Grubby - e-Sports Athlete

Interview with SjoW [GSS Pro Invite #4 winner]

Hey SjoW! I’m Simon from Team Grubby. Congratulations on your victory in the GSS! As always, it was a pleasure to see you stomp through the competition :)

If you don’t mind, I would like to ask you a few questions about your victory and your career on behalf of Team Grubby, as well as maybe a few fun questions as well. Feel free to answer as many or as few of the questions as you wish.

First, it seems prudent to ask you about your victory.

1. How do you feel following your GSS victory?

Im very happy with my performance overall and winning with such a lineup. it’s been awhile since I won a tournament.

Mostly it feels good because I recently changed hotkeys and it’s comforting to know im back to what I was before I changed.

2. What did you feel was your most triumphant victory of the tournament?

The final I have to say, I always aim for first place when I play a tournament and after a 7hour+ tournament you feel very saticsfied after you win since you can relax better after and dont think why didnt win.

Other than that when I got foodbreak between semifinals and final ^_^

3. You blew through some big names such as Bly and WhiteRa to get to the finals. When going in and having a look at the competition, were there any opponents you were particularly worried about?

Whitera is always a tough opponent, you never know what to expect from him and thats sometimes very frustrating to play against because it can easily throw you off your game. Also he have beaten me alot lately.

Recently I actually tried to approach the game more like that and do more calculated allins when I see a hole in somebodys play or if someone is playing greedy. I think its crucial in tournament play with bo3 or more.

4. You faced the Russian player “sLivko” in the finals, where you proceded to walk over him 3-0. You played solidly all-round and never showed a moment of weakness. Were you surprised at the results? Was there ever a moment where you were worried?

I was playing pretty good that day, Im not really suprised about the outcome. I know theres alot of variance in sc2, On another day I could lose to slivko. Mostly the result was due to the firstgames outcome.

I made an 2 rax semi allin into 2 starport 1 base allin which caught slivko totally by suprise and that might have affected his mindset towards the next games, doubting his buildorders and play.

It also boosted my confidence for the next games. In a best of 5 winning the first game is usually very deciding for who wins in my opinion.

Now, if you don’t mind I would like to ask you a few questions about your career in eSports and SC2.

5. You have been on Team Dignitas for some time now, and have been consistantly posting results since beta. Not many players can make the same claim. What do you feel has kept you competative in SC2? Can you tell me a little about your training regimen?

Competition has always been very dear to me. I tried to play professional in wc3 but only got to a semi professional level, mostly it was because I had school or other intrests like poker so it only became a 50% effort.

When I got the sc2 beta I stopped playing poker and I told myself Im gonna try it full hearted if I like the game and I did. I also got very passionate about it and I played 12h+ for the first year of sc2.

Passion always get you good because it makes you wanna play more no matter the result. In 2011 I feel like I kinda lost the passion but I still liked the game. Due to it I didnt play the same amount and it has shown in my result.

I know now that you have to fight to get to the top but I still wish I had that burn I had before because I got everything for free.

My practice has always been ladder and customgames with other pros I think you need to mix it up.

Playing ladder doesnt always give you the best way to test your skill but it gives you variety of gameplays which is good to increase your game knowledge.

Customgames on the other hand is usually same builds and strategys so it helps your raw skill more and mechanics.

6. Team Dignitas is one of the major players in eSports at the moment. For those of us unfamiliar with the inner workings of a team, how does a team help you improve your play?

We help eachother with internal practice and build and strategy discussions. Especially me select and merz all terrans have helped eachother since the beginning of dignitas.

7. In many cases, ex-WC3 such as yourself players seem to be outperforming ex-BW players in tournaments. Do you have any idea why that may be? What skills from WC3 do you feel have helped you the most?

I think sc2 is a combination of wc3 and bw, some parts favors the wc3 other the bw player. The result might have to do something with wc3 had a huge tournament community and bw had practicly nothing outside korea.

Wc3 players have just more tournament experience and thats something really important. You can win 100-0 in practice games but If you dont win the tournaments it doesnt matter at all.

8. Without meaning to give your opponents information… What do you feel is the greatest strength in your play? What about the greatest weakness?

My strength is my decision making and knowledge for the game. My weakness is my mechanics and multitasking but I have improved my speed and im planning to continue doing so also since I changed my hotkeys my macro is starting to get better

9. What are your strongest and weakest matchups?

Strongest has always been TvT overall but that shifts alot since metagame changes all the time. My weakest overall is TvZ but at somepoint it was my best.

Now for a few fun ones!

10. If Blizzard came to your today and asked you to make some balance changes to the game, what would you change?

This is a hard question since we havnt really figured out the game fully yet and also not so funny since you always look biased in other races point of veiw ^^.

I think terran has gotten too much nerfs lately and I feel like we are struggling alot in TvP.

I would like mech to be more viable in TvP maybe change back thors to no mana units so they cant get feedbacked and see how it works out.

Also hydras needs to be buffed somehow so they are used in ZvT, maybe a speed increase off creep.

11. From the look at the Heart of the Swarm units at Blizzcon, what are you looking most forward to in the expansion? Any thoughts on the expansion as a whole?

Im not really looking forward to it because it looks totally imbalanced to be honest, I have faith in blizzard to balance it out eventually tho. Variety in gameplay is always good tho and the units looks cool.

12. Can we have some insight onto your name? Where did Sjow come from?

I was using the nickname show in wc3 and I wanted to make it more original so I changed it to sjow. Actually if you pronounce sjow in swedish its almost exactly the same as show in english.

13. What is in the future for SjoW? Do you have plans for 2012? Where are you hoping to be by this time next year?

Im gonna try harder and I want to have a even more succesful year than this one. My goal is to win a major international event like DH, MLG, IPL.

14. Any words for your fans?

I wanna thank all fans for supporting even tho I’ve been very up and down and keep supporting esports you make it even more awesome.

15. Any shout-outs?

Thanks to all sponsors Alienware, Intel, razer, 6pool gaming and my team for making my dream come true!

And SjoW, we thank you for everything and hope to see you kick all the ass in the world in 2012!

-Simon “Zanez” Rees

steelseries:

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Hey everyone,

I’ve recently launched my new website “FollowGrubby.com” (Beta). This is the official Grubby homepage - the one-stop website for all news regarding me, including blogs, updates on my next tournament, results, when I will be streaming, the ability to download my latest replays, wallpapers, and you can watch VODs - Warcraft 3 and Starcraft 2 commentaries and so on. Be sure to also check out the photo gallery and Grubby Shop (Coming soon, Team Grubby jerseys, jackets).

Though the page is in Beta with improvements and changes on its way, it’s already fully functional, with a few hundred users signed up. Signing in with your Facebook account is possible - Just click on the Facebook icon on the top left. Come join our sweet community today, hang out in our discussion forums, discuss strategies and make friends with the same passion, talk about anything under the sun!

See you at http://followgrubby.com/ !

Warmest regards,

Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen

Grubby gives tips on becoming a progamer

Polarfluke: Want to tell us a little bit about yourself?

Grubby: Sure. I’m a professional electronic Sports athlete that goes by the name of Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen. My specialties are RTS games, namely Warcraft 3 and Starcraft 2. I’ve been a Professional gamer for 8 years.

Polarfluke: At the Copenhagen Games you got to do a little casting, how was it?

Grubby: Was great, but I really have respect for Khaldor who can cast 12 hours straight without losing his voice. After 1 hour of casting my voice was already getting a bit sore :) I really enjoyed it and the reactions were positive.

Polarfluke: Do you want to do more casting or are you more focused on your play at the moment?

Grubby: While I am a pro-gamer, casting would never take precedence over focusing on my play. Though I thoroughly enjoy casting (and was surprised but glad that the viewers apparently did, too), I prefer focusing on competing for now ;)
I will however cast at any time when I have a nice chance to do so, to add more value to the tournament(s) I’m playing in for everyone.

Polarfluke: You have obviously been living the pro-gamer lifestyle for a while now. What are your thoughts on it? Can you give us some of the pros and cons?

Grubby: It’s amazing. I get to play an awesome game, meet diverse people, travel around the world and see places. It has enriched my life in so many ways. I love the lifestyle of being a pro-gamer though it can be challenging. My dreams are to contribute to the growth of eSports worldwide and to become very successful in Starcraft 2.

Polarfluke: You are also part of a rare breed of pro-gamers that are married. How do you manage to find the balance?

Grubby: The wife has to be very understanding. Do you want to become a pro-gamer wife? Here’s what to expect:

You may get to travel with your husband around the world.
If he does well, you may have a comfortable financial backing.
Be near your husband more often since he works from home.
Pro-gamers are usually quite honest, sensitive human beings, so he’ll probably totally respect you, and none of that jock behaviour or male chauvinism.
Live in the knowledge that your support helps make your husband successful in fulfilling his dreams.
So in essence, you live and work together.
He may propose to you in front of a tens of thousands live audience.

Polarfluke: Any advice you would give people who want to go professional?

Grubby: The player has to be very hard-working, self-motivated and clever. Do you want to become a pro-gamer? Here’s what to expect:

Long hours of constant, epic mortal combat with people from across the world.
Missing some family engagements.
The love and adoration of fans from around the world.
Losing a lot of games along the way.
Earning your money with your passion.
Shady or bankrupt organizations getting you in trouble with paying your rent.
The fulfilment and satisfaction rewards as you reap the fruits of your labour.
Be on the forefront of the digital revolution as you pave a pioneer way into a new profession.
Get to travel around the world, meeting people and going places, never a dull moment.

Polarfluke: What are some of your targets and goals for the year?

Grubby: My dreams are to contribute to the growth of eSports worldwide and to become very successful in Starcraft 2.

Polarfluke: Any last minute shouts or words of advice?

Grubby: I’m incredibly grateful for SteelSeries’ support in eSports. Besides making the gear that I play with (5L, 6Gv2, 7H and Ikari Laser), they sponsor me so that I can continue my adventure to becoming a successful Starcraft 2 pro-gamer. I haven’t been playing that long yet, but I work hard and I hope you will all see the results of it along the way. Thanks for your support, too, and good luck to everyone in your own dreams!

Read the entire interview here: http://tinyurl.com/3kp87qt

Interview with sc2tv.ru

interview by sc2tv.ru

interview link http://tinyurl.com/3p9bqnl

interview with Grubby

translated on Grubby’s facebook by Alex Smith

-Why did you start playing sc2 instead of going to China for CEPL? Any team would be glad to take you.

-They promised to start CEPL in march. In Feburary they announced that it’s gonna be delayed for uncertain period of time. It was may already, but I haven’t been hearing any news about it, so I thought that the league got canceled. If I’d went to China in Feburary I’d be there for 3 months waiting, which I consider too much for some uncertain event.

-What’s the reason for you not joining any teams but creating your own?

-I think everyone already knows. For those who doesn’t: since 1st of april 2011 I’m the leader of “Team Grubby”. We have some pretty big plans ahead about other progamers but first I’d like to deal with some other main things. I’m currently trying to be as good as possible as a pro sc2-gamer.

-Do u still play WC3 from time to time? Or SC2 only?

-Yeah, I do a bit, but there’s no tournaments I’d have to prepare for (not sure if there are any qualifiers in Netherlands), so it ain’t like it all used to be.

-Are you going to participate in some big WC3 events? For example WCG. If you have to choose between SC2 and WC3, what will you choose?

-Not sure there are qualifiers for WC3 going in Netherlands.

-What do you think about your success in SC2? Do you think you’re gonna get as big as you used to be in WC3?

-We’ll see. I hope I will.

-What do you prefer: Customs or Ladder?

-I like 50/50. Ladder is pretty good: I can always find a game.

-Why did you choose protoss?

-It’s fun to play with. I also like the Zerg. Humans/Terran on the other hand are boring. Well, we’re humans, they’re humans: there’s no science fiction in that. :)

-What do you do besides practicing?

-I like eating, watching movies, walking on the beach…I read fantasy and science fiction. I do some sport activities on the weekends like snowboard and skiing but not so much.

-Say some last words for your fans from sc2tv.ru :)

-“Privet, zdarova, spasibO, kak dela? Me horosho, ti sam, all horosho :D Spasibo” (Hey, whatsup, thanks, how’s it going? I’m good, you?, it’s all good :D thanks — apparently Grubby knows some Russian)

Copenhagen Games April 2011

Captain’s log, Star Date: 21-24 April 2011, Earth days: Thursday - Sunday

For this event we decided to get comfortable in taking up lodging in a Hotel Apartment. Apartment style hotel rooms are pretty cool since you get to have a refrigerator, a stove and a living room / bedroom segregation kind of thing. Also more furniture like tables/chairs for laptop usage :D Hotel rooms are pretty fine too and I’m comfortably used to them, but apartments have a little something extra.

Arriving in Copenhagen on Thursday 21st April..

Also, we were sharing this apartment stay with Empire.Kas & Empire.Stranger. Great guys! Kas has long been a practice partner of mine since WC3 while Stranger was a stranger to me thus far. Cassandra and I brought and bought some groceries to do some cooking, and on the last night we shared a nightly supper with this knightly duo :)

Cooked spaghetti with Cassandra for dinner.

Eating late supper with Kas and Stranger in our service apartment on the last day.

Back to the first day; we came in from the airport into the room just as Kas made his way to go play his first group matches. We wished him good luck and rested for the rest of the day since I didn’t have matches until Friday, the second day. Kas came back really late as there were some problems on the first day with connectivity and PC’s. Copenhagen Games administration is aware of these issues and said they’ll try hard to fix it for next tournament. I believe them, as they worked really hard, and it was their first SC2 tournament. I’m sure glad I missed the first day, though, as it would’ve most likely been quite frustrating!

Warming up before playing Lalush.

Second day. Had to play at 12:30 so I woke up early for a good breakfast, made my way to the event. Started out playing LaLush on the stage and I knew it’d be an important match for seeding. The first game ended up being pretty epic; 200 food armies on crossmap Tal’Darim Altar and I took it. Second game was a chaotic second win for me and I was off to a good start. The other group opponent was ThomasG’s girlfriend MissCupCake and I won the game easily.

The Steelseries booth at Copenhagen Games, where gamers can test out the professional gaming gears.

Playing on stage.

Nice audience!

Normally bracket play would start on the second day but due to schedule changes it was all moved to the next day. However, I did have an awesome time socializing with all the cool foreign players (even spoke a few words with oGsMC) and fans who showed up. Some really great Danish fans came, man. It was a very intimate atmosphere, players mingled with fans and we had a goodly sized enthusiastic audience. Sure made everything feel greater. I don’t like playing for empty halls ;)

Received my Team Grubby jacket! Cool design! ;)

Team Grubby jacket (Will make it possible for fans to buy the Grubby jerseys and jacket later).

In the evening Cass & I went to eat dinner with my homeboys TLO and Ciara and my new homeboy Bumblebee, my country mate ReT and my best dressed partner-in-crime MyWa in an Indian restaurant. Was pretty good!

Walking back to our hotel to drop off our bags before going for dinner.

Walking to dinner with the guys..

Mywa, Ciara, BumbleBee, ReT, TLO and me enjoying our meal at the Indian restaurant.

At the end of the second day I spent some time on Teamliquid.net and watched some replays. I didn’t know who I was going to face the next day yet because groups were still going on as I was going to sleep… third day was going to start at 9a.m. so I needed to catch some Z’s.

Third day.Xenophobe was my first round opponent and people kept telling me; you know your next opponent? He’s HUGE! So when I saw a big guy sitting down in front of me I knew it was the Xenophobe. Funny thing is, in any other sport I’d probably be the underdog but instead it was him giving me face and saying I’d probably take an easy win. eSports is truly amazing! ;D

Second round opponent was FuZeR whom by now was quite infamous to me for loud outbursts at completely random moments during his games. Quite funny guy, and surprisingly good as he had taken out NaAma in 1st round - I was sure I’d be facing NaAma but it wasn’t to be. FuZer was a strong opponent and pulled a good all-in tactic on me on the 2nd map with Raven and banshees. I decisively won map 1& 3, though so I was going on to Top 8 match.

Playing on stage again.

Awesome fans!

TLO, who just took out Elfi on the stage, was to be my next opponent. A lot of “legtics” were going on which involved him rocking the stage and shaking my monitor, a trick which I will surely try to remember. He took the first game, playing strong and unique styles, but I was able to adapt and win the Bo3 by winning map 2 & 3. This was my first big opponent win in a Bo3 on LAN so I was pretty psyched, and as I walked off the stage Khaldor (rightly) remarked I seemed quite shaky. I was quite mentally drained for the moment and was hungry, as if I immediately needed to replenish my used strengths. I gobbled up a ton of yellow raisins (something which TLO said he hates so I didn’t share any with him though I offered it - nice random fact).

ReT, MaNa and me taking pictures with fans. We’re really enjoying the event.

My semi-finals match was against room-mate Kas. Very strong opponent and turned out to be too strong for me that day. I lost 0-3 but I don’t think it was such a shame as he’s very good. I was happy for him as well since it’s only his 2nd LAN and being so good he deserved to be in the finals as well.

The third place decider was against MorroW! Stefan is a very scary methodical player. I would’ve felt extremely sad if I had not gotten a podium placement after breaking out with quite a nice performance, so I felt very happy to win the series 3-0. I had had some time to prepare mentally since there were some delays, and I had seen MC vs MorroW in the other semis from which I took some pointers as well.

Thanking my fans before I collect my prize for 3rd place..

Thanks for holding the tournament..

YAY!!

Fourth day. Nothing eSports going on ;) Just took a lovely walk in the park called Ørstedsparken. Quite nice! Since it was Easter, lot of couples and families spending some time lying in the grass and enjoying the beautiful weather. Not a bad way to end the trip at all :) And then, it was flying home! Great trip!

Climbed a tree at the park..

Beautiful weather in Copenhagen - we had a relaxing afternoon at the park before flying back to Amsterdam.

Thanks to everyone who trained with me, thanks for all the overwhelming support (& later congratulations) from my fans, makes me really happy ;)

Also thanks to STEELSERIES of course for supporting me on what is already looking to be a great beginning of the first year of SC2 for me!

Grubby

Going to the airport now. 1 hour 25 mins flight from Amsterdam to Copenhagen. Copenhagen Games here I come!