Original Author: War3station.
Translator: Huahua and GLH.
After the Group stage 1 and before the Round of 8, War3station had an interview with Chaemiko. Take a read for it!
Q: Hi Chaemiko, I am a reporter with War3station here to do an interview with you.
Chaemiko: Hi.
“I originally had some good strategies prepared, but in the end I just played my regular style.”
Q: I want to congratulate you for getting into the top 8 for the first time! How did you feel after you made it out of the group stage?
Chaemiko: This was the first time that I made it to the top 8, so I felt just so happy. On top of that, I think my group wasn’t too difficult compared with other groups, so basically if I played well I would advance, while if I played poorly I would just lose. So being able to make it into the top 8 just makes me feel so happy.
Q: In the group stage, you beat fly twice. What was the key to these victories? Could you comment on these two series?
Chaemiko: In the first Bo3, Fly really prepared for the 3 maps. The first map, he was really well prepared and I sort of just panicked which resulted in me losing. In the second and third map, I originally had some good strategies prepared, but in the end I just played my regular style. As for the losers group final, I think it went basically the same way.
The feeling after lost to Moon with 0-7.
Q: Before WCG, you beat Lyn and Focus – two very strong orcs. Why do you think your Human Vs Orc matchup is so strong?
Chaemiko: WCG was just a Bo1 so there are a lot of variables. But this time, it was Bo3. Also, HUM vs ORC really depends on the map, so when change maps, if it’s map that is favorable for humans, then humans do well.
Q: In the WSB (A Korean tournament) you lost to 0-7 to Moon. At the time, losing in a full blowout, were you in a terrible mood?
Chaemiko: After those matches, I kept thinking that I need to become stronger. After that, I went and saw the movie Whiplash. The main theme of this film is that whenever you suffer setbacks, you have to push yourself forward and work hard to overcome them. So after watching that movie, I strengthened my resolve to get better.
“But given another chance, I’m confident I could beat Moon.”
Q: But in this match you nearly defeated Moon. Before this match, how did you adjust your mentality and strategies?
Chaemiko: My mentality mainly changed during the tournament. In the first match, I was still somewhat nervous. But during the second match, I just let loose and started chewing gum which really helped me relax. Then I wasn’t so nervous.
Q: During the match with Moon, what particular points did you not handle well which led to your loss against him? Suppose you were given another shot, do you think you could beat him?
Chaemiko: During the second match on Amazonia, after I took out his expansion, I should have directly started my own expansion, but I didn’t immediately do it. After I exceeded 50 supply, he was already upgrading units and building a big force, which made it somewhat difficult to play.
Playing Terenas Stand in the 3rd match, after I drove the Night Elf away, I should have built a tower on the bridge and used my Mortar teams to destroy the mine. After the tower was built, I could have defended it against the night elf. But I did not do this.
But given another chance, I’m confident I could beat Moon.
“I am fully engaged in playing Warcraft III.”
Q: From 2018 until now, your progress has been obvious to all. How were you able to raise your level of play so quickly?
Chaemiko: Watch a lot of replays. In addition, there has been a lot of recent patches and I think watching these replays is not only a important factor for helping yourself practice, but also you can see how others practice. Through a 3rd party perspective, seeing how others play improve your own understanding, allowing you to slowly work out a strategy.
Q: How is your life these days? Are fully engaged as a Warcraft pro gamer or do you also have other work?
Chaemiko: Last year, I worked part-time while also playing Warcraft. For this year, after joining the WNS team, I am fully engaged in playing Warcraft III.
Q: You, Sok, and WhO have all joined the WNS team. Could you give us a brief introduction of this team?
Chaemiko: I just recently joined, so I am also not super familiar with it yet. As far as I know, this team has always had a LoL division and recently they have added a Fortnight and Warcraft III branch. So currently speaking, our team has 3 sections.
“I think we are still learning from TH000 and Infi.”
Q: In this WGL, the achievements of the Human players has been very noticeable with many people saying that this version is tilted towards Human players. Do you also think that Humans are the strongest in this patch?
Chaemiko: Matching up against the Night Elves or the Orcs is perhaps a little bit easier. In regards to Human vs Undead, I still not sure if there is an advantage.
Q: For a long time, Human players have been somewhat inferior compared to the other 3 races in Korea. However, this time, you and Sok have both made it into the top 8. Do you think the gap between you two and the top players have narrowed?
Chaemiko: No, I don’t think the gap has really narrowed. TH000 and Infi are both playing really well. I think we are still learning from them.
“Is Korea currently the strongest country?” Asked the author.
Q: We noticed that after you make it out of the group stages, you pointed to the Korean flag on your lower chest. At that moment, what were you feeling? Among the top 8, 5 of them are Koreans, 2 are Chinese, and 1 European. Do you think the overall strength of the Korean players are now the strongest in the world?
Chaemiko: I think it depends on the situation at certain times. Although in the past, Korean players were doing somewhat better, but recently, like during NeXT, Infi and TH000 won first and second place. So mainly it depends on the conditions of the player as well as the situation of that certain period. So it can’t really be said that Korea is currently the strongest country. As for the national flag, there was no special reason, it was on my clothes and I just pointed at it.
“My goal this year is to get into the top 4.”
Q: As you have inched your way towards now becoming a professional Warcraft III player, who are you most grateful to? Who has helped you the most?
Chaemiko: My family. They have never been opposed to me playing games. For example, during my freshman year of college, I told my dad that I wanted to become a professional player, and he not only didn’t object and stop me, but even supported me. Besides my dad, my mom and brother gave me all kinds of support.
Q: How do you see your own future? And are you looking forward to one day getting the offline championship?
Chaemiko: My goal this year is to get into the top 4. As for a championship, perhaps next year.
I am really grateful to all the fans who have continuously supported me.
Q: Your group in the top 8 includes 120, TH000, and Sok. Your first match is against 120. Has your confidence improved?
Chaemiko: 120 is an incredibly strong player. As far as I am concerned, he is a pretty tough player to play against. Although very difficult, I am going to still try my hardest to take 1 match from him. I’m not too confident I can get into the top four, anyways.
Q: We have discovered that you often stream. Before we finish this interview, is there anything you would like to say to your fans.
Chaemiko: I really didn’t expect to make it into the top 8 this time. I am really grateful to all the fans who have continuously supported me. This motivates me to continue making progress. Thank you all!
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