Leviatán are one win away from qualifying for the Valorant Champions 2024 Playoff Stage. In an interview with Dexerto, Corbin ‘C0M’ Lee defined how the staff turned its season round after a disastrous begin.
Leviatán appeared outmatched in opposition to high worldwide opponents at VCT Masters Shanghai. The staff misplaced to the eventual match winner, Gen.G, 2-1. Their elimination match in opposition to FUT Esports began with an embarrassing 13-1 loss on Sundown and led to a different 2-1 collection loss.
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Corbin ‘C0M’ Lee bottom-fragged in each collection, scoring 25 eliminations in opposition to Gen.G and 28 kills in opposition to the VCT EMEA squad.
“Shanghai was in all probability the bottom I’ve ever been… I used to be simply very, like, dumbfounded, simply damaged,” the Leviatán participant informed Dexerto. “It simply sucked.”
After their loss to FUT Esports in China, C0M — who was in a serious droop and receiving a large quantity of hate from followers — was interviewed by Josh ‘Sideshow’ Wilkinson.
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C0M mentioned he couldn’t keep in mind a lot from the sport and will solely take the blame for his poor efficiency whereas promising a return to type.
“On the finish of the day, issues take time. And at any time when that point comes, we’ll rise to these expectations,” C0M informed Sideshow whereas making an attempt to carry in his feelings.
He later broke down backstage, crumpling beneath the stress. This is the reason it’s much more spectacular that he’s picked himself up and introduced Leviatán to the highest of VCT Americas for the primary time.Leviatán picked themselves up after falling arduous.
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Leviatán picked themselves up after falling arduous
After a wake-up name on the worldwide stage, Leviatán determined they wanted a change. The staff dropped their head coach and moved Dimitar ‘Itopata’ Staev to the place. Additionally they introduced in Preston ‘Juv3nile’ Dornon, who used to teach C0M earlier than he signed with Evil Geniuses.
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C0M informed Dexerto that he felt locked into his position and elegance of play throughout Stage 1 and didn’t really feel like himself.
“In Break up 2, I’ve been capable of play much more like myself, taking my very own timings throughout the staff and doing what’s going to make my staff win probably the most. I discovered my position on this staff, however I additionally discovered my position and the way I need to play as nicely,” he mentioned.
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It wasn’t simply the teaching change that brought about this shift within the staff, C0M mentioned, but additionally a mentality shift from the complete roster.
C0M and KiNgg rejoice a spherical win in VCT Americas Grand Ultimate.
“We felt like we wanted to do one thing, but additionally we wished to be extra ourselves.”
After their disastrous run in China, Leviatán crushed the VCT Americas league. The staff solely misplaced one collection on their journey to successful the league and incomes the No. 1 seed to Valorant Champions 2024.
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On the skin, the newly revamped staff seems like a well-oiled machine that performs nicely in its construction, however C0M mentioned this roster’s power now’s how free everybody can play and react.
“We could be rather more free-flowing in what we do and skim and react in rounds. Which is an enormous factor. In groups, you possibly can’t be tremendous like, ‘I’m gonna do that the entire time.’ It’s a must to learn and react to your opponents. I believe we now have that, and it’s one thing that we’ve really excelled in,” he mentioned.
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Forward of the primary matches at Champions, C0M was rewarded for his return to type with the title of “most clutch” VCT participant by his fellow Valorant execs.
Valorant Champions and yet another massive hoorah
C0M has been at this stage of the season earlier than and is aware of what it takes to make a deep run and win the Valorant Champions trophy.
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His position now, very similar to it was on EG, is to maintain the temper mild and the vibes excessive. Nonetheless, there’s extra stress on Leviatán to win on the World Championship this 12 months than there was for his staff final 12 months.
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“I really feel like that’s type of my job within the staff, the place I do a number of the mid-rounding and stuff. On the finish of the day, I need to make sure that everybody’s having a great time,” he mentioned.
C0M mentioned throughout their first Champions match in opposition to Talon Esports, he stored the temper mild by stating how the VCT Pacific staff’s rookie ace was dominating the server after Ian ‘tex’ Botsch referred to as the participant out in a pre-match section.
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“You simply needed to discuss mess about him,” C0M revealed he informed tex through the match.
Leviatán swept Talon 2-0 and at the moment are in prime place to qualify for the playoff stage of the occasion.
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If every little thing goes as C0M needs, his staff will giggle all the best way to the Grand Finals within the INSPIRE Area. “I do know the staff that has probably the most enjoyable or is probably the most fluid will win 9 out of 10 instances,” he mentioned.
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It took a while, however Leviatán has risen to the expectations placed on them for the reason that begin of the season.
