Life surprises us every day. Things change, people are coming and leaving, but the legends stay. One of those legends is Rene Krag, better known as Ciara, legendary orc player from Denmark. While resting after hard times at university, he gave us his point of view at our scene and his present and future career. If you are interested, if his shape is increasing or not and whether he was prepared for the DreamHack, read the whole interview!

You're probably the best Danish WC3 player in the world. Do you have any problems with opponents in national qualifications for WC3 tournaments or is it always an easy win?

Well, being "the best" in a country means that everyone else gotta beat you to qualify, so everyone is preparing more for that single matchup than most else, meaning we got some pretty good elfs vs orc...

But it looks like you are a Danish Warcraft King. Does this matchup (Nightelves vs Orcs) give you the biggest problems? What is the reason? Many people from our community say that elves are imbalanced. Do you agree with that? Should Blizzard change it in the upcoming patch?

Elfs ain't my biggest problem now, but that's probably only because my Human matchup is rather pathetic. I don't think they should change major things, just minor... would like to see 1-2 more armor on burrows perhaps to begin with.

Patch... we heard a lot of rumours about it. We're waiting for it for such a long time. Do you really think that it will be a kind of revolution or is Blizzard trying to trick us, while they are working on SC2?

Well, I think they are working on WC3 patch but it's hard to change a game that is so balanced as it is, most imba stuff around at the moment are the maps.

Let's talk about your present team. For now you are one of two Europeans in MYM. Rest of our players are Koreans, is it hard to communicate with them or not? Are you kind of friends?

Sure we are friends, but I don't talk to them that often. Only one I really talk to from the team is Grubby.

Grubby is a legend for sure. Many players says that he's a model for them. Do you have any kind of idol? Person in gaming who you'd like to be?

Eh, within gaming I would have to say SaviOr. By far my biggest idol if it has to be gaming. He is just too cool, even now when on a losing streak, he is like pure evil when gaming, gotta love that.

It has been a long time since we were able to see you in any tournaments or matches. What is wrong with your shape? Why aren't you playing in WC3L or NGL? Do you think you're not that well prepared like others or is it something else, what decides that managers are not including you in the lineup?

Well, when I got removed from the team lineup, WC3L and NGL, I kinda lost motivation to play, and I really have no idea why I got removed from the lineup to begin with...too many Koreans I guess, it was right after they merged with hanbit. Nothing was wrong with my shape back then. I practiced alot and could play up with the best.

How about biggest tournaments, like ESWC or WCG, where you are not shining like in others, "lesser", tournaments? What is the reason? Stress? Not enough practice?

I don't feel stress when playing, I really only play for myself. I got top 5-8 at WCG Italy which I somewhat prepared for, and still didn't get a chance to play a WC3L game, but it's lack of motivation... you can't expect to just prepare for one event every 6 months and just win it. Most top players play a lot of games on a daily basis, which is what you need to be the best. I don't have a reason to play on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis...

It means that we won't see you in better shape and that you reconcile yourself to the fact that you won't play in MYM regularly? What will be the next step in your gaming career?

Eh, I dunno about my shape. I don't feel much like playing WC3 at the momment, I could come back, but I think I'll hold out for SC2. If I were given the chance in WC3 I would go for it, of course.

Will we see you at ESWC 2008 in USA?

Doubt that, seeing that Regroup esport didn't get the spot for ESWC this year.

Which tournament is the most important for you right now? The one that takes more time than others?

I ain't playing actively in any tournaments at the momment, unless you wanna count WC3L and NGL.

We are just around 1 week after DreamHack Summer 2008. In this tournament you lost to Rotterdam, who was second at ESWC Dutch, and after that you had to play in LB, where you lost to not that strong player- LHOH. What was the reason for both defeats?

Don't mind losing to rotterdam. He practiced alot of orc mirror for the purpose of beating Grubby, losing in the loser bracket to a rather unknown human called effect was something I didn't see coming, I've got a very bad HU matchup but still thought I would come out on top. Well, I was wrong, and conditions at the lan were at it worst really. Couldn't hear my own WC3 sound, people walking behind my chair, pushing it etc..

But other players didn't complain about it, do you want to say that DreamHack conditions aren't good for professional gaming? It's just something like Lan 4 Fan, not a professional tournament? If you could, what tips would you give to organizers?

The other players (not the ones from mym) had smarter management that had booked the other hall, we were sitting in the wrong hall for any kind of gaming, except perhaps WOW.

The biggest suprise at this tournament was that WE were knocked out by mouz. The black horse, after very nice matches, had to fight for 1st place with MYM. MYM, which was playing from Loosers Bracket had to win two matches, but we won! Were you suprised of that? From the beginning you thought that we can be the best?

Seeing the lineups I was 80% sure MyM would win those games. I was pretty sure both Moon and grubby would come out on top vs hasuobs and ...(not sure what his name was yumiko or something) and was pretty sure it would come down to the 2on2 matchup which MYM just seemed stronger in. Think it's safe to say MYM won the 2 matches in a row on good lineups.

We're best in the world now! Part of Warcraft community happiness crushed a bit, while we heard Grubbys situation in one game at finals. The problem was about rules( saved games etc. ) . What is your opinion about this situation?

Dunno if he did something wrong or not, haven't really heard alot about it only from SK-forums. And forming and opinion on something just based on SK-forums...

Now we have a little holidays from very big tournaments, but not for so long. Did DreamHack show you that you have to practice more? Will you try to improve your skill and tactics?

I didn't prepare that much before DreamHack, but it did rekindle my love for WC3 ... so let's see where that takes me ^^

Would be great! Who was the best player at WC3L finals and DreamHack in your opinion?

Didn't follow DreamHack that closely...so would have to go with best player being the one who won. and at WC3 the 2 pillars of MYM Grubby and Moon winning last 2 CWs alone.

Exactly, after WC3L finals, community said that Moon+Grubby is the best team in WC3 history and they can win with everybody. Is any 2v2 team, which can fight with them at the same level or they will be unbeatable?

Hmm, no idea. the only legendary 2on2 team in my opinion is Susiria and gostop´s Dual UD combo.

Results in final, both ESWC Sweden and DreamHack, were expected or it was a surprise?

Don't know the result from ESWC sweden and honestly not sure who won Dreamhack, all I know it was either sase or lilldc. But yeah, since I haven't heard of them I guess no major upsets have happened.

While you were at DreamHack, our team was playing at WC3L playoffs in Changsha. Were you watching games of your team mates?

Yeah, think I got to watch every match they played down there.

When you were in best shape, did gaming collide with your real life or was it easy to connect those two things? Was it indirectly the reason that you stopped regular training?

First of... what is a real life? ... who is to say that someone who plays computer all day has any less of a life then someone going out partying every night? And when I did practice alot, I didn't have a "real life", my best shape was like when I joined mym and 1-2 years ahead of it when I got to play WC3L everytime.

We heard that you parted with your girlfriend after 2 years. Gaming was a reason too?

Gaming had nothing to do with why she dumped my sorry ass. But her leaving me is having an effect on everything I used to do. Gaming, school etc.

Sad to hear, but life draws further. We wish you good luck in real life and gaming. We hope that you will show us, anyways, that you are still great player. Thanks for the interview and see you around.

Bye bye oldtimer.