6Q's to Grubby on EuroCup

Your first opponent in the LAN finals is Tresh, Night Elf player. You defeated him in the regular season - what are your thoughts of this player?
- I think Tresh is one of the less publicized pretty good players who has tournament experience through Ukrainian tournaments. He is not to be underestimated.

So, you came out of the online part of the event without losing a single match. How well do you predict you to do in the offline finals?
- It's got nothing to do with the qualifiers I think, that was so long ago that everyone's shape changed. It's gonna depend completely on how well I will play against Night Elves and how well-rested I will be. I've had so many tournaments lately, that it was hard to muster some creativity. I learned a lot though, and I'm eager to put it to practice.

Does playing in your home country give you an advantage?
- Two EuroCups ago it was also in the Netherlands, and it was my worst EuroCup ever... because it was at 'home' (despite 1 1/2 hours travel to & forth every day), I never really got into the tournament spirit. Like, the adrenaline wasn't pumping, because it felt like I was 'simply at home'. I was too comfortable. I'll be sure not to make the same mistake, and I think I will have some benefits.

But isn't it nice to be at home for once, knowing the language, the whereabouts and being the "homestar favorite" than going to China, Korea or Germany all over again?
- That's so true... the reason I've chosen to play EuroCup and not Digitallife Pro tournament in China which is held at the same time, is exactly because I need to be at home for a while now, to recharge for the up & coming challenges. I wasn't ready to travel back to China so soon already. Now I hardly need to travel at all, which is really nice for a change =)

You have your newest team mate LiiLD.C at the venue as well: how is it like to play versus your team mate in important matches like these? I mean, is it different compared to playing other players? The strategical preprations, the friendship inbetween and so on?
- Well, LiiLD.C has only been in 4Kings for a short while, and we haven't really practiced together yet because we knew we will meet in EuroCup. Afterwards, I'm sure we'll share ideas and stuff, but it was known we'll meet in EC before he joined 4K,... so it's gonna be like any other player I'll be playing.

"Before I met Cassandra, my life wasn't so interesting except for Warcraft III"

Maybe a question you have been asked many times, but have you been practicing less since you got together with PPG? If so, do you think it has affected your results - since a lot of people have complained about your performance and the fact that you're not as "invincible" anymore. Is this because you haven't practiced as much or have the other players reached the same level as you?
- Before I met Cassandra, my life wasn't so interesting except for Warcraft III. I hardly clean up after myself, didn't organise my administration at all, would sometimes be at home for weeks talking to hardly no one. Sure, I was practicing hard all the time, and it showed: I was one of the most consistent players around, finishing top 3 almost every tournament I attended for like two years or more.

- I was pretty happy with what I was doing, and had lots of fun, especially at tournaments where I see all the guys again and so on. Since I've been with Cassandra, I've truly been happy, not just about my work but about how my life in general looks like...

- I'm still devoting all the time I have to play Warcraft III, but let's face it - whether or not I would've been with Cassandra, things like doing taxes, meeting family, cleaning up my room so I can receive interviewers can't wait forever no matter what, so I'm happy with how my life looks like right now.

I think a lot of new good players surfaced as well, and I can only say that I will practice as much and as well as I can to increase my skill at all times.