Lee Jae-ho, fresh off a win over Lee Jae-dong, says he’s setting his sights on the title.
In the third quarterfinal of ASL Season 21 on May 4 at Freakup Studio in Seoul’s Gangnam district, Terran player Lee Jae-ho knocked off Zerg veteran Lee Jae-dong. Lee raced to a 2–0 lead, dropped the next two maps, then closed out the series in the fifth to reach the semifinals.
Below is Lee’s post-match interview.
How do you feel about the win?
I was actually worried because my prep went too smoothly. That made me anxious. Winning today felt hard-earned and more meaningful because it was such a struggle.
You read his intentions well through the first two sets, but the next two went poorly.
The first set went exactly as planned. In the second, I expected him to have something ready and an unexpected situation caught me off guard. I managed to respond and thought I’d won because I’d disrupted what he had prepared. I played well in the third, but he adapted better than I expected, and that momentum carried into the fourth. My mental state slipped going into the fifth, but I planned a one-timing strategy and it worked. I got lucky.
Why did you pick Valkyries first in the fifth set?
I even left some workers idle while I tech’d into a Vessel. My opponent looked comfortable, but I felt it was manageable. I think he was too focused on mech play.
Why did you hope to face Lee Young-ho in the semifinals?
Facing Lee Young-ho would give me a chance to show my true level in a live match. Beating him earlier helped me get rolling, and now I want to see how much I’ve grown against a returning top player. Mirror matchups won’t shift balance much, and I’d be fine with Jang Yoon-cheol as an opponent, too.
Your former teammate Min Chan-gi came with you today.
He didn’t add much in terms of strategy, but his support meant a lot. We’ve known each other a long time, and coming to a live event isn’t easy. The fans’ support helped a lot, too.
What does StarCraft mean to you?
Watching Lim Yo-hwan made me dream of being a pro into my 30s, and I still can’t believe I’m living that dream. I don’t know how long I’ll keep going, but as long as fans support me, I’ll continue. ASL has made the game more enjoyable, and it gives me a responsibility to deliver entertaining matches. The game means more to me now. Lately, wins make me really happy — I even felt choked up after today. I’ve invested a huge part of my life into this, and it’s still a great game to play.
Any areas you want to improve?
I get nervous at live events. I stay tense in the arena until I lose a map; once I drop a game I relax. I need to manage that better. I’m always thinking about the game itself, but event conditioning is crucial.
How would you rate your performance today?
Without considering the live setting, I’d give myself about a 70. I made a lot of mistakes and was very nervous, so my play wasn’t clean. But considering the pressure of the venue and that I overcame it, I’d give myself a higher score. I watched Yoon Soo-chul’s match and criticized it, so I prepared hard to avoid being in that position. I’m glad it didn’t end up like that.
Why did you lose the fourth set?
The issue was my +1 marine timing — my marine management wasn’t working well. Even when I had the edge, I failed to hit the timing correctly. I focused too much on his aggression and became passive.
Any final words?
I want to thank my teammates and the fans who cheered at the venue. I’ll prepare well for the semifinals and aim to take the championship this time.
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