Grubby wearing the 4K-jerseyThe future of the dutch Warcraft-superstar Manuel 'Grubby' Schenkhuizen was one of the hot topics in the Warcraft scene for the past weeks. But as of yesterday, MeetYourMakers announced that the Orc-player will join their ranks. readmore.de talked to Grubby about the problems of Four Kings, his relation to his new team and the expectations for 2008.

readmore.de: Are you happy that the whole discussion about your and 4K's future is over now?

Manuel 'Grubby' Schenkhuizen: I don't mind anyone discussing it, as long as they are polite and sensible. What I AM happy about is that my future is secured for now.


readmore.de: What were the reasons for choosing MeetYourMakers over the other offers you got?

Grubby: For me it was important, that Cassandra was involved in the job offer, that the offer came at good point of time, that it was really attractive and that the duration of the contract was good for me. It's also great that I got really great relations with the current players in MYM.


readmore.de: How far was Cassandra involved in your decision to join MYM?

Grubby: It certainly was important, although it wasn't the only reason. I strive to spend as much time with her as possible - I don't want to have a 9 to 5 job where we don't see each other half the day, and I don't like going on any trips without her. It's now possible to travel everywhere together which is awesome.


readmore.de: Many of our readers were wondering about you joining a team with three other orc-players. Did you consider this fact?

Grubby: I believe that MYM knows what's best for them, and they extended an offer to them. The fact that they have 3 other Orc players in the team is not an issue with me. In fact, I am excited to be playing alongside an Orc since I've never done that since I was in eSo.nl with eSo.nl]Smurf (laughs) Also, what's so special about seeing 4 Orcs in a team, when there are constantly all-Elf teams?

readmore.de: Back to MYM: I heard that your relationship to Nordahl wasn't that good in the past. How is it to have him as team-manager now?

Grubby: (laughs) You ask nice questions. I guess there was some friction between our rival's team manager and ourselves. However, I must honestly say I haven't measured in who my future team manager would be in the very important decision of what team I will go to. I will just have to work together with him and I'm sure we'll do fine.

readmore.de: You were always a 'decision maker' in questions concerning the Warcraft-team in Four Kings. Will you miss the opportunity to do something yourself?

Grubby: In the immediate future, it's more like the opposite. I will relish the opportunity to mainly focus on playing Warcraft III.

readmore.de: Was it a problem in the past that you had to do that much with all the team stuff and couldn't play as much as you wanted and needed to?

Grubby: It never hampered me in my ability to evolve as a player, no.

readmore.de: There were also quite a lot rumors about you talking to a Chinese team. Was it important for you to join an European clan?

Grubby: It was actually quite important for me to join an European clan. Whereas there is a certain delay between Koreans and Europeans, it doesn't compare to the delay between Europeans and Chinese. Also, there are few Chinese players, admins or team orgas that I really know, so I would feel quite distant from the team I think.

readmore.de: Nonetheless is most of your team from Korea. Could you imagine moving to Korea for some time?

Grubby: I don't feel that this is a necessary or logical move for me at this point in time.

readmore.de: Four Kings was there for quite some time. Why did it dissolve in the end?

Grubby: As Toby said, Four Kings could not support the WC3 team financially anymore. It made us unable to hire any new players and compete on a level playing field with the other teams anymore.

readmore.de: Did you have financial problems with the clan yourself?

Grubby: The main financial problem was that 4Kings could not pay my salary anymore. But they had been really good for me during all those years and I understand their decision to close down the WC3 team. Although I mourn a little.

readmore.de: Where do you see yourself in the scene? Was your climax in the past?

Grubby: I would feel very bad for anyone who can only climax once in their lifetime.

readmore.de: But do you think you will be able to win big tournaments in 2008?

Grubby: (laughs)

readmore.de: Is that your answer?

Grubby: Yes.

readmore.de: Where do you see the reasons for your kind of 'celebrity status' in the community? Just the achievements or is it something different?

Grubby: I wouldn't dare to guess.

readmore.de: How much has Cassandra to do with it?

Grubby: I don't know. I am not so concerned with people's interest in me or her as an icon, or even us together. What I am more concerned with is my interest in her and hers in me. But I believe that's not an answer to your question. Let me suffice to say that she was already widely known before we got together and so was I. Put 2 and 2 together and you get 5, I guess.

readmore.de: So what are you expecting for 2008?

Grubby: I hope I can win some f*cking tourneys. (laughs)