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| WCG Europe champ against the wall
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GosuGamers grabs HoT to discuss Extreme Masters, WCG Europe, Gravitas Gaming and the recent SK hullabaloo.
How big would you say the chance of repeating the CeBIT success from last year, ending second in Extreme Masters and winning WCG Europe?
- It's really hard to say, but there are two things which will really make this mission at least twice harder. First, it's really easier to win a tournament or get high place than to keep championship next year. To win a tournament you need luck and skills, and maybe this time luck won't be on my side. The second thing is that this year the Extreme Masters finals is much tougher in competition level, not only because the Koreans attending but the best Europeans will be there too.
Who do you rate as your toughest opponents? Do you think you will face ToD once again in the finals?
- That's obvious - toughest are Grubby, Lyn, Lucifer and ToD of course. But the ones like Happy and elfittaja as well as HasuObs should not be underestimated.
“ When the group is announced it's always the feeling that you'd be better seeded in the other group”What do you think of your group, with Lyn, Grubby, Satiini and HasuObs? Would you rather have been in the other group?
- You know, when the group is announced it's always the feeling that you'd be better seeded in the other group, but I think my group is fine. Would be better if I would get one Orc less and one more Undead from that group, since I practiced a lot versus Orcs and Undead lately, so I think right now my Undead matchup is on a decent level. I'm improving as much as I can.
The plan for 2008 is that all the Gravitas players will live and play together there - are you currently staying at the Gravitas apartment in Moscow?
- It's already in progress. My Russian team mates and Frozen already live and practice in Moscow. But right now I am in Kiev. Having an apartment is great, but you know, it's winter right now and the weather in Moscow and the city itself is quite unwelcoming. That's why I prefer to play here where I'm used to. I did play there though during the WC3L qualifiers, and I was also there during the ProPlay Cup Finals and we had a great time together.
Did you feel playing together with the Gravitas in the apartment has improved your shape?
- That's really hard to say, since I did not play that much during my stay there. I spent only a couple of days with them and at the start you need time to have fun and rest. Only after a while you can set your mind for serious practice, so I wouldn't really say it did.
Gravitas failed to qualify for the WC3L season, what has the team been doing to prevent this from happening again?
- In my opinion the main factor is current shape of the players. Last season it was only my fault that team did not qualify so this time I will do everything I can to prevent this from happening again.
How would you rate Gravitas' chances on going to the NGL-ONE finals next season?
- Of course the chances are really high. We got really great players and all races needed for NGL-ONE system to succeed.
“ Last season it was only my fault that team did not qualify so this time I will do everything I can to prevent this from happening again”Every team surely strives for being in the WC3L, but do you feel NGL-ONE is a good substitute for WC3L?
- Half a year ago I really did not even care about NGL-ONE as a really important league, but now it seems to be very very must be for every high tier team.
It says on your ESL profile that you are studying at the University of Aviation. Aren't you devoting 100% on Warcraft?
- Actually I finished four years of studying and took a break for one year to dedicate myself to playing. I will continue my studies from next autumn, but to say the truth I never studied well or attended classes.
When you left SK-Gaming for Gravitas you said you knew everyone in the team and that you liked the management and organization - but what was the main reason for you leaving? Did you get booted or did you leave because of getting a better offer from Gravitas?
- The offer Gravitas gave me is really good, and money is main factor for me but I left SK because I did not want to be a sixth player to the Korean roster. so better would be to say that I was half-kicked or on half left team because of other factors.
Recently your former team mate XlorD accused SK-Gaming of having a split atmosphere between the Korean and European players, and having problems with getting his salary. Are those accusations anything you can relate to and agree to what XlorD said?
- First of all, Ixi (XlorD) is a great person and a really nice guy. To say that he is arrogant is totally wrong. It's right to say that the team was split in two parts. As for money I was always paid in time and was well treated. It's not like Ixi or SK lies. Just their relations did not work out and maybe SK did not keep some promises or Ixi did not understand them in the right way. That's their business and we should not interfere.
When you defeated Susiria and raised your fists in the sky at the WC3L finals, what went through your head?
- Haha, that's hard to remember. But I guess I really felt like "THANK GOD I DID NOT FUCK UP"!
You will go up against HasuObs in the Gravitas Challenge, what do you think of this showmatch series? Do you have what it takes to take HasuObs down?
- The only thing which makes me worried is that I will have to play two different playstyles versus him during this showmatch and during the Extreme Masters Finals but i think I will win at least one of them for sure.
See Mykhaylo 'HoT' Novopashyn in action at the Samsung European Championship and the Extreme Masters Finals, at CeBIT in two weeks. 
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