The Go4SC2 series is run by ESL as an ongoing monthly tournament ladder for StarCraft2 players who are looking to challenge themselves by competing against some of the best players on the ladder. Every month the sixteen players who won the most Go4SC2 points are invited to the monthly €600 Go4SC2 Finals. You can count on most of those invites to go to established professional players, but here we would like to highlight the underdogs, the dark horse contestants who slip under the radar despite the epic play that qualified them to compete against Europe's best.



ArT



Tymoteusz "ArT" Makaran is a young and highly skilled Protoss hailing from Poland who has been a regular competitor in the Go4SC2 events for some time. He made it into the August Go4SC2 Finals and eliminated former-GSL contender TAiLs before being taken out by KeeN in the second round.



October proved to be a great month for ArT to showcase his talents, with some impressive runs through some equally impressive opponents.



ArT Protoss his way through Bly and Elazer before falling to Revolver .



In ArT got a measure of revenge, taking out Revolver and TAiLs before Guru forced him out.



These results were more than enough to ensure ArT a place in the Monthly Finals, with all but two of his results breaking the Top 10 in the Go4SC2 events he participated in. He wound up sitting at a solid 9th Place in



Before the Go4SC2 September Finals kick off on Tuesday, 11th October 2016 at 19:00 CEST (10:00 PDT), I had a chance to talk with ArT about his busy month, SC2, the rising scene in Poland, and the future.



The Interview:

Hello ArT! I know you're an excellent Protoss from Poland, but otherwise you're a bit of a mystery. Would you mind telling us a little about yourself?



ArT: I'm 19 years old, and I just started my studies recently. I study Korean, Korean language and culture.



That's awesome! I have to ask if that is StarCraft inspired, prep for a future in the GSL?



Well I like to joke about that, how I will live in Korea and win the next GSL. But, in fact, it's about my future... although I admit, StarCraft encouraged me and brought me closer to Korea for sure.



You've been doing very well in Go4SC2 recently, how long have you been competing in the Go4SC2 cups?



I think i started playing in Go4SC2 at the beginning of HotS, sometime around October 2013. Although I played them from time to time, but for the last 6 months or so I've played in every Go4SC2 that I can.



You've been competing in the Go4SC2 tournaments and other open online cups pretty consistently. How important do you think these online tournaments are for players like you?



Basically, it's the one and only way to grow up as a player. If you don't play the online cups like Go4SC2 nobody will know you, notice you, or respect you. And of course it's very good training... much better than ladder!



You've had some great runs this month, taking out guys like Bly, TAiLS and Elazer. The last time you made the Monthly Finals it was in August, and you eliminated the Korean Protoss TAiLs in the first round. Do you think you can repeat this month (or do even better)?



Not sure about my performance this month as I'm pretty busy and cant play as much. Even though I beat Bly and Elazer, I think I got pretty lucky and it will be hard to repeat this achievement. Got to invent some new Protoss dirty tactics!



On that note: How would you describe your playstyle? From what I've seen in your Go4SC2 appearances, you have some strong PvP and you've had a lot of success with some... unorthodox... strategies.



Yea, I guess most people find me as a cheezy, weird all-inner or something, but in fact I prefer macro play and focus mostly on that. But when I'm playing vs favored players I like to take risks and try something new. It's a part of my attitude towards the game: trying to play a variety of styles, just like my god and master sOs does!



That partly answers my next question: Any particular SC2 heroes you draw inspiration from?



There are a bunch of Korean Protoss that I admire and cheer for, together with other Polish community members, such as Rodzyn. We call them "The Gladiators": rain(now retired), classic, Zest and the biggest of them all: sOs god. Besides them, I really admire and learn from players like Neeb and ShoWTime. Besides protoss, I respect Snute a lot.



Those are some all-time greats to draw from. But speaking of Polish players, they make up 5 out of the 16 players in the Go4SC2 Finals this month, with Guru just missing the cut. Is there something in the water in Poland that is producing so many good players right now?



Poland has some true eSport and StarCraft foundations and roots going back to Brood War. Our community isn't too big, but very solid and passionate about the game. Recently the Polish tournament scene has grown up a lot because of the new sponsors and Emil (Polish caster). We actually joke that Emil is Polish StarCraft's savior! Those tournaments encourage new players to train and become better.



Aligulac currently has you rated as the #8 Polish player. Where would you rank yourself on that list?



Well I don't like to rank myself on any list, or tell that I'm better than X player, because there is always someone that will disagree... BUT, Dana is rank 7 currently, and from what i know he stopped playing recently. So if we consider Dana's retirement, then 7 is reasonable place for me to be.



That's an excellent attitude to have! You said you've started your studies, so that obviously takes priority, but even so, what are your StarCraft2/eSports aspirations/goals?



I would love to get into GSL Final and play vs sOs, just to surrender and crown sOs as a GSL champion! But seriously, I don't have any huge plans, I just like the game and will play it as long as its fun. Improving is important for me, because that's what makes the StarCraft special. But I'm not throwing everything at becoming progamer.



It's good to have it as a backup plan, in case the whole school thing doesn't work out! It's been a pleasure ArT. I'd like to thank you for the interview and leave you with the last words for the fans.



I would like to give shutout to netwars.pl community, the heart of polish sc2 scene.

I would like to send personal request for polish protoss "Karfussen" to comeback to the game!

And thanks to my team, IsIMBA, for supporting me.



Thanks again and good luck in the Go4sc2 Finals this month!



The September Go4SC2 Finals will pit ArT up against some high caliber competition, including:



Nerchio , Elazer , KeeN , Bly , Kas , Major , Lillekanin , aLive and SpaceMarine



Catch the Go4SC2 Europe August Finals live:

Tuesday, 11 October 2016 at 19:00 CEST (10:00 PDT)

Go4SC2 Europe September Finals



Qualified Players and Preview

Date: Tuesday, 11 October 2016

Start: 18:00 CEST (10:00 PDT)

Size: 16 Players

Structure: Single Elimination

Prizes: €600 Prize Pool

Coverage: ESL TV Poland - TaKeTV - magiKbaby - Pughy - VikingTV - Maralekos



GGs this month ArT, GL and HF in the future!



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Good luck, have fun,

Your ESL Staff

Follow @Troy_SC2 Today's spotlight is on:Tymoteusz "" Makaran is a young and highly skilled Protoss hailing from Poland who has been a regular competitor in the Go4SC2 events for some time. He made it into the August Go4SC2 Finals and eliminated former-GSL contenderbefore being taken out byin the second round.October proved to be a great month forto showcase his talents, with some impressive runs through some equally impressive opponents. Go4Sc2 Cup #609 sawProtoss his way throughandbefore falling toIn Go4Sc2 Cup #611 got a measure of revenge, taking outandbeforeforced him out.These results were more than enough to ensurea place in the Monthly Finals, with all but two of his results breaking the Top 10 in the Go4SC2 events he participated in. He wound up sitting at a solid 9th Place in September's Go4SC2 Monthly Rankings Before the Go4SC2 September Finals kick off on , I had a chance to talk withabout his busy month, SC2, the rising scene in Poland, and the future.I'm 19 years old, and I just started my studies recently. I study Korean, Korean language and culture.Well I like to joke about that, how I will live in Korea and win the next GSL. But, in fact, it's about my future... although I admit, StarCraft encouraged me and brought me closer to Korea for sure.I think i started playing in Go4SC2 at the beginning of HotS, sometime around October 2013. Although I played them from time to time, but for the last 6 months or so I've played in every Go4SC2 that I can.Basically, it's the one and only way to grow up as a player. If you don't play the online cups like Go4SC2 nobody will know you, notice you, or respect you. And of course it's very good training... much better than ladder!Not sure about my performance this month as I'm pretty busy and cant play as much. Even though I beat Bly and Elazer, I think I got pretty lucky and it will be hard to repeat this achievement. Got to invent some new Protoss dirty tactics!Yea, I guess most people find me as a cheezy, weird all-inner or something, but in fact I prefer macro play and focus mostly on that. But when I'm playing vs favored players I like to take risks and try something new. It's a part of my attitude towards the game: trying to play a variety of styles, just like my god and masterdoes!There are a bunch of Korean Protoss that I admire and cheer for, together with other Polish community members, such as Rodzyn. We call them "The Gladiators": rain(now retired), classic, Zest and the biggest of them all: sOs god. Besides them, I really admire and learn from players like Neeb and ShoWTime. Besides protoss, I respect Snute a lot.Poland has some true eSport and StarCraft foundations and roots going back to Brood War. Our community isn't too big, but very solid and passionate about the game. Recently the Polish tournament scene has grown up a lot because of the new sponsors and(Polish caster). We actually joke that Emil is Polish StarCraft's savior! Those tournaments encourage new players to train and become better.Well I don't like to rank myself on any list, or tell that I'm better thanplayer, because there is always someone that will disagree... BUT, Dana is rank 7 currently, and from what i know he stopped playing recently. So if we consider Dana's retirement, then 7 is reasonable place for me to be.I would love to get into GSL Final and play vs sOs, just to surrender and crown sOs as a GSL champion! But seriously, I don't have any huge plans, I just like the game and will play it as long as its fun. Improving is important for me, because that's what makes the StarCraft special. But I'm not throwing everything at becoming progamer.I would like to give shutout to netwars.pl community, the heart of polish sc2 scene.I would like to send personal request for polish protoss "Karfussen" to comeback to the game!And thanks to my team, IsIMBA, for supporting me.The September Go4SC2 Finals will pitup against some high caliber competition, including:Catch the Go4SC2 Europe August Finals live:GGs this month, GL and HF in the future!If you have any feedback - bad or good - about anything we are doing in StarCraft II then please let us know in the forum Good luck, have fun,Your ESL Staff Troy , Friday, 07/10/16 12:30