"Without Dahang I will place top 4"

fragster: You've won the GData-Cup four times in a row now. What is motivating you to play those cups all the time?

Sebastian 'Spart1e' Siira: It is just the money. It is some nice extra cash. With winning money like this I feel like I can spend them on any shit I want, like I always do anyway. (smiles)

More and more top players participate at those online tournaments, even Cooller, Cypher and Co. Is it useful to play them right before such an important event like the IEM European Finals?

Spart1e: LAN events are always more important than online cups. I guess a lot of players are playing those cups for practise. I am playing for the money. With such short notice before an event you can't know if the players are doing their best or if they are playing to see how their opponents are playing. If I knew I already had good praccpartners to play with I wouldn't play it. But if not, I guess it could be a good idea to play the cups, maybe not to win, but to see and prepare for your big event.

You had a good start in 2009 with a 2nd place at QuakeCon, but then you couldn't keep up the performance. Have you found the reason for that?

Spart1e: I did not have the luck on my side. I personally don't like single elimination. I need a few games before I get good in a tournament, and I did not have this opportunity yet in my last events. At the Global Challenge Dubai I had Cooller and DaHang in my first two games. At DreamHack, where I actually was in really good form I had to play DaHang in my first brackets game. DaHang is really good, and the hardest player for me to beat because of his style. I will start performing good again when the luck turns around.

What are your goals for the IEM European Finals?

Spart1e: With no DaHang in the tournament I will be there to place top 4.

calipt told us in an interview that he will dance naked, only with the fragster mascot in his hands, in front of the ESL TV cams if he reaches the top 4. What will you do?

Spart1e: Haha. Maybe I should practise with him then to make the chances bigger for him to place top 4? Since my goal is to place top 4 I wouldn't do anything. But if I place top 2 and there is some nice party there will be a "Dance-Movie2" uploaded one week after the event.

So another Spart1e party movie?

Spart1e: If I perform well this tournament, which will be really hard, maybe there will be an edition two out soon.

At QuakeCon rapha was your number 1 contender, then DaHang. Do you have problems with playing Americans?

Spart1e: During that time, rapha was the player that had the experience and put in the most time. But DaHang is just a really special player. Special in the way that he doesn't play like anyone else. I had a few troubles with Destrukt at Quakecon, had to play him twice and both games were really even games. But Americans? There are good players in all the world, with Europe having more of them.

Can you try to explain what kind of moves DaHang has which are making him that special?

Spart1e: In Dubai it kinda felt like he played so stupid that he played smart. I tried to outsmart him, and these moves I did would have worked vs any of the top players. But DaHang was still there catching me. He is just not playing like other players which makes it harder, I can't play him the same way as vs other players.

Do you have a special practise schedule for that event?

Spart1e: Nothing special really. Feels like I don't care anymore when I knew I should have placed better in other tournaments but didn't. So I will just try to put in the free time I have got between work and moving to a new appartment.

That sounds like you are losing motivation in playing Quake. Any plans when you are going to leave the scene?

Spart1e: Well it is just annoying to see other players placing good in tournaments when I know I am better than them. I am not talking about shape in the tournament, but I am talking about some players get an easier brackets and some get it harder. Bring double elimination back! But no, I don't have any plans stop Quake yet.

Not only you, but also fox had a few problems at the latest offline events. Is Sweden, the mother of Quake, struggling?

Spart1e: Z4muZ placed 2nd at DreamHack, didn't he? Fox isn't as motivated anymore as he was before, that is the reason for him. But actually, I think you could say it is true. But I hope it will change at IEM EU finals.

You are right with Z4muZ. Lucky for him xrebzy dropped out due to money problems. What can the spectators expect from Z4muZ?

Spart1e: I didn't see Z4muZ play, but im sure the spectators will at least get a really good ztn match.

Do you think he has the potential to catch up with the top players again?

Spart1e: If he praccs with the best players around, then yes. But if he keeps playing with random players I don't think so.

Let's go back to fox, who didn't win a tournament for a long time now. Have you ever talked with him about his situation?

Spart1e: Not really.

Can you try to imagine what you would do if you were in his place?

Spart1e: I don't know how his life situation looks like. But I would try to play as much as I could 2-3 weeks before the event with as good players as I could. I know he doesn't like to play the best players, but if you wanna get better and in shape for a tournament I think that is the best.

Quake Live is growing and many players are getting active again. Who would you like to return to the Quake scene?

Spart1e: CZM. He is a really fun person to hang around with at events. Toxjc just because he is teh tox. But to tell the truth: To make TDM and CTF active again we would need the old top players back. I would like to see foggen, kruse, desp, OoZe, Dibztah, Ironbyte. Just to mention a few good Swedish players. That would have been awesome.

You've mentioned TDM. You are once again part of the Team Sweden-Lineup for the NationsCup. Back in 2009 you finished third. What are the goals this time?

Spart1e: The goal is to have some fun with the new lineup we got and hopefully go far.

Would you say that France and Russia are the nations to beat again if you want to win the cup?

Spart1e: Yep. I think they have more active good players than the rest of the countries.

ClanBase also announced their version of the NationsCup, but it seems that many top players are prefering to play at quakequickcup.com. Would you say that ClanBase lost their monopoly?

Spart1e: ClanBase is not what it used to be. And it is sad. QuakeQuickCup.com always makes good tournaments with good coverage. And I think it is harder to run and play in a ClanBase cup. The system is based on when admins are there for every game, but its not like that anymore. Maybe I am wrong, but I didn't have any good experience with Clanbase lately. It is also bad timing with two NationsCup at the same time.

When we spoke with you for the last time you were part of Frag Dominant. Why did you leave them in secret?

Spart1e: Just shit things happend in real life around the owner of the team. They broke almost all contracts.

So there was one person who was supporting the whole team with money. Doesn't that destroy the eSport scene?

Spart1e: No. Well FragDominant had sponsors. But it was one guy that was handling all the money, and if he was gone noone could reach this money. Don't really remember but it was something like this.

But that means you are addicted to that person, which is the dangerous part, isn't it?

Spart1e: Yeah, it sure is. If he isn't around payments can't be done and it makes it all harder for the team to work.

What is different at fnatic compared to FD?

Spart1e: I didn't have much experience with FD, but. Fnatic is alot more professional. Fnatic really supports their players in every way, and is always there for you. My feeling of FD was more about supporting players to events, but not more than that. But then again, i did not have much experience with FD. They are an American team and im living in Europe which made it a bit harder.

What's the best Quake part you've ever played?

Spart1e: Well I only played Quake 3 and Quake Live. I can't really say which game is the best. Quake 3 has better maps. But QuakeLive has better gameplay with the weapons balance. They are both awesome games.

Are you still afraid of spiders?

Spart1e: Well. If I was playing and I saw a spider I would not be concentrated on the game. I hope that doesn't give any ideas to stermy.

So your biggest weakness is a spider?

Spart1e: Haha, can't really say that. But everything that can break your concentration is a bad thing when playing important games. It's the same like when I was at Rage in South Africa. When I was playing I saw lots of people walking by all the time. That was a bit bad for keeping the concentration, but even worse was when I saw the hot girls. I wanted to look at them, but at the same time I had a tournament match to play.

Luckily you that won't happen in Cologne this time. Thank you for your time and the interview.