Interview – Chris “HuK” Loranger

If you haven’t heard, Canadian StarCraft II star Chris Loranger, also known as HuK, has joined up with TeamLiquid and is going to Korea to compete in the biggest SCII tournament against the very best in the world. You’ve already heard me talk about TeamLiquid and how great their community and team is, and now with HuK joining the squad, they have officially become my favourite eSports team of all time!

HuK is already known as one of the best Protoss players in the world, but now he’ll have a chance to prove it in the Mecca of StarCraft. We interrupted the successful pro gamer’s valuable training time in order to answer some questions.

GN: First of all, congratulations on joining TeamLiquid (TL). They are certainly becoming a household StarCraft II name across the world. I’m sure when your contract was over with Millenium, many teams were trying to sign you. Was the chance to compete in the GSL Korean tournament the main reason you joined TL or were there other reasons you chose them?

HuK: I chose TL because they are TL, among other reasons. They gave me a great offer, can send me to Korea and play in a pro house with other pro foreigners [in the SCII community, non-Koreans are known as foreigners] as well as Koreans, and overall are the best SCII site. But I did have other offers from other teams to go to Korea.

GN: As you know, TL houses and practices with team oGS in Korea. Who from oGS do you look forward to learning from or practicing with the most?

HuK: I don’t know. I don’t really have any favourites as of right now, I just really look forward to playing with all of them.

GN: It has been revealed recently that Lim Yo Hwan [A.K.A. Boxer] is moving on to StarCraft II, presumably for the second season of the tournament. In a previous interview with us you told us that he was your hero and he is who you want to emulate. Are you excited about the possibilities of facing your idol?

HuK: Hah, I would love to [face him], of course. But if it came down to it I would have to destroy him, no matter how much I love him. It should make for good times.

GN: Would you cheese him or play standard out of respect?

HuK: Standard probably or Mothership rush (laugh). If I did cheese, it would be something cool or otherwise I’d play standard.

GN: I’ve noticed that a couple of the Protoss players in the tournament, when playing against other Protoss, have been making a strange army composition that involves Gateway units mixed in with a couple of Void Rays. Have you tried this composition? What do you think of it as compared to the quick Colossus play you usually favour yourself?

HuK: Void Rays are undeniably one of the best units in the game – when charged up. When not charged they are aboslutely trash. As better players learn to abuse that fact, and they can charge them and actually handle the micro mechanics that come with it, then you will see them more. I think it’s viable but a lot harder to manage. Definitely not my style of play though because they can be easily targeted down as well.

GN: You’ve mentioned through some forums and interviews that you’ve had to deal with a lot of politics playing at this level. Do you care to share any tips for any aspiring pro gamers out there about that?

HuK: It’s really boring stuff actually. I wouldn’t call it politics, but there’s a lot more to it than just getting on and playing. I mean you gotta do a lot of things, such as this interview, just so you can become popular as well as a good player.

GN: How many hours a day do you practice SCII? Do you have a rigid training regimen?

HuK: I would like to practice at least 10 hours a day, but lately I’ve been only practicing probably 8 hours a day or less. I will get back to this [10 hour] schedule or more. I definitely know when I’m actually progressing as a player or when I’m not, and if I’m not then I’ll take breaks, but if I am I’ll just keep playing as long as I can. I generally just wake up, play 3 hours, take a 1 hour break, play 4 hours, take another 1 hour break, and then play 3 hours, or something similar. I have nothing written in stone as of now, especially as of late.

GN: That’s cool. You often hear from professional writers that even when you don’t feel like writing, you should push through and just keep writing every day. Do you feel that applies to SCII players? If so, how do you convince yourself to push through when you don’t feel like playing?

HuK: Well I definitely hate not to play everyday, I mean I just feel extremely rusty every morning when I wake up; when going a whole day without playing I feel ancient. Just play – I mean I have some smurf accounts and stuff that I care even less about than the ladder (which is hard to imagine because I don’t care at all about the ladder).

GN: Finally, do you have any other tips for aspiring readers on how to become a pro player?

HuK: Play hard, consciously try to get better, and watch Day9!

So there you have it! A ringing endorsement for Day9, a revelation that Void Rays aren’t his thing, and he’s going to Mothership rush Boxer… maybe.