After his complete annihilation of Midas in this year’s $25,000 WCG final, I managed to corner the new champ and ask him a couple questions before the throng of adoring fans descended upon him with pens and shirts to sign.
Through a translator: (who was gorgeous)
Congratulations on winning this year’s WCG, you looked pretty really relaxed for all your games. Are you always this relaxed when you play?
Not this relaxed, but no pressure here.
This is a different environment from OGN StarLeague for sure. How much practice did you put into this tournament compared to OGN play?
I don’t have to practice for this tournament. Same team members, and I played at the hotel.
On the second game versus Midas, you went 14 CC while he went 2 port. What did you think of his build?
It was too slow. Bad. I already could cover my base.
When you were here, you got a chance to see non-korean gamers that you don’t normally see in Korea, did anyone stand out?
Giyom.
Yes, every Korean progamer says Giyom. Your matches were over so quickly that you had lots of time to wait at your computer for the next round. I saw that you watched many replays, did anyone else look good to you?
Androide and Mondragon.
Do you play any non-koreans in Korea? Do you now of the foreigner StarCraft community?
I know mondragon, I think his play is good. I don’t play non-koreans ever.
Any predictions on your match against Reach in StarLeague next week? Will you win?
I think so.
No no no , you WILL win! I have faith in you!
Haha, ok.
So do you ever play battle.net or other public servers?
No.
Will you play me on battle.net?
No.
After a bout of pleading and begging, and a little crying, I then went on to describe teamliquid.net and what we do. Xellos seemed amazed that we were discussing him back before he graduated high-school (find this HERE in the mensrea interview with Elky) I described the game reporting, liquibet, and the community in general, and how rabid foreign fans were about Korean progaming. He seemed genuinely impressed, and I gave him my card, making him promise to come and post on the forum. Aso, translator lady, please visit if you are reading this, you are so mannered and so beautiful.
Congratulations again, and thanks you very much.
Thank you.
Xellos was really mannered, especially because he got mobbed outside the venue with people wanting his autographs. I guess he is used to it, coming from korea, and he accepted all the attention with grace and humility.
Here are a couple pictures taken by the coolest Slovakian I have ever met, Wicked:
Xellos with Wicked outside the venue. Xellos actually smiled, which is a little rare considering how shy he is. Maybe it is because Wicked spent his time getting wasted with ForU on european absinthe.
Xellos with Manifesto7 and Mani's shit eating grin. Notice how in this picture he is not smiling nearly as much.
This is my StarCraft disc, which Xellos signed and dated.
Thats it from this year's WCG. Lots of impressions and reactions of the event itself are brimming on these fingers, but my ride is leaving.
Cheers,
Mani