G2 Yike: "I'm most excited to play against Canyon [...] if I maintain this level, I can definitely compete with him."
Continuing G2's victorious streak in the LEC, Yike discusses the league's junglers, the lessons learned from international play, and his aspirations.
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Martin "Yike" Sundelin, competing in the LEC 2024 Summer Playoffs for G2 Esports.
"I'd argue that European junglers are currently stronger than European midlaners"
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Emerging triumphant after defeating Team BDS in a 2-0 score, G2 Esports is poised to make waves in the LEC 2024 Summer Playoffs. Martin "Yike" Sundelin, one of Europe's top League of Legends junglers, sits down for an exclusive interview with Sheep Esports to delve into the team's evolution within the league. Throughout the discussion, Yike reflects on the level of junglers in the league, the insights gained from recent international competitions, his aspirations for the future, and more.
Can you describe the match against BDS and share your thoughts on the win?
Martin "Yike" Sundelin: We came to this match prepared, very prepared. I think we had good drafts today. I got to play some Sejuani and Maokai, which is slightly different from the bruisers I tend to play but still close to my usual comfort picks. Yesterday, the AP junglers against Karmine Corp were definitely different. Overall, I think we had good, clean games. I had to play more tanky champions, but I think that's good because it shows I can play both tanky and carry roles.
Why do you think we are seeing less focus put on AP junglers in Europe compared to other regions? Do you think there are specific reasons behind Europe's different playstyles?
Yike: I would always say Europe is more has a more "chill" jungle playstyle. It's just much easier to draft around picks like Sejuani or Maokai for example. I don't believe that European junglers aren't good enough to play the carry-oriented AP junglers, but it's just comfort for most of the teams here.
Still, we've been seeing more AP junglers lately, and I think teams are starting to adapt. I played some yesterday, and so did Razork. We also saw Sheo and Elyoya play them, and even Isma pulled out his Nidalee. There are more AP junglers coming, and I think it makes sense. They're very strong in the current meta. It's just all about how you draft and making sure they fit your comp.
Speaking of AP junglers, we haven't seen much of Lillia lately, one of your signature picks. Do you think the champion is maybe not as good as other picks in her role, or are you perhaps just saving her for later?
Yike: I actually think Lillia is also very strong right now. I think maybe the other AP junglers are just a bit stronger, which is probably why people are playing them instead. But since no one really played Lillia before, it's hard to say. I'm probably saving her for the finals so I can get another pop-off performance and hopefully score another Pentakill. That's my plan.
G2 has had ups and downs since MSI. How would you assess G2's current level, and do you think you're close to reaching your peak?
Yike: No, I think at the beginning of the summer split, we were not doing well at all. We were just playing badly and didn't know exactly what champions to play or how to draft. But as we played more, I think we got better and stronger. Then we went to the EWC, and we learned a lot from that. Scrimming the Asian teams helped us a lot. I think we are in a very good state right now. We're playing very well and drafting very well. We went 2-0 both days, so we're doing good.
Yike, ready to get on the LEC stage with his team. Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games
Speaking of that tournament, G2 notably underperformed against teams like Top Esports and FlyQuest. What do you think the team learned from that experience?
Yike: I'd say mostly just scrimming the best teams, because we did well in the scrims. We were winning most of the scrims against the Asian teams, so that was very nice for us. I think we learned mostly what the priorities are, what the strongest champions are, and how to draft them. We saw that they also started playing more of our champs, like Ivern, which the LCK and LPL usually don't play. Now we're seeing more Ivern, so they probably learned from us too. Both regions learned a bit about how to draft and play. We got some good gameplay learnings because our macro was not the best, and we didn't know how to play properly. I think we learned a lot of good macro strategies for the mid-game.
Most people refer to you and Razork as the clear best junglers in the LEC. Do you agree with that statement?
Yike: I agree. Razork is usually the toughest jungler for me to compete against, especially in scrims; he consistently performs well. In our last match against him, I think he underperformed a bit. I've also had my off games, so it's hard to judge. Overall, I believe he and I have the highest skill ceilings. Isma and Sheo are also performing well currently. Players like Elyoya and Jankos are usually strong, but it seems their teams have been facing some issues recently. Overall, I'd say the jungle role in Europe is strong, maybe even stronger than other roles. I'd argue that European junglers are currently stronger than European midlaners, except for Caps, who is just on another level.
Are you looking forward to facing Razork and Fnatic next week? Do you think it will be an easy match for G2, or do you expect it to be challenging?
Yike: I think it's always fun to play against Fnatic, so I'm very excited. The matchup will be interesting because Razork plays both styles, similar to me. He handles tanks and carries, so it'll be intriguing to see how that plays out. It's going to be exciting, and I always enjoy these matches. Fnatic has had some recent losses but bounced back with a 2-0 against SK, so they're looking strong again. Hopefully, it'll be a good match against formidable opponents.
Yike, reflecting in his team booth between games. Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
As you complete your second full year in the LEC with G2 as a jungler, do you still consider yourself a rookie or do you see yourself as more of a veteran now?
Yike: For sure, I think I'm much more open to discussing things and giving my opinions now. In my first year, I focused more on learning and listening to others, but now I feel confident in sharing my thoughts on what's good and bad. So, in that sense, I have more experience. Overall, though, I still see myself as the rookie on the team. I continue to learn a lot from my teammates, listening to their guidance, and they teach me a great deal.
G2 is known for its robust infrastructure within the LEC. How do you perceive its impact, including the staff, team atmosphere, and overall framework around player health, on your development and skill as a player?
Yike: I believe our staff is definitely a big help. We've established daily routines that work well for us. We've developed a solid routine together, and I think it's really helped us. During scrims, we structure things well with three games, followed by discussions and other activities. I believe this approach really helps our teamwork and relationships. Personally, I feel connected with everyone on the team, which is very important. Many teams might not have this cohesion, and our staff does an excellent job ensuring we perform at our best.
Looking ahead, considering G2's strong performance this season and assuming you qualify for Worlds, how do you assess your team's chances at the tournament?
Yike: I'm excited to hopefully qualify for Worlds. As we said, we still have to win the Summer Split, which I hope we do, I think we're going to do it. So yeah, I'm excited to hopefully play against Asian teams again. I've been playing against them quite a bit now so I think I've learned how they work, what their playstyles are like...
Yike, competing in the LEC 2024 Summer Playoffs. Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
Are there any players you're particularly looking forward to facing again, perhaps someone like Tian?
Yike: I'm most excited about Canyon because I think he's the best in the world right now. You always learn from playing against him and he's insane at his role, very consistent. So, definitely Canyon, and then, yeah, I kind of want revenge against Tian now because I won against him the first time we faced and then he won against me. He always likes to emote against me as well so I have to stomp him next time we face.
Talking about Canyon, how do you assess your current level compared to his? Do you see yourself as better, on par, or still trying to catch up?
Yike: I can't say I'm better than him. I'm probably not on the same level. I think he's better at being consistent with both play styles. I aim to achieve that consistency too. He's very skilled on champions like Sejuani, Rell when she was meta, Maokai, and also excels on champions like Nidalee and Zyra. That's where I want to be as well—consistent on both styles. I believe I've shown good consistency this week, and if I maintain this level, I can definitely compete with him.
Armand Luque is an interviewer and journalist with deep roots in the EMEA League of Legends scene. A veteran of the esports world, they hail from France and are best known for their work on Leaguepedi...
