have a really great environment where you can focus solely on gaming at the team house right now.
But asides from the great environment there, I was just uncomfortable living together with so many people, so I decided to play from home. Even though I left the team in the end, I think oGs is a really great team to be with from the way they still tried to connect me with Liquid afterward.
I decided on Liquid because I wanted to play abroad more frequently, and because they are a team that is partnered with oGs, and thus a team I've been friendly with for a long time.
What has your relationship with Liquid and its members been like so far? You lived in the same house, so who are some of the players you were particularly close with?
Liquid`Zenio: I lived with Dario, Jonathan, Jos, Hayder, and also Chris who is gone now. I was having trouble with life at the team-house, but I saw those guys and imagined how much harder it was for them coming from afar, so I tried to be friendly to them and help them out in some way.
The funniest thing I remember was that when Jos first came to the house, the first thing he did before introducing himself was to point at Hayder and call him “Chobo.”
I haven't met Tyler yet, but I'd really like to meet him.
You've been abroad once for the NASL Grand Finals. How do you think ESPORTS is different in Korea and out?
Liquid`Zenio: I think foreign players really enjoy the tournaments as a whole, and they have a fun time at parties after. The fans are more passionate, and I'd really like to go again.
There are a lot of big tournaments outside of Korea now, but is GSL still the number one goal for a Korean player like yourself?
Liquid`Zenio: Still, the GSL has the highest skill level, so I would still want a GSL championship the most...
Have you been keeping up with the foreign community? For instance, do you visit TL or watch foreign tournaments?
Liquid`Zenio: I've visited TeamLiquid since a long time ago to watch player streams. I always try to watch Zerg players.
Now there are two Korean players in Liquid, you and HerO. Furthermore, there are many other foreign teams cooperating with Korean teams and players as well. What do you think of this trend?
Liquid`Zenio: I think it's good because more Korean players can go abroad, and I'd like if more cooperation happened.
If you talk to oGs or Liquid players, they say you are a really amazing player. On the other hand, you have a reputation for not being able to show this skill on stage. How do you rate your skill, and what do you think about your reputation for being nervous on stage?
Liquid`Zenio: Honestly, I don't like ZvP that much in practice either. I'm trying really hard to get over that. I think I'm very good at ZvT and ZvZ, but when I play at the GSL stage my games just don't go the way they do in practice. So I have an image of being bad at broadcast games, but I think I can go far if I get over those problems, and I'm trying very hard to solve them.
You're starting off this GSL season from the Code A RO48. Are you confident about getting into Code S again?
Liquid`Zenio: Yes, I've gained confidence as I've practiced lately, and I'm fully confident that I can get into Code S and go even further.
There's a lot of talk about Proleague switching to Starcraft II next year and the Starcraft: Brood War players switching over. How do you feel about that possibility, as someone who's played Starcraft II since the beta?
Liquid`Zenio: I think that the present Starcraft II gamers are all very good, and that Starcraft 1 gamers will catch up very quickly as well. I hope that it becomes an opportunity for ESPORTS to grow and develop.
You have some history with IdrA, what do you think of him? He will be returning to Korea soon, would you like to play him?
Liquid`Zenio: I think you ask because of my ceremony last year... I don't think of him badly personally, and I think he's a fun player. It would be fun to play him again.
He's welcome to come back to Korea, and though I wouldn't mind it myself, he probably doesn't want to play me; I am 6-0 against him.
Any other foreigners you are interested in? Anyone who impressed you, or someone you'd like to play against?
Liquid`Zenio: I'd really like to play against Chris again, I lost in a sort of unsatisfying way to him in the last GSL. And then he imitated my ceremony... I want to get my revenge.
Let's talk about some things outside of Starcraft. What are your hobbies?
Liquid`Zenio: I raid once a week in World of Warcraft. Besides that, I like going biking.
Any kind of music you enjoy? Favorite bands?
Liquid`Zenio: No particular genre, just Korean girl-groups. 2NE1 in particular.
Favorite food?
Liquid`Zenio: Samgyeopsal
Your most respected sunbae [older colleague]?
Liquid`Zenio: Nada.
Now, the hardest question. A word for your fans... IN ENGLISH.
Liquid`Zenio: *shakes in fear*
'thanks for read my interview
i will try to show up on yours always epic games and funny ceremony'