[Interview] Code A Ro32 Day 2 2012 GSL Season 4

Source: This Is Game

You grabbed Flash and advanced to the third round.

I was really nervous before the match even began since everyone says that Flash is so good. But thankfully Classic hyung helped me out a lot. Thanks to him, I was able to win.

There was a disappointing moment where you weren't able to take down Flash's medivac for a while.

If I had to make an excuse, I would like to say that the temperature in the booth was really low and therefore my hands were frozen so I couldn't react very quickly.

You tied up the score by winning game two with a seven gate rush.

I thought my first attack was going to get blocked cause he had so many bunkers. But I figured I would be able to win as long as my sentries had plenty of mana and I used my force fields well.

The build order you used in game three was very old build order.

I know that that build order was something that was created before I even started playing SC2. But I figured Flash wouldn't be able to defend against it very well because it was such an old build.

There was a troublesome moment when he blocked your attack in game three.

That was the first time I ever experienced a strategy where someone takes their expansion right after getting hellions so he caught me off guard. But thankfully my hands loosened up and the thought of wanting to go straight to Code S allowed me to win.

How did you prepare for today's match?

Classic hyung predicted a lot of scenarios for me. Games one and two went exactly as how he predicted but I still made tons of mistakes so I put myself at a disadvantage.

You must have felt a lot of pressure from the fact that you had to face Flash.

After I saw my group for Code A, I was really worried. But after actually facing him, I think I may have been overly concerned.

If you beat Curious for the third round, you can advance to Code S.

Personally, I don't Curious is that good. I have more confidence in my PvZ than PvT anyways so I think it'll be an easy victory for me. That's why I think I'll take this one easily.

A lot of players have stated that it is really hard to defeat the infestor/brood lord composition that Zerg players do.

I prefer to play by forcing small battles here and there so I don't think it'll be that much of a challenge for me.

If you fall to the Up/Downs you have to play a ton of games.

I really love the whole Code S, Code A, Up/Downs format GSL does. But since I haven't played that many games yet, I think I'll have trouble in the stamina area if I do have to play through Up/Downs.

GSL does a bo3 format, unlike OSL.

Bo1s can sometimes end in the most pathetic way possible so I think bo3 formats are better.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank Classic hyung for helping me with beating Flash. I hope he continues to help me if I do end up falling to Up/Downs (laughs).

Source: This Is Game

You took down Shine and advanced to the third round.

Today's match went exactly as the scenarios that occurred during my practices. That's why I feel really good.

What kind of scenarios did you predict?

During practice, hitting a timing attack before colossi come out on Antiga Shipyard, and for Abyssal City, a three immortal timing push that ends the game right then and there.

How did you prepare for today's match?

For the first game, I practiced a build order that used the robotics facility, and since I used warp prisms for game one, I figured my opponent would try to play greedy for game two. That's why I used the three immortal push.

Was today's build order a build order that you usually use?

The immortal build was something JYP taught me.

The immortal build order in game two did not seem very solid.

It's because I don't normally choose to do those kind of muscle plays. That's why I practiced all day yesterday so that I could pull it off today.

Your next opponent is Super Tournament winner Polt.

I think he is an excellent player. I'm going to have to prepare extensively for him.

How much of a chance do you think you have of making it Code S?

I think it's about half and half. A lot of Terran players are really good these days so it's really hard. I'm going to have to prepare properly.

Which match up is the hardest for you?

Personally, PvPs are the toughest for me. It's bad enough to give me a headache because sometimes, the victor is decided purely through build orders.

If you end up playing in the Up/Downs, you will have to play a lot of games.

The games seems to go on for a really long time. I think it will be really good for my stamina.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank JYP hyung and my Zerg teammates for all their help in beating Shine today.

Source: This Is Game

You advanced to the third round.

After the final game ended, I didn't feel good. I want to apologize to KeeN.

Practice must have been difficult since it was a team kill.

We didn't receive any help from teammates and both just practiced through ladder.

KeeN showed an incredible hellion rush in game one.

KeeN tends to use hellions for his online tournaments and on ladder and sure enough, he used it today as well. I made roaches because I knew that KeeN likes to go for a mech transition after going for hellions. But then he went off from my prediction and didn't go for a mech composition. So even though I defended well, I wasn't able to macro properly.

You blocked KeeN's hellion/marauder all in in game two.

I figured an hellion all in was coming so I made roaches but then marauders came along as well. I had no idea he would go for such a deep all in. But I successfully defended his attack and put myself in an advantage as I decided to end it with a roach/ling/bling composition.

Do you think you'll make it to Code S?

It will be hard if MMA makes it but I think it'll be possible. After watching other people's games however, I think the Up/Downs will be really difficult. That's why I want to comfortably make it to Code S.

Who do you want to face in the next round?

I want to face a Zerg player but I also would like to face MMA.

You shined a lot last season but lately you've been fading.

I felt a lot of things as I watched Life make it to the finals yesterday. Since I fell from the Ro32 of Code S two seasons in a row, if I do make it back to Code S for this season, I am going to show a completely different side of me.

You were highly praised along with Life around the same time.

My teammates state that Life is on another level when they watch his games. I also felt a lot of different things, so in order to change, I am going to work really hard.

You must have copied Life's style.

I think a lot of Zerg players probably have tried to copy Life's style. But the fact that everyone has their own style they adhere to still exists and it's also really hard to gain advantages with your lings like Life does. A lot of Zergs like to play greedy ever since the queen buff but Life is different.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank my cousins and the manager's father for cheering for me. Lastly, I want to thank partner MYM and our sponsors Lotte, RAZER, and GOMTV.

Source: This Is Game

You took down MMA by a score of 2-0 and advanced to the third round.

The only thought that occurred to me was that I had to put on a great performance since MMA hyung is such a strong opponent. I am glad that the end result turned out better than expected. I used to MMA hyung's practice partner but I was able to defeat him in a tournament so this is a new kind of feeling.

So you also predicted that you would lose?

I normally have confidence in my ZvT but my opponent was MMA hyung so I knew it wouldn't be easy.

How did you prepare for today's match?

MMA hyung likes to play long macro games. That's why I made sure my builds were thoroughly planned out. It also helped that Lucky hyung and Leenock both taught me some build orders I could use.

Game one was a rather easy victory for you because of your roach timing attack,

He's a really good player but he seems to be playing a bit differently. I'm not sure if he was nervous or what but he really threw away a lot of his scvs.

You decided to go for muta play for game two but also got shaken up badly by MMA's medivac play.

I got really nervous because I got the thought that I was about to win. I normally don't give up my mutas that easily but I ended up making a lot of mistakes.

You only have one more match before you can make it Code S. Are you confident?

Sniper is really solid in the basics. And since it's a mirror match, the victor is going to be decided through build orders. I'm going to prepare real hard so that I can make sure I still have a fighting chance even if my build order gets crossed from his.

How likely do you think you'll make it to Code S?

I've found a lot of confidence lately. I really think I am capable of making it.

You may end up falling to the Up/Downs if you lose your third round match.

I can still make it Code S through the Up/Downs but I am rather weak in my ZvP so I can't help but think it'll be difficult.

Life made it to the finals. What do you think about this as a fellow Zerg player?

I think he's really physically solid. He's a young player, but he's a player who's bursting with confidence and doesn't get intimidated as he just plays his plays, and I think that's why he get such positive results.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank all the Terran players who helped me, Lucky hyung, Leenock, JKS, and also the coach and manager who came to the studio today. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors RAZER and FXO.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about advancing to the third round.

I was able to win games one and two rather easily thanks to my advantages.

How did you prepare for your first match?

I mostly prepared by using the build orders recommended to me by my teammates. A lot of my fellow Terran acquaintances helped me out. I kept thinking that I must win today so that I could avoid the Up/Downs. Since the maps will be different than the last match up, I just told myself I had to win the first map no matter what.

You must have received a lot of recognition after taking down GSL champion jjakji.

A lot of people told me that I did a good job and complimented me but I still feel like I'm not there yet.

You will face GSL champion Seed in the next round. Are you confident?

PvPs used to be no trouble for me back when I didn't know anything, but then now that I am getting a grasp of the matchup, I've been able to realize exactly why this match up is so difficult. But as long as my preparation is thorough, I think I am fully capable of winning.

If you lose in the next round, you will have to face the Up/Downs.

Because I still haven't shown everything that there is to show and my style will get really exposed, I want to go to a higher place and show what I have to show.

Recently, Rain has been receiving a ton of praise. Does this make you envious?

It makes me very envious. I watch a lot of Rain's VODs. I think he makes a lot of great decisions that makes him different than the other players.

Anything else you would like to say?

I want to thank my Terran teammates and Light hyung for observing my games. I want to thank the manager and the coach for coming with me again like they did for last week's match. Lastly, I want to say that since I only have one match until Code S, I will avoid the Up/Downs and make it no matter what.

Source: This Is Game

You made it to the third round of Code A.

Bomber is such a good player and I didn't have my builds perfected till I arrived so I was really worried. But I am even happier because I advanced without facing much difficulties.

Seemed like your games were relatively all easy. What was the driving force behind your victory?

I saw his factory coming in with my scouting and thought it was going to be hard to block. But I was able to get ahead thanks to cliff advantage and win easily.

Seems like you haven't been able to perform your absolute best during televised matches.

I had a lot of uneasy feelings in the past but nowadays I don't pathetically lose anymore because I have manager to hold a grasp of the basics. And the MokDong studio is comforting so I get the atmosphere I feel during my practices.

You will face yet another TvT in the next round against Happy.

I was worried about facing Bomber since I had no build orders that could match his build orders since he doesn't really use the same build order but I still ended up winning today. I am worried since my next match is another TvT but I think I am fully capable of winning as long as I prepare thoroughly.

How much of a chance do you think of making it Code S?

I will fall to the Up/Downs if I lose to Happy. After checking, I realized that a lot of really good players are already in the Up/Downs. That's why I am going to work hard so that I can defeat Happy and head straight to Code S.

It's been stated that your ladder win ratio is just as good as Life's is. What is the secret to your positive results?

It's because most of my battles on ladder are based on the basics of the game. I also feel really comfortable playing on ladder than I do playing in a televised environment.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the third round.

My PvT win ratio was not that great. Since I had the time to practice up after ProLeague was over, I'm glad that I was able show the results of my effort. I will win my next match no matter what and make it to Code S.

Your opponent was the next candidate for the NesTea award, SuperNova. How did you prepare for him?

I thought he was a really good player but after I deciphered his skills, I realized he had a pattern to his play. I decided to win by playing it safely and that ended up working well.

You will face the winner of BBoongBBoong and GuMiho. Who do you want to face?

I want to face a Zerg. I tend to get a lot of headaches when I try to prepare for PvTs. PvTs are so difficult because you have to play defensive. It'll be easier for me to prepare for a PvZ where I can be the one being aggressive.

If you end up in the Up/Downs, you'll have to play in a full group league.

I didn't get to experience anything like that back in my BW days. Since there are so many games, it's going to be a battle of basics. I think I'll have to prepare through laddering.

You're currently in the MvP league. How is your first online tournament going?

I got nervous at first because I realized I didn't know my opponents' styles. But then I realized as I kept on playing that it's pretty much like laddering.

How do you think about the MvP format?

I think it's designed so that players who excel in the basics do really well. It's an online tournament but in the beginning I went to an auxiliary stadium and did as the audience told me to do. And because I did that, I faced no difficulties. It was comfortable because I could play in a place where I usually practice.

Currently MvP requires you to play a lot of games.

At first, I was feeling the pressure mentally but I think I've gotten used to it with all those losses (laughs). I think I get positive results the more comfortably I play.

With your victory, every STX member was able to advance to the third round today.

This is true. We already had many members get past the preliminaries so it would be great if we could all make it to Code S as well. I think it'll be hard for all of us to advance as we head to the top rounds, but I hope we all do well and get there together.

Anything else you would like to say?

Last hyung was so close but ended up losing in the OSL so I hope he remains strong. He's great in practice and he's good enough to be recognized by the audience members. I've seen him get stressed over the fact that he's had poor ProLeague results but I believe that he'll do well.

Source: This Is Game

Tell us how you feel about making it to the third round.

Last March, I lost to BBoongBBoong in the GSTL and failed to make it to the finals. I'm glad I was able to grab revenge.

How did you prepare for today's match?

I noticed my opponents likes to use mostly lings. So I devised plans so that I can comfortably get through the beginning of the game.

You lost in game two and allowed him to tie up the score.

All three games, I was able to match his play with mine. It's just that I lost too many hellions in game two and ended up losing that one. Aside from that, I can't really think of anything else.

After watching your games, it felt like you really wanted revenge.

In order for me to win, I have to respond properly to the infestor/brood lord composition. Around the middle of the game, I rallied wrong and ended up not having enough of an army.

A lot of people complain about late game against Zerg.

On a map like Daybreak where you're split half and half or on a map like Ohana where there aren't many expansions, it's really hard for Terrans to win against Zergs. But if you're on a big map, then it's doable. You can't really have the army composition to handle a Zerg's composition when you're on a map with the same amount of expansions.

With today's victory, you advance to face Trap in the next round.

I am better at my TvP than my TvZ so I'm not worried. I was able to figure out Trap's style by watching his match today so I think the only thing left for me to do is to just make sure I prepare well. I don't think it'll be that difficult. I think I'll be fine as long as I play defensive. I don't really think there is anything specific that I'll be able to do. The key will be to respond to any given situation. I think I'll definitely be able to make it back to Code S even if I fall to Up/Downs.

You have a match against TSL tomorrow. How are the preparations going?

We're preparing for the match just like we always did. We want to make sure we have no regrets even if we do lose.

If you do get sent out tomorrow, who do you want to face?

I want to face HyuN. I lost to him in the IPL Fight Club so I want revenge. Personally, I find it easier on me to face someone I've already lost to before.

You have been receiving a lot of attention because of last season's GSTL finals. You must be feeling some pressure because of that.

As of right now, I'm feeling a lot of pressure. It's pretty bad that I just want to forget about it. But now that I think about it, it's just a shame on me that I can't seem to overcome that feeling. It makes me realize "wow, I'm still weak." That's why I am going to work even harder.

Anything else you would like to say?

First off, I want to thank my parents. Then, I want to thank coach Choya, and coaches Choi and Kwon. I want to thank JKS hyung and Lucky hyung for helping me with practice. Lastly, I want to thank our sponsors FXO, RAZER, and Twitch.tv.