Jaedong to EG: “I feel like I’m facing a new challenge”

The Korean E-sports Association (KeSPA) reported on Thursday that Team 8 player Jae Dong ‘Jaedong’ Lee will be leased to EG for one year. Details on his salary haven’t been revealed but it was said to be at the same level as to players in the world, Thisisgame reported.

The upcoming SK Planet ProLeague {SPL} will include prestigious foreign team EG to maintain an eight man format. As reported previously, EG will partner with another foreign team, Team Liquid, in order to have enough players for the entry. The partnered teams will be named team EG-TL.

KeSPA has reported that all Jaedong’s player rights will belong to EG during the leasing agreement. Once the agreement period is over, he will be returned to Team 8, which is currently managed by KeSPA.

Thisisgame interviewed Jaedong upon the release of the news and asked him about his new start as an EG player, the upcoming SPL and his future overall. Below is the fully translated interview.

You have joined EG, which will be the new team at the upcoming SPL.What are your initial impressions?

I feel like I’m facing a new challenge. Unlike other players in KeSPA, it seems like I am confronting a lot more changes than others. I also feel pressured that I will be playing at the first foreign team in SPL. Personally however, I feel excited about these changes and it seems like I will be having a lot of fun as well.

Why did you decide to join EG?

I heard many times that EG’s executive director Alex Garfield wanted me. During the talks between KeSPA and EG about SPL matters, my name was brought and I started talking with EG. I think EG gave me a good deal and a good training environment. By joining EG, I think I can participate in more foreign tournaments than other KeSPA teams so I can connect with foreign fans more often. I thought these things would be advantageous for me, so I decided to join.

How did you like the new team house?

The atmosphere isn’t perfectly set up right now but I think it can be done slowly. Speaking truthfully, now isn’t much of a difference from what it was when I first joined Team 8 a year ago. I cleaned everything by myself back then as well. (laugh). Some things may be different as this is a

foreign team but I don’t think it won’t be that huge. The EG house seems to be at a better location than Team 8′s in terms of transit. It’s also good that I get to live with new people. Having foreign players joining the house seems also good as well. I think I will be able to practice my English more often.

EG has a good deal of foreign players. Is there any particular player you wanted to practice when you first joined the team?

Foreign players in EG are all very skilled. Things will be same for practice. Idra plays well and Stephano also is a top tier player, so there will be many things to learn. They have many good Zerg players – I think I will have ample amounts to learn.

Your new team EG will also participate in SPL. This will be the first time for a foreign team to play in SPL.

During the off-season I heard many things about team contracts and trades. More time was spent on negotiation than I thought it would. The negotiation was very difficult but everything worked well and they managed to join [SPL]. For foreign fans, this will be the first time for a foreign team to partake in SPL, so they will have high expectations. Personally I’m under some pressure but I also feel very fortunate. I want to do well in both SPL and foreign tournaments so that foreign fans will see good results from me.

New SPL will include four ladder maps as well as four new maps. What do you think about this new approach?

I’m unsure about their new maps trial. I will be sure once everything is revealed. I guess trying is what counts. It’s good to have unique maps to represent SPL and since current ladder maps are included as well, it won’t be a really sensitive issue. It won’t be that bad for fans as well.

What is your opinion on new maps after trying them out?

I think all the maps, including the current maps, are similar in the game. In the end, it’s all about making the most powerful composition and cruise to victory. I like the idea of trying new strategies for new maps. I honestly don’t know how the game will change. It’s hard to say right now before all the digging and research is done. Everything just feels the same for now.

On the other hand, it might not be too good for a player to have new maps.

Of course it’s difficult for players but we need to have a successful SPL and players need to bring out their best as this is the first ever Starcraft 2 Proleague. Fans will return to watch us when we try our best. We need to practice as hard as we can to have more and garner more fan interest.

EG will join with Team Liquid to participate in SPL. This is very refreshing in the SPL scene.

It is to me as well. I don’t know how things will turn out but they are certainly a force to be reckoned with for other teams.

It will certainly be helpful for team strength.

Of course. HerO is really skilled and famous. TaeJa is also one of the best Terrans. Having them being with us can boost our strength significantly and EG’s foreign players will join us soon. Having foreign players at SPL will certainly help us. If these foreign players can show their individualistic styles, I think we can have a good result. Once I play well, it will be okay.

What is your personal expectation on this SPL?

It will be up to how well Puma does (laughs). It will be up to players like me and Puma who had experienced the life of KeSPA. I’m not sure exactly. It will be the first Starcraft 2 Proleague so it’s not like we know every other team’s strength. One thing for sure is that our team won’t be that easy to play against. There are players who have been active for a long time, so this team will be the one that packs a big punch.

Conversely, you must have things to worry about as well.

In my perspective, I worry about the upcoming schedule and maintaining my condition. Team staff has said that I will be very active in participating in foreign tournaments. I’m worried about going to foreign tournaments more often than other KeSPA players but it’s just a small worry. I think it will be okay as long as I handle it well.

Going to the foreign tournament could be a plus to players but it could also be negative.

It most certainly can become negative. SPL itself runs on a very tight schedule. That’s why I am a bit worried about going to foreign tournaments. Even I personally worry about how going to foreign tournaments will impact my SPL performance. But this is something about which I must talk with my team manager extensively.

Then how are you going to manage the ratio between SPL and foreign tournaments?

There are some things I have high expectations for in SPL and since this will be the first time for a foreign team to join SPL, which will bring a lot of spotlight, I won’t neglect it. I want to do well in foreign tournaments as well as SPL. I remember that I’ve always done well in SPLs. I don’t want to hear people saying that I’ve became mediocre after switching to Starcraft 2, so I want to try even harder.

Is there any particular player you want to face against in this SPL?

I want to play ‘Lee Ssang Rok’ with Flash in Starcraft 2. It would feel very different this time. We will play against KT in an opening game, so I wish we can have another ‘Lee Ssang Rok’ there. It might feel little bit early, but it will happen someday anyway, so the opening game will be fine.

In the previous interview, you expressed that you wanted to go to as many foreign tournaments as possible. Do you prefer European tournaments?

Yes. WCG Cologne was the only European tournament I went to and I performed poorly back then. Other than that all other tournaments were from the United States. If I have a chance to attend Starcraft 2 tournaments in Europe, I want to definitely go there.

Please express your resolution for SPL with new team.

After all, each player has been playing the game in one’s own environment, so it’s important to adjust to each other. I have plenty of experiences living in a team house, so I guess I can give good advice or help others. I am used to familiarizing with a new environment, so fans shouldn’t be worried about me at all. I am also one of the older guys in the team, so I think doing it well together is crucial. I want to give a hand in melding our teammates together. I want to show myself playing well in SPL as well.

Please add anything else you wish to speak about.

The off-season has been long because of contract issues. When other Team 8 players completed their contracts with the team, only mine was delayed. This has shaken me mentally and that’s probably why the time felt so long. I want to apologize to my parents for making them worry about me because of this. They must be worrying about me a lot and I want try my best to perform well for them this season. This news about joining EG must be shocking for fans. They must feel that I’m switching teams a little too often. I think this is a positive opportunity for me. I want the fans to cheer for me a lot as well. I went to EG because I think EG’s executive director Alex Garfield really wanted me and showed his sincerity towards me. Please don’t misunderstand. I will do my best in this season to show my relentlessness. I will show up in the match under the name of EG. Please cheer for me and for our teammates.

Source: Thisisgame