Q: There is BLG in the 1 win 1 loss group, did you watch that match?
Zeus : We arrived at the venue very early today, so we watched all the previous matches. In the BLG match, they played evenly but ultimately lost. The LPL teams indeed played very well.
Q: Today T1 chose Yone in the mid lane. Yone has been appearing frequently in mid lane recently, but whenever T1 chooses Yone, everyone is curious if it will be top lane Yone. Everyone says Zeus's Yone is very unique and outstanding. Although you can't reveal tactics, is there a chance we'll see top lane Yone?
Zeus : If the situation is right, top lane Yone is also a viable pick. Yone is performing particularly well right now, so as long as the situation is suitable, top lane Yone can be selected at any time.
Q: Are you satisfied with the overall top lane version? It seems that lane swaps are gradually decreasing.
Zeus : In the matches I've played, lane swaps have appeared frequently, and it's the same in other matches. I originally thought the top lane carry version might be coming, but when playing matches recently, neither side's top laners have much economy. Whenever lane swaps occur, everyone tends to group together. I think high cost-performance top lane champions are better.
Q: I've interviewed many top laners recently, and whenever they come to international competitions, they are often asked, "Which player do you want to face, whose performance are you looking forward to?" You often face LCK players, but besides them, which player from overseas regions has caught your attention?
Zeus : I usually choose players who impress me in lane, but after coming to the World Championship, roaming and synergy are more important than laning. If I have to choose... after coming here... I'll think about it more.
Q: (Laughs)
Zeus : It feels difficult to choose right now.
Q: Compared to pure laning, is it now the era where top laners are evaluated based on how they integrate into team coordination and synergy?
Zeus : In the current version, from a top laner's perspective, it's generally difficult to showcase individual skills. Team synergy is more important, and opportunities to display personal prowess have decreased.
Q: Although the version is constantly changing, it must feel a bit regrettable for players who like top lane carry.
Zeus : Of course. (Laughs)
Q: Are there any interesting behind-the-scenes stories during your time living in Europe?
Zeus : A video of me playing table tennis with Keria was uploaded on social media. This is the venue where LEC matches are held. After exploring, I found many things here, including a lounge and chess. Since there was a ping-pong table, I taught Keria a lesson during break time.
Q: Did Zeus win?
Zeus : The ball kept flying away; I couldn't control my strength well. Rather than saying I won, I suppressed with my momentum.
Q: What was the score?
Zeus : I don't think I scored any points.
Q: But you won with momentum?
Zeus : Yes.
Q: Many people say that after coming to the World Championship, T1's competitive level is better than during the regional qualifiers and summer split. T1 must have been working hard internally to improve competitiveness and faced many challenges. What does player Zeus think?
Zeus : During the summer season, we were constantly tormented by lane swaps, and I think this has improved a lot. Now everyone communicates about this often, and it has gotten much better. In the match against TES, we also lost due to skirmishes, but we gained a lot at the operational level. The characteristic of outstanding teams recently is that even if they suffer from lane swaps, they overcome disadvantages through skirmishing ability, or they endure the disadvantage period according to their lineup and then win the match. Teams that can turn the game around despite lane swap losses are strong teams.
Q: So, to become a strong team and achieve good results, which parts does T1 need to focus on improving?
Zeus : Now I think skirmishing ability is the most important. In the current version, mid AP and jungle AD are the main focus, with top lane often choosing Gnar, leading to skirmish-focused lineups. I think teams with excellent skirmishing will ultimately win.
Q: When I recently interviewed player Keria, he said the Swiss round would be the biggest challenge. It seems like you immediately resonated with that.
Zeus : Last year, I didn't know (this feeling), it seemed like we easily passed the Swiss round. Compared to the group stage, in the Swiss round format, strong teams can be eliminated if they're not careful. For example, losing to a strong team in the first game, last year KT was in a similar situation. It's somewhat frightening.
Q: Player Keria also mentioned this factor, and T1 is a team that gets stronger as the tournament progresses. As long as they overcome the Swiss round challenge, T1 will perform better as the knockout stage progresses.
Zeus : I agree, we are indeed stronger in BO5 compared to BO1.
Q: Why is that? Is it because the players have worked together for a long time? Or is it because everyone has a strong mentality?
Zeus : When preparing for BO5 knockout matches, everyone talks more together and thinks about how to win, so the win rate is higher.
Q: Other teams also prepare as you said when entering BO5 in the knockout stage, so why does T1 become stronger in BO5 compared to other teams? What makes you different?
Zeus : We prepare more sharply, understand our opponents better, while they don't understand us as well. I think we know all other opponents well, but they don't know us as well because we are a team that changes unpredictably.
Q: What do you think about the "circus" meme?
Zeus : Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's not.
