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Swarm vs Swarm: ISL 7 Grand Final Interview
by FearlessMango · 2012-10-05
Hello everyone, I'm glad you all could join me. I'm back this week with another interview and this time, it's with the two ISL 7 finalists: HidE and Mafia Zerg !
As everyone should know, we're less than a day away from one of the biggest matches ever. The two best Zergs in the game take the stage as they both try to get their claws on the fabled ISL gold. The winner will cement the beginning of his legacy, while the loser will be forced to wait in agony as he hopes for another chance.
I welcome you to take a lot into the minds of these two bright stars and see just what they're feeling leading up to Saturday. So sit back, grab your reading glasses, and enjoy the interview.
- - -
#HidE
Me: Hello HidE ! I'm glad to finally meet you face-to-face and I'm thrilled to be interviewing you today. As a Zerg enthusiast, I love watching and keeping tabs on the best players the swarm has to offer, and you're certainly at the top of that list. Now, to start things off, I'd like to know how you feel about making it to the Final of ISL 7. All of that grueling practice, the hours and hours of perfecting your play; it's finally come to fruitition. What are your emotions like? What went through your mind when Ghost typed GG for the last time in your Semi-Final match?
#
HidE : Hi! I felt relief when Ghost conceded in the last game, to be honest. Last time I was very confident and determined to get to the finals and win the whole thing, but I failed. This time around I prepared even harder and rested properly, so I am very happy and relieved that it all turned out well.
#
Me: In the previous ISL, your run was stopped short in your Semi-Final match against TORRES . As his manager, I was honestly surprised because I thought you would win, go on to face BIRDMAN in the Final, and defeat him soundly to signify the passing of the torch or something. Regardless, you've more than made up for that in ISL 7 so far, as you've only lost 2 games throughout this run, and you broke my heart when you got revenge against TORRES extremely convincingly (you didn't even let him win 1 game ;_;). Apart from the two Zergs you beat in the Ro64: imitati0n and Arsenal , you've only played against Terrans since. Your ZvT is obviously in top form, but how do you feel about ZvZ? What sort of mindset will you have going into the Final? Are there any players you have been practicing with in preparation for it?
#
HidE : I mostly practice ZvZ with raiD and Kolll . During my first days of BW I practiced a lot with Mafia Zerg and he was always the better ZvZ'er. But time's changed and not long ago we had a huge series of matches, which I won the most! :) Being first time in ISL finals I am definitely going to win it - my determination and desire to do so are too strong.
#
Me: Going off the last question, your team has had a rather extensive rivalry with Mafia Zerg 's team, but the two of you have only ever played 3 official games against each other and you currently lead the series 2-1. What are your feelings toward Mafia Zerg ? With this being the first ZvZ final in ISL history, does that give you any extra motivation to defeat him?
#
HidE : I always had mixed feelings being on rival teams with Mafia Zerg . Being his friend since childhood, I've always wanted to play together with him. On the other hand, the rivalry always made the matches between our teams pretty special and that always meant the time to show each other how'd progressed. I still hope that someday we will play together in the same team, NB hopefully :D
#
Me: No matter who wins this match, Zerg dominance will continue in ISL lore. But, if you win, many will rise up and begin to speak of you as the best Zerg player ever (if they haven't started already). After all, you've already got an IRCSL title under your name. Should you win this ISL gold, will that propel you to achieve greater heights? Will your next goal be that of challenging (and surpassing) BIRDMAN 's feat of 3 ISL golds?
#
HidE : Winning 3 ISL golds at this stage is much harder than when it was during BIRDMAN 's prime. There are a lot of young talented players who amaze me with their growth rate. As for the Zerg dominance, I think Zergs just found the right strategies that work very well. I feel Protoss players are finding new ways of dealing with them, though.
#
Me: I believe it's time to conclude this interview. I appreciate and thank you deeply for participating, HidE . Now, I'm sure everyone would love to know.. what is your personal prediction for this match? Also, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans? Or to Mafia Zerg himself?
#
HidE : I want to thank all the fans who supported me all the way to the finals. And sorry Mafia Zerg , but my desire to win in the finals is too strong! You're going down, buddy!
- - -
#Mafia Zerg
Me: Hey Mafia Zerg ! I'm excited to be sitting here with the other participant of the ISL 7 Grand Final. What a day, to be able to interview two of the best Zergs out there, a joyous moment for myself. As always, to start off this interview, I'd like to poke a bit inside of you and bring out your true emotions. Tell me, after that long and arduous Semi-Final between you and BIRDMAN , describe how you felt when you saw him GG for the last time and you ensured your spot in the Final. What kind of feelings were running through your mind at that point?
#
Mafia Zerg : To be honest I was shaking. About the whole week I kept practicing ZvZs with about every decent korean zerg in the circuit (including HidE ) and everytime I felt like I was losing my time focusing on an ISL game I would lose anyway while my teammates gave their heart out to minimize the losses of having me out of the lineup. As I said in my previous interview, no way on earth did I believe I could beat someone who was beaten only once in a Bo5 before that moment. To be honest I couldn't think much, I fist pumped the air a few minutes before seeing that HidE won the other semi-finals, and that the road to the ISL gold would be hardeous but not impossible after what I achieved.
#
Me: Prior to ISL 7, you had never made it past the Ro16 before. In fact, during the Prop 19 ISL, FrOzean defeated you in the Ro16 and prevented you from continuing. But, you certainly got your revenge this time around in the Ro32, as you not only beat him once, but you beat him twice to secure your spot in the last 16. Now, I know that your matches since then haven't exactly been cakewalks. Rather, they were more like cardiac attacks as they were very close, such as your Quarterfinal match against Misaya and of course, your Semi-Final match with BIRDMAN . But, you do have somewhat of an edge, as you've been able to play against a handful of Zergs throughout this ISL. Do these extra ZvZ games provide anything for you? What sort of mental state do you have to put yourself in to prepare for HidE ? Are there people you've been practicing with, such as teammates, or perhaps outside sources?
#
Mafia Zerg : While they haven’t been cakewalks, I’d say that they weren’t very hard either before Ro8. In fact, I expected to have easy road to semi-finals but Misaya proved to be much greater opponent than expected (Purple isn’t the best ZvP practice partner, he’s good, but he sure doesn’t revolutionize the matchup so far [laugh]). That win over FrOzean was partly due to the break we had that week, but I’m really happy to have had that extra moment to prepare my builds against him.
I don’t think having practiced tons of ZvZs during the last weeks will give me an advantage during finals. As my teammate Sync once stated during practice : ZvZ is such a quick matchup that you can practice tons of games in a short time, TvT games are so long and exhausting that you’re burned after doing a single Bo11. I believe he’s right, I had time to practice with ton of Zergs before playing BIRDMAN , and now I believe HidE has all the time he needs to mind himself to play a matchup he’s already great at. HidE was even kind enough to practice with me for my games against BIRDMAN , I don’t remember the results, but he sure had a big edge there.
I’m trying to rest mentally and practice with my teammates as much as I can right now. I didn’t hear that HidE practiced with anyone exterior so far and it’s same thing for me, trying to focus as much as I can for the next 5 games (if I am really to win, it’ll take 5 games for sure) and keep calm and chiving on until the finals.
#
Me: I mentioned this with HidE , and I'll bring it up with you as well. Both of your teams have a longstanding rivalry, dating back to League 2.3. But, in spite of the number of times your teams have matched up against each other, the two of you have only played 3 games. You're trailing the head-to-head series 1-2, but do those previous games really matter for this particular match? After all, the two of you are starting the Final with a clean slate. The score will be 0-0 until one of you wins the first game. As soon as the Final was decided, many people already wrote you off. They began to clamor and say that this victory for HidE would lay the foundation for his domination until someone takes him down. It's evident that you are the underdog in this situation but does it give you any extra incentive to win this ISL and quiet the critics? Or do you approach this in a different manner? Also, how do you feel about HidE ?
#
Mafia Zerg : Indeed, the score will start blank and everything, official or practice matches we ever played together will be a mere souvenir that we won’t think about during the heat of the battles. I indeed believe I am the underdog there, it’s the first time I go through Ro16 and HidE already got a semi-final on his belt. He’s also first ELO since a long time while I struggle keeping top 20. However, I don’t really bother about people’s thoughts or whatever critics you may mean, I will do everything I can do in order to win that match, but it won’t be to show off in front of people, it will be because I want to win and I believe that after everything I went through, a second place isn’t enough anymore.
I feel HidE will be prepared and will want to win as much as me, even though I know he expected and wanted to face BIRDMAN in the finals, I hope he won’t take it easy because of that and that he will still prepare the same way which made him get to the finals and made him the best player according to Sespa.
#
Me: Should you win your first ISL gold, you will join the likes of Soulkey , BIRDMAN , Huss , and Lightning in ISL fame. To be a part of such a small group is surely uplifting, is it not? On top of that, you would surely be crowned the top Zerg (or player) if you take down the current #1 in HidE . If you are victorious, would that plant a seed inside of you to try even harder to win multiple golds and cement your legacy as the best Zerg? What would be your next goal if you do manage to win this ISL?
#
Mafia Zerg : It definitely would, but I believe the group is indeed too small. Competitive Starcraft is still pretty young and seeing so few players certainly tells you that the better has yet to come. I really hope that my hard work will list me along those who won, and that the list will grow bigger and bigger as time goes by, showing that our passion is still alive in the hearts of many. If I manage to win against the powerhouse I’m about to face, for sure I will try my hardest to reach the finals once again, but I will also try to share my experience with my teammates so that they are able to live the feeling I’m living right now. I live day-by-day (T-ara plug :P), I don’t have any goals in my mind so far, as I’m only focusing on finals, I don’t even know about how our team is doing in league matches, I want to win and I won’t let anything distract me.
#
Me: Unfortunately, I feel that it's time to bring this interview to an end. I'm very grateful that you took the time out of your schedule to chat with me, and I thank you for that, Mafia Zerg . As always, is there anything you would like to say to your fans? Do you have any words for your opponent, HidE ? And finally, what is your prediction for the ISL 7 Grand Final?
#
Mafia Zerg : Thank you for having an interview with me. I would like to tell my fans that even though the road wasn’t easy, now that I made finals, whether I win or lose, I have given everything in order to perform as best as I can for this finals. To HidE , I’m happy to meet you in finals. I have defeated the legendary BIRDMAN himself to get there, it would be unfitting to meet anyone else than the best player in any league, at any point in the game. You may not have any golds in your backpack yet, but you are the best anyway. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best, and that’s what I hope to do during the finals.
As far as prediction goes, I’m pretty sure the 'overcome all' race should win.
- - -
That brings us to the end of this interview. I hope you've all enjoyed reading it as much as I did conducting it. I really appreciate HidE and Mafia Zerg for participating and allowing me to interview them. Also, a big thank you to everyone that took the time to read it.
Enjoy the finals :)
As everyone should know, we're less than a day away from one of the biggest matches ever. The two best Zergs in the game take the stage as they both try to get their claws on the fabled ISL gold. The winner will cement the beginning of his legacy, while the loser will be forced to wait in agony as he hopes for another chance.
I welcome you to take a lot into the minds of these two bright stars and see just what they're feeling leading up to Saturday. So sit back, grab your reading glasses, and enjoy the interview.
- - -
#HidE
Me: Hello HidE ! I'm glad to finally meet you face-to-face and I'm thrilled to be interviewing you today. As a Zerg enthusiast, I love watching and keeping tabs on the best players the swarm has to offer, and you're certainly at the top of that list. Now, to start things off, I'd like to know how you feel about making it to the Final of ISL 7. All of that grueling practice, the hours and hours of perfecting your play; it's finally come to fruitition. What are your emotions like? What went through your mind when Ghost typed GG for the last time in your Semi-Final match?
#
HidE : Hi! I felt relief when Ghost conceded in the last game, to be honest. Last time I was very confident and determined to get to the finals and win the whole thing, but I failed. This time around I prepared even harder and rested properly, so I am very happy and relieved that it all turned out well.
#
Me: In the previous ISL, your run was stopped short in your Semi-Final match against TORRES . As his manager, I was honestly surprised because I thought you would win, go on to face BIRDMAN in the Final, and defeat him soundly to signify the passing of the torch or something. Regardless, you've more than made up for that in ISL 7 so far, as you've only lost 2 games throughout this run, and you broke my heart when you got revenge against TORRES extremely convincingly (you didn't even let him win 1 game ;_;). Apart from the two Zergs you beat in the Ro64: imitati0n and Arsenal , you've only played against Terrans since. Your ZvT is obviously in top form, but how do you feel about ZvZ? What sort of mindset will you have going into the Final? Are there any players you have been practicing with in preparation for it?
#
HidE : I mostly practice ZvZ with raiD and Kolll . During my first days of BW I practiced a lot with Mafia Zerg and he was always the better ZvZ'er. But time's changed and not long ago we had a huge series of matches, which I won the most! :) Being first time in ISL finals I am definitely going to win it - my determination and desire to do so are too strong.
#
Me: Going off the last question, your team has had a rather extensive rivalry with Mafia Zerg 's team, but the two of you have only ever played 3 official games against each other and you currently lead the series 2-1. What are your feelings toward Mafia Zerg ? With this being the first ZvZ final in ISL history, does that give you any extra motivation to defeat him?
#
HidE : I always had mixed feelings being on rival teams with Mafia Zerg . Being his friend since childhood, I've always wanted to play together with him. On the other hand, the rivalry always made the matches between our teams pretty special and that always meant the time to show each other how'd progressed. I still hope that someday we will play together in the same team, NB hopefully :D
#
Me: No matter who wins this match, Zerg dominance will continue in ISL lore. But, if you win, many will rise up and begin to speak of you as the best Zerg player ever (if they haven't started already). After all, you've already got an IRCSL title under your name. Should you win this ISL gold, will that propel you to achieve greater heights? Will your next goal be that of challenging (and surpassing) BIRDMAN 's feat of 3 ISL golds?
#
HidE : Winning 3 ISL golds at this stage is much harder than when it was during BIRDMAN 's prime. There are a lot of young talented players who amaze me with their growth rate. As for the Zerg dominance, I think Zergs just found the right strategies that work very well. I feel Protoss players are finding new ways of dealing with them, though.
#
Me: I believe it's time to conclude this interview. I appreciate and thank you deeply for participating, HidE . Now, I'm sure everyone would love to know.. what is your personal prediction for this match? Also, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans? Or to Mafia Zerg himself?
#
HidE : I want to thank all the fans who supported me all the way to the finals. And sorry Mafia Zerg , but my desire to win in the finals is too strong! You're going down, buddy!
- - -
#Mafia Zerg
Me: Hey Mafia Zerg ! I'm excited to be sitting here with the other participant of the ISL 7 Grand Final. What a day, to be able to interview two of the best Zergs out there, a joyous moment for myself. As always, to start off this interview, I'd like to poke a bit inside of you and bring out your true emotions. Tell me, after that long and arduous Semi-Final between you and BIRDMAN , describe how you felt when you saw him GG for the last time and you ensured your spot in the Final. What kind of feelings were running through your mind at that point?
#
Mafia Zerg : To be honest I was shaking. About the whole week I kept practicing ZvZs with about every decent korean zerg in the circuit (including HidE ) and everytime I felt like I was losing my time focusing on an ISL game I would lose anyway while my teammates gave their heart out to minimize the losses of having me out of the lineup. As I said in my previous interview, no way on earth did I believe I could beat someone who was beaten only once in a Bo5 before that moment. To be honest I couldn't think much, I fist pumped the air a few minutes before seeing that HidE won the other semi-finals, and that the road to the ISL gold would be hardeous but not impossible after what I achieved.
#
Me: Prior to ISL 7, you had never made it past the Ro16 before. In fact, during the Prop 19 ISL, FrOzean defeated you in the Ro16 and prevented you from continuing. But, you certainly got your revenge this time around in the Ro32, as you not only beat him once, but you beat him twice to secure your spot in the last 16. Now, I know that your matches since then haven't exactly been cakewalks. Rather, they were more like cardiac attacks as they were very close, such as your Quarterfinal match against Misaya and of course, your Semi-Final match with BIRDMAN . But, you do have somewhat of an edge, as you've been able to play against a handful of Zergs throughout this ISL. Do these extra ZvZ games provide anything for you? What sort of mental state do you have to put yourself in to prepare for HidE ? Are there people you've been practicing with, such as teammates, or perhaps outside sources?
#
Mafia Zerg : While they haven’t been cakewalks, I’d say that they weren’t very hard either before Ro8. In fact, I expected to have easy road to semi-finals but Misaya proved to be much greater opponent than expected (Purple isn’t the best ZvP practice partner, he’s good, but he sure doesn’t revolutionize the matchup so far [laugh]). That win over FrOzean was partly due to the break we had that week, but I’m really happy to have had that extra moment to prepare my builds against him.
I don’t think having practiced tons of ZvZs during the last weeks will give me an advantage during finals. As my teammate Sync once stated during practice : ZvZ is such a quick matchup that you can practice tons of games in a short time, TvT games are so long and exhausting that you’re burned after doing a single Bo11. I believe he’s right, I had time to practice with ton of Zergs before playing BIRDMAN , and now I believe HidE has all the time he needs to mind himself to play a matchup he’s already great at. HidE was even kind enough to practice with me for my games against BIRDMAN , I don’t remember the results, but he sure had a big edge there.
I’m trying to rest mentally and practice with my teammates as much as I can right now. I didn’t hear that HidE practiced with anyone exterior so far and it’s same thing for me, trying to focus as much as I can for the next 5 games (if I am really to win, it’ll take 5 games for sure) and keep calm and chiving on until the finals.
#
Me: I mentioned this with HidE , and I'll bring it up with you as well. Both of your teams have a longstanding rivalry, dating back to League 2.3. But, in spite of the number of times your teams have matched up against each other, the two of you have only played 3 games. You're trailing the head-to-head series 1-2, but do those previous games really matter for this particular match? After all, the two of you are starting the Final with a clean slate. The score will be 0-0 until one of you wins the first game. As soon as the Final was decided, many people already wrote you off. They began to clamor and say that this victory for HidE would lay the foundation for his domination until someone takes him down. It's evident that you are the underdog in this situation but does it give you any extra incentive to win this ISL and quiet the critics? Or do you approach this in a different manner? Also, how do you feel about HidE ?
#
Mafia Zerg : Indeed, the score will start blank and everything, official or practice matches we ever played together will be a mere souvenir that we won’t think about during the heat of the battles. I indeed believe I am the underdog there, it’s the first time I go through Ro16 and HidE already got a semi-final on his belt. He’s also first ELO since a long time while I struggle keeping top 20. However, I don’t really bother about people’s thoughts or whatever critics you may mean, I will do everything I can do in order to win that match, but it won’t be to show off in front of people, it will be because I want to win and I believe that after everything I went through, a second place isn’t enough anymore.
I feel HidE will be prepared and will want to win as much as me, even though I know he expected and wanted to face BIRDMAN in the finals, I hope he won’t take it easy because of that and that he will still prepare the same way which made him get to the finals and made him the best player according to Sespa.
#
Me: Should you win your first ISL gold, you will join the likes of Soulkey , BIRDMAN , Huss , and Lightning in ISL fame. To be a part of such a small group is surely uplifting, is it not? On top of that, you would surely be crowned the top Zerg (or player) if you take down the current #1 in HidE . If you are victorious, would that plant a seed inside of you to try even harder to win multiple golds and cement your legacy as the best Zerg? What would be your next goal if you do manage to win this ISL?
#
Mafia Zerg : It definitely would, but I believe the group is indeed too small. Competitive Starcraft is still pretty young and seeing so few players certainly tells you that the better has yet to come. I really hope that my hard work will list me along those who won, and that the list will grow bigger and bigger as time goes by, showing that our passion is still alive in the hearts of many. If I manage to win against the powerhouse I’m about to face, for sure I will try my hardest to reach the finals once again, but I will also try to share my experience with my teammates so that they are able to live the feeling I’m living right now. I live day-by-day (T-ara plug :P), I don’t have any goals in my mind so far, as I’m only focusing on finals, I don’t even know about how our team is doing in league matches, I want to win and I won’t let anything distract me.
#
Me: Unfortunately, I feel that it's time to bring this interview to an end. I'm very grateful that you took the time out of your schedule to chat with me, and I thank you for that, Mafia Zerg . As always, is there anything you would like to say to your fans? Do you have any words for your opponent, HidE ? And finally, what is your prediction for the ISL 7 Grand Final?
#
Mafia Zerg : Thank you for having an interview with me. I would like to tell my fans that even though the road wasn’t easy, now that I made finals, whether I win or lose, I have given everything in order to perform as best as I can for this finals. To HidE , I’m happy to meet you in finals. I have defeated the legendary BIRDMAN himself to get there, it would be unfitting to meet anyone else than the best player in any league, at any point in the game. You may not have any golds in your backpack yet, but you are the best anyway. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best, and that’s what I hope to do during the finals.
As far as prediction goes, I’m pretty sure the 'overcome all' race should win.
- - -
That brings us to the end of this interview. I hope you've all enjoyed reading it as much as I did conducting it. I really appreciate HidE and Mafia Zerg for participating and allowing me to interview them. Also, a big thank you to everyone that took the time to read it.
Enjoy the finals :)