proA.Moltres and StarCraft

Date of Birth: 10/11/1988
Year when gamer started competitive/pro gaming: 2007
Country/State: Hanoi, Vietnam
Favorite Gaming Hardware: Logitech Optical Mouse, Bluepad & DT-35 Keyboard
Major Tournaments Won/Ranked In:
1st SCVN Tournament 9 – 2009
1st SCVN Tournament 5 – 2009
1st SVN Tournament 1 – 2008
2nd SVN Tournament 2 – 2009
3rd ELS Autumn Cup 2008
3rd SCVN Tournament 8 – 2008
3rd World Cyber Games 2007 Hanoi

 

Hello, can you introduce yourself to the readers who don’t know you yet?

Hai Trung: Hi readers, I’m Hai Trung Nguyen, playing StarCraft for proArmy Gaming. I am better known as proA.Moltres in Vietnam. I choose Zerg as my main race.

When did you start playing StarCraft?

Hai Trung: I first played StarCraft back when I was studying secondary school, but I wasn’t particularly drawn to the game. In 2007, after I finding out that StarCraft could be played on BattleNet, I started playing StarCraft regularly.

Were there any other games that you liked besides StarCraft?

Hai Trung: Quite a number! Most of them were games on the PlayStation 1 and SNES.

Why did you decide to play StarCraft professionally? What attracted you most to this classic RTS?

Hai Trung: Vietnamese StarCraft gamers had been playing the classic "money map" for a very long time; I found it boring and too easy. Playing “real” maps used in competitive StarCraft was a whole new challenge for me, especially with the lack of mineral & gas. I began to pay attention to the smallest details, from controlling my mineral use to saving every unit possible in each stand-off. Playing competitively in this manner was much more thrilling for me.

Aside from the strategic complexity of the game, it's probably the balance - an important component of any good RTS - that draws me to StarCraft. Zerg, Protoss and Terran – each of the 3 races of StarCraft have their own strengths and weaknesses.

What motivates you to train so hard? Which player has been your toughest opponent?

Hai Trung: When I played StarCraft for the first time, I felt like a fish out of water. There was so much micro and macro management involved at any one point. I lost so many games back then, so much so that I even decided to quit for some time. But in the end, I came back, a stronger and better player. I try to take bad games as lessons to improve myself and to play better - that is what drives me.

The toughest opponent of mine is Dream.SCVN, the tosser almost beat me in every tournament that we've both taken part in so far. I often meet him in the quarter or semi final rounds.

What was your first tournament?

Hai Trung: Hmmm, it was the SCVN Tourn 4 hosted by SCVN team. I clinched the champion title after beating my famous team leader, proA.SirTY.

How did your family react when you first went into eSports? Did they object?

Hai Trung: At first, they denied me permission to game. However, I refused to give up, telling them that I could manage my time between studying and gaming.

My beloved mommy quietly objected to my hobby, but my little brother lent me his supporting, cheering me up when I was down ^^

What is your main race and favorite unit in game?

Hai Trung: I love playing Zerg, with its potential for amassing huge armies with a vast combination of units. I guess you could say that playing Zerg feels like an adventure of sorts. You can control the game initially, develop your units and change the strategy in the blink of an eye.

My favorite unit is the Multalisk. Althought it has little HP and low range, its high movement speed allows it to control the map and harass effectively. If you can use Multalisk well, your opponent's progress in the game will definitely be stifled.

Who’s your favorite Korean pro-gamer?

Hai Trung: Lee Jaedong – the king of Zerg. He has the perfect playing style, and has amazing micro and macro skills.

Any advice for StarCraft newbies?

Hai Trung: StarCraft is not a easy game, but it isn't too hard to approach. Newbies need to have the strong passion for the game. Don’t be hestitant or afraid of playing or losing, just treat every game as a learning experience.

How do you prepare for a tournament?

Hai Trung: I often watch replays and Korean pro-gaming VODs, train with my teammates and… relax.

Who’s the best Vietnamese StarCraft player?

Hai Trung: proA.Thuoclao. He clinched Vietnam World Cyber Games title for 3 years consecutively. “Lao”, as I like to call him, helped me improve my own game as well.

Did you play the StarCraft II beta?

Hai Trung: No, but I've seen some StarCraft II replays. The graphics are great and there are so many changes! I'm pretty sure Starcraft II will be as revolutionary and success as was the Brood War expansion pack!

Thanks for your time!