Shin “Hydra” Dong Won is a Zerg player on a new team, in a new region, and on a mission to do some damage at Intel Extreme Masters Taipei. Will he be able to best the very best when he hits the stage?
ESL: Hi! Thanks for taking the time to speak with us. We’re excited for your performance at Taipei because you did so well in the qualifiers, riding it all the way through the upper bracket. How did you prepare to beat players like Scarlett and viOlet? Has your past few months with ROOT changed how you train?
Shin “Hydra” Dong Won: I also didn't expect to qualify as easily, but I always have confidence in ZvZ matchups. When I saw bracket, I thought “If I don't make a mistake, I’ll able to qualify”, and I started practicing hard when I got to the ROOT gaming house in California.
ESL: We heard from Snute ahead of San Jose, and he was worried about facing you. Of course, you weren’t able to make it there. Is this your chance to prove that he should have been afraid? Who do you hope to face in order to make that clear?
Hydra: Haha, thanks Snute! That's why I love snute. I hope to play against Zerg or Terran. I don't mind which player, but Protoss is quite strong...
ESL: Right now, you and Life are the only qualified Zergs. Are you hoping you’ll meet him, or would you rather stay away from the reigning BlizzCon champ?
Hydra: Hm, only two Zerg? Interesting... What a balance... I don't care if I play against Life, but I hope the Intel Extreme Masters Taipei champ will be Zerg!
ESL: We’re excited to see you playing in America. Can you tell us about your move? Have you had to adjust your training schedule or methods?
Hydra: When I left CJ, I looked for a new team and made contact with ROOT - I decided to move to America and play WCS AM because I thought I needed a new experience. My training schedule and methods are almost the same as they were when I practiced in Korea.
ESL: What are your thoughts on the American StarCraft II scene? What challenges are you facing, or what advantages do you have coming into it?
Hydra: The biggest reason was that I thought I needed a new experience. I also hoped to meet foreign fans and wanted the chance to take part in WCS and other events.
ESL: Thanks again for talking with us. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Hydra: I'm very excited to go to Intel Extreme Masters Taipei! See you there 🙂
You can follow Hydra on Twitter here.
Stay tuned for more interviews in the leadup to Intel Extreme Masters Taipei and keep an eye on the official site for all the latest updates!
