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News

rapha: "hope ZeRo4 was proud of that t4" (159 comments)

( Major News: QL)

Posted by Thorin @ 07:57 CST, 5 March 2011 - iMsg

Event: IEM5

Following his second IEM World Championship title win SK Gaming's

Shane "rapha" Hendrixson spoke about his victory, his opponent and his mentor.

How does rapha feel after winning back-to-back World Championships? How did

ZeRo4 help him out during the tournament? Has

Cooller changed since their first IEM final? Was the way he played out of control a specific strategy rapha went in with on dismemberment? Did Cooller get unlucky spawns on t4?

Check the video interview with the winner of the IEM5 Finals!

Edited by xou at 08:46 CST, 5 March 2011 - 59021 Hits

16%

<< Comment #1 @ 08:27 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

twister

...link?

<< Comment #2 @ 08:43 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

T1E ' - Reply to #1

http://www.sk-gaming.com/content/32442-rapha_...of_that_t4

<< Comment #3 @ 08:51 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

n1ghty

rapha, ZeRo4 and Cooller being mentioned in one news. --> [+]

<< Comment #4 @ 08:56 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Cwiru

Raphality tididuduuuuuu

<< Comment #41 @ 12:40 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Lethe - Reply to #4

pls don't combine stuff with that scared faggot kthx

<< Comment #43 @ 12:55 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Cwiru - Reply to #41

I mean fatality form mortal kombats :) fatal1ty dont have my respect, after refuse challenge from ZeRo4, and not give him a chance for revenge

<< Comment #5 @ 08:59 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

tbone

Rapha played that exactly like z4 would, a master class.

<< Comment #6 @ 09:03 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Demiurge '

HAHA

<< Comment #7 @ 09:42 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

r1ddler

Imagine if chyper won that group stage game and fazz his match vs dahang and not on of em would have advanced

Thats what amazes me about that 3:0 final, playoffs seemed way 2 easy

<< Comment #9 @ 09:55 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #7

No, playoffs weren't easy. It just happens that, in crucial games, rapha has the focus and manages to step up his game. While cooller steps down his own.

I mean, funny as cooller's "nothing special" might be when talking about other players, at some point he has to ask himself what rapha and cypher are doing "special" when grabbing decisive wins? What's the distinguishing element? Maybe it's just that they're still enjoying the game specifically during those moments, and actively looking for a win while he's concerned with not losing.

Did cypher actually say that cooller won't win anything again or is it just a rumor? Well, if so, today we've seen why he might have had reason to say so.

<< Comment #11 @ 09:56 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

stunt.us - Reply to #9

cooller plays not to lose, while some players play to win.

<< Comment #12 @ 09:58 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #11

lol dumbass - major achievement to literally repeat what I said

<< Comment #14 @ 10:12 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

stunt.us - Reply to #12

umad?

<< Comment #15 @ 10:18 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #14

amazed

<< Comment #20 @ 10:56 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

lolograde ' - Reply to #12

He said it in fewer words. Therefore he wins!

<< Comment #25 @ 11:17 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #20

I totally believe you that you would rather be concerned with numbers of words than original content.

<< Comment #52 @ 14:52 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Thorin - Reply to #9

Did cypher actually say that cooller won't win anything again or is it just a rumor?

He said it before the European Finals... which Cooller won. He also said Cooller couldn't beat him... Cooller beat him at the World Finals. Moral of the story: not everything Cypher says is gospel.

I think some people are missing the fact Cypher and Cooller use interviews/words for effect at times, not purely to relay the absolute unquestionable state of reality. Think of the interviews more like pre-fight hype for a boxing/MMA fight.

Edited by Thorin at 14:54 CST, 5 March 2011

<< Comment #58 @ 15:44 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #52

I'm aware of the latter.

May not be gospel, but I guess we all know what he was referring to. That cooller's lacking the mentality to win (finals) since he grew accustomed to losing (starting with toxjq's winning streak in q4). IEM Europe was still no global level event. Today he had a major chance to win one, and underscore his ability to come back. And blew it. What a major chance missed, specifically to shut up the critics.

If he's gonna take it, it'll be an even steeper uphill battle now. As everybody sees themselves confirmed and even more confident facing him.

Edited by weltschmerz at 15:44 CST, 5 March 2011

<< Comment #67 @ 17:32 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

baneman - Reply to #58

And here I thought cooller had accomplished all he needed to by winning the Euro finals... but seriously, what are you on about? Everyone will feel more confident facing him? why? He just beat everyone but rapha, and he wasn't exactly dominating before this tourney. Losing to rapha wasn't due to some crisis of confidence, he just got outplayed on this day.

<< Comment #68 @ 17:51 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #67

Don't take this personally, but this "outplayed" mantra shit is fundamentally laughable.

By the time rapha shot 7 rails and landed 5 of them at the start of t7, cooller shot 3 and landed zero. Even if he partly recovered later, at that moment rapha - and everybody - knew that cooller was nervous. Specifically because coollers t7 rail is beastly when he's in shape.

I could tell you a couple or two other situations where cooller mentally choked, and visibly so also for his opponent. But as that's not obvious to you, it's really not worth discussing it.

<< Comment #70 @ 18:23 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

baneman - Reply to #68

I saw the games too and saw everything you saw. Surely cooller had nerves, but that is part of playing in the finals. My post was in response to your statement that cooller's loss to rapha in the grand final of the world championships somehow translates to getting tooled in the future by more "confident" opponents.

I also think back to the interview with spartie after the group stage where he said that rapha was the best player, consistently beating everyone in europe before the tourney. I don't think losing to rapha is going to make cooller lose esteem with the fans or other players.

<< Comment #71 @ 18:33 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #70

Rapha didn't win qcon, Cypher did. Rapha won msi beat it. But Rapha didn't win dreamhack, Cypher did. How, for fucks sake if you don't mind, would he be "the best player, consistently beating everyone in europe"?

And regarding the "confidence", I'm afraid I'm not in the mood right now to recap a discussion which has been going on for a year or two.

<< Comment #72 @ 18:37 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

baneman - Reply to #71

Calm down - although I do think rapha is the best player, in my post I was paraphrasing spartie's interview response. He was giving his opinion on who was the strongest player in the tourney based on practice games leading up to it. You can take issue with him if you want.

<< Comment #73 @ 18:46 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #72

Yeah alright. Then maybe take whatever spartie says with a grain of salt in the future. Because, if he said that, he was either high on dope and partying or depressed and disoriented due to a poor performance of his. Which might happen again, at any time in the future and even during an interview.

<< Comment #74 @ 18:52 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

baneman - Reply to #73

Yeah, he must have been in a really confused state after having gone 4-1 in the group stages and beating rapha. Or maybe he was being honest and giving his opinion based on practice games that you did not participate in. Then there is the fact that rapha won the tourney... no, spartie must have been on dope, I'll ignore him in the future

Edited by baneman at 18:53 CST, 5 March 2011

<< Comment #75 @ 19:10 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #74

Dude, I wouldn't say nothing if cooller played what he could. But he underperformed. And that's why a bunch of ex fans are thoroughly pissed and enthusiastically mocking him, because he consistently underperforms in crucial, tournament winning games.

With IEM Europe, there was some hope that the spell was broken. A vain fantasy, as it now appears. And that's not taking away from rapha's win, just to be sure. That's saying that a cooller playing freely and at full capacity would at least have given him a considerably harder time. Seriously, 3:0, what else is this than a bad joke.

<< Comment #76 @ 19:25 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

baneman - Reply to #75

Well I agree that he could have performed better, but I disagree with some things:

1. The idea that cooller could lose fans (lol) especially after getting his first major victory recently

2. The idea that other players somehow think cooller is weak

And I'm really done talking about it, you're entitled to your opinions on the subject

<< Comment #77 @ 19:32 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #76

(1) He lost a considerable number already, that's what I was talking about (lol).
(2) Cypher saying cooller wouldn't win anything again and being incapable of beating him? Trying to put an additional mental dent into him? And maybe seeing it work out at least to some extent?

Thanks for being done talking, by the way.

<< Comment #78 @ 19:42 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

baneman - Reply to #77

I know I'm committing the cardinal sin of replying when I said I wouldn't, but the troll bait is too good. I'm sure cypher totally mindfucked cooller with that statement, I mean cooller only went on to win the euro champs and place 2nd in esl worlds. I'm also sure cypher feels totally vindicated despite his failure to make it out of the group stage.

don't insult cooller fans as if they would endure the q4 days when he couldn't give a fuck, the start of QL when he wasn't even close to winning, and then give up on him now when he just won a tourney and fell one place short in this one

<< Comment #79 @ 20:01 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #78

No. Cypher mindfucked cooller by constantly winning him for years. That statement was just meant to be an additional bonus, keeping the mindfuck well alive.

Insulting cooller fans? I don't believe I did. As I've been talking about those he lost. Actually not my fault you're following things only since yesterday and are apparently of the "I adhere to and worship my hero whatever he does" type.

Done talking yet?

<< Comment #80 @ 20:13 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

baneman - Reply to #79

"Done talking yet?"

Why? Are you jamerio? Do you think forum discussions are competitions that you win by continuously hitting reply? It's not my fault you couldn't comprehend my 2nd post and I had to write two more just to lay it out for you. Yeah, I've said more than enough and I'm done.

<< Comment #81 @ 20:15 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #80

You could have been done before already. Still thanks, quite a relief.

<< Comment #86 @ 22:50 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

linkoo - Reply to #81

<insert pointless reply just to have the last word here> : DDDDDD

<< Comment #113 @ 04:36 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #86

I wasn't quite done yet. But then, I didn't say I was, did I.

<< Comment #91 @ 23:38 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

erok - Reply to #81

cooller has placed top5 in almost every tourney he's played in, winning the most recent iem europe and placing 2nd at the global finals last year and this year. I don't really understand "As everybody sees themselves confirmed and even more confident facing him. " I highly doubt anyone cooller plays underestimates him, especially considering the past two results currently prove him to be the best european player

<< Comment #95 @ 00:03 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

dCoy - Reply to #91

Agreed... Cooller takes a 5 year break, places top 5 his first tourney back, then after that, gradually increases his rank by 1, placing 1st in the 2nd IEM Euro championship he participated in, then went on to place 2nd in the World finals.. not once, but twice. That's a great achievement, not one to lose fans over : /... Rapha is just a solid player, possibly the most consistent of all the top 6 in the world. He has won the most in a row, and has won the more important tournaments. Don't degrade a player because he lost to someone of rapha's caliber.

<< Comment #110 @ 03:48 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

InDepther - Reply to #95

the thing is the way he lost

He even knows that he played bad. In the last iem he had played much better even though in this he was in much much better form.

<< Comment #112 @ 04:12 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #110

Should have been in better form. Frankly, against strenx he's been looking fairly shaky already. Even if his rox on hub were nothing short of amazing.

My impression is that those east europs spend too much time on secondary theatres, trying to mentally weaken each other but effectively weakening themselves, too. Imagine a cooller publicly boasting his recent win, possibly taking his mouth too full and then entering the next final not only to win, but also to prove a point about all the stuff he's been talking in between. This has a weakening effect, which is what rapha for example very well knows. That's why you never hear him talking shit.

And that's also cypher's current problem I believe. That he's been talking too much. I bet he'll recover soon though.

<< Comment #115 @ 05:49 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

InDepther - Reply to #112

true he was playing good unlit av3k. After av3k he wasn't the same. I thought he will lose to strenx.

<< Comment #111 @ 03:52 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #95

Where did cooller take a five year break? He's been basically playing all the time, specifically q3 after q4 went down. Maybe inform yourself before talking nonsense?
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooller

Edited by weltschmerz at 03:53 CST, 6 March 2011

<< Comment #127 @ 19:56 CST, 7 March 2011 >>

By

dCoy - Reply to #111

I was simply implying he wasn't taking the game as serious as the rest, and is still able to come back with 2 wks of serious practice to place top 5. Get off your high horse and stop trying to e-battle.. it's not that serious.

Edit: Including his LATE transition to quake live, but any who...

Edited by dCoy at 19:57 CST, 7 March 2011

<< Comment #132 @ 02:39 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #127

blah blah blah .... blah? blah!

<< Comment #108 @ 03:43 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

InDepther - Reply to #78

I for one will support strenx in next tourney, not cooller. So the guy has a point.The mental barrier that cooler has to overcome in order to win rapha in elimination rounds is now huge. It was already really big considering their history. I know sport psychology and now is almost to the point that is impossible, if rapha doesn’t fuck up. Cooller also knows, remember his statement about how he seems to win av3k easy now. Strenx on the other hand, has the enthusiasm and the hunger of his age. The only thing that is going against strenx is the bad history between him and cooler. Therefore, if he doesn’t meet cooler in elimination rounds he will probably take next tourney. I like cooler. I like how from a descent player, transforms to a beast in lan tourneys, but I also like someone that can win tourneys and overcome +back tactics.

<< Comment #101 @ 02:45 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

Anonymous (129.59.180.7) - Reply to #75

And whose fault is that? Nerves are part of playing the game.

Rapha earned this victory and he IS the world champion. That's the bottom line. Cooller is #2.

<< Comment #109 @ 03:43 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #101

Precisely. Nerves are not only part of the game, they are what makes or breaks a game. And Cypher is #2, not Cooller.

Edited by weltschmerz at 03:44 CST, 6 March 2011

<< Comment #128 @ 19:58 CST, 7 March 2011 >>

By

dCoy - Reply to #109

Precisely. Nerves are not only part of the game, they are what makes or breaks a game. And Cooller is #2.

Whew, there we go.. You almost made yourself look bad there sir, don't worry I have your back :)

<< Comment #131 @ 02:38 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #128

Sorry, but you are a clown. Cooller wins a single tournament, and now he's suddenly number 2? Let's briefly look at Cypher's 2010 record:
1st - ASUS Autumn
1st - Dreamhack Winter
2nd - MSI BEAT IT
1st - ASUS Summer
1st - QuakeCon
2nd - DreamHack Summer
1st - ASUS Spring
4th - IEM World
1st - ASUS Winter
1st - IEM Europe

At the end of 2011 we may talk again. Until then, maybe try adding some sanity to your judgment.

<< Comment #144 @ 10:52 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

dCoy - Reply to #131

But we're in 2011, not 2010.. If you're gonna bring in old news, then let's go way back when to 2002 with a little russian boy named Anton Singov, shall we?
Count all of Coollers 1st place victories compared to Cypher..
Cypher may have more in 2010.. but let's look at a bigger picture. Cooller = #1 starting from 2002 til now. Case closed. Cypher may win a tournament this year, or even top 3, but until then, he's bottom of the barrel. You may post once more just so you can have the last word, it's on me <3.

<< Comment #148 @ 12:42 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #144

Here's your last word, on you: get a clue.

<< Comment #145 @ 11:57 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

f0cus - Reply to #131

You're trying really hard, but if you want to break out acheivements then you're going to need to count either A) Coollers much more impressive list, or... you can break it down to just the past few years and he's gonna fall well short of Rapha.

<< Comment #146 @ 11:57 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

f0cus - Reply to #145

"he" being Cypher.

<< Comment #147 @ 12:41 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

weltschmerz - Reply to #145

With an official ranking system lacking, looking from year to year - or "season to season" - would obviously be the natural thing to do. Just as it happens in other sport disciplines.

The top one spot could actually be argued about. But it wasn't even about that. It was about #2. And cooller is certainly not #2. If one considers rapha first, the player ranking immediately after him would obviously be cypher. Just laughable to think otherwise.

<< Comment #151 @ 14:55 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

dCoy - Reply to #145

Well, at least another person see's it the same as I do :)

[+]

<< Comment #100 @ 02:44 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

Anonymous (60.242.73.133) - Reply to #58

Today he had a major chance to win one, and underscore his ability to plus back. And blew it.

<< Comment #102 @ 02:53 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

KitesAreFun - Reply to #9

I think this is a bit unfair to Cooller.

I don't think it's so much that Cooller "steps down" but Rapha that "steps up" and that's the end of it.

To me it seems there is far too much "looking in Cooller's direction". What more can a guy do? He kicked ass. He's been kicking ass... he just didn't come out on top vs arguably the strongest Quake player (if on his game) in history.

It happens.

<< Comment #129 @ 20:01 CST, 7 March 2011 >>

By

dCoy - Reply to #102

Exactly.. It's not like cooller came into the series saying "Yes, I will kick Shane's ass and take first place, and many more first place victories after this one."

Cooller has the utmost respect for Rapha, and knows he's a strong player. So the bashing of cooller for losing to rapha is truly undeserving. I guarantee anyone talking trash about Cooller couldn't even come CLOSE to a top 3 placing in a major tournament such as this. Get over yourselves, seriously.

<< Comment #138 @ 09:59 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

InDepther - Reply to #129

loool u r naive

He is the one bashing cooller. You didn't get it? He says that if rapha plays his best, cooller can't do anything but lose.

<< Comment #140 @ 10:20 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

dCoy - Reply to #138

What? You maybe misread what he posted.

He simply said it wasn't Cooller who lost some of his game, but that Rapha stepped up his game during the finals..

And hell, noone can stop rapha at the moment, so it's not cooller bashing if that's what you got out of it. You're the naive one my good sir.

Edited by dCoy at 10:22 CST, 8 March 2011

<< Comment #142 @ 10:27 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

InDepther - Reply to #140

he used u like a tool :D

wp zalu

<< Comment #143 @ 10:42 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

dCoy - Reply to #142

I'm a troll magnet, what more can I say.

<< Comment #137 @ 09:56 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

InDepther - Reply to #102

he pld bad

rapha is good but cooller pld bad. You can't change that and you don't have to, cause a win is a win no matter what.

<< Comment #8 @ 09:48 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

ddk

I guess we know who Paul the Octopus was named after

<< Comment #16 @ 10:31 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

iavoal - Reply to #8

czmus

<< Comment #38 @ 12:32 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Liam - Reply to #8

was named after paul

<< Comment #10 @ 09:55 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

stunt.us

if rapha is 5 steps ahead how many does that put czm with that 3-0 prediction?

<< Comment #19 @ 10:48 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

timmah - Reply to #10

5 + 3 = 8

ez

<< Comment #103 @ 02:55 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

KitesAreFun - Reply to #10

Yeah I saw that too.

Paul looked like a robot for a few seconds while he thought about it. He obviously took that question very seriously. lol

<< Comment #13 @ 10:05 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

burgonya

i don't have a clue about zero4's playstyle, but that t4 was $$$

<< Comment #17 @ 10:41 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

pks - Reply to #13

zero4 is the alpha omega of tourney 4

<< Comment #54 @ 14:55 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Thorin - Reply to #17

zero4 is the alpha omega of pro-tourney4

FYP

<< Comment #61 @ 16:33 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

IrrSolicitude - Reply to #17

I like LeXeR more

<< Comment #18 @ 10:42 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

f0cus - Reply to #13

rapha has referred to zero4 as his mentor, when he first started to really play seriously.

<< Comment #22 @ 11:03 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

jamalz - Reply to #18

ZeRo4 taught rapha all his tricks and positions and weapon selections and that stuff. Rapha has more talent though, able to time 4 items perfectly and nerves of steel.

What a beast. Give Rapha toxjq aim and he'd become the most powerful quake warrior in the universe!!

<< Comment #29 @ 11:56 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

horf - Reply to #22

how about giving fox raphas brains and toxjqs aim?

<< Comment #32 @ 12:10 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

duumed - Reply to #29

I think fox was smart enough and had a great aim, what he needed was nerves and consistency.

<< Comment #45 @ 13:39 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

horf - Reply to #32

I thought that too but I was leaning to make an unstoppable player so fox's traits with raphas and toxjqs

<< Comment #83 @ 21:08 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

mefajpE^ - Reply to #32

BEST PLAYER EVER

<< Comment #34 @ 12:13 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

burgonya - Reply to #29

and stermy's look

<< Comment #49 @ 14:23 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

EmSixTeen - Reply to #34

and my axe

<< Comment #60 @ 16:32 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

IrrSolicitude - Reply to #49

and strenex's accent

<< Comment #57 @ 15:43 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

function9 - Reply to #34

and my bow.

<< Comment #84 @ 21:26 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

ANDYLOW - Reply to #34

One does not simply walk into T4...

<< Comment #90 @ 23:26 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

maltyplaya - Reply to #22

ZeRo4 taught rapha all his tricks and positions and weapon selections and what not.

-fixed.

<< Comment #21 @ 11:03 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

vxd

He looks so tired :D

<< Comment #23 @ 11:03 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

baron Railgun :

10x for the t4 game

<< Comment #24 @ 11:08 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

ischju

whatever goes on in raphas mind when he plays is just really giving me the goosebumps. His calculations, how he analysis the behavioral pattern of the the enemy etc. is just so sick. Surely, he has brought it (yet again) to a new level.

The utmost respect. If only the last map would not have been t4 but aero. I really dislike seeing t4 after all these years. Sure, aero is quite old as well but it still feels the map suits ql better than t4 does.

Edited by ischju at 12:13 CST, 5 March 2011

<< Comment #26 @ 11:22 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

evilbollweevil - Reply to #24

agreed...and I think for those who haven't heard him cast before, they got a chance to hear him delve deep into play-by-play match analysis and reveal some of the inner workings of his multivariable combat calculus, i.e., brain.

After watching this video interview - keyword phrase search (rapha): "take advantage." As many have said here and on match threads, rapha simply takes advantage of mistakes, and interestingly in this interview, he talks about the possibility of QL disappearing, therefore "taking advantage" of it while it's around. That's really distilled rapha: "taking advantage"

(with that head game, too bad he's just a player and not a PLAYA! Heads up ladies!)

<< Comment #97 @ 00:47 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

prodx - Reply to #26

Absolutely agreed. That kid has got some heavy duty cerebral activity going on and his analysis of the games played has been more than insightful.

Apart from this, the guy seems to genuinely be a nice guy. It's very easy to cheer for him.

<< Comment #27 @ 11:36 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

stunt.us

thats why he plus backs. cuz ql gives the person who runs the most the advantage.

<< Comment #28 @ 11:41 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

ischju - Reply to #27

he just waits out for the best opportunity.

<< Comment #31 @ 11:59 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

0x5f3759df - Reply to #28

No, by waiting he creates the best opportunity. It's like a staring competition waiting for your opponent to blink first.

<< Comment #44 @ 13:01 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

juM8o - Reply to #31

gotta agree with that

<< Comment #65 @ 17:10 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

sirax - Reply to #44

Here's how it works:

Rapha never gets bored of +backing, his opponent however, eventually will and exposes himself with +forward.

It's a war of +back attrition, where Rapha has trained himself to never stop backing. NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, +BACK! For evidence of this see DM13 Rapha vs Cypher or Cooller vs Rapha IEM finals. Where did they go wrong? They got sick of backing and decided to +forward.

It's that old adage taken to the extreme: "never enter a fight you cannot escape from if you need to". Rapha bases his entire game around non-committal offense. He relies on his opponents to not observe it as strictly as he does and wins based on 'superior' patience.

<< Comment #82 @ 20:37 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

clan519 - Reply to #65

That is just straight up idiotic, rapha will come after you with a vengeance if he thinks he can trap you.. look at the +forward rjing on Dismemberment. He's aggressive when he needs to/should be..

<< Comment #89 @ 23:01 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

evilbollweevil - Reply to #82

Agreed. And the funny thing is you don't have top-level duelers EVER say "well I rushed him because I got sick of chasing him" or anything to that effect. What an erroneous simplification of quite an involved, multivaried playstyle: a staring contest? All these players know what to expect from each other; playstyles are evolving, newcomers are lining up to break into the top ten, etc.

Did anybody actually listen to Rapha during those casts? He talked ALL the time about punishing an opponent for taking RA or grabbing a certain weap. As I've said before he's an almost sadistic architect who designs 10min traps for his opponents(and NOT off his backfoot!)
-atm Rapha is simply the best juggler of all the factors/skills needed to come out on top.

Edited by evilbollweevil at 23:01 CST, 5 March 2011

<< Comment #104 @ 02:59 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

jaguar211 - Reply to #65

It's the map, stupid!

DM13 is not a gamble map, which is why you saw those long drawn out games and why it should be removed from the map pool.

But on all other maps we have seen rapha take more than his fair share of aggressive moves.

<< Comment #93 @ 23:41 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

erok - Reply to #65

that's bullshit, rapha goes on the aggressive quite often...sure there are games where he mainly doesn run, but to say that's all he ever does is ignorant and naive

<< Comment #96 @ 00:13 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

Derb_ - Reply to #65

you're pretty stupid lol

<< Comment #98 @ 02:14 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

sirax - Reply to #96

It was hyberbole to say he 'always runs'. Of course occasionally he will attack, maybe 30s out of every 10 minute high end duel.

Backing and cautious, non-committal, non-aggressive, non-risk taking play is the cornerstone of his game.

Don't get so upset yanks.

<< Comment #123 @ 18:15 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

anal justice - Reply to #98

That's a pretty good description of rapha's play style but we have to give the guy some credit - I can't think of one purely +back player to dominate this often and so decisively at times.

Sure, +back is boring to watch, let alone play against, but I'd rather watch him play instead of +boredom gurus such as if-22 and b100.death haha

Personally, I would gladly put a cypher vs av3k match in the finals of every big tournament. That's quality action, excitement and fun.

Edited by anal justice at 18:16 CST, 6 March 2011

<< Comment #130 @ 21:54 CST, 7 March 2011 >>

By

dCoy - Reply to #123

Once they dominate enough with their exciting play and get into every final of Quake Live, Rapha might change his play style. Until then, cautious play wins in the end.

<< Comment #114 @ 05:39 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

Nukm - Reply to #65

you just dont get it his play it seems

<< Comment #139 @ 10:02 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

InDepther - Reply to #65

/thread

<< Comment #30 @ 11:58 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

rapha is the best duel player atm.

but t4 is shit.

rapha without t4 is not the all times best.

<< Comment #33 @ 12:13 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

ischju - Reply to #30

moar thunderstruck? :D

<< Comment #35 @ 12:14 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

therm - Reply to #30

u forgot to mention u re the best thunderwhatever 1v1 ca player

<< Comment #63 @ 16:45 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

calleking - Reply to #30

I'm glad Jacques Clouseau follows the Quake Live dueling scene so closely.

<< Comment #85 @ 22:07 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

EddieF4 - Reply to #30

What? Rapha without T4 doesn't make him the all time best I assume?

<< Comment #92 @ 23:38 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Heartlesss - Reply to #85

all times best, no. All times top2/top1 and with quite a few disappointing results, yes.

but it's the same for every player basically, appart from few exceptions like dahang, fox, stermy,but i doubt they'll ever reach the very to one day except maybe for dahang.

but like i said, atm, no matter the excuses you'll find, rapha is #1 at duel without any possible doubt.

I would love to challenge him @ thundertruck 1v1. Would be the clash of the titans.

Edited by He4rTL3sS at 23:42 CST, 5 March 2011

<< Comment #105 @ 03:00 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

KitesAreFun - Reply to #92

Thunderstruck?

Is this a joke or is there some game out there that I'm unaware of?

(refuses to google)

<< Comment #116 @ 07:35 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

scowl - Reply to #105

haha, thunderstruck is just a QL map, on which heartless has won a couple of CA 1v1 matches against a couple of casual players.
He somehow thinks this makes him a good player.

Edited by scowl at 07:35 CST, 6 March 2011

<< Comment #118 @ 08:55 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

gSTRUCTOR ' - Reply to #116

Thunderstruck is a classic from RA3, included later in QL. One of if not the best CA 2x2 map ever.

<< Comment #106 @ 03:04 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

jamalz - Reply to #92

rapha sucks at ca. He said playing ca is the opposite of duel, it just makes you bad at duel. (paraphrased since i forget how he worded it, but its the same idea)

I've played dahang in ca, aims fine, nothing special.

<< Comment #122 @ 15:45 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

Heartlesss - Reply to #106

when he says CA, i guess he means CA 3v3+ right ?

<< Comment #126 @ 23:20 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

jamalz - Reply to #122

he was getting smashed in a 5v5 on dm6, so probably was raged at that, not sure if he would think diff to 1v1 ca

<< Comment #119 @ 12:32 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

rxn - Reply to #92

Thunderstruck is dueling with training wheels.

<< Comment #36 @ 12:21 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Lethe

cheap bastard, mentioning zero4 to make himself look good...

<< Comment #37 @ 12:29 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

sLowbi - Reply to #36

Yeah, that's totally what's going on. :D

<< Comment #39 @ 12:33 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Lethe - Reply to #37

:D

<< Comment #40 @ 12:40 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Cwiru - Reply to #36

Hes already looks VERY good, and dont need z4 to show it. Second time World Champion. Genius

<< Comment #42 @ 12:41 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Lethe - Reply to #40

ah well.

some people are just born stupid.

<< Comment #51 @ 14:51 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

esdf ' - Reply to #42

or born in poland :D

<< Comment #55 @ 15:04 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Cwiru - Reply to #51

ye, POLISH POWER

<< Comment #133 @ 02:52 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

therm - Reply to #55

its more like a bortish power in your case

<< Comment #46 @ 13:43 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

erok

shaky camera was annoying but i like his answers

<< Comment #47 @ 13:51 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=146462...6732329862

<< Comment #48 @ 14:21 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Teen Queen ' - Reply to #47

What is going on in that pic?

<< Comment #50 @ 14:40 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

brz - Reply to #47

tip: post the whole picture instead of a link and ruin the thread

<< Comment #56 @ 15:32 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Anonymous (189.180.114.114) - Reply to #50

MJ lives!

<< Comment #124 @ 19:04 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

Jamerio : - Reply to #50

Wider than a bucket fo sho.

P.S.

Edited by Jamerio at 08:50 CST, 7 March 2011

<< Comment #136 @ 04:10 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

brz - Reply to #124

so what was the original racist comment about arabs? (:

<< Comment #59 @ 15:50 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

sLowbi - Reply to #47

LOL

<< Comment #53 @ 14:55 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

esdf '

wp rapha, the most consistent guy in ql history so far!

im not sad cooller got 2nd, it's a great position and nice money as well, + he already won a major ql lan so that's all it matters for me. sure, world championship would be nice, it'll come tho. i hope on eswc this year, if not there's always next year. :) oh and adding qcon to the list would be great as well ;P

if nothing else, this loss will just make him work harder (i hope) to overtake rapha.

<< Comment #87 @ 22:50 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

evilbollweevil - Reply to #53

finally a no-bullshit summary and opinion -- pretty much says it all. (and no im not being ironic or sarcastic or flip)

<< Comment #62 @ 16:44 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Anonymous (76.238.245.113)

Rapha still using wmo?

<< Comment #64 @ 16:49 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Heartlesss - Reply to #62

yes

<< Comment #66 @ 17:26 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Izi

when esl is gonna pay for his first title?THATS DA QUESTION

<< Comment #94 @ 23:43 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

erok - Reply to #66

have any of these players actually received money from ESL tournies in the past couple years? seems like when they are asked the answer is no

<< Comment #107 @ 03:17 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

cerb0z - Reply to #94

Nope :)

<< Comment #69 @ 18:14 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

Cust0m

deserved

<< Comment #88 @ 22:56 CST, 5 March 2011 >>

By

wingz

rapha bestplayer

<< Comment #99 @ 02:40 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

ashr

IMO, that t4 wasn't so great. Not even close to the games z4 has shown us in the past. rapha's t7 and dismemberment were way more impressive. He looked in control while "out of control", as strange as that may sound.

By the time t4 began, cooller was already done and rapha had the championship in the bag.

<< Comment #117 @ 07:39 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

scowl - Reply to #99

yep.

On dismemberment, cooller had superior item control (more RAs and more MHs than rapha, iirc) and dealt more damage to him than he received.

Still, rapha won. I guess that's when cooller subconsciously realized he won't win t4, either.

Edited by scowl at 07:40 CST, 6 March 2011

<< Comment #120 @ 13:23 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

esdf ' - Reply to #117

tbh i dont understand how cooller can not pick aerowalk for his map choice vs rapha. on tournaments so far, it has been his weakest map by far. i was kinda lolwutmaps when i saw t7 dismemberment and t4, with no hub or at least dm13.

<< Comment #121 @ 13:28 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

erok

rapha best player, cypher still best to spec

<< Comment #134 @ 02:54 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

therm - Reply to #121

~~rapha~~ best player, cypher still best to spec

there

<< Comment #154 @ 18:08 CST, 9 March 2011 >>

By

erok - Reply to #134

if cypher was best player wouldnt he have at least advanced to playoffs? :P

<< Comment #155 @ 05:30 CST, 10 March 2011 >>

By

therm - Reply to #154

no cos he went emo and doin way too much cocaine

<< Comment #125 @ 19:40 CST, 6 March 2011 >>

By

rapha has taken this game to the next level. If someone has to consistently beat rapha he first needs to get his thinking to that level while being capable of better aim than him. (he will be beaten in maps/ matches here and there but that does not count for shit, mostly happens because someone has better luck,/ all the all-in moves works out for the other player...like spartie did/ rapha is tired etc) rapha studied old cooller demos 4 years ago to get here, now someone has to do the same. The person closest to this state was cypher until he started messing up.

<< Comment #141 @ 10:22 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

InDepther - Reply to #125

cypher doesn't have it:
he relies too much on his aim + weak map control and timing + nerves and fear (all these in comparison to the very best players)

cooller weaknesses:
fear of rapha, mainly because of bad history + nerves (not always) + inferior casual game (they both step up their games at important tourneys, but rapha starts from a better base)

rapha strengths:
patience, nerves of steel, possitive thinking (backed up by a good record), perfect rockets, excellent opponent reading

I think strenx can better rapha. The only thing that has against him is the bad record vs cooller, but he is young enought to ignore that and win next time.

Edited by InDepther at 10:23 CST, 8 March 2011

<< Comment #150 @ 13:22 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

Ziel - Reply to #141

"cypher doesn't have it:
he relies too much on his aim + weak map control and timing + nerves and fear (all these in comparison to the very best players)"

Wat. Cypher has proven many times hes not all aim and doesn't rely on his aim..but he does indeed tend to play better when hes hitting his shots (but who doesn't?).

Cypher has a really good +back game, just watch his games against Rapha from this tournament..he (Cypher) only hit 9pct rail on Aerowalk and still kept it within 2 frags.

Cypher has confidence issues that are holding him back. After his win at Quakecon he was destroying everyone and after his poor performance at the EC caused a lack of confidence going into this tournament.

<< Comment #152 @ 16:28 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

f0cus - Reply to #150

The sponsors need to get off his dick and let him go back to a cheapo MS WMO tbfh.

<< Comment #156 @ 05:31 CST, 10 March 2011 >>

By

therm - Reply to #141

lol

<< Comment #135 @ 03:37 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

cooller prefers schooling rather than winning tournaments, it's that simple

<< Comment #153 @ 09:31 CST, 9 March 2011 >>

By

kobe_24 - Reply to #135

He (cooller) seems to be interested in learning, since he has been paying for lessons taught by rapha!

Right now, rapha is the KING and there's no dispute about it!

As one or two have mentioned, I do think strenx can be the next champion if he can find away to get by cooller. For some reason there's a mental block that he has to overcome. It could be the presents of cooller and carmac together that is driving him crazy, but he will have to deal with it and step his game up a notch or two.

<< Comment #149 @ 13:05 CST, 8 March 2011 >>

By

funny:
http://www.quakelive.com/#!profile/matches/Ze...796/duel/1

<< Comment #157 @ 11:15 CST, 10 March 2011 >>

By

butcher_kgp ' - Reply to #149

you meant this one right?

Aw never mind id's linking system is broken as hell, just goes to profile page instead of the match, wonder why he was playing cooller and at what server !

Edited by butcher_kgp at 11:16 CST, 10 March 2011

<< Comment #158 @ 15:01 CST, 10 March 2011 >>

By

0x5f3759df - Reply to #157

im assuming this is the z4 v cooller aero match in spain, right?

<< Comment #159 @ 15:20 CST, 10 March 2011 >>

By

butcher_kgp ' - Reply to #158

yes.

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