[Daily e-Sports Kang Sung Gil journalist – gillnim@dailyesports.com]
*Together in the e-Sports world with SK Telecom (www.sktelecom.com)
Sources -
DES - Flash [2-0]
DES - Grape [2-1]
KT Rolster’s Lee Young Ho (Flash), “I cried because of our fans’ cheering”
As expected of Flash. After blasting through Bang Tae Soo (Alone), and Kim Yoon Hwan (Calm) the Starleague Dual Tournament Group A, he moved on as the group’s 1st place. This victory set the record for most Starleague entrances straight to 13. (Stork is also attempting for 13 straight)
Losing twice in the last Proleague Finals showing his tears, it was Flash regaining his commanding position as the ‘Ultimate Weapon’. He says, “If I reach the Ro8, I have a good chance to win” showing his confidence.
Q. How do you feel with 13-straight Starleague appearances?
Flash – Because I’m showing good results I do feel happy but honestly I’m a little tired. If I lost today that would take all the meaning out of training on my vacation days, I’m so glad I won. Now I want to enjoy my small break.
Q. It was vacation time, how did you prepare?
Flash – My teammates helped me a lot. The time to prepare was long so I took it easy, but when I did practice I concentrated well.
Q. You played two TvZ’s, was it prepared strategies?
Flash – I responded to my opponent’s game today. The players moved the way I wanted them too, so it ended out great.
Q. If you could say a word to your 13-kill Firebat.
Flash – I’m truly thankful. I won because of you (laugh).
Q. Why did you make a Firebat?
Flash – Because the build contains so many marines, you need to mix in at least one Firebat. I believe it was a good judgment.
+ Show Spoiler [Adventures of Firebraqhero] +
Need a light?
Come back here little chogoling~
Uses flamethrower.
Blisses uses softboiled.
Wut.
Into the fray.
Like a boss.
AHHHHHHH.
50hp 1armor es gud.
Time for my vacation.
Come back here little chogoling~
Uses flamethrower.
Blisses uses softboiled.
Wut.
Into the fray.
Like a boss.
AHHHHHHH.
50hp 1armor es gud.
Time for my vacation.
Q. You haven’t tasted victory in Starleague for a while. Do you have cravings to win?
Flash – If I reach the Ro8, I have a good chance to win.
Q. How are you going to spend the rest of your break?
Flash – I plan to cool off my head with a different game. I think me and my teammates will play some Special Force 2 together. I like playing FPS, so it’s perfect for getting rid of stress for me. I play with the KT Special Force team, but the level difference is too big so I don’t play often (laugh). I’m about average at it.
Q. Your fans must have been worried after the Proleague Finals.
Flash – In my time as a Progamer, I had many moments where I cried after I won, but this was the first time I cried after losing. After losing my first game and saw my teammates on the bench, I felt so sorry. I usually don’t shed tears. I was calm but when the fans gathered their voices “It’s okay Flash, fighting”, that moment I was so deeply moved that I cried. I thought that, ‘For this pleasure I play games’, and felt pleased. I want to thank the fans. And I recognized the competition without blame. (laugh) I hope people don’t understand, those tears were not from losing the game.
Q. Any last words.
Flash – Even though it was break days for my teammates, I think I won because they came and cheered. Who helped me practice Taegyun-ee (Perefectman),[Koh] Kangmin-ee hyung (HoeJJa), and to Sungdae (Action) I want to say thanks. Guess I should buy them a tasty meal (laugh).
Samsung KHAN's Yu Byung Joon (Grape), “The goal is Royal Roader”.
Seeing the entries for group A, most people expected KT’s Flash and STX’s Calm to move on without problems. In games 1 and 2, they both won their games and the predictions seemed to come true, not many people would have expected Grape to win over Calm in the final match.
But after losing his game against Calm in game 2, he showed strong play taking down Calm in the final match and succeeded on his 1st Starleague entry. As the first qualifier as a ‘Royal Roader’, Grape says “The goal is to win”, revealing his ambitions.
Q. At the end of the final matched you moved on, thoughts?
Grape – Really happy. As my first Starleague, this is my golden opportunity as a Royal Roader so I plan to approach this with a meticulous mindset.
Q. How did you prepare for your games?
Grape – I prepared mainly for Zergs. I had a good Terran build prepared for Flash, but I lost my first game and missed my chance to play him. In my first game against Calm, I think I lost because I was nervous which lead to mistakes (laugh). I sent my first probe to 5 o clock, but I got mixed up by a Kakaru thinking it was an overlord and returned my probe. Isn’t that funny (laugh).
Q. Your game with Alone was fierce.
Grape – During my game, my mind was blank. Around the middle, it was clear I was ahead but since I was absent-minded I could not finish the game in an advantageous situation. It was a tough game.
Q. This season’s goals.
Grape – The goal is to win. I want to walk the Royal Road.
Q. Tell us your resolution.
Grape – I could not show many things for Proleague. In Starleague I will show my true skills.
Q. Who would you like to meet in the Ro16, and race?
Grape – Recently I’m confident in my PvT. I don’t want to PvP much (laugh). I want either a Zerg or Terran opponent.
Q. How have you been?
Grape – For preparing for Starleague, I focused on making builds and just staying warmed up. I practiced SC2 at the same time.
Q. Anything you want to say.
Grape – Lots of people helped out. Junhee-hyung (Juni), Younghan-hyung (Shine), and Noyeol-hyung (RorO) invested a lot of time to help me practice. The Terran players helped out a lot too. The Protoss-hyungs also helped make builds bit by bit. Thank you all. Also today is Oh Sang Taek coach-nim’s birthday, I would like to say Happy Birthday.
Edit - *not total appearances, but in a row. Thx ZBiR.