TeamRazer Profile Joined October 2011 United States 70 Posts Last Edited: 2012-11-16 18:33:55 #1





Before they head off to China for the Battle.net World Championship, we thought it might help you better follow the tournament if you got to know our Team Razer members just a little more intimately. Representing Team Razer in Shanghai will be LoWeLy, HerO, State, and . Over the next 5 days we hope to help you get acquainted with each of them.



Friday's featured player is TeamLiquid's HerO. Be sure you check out our previous bio's too, which you can find listed below.





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Name: Song Hyeon Deok

Alias: HerO

Team: TeamLiquid

Age: 22

Nationality: South Korean

Race: Protoss

Notable achievements: 1st place DreamHack Winter 2011, 2nd place NASL2, Semi-finalist of Season 2 GSL Code-S

Trivia: Smokes to calm his nerves







Are you doing anything out of the ordinary to prepare for the global final?

Actually, I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary, I'm just practicing normally like playing on ladder , but recently, I'm playing many games more than before.



Do you have any concerns about participating in the Battle.net World Championhip? What do you think will be your biggest hurdle?

I'm concerned about protoss vs zerg race match up. Nowadays, all zerg players are improving so much, so zerg players will be my biggest hurdle - especially Stephano.



Do you have an expectations of how you'll perform? Have you set yourself any targets in regards to your performance?

I can't have performance expections for WCS global final. I will try my best and I just want to show my skill to fans. And my goal is win against all my opponents.



Will this be your First time visiting China?

No, I went China for WCS Asia final, it was a good time



Is there anything you would like to say to your fans who'll be watching you compete in China?

I would like to say 'Thank you' again, and looking forward to my match up at global final and I knew you will support me win or lose ! Fighting !









- Manuel “ ” Schenkhuizen "HerO's fanciful play has made many fans and victims. Sometimes he falls victim to it himself; his greatest strength is also his weakness, as he sometimes tries to over-ameliorate and makes it harder for himself than he seems to have to. Personally I'm a big fan of his style and he's an incredibly strong player. His low-Colossus style vs Zerg is impressive, but it often leads to a longer game. In the current PvZ metagame this can be a big problem. I would be surprised if HerO could beat Stephano or Scarlett. Luckily for HerO, his PvT is fantastic and even his PvP has seen great improvements. Definitely a contender for the title!"- Manuel “ Grubby ” Schenkhuizen Song Hyeon DeokTeamLiquid22South KoreanProtoss1st place DreamHack Winter 2011, 2nd place NASL2, Semi-finalist of Season 2 GSL Code-SSmokes to calm his nervesActually, I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary, I'm just practicing normally like playing on ladder , but recently, I'm playing many games more than before.I'm concerned about protoss vs zerg race match up. Nowadays, all zerg players are improving so much, so zerg players will be my biggest hurdle - especially Stephano.I can't have performance expections for WCS global final. I will try my best and I just want to show my skill to fans. And my goal is win against all my opponents.No, I went China for WCS Asia final, it was a good timeI would like to say 'Thank you' again, and looking forward to my match up at global final and I knew you will support me win or lose ! Fighting !





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Name: Ryan Visbeck

Alias: State

Team: Quantic Gaming

Age: 20

Nationality: American

Race: Protoss

Notable achievements: 1st place Texas Starcraft Showdown, 5/6th place at WCS North America Final

Trivia: Started playing Starcraft 2 full-time in July 2012.







Are you doing anything out of the ordinary to prepare for the global final?

I'm currently training at the StarTale House in Korea to train for the Worlds Final. It's a lot different. I remember a few months ago when NaNiWa moved to Korea he spoke about how he was "finally learning to play the game properly", and I'm experiencing something similar - a lot of conceptions and habits foreign players have aren't really viable in the Korean metagame. I feel as though I'm patching some of the holes I've had in my play, and I'm learning a lot while doing it.



Do you think having a lower profile than much of the competition gives you any kind of advantage?

Hah, not really. I don't think Koreans plan to study up on many foreigners, so I don't expect my profile to play any big role.



Do you have an expectations of how you'll perform? Have you set yourself any targets in regards to your performance?

I think my results will be very group-dependant. If there is no more than one Korean in my group, I'm very confident that I will advance to the playoffs; but any more than two might be trouble. I've heard that Blizzard plans on diversifying their groups, so that's very good news for me.



Have you had the opportunity to experience much of Korea while you've been there?

Not so much. I visited some of Seoul with Chris (Illusion) and my friend David Lorio the day after I arrived, but since then it's just been practice, practice, practice. TheSTC said he'll give me a tour sometime soon, so hopefully that will change for the better.



Will this be your First time visiting China?

Yes! I'm very excited to try the food! I've heard Shanghai has some of the best food in China and I'm looking forward to experiencing as much of it as I can.



Is there anything you would like to say to your fans who'll be watching you compete in China?

Thanks for supporting me and Razer! I'll try my best to show good games.









- Manuel “ ” Schenkhuizen "Little is known to me about Quantic's State specific style, but I know that he is good. However, I have little confidence that State will make it out of his first group - even a good player like him. That's how competitive the BWC is. If he does make it out, I would consider the BWC a success for State. Just being realistic here! Of course, one of the main goals of State might be to "headhunt" - taking out a big name might give his career a good boost.”- Manuel “ Grubby ” Schenkhuizen Ryan VisbeckQuantic Gaming20AmericanProtoss1st place Texas Starcraft Showdown, 5/6th place at WCS North America FinalStarted playing Starcraft 2 full-time in July 2012.I'm currently training at the StarTale House in Korea to train for the Worlds Final. It's a lot different. I remember a few months ago when NaNiWa moved to Korea he spoke about how he was "finally learning to play the game properly", and I'm experiencing something similar - a lot of conceptions and habits foreign players have aren't really viable in the Korean metagame. I feel as though I'm patching some of the holes I've had in my play, and I'm learning a lot while doing it.Hah, not really. I don't think Koreans plan to study up on many foreigners, so I don't expect my profile to play any big role.I think my results will be very group-dependant. If there is no more than one Korean in my group, I'm very confident that I will advance to the playoffs; but any more than two might be trouble. I've heard that Blizzard plans on diversifying their groups, so that's very good news for me.Not so much. I visited some of Seoul with Chris (Illusion) and my friend David Lorio the day after I arrived, but since then it's just been practice, practice, practice. TheSTC said he'll give me a tour sometime soon, so hopefully that will change for the better.Yes! I'm very excited to try the food! I've heard Shanghai has some of the best food in China and I'm looking forward to experiencing as much of it as I can.Thanks for supporting me and Razer! I'll try my best to show good games.





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Name: Chris Lee

Alias: Illusion

Team: Quantic Gaming

Age: 16

Nationality: American

Race: Terran

Notable achievements: 7/8th place at WCS North America Final

Trivia: Listens to 1 song on repeat all through an event and occasionally sings along while in-game







Are you doing anything out of the ordinary to prepare for the global final?

I've been practicing in Korea. I'm also skipping MLG Dallas and declined an invitation to the Lone Star Clash to solely focus on WCS.



Do you have any concerns about participating in the Battle.net World Championhip? What do you think will be your biggest hurdle?

I'm a bit concerned that there are only 4 terrans, it kind of shows the state of Terran right now. It is widely considered that Korean Terrans are the best Terran players in the world, yet I see them struggle in many things, including qualifying for WCS Globals (I am aware some Terrans didn't play in the WCS qualifiers as it conflicted with one of the MLGs). I'm also in the Startale house, learning from Terrans, mainly Bomber and Hack, but they also seem to struggle in the other match-ups. I think the biggest hurdle to overcome will just be TvZ matchups, as there are plenty of good Zergs who have qualified, as well as many korean Protosses participating.



Do you have an expectations of how you'll perform? Have you set yourself any targets in regards to your performance?

Of course going into any tournament, a player is determined to win. If I get enough practice in, I think I can do just that. I'm still hoping for a top 3 finish no matter the circumstances though. It will be a hard tournament for sure, as I am sure most of the players are practicing just as hard.



Will this be your First time visiting China?

Yes. I haven't looked too much into Shanghai, nor have I heard much so I don't know what to expect. Mainly right now I'm just hoping it's a good environment so I can stay focused.



Is there anything you would like to say to your fans who'll be watching you compete in China?

Sorry for not showing up at foreign events lately, I really wanted to participate in MLG, Lone Star, DH, etc. but I was worried that it would affect my performance at WCS Global Finals. Hopefully I represent myself well. Even if my results don't follow through the way I want to, I want to show that I can compete with the best. Thanks for cheering me on!









- Kas "He's still quite young and I think that shows through in his aggressive style of play, which can be both a blessing and a curse. I've seen him beat some very good players, but he's also lost to some unknown players because of his lack of experience. If he can conquer his nerves and show his best performance then I think he could reach the top 8. Or at least, I hope he does. I'll be cheering for him anyway, the young Terran hope from the USA!" Chris LeeQuantic Gaming16AmericanTerran7/8th place at WCS North America FinalListens to 1 song on repeat all through an event and occasionally sings along while in-gameI've been practicing in Korea. I'm also skipping MLG Dallas and declined an invitation to the Lone Star Clash to solely focus on WCS.I'm a bit concerned that there are only 4 terrans, it kind of shows the state of Terran right now. It is widely considered that Korean Terrans are the best Terran players in the world, yet I see them struggle in many things, including qualifying for WCS Globals (I am aware some Terrans didn't play in the WCS qualifiers as it conflicted with one of the MLGs). I'm also in the Startale house, learning from Terrans, mainly Bomber and Hack, but they also seem to struggle in the other match-ups. I think the biggest hurdle to overcome will just be TvZ matchups, as there are plenty of good Zergs who have qualified, as well as many korean Protosses participating.Of course going into any tournament, a player is determined to win. If I get enough practice in, I think I can do just that. I'm still hoping for a top 3 finish no matter the circumstances though. It will be a hard tournament for sure, as I am sure most of the players are practicing just as hard.Yes. I haven't looked too much into Shanghai, nor have I heard much so I don't know what to expect. Mainly right now I'm just hoping it's a good environment so I can stay focused.Sorry for not showing up at foreign events lately, I really wanted to participate in MLG, Lone Star, DH, etc. but I was worried that it would affect my performance at WCS Global Finals. Hopefully I represent myself well. Even if my results don't follow through the way I want to, I want to show that I can compete with the best. Thanks for cheering me on!





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Name: Anton Plebanovich

Alias: LoWeLy

Team: FXOpen Europe

Age: 26

Nationality: Belarusian

Race: Zerg

Notable achievements: 1st place WCS Combined European Nationals

Trivia: A big fan of anime, his favourite series is One Piece and his favourite character is 'Rock Lee' from Naruto.







Are you doing anything out of the ordinary to prepare for the global final?

I can't practice more than my body allows, so no. I spend 12 hours a day playing matches, analyzing my replays looking for mistakes or watching VOD’s of other players.



Do you have any concerns about participating in the Battle.net World Championhip? What do you think will be your biggest hurdle?

All I want is to show my "A" game at WCS, so my only worry is that I won’t be able to do so. There are a lot of factors like fatigue, jetlag and unusual climates. I don't know how my body will react to all of this, so all I can do is pray that I'll adjust well. Also, it's hard for me to concentrate if I’m playing against someone who very famous.



Do you have an expectations of how you'll perform? Have you set yourself any targets in regards to your performance?

I'll be happy if I don’t lose in a first round. I can't have any targets higher than that. There will be 32 of the best players from all over the world and they’re all capable of beating one another. Anyone can take first place, so I think it’s just a matter of destiny.



Will this be your First time visiting China?

Yes, it’s my first time, but I'm always concentrating on a tourney and usually don't pay attention to the country I'm visiting.



Is there anything you would like to say to your fans who'll be watching you compete in China?

I hope you'll have a lot of fun while watching!









- Ilyes "Stephano" Satouri LoWeLy is a pretty unconventional player in the sense that some of his plays can be a little strange and unexpected – he’s not your average build order or execution player. As well as that he’s very slow, with like 90 APM. I expect him to do quite well if you compare his results to his skill – he’s still Unknown, so it’s easy to surprise his opponents. Anton PlebanovichFXOpen Europe26BelarusianZerg1st place WCS Combined European NationalsA big fan of anime, his favourite series is One Piece and his favourite character is 'Rock Lee' from Naruto.I can't practice more than my body allows, so no. I spend 12 hours a day playing matches, analyzing my replays looking for mistakes or watching VOD’s of other players.All I want is to show my "A" game at WCS, so my only worry is that I won’t be able to do so. There are a lot of factors like fatigue, jetlag and unusual climates. I don't know how my body will react to all of this, so all I can do is pray that I'll adjust well. Also, it's hard for me to concentrate if I’m playing against someone who very famous.I'll be happy if I don’t lose in a first round. I can't have any targets higher than that. There will be 32 of the best players from all over the world and they’re all capable of beating one another. Anyone can take first place, so I think it’s just a matter of destiny.Yes, it’s my first time, but I'm always concentrating on a tourney and usually don't pay attention to the country I'm visiting.I hope you'll have a lot of fun while watching!





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Name: Jon Anderson

Alias: BabyKnight

Team: FXOpen Europe

Age: 20

Nationality: Danish

Race: Protoss

Notable achievements: 1st place WCS Danish Nationals

Trivia: Formerly a successful DotA player, placed 3rd at ESWC with MYM.DOTA. Switched to Starcraft 2 full-time in May of 2011







Are you doing anything out of the ordinary to prepare for the global final?

Nothing special, I'm just practicing a lot and preparing mentally for it.



Do you have any concerns about participating in the Battle.net World Championhip? What do you think will be your biggest hurdle?

Concerns? Not really, I'm basically just looking forward to it. If I play my best, I think I can get far, but it's also gonna depend on the bracket/groups.



Do you have an expectations of how you'll perform? Have you set yourself any targets in regards to your performance?

That's a very hard question to answer when I don't know who I will face but as I said if I play my best there's no telling how far I can go. I think it'll be important for me to just always look one match ahead, and never be completely satisfied with where I'm at.



After beating Ret and qualifying for the World Finals, I was satisfied, which was dumb. I did not play my best against VortiX and Lowely, and I was very frustrated with that. That's why I won't be satisfied even with a second place at the world finals, until the event is over. When the event is over, I'll put thought into that.



Will this be your First time visiting China?

Yup.



Is there anything you're looking forward to experiencing during your first trip to China?

Playing Starcraft 2.



Is there anything from your experiences as a DOTA player that has carried over, or that you still find useful now as a Starcraft 2 player?

Getting really good at one thing makes it a lot easier to get good at something else. Even though SC2 is a very different game than DotA, I still knew how to get better and I knew that I could become very good. If I didn't have that confidence and knowledge, then I think it would've taken me longer to get to where I am now. Apart from that I guess micro also carried over in a way, controling small groups of units in SC2 is very similar to a hero in DotA.



Is there anything you would like to say to your fans who'll be watching you compete in China?

Thank you guys so much for your support! If it weren't for the people supporting me, it would be incredibly tough to maintain playing. You guys are awesome! Hope you'll all be watching the WCS Grand Finals, and keep cheering for me.







"The last 6 months have been absolutely amazing for FXOBabyknight. He has been skyrocketing his way up to becoming probably the best up and coming protoss player in Europe. His versatility mixed with just solid play has not only allowed him to be top of the EU ladder for quite some time now, but also won him the WCS Denmark champion title as well as a great finish at WCS Europe. Every time I see him play whether it's his stream or a tournament I see improvement in how clean he is what his builds and decision making. And I expect that progress to continue with his work ethic. I think WCS Finals will be a great experience from him and expect to see some special things come from him this coming year.



At the very least, FXOBabyknight needs to take the 'Justin Bieber of SC2' title away from Naama. Am I right? ^^"

- ChanmanV Jon AndersonFXOpen Europe20DanishProtoss1st place WCS Danish NationalsFormerly a successful DotA player, placed 3rd at ESWC with MYM.DOTA. Switched to Starcraft 2 full-time in May of 2011Nothing special, I'm just practicing a lot and preparing mentally for it.Concerns? Not really, I'm basically just looking forward to it. If I play my best, I think I can get far, but it's also gonna depend on the bracket/groups.That's a very hard question to answer when I don't know who I will face but as I said if I play my best there's no telling how far I can go. I think it'll be important for me to just always look one match ahead, and never be completely satisfied with where I'm at.After beating Ret and qualifying for the World Finals, I was satisfied, which was dumb. I did not play my best against VortiX and Lowely, and I was very frustrated with that. That's why I won't be satisfied even with a second place at the world finals, until the event is over. When the event is over, I'll put thought into that.Yup.Playing Starcraft 2.Getting really good at one thing makes it a lot easier to get good at something else. Even though SC2 is a very different game than DotA, I still knew how to get better and I knew that I could become very good. If I didn't have that confidence and knowledge, then I think it would've taken me longer to get to where I am now. Apart from that I guess micro also carried over in a way, controling small groups of units in SC2 is very similar to a hero in DotA.Thank you guys so much for your support! If it weren't for the people supporting me, it would be incredibly tough to maintain playing. You guys are awesome! Hope you'll all be watching the WCS Grand Finals, and keep cheering for me.







Head on over to our 1 of 15 Heart of the Swarm Beta keys. Here's how to enter:

Visit our Facebook page and leave a comment letting us know which HotS unit is your favourite to win 1 of 15 keys.

Winners of the Facebook contest will be announced at the end of every day between now and the last bio that we post, so be sure to check back each day to see if you've won. Before they head off to China for the Battle.net World Championship, we thought it might help you better follow the tournament if you got to know our Team Razer members just a little more intimately. Representing Team Razer in Shanghai will be Illusion and BabyKnight . Over the next 5 days we hope to help you get acquainted with each of them.featured player is TeamLiquid's HerO. Be sure you check out our previous bio's too, which you can find listed below.Head on over to our Facebook page and you could win. Here's how to enter:Winners of the Facebook contest will be announced at the end of every day between now and the last bio that we post, so be sure to check back each day to see if you've won. For Gamers. By Gamers.