How do you look back on the Prime League split?
Looking back, I think finishing fourth in the regular split isn't what we had hoped for. I believe we could have played for first, second, or third place. In the end, it didn't quite go the way it should have.
Nevertheless, it's summer right now, we're all in Berlin, and we can do a lot together outside of the game as well. It's just great fun being here with everyone.
The split started off really well, then you lost some matches – what do you think was the reason for that?
In my opinion, it was because we thought we had to change our playstyle or play different things to get better again. That somehow stressed us out and sent us into a downward spiral. As a result, problems came up that weren't there before, or we went looking for problems that didn't exist at all.
In the videos and interviews, you always come across as a unit. How does that help you in matches?
It helps us in that we have good trust in each other because of it. That's very important, especially when it comes to engages or certain plays. Teammates need to know and be able to anticipate what you're planning and adjust accordingly. We can also talk openly about problems outside of the game, which is really great.
What was the mood in the team during the matches against Schalke 04?
The mood was definitely good, even though it was a tense situation for Kaymin in particular, since he was playing against his brother. That's always a bit emotional for him. Going into the match itself, we all had the mindset that we were definitely going to win, and I think we played very solidly.
USE is waiting for you in the next match, then possibly SKP or EINS. How do you assess your chances here, and what will it come down to?
I think our chances are good. For me, against all three opponents it will come down to the same things: How well do we play as a team? How well do we play the teamfights? How calm are we on the day? And of course: How does each one of us perform? The Unicorns are very strong in teamfights, for example, so we definitely need to step up there. In the end, we need to trust ourselves as a team – then we'll get it done!
In the win against Schalke 04, you had an enormous impact. In matches like that, are you rather quiet on voice or do you also shout sometimes?
It always depends on the moment. In the series against Schalke, I was ice-cold and calm. I barely let anything get to me there. Sometimes the team needs someone who calms everyone else down, but then also the exact opposite at times. In those moments I do let my emotions take over, and I'll shout on good plays too. Those kinds of emotions are ultimately what esports is all about.
As a team, how was the public viewing at the derby for you? What role do social media activities play for you?
Our team behind the team is awesome, because we can really rely on all the people who work at BIG and focus on our game and our job. I personally also think it's great that things like a public viewing get made possible. It means a lot to us. Of course you're noticeably more tense when you're playing in front of fans or when fans are supporting you live on site. We all want to win even more in that situation and we're thrilled by the support. Next time we'll be playing in the Prime League final in front of our fans!
What is the absolute death comp in SoloQ?
I think scaling is very important in SoloQ. You should go for champions with solid teamfight potential here. Seraphine is a good pick, in my opinion. Rengar would be a permaban for me. He's too good in SoloQ. Rakan is a good instalock as support – that always works!