To see more of the top deck lists from the 12/07/13 tournament click here.
First off I would like to congratulate flawless victory today. You didn’t lose a single match the entire tournament. I would like thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
Thank you so very much. It was a great time, and a great tournament. I have been playing in the tournaments on MLG from the start. I won a couple of the challenge tournaments as well, the 2nd and the 5th.
Yeah I knew of you and had Cooldoggie on my list in game but never saw you get very far before in the tournament.
Yeah in regular open play I didn’t do so well though. When ManaGrind was still on Challonge! I think I placed 9th at one point. But I played in all the ManaGrind MLG opens.
Now I know a lot about you already, but would you like to share with our community just what kind of gaming background you came from.
It all started in 1994; my first card game was called Doom Trooper.
You know I’m old enough to remember that game and I actually played it. It was amazing.
Doom troopers is a Swedish game. They are making it into a miniature game, I helped to kick start that. In 1995 I started with Magic the Gathering, and with that I was playing nationally. Then I got to the university and dropped card games and started playing MMO's. Then about 7 years ago I picked up the WoW TCG. After I got some cards I decided I should be playing this game. So I found a local play group that traveled for tournaments. In 2011, I hit it big in the WoW TCG. I became the Eastern Plagueland Championship. I traveled across the world. I even played in the U.S.
That’s incredible. So where in the U.S. did you play?
I played in Atlanta. It was kind of funny. For some reason the US does not have a visa waiver program with Poland. We have the highest rate of rejection for visas. Normally if you get one it’s for 3 months at first and if you’re good you can get one for longer. So I went for mine and I was talking to the counselor and I told him I was going to the US to play WoW TCG. He was like, "You play World of Warcraft?" He was a big fan of the MMO and when I showed him the cards he was even more excited.
That had to help in getting your visa.
Totally, I got a visa that’s good for 10 years.
Anything else?
I’m a huge fan of the Japanese culture so I was playing a little bit of Pokémon. I also picked up a game called Cardfight!! Vanguard and I am the Polish champion of that.
You've won a lot of card games, but what about other video games.
Not really. I tried League of Legends casually and StarCraft, but didn’t make masters or anything. I was playing Star Wars the Old Republic, WOW, and Ragnarok. All the MMO's, when I play MMO's I try to enjoy all the elements. I love the Lore, the PvE, and the PvP.
What made you decide to come to the ManaGrind tournament?
Obviously I’m interested in all tournaments. ManaGrind was the pioneers of the Hearthstone tournament. Originally when Blizzard announced the closing of the WoW TCG a lot of people were angry and split over playing Hearthstone. But I knew I wanted to make it back to the top ranks again as soon as possible in Hearthstone.
Yeah, though we got a lot of other tournaments popping up ever all over the place now.
On Fridays there is a national tournament in Poland that gets like sixty people and I try to make that one whenever I can.
Yeah that’s another thing we have been seeing is more nation only challenges. It’s really great this game gives us that ability to do so with help of social media and fan websites.
It’s really popular. When the game goes into open beta it will grow even more.
You know that brings us to another point you didn’t get a key right away either.
No I had to hunt for one. I did everything I could to get one. Eventually I got my key from a competition I competed in. Since then I have given out five other keys.
Now back to the tournament. What was the best part for you?
I guess my favorite part was it was my birthday. Best birthday gift ever.
Who was your toughest opponent?
Hands down Savjez, he’s my friend from Finland, in team Doggie House with me.
Was there any one you were glad you didn’t have to go up against?
When the tournament started I checked the list I knew I would have to fight Savjez, but there was no one I saw that I knew was an issue.
You know we do get a lot of players no one has ever heard of come here hit us with something new and take the win.
Everybody is an opponent! Coming from the WoW TCG you can lose to anybody. When you’re facing someone that is known you expect certain things, like the meta game decks we see. Newer players come in with their own ideas and think outside the meta, it can be challenging to adapt.
Last month we saw a ton of Warlock, Today it was all Mage. What would have been your biggest threat?
Mirror matches.
You know I have been looking over these Mage decks and it seemed to be an upgraded version of the Moon’s Mage aggro deck.
Yeah when Moon made his Mage aggro deck the meta was still more mid-range and control based. What I was hearing from people today, is because Warlock is the best and the class to beat. Everyone went Mage. The Mage’s giant combo deck really counters Warlock.
Now which card was the MVP for you?
Pyroblast would be the obvious choice but, I think after today’s tournament, I’d say Cone of Cold.
Moving onto the next part, what are your top neutral cards?
Argent Commander, it is the best offensive card in the game. Next I’d say Defender of Argus, it’s so hard to get tempo back when he is played against you. It is also the card that killed Warrior and Hunter. Than probably Harvest Golem, it really gives you a lot of board advantage no matter what stage of the game. Last would be Argent Squire, because of divine shield.
Ok, so you play competitive and you have a lot of accolades. What makes a good competitive player?
Practice, if you have a lot of skill and a good deck you’re less reliant on luck. But luck is still a huge factor. There is an equation to all of it believe. Skill + Deck Design + Luck = Chance of Winning.
Now as we are about to hit open beta, what advice do you have for these people.
Have fun, that’s the best advice I can give. This game is awesome, from its controls, to its sounds and visual look, to its gameplay, and game modes. But just have fun first and make sure to check out some YouTube recordings and streams.
Me and you were both part of the 2p.com tournament. In that we saw Mage was the number one class. Do you think Mage is going to be the new class to get over?
In the current format yes, Mages are very versatile. Today I took two decks. I would play the aggro, then the next match switch to my control giant deck. The flexibility and the power of Mage spells, give them a lot of advantages.
What other tournament formats would you like see in the future.
Swiss, definitely, ManaGrind is known for its Swiss.
You know I actually played multiple decks in our tournament. One of them was a Murloc deck.
I love Murlocs! I love how in Hearthstone you get to immerse yourself in the Warcraft universe. Interesting fun fact, the last ever WoW TCG event was won by a Murloc deck.
That is amazing. Well I think we are going to call it a wrap. On behalf of ManaGrind and MLG I would like to thank you and congratulate you on your victory today. I hope to see you back here next week.
Thank you.
If you'd like to learn more about Gnimish or watch his videos or stream check out the links below:
Interview with Gnimsh
Winner of the ManaGrind MLG NA Open #7
(Interview done by TheChiv1)
Name: Gnimsh
Age: 30
Location: Poland
To see more of the top deck lists from the 12/07/13 tournament click here.
First off I would like to congratulate flawless victory today. You didn’t lose a single match the entire tournament. I would like thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
Yeah I knew of you and had Cooldoggie on my list in game but never saw you get very far before in the tournament.
Now I know a lot about you already, but would you like to share with our community just what kind of gaming background you came from.
You know I’m old enough to remember that game and I actually played it. It was amazing.
That’s incredible. So where in the U.S. did you play?
That had to help in getting your visa.
Anything else?
You've won a lot of card games, but what about other video games.
What made you decide to come to the ManaGrind tournament?
Yeah, though we got a lot of other tournaments popping up ever all over the place now.
Yeah that’s another thing we have been seeing is more nation only challenges. It’s really great this game gives us that ability to do so with help of social media and fan websites.
You know that brings us to another point you didn’t get a key right away either.
Now back to the tournament. What was the best part for you?
Who was your toughest opponent?
Was there any one you were glad you didn’t have to go up against?
You know we do get a lot of players no one has ever heard of come here hit us with something new and take the win.
Last month we saw a ton of Warlock, Today it was all Mage. What would have been your biggest threat?
You know I have been looking over these Mage decks and it seemed to be an upgraded version of the Moon’s Mage aggro deck.
Now which card was the MVP for you?
Moving onto the next part, what are your top neutral cards?
I’m still on the fence when it comes to using Argent Squire. I like Leper Gnomes better.
Ok, so you play competitive and you have a lot of accolades. What makes a good competitive player?
Now as we are about to hit open beta, what advice do you have for these people.
Me and you were both part of the 2p.com tournament. In that we saw Mage was the number one class. Do you think Mage is going to be the new class to get over?
What other tournament formats would you like see in the future.
You know I actually played multiple decks in our tournament. One of them was a Murloc deck.
That is amazing. Well I think we are going to call it a wrap. On behalf of ManaGrind and MLG I would like to thank you and congratulate you on your victory today. I hope to see you back here next week.
If you'd like to learn more about Gnimish or watch his videos or stream check out the links below:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GnimshTV
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/GnimshTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GnimshTV