BLG Wei: "We shouldn’t be at 1-2. We've struggled with our meta read, but I'm confident we can go further"

Yan "Wei" Yang-Wei, jungler of Bilibili Gaming (BLG) at Worlds 2024, LPL representatives.

"This as a precious opportunity and a great chance for me. What I need to do is put in 100% effort to make the most of it and prove myself in BLG."

After a false start at the League of Legends Worlds 2024, Bilibili Gaming now stands at 1-2 following losses to LNG and T1. With their next opponent in sight, the Chinese representatives are working on reevaluating their approach and fixing their issues, with very little time to do so. In an exclusive interview with Sheep Esports, Yan "Wei" Yang-Wei, the team's jungler, discusses the reasons behind his team's slump and shares his expectations for the rest of the tournament.

What do you think went wrong in your match against T1?

Yan "Wei" Yang-Wei: "The key moment was the third dragon fight. We were ready for the teamfight and wanted to secure the objective, but the opponents managed to take the drake instead. After that, we felt a lot of pressure, and the game crumbled.

Why do you think the team is struggling? What led to the 1-2 record, and what changes do you need to make?

Wei: First of all, I think our read on the meta is not very good, and we haven't managed to have a solid understanding of it. Additionally, our players' mechanics haven't been as strong as we imagined; we're making a lot of mistakes. We need to review our champion priorities and allow players to focus on their own playstyles. If we can make those adjustments and pick more around the current meta, I feel we can still improve a lot.

This year has been a rollercoaster for you, from being 14th with RNG in spring to winning a title in summer and joining one of the best teams in the world. Do you feel extra pressure to prove you deserve your spot on BLG and at Worlds?

Wei: To be honest, I don't see it as pressure. Instead, I view this as a precious opportunity and a great chance for me. What I need to do is put in 100% effort to make the most of this opportunity and prove myself here. I will try to seize this chance and play better so that I can prove that I deserve to be here.

Many fans were surprised when you joined BLG, given their success with Xun. What do you think you bring to the team that's different from him?

Wei: I would say Xun is a really great player as well. In scrims, we still split games between each other. I can't really say much but, ultimately, it depends on what our coaches think is best for the team.

You played with Bin two years ago on RNG and are now teammates again after some time. Since you're close and often tease each other, how is it playing with him now? Is it different from your time on RNG, or is it similar?

Wei: We’ve become more mature, both in game and in our daily lives. Compared to my experience two years ago, Bin has really matured, he is a completely different person than he was back then.

Despite current results, BLG remains a top contender for the championship. Credit: Jianhua Chen/Riot Games.

You and Bin have been undefeated in best-of-fives. Despite the slow start in the Swiss stage, are you confident you can maintain that record in the quarterfinals if you make it?

Wei: I still believe that if we make good adjustments now, we can qualify to the next stage. In terms of BO5s, I still think that we can do a really good job there. We need to try our best to reach our goals.

Do you think your scoreline reflects your team's true potential? Are you upset about being in this position?

Wei: We shouldn't be at a 1-2 scoreline. We still have issues with our understanding of the meta and our own play. There are definitely some problems with our grasp of the meta and our mechanics. Still, I'm confident that we can go much further if we manage to fix our issues.

Should other 1-2 teams be scared of facing you?

Wei: With how we are playing at the moment, I don't think that 1-2 teams should be particularly afraid of us. We are the first seed from the LPL, but we still have a lot to work on. The most important thing is to adjust our mindset and our play.

Is your goal still to win Worlds?

Wei: Being at the World Championship is like a dream for our team, but our goal is to win the finals. However, more importantly, we need to adjust our current form. The most crucial part right now is regaining momentum. We need to learn from our mistakes and improve quickly. We've put ourselves in a dangerous spot at 1-2. I don't want to think about which teams we may face, as our full focus is on getting the team back on track.

Do you have any final words for your fans?

Wei: I want to thank our fans for having our backs and cheering for us. Our current results may have been shaky, but we really appreciate your support. We will definitely make the necessary adjustments and prepare well. Thank you all for everything."

Header Photo Credit: Adela Sznajder/Riot Games