Q: In the third round of the 2024 LCK Summer Playoff, you defeated DK today. How do you feel about the victory?
Zeus : If we lost today's match, we would have been eliminated, so I was indeed a bit nervous. After losing the first game, although I had some negative thoughts like "we might lose today’s match," after winning the second game, I started thinking "we might not have to go home today."
Q: With today's victory, you have secured a ticket to Gyeongju. You must be happier. Before today's match, the Korean and English commentary & analysis desks had different opinions. Most of the Korean commentators and analysts predicted T1 would win, and most of the predictions indicated it would be a fierce match, highlighting the importance of today's game. How did you prepare to face Kingen today?
Zeus : I remember Kingen usually picks tanky champions, but recently he's also taken on damage roles. I was unsure in the first game, but seeing him consistently pick those kinds of champions from the second game onwards, I focused on that aspect, like champions such as Gangplank.
Q: In the first game, you chose a very unique bot lane experience composition but unfortunately lost. Zeus picked K'Sante in the first game. What do you personally think was regrettable? How did the team review the game?
Zeus : Compared to other AD champions, Nilah has a shorter range, so her carry potential is limited, but she can develop ahead of time. The first game's composition is one that GEN and HLE are good at, with K'Sante and Maokai in the roster. We intended to play a game where the opponent would become increasingly helpless in the late game, but we didn't succeed, so Nilah couldn't show her potential.
Q: The second game was chaotic with many detailed skirmishes, especially in the final team fight where you used Camille to get a quadra kill. What was the situation like then?
Zeus : When I got a double kill while chasing the opponents, I felt I had a chance for a penta kill, so I started shouting for a penta kill from that moment. When I got the quadra kill and only Maokai was left, the in-game leader said we needed to push the bot lane to win the game, so I focused on that.
Q: You chased all the way to the enemy's Nexus turrets for the penta kill but didn't get it. Do you feel regretful?
Zeus : Since it was on the way to the bot lane, I went to hit Maokai, but he was very tanky, so I chose victory instead.
Q: It was a detailed and iconic moment. Camille is a high-risk, high-reward champion, but Zeus always shows the best performance when he occasionally picks Camille. How confident are you in this champion?
Zeus :Actually, I have a certain level of confidence in my proficiency with Camille, but looking at Bin's Camille, it really feels like a master, and I'm not at that level yet. Camille requires team support and help from the jungler. I only choose Camille when I can develop within the team context.
Q: You received a unanimous POG vote. Do you think your performance in that game was truly deserving of the POG?
Zeus : Yes, playing well is just playing well.
Q: In the third game, you picked Yone on the red side's fifth pick. The BP phase of Yone vs Aatrox sparked a lot of discussion. Zeus is very good at using Yone against Aatrox. What do you think about this top lane matchup?
Zeus : In the matchup of Aatrox vs Yone, Yone has a lot of options and can comfortably go through the laning phase while attacking the opponent. So, I confidently picked Yone. Actually, I didn't expect the opponent to pick Aatrox first. When I saw them pick Aatrox, I naturally chose Yone.
Q: In the third game, during the last team fight in front of the bottom lane's second tower, Yone drew the opponent's attention. Oner said in the game voice chat, "Yone did something strange." Was that move part of your plan?
Zeus : Because we had a significant advantage in that team fight, I used my skills in a very challenging and strange way, thinking I wouldn't die, so I played like that.
Q: After coming back from a one-game deficit to win today's match, you once again proved T1's dominance in BO5s. Why do you think T1 is particularly strong in BO5s, Zeus?
Zeus : Our team's hero pool is very deep, and as the BO5 progresses, everyone gets a good grasp of the BO5 flow. We didn't know this before, but after our five-man team was formed, we made it to all the LCK finals. It's a very good charm.
Q: Zeus, your performance in the early and mid-season was somewhat lacking, but as the season progressed, you showed very good form. Looking back at the entire summer season, what parts do you personally feel were regrettable or lacking?
Zeus :Actually, from MSI until now, looking back at all the matches, it was very painful because the lane swaps were always uncertain, and I was affected by this. As the season progressed, our team's understanding of lane swaps improved, and now we can apply lane swaps well, so I can show good form.
Q: When lane swapping, you often have to 1v2. Does this make it very difficult for the top laner?
Zeus : Actually, if there are no major incidents, I can maintain the same development as the opponent's top laner. But previously, we didn't have much data on lane swaps from training, so it was hard to make judgments in matches, especially in urgent situations. I think we should have agreed in advance on what to do, so we lost a lot more games than expected.
Q: Today, Gumayusi became the 16th player in LCK history to reach 1500 kills. Please congratulate him.
Zeus : Congratulations, congratulations. Actually, for him to get so many kills, the teammates must have contributed by giving up kills. I also want to reach 1000 kills, I'm a bit envious.
Q: The LCK finals qualification rate for the Zeus - Oner - faker - Gumayusi -Keria five-man team is 100%. You are going to Gyeongju next week to defend this record, and your opponent is HLE. You had a tough time against HLE this season. Your win rate in the losers' bracket finals is 100%. Can you maintain this record this time?
Zeus : The situation now is very similar to the spring season. At that time, HLE also beat us 3-0. We are in a tough situation. Just like in the spring season, I think we can win again. In the losers' bracket finals, we will definitely show a better competitive level than in the previous match. In the last match, rather than saying HLE played well and that's why we lost, I think we didn't play up to our usual standards and that's why we lost. I believe we have a complete chance to win.
Q: What is your determination for the match against HLE?
Zeus : After defeating HLE, we have to play the finals the next day. I hope we can win as cleanly and quickly as possible. But usually, when I say this, we can't advance. So, I just want to say, "I really want to make it to the finals."
