EPT
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/6GRuAqa.png)
NoFe![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/fsLP9U1.jpg)
Source: inven eSports
How do you feel about continuing your winning streak?
It’s true that it feels good to be on a winning streak but it’s also true that it’s burdensome. It’s because I still don’t how to recover once our momentum gets broken. But I would like for us to take this momentum and keep a winning streak for Round 2 as well.
Today’s opponent was NaJin e-mFire.
We had both shared the sweets and bitterness of life. Both supervisor Reach and the coaches are all people that I’ve known from a long time ago. I am always grateful to them. I think I was able to achieve an expression known as “excelling one’s master” through today’s victory so I feel proud about that.
During the ban/pick phase for game one, it seemed like you were focused on the top and jungle areas. Was there a special reason for that?
It’s difficult to explain exactly why. I knew just how well watch performs whenever he grabs Lee Sin so we banned Lee Sin first. In fact, game two was a difficult start for us because of watch’s Lee Sin micro. You could say that the Corki ban on game two was a large ban sniper directed towards Zefa. We tend to switch up our ban/pick strategy based on what the opponent team does.
What about people saying that you won the ban/pick phase today?
I’ve always felt that NaJin e-mFire had very predictable ban/pick strategies, but I was taken by surprise when they came with a completely different ban/pick strategy for game one. To be honest, Smeb wasn’t able to practice for a scenario where Maokai would have to take on Sion. On that part, that was my fault regarding our ban/pick strategy. But thankfully, he showed us that he could still survive even against a dive ganking composition. I think ban/pick strategies are done like this with both the supervisors and the players involved together.
SKT’s coach, kkOma, is known for his strong ban/pick strategies. What is going to be on your mind?
In my opinion, ban/pick strategies are just like playing cards. It’s a scenario where you consider your own hand whilst also thinking about what kind of cards your opponent has in his hand. The factor that strengthens the pairs in your hand is your players’ champion pool. That’s how important it is that your players have a wide champion pool. Since SKT T1 players have such a wide champion pool, I think it’s going to be a headache to try to think of a ban/pick strategy for them. What I said just now in the televised interview was just a joke (laughs).
Your team is being considered as the best team in Korea.
Honestly, that is very burdensome. Counting the years that I was a progamer, I’ve been in the eSports scene for quite some time now. Thanks to that, I’ve gotten used to losing. However, it does feel good to win in the end, no?
If you had to compare your pre-season performance with your current performance?
Our team didn’t have much time to practice for the pre-season since our team got founded pretty late. Speaking in scores alone, we probably delivered the lowest amount possible. To be honest, while I was managing the team, the thing that was always on my mind was making sure we trust each other and keeping each other in check. Personally, I feel that a programmer is no different than your everyday workingman. The correct way to do it is to work when you need to work, and to rest when you need to rest. I can’t help but think that this is why GE Tigers exist the way it does right now. If I could give points for this right now, I would want to give us at least a 100.
A lot of teams are experimenting on how to take down GE Tigers. Any chance that you will recruit new players in an effort to abolish that?
It’s inevitable that the top team will get analyzed by other teams. I think that your style needs to constantly change so that you can overcome this. We are also focusing on this aspect as we practice. We are considering recruiting new players but I think that’s a bit premature as of right now.
Anything else you would like to say?
There was something I forgot to mention just now during the televised interview. I want to thank the GE Tigers organization leaders for always supporting us. Also, since we are still a new team, we do not really have an extensive fan base. Regardless of that, we still have fans that always come to see us perform so we are grateful to them. I hope they will continue to cheer us on a lot from here on out.
SKT vs Samsung: http://www.liquidlegends.net/forum/lol-general/477502-interview-skt-winner-interview-marin
Jin Air vs CJ (pending)
KT vs IM (pending)
