BabyKnight: "The ideal Europe final for me is meeting Grubby and beating him in close series"

NAME: Jon "BabyKnight" Andersen 
COUNTRY: Denmark
RACE: Protoss
WCS EUROPE RESULTS: Top 8 Season 1

In an era where Protoss players are facing struggles, one Dane finds it in himself to regularly make the headlines of European competition. The name is Jon "BabyKnight" Andersen, the Protoss star of the young StarCraft 2 roster of Na`Vi.FXO.

Originally from Dota, BabyKnight's dedication to the new game and the goal to rise to the top of the scene, however, soon start yielding results and community recognition does not lag behind.  In 2012, Jon coins a top six finish at WCS Europe, his only two losses to Zerg powerhouse Vortix and tournament underdog Lowely. Next on the schedule are a top sixteen finish at WCS Worlds and a top eight at WCS Europe Season 1 in 2013, which form him as one of the most consistent Protoss players on the old continent.

One week before he goes on to play his first matches in WCS Europe Season 2, we sit down with Jon for a long talk. We chat about his dream WCS EU finals, transition from Dota to StarCraft 2 and Dota heroes as Protoss units...
Photo: Helena Kristiansson / esportphoto.com

OK, so let's start with your recent signing. You’re part of Na`Vi.FXO for the second time in your career. How has the team changed between 2011 and 2013?

Last time, I was recruited by Na'Vi right around the time when I switched from DotA to SC2. I was not too great back then, hadn't played that much StarCraft. Na'Vi didn't have big plans for SC2 back then either, so it was bound to fail. This time, however, Na'Vi seem a lot more into the SC2 scene and have quite a strong roster now.

Where does the roster stand compared to other teams you’ve been part of, both in terms of atmosphere and training practices? Do you see Na`Vi.FXO overcoming other heavy-hitting EU teams like, say, Mousesports in the future?

I believe Na'Vi as an organization can reach any height they want to. They've shown that in other games, I think it's all about time and hard work. Right now we're definitely nowhere no as good as we should/want to be. However, in the future I do believe we can surpass teams such as Mousesports but as I said it will require hard work and dedication.

Is there additional pressure on you because of how popular the Na`Vi.FXO brand is in the other eSports?

Not really, it's an honor to play for such a great team, but I don't really feel any sort of extra pressure because of it.

On to you personal career then. Although the switch from BroodWar and WC3 to StarCraft 2 is not that unusual, it’s a bit more rare for a Dota player to come over. I know that you were welcomed well by the SC2 community but how did you part with the Dota fanbase?

That's a hard question to answer. I don't think many of my previous "fans" from my DotA days still follow me in SC2. I think most of them just watch DotA, although sometimes I do run into people in the SC2 universe who recognize me from when I was a DotA player.

I am asking because other Dota players like Hyhy who switched games didn't exactly enjoy a warm Goodbye. With Hyhy, his choice of career change (going into LoL) might've played a role so I was wondering if you experienced a similar situation.

Ah. Well I switched quite a while ago, I don't really think to much about it anymore. Sure, there are a lot of haters in the DotA community, but I got a lot of good comments as far as I can remember. I think SC2 is a much more respected game compared to LoL, especially in another moba game like DotA.
 

Gotcha! So how does one make such a switch. I mean, WC3, BroodWar and StarCraft 2 at least have the common ground of being RTS-es but Dota is a whole other genre. How did you initiate the transition, what did you change first and what was the hardest habit to fix?

I have played quite a bit of both, BroodWar and WC3, but of course I wasn't nearly as good as I was in DotA, or in SC2 now. Still, that did help a lot I think. Mostly, it was my drive to try to become one of the best, something that I had partially obtained in my time as a DotA player. That, and lots of hard work. Doesn't really matter which background someone comes from, with time and hard work anything is possible. Talent doesn't hurt either, I suppose. :P

You’re of the few European Protoss players who constantly seem to do good in premier tournament (top 6 in WCS EU 2012, top 8 in the last season). How do you succeed where others fail or face inconsistency?

 I think there are lots of other good Protosses in Europe, but most of them can't help but whine about balance all the time. I think that hurts their ability to reach their full potential. I too have these problems from time to time, but when I lose very rarely blame it on something other than myself. However, one of the reasons for why people whine about balance is that it's easier for them to stay motivated. Being hard on oneself can be quite demotivating in the long run. It's a /balance/ I think. ;) 

Which Protoss players do you look up to for inspiration and in search for something new to learn?

There's no "one" Protoss that I look to. I do look at other Protoss players play, for entertainment and some times inspiration. In general though, I don't study builds that much. I try to figure out my own builds and ways to play. That's more fun, for me and for the fans. I think people like it when players have different playstyles and whatnot. It makes everything more exciting. 

From you observations, are there major differences between how the different castes of professionals - eSF, KeSPA, foreigners - are treating the race?

Every player is different, there are all kinds of players in all regions. I guess the overall skill level is the only thing that's different.

Do you think there’s any lesser known Protoss player that we should all watch out for, from any region?

I guess "no" is the boring answer, but pretty much all the Protoss players that I watch are already quite known and established in the scene.

So, no "StarDust might be the next big thing"?

What? He just won DreamHack. He's good, but I think that will be the highlight of his career.

Fair enough. I want to go back to WCS Europe S1 where you did play a plethora of big names - you shared a group with Stephano and Grubby, than with Naniwa and Vortix and then had to play Stephano again in the playoffs. How did your mentality change coming into the circuit and after finishing eighth?
 

Grubby is someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for, someone I look up to in a lot of ways. That said, I don't think he's ever really been significantly better than me in SC2. I think I've been better at times, and he's been better at times. We both started playing WoL quite a while after release date, so we've both been catching up and only now starting to get some results. Stephano was obviously a great win, but I've actually beaten him a lot before and Ro32 is Ro32 so although I was really happy, Ro32 is still Ro32. 

Now, my Ro16 group was pretty awesome to get out of, I was really scared since I haven't really been all that confident in my PvP as of late. Naniwa was like the one guy I didn't wanna play, a Protoss, and his best matchup might be PvP (also he's really good, of course). I was pretty certain I was gonna lose to him, but then hopefully beat VortiX and even Happy. I did end up losing to Happy but my PvT hasn't really been the strongest in HotS so far either. My PvZ, however, has been quite strong and it showed against VortiX. Overall, I was happy going into Ro8, but I wanted more.'

When I saw I was gonna play Stephano again, I was displeased. I had beaten his Swarm Host style once, but I was afraid to play it again. I knew Stephano had practiced it and the practice I had gotten, was not Stephano-level. I played quite poorly and after losing
?0-3 to Stephano I wasn't really feeling it for the consolation matches.

Season 2 will be hard for me. I think, especially after last season, I can safely say that I am one of the best and most consistent Protosses in Europe. Lots of pressure on me, especially since my first group doesn't look nearly as tough as last season (but to me it's just as scary.) 

I always set my goals high, so I'm hoping to get a top four finish this season. I think it's possible.

Photo: ESL

Where would you rate yourself in Europe and worldwide today?

Giving an exact rating of myself is not something I'm comfortable doing. I need to keep proving myself. That said, if I can keep posting results relative to my current skill level I consider myself one of the best P's in Europe, as I said.

On to your upcoming matches. You’re opening Group E on July 9th with a mirror against Welmu and then, you go to play either Ret or Thorzain. What’s most ideal for you?

Most ideal for me would be to beat Welmu 2-0 and then either Ret or Thorzain 2-0 *laughs*

Who would you rather play then, Ret or Thorzain?

Ret.

Because of match-up or because of Thorzain being the stronger player?

Thorzain is probably better, but Ret is good too. It's mostly because of the matchup.
?

So, you win the group and everything is awesome! Who do you think will follow you as second? 

Honestly, could be anyone. But I think Welmu will have a tough time if he doesn't beat me since I think his PvP is by far his best matchup.

If we look back, neither Season 1 nor the two groups of Season 2 that were played have been particularly heavy on upsets, the results are more or less expected. What would you consider a surprise within the WCS Europe areal? Do you cheer for anyone in particular (beside yourself, obviously) to make it far?

The ideal WCS season for me is to meet Grubby in the final and beat him in a close series.  <3 I wanna add though, I like most of the European players, especially Protosses so it can be hard to find someone specific to root for. Grubby does stand out though.

Ok, so because you were so helpful, you’re now allowed to pick one Dota hero and introduce it to SC2 as Protoss unit. Which one is that, go!

Shadow Fiend! Time to Raze and dance on some Marines and Zerglings!

?Yeah, I guess with the different Raze ranges you can fry Hydras too...

I can fry everything my dear, but imagine all the Zergling and Marine blood!

You make one Zerg interviewer sad, you know? But I shall give you the floor to give shoutouts before we wrap this up nonetheless.

Alright! Shoutout to all the people in eSports, especially those who are really passionate. Without them, I wouldn't have a job, and also would be a very sad panda. Shoutout to my team, Natus Vincere and FXOpen.Europe. Thx for the interview!

Thank you too! Oh, one very final question. Lucifron is playing Naniwa in the group after yours. Give our GosuBetters a hint where they should bet!

Oh, I don't know. That will be a close match. I do have a sneaking suspicion that Naniwa will fall short to Bly if he ends up playing him.