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Tonight, HerO will play against nemesis and friend EGJYP in the second round of GSL Code A. Despite winning in the first round of three straight Code A events, HerO has lost in the next round the first two attempts. On his third attempt tonight, HerO will see if the third try is the charm, as he plays JYP for his own pride, and for Liquid's. Don't miss the games!



A week after HerO took care of business against ZeNexLine to advance to this round, in preparation for tonight's matches, and to recap last weeks, we tracked him down and asked him a few questions about his first round games and his upcoming match.

If you haven't checked out the games from HerO's first GSL appearance of the year, make sure to watch them at Gom.tv! HerO's been everywhere for Liquid` recently, rattling off three straight IPL FC wins, and notching the ace win against Empire! But his focus is on the GSL, and he's feeling the pressure, but also the confidence that comes with being a player of his calibre in Code A.

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How do you feel about getting through the first round of Code A three seasons in a row?

HerO: Well, because I missed out on advancing through the up/down matches last season by a narrow margin, I started this season thinking that I have to get to Code S no matter what. I think this is only the first step.
      Honestly, I always worry before games, that I won't be able to play to my potential because of nerve issues, so I feel good and relieved to win.


You faced ZeNEXLine this time, a more well-known opponent than your previous first round adversaries. Did that make him weigh more heavily on your mind? How did you prepare for him?

HerO: No, I didn't really pay special attention to him [due to him being more well-known], I just really wanted to get revenge because I lost to him during the WCG Korea qualifiers. I thought a lot about how to deal with his style.


You used a 7-gate blink stalker strategy in the first game, one you also used in a recent match vs EGIdrA. Was there a particular reason you picked this strategy?

HerO: Yes, normally I don't use strategies like 7-gate that often, because my style is to aim for a longer game while harassing. But I've been trying strategies like the 7-gate more often these days, and I think they're pretty good.
      My opponents tend to think I won't go for those kind of strategies, so they play greedily. I'm thinking to mix both all-ins and standard games now.


What was your plan for the second game? Did you think Entombed Valley was good for a management style game?

HerO: I think the maps were good for me overall; Entombed Valley isn't bad to play a management game on. I planned to scout thoroughly, and play a management game.


You really did scout very thoroughly that game. Were you wary of any particular strategy?

HerO: No, it was just important to know if he was going for infestor tech, or going for mutalisk tech after three hatcheries, so I scouted diligently.


Were you taken off guard by his drop? Or did you think you could stop it?

HerO: I didn't expect a drop, but my scouting made me feel that he would try to make an aggressive move. When I saw the drop, I just thought 'Ok, just take care of this well.'


Your next opponent is EG.JYP, who's both a friend and a member of a rival team. How do you feel about this match?

HerO: We're rivals with EG, but he's my friend as well, so I don't feel that good about it. Still, no matter who my opponent is, I have to win. I think if I don't get nervous, I should be able to win.


What are you doing to keep your confidence up in GSL games? Is there anything your fans could do for you?

HerO: I try my best to not feel pressure, and believe in myself. As for my fans, me feeling pressure on stage is my own problem, so it's something that I have to work on myself. If my fans would just cheer me on, whether I win or lose, then I'd be grateful.


Any last comments?

HerO: My fans show me a lot of support, and they have big expectations of me, so I will do my best to make it to Code S. Please cheer me on, and I'm always thankful for your support!