Interview with Vanao (@ElekingVanao), at EVO 2019

I have been playing games for 20 years, but fighting games for about 15 years.

I was able to get out of the first day as a winner, but if I continue to do well, I'll be facing four consecutive Capcom Cup champions, so I'm fired up whether I like it or not!

Preparation is the key. The trip to the U.S. is long and there is a time difference, so I try to get in early to familiarize myself with the environment and prepare myself. I arrived in the U.S. two days before the first day of the competition.

When I traveled before, my tooth that was being treated began to ache suddenly on the plane (due to the air pressure), so I make sure to always have Loxonin on hand.

I also try not to eat or drink anything before a game. I try not to eat or drink too much before a match.

(*Editor: This happens even if you are used to traveling! Unlike Japan, which has soft water, the U.S. has hard water, and I myself was sick to my stomach for the first week or so...)

I think there are language and procedural issues, but at a tournament like this, there are many people to share information with.

We are aiming for a style of play that acts in a non-probabilistic way.

Even though it may look occult to the onlooker, behind the scenes he has actually built up his own theories, and his style of play is such that he acts digitally.

What I feel when I participate in international tournaments like this is that "the game is a tool for communication, and language doesn't matter when you sit down at the table."