G2 Caps claims Faker remains to be motivating him to win Worlds earlier than he retires

There are few gamers whose tenure is longer than Faker’s at this level, although Caps comes fairly shut. Since he dropped out of highschool to play League of Legends full time, he’s been at or close to the highest of Europe, and he’s proper again at Worlds 2024.

He got here nearer than anybody else within the West to profitable Worlds again in 2019, with G2’s roster for that 12 months falling simply wanting finishing the Golden Highway. They’d the facility to shift the narrative in favor of Western groups for the primary time since Japanese groups got here into the professional scene, however they failed on the final leg.

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Nevertheless, Caps remains to be chasing that aim. Till he’s in a position to get that Worlds title, he doesn’t plan on stopping. However he’s additionally decided to do it his manner, in Europe, whereas staring down the participant who impressed him to begin taking part in. And, because it seems, Faker’s nonetheless motivating him to win all these years later.

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What’s extra, Caps is assured. He must be. In spite of everything, he’s the most effective hope the West has at this level.

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Right here’s our interview with G2 Caps, the shining North Star of Western League of Legends:

G2 Caps reveals how Faker’s nonetheless motivating him all these years later

I seen on the tail finish of your season in Europe, G2 was form of sticking to extra conventional drafts than you’d usually go along with. Was there any specific purpose you guys have been taking part in safer, and do you may have some distinctive picks in thoughts for Worlds?

I imply, we had the Gwen popping out, proper? (laughs) I believe it was fairly exhausting to innovate, simply a number of AD carries, a minimum of for mid lane. I positively tried a few of the extra, let’s say, revolutionary ADCs. There are some conditions the place I may have pulled them off, however they didn’t essentially find yourself taking place? So… Yeah, it was a number of the identical drafts. However this meta is certainly a bit extra loopy, it’s not as solved about, like, what champions are essentially the most effective in mid.

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I noticed you decide Sion mid in champ’s queue and also you restored my hope a little bit. (laughs)

(laughs) I didn’t say something.

So, once we spoke at MSI this 12 months, you have been speaking about the way it appeared like individuals within the West have been type of shedding the dream of profitable MSI or profitable Worlds as a result of we’ve had such a tough time. Do you’re feeling just like the strain is on you to hold the West’s hope at this occasion?

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For certain. I believe we actually want to indicate that there’s some room for us. I believe Group Liquid has really been doing an excellent job in NA, it seems like some NA groups are beginning to consider extra as a result of they’d good type in opposition to Fnatic and strong type in opposition to T1. We have to step up for Europe as nicely, present we will win greater than just some video games, that we will really take better of fives and make it out of teams. I believe it’s been 4 years since I’ve made it out of teams? Which sounds loopy. I believe this one will be it.

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This may increasingly sound like an odd query, however is there any a part of you that needs you misplaced extra domestically? As a result of, you’ve been first or second place since, like, 2018 man. It doesn’t actually appear to be you may have a lot competitors within the LEC in terms of mid laners. Do you would like there was somebody who may actually problem you in your area?

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That’s a tough query to reply as a result of – in fact, I imply, I really like profitable. (laughs) However, on the identical time, the primary aim is Worlds, proper? If there was somebody I may be taught from extra domestically, that’d be nice. Somebody like Perkz, I discovered lots from up to now. Enjoying in opposition to the LPL/LCK mid laners, I positively be taught greater than I do after I play in opposition to European mids. There’s some room to catch up, and I believe it’d be nice to get extra classes.

Riot Video games

Perkz was Caps’ finest competitors earlier than the 2 joined the identical group collectively and placed on the most effective run in EU’s historical past

It looks as if Japanese groups waited till the final minute to get to Worlds this time round, didn’t actually rush to scrim you guys or something. Is the hole widening?

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Yeah, we didn’t get to play many LPL/LCK groups… I believe our scrims have positively not been the most effective. I believe we’re nonetheless discovering our footing within the meta, we’re nonetheless testing issues out and determining precisely what we need to do. We nonetheless must determine issues out, however I’m assured we will make a deep run.

Caps, you’ve been taking part in League of Legends for a really very long time. And, I imply, if we’re being trustworthy, you possibly can step away proper now, retire, and doubtless be set for years doing content material or no matter you wished to do, proper? What do you like a lot about League that you simply’re nonetheless competing at such a excessive stage like this?

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I imply, for me, it’s Worlds. It feels good to be right here. Season 3, I watched Faker win Worlds, and I used to be like, ‘Oh, I need this to be me.’ Since then, I’ve simply spammed solo queue. Finally, I stop highschool and joined Fnatic again in 2017, so I form of joined with the mindset that I need to win Worlds, I need to be the most effective. So, so long as I haven’t fulfilled that, I can’t simply cease. I can’t cease the grind. I actually need to obtain that, and I’ll do every thing in my energy to take action.

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So that you’ve been on the high of Europe for this lengthy, however, like, you don’t assume you’d be completely satisfied together with your profession till you really win Worlds?

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I imply, I don’t wanna say that I’m not completely satisfied as a result of it could possibly really feel, in some methods, disrespectful to others, proper? On the finish of the day, it’s a contest. Not everybody can win. However, if I gave the cellphone to 16, 17 12 months previous Caps and informed him I haven’t gained [Worlds] but, he’d positively be mad at me. (laughs) I must win a minimum of as soon as.

Is there any a part of you that noticed Rekkles go to Korea and went, ‘Rattling, perhaps I ought to strive practising in one other area for some time?’ Is there any a part of you that’d wish to spend an prolonged period of time within the LPL or LCK?

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It’s one thing I’ve considered to some extent, however I haven’t actually had that many off-seasons. It’s not one thing I’ve considered an excessive amount of. However, on the identical time, I believe taking part in in opposition to LPL/LCK gamers would positively be a number of enjoyable on a extra common foundation. It’d most likely be a neater solution to win Worlds, to some extent, as nicely. However it could additionally take away a little bit of the… I believe it’d be the better manner out in that sense, proper?

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I imply, clearly, it could nonetheless be extraordinarily exhausting to make it to a robust group and compete there, however it could even be a neater solution to win Worlds than making it with a European group. It’d additionally really feel improper to some extent, I believe, to play in a distinct area. However, I haven’t actually had the low season to consider it. I’ve had like, one low season in my profession.

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Yeah, G2 is doing every thing they’ll to carry on to you.

(laughs)

I imply, do you ever image your self leaving G2? You’re such a franchise participant at this level.

I don’t actually assume an excessive amount of about it, as a result of it’s like – I imply, it’s simply form of wasted ideas in a manner. So many issues change, proper? Particularly in esports as of late, so many groups are going out and in, up and down. However, what I need has additionally modified all through the years, like what I worth in my group and teammates. I’m completely satisfied that G2 has carried out every thing they’ll to accommodate as nicely in terms of the group setting. I’ve positively been completely satisfied right here. I can’t speak concerning the future, proper? It may well change in a heartbeat.

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Colin Younger-Wolff/Riot Video games

So, I’m simply having fun with the second we have now right here. We’ve made it to Worlds, and we will positively win this factor. We simply must play higher than we’ve carried out thus far, and we have to put every thing into our scrims to make it so.

What would you say is the largest factor that’s modified so far as what you need on a group between while you began and now?

I imply, I believe issues change on a regular basis, proper? Like, my mindset on the sport – I imply, the sport itself additionally modifications to be truthful, there are a number of patches. However I believe, after I first got here in, I used to be very a lot within the mindset of simply grinding the sport 24/7, nothing else. Like, simply solely performed league. And now I additionally worth watching extra VODs. I worth getting a greater understanding of the opposite lanes, getting a greater understanding of my teammates lanes and their perspective, and ensuring that there’s good group spirit as nicely within the group. Whether or not or not it’s by way of taking part in like a board recreation or doing – like, we do a number of one on one-on-ones on our group as nicely, one thing we do to, like, actually get to know one another. If one thing is bothering them, they’ll share it.

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So, [what’s changed] could be very far more like relationships and stuff like that, I believe, extra than simply the sport itself. As a result of I believe simply taking part in the sport can solely take you thus far, and it’s good to be sure that everybody else can also be maintaining with you and your understanding of the sport. There’s not only one manner of taking a look at League. You possibly can take a look at it many alternative methods, and, while you’re on a group, it’s good to have the identical method to the sport.

Faker had a wrist damage final 12 months, is there any a part of you that sees that, particularly with Faker being somebody you seemed as much as earlier in your profession, and goes, ‘I solely have a lot time to win Worlds?’ Is that one thing that’s in your thoughts?

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Colin Younger-Wolff/Riot Video games

The second Faker gained Worlds in 2023

Lots of people retire early in esports, proper? And I positively would have liked to win already, however I don’t assume it’s one thing you possibly can rush. And I additionally, if something, noticed the alternative. I noticed Faker win Worlds final 12 months after not reaching that top in a few years. I used to be motivated for certain, seeing that. And, in fact, I used to be additionally frightened about my very own wrists, proper? Be sure I do some wrist workout routines and keep in good condition. However it’s true, proper? Like, you by no means know what’ll occur subsequent 12 months. You by no means know in the event you’ll get one other shot at Worlds, so this might be the final one. I’ve to make it rely. 

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