Advancing to the
League of Legends 2024 World Championship semifinals,
Gen.G now prepares for a tough opponent:
T1. However, the former South Korean champions were left bruised and battered by North American representatives
FlyQuest. In a conference interview, Kim "
Kiin" Gi-in, the team's top laner, answered many questions from the press and provided insights into the team's upcoming matchup.
What made this match so challenging for your team? And can you explain that Baron moment and how it helped secure the win in such a close series?
Kim "Kiin" Gi-in: "We knew FlyQuest prefers team fight-focused comps, so we were keeping an eye on that. As for the Baron in the last game, even without Yone, they had enough damage to take it down. So we used everything we could—like Scryer's Bloom and Ziggs' ult—to get full information.
The Gen.G roster entering the Adidas Arena in Paris. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
What surprised you the most about FlyQuest’s gameplay in this series?
Kiin: They built their comps around team fights, and they played really well accordingly. On the other hand, we made a lot of mistakes in the early game, which was a bummer. In the games we lost, they really outplayed us.
This is your first time advancing to the Worlds semifinals. How do you feel about facing Choi "Zeus" Woo-je from T1?
Kiin: It’s my first time advancing to the Worlds semifinals as a pro, so I’m very excited and happy. I’ve played against Zeus a lot in the LCK, but this is the first time we’ll face each other in a big tournament like Worlds. I do feel a bit nervous, but very excited.
Looking ahead to the semifinals and possibly the grand finals, how will you prepare for T1 and potentially BLG or Weibo?
Kiin: I’ve been watching all of those teams, and they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. We’ll need to adjust our drafts and playstyle depending on who we face.
During the best-of-five, who did the most to keep the team together through the struggles?
Kiin: Today, it felt like we were all a bit out of it mentally. Luckily, after each game, when we went backstage, our coaches did a lot to help us adjust and refocus quickly. We weren’t in a good state, but our coaches reasoned with us and kept us working hard and focused.
Substitute and Coach Mata seen helping his players. Credit: Yicun Liu/Riot Games
You haven’t faced a North American team since 2018 when Cloud9 beat your previous team, Afreeca Freecs, 0-3 in the quarterfinals at Worlds. How did it feel to face North America today, and how badly do you want to win this year?
Kiin: I’m so glad we won today; it was very tiring. I remember that quarterfinals back then, and it feels great to win now. I don’t know when I’ll have another chance to be in this position, so I have to make the most of it and try to win Worlds this year. It’s a chance to win the World Championship, something few can accomplish in their careers. We’ve always wanted to win it, and it would be an honor to do so.
Did you feel pressure after being forced to match point early on? Were you scared that history would repeat itself and you wouldn’t make it to the semifinals?
Kiin: Yes, of course. As a human, bad memories always haunt you. Being on the opponent's match point added extra pressure, but we managed not to lose. I just focused on the upcoming game and did my best.
Do you think today’s series shows that Western teams are closing the gap with LPL or LCK teams?
Kiin: Based on their overall performance at Worlds, saying the gap is closing would not be right. However, FlyQuest showed great form against us, and if Western teams continue to show this kind of performance next year, I’d say the gap could start closing then.
How do you feel about your upcoming match against T1, given your strong record against them?
Kiin: I mean, we’ve faced T1 domestically many times, but this will be our first time playing them on the Worlds stage. Despite our dominant record against them, I still think we need to be careful and prepare well."
Header Photo Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
