During the press conference after the first match of the VALORANT Champions Paris, Group C, the coach and players of EDward Gaming provided brief insights into their Map 1 strategy after losing 2-0 to NRG. They discussed the decision to select Sage following her recent buffs and shared their thoughts on Abyss as an attack-oriented battleground. They also discussed execution, retake pressure, and the challenges of closing rounds, as well as their plans to refine details and the macro for the next match.
Question for Tang "Muggle" Shijun: You picked Sage on Map 1. Why Sage over other Sentinels, what’s the main advantage?
Tang "Muggle" Shijun: "
After Sage buff, she aligns well with our team’s playstyle. We like to play at a high tempo, and for decisive executes, Sage provides more practical utility to enable that. The trade-off is flexibility, she isn’t as adaptable as other Sentinels, so certain options are more limited.
Is Abyss a map that’s especially good for early information and fast executes? Do you see it as attack-sided?
EDG Muggle: Yes. Abyss feels favorable for attack, you don’t need extensive area control. You can deny vision, choose your moment, and hit a site decisively. The difficult part is holding in the late round and managing retakes. Dealing with the retake pressure from site to site is the hard part.
Question for anyone: The game was tense. What difficulties did you encounter, and what went well?
EDG Muggle: Overall it was fine, but we lacked the ability to close the game. This was our first match on this stage; we need to adapt to the environment and rhythm. Once we settle in, we believe we can play to our level.
Question for Zhang "Jieni7" Juntai: This was your first international event appearance abroad and the match was very close. How do you feel, and anything you’d like to share?
Zhang "Jieni7" Juntai: I’m okay. We’ll review the match, draw our conclusions, and improve. We expect to perform better in the next game.
Photo by Colin Young Wolff/Riot Games
Question for Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang: It was an intense series. What were the main hardships, and what adjustments will you make?
Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang: It was generally okay, but our issue was closing out. Since it’s our first match on this stage, we need to adapt to the arena and game pace. Everything else is manageable, we just need to take that final step.
Question for EDG ZmjjKK: A lot of people were curious about the matchup with Adam "mada" Pampuch. How did it feel to go up against him today, and what stood out to you about playing against this NRG roster?
EDG ZmjjKK: They’re strong, but the main reason for our loss was our own underperformance, we weren’t in our best form and started slowly. I’m looking forward to a rematch, next time we expect to show more and deliver a better performance.
Question for Zhang "Smoggy" Zhao: You looked in good form. How do you feel, and how will you approach the next game?
Zhang "Smoggy" Zhao: Mentally, I feel good. Today we missed some details, we’ll adjust our macro and tighten those small things.
Question for Wang "nobody" Senxu: How are you finding Paris, the arena, and the audience? Any issues with jet lag or food? Have you tried escargots? Are they good?
Wang "nobody" Senxu: Everything’s been good. Jet lag hasn’t affected us. The food is comfortable, though I’m not fully used to it. Even without a traditional raised stage, the arena’s atmosphere is excellent almost an underground vibe, and the crowd energy is lively and motivating. For the
"escargot" (snails) no one’s tried them yet."
Header photo credit: Colin Young Wolff/Riot Games
