Source: This Is Game
You took a victory in the Ro32 of Code S. Please tell us your thoughts.
I came here in a very relaxed mood, thinking that it would be all right even if I dropped out. Deep down, though, I did want to advance, and I feel great that I ultimately managed to do it.
You played in a group of very strong players such as TaeJa and NesTea. Did you predict that you would make it out of your group first?
I believed that if I didn't manage to come out first, I would end up getting knocked out; that was a feeling that I had. I felt uncertain and thought that I would have a difficult time if I went all the way to the final match due to TaeJa and NesTea-hyung being in my group.
Since you have Proleague on your schedule, too, you must have had trouble preparing for the GSL.
I wasn't able to prepare specifically [for today], so I had the mindset that I should focus on my fundamentals when going into my matches. Unlike in Proleague, I feel comfortable in the GSL, and I think that I perform better in the GSL because of that.
Why do you feel more comfortable at the GSL?
Maybe it's because this is an individual league, but I somehow feel more relaxed in the booth here rather than the one at Yongsan. I don't know the reason all that well (laughs).
Against TaeJa, you showed late-game macro-oriented play with a Muta-Ling-Bane unit composition.
I felt something when I lost to TaeJa at MLG and WCG, and when watching his VODs, I determined that he tends to go for standard play with a heavy-econ bio style. I played as I did because I thought that I could manage to win by playing high-econ, too.
Is there anyone whom you want to face in the Ro16?
I saw Life say that he wants revenge on me in his interview, so I won't try to avoid him, either. I advanced for Life, and if he chooses me, I will rise to the challenge. I'm thinking of creating a 4-Zerg group just like the one before.
Did you have any trouble because of the maps?
I hadn't practiced for Icarus, which I played on today. I did look at the map and think up strategies, and I determined that I could manage with the same strategies as the ones for standard maps.
What are your goals for this season?
When playing my Ro32 matches, I thought that I should play comfortably, but now that I'm in the Ro16, I've started wanting to reach the quarterfinals. As I watched the Code A qualifiers yesterday and today, I felt that I wanted to keep my spot in Code S, so I would like to win in the Ro16 to do so.
Do you have anything more that you would like to say?
I was in a lot of pain yesterday due to gastroenteritis, so I'm thankful to everyone who was concerned for me, and I'm sorry to my team for making them worry. I'm on my way to recovering, so I'll show a much better performance at Proleague, too.
Liquid`TaeJa
Source: This Is Game
You've succeeded in advancing to the Code S Ro16 at the end of the final match. Please tell us what you think.
I should be happy about making it to the Ro16, but I only feel sorry for the fans. My play wasn't very good, and I think it was because I wasn't able to prepare properly.
We've heard that you've been receiving treatment for two weeks, without even playing in Proleague.
I've been receiving treatment with steroid injections, but because it feels like the pain has been worsening, all I've been doing from one week ago onward is apply compresses at home. I wasn't able to get much practice.
How is your wrist as of right now?
It isn't all that terrible, but it's enough to be noticeable while playing. It feels like I'm wearing a small bag of sand while I'm playing the game. Because I've never been the type to exercise, I knew that this would happen one day, but I didn't know that this condition was such a serious one.
You have to participate in Proleague as well as play in the GSL. Does this feel like too much for you?
I want to play in Proleague, too, but I feel like I'll lose a lot and be a nuisance to my team. I'll go out if my manager says that I need to.
It seems that this will have an impact in your future play, too.
I'll be able to exercise my mental self-control and analyze VODs; outside of that, I'll have to be content with practicing a few games per day.
The group nominations are ahead of you. It seems that you'll need to be matched with easy opponents if you want to advance to the Ro8.
Because the matchup that requires the most micro for Terran is TvZ, I don't want to play TvZ. I want to play TvT or TvP.
Watching today's games, you seemed to have trouble with unit production and multitasking.
I feel that I'll have to work as hard as possible to overcome this. I have my limits, so I'll have to look at all of the maps the same way [while practicing]. If I watch out for Icarus, which tends to produce a lot of all-ins, I think I'll be able to do it.
Around how far do your goals for this season reach?
I don't know for certain yet. I want to see how far I can get by trying my best.
Have you set any final limits for yourself because of your injury?
I'm going to go as far as I can. If it even becomes difficult just to play the game, I think I'll have to receive surgery.
Tell us anything more you would like to say.
I've been staying at home and whining constantly since yesterday, but it's because of how stressed I am, so I hope that you understand. I'm thankful to my team's sponsors, Twitch.tv, Razer, Barracuda, and The Little App Factory. I've heard that Revival and Zenio have broken through the qualifiers, so I want to send my congratulations to them. Also, it's Symbol-hyung's birthday, so I want to congratulate him, too. I'll do my best so that I can perform well in Proleague in the future.
i was going to post this for todays interview but unfortunately i did not get the opportunity to do so. so, rip ;_;
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