Mana: Well, because I wasn't performing really well lately, I didn't have any pressure on me to win the whole tournament. I think it is really important to keep your mindset clean and ready to play in every game. I was trying to focus before starting every match and it did work very well I guess.
GG: You’ve had a lot of second places during your career: DH 2010, ESWC ’11, Assembly Summer ’11, Twitch.TV Invitational, Gamers Assembly, the WCS Poland Nationals and every time it’s like the closest SC2 series the world has ever seen. Many of our readers will remember the Assembly Summer finals against Dimaga and draw analogies with the DH final. At this point, were you scared that even despite the advantage, this could be another gold that slips between your fingers?
Mana: Yes, after I was leading 2-0 I was afraid it may happen once again, and then I lost 3rd game... It made me feel nervous. My teammates helped me figure out the best strat possible for the last map and it was the perfect counter to what Dimaga did. I felt really good when I saw I am about to win the whole tournament.
GG: Aside from being the champion, fans will remember you as doer of impossible deeds. You were the only player to take a game out of HerO and then you defeated Stephano 2-0, who is still regarded the best ZvP-er outside Korea. Looking back, are you happy that the brackets threw that at you or you would still prefer having it easier?
Mana: Because I won Dreamhack after a hard bracket, I can't say I would’ve liked it to be easier, that wouldn't make much sense. Now I am happy that I had that hard path and that's what I wish I can get in my SC2 career. If I want to be the best, I have to play with the best, otherwise I will be still "one of the top players" not, the top one.
GG: Do you believe you are getting closer to being “the top foreigner” with this victory then, or is it too early to say and people like Stephano, Nani, etc are still overall a bit ahead?
Mana: No, I can't say I am TOP foreigner yet, the title still belongs to Stephano. I won only one event, there might've been more luck than skill in that. I can claim myself a top foreigner only if I keep on winning every major tournament, knocking out every other foreigner. So far it only happend once, it has to happen way more often.
GG: From what we saw, your wins in the final stages came by playing directly to your opponents’ styles’ weaknesses. You did not allow Stephano to become the macro ling/infestor machine and you put a halt to Dimaga’s banelings quite successfully. How did you figure out these puzzles in such a short time?
Mana: I know Stephano's style quite well, we've played together so many times that so he’s easy to predict, but hard to counter. During Dreamhack, I learned the immortal push and it worked perfectly, especially because I've never played it against him. I've played against Dimaga a couple of times already, and I've been winning and losing to this style. I've talked to Morrow about what I should do, he said that its weakness is early pushes before drop for banelings is finished, so he recommended me to do archon push. So I did it – for a first time in my career and I won with it 2 out of 2 games, good score! *laughs*
GG: So - to give some love to the Swede - you are saying that it could've been a different score if Morrow hadn't helped you out?
Mana: I would’ve tried my own stuff but the scores might've been different, exactly.
GG: Speaking of Morrow, he recently left the team and his place was taken by Protosser. What do you think about this change in the roster? How much will Morrow's departure hurt the team and in what way?
Mana: I didn't have much time to make an opinion about that. It might've been a good exchange, but it's too early to judge that. Time will show if it will hurt or help the team.
GG: DreamHack Summer is the biggest win in your career so far. Do you see it as the firestarter for more successes in 2012?
Mana: Yes, I believe that winning Dreamhack Summer is a great start for me. I hope it won't be the only championship I get.
GG: Your next stop is HSC V and you have Kas (editor's note - Snute replaced Kas in Mana's group), Sleep and Destiny in your group. Do you feel confident about making the playoffs?
Mana: I am definetly one of the favourites to pass the group, but because of that I will feel pressure during my games. If I can rest well and relax before the tournament I think I can pass the group.
GG: We just interviewed Dimaga literally 1 hour ago and he said he will be looking to get revenge for DreamHack at HSC V. Would you like to play him again?
Mana: I think a real revenge can only be gotten in the finals. It's always a pleasure to play against Dimaga, he's a really nice guy and player.
GG: I believe that recently you mentioned going to Korea in July if I recall correctly. Will you try for GSL while there (if you decide to go, of course) or it'll be just for training?
Mana: I’ve always wanted to participate in GSL, from the very beginning. If I go to Korea I will definitely try my skill in this great tournament, a lot of terrans over there so it should be a really fun time.
GG: Plus, terrans are regarded as being a bit weak nowadays, right? So I guess there's the very real possibility we see you in the GSL booth?
Mana: Terrans being weak? Where? And yes, I can't wait to sit in there!
GG: I saw Boxer mentioning something like this recently (following with that he might switch races). Also, some terrans consider the ZvT matchup heavily zerg favoured, same for PvT late-late-game.
Mana: I really agree that ZvsT is highly favoured for zerg, but PvsT late-late game? Which protoss can survive by that time? *laughs*
GG: Fair enough! How long would you want to stay in Korea? Just 1-2 months or would you like this to grow into a more permanent residence?
Mana: No idea, depending on how I feel in Korea, I can't say how long I would like to stay in there.
GG: Following his DreamHack victory, Thorzain transferred from Mouz to EG, having received, apparently, quite the generous contract. Have offers started flying your direction too?
Mana: Not sure if I should say that, but yes, some teams are interested in me.
GG: Overall, are you happy with the opportunities Mousesports are providing you?
Mana: I've been in Mousesports for around 3 years I guess, and I am happy with time spent together. I can't remember if I had any problems with Mousesports, but I doubt so. They were always supportive and I respect them as a team.
GG: So, you're out of school now, right? Are you planning to dedicating yourself fully to eSports now or are you looking forward to going into higher education?
Mana: As I've been talking to my parents, we agreed that I take one year for progaming. We think it's worth a try, a really good adventure and experience for me. They are really supportive of me and I am glad we agreed on that so I am not forced to go to univeristy this year.
GG: Well, I guess that pretty much covers it all, Mana! Many thanks for this interview and if you have any shoutouts to the GG.net community, sponsors, fans, etc., you have the word!
Mana: Thanks a lot! Once again shoutouts to mousesports, our sponsors (GEIL, INTEL, Razer, Sansibar, MEDION, CardCoaches, ThorTech) and my friends over there, useless Paisy, Captain Hasu, Smally biGs, newcomer Protosser. Thanks for the fans for the support I get from you, I can't wait to become better player. Fighting!
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