Schlagwort-Archiv: Interview

Sebastien 'Firecake' Lebbe

Interview with Firecake: „I leave every ZvT and ZvZ in ladder“

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In an all-Protoss group, Sebastien ‚Firecake‘ Lebbe is the lonely Zerg tonight in WCS Europe. But as he tells in our interview, he has specially prepared for this situation: „I leave every ZvT & ZvZ in ladder in order to play only Protoss.“

[playerbox_firecake] How did you prepare for the Round of 32?
Well, I played a lot. Since I know my group, I leave every ZvT & ZvZ in ladder in order to play only Protoss and I have to thank my friends and my team to accept to train with me. I hope it will be enough.

How do you feel going into the matches?
It is going to be very tough. I believe I got the strongest group with three very high-level Protoss including two top Koreans. [babyknight] is a very dangerous Protoss, playing for the best French team. [first] has played for a long time for IM and [stardust] won a Dreamhack. I have so much respect for them and I wish them good luck. I will need to make a surprise. I am able to do it.

What are your chances to advance into Round of 16?
It is the third time i qualified for WCS Premier League Europe. This is a very high performance so i guess i am not so bad. I feel confident because i am able to deal with late game in ZvP. If i can deal with the 2 or 3 base all-ins, I will be fine.

Who will be your hardest opponent in the group and why?
I believe [stardust] has the strongest all-ins.

What are your goals for this season?
Advancing into Round of 16.

Marc 'uThemal' Schlappi Interview

Interview with uThermal: „I would be really embarrassed if I would lose every single map“

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In his first season of WCS Premier League, Marc ‚uThermal‘ Schlappi got three really tough opponents to beat. Therefore his goals are set very low, as he tells in this interview: „I just want to win one map.“ But the past days have shown that more is possible for dutch underdogs this season.

[playerbox_uthermal] How did you prepare for the Round of 32?
I don’t really prepare for people, i don’t like playing custom games that much either, so i just play the same amount of ladder as usual.

How do you feel going into the matches?
Not very good, my shape in both TvT and TvP is really bad at the moment, I don’t really have any strategies i can win with either.

What are your chances to advance into Round of 16?
On a good day, maybe 1%? haha

Who will be your hardest opponent in the group and why?
[mvp] for sure, it seems really hard to beat people that are better than you in TvT. In TvP and TvZ it is alot easier to make upsets, beating [mvp] is probably close to impossible for me.

What are your goals for this season?
I just want to win one map. I think it looks really silly when people qualify and then lose 0-4. So i would be really embarrassed if I would lose every single map.

Gerzegorz 'MaNa' Komincz

MaNa and BlinG in a double interview: „Snute is the best foreigner at the moment – and his play against Protoss is terrifying“

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They represent Protoss in tonights group of WCS Europe but neither Gerzegorz ‚MaNa‘ Komincz nor Samayan ‚BlinG‘ Kay feel like they are able to win the group. „Snute is the hardest opponent – for obvious reasons“, BlinG says. Yet both are confident to advance as second – if they get lucky when playing each other.

[playerbox_mana]
[playerbox_bling] How did you prepare for the Round of 32?
Mana: I didn’t prepare somewhat specially. I came up with a couple of ideas and tried to make them work. We will see today if they do.
Bling: I prepared with ladder games mainly and custom games when I could find them.

How do you feel going into the matches?
Mana: I feel good. I’ve been playing good recently even though I didn’t have much good results. It’s time to finally get some results again.
Bling: To be honest I don’t feel too confident, but then again I never do so lets see!

What are your chances to advance into Round of 16?
Mana: I would say it’s close to 70 percent, just because it’s mostly PvP-action and anything can happen.
Bling: I’d say I have a pretty good chance to advance, just depends who gets lucky in the PvP I guess!

Who will be your hardest opponent in the group and why?
Mana: My hardest opponent will be [snute] because we’re both teammates and he’s probably the best foreigner at the moment and his ZvP is terrifying for a long time already.
Bling: [snute] for obvious reasons. He’s playing pretty well as of late and especially against Protoss.

What are your goals for this season?
Mana: I’d like to make it at least to Top8. I used to be capable of pressuring myself to take the wins from tournaments, but now I want to take it slowly. I would be happy with Top8.
Bling: If I get to the Ro16 again I’ll be happy, but of course I’d prefer to get further than that.

Kristijonas "Krr" Barisas

Krr: „I could not prepare for Genius specifically, so i hope for the best“

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He doesn’t get nervous or angry, but not being able to prepare for his first WCS Challenger match ever bothers him: Kristijonas ‚Krr‘ Barisas debuts in the World Championship Series tonight in a best-of-five against Jung ‚Genius‘ Min Soo. The 24-year-old is the first Lithuanian in WCS and the only notable Starcraft-player of his home country. But Kristijonas had a lot more „first times“ he tells us about.

What was the first time…

[playerbox_krr]
… you got nervous because you realized you are close to qualify for WCS?
I don’t think i got nervous at all. This was only the first qualifier. I knew i had three more chances if this one was to fail. I don’t really get nervous at all. At least not that much that it would affect me.

… you evaluated your chances in the upcoming Challenger League?
It was after I saw my opponent in Challenger league, which is [genius]. But actually I can’t evaluate my chances against him, since I don’t know how active he is or how he plays. Haven’t seen him playing anywhere for a long time and can’t get any replays to analyze. So will just have to play and hope for the best without any specific preparation against him.

… you smashed an (in-)animate object after losing a game?
I’m not the kind of guy who does this. This has never happened to me. I don’t get angry or whatever.

… you traveled to an offline tournament?
First time I think was maybe Digifest in Estonia where I placed second. Don’t even remember how long ago it was. But its always fun to travel for me, no matter if with or without the game – I enjoy it.

… you ever played Starcraft II?
It was after i got the beta key. At first I thought broodwar was the better game, but I don’t think so anymore, this game is fast and entertaining.

… you shared a hotel room with another player?
Probably in Denmark, at Copenhagen games 2010 or 2011. We stayed at our teammates house, like five of us were there. Fun times.

… you went online?
Better would be to ask when i went offline 😀 Hm, i don’t know, somewhere in the childhood. Had no much interest in that at those times.

… you read a wise saying that really inspired you?
First to come to my mind is “never give up”. But that’s probably because i know only that one 😀

… you read a whole book in less than a week?
No idea. But if I read a book and like it, I usually finish it in a day or two. I’m not a reader though so that happens rarely.

Mathieu "MiNiMaTh" Perrus

MiNiMaTh: „Playing against ForGG is pretty terrible“

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He played Age of Empires at the age of 5, is pretty good at math and tries to fail better every time: Mathieu ‚MiNiMaTh‘ Perrus is one of three debutants in this season of WCS Europe. Before he faces Park ‚ForGG‘ Ji Soo tomorrow, he took the time to talk about some more of his „first times“

What was the first time…

[playerbox_minimath]
… you got nervous because you realized you are close to qualify for WCS?
I felt nervous playing against [adelscott] in the Ro16, because i know him very well and his playstyle is very annoying to me. I was not really nervous against [heromarine] one round earlier because I was the underdog in this match.

… you evaluated your chances in the upcoming Challenger League?
Well the upcoming day I started to look after my possible opponents. I was hoping for a Zerg or Protoss player but I got [forgg] so that’s pretty terrible.

… you read a wise saying that really inspired you?
Well I don’t know when about my first time, but this one really did: „Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.“

… you played a video game?
I was five years old in 1999 and I was playing Age of Empires. Best RTS game ever – after Starcraft of course 😀

… you traveled to an offline tournament?
Before going to Gamers Assembly 2011, i went to some little tournaments in an internet café named Cybernation in Paris. French guys will remember these good old times.

… you shared a hotel room with another player?
I think it was during the Gamers Assembly 2011. I was a member of the Sypher SC2 squad  – [feast] was the main player there back then.

… you read a whole book in less than a week?
I think it was harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when i was eight.

… you earned prize money in Starcraft 2?
I think it was in August 2011, I went to Marseille to train for a week in an internet café and I won a little tournament at the end of it and got 150 euro.

… you failed an exam?
At the age of 15 i failed a maths exam for the first time and this was a horrible feeling for me being good in maths 😀

… you really hated a specific race, unit or unit combination?
Protoss OP ! Back in Wings of Liberty, i hated sentries and forcefields, I thought it was too strong and i had been caught off guard so many times 😀

… you went online?
It was in 2000. We had internet very early at home so my big brother and me started playing Football manager games online.

… you beat a player that was allegedly much stronger than you?
Terrible question! I think it was [morrow] in a Craftcup, back when he was at the top. I beat [stephano] around the same time but he was not the beast we all know at that time.

… you left your home country?
I went to the United Kingdomat the age of 10 with my school. The trip was very cool but the food was disgusting. Sorry English people 😀

Snute

Last time… with Snute: „Usually i overestimate my opponents“

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The last time Jens ‚Snute‘ Aasgaard was in a WCS quarter-final was one year ago when he was still playing in America. Now he returned to Europe and reached to Round of 8 in his first attempt. The last six times he played against Mun ‚MMA‘ Seong Won – his opponent in WCS tomorrow – he lost. So before this match might be the last in this WCS season, we took the time to talk with the Norwegian about some more of his „last times“.

What was the last time…

[playerbox_snute]
… you bought something special from prize money?
After the Dustin March Madness Showmatch vs Team Acer i bought some new socks at the airport in Sweden. Brand new socks are one of my favorite things.

… you made an embarrassing mistake in an important match?
I managed to lose 15 swarmhost vs MMA in a game on Yeonsu in the Gfinity Elite Division … :/

… you tried a new strategy in a competition that you did not practice before?
The game i played vs MMA qualifies for that ^_^

… you lost an important item?
Hmm … on one of my first travels in esports I lost something very important ~_~ but now I’m more experienced when travelling so I don’t lose stuff.

… you skipped lunch or dinner in favor of Starcraft?
This happens sometimes, I don’t remember the last time though.

… you completely underestimated an opponent?
Can’t recall, usually I overestimate my opponents instead.

… you were on vacation?
I went on a tropical vacation in summer 2010, can’t remember any vacations after that. I always grind and practice in combinations with my travels so it’s not 100 percent vacation in the same way.

… you had a hard time sleeping prior to an upcoming match?
Usually I don’t sleep very well, it’s a bit random and not because of upcoming matches.

… you read Reddit/YouTube/TL-comments about yourself?
I read some comments after WCS, it’s always nice to read compliments from people watching the games.

… you went to the cinema?
Went to the movies with CJ Entus, this was in November 2013 🙂

… you really hated a specific unit or race in Starcraft?
No particular unit can be annoying, only combinations.

… you admired a korean player for his skill?
I haven’t watched that many Zerg games from recent tournaments but i was impressed by [forgg] in the Acer Teamstory Cup a few days ago.

… played Dance Dance Revolution? (Note: [snute] was norwegian champion once)
I don’t remember, maybe a few months?

… you thought about quitting Starcraft?
Before new year’s 2014, fortunately not since then ^^

Vortix

Last time… with Vortix: „I think i can win this WCS Europe“

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Tomorrow the quarter-finals of WCS Europe kick off and Juan ‚VortiX‘ Moreno Duran is one of three foreigners to take on the Koreans in the bracket. Since we are in knockout phase, the match against Jung ‚jjakji‘ Ji Hoon may be the last ones for Vortix this season – though he is confident to advance. But before anybody has to drop we took the time to talk with Vortix about more of his „last times“.

What was the last time…

[playerbox_vortix]
… you bought something special from prize money?
I don’t wait to get prize money for buying things that are special to me! 😀

… you made an embarrassing mistake in an important match?
This was in game 2 vs [babyknight] in Ro32 of this WCS season. The game was pretty much mine and I rallied my 12 swarmhosts into his army in a fight, lost them and therefore ended up losing the game – i won the series though!

… you lost an important item?
I lost my red pen in university last week. If it was the blue one I wouldn’t mind but I really liked my red pen 🙁

… you really hated a specific unit or race in Starcraft?
I really hated Terrans one month ago, but whining doesn’t make one better – even if I like to publicly do it for having fun reading the replies sometimes. It’s all about training the stuff you are not good in and improve this way.

… you felt the weather is too good to sit inside and play a video game?
I tend to go to the beach and do some stuff outdoors in summer and when there’s good weather – even though I still practise quite a lot. So I guess the answer would be „never“. Every day is good to play video games though. 😛

… you thought „I can win this WCS Europe“?
I’m thinking it right now 😀

… you skipped lunch or dinner in favor of Starcraft?
Never, i’ve got a good timetable!

… you felt that you belong among the best Starcraft players in the world?
In the world? That was in late 2012. But there’s a point when you have to face the reality. Being one of the best in Europe is already something I’m happy about, but of course that doesn’t mean I don’t try hard to become better and better and prove me wrong one day.

… you were on vacation?
I go on vacation every summer. Two weeks off without computer at all – as hard as it sounds.

… you were so angry about a match that you smashed something?
I’ve never smashed anything, but I kinda feel like everytime I play ladder and get ten Terrans in a row. So… yesterday.

… you admired a korean player for his skill?
I think it was [soulkey] vs [parting] like two months ago. The last game of their series really impressed me a lot. But talking about general stuff, i really admire [rogue], [soo] and [life] right now, they’re my favorite Zergs.

… you practiced with your brothers? (Note: [vortix] brothers are [lucifron] and [ryo])
I don’t even remember, it’s been so long! I guess it must have been in early Heart of the Swarm. I remember practising with my brother for WCS 2013 Season 1, so i think this was the last time.

… you shared a hotel room with another player?
I’ve only shared a room with my brothers so far. Last time it was for Spanish ESL Pro Series in January.

… you failed an exam?
More recently than I’d like 🙁

… you thought about quitting Starcraft?
Probably around mid January 2014. I was really out of shape and didn’t feel quite motivated, but since I finished my exams I gave it a go, started to analyse my gameplay and improved a lot by trying new strategies. I found that it wasn’t me being very bad, i just had to watch games from the top players and start to include new stuff into my own style. Then I regained motivation. Retiring is something I’m only gonna do when I’m 100 percent sure that i can’t compete at the highest level – or at least highest level in foreign scene –  anymore. Or if I think I can become pro at some other new game that I like more than Starcraft 2 – please let that be Warcraft 4.