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WCG2009 Champion interview in a magazine
http://news.replays.net/page/20100202/1451279.html
Since the interview / article is pretty long I don't have time to correct my spelling or grammatical mistakes, so please go easy on me
Q: I've seen all of your matches in WCG2009, did you think you were a favorite of this tournament?
Infi: I didn't think was one of the favorites during WCG 2009
Q:Why?
Infi: Sky was determined to get his 3rd gold medal while Fly was nearly invincible after winning 4 tournaments. I also didn't manage to qualify from group stage during the previous WCG, and I also didn't have much accomplishments that year.
Q: Last year's WCG was your first trip to the WCG Grand Finals right?
Infi: Yes, I always thought I could've won the tournament (WCG 2008 Cologne) due to my training and confidence. However the results were disappointing as I didn't qualify from the group stage
Q: Was the lack of experience a major factor for that?
Infi: Might be, I was thrown into the Group of Death with many skilled players and was shaken every time I lost some major matches. Attending the WCG Grand finals is a great opportunity for a Chinese player since the competition of the WCG Chinese qualifiers is tough, so I was pretty nervous at that moment.
Q: You were once asked about your conclusions of WCG 2008 and you replied "Losing a tournament doesn't mean much to me since I still have a lot of tournaments to attend. If I were to conclude every tournament wouldn't that be a too busy for me?" . Your answer had enraged many netizens
Infi: I guess I didn't interpret my message well enough, I meant that losing WCG is not the end of the world and I still have lots of tournaments to attend to prove myself.
Q: Is WCG2009 one of the tournament that you wanted to prove yourself?
Infi: (laughs) Given that I qualified for the WCG Chinese qualifiers, of course I won't miss that chance
Q: What's the difference between WCG 2008 and 2009 from your own perspective?
Infi: The Chinese WC3 players of WCG 2008 were TED, Like and I. Since that was our first trip to WCG and many people had high hopes on me. This time Fly and Sky are in the tournament, since they are both famous and accomplished players the pressure was on them therefore and I'm a little bit more relaxed. I also had great groups / seedings in that tournament
Q: Were you confidence of your skills back then? Many netizens have "exposed" that you didn't practice at all this WCG?
Infi: My way of training is just different from others
Q: Could you care to explain? Sky and Fly are both hardworking players. I've heard that Sky even practiced 1000 human mirror matches
Infi: When I first became a progamer I practiced for over 10 hours. But my training has decreased: sometimes I practice 10+ games per day or don't practice for a few days. It has to do a lot with the network, the opponent's condition and my mood. I no longer force my self to be in training schedules, I'd rather contact players to train with me whenever I feel like it.
Q: Seems like you're a talented (genius-type player) like xiaOt
Infi: I never thought I was a "genius-type" player and xiaOt is more talented than me. Again, training habit depends on the player himself. I'll train the way that suits me best and I may not improve if I were to traing 15+hours per day. The Norwegian player Creo didn't even train much during WCG 2007, but yet he won the tournament by defeating Sky in the finals.
Q: Why do you think xiaOt is more talented than you are?
Infi: (laughs) I always thought I was invincible in KOF (King of fighters) before knowing xiaOt
Q:When Sky was eliminated by Happy, did you have an urge to avenge Sky since you and Happy are in the same single eliminations
Infi: Sky's defeat was indeed a pity, I think he lost due to his mentality. My first LAN encounter with Happy was in PLG 2009. He defeated me quite easily and said to Grubby,"Why is it so easy?". Of course I would like to play against him again, I was pretty confident that I can beat him if I were to match up against him since I'm pretty confident in my HvU skills
Q: How about Moon? When you were playing against Moon in the Top 8, many people were concerned about you
Infi: I don't think Moon was at his peak during that tournament. I felt that I had a good chance of defeating him. I think Moon played poorly during the 3rd game and I was relieved after defeating him.
Q:When you entered the finals, did you think it was your chance to win?
Infi: To be honest, he's Fly, I felt that I only had a 40% chance of defeating him.
Q: Did the others think the same?
Infi: Probably 80% of the audience or maybe more, many of them were already bringing posters of Fly to prepare for his celebration.
Q: Was that a motivation for you to defeat him?
Infi: I don't really care about those things during a tournament. I also thought Fly wasn't undefeatable and I had my own chance
Q: You GG'ed after 5 minutes in Game 1, what were you thinking back then?
Infi: I was in bad shape during Game1 due to the creepjack. Instead of affecting the mindset of my next match, I forfeited the match quickly.
Q: But you seemed to be at a huge disadvantage in Game 2 before making an amazing comeback with an invisible summon harass. Many players claimed it was one of the most amazing games in WCG history
Infi: I was also in a disadvantage in game 2, but it wasn't that much of a disadvantage and I had my chances. About harassing peons with summons, I think it's a pretty common strategy in HvO, I've experienced that when I was practicing as Orc and I'd have to tell you that it's a pain in the ass
Q: Your comeback has reminded me of many comebacks in sports events such as Liverpool in Istanbul.Have you ever thought that you will win the tournament this way?
Infi: I usually just do my best in tournaments. In larger tournaments, there seem to be more unexplainable factors that surround you: It maybe luck, or maybe a state of consciousness which is something that we can't control. I felt lucky for winning this tournament. Fly is a great opponent since he defeated many top players. Fly and I have won the preserved gold medal for China before the finals, which was important.
Q: Let's know more about your personal life: Do your parents support your progaming career? I've heard that you persisted to quit school to become a progamer
Infi: Of course they didn't support me, they almost collapsed when they heard I was going to quit school. I was training abroad for tournaments back then and they sent me 200RMB monthly
Q: They meant that you should return home if you fail in progaming right?
Infi: Probably.
Q: Did you hate them for doing that?
Infi: Why would I? I was pretty satisfied with 200RMB per month. My parents were pretty soft on me already, without their understandings I wouldn't have been who I am today. Right until now I still feel ashamed.
Q: Sky had a pretty tough life before becoming famous, were you the same?
Infi: I was a lot more lucky than he was, there was a net cafe in Xi'An which was a boot-camp for team WE, and I was quite well known in that cafe. When they were forming the 08 team, I qualified into the team and gained some fame afterwards.
Q: I think every accomplished player has a turning point in his career. Such as Sky's 3rd place in WEG1, Grubby defeating Zacard in the WCG2004 finals, Moon's unscathed victory in WEG1, what about yours?
Infi: It must be the KODE5 champion. It was my first world tournament and I didn't expect myself to advance that far, not online win the tournament. That tournament had a profound effect on me up till today.
Q: Did you think you were on par with other top players by then?
Infi: Yes, you cannot deny it.
Q: After winnning many tournaments, did your parents' view to your progaming career change?
Inf:Of course, at least I proved that I can live off by my own with my progaming earnings. But since the entire society still has disputes towards E-sports so my parents are still concerned about my future career
Q: How about you, have you ever thought of your future career?
Infi: Not now since my progaming career still has a long way to go, but I'm that I will think of that in the future.
Q: When you were about to be champsion I was taking shots of you, most players react excitingly after winning such a tournament which is what I, as a reporter want to see you do the most, yet you were surprisingly calm after winning such as slowly taking off your earphones, not expressing any emotions when King was patting your shoulder until you reached the mainstage and waving the Chinese flag with a big smile
Infi: I was incredibly excited since I never thought that I've won this tournament. When I approached the main stage and saw many fans waving the Chinese flag for Fly and I, I was literally shaking.
Q: You are probably the calmest WCG champsion I've ever seen
Infi: It's because I'm more of an introvert, to be honest I was really excited after winning the tournament since it's one of the most emotional event of my career. I was out of words and in tears during the news conference.
Q: Who had more support from the audience during the finals? You are fly?
Infi: I would have to say fly since his record was pretty good prior to the tournament
Q: Did you invite Fly to your celebration feast?
Infi: Of course I did, but he refused since he had to practice in the net cafe.
Q: Let's disucss some touchy stuff, you are pretty controversial amongst progamers due to saying shocking comments.
Infi: I just say things in a straightforward way.
Q: In the WGT2008 group stages, you said that Orc is a race with the least amount of skills involved and enraged many netizens.
Infi: I think it was just a mistake. I was just saying: Orcs can go Blademaster+Raiders+Walkers against any race and it's easy for an Orc player to have good results. I didn't mean to offend the race or the players of that race.
Q: The worse thing is that you've once said you don't need support from any of your fans.
Infi: That's not what I said, I'm saying that progamers cannot gain anything good from fans. Wheenver I have bad results due to bad network with many netizens saying things such as "Infi disappointed his fans blahblahblah" or even criticize me harshly. Those comments are actually stressful for me, being a progamer in China is already a tough occupation and I hope both sides can understand the situation
Q: Do you still think it that way now?
Infi: Of course not and I'll have to take back what I just said. I think my accomplishments have a lot to do with my fans' support. I'd have to thank anyone who supported me.
Q: I've seen you updating your blog after the tournament which surprised many players. How come the once silent Infi begins to be more active lately? From their perspectives, Infi seems to have matured a lot.
Infi: I certainly hope so.
Q: But now people seem to criticize your playstyle which consists building a ridiculous amount of towers. Some people even said your playstyle is "lame" and destroys the fun of Warcraft 3, what do you have to say about it?
Infi: As a progamer I value my results and achievements the most. Building towers are needed in some strategic point of view such as the building locations of the towers, or the amounts of in a strategic sense unlike massing them to piss your opponents off. If i think that helps me to win tournaments I'd gladly do so. Some others playstyle's might look better than mines and win tournaments, but I don't have a reason to follow it. I think my own strategy works the best and so be it. I also never thought that I'm useless besides mass towers, which is a common bias against me.
Q: Many people tend to compare you with Sky, do you think you'll become the next Sky?
Infi: Sky has always been my most respected mentor. When I first entered WE I learned a lot from him by watching him play in tournament and he's an extraordinary player. I don't care who's going to surpass whom or who's going to replace whom, there can only be one Sky
Q: Many people said you're the new Human king
Infi: I prefer people calling me the "Tower Demon" more instead of "The new Human King" or "The 6th race"
Q: What is going to be your next goal?
Infi: I will always do my best for my future goals, I still have a lot of tournaments to play. Right now it is just the beginning
Translated by me
so sleepy now ~_~, night
Since the interview / article is pretty long I don't have time to correct my spelling or grammatical mistakes, so please go easy on me
Q: I've seen all of your matches in WCG2009, did you think you were a favorite of this tournament?
Infi: I didn't think was one of the favorites during WCG 2009
Q:Why?
Infi: Sky was determined to get his 3rd gold medal while Fly was nearly invincible after winning 4 tournaments. I also didn't manage to qualify from group stage during the previous WCG, and I also didn't have much accomplishments that year.
Q: Last year's WCG was your first trip to the WCG Grand Finals right?
Infi: Yes, I always thought I could've won the tournament (WCG 2008 Cologne) due to my training and confidence. However the results were disappointing as I didn't qualify from the group stage
Q: Was the lack of experience a major factor for that?
Infi: Might be, I was thrown into the Group of Death with many skilled players and was shaken every time I lost some major matches. Attending the WCG Grand finals is a great opportunity for a Chinese player since the competition of the WCG Chinese qualifiers is tough, so I was pretty nervous at that moment.
Q: You were once asked about your conclusions of WCG 2008 and you replied "Losing a tournament doesn't mean much to me since I still have a lot of tournaments to attend. If I were to conclude every tournament wouldn't that be a too busy for me?" . Your answer had enraged many netizens
Infi: I guess I didn't interpret my message well enough, I meant that losing WCG is not the end of the world and I still have lots of tournaments to attend to prove myself.
Q: Is WCG2009 one of the tournament that you wanted to prove yourself?
Infi: (laughs) Given that I qualified for the WCG Chinese qualifiers, of course I won't miss that chance
Q: What's the difference between WCG 2008 and 2009 from your own perspective?
Infi: The Chinese WC3 players of WCG 2008 were TED, Like and I. Since that was our first trip to WCG and many people had high hopes on me. This time Fly and Sky are in the tournament, since they are both famous and accomplished players the pressure was on them therefore and I'm a little bit more relaxed. I also had great groups / seedings in that tournament
Q: Were you confidence of your skills back then? Many netizens have "exposed" that you didn't practice at all this WCG?
Infi: My way of training is just different from others
Q: Could you care to explain? Sky and Fly are both hardworking players. I've heard that Sky even practiced 1000 human mirror matches
Infi: When I first became a progamer I practiced for over 10 hours. But my training has decreased: sometimes I practice 10+ games per day or don't practice for a few days. It has to do a lot with the network, the opponent's condition and my mood. I no longer force my self to be in training schedules, I'd rather contact players to train with me whenever I feel like it.
Q: Seems like you're a talented (genius-type player) like xiaOt
Infi: I never thought I was a "genius-type" player and xiaOt is more talented than me. Again, training habit depends on the player himself. I'll train the way that suits me best and I may not improve if I were to traing 15+hours per day. The Norwegian player Creo didn't even train much during WCG 2007, but yet he won the tournament by defeating Sky in the finals.
Q: Why do you think xiaOt is more talented than you are?
Infi: (laughs) I always thought I was invincible in KOF (King of fighters) before knowing xiaOt
Q:When Sky was eliminated by Happy, did you have an urge to avenge Sky since you and Happy are in the same single eliminations
Infi: Sky's defeat was indeed a pity, I think he lost due to his mentality. My first LAN encounter with Happy was in PLG 2009. He defeated me quite easily and said to Grubby,"Why is it so easy?". Of course I would like to play against him again, I was pretty confident that I can beat him if I were to match up against him since I'm pretty confident in my HvU skills
Q: How about Moon? When you were playing against Moon in the Top 8, many people were concerned about you
Infi: I don't think Moon was at his peak during that tournament. I felt that I had a good chance of defeating him. I think Moon played poorly during the 3rd game and I was relieved after defeating him.
Q:When you entered the finals, did you think it was your chance to win?
Infi: To be honest, he's Fly, I felt that I only had a 40% chance of defeating him.
Q: Did the others think the same?
Infi: Probably 80% of the audience or maybe more, many of them were already bringing posters of Fly to prepare for his celebration.
Q: Was that a motivation for you to defeat him?
Infi: I don't really care about those things during a tournament. I also thought Fly wasn't undefeatable and I had my own chance
Q: You GG'ed after 5 minutes in Game 1, what were you thinking back then?
Infi: I was in bad shape during Game1 due to the creepjack. Instead of affecting the mindset of my next match, I forfeited the match quickly.
Q: But you seemed to be at a huge disadvantage in Game 2 before making an amazing comeback with an invisible summon harass. Many players claimed it was one of the most amazing games in WCG history
Infi: I was also in a disadvantage in game 2, but it wasn't that much of a disadvantage and I had my chances. About harassing peons with summons, I think it's a pretty common strategy in HvO, I've experienced that when I was practicing as Orc and I'd have to tell you that it's a pain in the ass
Q: Your comeback has reminded me of many comebacks in sports events such as Liverpool in Istanbul.Have you ever thought that you will win the tournament this way?
Infi: I usually just do my best in tournaments. In larger tournaments, there seem to be more unexplainable factors that surround you: It maybe luck, or maybe a state of consciousness which is something that we can't control. I felt lucky for winning this tournament. Fly is a great opponent since he defeated many top players. Fly and I have won the preserved gold medal for China before the finals, which was important.
Q: Let's know more about your personal life: Do your parents support your progaming career? I've heard that you persisted to quit school to become a progamer
Infi: Of course they didn't support me, they almost collapsed when they heard I was going to quit school. I was training abroad for tournaments back then and they sent me 200RMB monthly
Q: They meant that you should return home if you fail in progaming right?
Infi: Probably.
Q: Did you hate them for doing that?
Infi: Why would I? I was pretty satisfied with 200RMB per month. My parents were pretty soft on me already, without their understandings I wouldn't have been who I am today. Right until now I still feel ashamed.
Q: Sky had a pretty tough life before becoming famous, were you the same?
Infi: I was a lot more lucky than he was, there was a net cafe in Xi'An which was a boot-camp for team WE, and I was quite well known in that cafe. When they were forming the 08 team, I qualified into the team and gained some fame afterwards.
Q: I think every accomplished player has a turning point in his career. Such as Sky's 3rd place in WEG1, Grubby defeating Zacard in the WCG2004 finals, Moon's unscathed victory in WEG1, what about yours?
Infi: It must be the KODE5 champion. It was my first world tournament and I didn't expect myself to advance that far, not online win the tournament. That tournament had a profound effect on me up till today.
Q: Did you think you were on par with other top players by then?
Infi: Yes, you cannot deny it.
Q: After winnning many tournaments, did your parents' view to your progaming career change?
Inf:Of course, at least I proved that I can live off by my own with my progaming earnings. But since the entire society still has disputes towards E-sports so my parents are still concerned about my future career
Q: How about you, have you ever thought of your future career?
Infi: Not now since my progaming career still has a long way to go, but I'm that I will think of that in the future.
Q: When you were about to be champsion I was taking shots of you, most players react excitingly after winning such a tournament which is what I, as a reporter want to see you do the most, yet you were surprisingly calm after winning such as slowly taking off your earphones, not expressing any emotions when King was patting your shoulder until you reached the mainstage and waving the Chinese flag with a big smile
Infi: I was incredibly excited since I never thought that I've won this tournament. When I approached the main stage and saw many fans waving the Chinese flag for Fly and I, I was literally shaking.
Q: You are probably the calmest WCG champsion I've ever seen
Infi: It's because I'm more of an introvert, to be honest I was really excited after winning the tournament since it's one of the most emotional event of my career. I was out of words and in tears during the news conference.
Q: Who had more support from the audience during the finals? You are fly?
Infi: I would have to say fly since his record was pretty good prior to the tournament
Q: Did you invite Fly to your celebration feast?
Infi: Of course I did, but he refused since he had to practice in the net cafe.
Q: Let's disucss some touchy stuff, you are pretty controversial amongst progamers due to saying shocking comments.
Infi: I just say things in a straightforward way.
Q: In the WGT2008 group stages, you said that Orc is a race with the least amount of skills involved and enraged many netizens.
Infi: I think it was just a mistake. I was just saying: Orcs can go Blademaster+Raiders+Walkers against any race and it's easy for an Orc player to have good results. I didn't mean to offend the race or the players of that race.
Q: The worse thing is that you've once said you don't need support from any of your fans.
Infi: That's not what I said, I'm saying that progamers cannot gain anything good from fans. Wheenver I have bad results due to bad network with many netizens saying things such as "Infi disappointed his fans blahblahblah" or even criticize me harshly. Those comments are actually stressful for me, being a progamer in China is already a tough occupation and I hope both sides can understand the situation
Q: Do you still think it that way now?
Infi: Of course not and I'll have to take back what I just said. I think my accomplishments have a lot to do with my fans' support. I'd have to thank anyone who supported me.
Q: I've seen you updating your blog after the tournament which surprised many players. How come the once silent Infi begins to be more active lately? From their perspectives, Infi seems to have matured a lot.
Infi: I certainly hope so.
Q: But now people seem to criticize your playstyle which consists building a ridiculous amount of towers. Some people even said your playstyle is "lame" and destroys the fun of Warcraft 3, what do you have to say about it?
Infi: As a progamer I value my results and achievements the most. Building towers are needed in some strategic point of view such as the building locations of the towers, or the amounts of in a strategic sense unlike massing them to piss your opponents off. If i think that helps me to win tournaments I'd gladly do so. Some others playstyle's might look better than mines and win tournaments, but I don't have a reason to follow it. I think my own strategy works the best and so be it. I also never thought that I'm useless besides mass towers, which is a common bias against me.
Q: Many people tend to compare you with Sky, do you think you'll become the next Sky?
Infi: Sky has always been my most respected mentor. When I first entered WE I learned a lot from him by watching him play in tournament and he's an extraordinary player. I don't care who's going to surpass whom or who's going to replace whom, there can only be one Sky
Q: Many people said you're the new Human king
Infi: I prefer people calling me the "Tower Demon" more instead of "The new Human King" or "The 6th race"
Q: What is going to be your next goal?
Infi: I will always do my best for my future goals, I still have a lot of tournaments to play. Right now it is just the beginning
Translated by me
so sleepy now ~_~, night
nice interview, thanks for translation.
"Q: Did you invite Fly to your celebration feast?
Infi: Of course I did, but he refused since he had to practice in the net cafe."
What the...
Thx for the translation. Nice and long interview.
Infi: Of course I did, but he refused since he had to practice in the net cafe."
What the...
Thx for the translation. Nice and long interview.
Superb interview!
I always like Infi's games. Especially the games back then against Grubby where he defeated him with towers and the fanboys were going on rampage.
I always like Infi's games. Especially the games back then against Grubby where he defeated him with towers and the fanboys were going on rampage.
He is right to value Sky's impact on himself so much. It is no coincidence the 2 currently best human players are in the same team. Maybe Sky won his 3rd Gold medal when Infi won wcg09.
I agree with Funplayer.He invited him to celebrate and he said he has to play...LoL
KeF wrote:
I agree with Funplayer.He invited him to celebrate and he said he has to play...LoLYes, that's pretty Moonesque, like when Sky said he went to bed at 12pm and Moon was training and suho got up and 6am and Moon was training.
But training on the evening you just got 2nd at WCG? That beats everything I've heard before.
Mb he was training for WCG 2010 : )
thanks for this
My first LAN encounter with Happy was in PLG 2009. He defeated me quite easily and said to Grubby,"Why is it so easy?".
happy's a dick face
happy's a dick face
I think it was just a mistake. I was just saying: Orcs can go Blademaster+Raiders+Walkers against any race and it's easy for an Orc player to have good results. I didn't mean to offend the race or the players of that race.
To be honest, I've never liked Infi at the beginning since he seemed nothing but a tower lamer to me. But he played amazing in the WCG finals and he's more of a tactical player now that I realize it, not to mention that he's quite a sincere person with a cool personality.
TLDR / 10char
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