Maintaining strong and steady results in the
Greek Legends League (GLL) 2024 Spring Season,
Mike "Furuy" Wils and his team are now poised to be favorites to win the entire league and represent Greece at the
EMEA Masters. With only two weeks left before the playoffs,
Anorthosis Famagusta Esports is now ramping up, in hopes of asserting itself as the clear best team that the region has to offer. In this
exclusive interview, the former mid-laner of
Team Du Sud discusses his entrance into the GLL and his expectations for the future.
ANO Furuy, posing at the GLL media day.
| Once more, you are starting anew in a new ERL. Last year, you spent time in the NLC and most importantly, the LFL 2nd Division. How are you feeling in the GLL?
Furuy: "I'm really looking forward to hopefully winning the split. Right now, things are going well. Last off-season, I didn't expect to end up playing in the GLL. I thought I had a pretty good year with Team Du Sud, so I expected to play in a major region. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. So now, I'm looking to prove people wrong, and hopefully, that will be the case with ANO."
| You mentioned your off-season, would you say you were disappointed not to get trials in leagues like the LFL?
Furuy: "Yeah, I was a bit surprised not to get any tryouts in teams from the LFL, LVP, or Prime League. But hey, it is what it is. They always say you just need to think positively, and people have their reasons behind their decisions. I can still respect that. However, I really wanted to prove to people this year that I can compete in a major region. Now, I'll just show them that they made the wrong decision."
| Could you elaborate on the reasons behind joining Anorthosis Famagusta Esports?
Furuy: "Well, I did receive some offers from minor ERLs, and when I went through trials with Anorthosis, I had a good feeling about the roster. With iLevi and GOLDENTO4ST staying on, along with Duriel as the coach, who has a strong track record of winning splits, there was a lot of trust in the team. To my surprise, we ended up with a great finish, especially with Papiteero and Stormax stepping up in top and jungle roles. Ultimately, it turned out to be my best offer. Plus, it's a really "family-oriented" organization, which I appreciate. So, I'm genuinely happy with where I've ended up."
| On social media, you mentioned that you saw 2024 as an "all-or-nothing" year. How do you view your future in esports? Does this tenure feel like a make-or-break situation for you?
Furuy: "I've been playing for quite some time now, and I'm also getting older. This is already my fifth year playing full-time. As for the whole "all or nothing" scenario, it could potentially be that way, but I'm not dwelling on it too much. Right now, I'm just putting in all the effort I can and hoping for a good opportunity to prove people wrong. I'm taking it step by step at the moment. My main goal is to improve myself and my teammates. I believe I can share a lot of knowledge with them given the experience I've gained over the years. So, that's the focus of my progression right now."
| You started the season very well, notably taking down WLGaming and Gamespace MCE in the very first week of play. How do you feel about your personal and team performances so far?
Furuy: "WLGaming and Gamespace are definitely among the tougher opponents in the league. Overall, I've noticed that the GLL has improved compared to last year, which is exciting, especially with the upcoming EMEA Masters. As for our performance, the first week is always about getting back into the rhythm of the season. I'd say it was pretty decent, nothing mind-blowing. I was satisfied with it, and what matters most to me is the team's performance. I believe we're excelling in our approach to the game. Macro-wise, we're currently the strongest team in the league. We're a step ahead of most teams, and if we keep refining our strategies, it will lead to a successful run."
| Your level of play has been really impressive despite lacking pre-existing synergy with your teammates. How do you feel about working with this new team? Do you feel confident in its level already or is there still work to do?
Furuy: "There's still a lot of work ahead of us. Even if we're 4-0, every member of my team aspires to compete at a major level. So, regardless of our current winning streak, we won't slack off. Every day is a new opportunity to practice and improve. So far, things have been going well, and I'm hopeful that we can continue to make progress and reach the finals. I strongly believe we have a good chance of achieving our goals if we maintain the same level of dedication and effort we've shown this week."
| We saw that your good friend Dipsy silently joined the team's coaching staff. How do you feel working with him?
Furuy: "It's actually my first time working with Dipsy as a coach. Previously, he was my agent, but it's been enjoyable. I know him quite well, so he's doing his job effectively, and he brings a lot to the team. Having experienced multiple victories in the Benelux, he knows what it takes to win. I believe his addition is beneficial for the team, and I'm eager to see how we progress moving forward."
| Following the dominance that the team displayed so far, what are your expectations for this split? Are you already looking past regional play toward the EMEA Masters?
Furuy: "The team's goal, of course, is to achieve a perfect 14-0 record, but personally, I prefer to take it week by week. As long as we don't underestimate our opponents, regardless of their ranking, I believe no team can beat us. However, you never know what might happen in competition. Yet, I feel there's a strong likelihood that won't occur. Our ultimate aim is to win the split and perform well in the EMEA Masters. On a personal level, I strive to make this team the best I've ever played with in the Greek league, surpassing my performance in the EMEA Masters. That's my goal for this split."
| The Greek Legends League has always had stable performances at the EMEA Masters before but, it has never gotten out of groups in the Main Event. With teams like Macko and GTZ paving the way for non-accredited ERL teams to contend with the top dogs of the EMEA region, do you feel confident that this new ANO roster could reach the bracket stage of the tournament?
Furuy: "It's a bit early to give it a solid rating, especially since it's only our second week, and for the major ERLs, it's the third week. But I think all our players have experience against tougher teams. For example, Papiteero has played in LVP, and my bot lane has been to EMEA Masters multiple times. They bring that experience, especially Stormax, who doesn't have as much but has been performing really well so far. I believe if we make it, we'll definitely have a shot at beating the teams here."
| Have any of your teammates impressed you more than others so far? Who are you having the most fun working with?
Furuy: "I'd say the player who has impressed me the most is probably Stormax. His mechanical skills are really impressive. But honestly, I enjoy working with everyone on the team. So far, everything's been going smoothly, and there's no animosity among us. We just need to keep pushing and improving. Stormax really stood out to me during tryouts because of how strong his mechanical game is. I hope he, along with Dipsy, Duriel, and the rest of us, can continue to develop and eventually join a major ERL in the summer or by 2025. That's definitely the goal for every player on the team."
| You have a large fan base notably through your Benelux roots but also through your previous organization, Team Du Sud. Are there any last words you have for them all?
Furuy: "Over the years, I've been incredibly grateful for the people who've supported me. My parents, especially my dad, known as fanforlol, have always been there for me. Shout out to him. And of course, the fans I've met during my time at TDS have been amazing. I really appreciate their ongoing support. Merci beaucoup to all of them. I hope they continue to do well in the LFL. I have a lot of respect for them, both the organizations and the fan base." Robert Wils, aka fanforlol, Furuy's father and most loyal supporter.
