Levan "Styl3r" Gomshiashvili starts his interview series - Manager's Talk. World's best CEO's will answer our questions. Stay Tuned !

Today we bring you the amazing female manager - Anna Danyliak, better known as MIU, Manager of World Cyber Games 2007 3rd placers A-gaming.

Hi, could you please Introduce yourself?

Anna. 24 years old. Ukrainian representative of VIA Technologies Inc. Project manager of Amazing Gaming.

Before we hit the WCG 2007 stuff, let’s take a look at your history. How long have you been working for A-gaming?

A-gaming was started at 22 April of 2005 and I was there from the beginning. So about 2.5 years of work now.

Could you please explain your team's 2006 roster changes and what effect did it have on the line-up?

2006 was a hard year for us. We did some player replacements due to different reasons (I’m not sure everyone will be interested in details) and every replacement took some time for “team’s adaptation”. Still, “All that occurs – brings us to something better”, so one day we came to the stable and strong lineup and become able to rise up team’s level again.

I know that you found sponsors for Ukrainian's national FIFA team. Could you tell us, whether or not you have some individual approach with sponsors?

Oh, with FIFA national team – it was just a good idea. Sometimes it’s pretty important to have some useful information. Like I knew the statement of the Ukrainian National Football Federation that they are friendly to support virtual football also. So, I asked this federation for the sponsorship of the national FIFA ENC team and it worked out. There is nothing special, you just have to be good in managing your contacts and information.

Anna, do you control your team’s practice schedule, if so how?

I’m not really into my team’s practice schedule, you know. I believe they need this practice more than me =) Actually, I know their practice schedule and sometimes I give them some advices about planning it according to events schedule, but no more. They are gamers and they know how to manage their practice well – and I just trust them =) It doesn’t mean that I don’t pay attention on it, certainly. We just never had any incidents about practice.

In your opinion, what should an e-sports manager's top priority be? E.g establishing sponsorship.

To get sponsors is certainly the main, but not the only part of team management. Here is also a lot of inside and public things to do.

Even after winning 3rd place at WCG, it didn't stop weiss from retiring. Why did he make this decision? Was it a lack of motivation?

His retire was not about motivation at all. One day young guy become a man and he wants to start his own business or just something more serious than gaming. So did weiss at his 22 and I highly appreciate it. Still, it was not a one-day-decision, he told us he is going to finish with gaming a long time before the WCG07, so the team was prepared. weiss will not come back to gaming anymore.

Let’s start from WCG UA.
At the time of WCG UA, pro100 players Edzie and Zeus joined VP and in turn weakened pro100. Did pro100's weakening play a big role in A-gaming's success in WCG UA?

It is hard to say “what would be if they did not moved” – no one will know it anymore. We have been pretty close with pro100, sometimes one of the team was stronger, sometimes another – they got 2 x WCG, we got 2 x ESWC… I can’t tell how would come the things which already came not =)

Your team picked up 3rd place at WCG 2007. Was this result expected? Explain your answer.

We had a really good seeding and expected to fight with virtus.russia/roccat in ¼ final. It was the only thing we expected, our next steps were based on our preparation, motivation and skills.

Where is A-gaming heading now? Any plans for the near future? – Attending championships etc.?

Practice and events – as much as it is possible. Intel Challenge show-match vs Virtus.pro (26 oct), ESL Extreme Masters Ukraine qualifier (27 oct) and hopefully further Extreme Masters qualifiers (starting from 29 oct) till the main event, ESL Professional Series Ukraine 1st season starting from the next week, ASUS Autumn Cup (24-25 nov), Kode5 qualifier, Dreamhack Winter 07 (will try to attend)…

Ukraine is a country with many of talented WarCraft 3 and FIFA players. Will the organization expand and branch out to other disciplines?

Probably. After we will have enough sponsorship and means to keep all the squads in a good conditions. Not right now.

What advice do you have to beginning managers?

Take care about the team’s public image. Take care about the friendly atmosphere inside the team – it affects on team’s results. Running for a tones of sponsors, don’t forget about your obligations. Take less but trust it, than more but doubt it.

Anything else you would like to add?

Peace.

Thank you so much for your interview. You know my dependence with A-gaming, but of course I wish you guys best of luck for the future!

Thank you so much too ^^