Interview with JerAx: "We celebrated a bit more calmly than normal"

This interview was conducted by Nicole "Catosaurus" Lim on 03.06.2015 via Skype.

How were you invited to join MVP.Hot6ix? In our recent interview with ^Black, he mentioned that he was also invited to join Hot6ix but he refused the offer. Were you then invited to fill up the spot?

I knew Heen before as we met at Dreamhack, but we didn't know much about each other. Black asked if I was interested in supporting for MVP.Hot6 as they didn't have a complete roster back then, so there wasn't an issue to fit in.

Was it a tough decision to make to fly to Korea? What made you decide to leave everything behind and move to a foreign country?

Yes, as time was very limited at that point. I was actively looking for teams and I was ready to fully commit once I see potential opportunity. But it wasn't easy as I had to tell my family that I was going to leave to Korea in just a few days. But as it's everything that I need to do to chase my dream, I'm willing to do so and they always support me fully in the end.

Are you getting used to the life there?

The life here is much more easier than back in Finland as I don't really have to worry about anything. Food comes to table, clothes are always clean and there is always possibility to practice.

What do you like most about Korea?

I like the way how Koreans take it super serious when it comes down what they want the most in their lives, they do everything for it.

Are you able to communicate well with the rest of the team, given that they were all Koreans and you're from Europe?

They aren't all Koreans and there are different backgrounds which have improved their English skills vastly. Forev is the only one having some problems with English, but we can handle that easily. But yes, we are communicating well.

Is there a different style of training in Korea as compared to the rest of the world?

Living in a team house for months is definitely different type of training than just practicing from home. It's easy to gather up people and point out something you've noticed in games and talk it through. It opens up minds for new possibilities and you get more out of the practice. Also we have a team behind us, just having a wall between so it's easy to share ideas with them and have some 3rd person perspective. I think this happens in most team houses in Korea.

Does Korea have better training facilities compared to Europe?

There are internet cafes almost everywhere and I could see that as a good thing for gaming, to gather up with friends in same room and play a few games. But I don't think there is anything you can't do in Europe that you can do in Korea.

There's this belief that Korea is the heaven for E-sports. What makes Korea a heaven and not Europe?

I think it just started from Koreans being better than rest as they take the games way more serious. I'm mainly talking about Starcraft here. The amount of hours they put into playing every day is way more than people do in Europe and I think it is very simple who comes ahead. Not sure if Korea exactly as country is very beneficial for pro-gaming, but people definitely motivate each others here as they compete every day in everything. People even run to escalators from subways!

What do you miss back home in Finland and when is your next trip back home?

Nature, friends, family, bread, tap water, patience, silence, chill weathers! I'm actually leaving tomorrow, which was a surprise even to me, so I'm very happy!

MVP's full roster flew to Singapore to play the SEA qualifiers. How were the facilities provided?

The whole idea going there was to reduce the delay in-game and potentially avoid the internet being unstable. Personally, I felt I had a huge advantage compared what I've played over from our house. It is about 100ms in difference.

How did you find the food and people there in Singapore?

Food was pretty much the same we had at Malaysia (MPGL), Indian, Chinese, Thai, tried everything and I loved it all, haha! People were surprisingly shy, but I don't really know more than that.

Which team was the toughest to fight against among the SEA qualifiers?

TNC, because they have really unpredictable picks and they are all very high skilled players, also we haven't scrimmed them.

Is there a difference in play-style or strategies between SEA and EU/NA?

Every region has their top-tier picks right now, but most teams have their personal flavor approaching the patch when it comes down to drafting. So yes, there is, but the things that work out for others seem to emerge to other regions as well.

During your game against TnC, Forev picked up Bloodseeker after Teehee picked it up in the first game, and then in many of the games after Bloodseeker was picked up by your team again. Did MVP.Hot6ix train on that hero often or did this pick come up halfway through the games?

We planned to pick Bloodseeker the first game as well, but there were anticipations that they might actually pick it right before us, and it happened. We've had great success with the hero in scrims and it feels like people in SEA haven't found a great counter to it quite yet.

MVP.Hot6ix didn't get the chance to play against Rave in the qualifiers. Have both teams scrimmed together before? If not how do you think your team would fare against them?

We haven't really scrimmed with each other at all, as we felt we are giving information more than they give us, we were more confident doing it this way. We know very well how they play and I think the way we have improved the last month enables us to have an edge in a BO3 format.

You performed amazingly well in many of the games and you're well known for playing the greedy support, and your impact on the game's success is very big. Do you think being aggressive is better than being passive as a support?

I usually play the aggressive style simply because I'm better at it and my hero pool allows it. I wouldn't say either style is exactly better, it's more of a play-style thing connected to your hero. I'd say the team that puts pressure on the other team and making them react to what you do is better most of the times.



Triple kill for JerAx incoming.

If that's the case, how would you compare your play style as a support with Heen's?

I'm usually the one moving around, creating space, finding openings and putting constant pressure where as Heen is more safelane centric, focusing on harassing offlaners and controlling the game from there. You could say he plays the exact opposite way as I do, but there is a clear benefit to do so as laning phase is so important.

How does it feel to have both MVP teams competing for grand finals? Did it feel more relaxing? Or were you guys dead serious to destroy each other?

It's important to follow other teams during a tournament as they are revealing important things about their game. I didn't really mind who we play against, but it's great to see both teams being able to get so far. There is this love/hate relationship, but everybody goes well together. Both teams wanted each others to do well!

In your opinion, do you think now the Koreans are dominating or overtaking the SEA scene?

Koreans are ahead a bit as we adapted to the new patch very well. But I wouldn't say dominating as there is still Team Malaysia.

Do both MVP teams share the same manager? How does he coach both teams when they have to play against each other in such a high stake match?

Yes we do have the same manager. It's definitely a challenge for him to cheer for both teams, and at the same time want us to fight even harder. I don't really know how he does it, I couldn't see myself in that spot, heh.

Congratulations again for winning the SEA qualifiers. How did MVP.Hot6ix celebrate after defeating MVP.Phoenix, considering that you were all playing (almost) right next to each other?

Thanks a lot! I mean both teams ended up into same restaurants, there weren't any bad blood between the teams. But that happened a bit later as people get emotional after games. We celebrated a bit more calmly than normal..! (laugh)



MVP.Phoenix and MVP.Hot6 celebrating their dominance in TI5 SEA qualifier. Picture from MVP.

What is your team doing to prepare for TI5?

Probably going to find new ways to improve ourselves as MVP.Phoenix got through as well, not just standard scrimming. We will figure out other teams by watching replays and thinking of drafts as there might be no chance to play against them. We willl definitely do our best!

What sort of placing are you expecting to achieve during the main event?

I have no expectations at all, I'm going to focus on every game like it's the last and do my absolute best on beating everybody. Our toughest opponents should be VG or C9.

I understand that you're flying back to Finland for 2 weeks. What are you planning to do after that?

I'm coming back to Korea, continue playing video games, and PRACTICE!

What do you like to do other than playing games?

Of course I follow streams and watch replays. Other than Dota I like to scroll stupid pictures in internet, sometimes watch movies, listen to music, pretty much what everyone does..? Haha.

Do you have a girlfriend? Or are you planning to go for a Korean one, or not at all?

No I don't have and I have no plans whatsoever. There is always Lina for me in Dota.

What do you think about Kimchi? And what's your favorite Korean food?

Kimchi is great, I'm still enjoying it after all these days, haha. I like the soups here, where you boil your beef and veggies, it's really good. I don't know the name!

Any last shoutouts?

Shoutouts to all members of 4ASC who made an awesome run in the qualifiers, I still feel a little sad for them. Also to all my fans, I love you all! (heart)