Evi: Before joining SHG, I had considered retiring; I want to bring the experience from other regions to LJL
Japanese LJL, though considered a wildcard region, boasts an outstanding player, Evi.
Last season, Evi joined the European LEC region's TH team, becoming the first Japanese import in LEC. After the season concluded, Evi decided to return to the Japanese LJL, joining SHG.
In a recent interview with Japanese media:
Q: The news of your joining SHG was quite surprising. After watching the official announcement video and learning about your contemplation of retirement, could you share the change in your mindset and the reasons behind choosing to join SHG?
A: The decision this time was genuinely challenging for me. Before deciding to join SHG, I had indeed considered retirement. Initially, I had several goals in my professional career. The first was winning LJL, the second was advancing to the World Championship group stage, and the third was playing in overseas leagues. While my year in the LEC didn't yield the best results, towards the end, I felt that I had at least showcased myself. So, I began to wonder, "Could I retire now?"
Q: I see. What kind of mindset changes did you experience after deciding to join SHG?
A: Before deciding to join SHG, several crucial factors influenced me.
Firstly, the relationship I had with SHG was significant. Every time contract renewals approached, SHG extended a sort of "call of love" to me. The head of SHG's esports division directly contacted me, and he always warmly invited me to join them. After I decided to join TH last year, he immediately sent me congratulatory messages. Due to this ongoing positive interaction, I had a very favorable impression of SHG.
Secondly, my emotional connection to LJL was essential. I believe that my significant growth was not solely due to my individual efforts but also because I had a team and fans consistently cheering me on. Additionally, LJL has been a crucial space for my growth. I pondered what I could contribute to LJL and wanted to apply what I had learned at TH.
Lastly, there was a tangible sense of personal growth. After concluding my journey with TH, I felt uneasy about my skills as a professional player. To find answers, I went to Korea for training, competing against high-level players, including T1 Zeus. After reaching the Challenger rank, I realized that I still had the ability to continue my professional career. These experiences and mindset shifts reshaped my future vision.
Q: What was the decisive factor in your decision to join SHG?
A: During my conversations with the SHG team, when I openly expressed my thoughts about considering retirement before becoming mediocre, I heard a crucial piece of advice. The essence was, "Sure, retiring now is an option, but persistently playing until the end is also a viable path." They shared examples of other athletes and emphasized, "If you're retiring because you genuinely lack motivation, that's understandable. However, if you feel you can still play and choose to retire, it's a different story."
Q: You'll be facing your former team DFM in an exciting match. How do you feel about that?
A: I'm genuinely looking forward to it and feel extremely excited about the match! Since we're on opposing sides now, I'm going to give it my all to defeat them. I've always thought that beating DFM means surpassing my past self.
