Today I'll be releasing a new set of interviews that is aptly titled - WeInterviewedFOX. This series will chronicle the key gamers in WeMadeFOX' roster. That doesn't mean it will be limited to the Starcraft division only, the spotlight will also fall on their Warcraft division and their Counter...
Today I'll be releasing a new set of interviews that is aptly titled - WeInterviewedFOX. This series will chronicle the key gamers in WeMadeFOX' roster. That doesn't mean it will be limited to the Starcraft division only, the spotlight will also fall on their Warcraft division and their Counter Strike players.
WeMadeFOX was established in August 2007, founded on the premise of "For the fans, by the fans" and most importantly "of the fans" the team promises to raise the bar of pro-gaming and be the pride of South Korean e-Sports on a global scale.
Here's a look at their entire roster-
StarCraft:
HoOny (captain) - Son Yung Hoon
BaBy - Jun Tae Yang
Mind - Park Sung Gyoon
NaDa - Lee Yun Yeol
pepe - Kim Seong Jin
Pure - Park Sae Jung
Rock - Ahn Gi Hyo
keke - Lim Dong Hyuk
RorO - Shin No Yeol
Sacsri - Ye Hoon Lee
Shine[KaL] - Lee Young Han
Warcraft 3:
Moon - Jang Jaeho
Counter-Strike:
solo - Kenchul Kang
termi Seonho Pyeon
bail - Sungjae Lee
glow - Minsoo Kim
lsw - Seungwook Lee
The Legend of NaDa shall be the first. All future interviews I conduct will be done under the section - Noname's Universe: Meet The Stars (see the image below!).
Copyright of Elroy "Noname" Pinto. All rights reserved.
None of this material may be used for any commercial or public use. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
NaDa – A name that has stood the test of time in professional gaming, his domination and success has lasted an impressive 7 years. No other gamer has managed to stay in the top 30 of the KESPA Ranking for as long as Lee Yun Yeol aka NaDa has. The Legend of NaDa was born after his ‘bonjwa’esque style embedded his name in the annals of Starcraft history. NaDa success as a gamer mirrors Brood Wars success as a professional eSport.
I decided to talk to a few people about Lee “NaDa†Yun Yeol, and here are the reactions I got:
Johnny Kim:
He is a very suitable gamer to his nickname "machine" when he was at the top perfect strategy, perfect play but I can tell you that now I think he's very hard worker, earnest player, and warm-hearted guy.
Plexa:
Nada is the pinnacle of success in Progaming. His persistence in the scene is nothing short of outstanding. His career has been the most successful of any game. His genius is reflected in his precision perfect playstyle and it is this genius that has allowed him to remain relevant 8 years on from his debut.
Ari:
Lee Yoon Yeol is obviously one of the legends of Starcraft. With three MSL and three OSL titles, thus holding a "Golden Mouse", he was, is and will always be a force to be reckoned with. He is commonly named "Genius Terran" and is (statistically) the most successful progamer of all times, even above Lim Yo Hwan (BoxeR). Above all else his successes in progaming, makes NaDa one of the most valuable player, no.. person in the eSports scene for me.
Tadzio:
To say the least, Nada is a prolific player. With over 600 televised games and a 59% winning percentage, the "Genius Terran" is the winningest progamer in the history of Broodwar, an accomplishment that is not likely to be overshadowed anytime soon. As a rare seven-year veteran, Nada is unique among his contemporaries in maintaining his relevance in a profession that favors the young. His talents seem to grow in-time with Broodwar's metagame and although he's no longer the trend-setting superstar he was for most of his career, he's managed to keep pace well enough to stay competitive.
Short description: Like an earthquake may affect the ridge of a mountain range, Nada's influence is felt deeply within the Broodwar metagame. Belittling his significance would be a grave error in judgment.
JWD:
Lee Yoon Yeol is the fiercest, most persistent competitor ever to play professional StarCraft. His illustrious career spans Brood War's entire history as an eSport, and is thus a reminder of the game's unparalleled longevity and depthâ€â€NaDa has survived every evolution of StarCraft at its highest level, in part because he spawned several of these evolutions himself. Yoon Yeol's fighting spirit has preserved his eliteness across several generations of progamers, and it guarantees his relevance in the era of StarCraft 2.
Augury:
Consistent player, great mechanics, always bounces back only 'old school' pro gamer that can compete with today's caliber of player’s mechanics.
NeverGG:
For me, Lee Yunyeol represents both the past and the present. He is a constant reminder of the brilliance that Korean esports can bring to light regardless of age, experience or looks. He acts as a continuing inspiration for young gamers in South Korea and beyond.
None of this material may be used for any commercial or public use. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
NaDa – A name that has stood the test of time in professional gaming, his domination and success has lasted an impressive 7 years. No other gamer has managed to stay in the top 30 of the KESPA Ranking for as long as Lee Yun Yeol aka NaDa has. The Legend of NaDa was born after his ‘bonjwa’esque style embedded his name in the annals of Starcraft history. NaDa success as a gamer mirrors Brood Wars success as a professional eSport.
I decided to talk to a few people about Lee “NaDa†Yun Yeol, and here are the reactions I got:
Johnny Kim:
He is a very suitable gamer to his nickname "machine" when he was at the top perfect strategy, perfect play but I can tell you that now I think he's very hard worker, earnest player, and warm-hearted guy.
Plexa:
Nada is the pinnacle of success in Progaming. His persistence in the scene is nothing short of outstanding. His career has been the most successful of any game. His genius is reflected in his precision perfect playstyle and it is this genius that has allowed him to remain relevant 8 years on from his debut.
Ari:
Lee Yoon Yeol is obviously one of the legends of Starcraft. With three MSL and three OSL titles, thus holding a "Golden Mouse", he was, is and will always be a force to be reckoned with. He is commonly named "Genius Terran" and is (statistically) the most successful progamer of all times, even above Lim Yo Hwan (BoxeR). Above all else his successes in progaming, makes NaDa one of the most valuable player, no.. person in the eSports scene for me.
Tadzio:
To say the least, Nada is a prolific player. With over 600 televised games and a 59% winning percentage, the "Genius Terran" is the winningest progamer in the history of Broodwar, an accomplishment that is not likely to be overshadowed anytime soon. As a rare seven-year veteran, Nada is unique among his contemporaries in maintaining his relevance in a profession that favors the young. His talents seem to grow in-time with Broodwar's metagame and although he's no longer the trend-setting superstar he was for most of his career, he's managed to keep pace well enough to stay competitive.
Short description: Like an earthquake may affect the ridge of a mountain range, Nada's influence is felt deeply within the Broodwar metagame. Belittling his significance would be a grave error in judgment.
JWD:
Lee Yoon Yeol is the fiercest, most persistent competitor ever to play professional StarCraft. His illustrious career spans Brood War's entire history as an eSport, and is thus a reminder of the game's unparalleled longevity and depthâ€â€NaDa has survived every evolution of StarCraft at its highest level, in part because he spawned several of these evolutions himself. Yoon Yeol's fighting spirit has preserved his eliteness across several generations of progamers, and it guarantees his relevance in the era of StarCraft 2.
Augury:
Consistent player, great mechanics, always bounces back only 'old school' pro gamer that can compete with today's caliber of player’s mechanics.
NeverGG:
For me, Lee Yunyeol represents both the past and the present. He is a constant reminder of the brilliance that Korean esports can bring to light regardless of age, experience or looks. He acts as a continuing inspiration for young gamers in South Korea and beyond.
Name: Lee Yun Yeol
Date of Birth: 1984.11.20
Location: South Korea
Race: Terran
First Strategy Game: StarCraft
Likes: going out on trips, watching movies, listening to music, exercise
Dislikes: cigarettes (smoking),
Favorite Food: pork food, fruit
Favourite Song: OST’s of movies, ballads, slow (sentimental) music
Favourite Movie: The Greatest Game Ever Played, 2005, Black, The Shawshank Redemption, Slumdog Millionaire
Favorite Model / Actress: Jessica Gomez / Taehee Kim(Korean), Boyoung Park(Korean)
Favorite Actor: Raewon Kim(Korean), Dongwook Shin(Korean)
Favourite unit to kill: Reaver
Favourite player: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Fedor Emelianenko
Motto in Life: Simple – believe in myself.
Date of Birth: 1984.11.20
Location: South Korea
Race: Terran
First Strategy Game: StarCraft
Likes: going out on trips, watching movies, listening to music, exercise
Dislikes: cigarettes (smoking),
Favorite Food: pork food, fruit
Favourite Song: OST’s of movies, ballads, slow (sentimental) music
Favourite Movie: The Greatest Game Ever Played, 2005, Black, The Shawshank Redemption, Slumdog Millionaire
Favorite Model / Actress: Jessica Gomez / Taehee Kim(Korean), Boyoung Park(Korean)
Favorite Actor: Raewon Kim(Korean), Dongwook Shin(Korean)
Favourite unit to kill: Reaver
Favourite player: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Fedor Emelianenko
Motto in Life: Simple – believe in myself.
He may have several nicknames but at heart NaDa is Lee Yun Yeol, “I’m a warm hearted person and I’ve always strived to achieve a high degree of successâ€Â, says NaDa.
Growing up, like most boys he took to games like a fish to water, “It was interesting for me to watch my friends play computer games. Just like any boy who likes computer games I’m no exception to this rule either,†says NaDa. He counts Super Mario, Tekken, Street Fighter, and Dungeons & Dragons as the games he played before getting into Starcraft at a young age. Unlike his peers of yesteryear, NaDa still has a few years of pro-gaming left in him but more on that later.
NaDa in Tokyo in a showmatch
NaDa achieved success very early in 2002 as he picked up his first win in the KPGA tours displaying a trait unique to only the cream of the players in StarCraft as NaDa says, “I am a person who believes in pursuing that one single object you always wanted with the utmost perseveranceâ€Â. NaDa chose to be a pro-gamer for a variety of reasons, “At the start I just played it because I was interested in Starcraft but as the time went by and more tournaments came up, the prize money kept getting bigger and so I wished to challenge the competition in tournaments,†he explains. Referred to as the Genius Terran, NaDa confesses that back in the day he wasn’t always called that, “A lot of people watched my game earlier and due to that they nicknamed me “keyboard†(note this is most likely due to NaDa’s extremely fast hands, he averages at least 400 APM)
Growing up, like most boys he took to games like a fish to water, “It was interesting for me to watch my friends play computer games. Just like any boy who likes computer games I’m no exception to this rule either,†says NaDa. He counts Super Mario, Tekken, Street Fighter, and Dungeons & Dragons as the games he played before getting into Starcraft at a young age. Unlike his peers of yesteryear, NaDa still has a few years of pro-gaming left in him but more on that later.
NaDa in Tokyo in a showmatch
NaDa achieved success very early in 2002 as he picked up his first win in the KPGA tours displaying a trait unique to only the cream of the players in StarCraft as NaDa says, “I am a person who believes in pursuing that one single object you always wanted with the utmost perseveranceâ€Â. NaDa chose to be a pro-gamer for a variety of reasons, “At the start I just played it because I was interested in Starcraft but as the time went by and more tournaments came up, the prize money kept getting bigger and so I wished to challenge the competition in tournaments,†he explains. Referred to as the Genius Terran, NaDa confesses that back in the day he wasn’t always called that, “A lot of people watched my game earlier and due to that they nicknamed me “keyboard†(note this is most likely due to NaDa’s extremely fast hands, he averages at least 400 APM)
WeMadeFoX or did he? NaDa signed up with WeMade’s Starcraft team in a 3 year contract which is valued to be a six figure sum, almost double of what Moon signed up for. That effectively makes him the highest paid pro-gamer of the present. His remarkable play even today, warrants this big a paycheck, his achievements in Starcraft are comparable to Moon from Warcraft 3 (Going by RTS’). NaDa has stayed in several pro-gaming teams (see above box) but offers kind words for his team-mates; “The team feels more like a family, everyone cares a lot for the each other.†He has high hopes for his future in FOX, “I have never been motivated to change teams for money or any other reasons and I think FOX is a team that I will play in until the very end of my career as a pro-gamerâ€Â, says the Genius Terran.
NaDa has fond memories of team IS, a team that boasted the likes of BoXeR & YellOw, “My most memorable team experience undoubtedly has to be IS, I have lived and practiced with the great players in Starcraft in that team, I enjoyed the living quarters we were provided and had lots of fun thereâ€Â, says NaDa.
NaDa continues talking about the life in the pro-gamer house, “We have some strict rules regarding waking up time, cleaning and other household chores and so far all my team-mates have been performing in this department too!†shares NaDa. His room-mate is the Terran player pepe (Sungjin Kim) with whom he enjoys talking to and sharing his thoughts.
A week back WeMadeFOX destroyed KTF in a very convincing manner, not having used either of their Terran Aces – Mind or NaDa, “They have tried different builds this time and will surprise a few opponentsâ€Â. “My practice partners are all the players of WeMade, we always receive help for practice from others on teamâ€Â, says NaDa.
The definition of team-spirit changes for teams, some cite bonding in real life as reasons for high team spirit. Some cite coming from a common background helps foster a tight knit unit, NaDa offers another explanation for team spirit: “I think making dynamic games for the fans is most important, when you play as a team, play not just be the best but to be the most uniqueâ€Â.
Recently, WeMadeFOX acquired the services of another legend in RTS games – Jang “Moon†Jaeho, Moon’s 3 year contract is rumored to be worth a whopping 6 figure sum. “We already know each other from earlier since we attended a few international tournaments together, I am very impressed by him, we now work closely together as gamers and I get to interact with him a lot, he is very similar to me†says NaDa.
Another known face in the WeMadeFOX roster and someone who will be covered in a later interview in depth is the baby of the team –By) BaBy, all of just 14 he has played a few televised, “He’s a fantastic pro-gamer he is a young and bright gamer and his results in practice in the FOX team have been good, I know him well, he’s still a baby for meâ€Â, says NaDa, bursting into laughter.
One of the reasons for NaDa’s longevity is his loyal fans, a loyalty that goes simply beyond the results and flows through to the good times and the bad. Through his entire career NaDa has never been alone, “For a while now my fans have been wishing that I can win a title again soon†says NaDa. The 24 year old has always been a fan favorite in games where he might not be looking the strongest– case in point his games against JangBi the MSL Quarter finals, a resilient NaDa powered by his fans took the match down to the 5th set even as he ended up losing 2-3. No one would have given him a chance against JangBi, none but his fans, “I want them to know it’s not just them that have these thoughts, it’s great to have those expectations of me because I hunger for another title as wellâ€Â, Says NaDa.
Being a popular figure, everyone has an opinion on you, sometimes harsh things are said and sometimes great support is showered on the player, “It’s important to understand the community I feel, through websites pro-gamers can communicate with fans and viewersâ€Â, but he’s quick to caution, “It’s important to maintain a distance with the community, one just needs to observe and understand the thoughts of the viewers, not interfere with them.â€Â
Over the course of time NaDa has had several fans that have made a lasting impression on him, “I remember quite a few of my fans, one fan visited me in the All-Star match, he was from Germany and came to the stadium just to watch me play, and it was really humbling. On other occasions I read the boards that are kept on display during the game a few times and I’ve seen my older fans writing cheerful messages for me, it’s really surprisingâ€Â, says the Terran player.
Hailed as one of the Four kings (the other 3 being BoXeR, Reach & YellOw) of the previous generation NaDa has seen many players rise and fall, he’s made friends over the years and counts JangBi, snHoony, AnyTime[gm], Never_V_, MuMyung, iloveOov to be his friends in the pro-gamer community. “I have more friends but these are the first that come to mind!†says NaDa.
Fans of NaDa have created several VOD’s (Video’s on Demand) of the “pimpest plays†and NaDa’s Vultures is one of the most famous videos seen there have also been many articles and in depth guides to explain his style of play, “I am so grateful to my fans outside Korea, I really appreciate your support and continuous love for me, I’ll try really hard to show my best in games to come, I love all my international fansâ€Â, says NaDa.
NaDa has garnered a lot of respect from his fans and critics alike for a major incident that happened in 2005. An accident that changed his life completely, on the 18th of July 2005 it was reported that Lee Yun Yeol’s father met with a fatal car accident as a drunk driver preformed an illegal U-turn, and crashed into his father’s car. While not speaking directly about the incident NaDa had written a beautiful poem (see below) on his fan site about his state of mind, “That was a poem I had written to protect my family and myself, it was to make me a stronger person so I could succeed in life and not be defeated by the tragedyâ€Â. To cope with that tragedy he was taken off the Pantech & Curitel’s roster for two months.
Poem – Original translation by SpAnK[eM], it was translated exactly the way NaDa wrote it.
After coming back to the main roster he began work with the “Make a Wish Foundationâ€Â, the foundation that gives terminally ill children a day of happiness by granting any ‘wish’ they have. Since he joined them he has worked tirelessly to give cancer afflicted children a day of happiness, “I remember spending a day with this one child whom I met, we spent a lot of time together eating and talking and I promised to show him a special ceremony if I won my MSL game against JaeYoung Park. I told him if I had won I would dance! And after winning I danced… it was such a funny moment for me but I am a man of my word, till this day I am in touch with him and we play together onlineâ€Â, says NaDa who counts this as one of the most wonderful moments of his life.
Being a popular figure, everyone has an opinion on you, sometimes harsh things are said and sometimes great support is showered on the player, “It’s important to understand the community I feel, through websites pro-gamers can communicate with fans and viewersâ€Â, but he’s quick to caution, “It’s important to maintain a distance with the community, one just needs to observe and understand the thoughts of the viewers, not interfere with them.â€Â
Over the course of time NaDa has had several fans that have made a lasting impression on him, “I remember quite a few of my fans, one fan visited me in the All-Star match, he was from Germany and came to the stadium just to watch me play, and it was really humbling. On other occasions I read the boards that are kept on display during the game a few times and I’ve seen my older fans writing cheerful messages for me, it’s really surprisingâ€Â, says the Terran player.
Hailed as one of the Four kings (the other 3 being BoXeR, Reach & YellOw) of the previous generation NaDa has seen many players rise and fall, he’s made friends over the years and counts JangBi, snHoony, AnyTime[gm], Never_V_, MuMyung, iloveOov to be his friends in the pro-gamer community. “I have more friends but these are the first that come to mind!†says NaDa.
Fans of NaDa have created several VOD’s (Video’s on Demand) of the “pimpest plays†and NaDa’s Vultures is one of the most famous videos seen there have also been many articles and in depth guides to explain his style of play, “I am so grateful to my fans outside Korea, I really appreciate your support and continuous love for me, I’ll try really hard to show my best in games to come, I love all my international fansâ€Â, says NaDa.
NaDa has garnered a lot of respect from his fans and critics alike for a major incident that happened in 2005. An accident that changed his life completely, on the 18th of July 2005 it was reported that Lee Yun Yeol’s father met with a fatal car accident as a drunk driver preformed an illegal U-turn, and crashed into his father’s car. While not speaking directly about the incident NaDa had written a beautiful poem (see below) on his fan site about his state of mind, “That was a poem I had written to protect my family and myself, it was to make me a stronger person so I could succeed in life and not be defeated by the tragedyâ€Â. To cope with that tragedy he was taken off the Pantech & Curitel’s roster for two months.
Poem – Original translation by SpAnK[eM], it was translated exactly the way NaDa wrote it.
hi this is nada~..
hows ur life goin'?
i am drunk today too~
i am living life with drinks nowdays
u know when u drink, u feel better?
i was walking in the rain after having drinks with friend in the cafe
like...
the rain that is...
father's tear..
my dad always wanted to do some business...
had many failures because of those tries...
but before all those failures
he wanted the happiness of our family...
but... he couldnt...
no... because of that 1 guy...
my dad was very healthy...
very healthy... my dad was very strong...
he wasnt skinny like me
he was big..
and strong..
he never lost vs people
and when we were living in the name of poor
my father fought with gansters only with his 2 hands...
oneday my mother came back home with all bruises over her face
my dad grabbed a metal pipe
and gone to the corporation ..
he leaped over the fence to revenge for my mom...
its like that...
thats how much he loved our family
and thats how strong he was...
but.....
the 1 guy .... drinking driving... and by illegial U-turn
dad is in the sky now...
this ...
this isnt a destiny.. its an error of destiny...
an error of the sky...
the error that never supposed to be happend...
ha.........i still feel empty...
but not a long ago... when i walked in the rain...
i felt it..
it was like...
my father's tear
i...nada...
think i have to get brave back...
i talked with my friends in Gumi(state of korea)... alot of talk...
everyone is living a hard life...
i felt it now...
i realized how happy life i am living while talking with my friends...
i realize it now... now... now i realize...
yes i have to wake up again...
having no practice now is killing me...
if i go back to seoul...
practice hard... so no one can beat me...
and for sure... i will dedicate all those winnings and honors to ..
my father...
i..
im going back ...
dont worry...
im going back to the real nada...
so
remember
i will take care of my family dad..
After coming back to the main roster he began work with the “Make a Wish Foundationâ€Â, the foundation that gives terminally ill children a day of happiness by granting any ‘wish’ they have. Since he joined them he has worked tirelessly to give cancer afflicted children a day of happiness, “I remember spending a day with this one child whom I met, we spent a lot of time together eating and talking and I promised to show him a special ceremony if I won my MSL game against JaeYoung Park. I told him if I had won I would dance! And after winning I danced… it was such a funny moment for me but I am a man of my word, till this day I am in touch with him and we play together onlineâ€Â, says NaDa who counts this as one of the most wonderful moments of his life.
NaDa on the NaDa teddy bear (see pictures)
It’s so cute and simple just like me! (laughs). Personally I would like to live my life just like the NaDaBear, free from any complexities of daily life, far from complicated thought. But I know it’s not possible since am human (smiles)!
NaDa on being the highest paid gamer currently
I feel a lot of pressure when I compete, I think I have to practice more and more for my fans and myself. But it doesn’t end there I feel a sense of duty for other eSport players and teams, to show our worth as an industry.
NaDa on the Starcraft scene outside South Korea
I would like to see European players compete with us on more occasions in the future; I think we have the same responsibility as eSport players to work for our industry. I wish to see more developments in the Starcraft scene outside Korea, I also hope that more international tournaments will be held so we will get more chance to develop eSport and compete with the non-Korean players.
FireBatHero from Samsung KHAN celebrating
NaDa on FireBatHero’s ceremonies (see above) & the 6 Dragons
I am not sure what to comment on his (FBH’s) ceremonies but I guess many people have different opinions on it. The 6 dragons aren’t something I am thinking about, they (the 6 dragons) are just at their peak as gamers.
NaDa on the 4 Kings of yesteryear
BoXeR: He is the Icon of Korean eSports, fantastic gamer and I know that he practices a lot.
Reach: A player who always has a great mind set when playing, he is also a very popular game!
YellOw: He is such a funny guy and always makes jokes, has a very playful nature but at the same time nurtures a strong desire for victory.
Hall of Fame Festival
Presenting an array of NaDa facts I bet you never knew:
NaDa doesn’t consider himself religious
NaDa’s dream car is a Ferrari
NaDa is single (!!!)
NaDa’s favorite music includes ballads, soft pop but can also include Hip Hop and R’n’B
NaDa’s Favorite book is Critical Choices that Change Lives by Dan Castro
NaDa’s favorite hobbies include exercising, watching movies, taking a trip (but doesn’t have the time required to pursue them consistently)
NaDa would like to compete in Tennis, Judo & Boxing
NaDa selected his nickname because according to him it’s a special ID which people can recognize easily in a short period of time!
NaDa used 2 starport + tanks in his first game of Starcraft
Also I bet a few of you didn't know about this commercial:
NaDa cites influence of prominent sport stars on his life, “I admire sportsmen like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods & Fedor Emelianenko†While the first two are famous names, the third might not be known to many - Fedor is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter who has endured in the international scene for a long time, “Fedor is the one whom I know the most about , to me he appears to be a kind family man. He is the strongest in the game with good manners; I respect him because despite being the best in the world and having such strong skills he’s been modest throughout.†Says NaDa, he also nurtures a desire to meet him some day.
The influence of sports on NaDa is far reaching, even when asked about his first tournament victory (2002 Reebok KPGA Tour) he can only think of sports, “At the time of that victory there was a big World Cup Soccer in game in Korea in 2002, South Korea won the quarter final game against Spain so I was very delighted! Oh I wanted to thank my family and fans after I won the tournament too…†says NaDa, to a confused me.
NaDa doesn’t consider himself religious
NaDa’s dream car is a Ferrari
NaDa is single (!!!)
NaDa’s favorite music includes ballads, soft pop but can also include Hip Hop and R’n’B
NaDa’s Favorite book is Critical Choices that Change Lives by Dan Castro
NaDa’s favorite hobbies include exercising, watching movies, taking a trip (but doesn’t have the time required to pursue them consistently)
NaDa would like to compete in Tennis, Judo & Boxing
NaDa selected his nickname because according to him it’s a special ID which people can recognize easily in a short period of time!
NaDa used 2 starport + tanks in his first game of Starcraft
Also I bet a few of you didn't know about this commercial:
NaDa cites influence of prominent sport stars on his life, “I admire sportsmen like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods & Fedor Emelianenko†While the first two are famous names, the third might not be known to many - Fedor is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter who has endured in the international scene for a long time, “Fedor is the one whom I know the most about , to me he appears to be a kind family man. He is the strongest in the game with good manners; I respect him because despite being the best in the world and having such strong skills he’s been modest throughout.†Says NaDa, he also nurtures a desire to meet him some day.
The influence of sports on NaDa is far reaching, even when asked about his first tournament victory (2002 Reebok KPGA Tour) he can only think of sports, “At the time of that victory there was a big World Cup Soccer in game in Korea in 2002, South Korea won the quarter final game against Spain so I was very delighted! Oh I wanted to thank my family and fans after I won the tournament too…†says NaDa, to a confused me.
Like BoXeR, NaDa was way ahead of his time in the sense pro-gaming (even in South Korea)wasn’t as developed back then as it is now, “A long time back my family didn’t like the idea of me being a pro-gamer, however over the years that notion has changed, they always make me feel comfortable. They are always around cheering for me and providing encouragement and I have found a great support system in them.â€Â
This encouragement and cheer is what comes to his mind first when he re-counts his most memorable tournament, “Earning the championship in the Shinhan Bank Star League Season 2 (beating AnyTime 3-2) was probably the most rewarding final for me, my family visited me in the stadium and after that I really wanted to win the title in front of my family, It was such a tough final and I will never forget that matchâ€Â, says Nada.
NaDa’s last gold came way back in 2007 when he won the Shinhan Bank OnGameNet Masters , “Nothing is missing or wrong in my game play, many things have changed and I’ve not been adapting to the different play styles players are using these days, I will prepare thoroughly for the coming games and hopefully the results will followâ€Â, says NaDa.
NaDa celebrating:
NaDa’s 5 pointers to focus in big games:
Recipient of the Golden Mouse Award (awarded to a player who has won 3 OSL’s) NaDa is the first person in the history of professional gaming to have won that award (JulyZerg being the second and last person to be awarded it) NaDa continues the conversation with his trademark humor, “I made a heart shape design over my head when I won it I was also really happy since on that day I felt like I was the best player†says NaDa as he smiles reminiscing about the award.
2 Greats - NaDa & BoXeR
This encouragement and cheer is what comes to his mind first when he re-counts his most memorable tournament, “Earning the championship in the Shinhan Bank Star League Season 2 (beating AnyTime 3-2) was probably the most rewarding final for me, my family visited me in the stadium and after that I really wanted to win the title in front of my family, It was such a tough final and I will never forget that matchâ€Â, says Nada.
NaDa’s last gold came way back in 2007 when he won the Shinhan Bank OnGameNet Masters , “Nothing is missing or wrong in my game play, many things have changed and I’ve not been adapting to the different play styles players are using these days, I will prepare thoroughly for the coming games and hopefully the results will followâ€Â, says NaDa.
NaDa celebrating:
NaDa’s 5 pointers to focus in big games:
| Lesson no. | Pointer |
| #1 | Play quietly |
| #2 | Don’t be nervous |
| #3 | Get the same feeling you had when you were in practice (this will help relax) |
| #4 | Focus on the championship title |
| #5 | Think about the people who cheer for you |
Recipient of the Golden Mouse Award (awarded to a player who has won 3 OSL’s) NaDa is the first person in the history of professional gaming to have won that award (JulyZerg being the second and last person to be awarded it) NaDa continues the conversation with his trademark humor, “I made a heart shape design over my head when I won it I was also really happy since on that day I felt like I was the best player†says NaDa as he smiles reminiscing about the award.
2 Greats - NaDa & BoXeR
NaDa has been an inventor be it his innovation of Terran or his high Actions per Minute ushered in a new era for StarCraft. As a professional gamer, NaDa has come across several strategies he’s seen employed with success and he’s also been the one executing these unique strategies so what are his picks?
Most unique strategy ever used by NaDa (Practice or Televised Games)
I think it was before BoXeR popularized it but in many practice games I used Allied Mines to beat Protoss players, even though it was just for fun and I used it only in practice, never used it in a league.
Learn from NaDa
Most unique strategy he ever saw:
It was a game between Sungjun Park and Yunsung Choi, where Park used 3 lurkers to secretly rush his opponent, that was really awesome.
Whom does NaDa find to be the most creative player of the Terran race now?
I think at this point Huiseung Shin is very strong; his mechanic control is good against Zergs.
NaDa’s tips for noobs aspiring to go pro
NaDa vs July
NaDa's Salvation Army - Can't win all the time now can he?
Most unique strategy ever used by NaDa (Practice or Televised Games)
I think it was before BoXeR popularized it but in many practice games I used Allied Mines to beat Protoss players, even though it was just for fun and I used it only in practice, never used it in a league.
Learn from NaDa
Most unique strategy he ever saw:
It was a game between Sungjun Park and Yunsung Choi, where Park used 3 lurkers to secretly rush his opponent, that was really awesome.
Whom does NaDa find to be the most creative player of the Terran race now?
I think at this point Huiseung Shin is very strong; his mechanic control is good against Zergs.
NaDa’s tips for noobs aspiring to go pro
| Lesson no. | Pointer |
| #1 | The key point is conquest and complete victory over your opponent, you are fighting to be the best, remember this at all times. |
| #2 | In-game it is important to stick to your style and never give up, fight till the end. |
| #3 | Even if you are in a small PC room, aim to be the best in that PC room, but don’t forget there’s something bigger that awaits you. |
| #4 | Be the best in the pond, then the best in the lake, river and so on. |
NaDa vs July
NaDa's Salvation Army - Can't win all the time now can he?
While NaDa is relatively young in comparison to the legendary BoXeR the age factor might catch up with everyone’s favorite Terran, “I think I have 2 years of pro-gaming left in me, who knows maybe I will join the army when the time is right†says NaDa. He pauses for a moment and then adds, “After that (completing army service) I’ll probably proceed to study a subject which I really wanted to for about a yearâ€Â.
Professional gaming in South Korea seems to not be affected by the economic crisis if anything the interest in StarCraft now is more than ever thanks to commentators like Tasteless and Super Daniel, “I’d like to thank such people who are working to bridge the gap between the international audience and the Korean players. There will be more development in Starcraft for sure, but it’s more important to provide quality games over quantity†says NaDa.
In my pre-interview research on NaDa I came across an interview with him in the Brisbane Times in which he compared the life of a pro-gamer to a singer who turns professional and loses the love and the enjoyment of singing. He corrects that statement by saying, “A few years ago when I did that interview (with Brisbane Times) I meant to say I used to envy singers, because they (singers) can create a massive impression by their music and imprint their art in the minds of the audience; however in eSports I can only present a superficial impression of my ‘art’… E-Sports needs to touch its audience on a deeper level else it won’t be complete, in other words - “eSports is drama without a backgroundâ€Â, Says NaDa. Confused? It gets better, “Through my games I would like to leave an imprint on the minds of the fans, I would like to touch them on a deeper level†says the Otter Terran.
Recent failures in leagues aside, fans see a resurgent NaDa these days when he played arguably one of the strongest TvP’s (Terran vs Protoss) seen in recent times. His disappearance from FOX lineups (not that it’s caused a major problem for the team) also signals his preparations for the upcoming Star Leagues, “I used to consider quitting the game, but not right now, not yet. I would like to quit gaming without any regrets and that can only happen after I’ve won a title againâ€Â, gentlemen & bonjwas of Starcraft in South Korea - you have been warned.
In conclusion - NaDa's Vultures:
Kindly go to the next (and last) page for a special surprise!
Professional gaming in South Korea seems to not be affected by the economic crisis if anything the interest in StarCraft now is more than ever thanks to commentators like Tasteless and Super Daniel, “I’d like to thank such people who are working to bridge the gap between the international audience and the Korean players. There will be more development in Starcraft for sure, but it’s more important to provide quality games over quantity†says NaDa.
In my pre-interview research on NaDa I came across an interview with him in the Brisbane Times in which he compared the life of a pro-gamer to a singer who turns professional and loses the love and the enjoyment of singing. He corrects that statement by saying, “A few years ago when I did that interview (with Brisbane Times) I meant to say I used to envy singers, because they (singers) can create a massive impression by their music and imprint their art in the minds of the audience; however in eSports I can only present a superficial impression of my ‘art’… E-Sports needs to touch its audience on a deeper level else it won’t be complete, in other words - “eSports is drama without a backgroundâ€Â, Says NaDa. Confused? It gets better, “Through my games I would like to leave an imprint on the minds of the fans, I would like to touch them on a deeper level†says the Otter Terran.
Recent failures in leagues aside, fans see a resurgent NaDa these days when he played arguably one of the strongest TvP’s (Terran vs Protoss) seen in recent times. His disappearance from FOX lineups (not that it’s caused a major problem for the team) also signals his preparations for the upcoming Star Leagues, “I used to consider quitting the game, but not right now, not yet. I would like to quit gaming without any regrets and that can only happen after I’ve won a title againâ€Â, gentlemen & bonjwas of Starcraft in South Korea - you have been warned.
In conclusion - NaDa's Vultures:
Kindly go to the next (and last) page for a special surprise!
In conclusion I'd like to thank the following people for their input on this article:
Johnny Kim, Ari, Augury, Plexa, JWD, Tadzio, NeverGG - for their comments on NaDa at the start of this interview.
Paul Kim - FOX manager and superman!
NaDa - taking the time to answer the amount of questions I asked him
NeverGG - For her wonderful portraits of the players & giving me permission to use them, kindly check her entire body of work at TeamLiquid or NeverGG.net (her personal website)
Fomos.kr, Fighterforum, TeamLiquid - for borrowing all non-NeverGG images!
Cedric "unskill" Morent - For the "WeInterviewedFOX" and "Noname's Universe: Meet the Stars" banners
Friends - Who reviewed and provided instant feedback and passing pointers until I arrived on the finished product!
Readers - for taking the time to read this, expect more in this series and feel free to drop some feedback/praise/flame (whichever suits you best) in the comments.
Finally - I will make this a regular feature at the end of all interviews (if circumstances allow me to). I present a Lee Yun "NaDa" Yeol autograph! Print it to get an instant-autograph of the legend!
References:
YouTube
Fedor Emeilanenko
Plexa' Letter to the Sky
NeverGG's Photo Index
Nada in Brisbane Times
Johnny Kim, Ari, Augury, Plexa, JWD, Tadzio, NeverGG - for their comments on NaDa at the start of this interview.
Paul Kim - FOX manager and superman!
NaDa - taking the time to answer the amount of questions I asked him
NeverGG - For her wonderful portraits of the players & giving me permission to use them, kindly check her entire body of work at TeamLiquid or NeverGG.net (her personal website)
Fomos.kr, Fighterforum, TeamLiquid - for borrowing all non-NeverGG images!
Cedric "unskill" Morent - For the "WeInterviewedFOX" and "Noname's Universe: Meet the Stars" banners
Friends - Who reviewed and provided instant feedback and passing pointers until I arrived on the finished product!
Readers - for taking the time to read this, expect more in this series and feel free to drop some feedback/praise/flame (whichever suits you best) in the comments.
Finally - I will make this a regular feature at the end of all interviews (if circumstances allow me to). I present a Lee Yun "NaDa" Yeol autograph! Print it to get an instant-autograph of the legend!
References:
YouTube
Fedor Emeilanenko
Plexa' Letter to the Sky
NeverGG's Photo Index
Nada in Brisbane Times
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