Hey everyone. Some days ago I made an interview with fragster where I talk about myself as a gamer and my team Raptor gaming.

For the ones who didn't read it yet you can find the interview here


Fredrik 'KnOfF' Knopf
Age: 19 years
Home: Stockholm
Race in WC3: Orc

Interview with Fredrik 'KnOfF' Knopf
"Raptor is the best team I've ever played in"

Fredrik 'KnOfF' Knopf has been a professional Warcraft 3 player for years now. In the end of 2008 he joined Raptor-Gaming. In an interview with fragster the Swedish player talks about his new team, his best eSport experience and the future of Warcraft 3.

fragster: Fredrik, how did you and Raptor-Gaming come together in the end of 2008?

Fredrik 'KnOfF' Knopf: Hello. We came together in a really good way. Actually I had pretty good contact with most of the players since I played for team BioXar around one year ago. And BioXar and Raptor worked together. So I had pretty good contact with the players and the management since before. And now I just know the team even better. (laughing)

Was it important for you to join together with your Swedish mate Daniel 'LiiLD.C' Claesson? Or was it even one of your requirements?

KnOfF: Since we are really good friends it was pretty important for me to join together with him. But we played together for pretty long time now, since the start of summer 2008 actually. If Raptor wouldn’t make us an offer, I’m not sure that we would play in the same team. It was hard to find a good organization at this time so we got really lucky that Raptor made us an offer. I didn’t really think much about "requirements" at this time.

How would you describe the atmosphere in the team?

KnOfF: The atmosphere is really, really good now. I would say we are all friends with each other. Lloth, that many people had problems with because of his manner and bad behaviour, has actually changed a lot and I would say he is a nice person and always doing his best for us, the team. And that sometimes looks bad for other teams or players. I wouldn’t fit better in any other team, with my really good friends LiiLD.C and Thorzain. Also I come along with Lloth, Dan, bina and of course the German players HLA and TryDying.

Do you have a lot of contact to the German players of Raptor-Gaming?

KnOfF: We talk mostly when they practice for ESL Pro Series matches or in clanwars. Else it's not so much. But I met them in real life and they are both really nice guys!

Which are the striking differences between Raptor-Gaming and your former clans?


KnOfF: (laughing) Wow, that’s a really big difference. I can see every day how much the team cares about us. Before, I didn’t even have any contact with the management at all. Raptor is the best team I ever played in and every day is just getting better and better in the team. When I say they care about us, I mean that they fix everything for us and we don’t have to talk with the management to get things done as it was before. And the main reason why it’s like this is because of bina. She is a really nice person and she cares a lot about the players and asks us if something is wrong, she is just a really nice person.

You startet writing a blog with LiiLD.C just some time ago. Do you think it is also the job of professional gamers like you to do things like that for their fans?

KnOfF: Yeah, we started to blog. It’s really fun to write about myself and things about Warcraft. We will continue blogging as long as someone wants to read it! And yes, I think it’s something that is important to do as a professional gamer because many people want to get tips from you, see replays and just get the chance to talk to you.

Currently, you are three Swedish players in Raptor-Gaming. Do you have as much contact to Thorzain as to LiiLD.C?

KnOfF: Yes. We are talking at ventrilo right now (laughing). We talk daily at ventrilo to each other. We help each other with practice, watch replays together, talk about the mistakes and what you can do better after every game. For example if I lose to some elf in the ladder I can just send the replay to LiilD.C and he tells me what I’m doing wrong and what I can do better.

What are the goals of your team in WC3L and NGL 3on3 competition?

KnOfF: The WC3L goal is to stay in WC3L and not to have to requalify. Our goal in NGL is to reach top 3. But it’s most important that we improve as players and as a team. That's what matters in the end.

But for the Clans it's mostly the results that matter. Only a successful team is a good team, or isn’t that the message of the last months?

KnOfF: Yes, but take a look on every team. The two players that are playing are mostly good friends and talk with each other a lot. For example Grubby and Happy. They've been good friends for a long time. There are many examples of it: Shy and FoCuS, me and LiiLD.C or Thorzain, Lyn and MicheaL, XlorD and yAwS and so on. But yes, you need both parts.

You tried to qualify for the NGL 1on1 league, but you had no success. Aren’t you frustrated not to play in the – as it seems – strongest solo league in the world?

KnOfF: Yes I lost to DowaQ in the Winnerbracket and WinNers in the Lowerbracket. Winning any of these matches would have brought me into NGL. So yes, I’m frustrated that I don’t play in NGL. But next time I will give even more to qualify for it.

What do you think about the EPS Scandinavia? Why didn't you participate this season?

LiiLD.C and KnOfF became friends a long time ago



KnOfF: I had to win against Thorzain. But he won against me he played really good. And well, his matchup against Orc has always been good. Especially in the last weeks with his wins against Fly100%, WhO, S.o.k.o.L and Eric. And then I got the chance to play a grid for one spot into EPS, but I wasn’t able to play that day because I had problems at home and it wasn’t possible to postpone it. So that was really bad luck.

You've been playing on a professional level for years. What was your best eSport experience?

KnOfF: My best eSport experience was winning the DreamHack Winter 2008 against LiiLD.C in the final. Besides that it was all my trips to other countries and meeting other professional players. Like in Madrid and Paris where I met many of the best players in the world.

Which future do you see for Warcraft 3?

KnOfF: I think when StarCraft 2 comes out most of the players will change to that. But people will always be playing WC3 even if it will not be on the same level as it is now.

How do you notice the development of eSport worldwide and in Sweden?

KnOfF: Worldwide, for example the contract Moon signed last week just shows how big eSport really is in some parts of the world. In Sweden there are some things happening but not enough and it’s taking so much time. DreamHack is the only big for eSport we have in Sweden. Else it’s nothing.

Thank you a lot. The last words belong to you.

KnOfF: Thanks for the interview. And I want to cheer to all my friends out there! And don't forget to write comments on our blog!

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Right now I am studying some theory for my driver license since I'm leaving next sunday for 2 weeks on a intensive-course. That is one the reason I wasn't able to practice as much as I normally do. But when I'm back I will play more than ever ^^ But the worst thing is that I probably will miss season 7 which is really bad.. I always like the season ladders because it's really good practice and good motivation to play more.