Cooller in the semi-final to reach that point. How did that come about? As a 16 year old you made the final of ESWC 2006, your first big international tournament, and beatCooller in the semi-final to reach that point. How did that come about?

winz better than you in Quake 4 at that point? How do you think you handled the pressure of playing in the final? What happened to you after the first map? Waswinz better than you in Quake 4 at that point?

Comparing that ESWC final to your experience level now, having played in and won many finals, what has changed over the time period between? Do you still experience nerves? What is your mindset?

After the ESWC final you were unable to reach top 3 placings internationally for a whole year, and it seemed like you had issues with that until the last part of Quake 4. What accounts for that time period and what changed in the latter days? How do you think of your Quake 4 career on the whole?

How did winning over $13,000 as a 16 year old boy affect you and your mentality as a progamer?

How much would the average salary have been in Belarus at the time and did winning so much money affect the way people around you behaved?

ZeRo4, av3k and Cooller all managed the feat at only 16 years old. The pattern from then on seems to be that despite success early on, and possessing the skill to win, that there comes a period of time when these players drop off and need to find a way to revitalise themselves. What is your perspective on these observations? Looking through Quake history one sees that a number of the all time great duel players reached their first major final at a young age. You,ZeRo4,av3k andCooller all managed the feat at only 16 years old. The pattern from then on seems to be that despite success early on, and possessing the skill to win, that there comes a period of time when these players drop off and need to find a way to revitalise themselves. What is your perspective on these observations?

As someone who competed in all three how do you compare Quake 4, Quake 3 and QuakeLive? How effective were your approaches to each?

Despite your improvement in results towards the end of Quake 4 you still weren't winning any of the tournaments. When the switch came to Quake 3 in 2008 you suddenly went on a rampage, winning everything for a couple of months. Did Quake 3 suit you better than any of the other games you've played? How did your free-flowing intuitive style develop?

What was the effect of winning QuakeCon and ESWC, two of the most historic events in Quake dueling history, and becoming the best player in the world?

In which moments did thoughts of retirement cross your mind? How close were you to going through with it?

Did memories of the 2006 ESWC final resurface before the 2008 final?

rapha so how much was it that your style did not fit QuakeLive early on and how much was it that rapha's slow and more defensive approach fit the game perfectly? Your free and aggressive style in Quake 3 fit the game so well but once the scene fully switched to QuakeLive you had your difficulties in comparison to your Quake 3 success. Most of your losses were torapha so how much was it that your style did not fit QuakeLive early on and how much was it that rapha's slow and more defensive approach fit the game perfectly?

Were you forced to become more of a tactical player to win tournaments in QL? Describe your current style and strengths.

Strenx, k1llsen and Spart1e aim more like bots but your style of aiming appears more natural and can be at just as high a hitrate. This seems to be a key to your QuakeLive style in the sense that early in QuakeLive you had many battles with strong aimers where you tried to outaim them directly, which still sometimes worked. Now, however, you've added a component of playing more defensively and using positioning to close out games where you have leads. What is your perspective on this theory? You say you only have "decent aim" but I'd put it to you that you can have the best aim in QuakeLive at times. Famous aimers likeStrenx,k1llsen andSpart1e aim more like bots but your style of aiming appears more natural and can be at just as high a hitrate. This seems to be a key to your QuakeLive style in the sense that early in QuakeLive you had many battles with strong aimers where you tried to outaim them directly, which still sometimes worked. Now, however, you've added a component of playing more defensively and using positioning to close out games where you have leads. What is your perspective on this theory?

rapha would always hold an advantage over you stylistically, and Cooller even famously said something to the effect of "rapha is the cure for Cypher". Did you have any psychological issues facing rapha during that time? Was there some tweak you needed to make or confidence deficit holding you back? Excluding QuakeCon 2008 (which was QL but some time before the full QL switch) you lost the first four playoff series you played against rapha. During that time a number of people felt as thoughrapha would always hold an advantage over you stylistically, and Cooller even famously said something to the effect of "rapha is the cure for Cypher". Did you have any psychological issues facing rapha during that time? Was there some tweak you needed to make or confidence deficit holding you back?

The IEM IV Global Finals semi-final was a famous moment in both of your careers, as he came back from two maps down to win the next three and the series. Did you go back to that series mentally in the following months?

When he began his comeback did it at all register in your mind that he had managed a similar comeback against Spart1e in the QuakeCon 2009 final?

When you had your run of winning ASUS Summer 2010 and Quakecon many felt like you were the best player in the world, since rapha and Cooller attended both. Even so you did not get the opportunity to face rapha, thanks to Cooller beating him and then losing to you. You didn't manage to beat rapha in a series and win an event at the same time until UGC this year. During that 2010 time at the top did you have the feeling, as expressed by some, that you needed to face rapha and beat him to prove you were the best player in the world?

What is the explanation for how you came to let the clock run out on the final map, hektik, of the BEAT IT final against rapha? You went for armour instead of attacking and lost due to him being ahead in frags.

What was your reaction when the map ended?

In the four playoff series you've played vs. rapha in 2011 you've won all four, and all of the events they took place in. Have you figured out rapha's style? If you face him in the next tournament will you consider yourself the favourite? Have his days of beating you ended?

In the five playoff series rapha won against you in QL he took 11 maps to your six. In the five series you've won against him you've taken 12 maps and he has only won two. rapha has also never swept you in a series, while you've swept him him, including a Bo5 final. Those patterns would suggest when you lost to rapha in the past it was usually by a close marging but that since you've been beating him it has been by a large margin. What do you say to that?

Cooller as av3k: that you looked up to him from before your time as a player, traveled with him to events and were friends with him. How accurate is that? Was it significant for you to become friendly with him? Earlier in your career many people assumed you had a similar relationship toCooller as av3k: that you looked up to him from before your time as a player, traveled with him to events and were friends with him. How accurate is that? Was it significant for you to become friendly with him?

There is an infamous ztn game from 2008 where the score is close and you telefrag Cooller. Cooller was angry after that happened, slamming his gear on the desk, and the look on your face was interesting. You weren't at all happy, instead you looked embarrassed or shocked.

Would your reaction have been the same if the opponent had not been Cooller?

Your record against Cooller in QL is almost impossibly dominant, in the context of you both being elite level players. You've won nine out of 10 playoff series against him and 25 out of the 31 playoff maps played. What accounts for the huge disparity in wins when the two of you play?

Cooller had problems winning against rapha and av3k early on in QL but then gradually found a way to win and make the matchups more event. What holds him back from being able to beat you?

Before the IEM IV Global Finals, in 2010, there was an infamous interview with av3k about the restart situations at Dreamhack Winter 2009 and the IEM IV European Finals [where av3k gave Cooller a restart at the former and Cooller did likewise at IEM]. av3k was upset that Cooller later said he shouldn't have given the restart at IEM and your team-mate was also annoyed that Cooller kept calling you lucky if you beat him. Prior to this the perception in the West was that you, av3k and Cooller were all good friends. Were there problems between you and Cooller or was it only av3k who was upset?

If Cooller had beaten you in a final or won some more matches in your head-to-head do you think he wouldn't make the same comments?

At ASUS Summer 2010 Cooller beat rapha 3:0 and 2:0 only to be swept by you 3:0 in the upper bracket and grand finals. While not as prestigious a tournament as IEM, ESWC or QuakeCon was one of the more perfect tournaments in your career?

Were you as surprised as everyone else while making that frag onto x1t? Have you ever experienced that kind of knockback in QL before?

Some have called the QuakeCon 2010 final you played against Cooller the best match in Quake duel history. Cooller seemed to be at his absolute peak while you were also playing your best Quake and it appeared to be anyone's series. Do you think the series deserves such historic status? Was it the best Quake you've played? Is it your best memory of a final?

You lost the first two maps and during the fourth, aerowalk, a very famous scenario took place. While playing out of control, and against a player famous for his control, you were able to survive without much armour, all the while hitting an incredibly high rail percentage without being caught by Cooller. When the game was happening were you planning specific strategies you would play out? Were you only reacting to each moment?

Was there a specific moment you realised you were going to win the map?

What did you do to survive for so long on a high-scoring like aerowalk without control? Did everything go to plan?

av3k in QL and he's beaten you in three of them. The maps are really close with 11 playoff maps for him and eight for you. Since av3k also beat you in the Quake 4 days why do you think he continues to beat you? You've only played four playoff series againstav3k in QL and he's beaten you in three of them. The maps are really close with 11 playoff maps for him and eight for you. Since av3k also beat you in the Quake 4 days why do you think he continues to beat you?

In a video interview with me av3k said in Quake 4 he was able to win because he didn't care who his opponent was or the map they would play, and that part of why he is not as successful now is that he can't regain that mentality. When av3k beats people he seems to force them to play his style and crushes them with his aggression and pressure while in control. When he faces rapha he doesn't seem able to play his style. He loses to Cooller quite often now, despite the fact he beat the Russian all the time before. Have you observed anything notable about his play against these players?

What are your thoughts on the current state of Quake competitions? Will Quake ever return to one of the major tournament organisations?

Will you continue to play QuakeLive as long as there are tournaments?

Despite your disappoints at the IEMs and QuakeCon you had big successes at the two Dreamhack events and the UGC. How do you view 2011 as a whole year? Where would it rank amongst all of those in your career? Does it compare to the 2008 when you won your first big titles or the 2010 where you took down the most money of your career ($32,000+)?

Quake fans fondly remember the great players of history, from their qualities to their personalities. How would you like Cypher to be remembered once he has stopped playing?

The final words are yours.