Last time with Ukrainian cyber end Alexei Krupnik ( White – Ra ) We talked in March at the official launch Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Since then, we really wanted to take another big interview from the famous Odessa, but did not work out.
► Judging by the monitors, White-RA at the Homestory Cup-a unique German tournament, which is annually held in a private house of one of the organizers.
Although White-ra Already almost tied with active professional performances, he has very little free time. He often flies in USA , Sweden , Taiwan and other countries where they participate in game exhibitions, and sometimes in Starcraft II at large championships. However, read for yourself – he himself will tell everything in detail!
[Gambling.ru] Hi Alexey! You have been playing Starcraft at a professional level for many years. Where, when, and under what circumstances did you meet this game? Immediately dragged on?
[A. Krupnik] Greetings! The first acquaintance with the game happened a long time ago, while the guys and I sat in a local computer club and chopped down in the "Empires", Quake, Half-Life and other games popular in those years. Someone in the club then took out a beta version of Starcraft, and went away. There was no longer back.
A new strategy with a crazy graphics at that time, three completely different races and an exciting gameplay – the game immediately tightened, and tightened it very much. In 1998, a friend dragged me to the first tournament, but then I played, of course, badly. However, it was this unsatisfactory result that gave me a strong impetus and incentive for more zealous training.
► White-Ra at the time of speeches for the German team Meet Your Makers.
[Gambling.ru] As far as we know, in your student years you studied the oceanologist. I liked to explore sea depths? Why did he choose this direction and why he later transferred to "environmental law"? In those years, he was busy only by the game, or there was also time to study?
[A. Krupnik] Student years is probably one of the most exciting periods in life. At that time, I think, not only I watched films about Jacques Cousteau. In addition, do not forget that for Odessa the sea is almost the second house.
After the property of the entire Russian people was cut into scrap metal – the scientific ship "Yuri Gagarin", I decided to change the direction to a more popular. And there was always time for games: after classes or instead of boring items, we very often gathered in a local computer club.
[Gambling.ru] During your long -term career, you played several thousand matches. What fights crashed into memory more than others? Remember, if you can, the most outstanding victory and the most bitter defeat.
[A. Krupnik] Perhaps the most offensive defeat was in 2002, when I was considered one of the main favorites of Ukrainian finals World Cyber Games And, in my opinion, underestimated his opponents. It can be stated that I was too self -confident, but in the future it was this annoying moment that helped me to become smarter.
► SPECIAL TACTICS Name Rug from Thavan TT Esports.
[Gambling.ru] With the release of Warsraft 3, some virtual strategists left Starcraft and began to command the armies of orcs, elves, alliance and undead. I didn't think to try myself in this game?
[A. Krupnik] Of course, I tried and even participated in several all -Ukrainian championships in Warsraft 3, but I can boast of only one second place. By the way, the stereo system, which I won then, still serves me faithful and truth, although more than ten years have passed.
[Gambling.ru] Your game nickname from ancient Egyptian mythology, and you yourself play for protoss. The extraterrestrial race from the planet Ayur, perhaps, stylistically and visually looks like the ancient Egyptians. I do not agree? Pyramid -like buildings, pylons, hats of fighters ..
[A. Krupnik] A good comparison, of course, is something. But the main source of inspiration is the Egyptian god of the Sun, and, of course, I really love sunny summer in Odessa. Prefix White remained from our first team, collected mainly from friends.
► look good together, true?
[Gambling.ru] Let us return a few years ago-Starcraft: Broodwar is rapidly losing popularity, and Starcraft II does not come out … What WHITE-RA would be doing now in this case?
[A. Krupnik] It is difficult to say, because already at that time, in between rare tournaments, I made training videos and wrote articles in a well -known game magazine Liki. Perhaps over time would become a small businessman. I certainly would not work by profession, since it is almost impossible to live on a salary without receiving bribes in our country.
[Gambling.ru] You started very briskly at Wings of Liberty and won several championships of a decent level in a short period. What then went wrong? I trained little? I was more engaged in household problems?
[A. Krupnik] Perhaps I was one of the most experienced players among those who immediately switched from Broodwar In Beto Starcraft II. I quickly understood the dynamics of the new game and immediately figured out the strengths and weaknesses of each of the three races. Subsequently, many strong players quickly pulled themselves up to my level and even overtook me, because it is hard to train hard for eight to ten hours a day, when you are thirty and there is a family.
[Gambling.ru] What version of Starcraft II you liked more – Wings of Liberty or Heart of the Swarm? By the way, you go through a single game or concentrate only on network mode?
[A. Krupnik] Both versions are interesting in their own way, and as for the choice of the game mode, I honestly admit, I didn’t go to the end Broodwar, Neither Wings of Liberty, Neither Heart of the Swarm. I used to sit down at the campaign, go through several simple missions and understand that I am very drawn to play with a living person … After that, I can’t force myself to play against AI – in a moment in the network mode!
► amateur film from fans-"White-ra in a nutshell"
[Gambling.ru] We cannot help but ask about Special Tactics! When this phrase was first born in your head? As an inexperienced viewer and beginners of Starcraft2 scenes, to recognize when you play as usual, and when “special tactics” are used?
[A. Krupnik] In general, this is not my idea, but General Suvorov – "Surprising means win". Special Tactics has their own special charm, because people need to believe in something, and the game community is to their liking, because “special tactics” are very spectacular and can work well. I have already proved this repeatedly.
[Gambling.ru] Tell readers how the ordinary day of White-ra and when it is at home, in Odessa. In which you start training for an hour and when you stop playing? What else do you do besides playing Starcraft?
[A. Krupnik] Now I don’t really train, I am more busy working with my partners TT Esports And Twitch , family affairs … and in order to display dozens of letters and messages that come every day, you need a lot of time. I often fly to other countries … I go to bed late, constantly try to fight it, but so far I am losing. I get up in the area of dinner, breakfast and immediately sit down at the computer.
I visit the pool and the hall two to three times a week, it helps to feel better. Some family affairs are constantly appearing that require my participation, sometimes strains, but nothing can be done about it. IN Starcraft II I play little, one or two hours a day, more in Hearthstone. I really look forward to the way out Heroes of the Storm And Legacy of Void. Especially the latter, as it will come out – it will immediately make sense to return to diligent training.
► White-RA on one of the Swedish championships of the Dreamhack series.
[Gambling.ru] A couple of years ago you were sponsored by Duckload, and now you cooperate with Thermaltake, more precisely, with their gaming brand TT Esports. Have you tried to get you Natus Vincere, Team Empire, Rox.KIS or Virtus.Pro?
[A https://prive-gb-casino.co.uk/. Krupnik] I was invited to many groups, both in our and foreign. During my long -term career, I managed to visit the best teams at one time, but it was time to think about the future. Actually, that's why I began to cooperate with the company TT Esports – In fact, this is now my team. At the moment, we are developing a line of devices that come under my name and thanks to which I can still go to Ladder and beat one of the famous professionals.
[Gambling.ru] You seem to be considered the oldest professional e-sportsman-player. Where do you draw motivation after so many years of successful performances? There is life in the old dog yet?
[A. Krupnik] All this is thanks to the support of my fans who are no longer important whether I won or not – they just want to see me in competitions from time to time. In general, when you train for two weeks for seven to eight hours a day, you feel that you can still make decent competition the strongest. Everything rests during ..
► White-Ra amusements the audience during one of the show-matches in Taiwan.
[Gambling.ru] Many professional players are now complaining that thanks to mines and faster medical media in Heart of the Swarm terrane is stronger than other races. Is it really so? How to restore balance?
[A. Krupnik] Well, this is one of the most strengths of the race, it would be stupid not to use such a formidable weapon. In my opinion, the balance is now well thought out.
[Gambling.ru] In Dota 2, the creator of the game Icefrog is often advised with famous players about future changes. Blizzard game designers also do this or rely only on their own opinion?
[A. Krupnik] David Kim is responsible for the balance in Starcraft II and sometimes advises professional players. However, the main decisions, of course, make Blizzard.
► ANATOLY ASERMAN is also a fan of Special Tactics?
[Gambling.ru] Now it is difficult for Europeans to fight with the strongest Korean players on an equal footing, and many, in order to maintain a form, go to South Korea. You have no thoughts to move to the east and significantly increase your level of game?
[A. Krupnik] I was there already four times and somehow even stayed for two to three weeks. The level of the game there really grows faster, but not everyone will be able to sit in a closed room from morning to night and play for days on end. Koreans in this regard are unique.
[Gambling.ru] Recently, from everywhere it has been heard conversations that Starcraft II is rapidly losing ground. What do you think it is connected with? Young players do not want to train hard to play a mechanically complex strategy and choose moba?
[A. Krupnik] This game is more complicated than others, and in defeat you can blame yourself only, and not any of the partners. Another noticeable problem is that in Starcraft II Updates are too rare ..
► The best gaming moments performed by Alexei Krupnik (White-Ra)
[Gambling.ru] Well, the last question – many have now pulled into the abyss, whose name is the demo version of Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. I already had a chance to play it? Or you are not a lover of such card games?
[A. Krupnik] As I said above, I have been playing Hearthstone for a long time, and I like him. Of course, there is an element of good luck in it – you can lose, even having a very strong deck in your hands, but at a long distance, I think everything will fall into place.
[Gambling.ru] Thanks for the interview. You can convey hello to someone!
[A. Krupnik] First of all, I want to wish everyone good health and good mood. I will try to continue to delight you with my game and share your experience. Thanks also to my partners TT Esports And Twitch For beneficial work!