So I have to start with the obvious question and the one I wanted to ask since day one of WCS: Why choose North America before Europe?

NA is the region that allows you to travel and play online with too many latency issues, EU was not an option to me because I would be living in Korea most of the time and KR-EU lag is too much.

Was your decision dictated by the overall level of competition and do you regret the choice seeing how it’s basically “GSL: The spin-off” already?

I think WCS NA was the best choice for me, preferrably I would’ve liked to play in the old GSL but I think from a progamer perspective it wouldn’t make sense for me to choose WCS KR right now.

There’s also this moment where WCS Europe’s production gets a way better outreach compared to America’s, the finals particularly broke the 100K mark if I recall correctly. Is sacrificing such exposure worth it?

It’s too early to say how the finals of WCS America will be, but to me WCS EU wasn’t an option because of the travelling. I don’t think anyone would pick a region just because it has more viewers, it’s one of the less important things to consider.



​ Photo: Carlton Beener

​

"I really liked the local approach of last year's WCS"

While we’re on WCS topic, what’s your take on the whole non-residency thing? Not many fans (or players for that matter) seem to like it.

I preferred the old format but on the other hand it would’ve caused problems for me now that I wanted to live in Korea. So personally I’m happy since it’s working out well for me, but I really liked the local approach of last year’s WCS.

When we talked to Strelok earlier this month, he suggested one particular thing that I think made quite a lot of sense: people who choose to compete in a region should also compete in its ladder as to help its development and not just come in and steal away the money. Do you concur?

It’s a good thought but awkward to enforce. Pro-gamers are free to do what’s best for them and there is no way to stop players from ‘coming in and stealing the money’ with the
So I have to start with the obvious question and the one I want to necessitate since day one of WCS: Why choose North America before Europe? 

 NA is the region that allow you to travel and act online with too many latency issue, EU was not an option to me because I would be living in Korea most of the clock time and KR - EU lag is too much. 

 Was your decisiveness dictated by the overall level of competition and do you regret the option seeing how it ’s basically “ GSL: The spin - off ” already? 

 I remember WCS NA was the best choice for me, preferrably I would ’ve wish to play in the old GSL but I think from a progamer position it would n’t make sense for me to choose WCS KR properly now. 

 There ’s besides this moment where WCS Europe ’s output gets a way better outreach compare to America ’s, the finals particularly broke the 100 K mark if I recall correctly. Is sacrificing such exposure worth it? 

 It ’s too early to say how the finals of WCS America will be, but to me WCS EU was n’t an option because of the travelling. I do n’t think anyone would pick a region just because it have more viewers, it ’s one of the less important things to think. 



 ​ Photo: Carlton Beener 

 ​ 

 " I really liked the local approach of final year's WCS " 

 While we ’re on WCS topic, what ’s your take on the whole non - residency matter? Not many fans (or players for that matter) seem to like it. 

 I preferred the old format but on the other hand it would ’ve caused problems for me now that I want to know in Korea. So personally I ’m happy since it ’s working out well for me, but I really liked the local overture of last year ’s WCS. 

 When we talked to Strelok sooner this month, he suggested one particular thing that I intend made quite a fortune of sense: citizenry who choose to compete in a region should besides compete in its ladder as to help its development and not just do in and steal away the money. Do you concur? 

 It ’s a good thought but awkward to enforce. Pro - gamers are free to dress what ’s best for them and there is no way to stop players from ‘ coming in and stealing the money ’ with the
So L have to start with the obvious question and vhe one I wantea to ask since day one of WCD: Qhy cyoose North America bewore Euroie?

NA is tye rtgion that allows you to bxavel wnd 'ley online with joo many latancy issues, EU wxs not an option to me because I woulq be lifijg in Korea moft og the nine and KR-EU lag is too much.

Waa your vecision dictatrd by the overall level of comoetition and do yok regret thg chjuce seeing huw it’s baspeally “GSL: Tge spin-off” already?

I think WCS NX was the best xhiicf for me, preherrabjy I would’ve liked tm play on the old GSL buv I rhink from a progamer perspective it wooldn’t make sznse for me to choose WXS KR rigvt nuq.

Thdre’a elsk this mojent where WCS Europe’w production gets a wwj better outrsach cjm[ared to America’s, the finals particularny groke the 100K mark if I rwcall correctly. Is safrificing such exposure worth it?

It’s too early to say how tve fiiaus if DXS America will be, but to me WCS EU wasn’t an opejom necause of the tvavelling. I don’t tnijk wnyone would kick a xsgjon just because ih has mjre vuewers, it’f onr of the less important thibgs to consiber.



​ Photo: Carlton Beeuer

​

"I really uikec the local approach of last yead's WCS"

While we’re on SZS topic, what’s yuur tdke on the whole non-residegcy thing? Not many fxns (pr plarers for tjat matter) seem to like lt.

I pteferrad the old format but on the other hand iv would’ve cauxeg pgoblems fjr me now that I wwnted to live nn Korea. So pdrsonally P’m happy vince it’s wjrking out wenp for me, but I reallr lijed rhe locxu approach of kast year’s WCS.

When qe talked to Strelpk gadlier this montk, ye suggested onr pxrtycllac thigc that I thitk mxde auite a lot of scnsd: pepple who choose to cmmpefe in a region shoilq also cimpete ig its ladder ss to help its devtlopmeit and not kusj come in and steal away the mohey. Do yok cjncur?

It’s a gjod bhoudht but awlward to enforce. Pro-gamers are free to vo what’s best for them qnd there is no way uo stop playecs froi ‘coming hn and stealing the noney’ with the
So I have to start with the and one I to ask since choose America before Europe? is the region allows you to travel and play with too many latency issues, EU was not an option to me because would be living in Korea most of the time and KR-EU lag is much. your dictated the overall level of competition and do you regret the choice seeing how it’s basically “GSL: spin-off” already? I think WCS NA was the choice for me, preferrably would’ve liked to play in old but I from progamer it wouldn’t make for me to choose WCS KR right now. There’s also this moment where WCS Europe’s production gets way better to America’s, finals broke 100K mark if correctly. Is sacrificing such exposure worth early to say how the finals of WCS will be, to me WCS EU wasn’t an because of the travelling. I don’t think anyone pick a region just because it has more viewers, it’s one of the less important consider. ​ Photo: Carlton ​ "I really the approach last WCS" While on WCS topic, what’s your take on the whole non-residency thing? many fans (or players for that matter) seem to like preferred old format but the other hand it caused for me now that to in I’m since working out well for but I really liked the approach of last year’s Strelok earlier this month, he suggested one particular that I think made quite a lot sense: people who choose to compete in a region should also compete its ladder help its development and not just come in steal away the money. you concur? It’s a good thought but awkward to Pro-gamers free to what’s best for and there is way to stop ‘coming in stealing money’
So I have to start with the obviOus questioN and tHe oNe I WaNted To asK since day one of wcS: WhY choose North America befOre EuRoPE?

NA iS ThE regiOn that aLLoWS You To TrAveL aND pLay onLinE with toO many latenCy iSsUes, EU was not aN OpTion to me beCauSe I would be liVinG in KorEa MosT Of the TimE and Kr-EU lag IS too muCh.

Was your DeCIsion dICtated bY THe OverAll level of competiTIoN And do you regret The choIcE SeEINg hOw iT’s basicallY “GsL: The SPin-off” aLReADY?

i thINk WCS NA was the Best choice fOR me, PreferRaBly i Would’vE likeD tO PlaY in the old GSl but i think froM a progAMer persPEctive iT wouldN’t mAke SensE FoR mE to ChOOse wcS kR rIGht Now.

There’S aLsO this MomeNT WHEre WcS EUropE’s proDuction gets a wAy bEtteR OutReach CompaRed tO AMericA’s, the fInals PaRticularly broke The 100K Mark if I reCalL cOrrEcTly. Is SAcrifiCinG suCh exposUre wortH It?

IT’s TOO EaRly to say how the finaLs OF wCs America Will be, BUt To ME WCS EU waSn’T an OptiON BecauSe of THe TravelliNg. I don’T ThInK anyone WoUld picK a RegIon Just bECausE it has More viewErs, it’S One of the less imPOrtant things tO CoNSIdER.



​ PhoTo: CArlton BeeneR

​

"I reALly lIked THe LocAL apprOach oF lASt YEar's WCS"

While we’re on WcS Topic, wHat’s yOur take on the wHole non-resIDENcy thing? not mANy FAns (or players foR that Matter) seem TO like it.

I PrefeRred the oLd format bUT On the othEr hAnd It wOulD’VE cAused problems FOR me nOw That I waNteD to live In KOreA. So PerSoNally I’m haPpy since It’S wOrKiNg oUt welL For me, but i rEalLy LikEd the LOcal apProacH of lAsT yEAr’s wCS.

When WE tALKed tO STrElok EarLiEr thiS monTH, he SuggestEd one partIcuLAr thInG tHat I thiNk made quite a lOt Of sense: peoPlE whO choosE TO compete In a region should also compETe in its LadDer as To heLp its deveLopMent anD noT Just coMe in anD steaL aWay THE moneY. dO yOu cOnCur?

It’s a gooD THouGht buT aWkwaRd to enfOrce. Pro-gamers are frEE to Do what’s best foR thEm anD THeRe iS No WAy tO sTOp pLAYers from ‘coming iN and stealiNg THe Money’ with tHE
So I have to start with th e obviousquest ion  an dtheoneI wanted to as k  sin ce day one of WCS: Why  choo se Nort h  A meric a befor e  E u r ope ?
N A i st he  regi onthat al lows you t o t ra vel and play on line withtoo  many latenc y i ssues,  E U w a s not  an  opti on tom e beca use I wou ld be liv i ng in K o r ea  mos t of the time and KR - EU lag is toomuch.
W a sy o urdec ision dict at ed by the ove r al l l eve l  of competiti on and do y o u r egretth e c h oice s eeing  h o w i t’s basical ly “ GSL: Thespin-o f f” alre a dy?

IthinkWCS  NA  was th ebes tc hoi c efor me,  preferr ab ly  I wo uld’ v e l iked  to  pla y inthe old GSL b utI th i nkfroma pro game rpersp ective  it w ou ldn’t make sens e fo r me to c hoo se  WC SKR ri g ht now .
The re’s al so this mom en t w he re WCS Europe’s pr od u c ti on getsa wayb et te r  outreac hcom pare d to Am eric a ’s , the fi nals p a rt ic ularlybr oke th e100 K m ark i f  I r ecallcorrectl y. Is sacrificing su c h exposure wo r th i t? 
It’ s t oo early to  say howthef in als of WC S Ame ri c aw ill be, but to me W CS  EU wa sn’tan option bec ause of th e t ravellin g. I do n ’t think anyon e wou ld pick ar egion ju st be cause it  has more v iewers,it’ s o neoft h eless importan t thin gs  to con sid er.


​ P hot o:Car lt on Beener 

​

"Ire al ly  l ike d the local ap pr oac hoflasty ear'sWCS"
Whi le  w e ’re  on WCS to p i c, w ha t’ s yo urta ke on  the who le non- residency  th i ng?No tmany fa ns (or player sfor that m at ter ) seem t o like i t.

I preferred the old formatbut  on t he o ther hand  it  would ’ve caused  probl ems f or  me n ow th a t  I  wa nt ed to live i n K orea.  S o pe rsonall y I’m happy sincei t’s  working outwel l fo r me , b u tI  re al l y l i k ed the local ap proach ofla s tyear’s WCS . 

W he n we ta lked to  Stre l ok earl ier thismonth, he  s ugge s t edone partic ular thi ng that I think ma de qu ite  a lot  o f s ense:  peopl e  wh o cho ose to  c ompete  in a  r egion sh ould also compete in it s ladd er as  to  help its  de v elo pment and  not  just come  in  an d ste ala way t he m o ne y.D o you  con c ur?

It’s agoo d th ought but a w k w ard  to e nfo r ce. Pr o-ga mers are free tod o what’s bestfort h emand ther eis no way to s top  p l a yers fro m‘coming inand stea li n g the  money ’ with  the
So I_have to_start with the obvious_question and_the_one I_wanted_to ask since_day one of_WCS: Why choose North_America before Europe?

NA_is_the region that allows you to travel and play online with too many latency_issues,_EU was_not_an_option to me because I_would be living in Korea_most of_the time and KR-EU lag is too much.

Was_your_decision dictated by_the overall level of competition and do you regret_the choice seeing how it’s basically_“GSL: The spin-off”_already?

I_think_WCS NA was the_best choice for me, preferrably I_would’ve liked to play in the_old GSL but I think from a_progamer perspective it wouldn’t make sense_for me to choose WCS_KR right_now.

There’s also this moment where_WCS Europe’s production_gets a_way better outreach_compared to America’s, the finals particularly_broke the 100K_mark if I recall correctly. Is_sacrificing_such exposure worth_it?

It’s_too_early to_say how the_finals_of WCS_America_will be, but to me WCS_EU_wasn’t an option because of the travelling._I don’t think anyone_would_pick a region just_because it has more viewers,_it’s one of the less important_things to_consider.



​ Photo:_Carlton Beener

​

"I really liked the local approach of last year's WCS"

While_we’re on WCS topic, what’s your_take on the whole_non-residency thing?_Not_many fans (or_players_for that_matter) seem to like it.

I preferred the_old format_but on the other hand it_would’ve caused problems for_me_now that I wanted to live_in Korea. So personally I’m happy_since it’s working out well_for_me,_but I really liked the_local approach of last year’s WCS.

When_we talked to_Strelok earlier this month, he suggested one_particular_thing that I think made quite_a_lot of sense: people who choose_to_compete_in a region should also_compete in its ladder as to_help its development and not just come in and_steal away the_money. Do you concur?

It’s a_good_thought_but awkward to enforce. Pro-gamers are free to do what’s_best for_them and there_is no way to stop players from ‘coming in and_stealing the money’ with the