PNG TitaN on making it to Swiss: "We learned a lot about the way we should be playing [...] I'd give it 80% chance"

Alexandre "TitaN" Lima dos Santos, AD Carry of paiN Gaming at Worlds 2024, representatives of the CBLOL.

"In the lower bracket, we'll just need to play our game"

Bruised but not defeated, paiN Gaming is now gearing up for its next match against Vikings Esports in the League of Legends Worlds 2024 Play-In. In an exclusive interview, Alexandre "TitaN" Lima dos Santos, the AD Carry of the Brazilian team, reflects on his match against PSG Talon, provides a detailed view of the rest of the tournament for paiN, and discusses playing in Berlin.

How are you feeling after the match?

Alexandre "TitaN" Lima dos Santos: "I'm feeling kind of frustrated because I really felt that we could win the match. We kind of messed up our draft, I think, when we tried to match them on the side lanes. They always had prio, so it was kind of hard to play after the first game. And I feel like Maple was able to impact the game so much.

Despite the loss, do you see any positives or lessons that can help you in the lower bracket? Are you confident about your chances there?

TitaN: I mean, we are confident in our ability to play against other teams. Of course, everyone thought PSG was going to stomp us, but after the last few days of practice, we felt like we could win. We studied them, watched their games, and it was good to see what they usually do. In my eyes, after this game, we learned a lot about the way we should be playing and approaching the game. We need to improve on playing around objectives. That’s the key point for us. We knew what PSG wanted to do and it wasn't hard to predict their next play. For the lower bracket, we just need to play our game.

How confident are you that you’ll make it to the main event?

TitaN: A solid 8/10.

TitaN between games during the PSG series. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

What does it mean for you to be here at Worlds? Are you happy with your performance so far, and do you feel like there’s room for improvement?

TitaN: Every time I come to Worlds, it's a good experience. Playing against the best players in the world and living through this excitement while in a different country is always something new. So, I'm happy to be here and happy with my gameplay so far. Of course though, I need to improve more. Playing against the best players means that if you make a mistake, they punish you really well. I'm paying close attention to my gameplay and looking forward to getting better.

How do you feel about Brazil’s future, especially with the upcoming Americas merge in 2025? Do you think the region is improving and could catch up with other regions?

TitaN: I think the change was good—really good, actually. We should be able to improve now, and we should look forward to the future. I don't know much about what's going to happen because I'm living in the moment right now. So, I’m just focusing on that. I don’t think I should say much more because, honestly, I don’t know what the future holds.

Are there any specific opponents you want to face during this tournament?

TitaN: I want to play against Viper, but I don't think we can make it there. If we do, I would be so happy. I mean, Viper’s playstyle is really good. Every time I watch his VODs and POVs, I’m impressed by how he plays the game and the way he looks at it.

Are you comfortable with the current meta, and does it suit your team?

TitaN: I can play in both kind of metas—carry champions and enabler champions. For me, it doesn't change much whether the priority on Ashe, Kalista, and Jhin. I think every AD Carry now should help the team by playing for tempo and focusing on objectives, so it feels similar for everyone. So yeah, I’m comfortable playing Zeri, Lucian, scaling champions, and carry champions. I'm used to enabler champions too, but I lost my 100% win rate with Ashe today, so I'm a bit sad about that.

How has your experience in Berlin been so far, including being on stage and in a new environment?

TitaN: I felt really good so far. In 2018, I came to Europe to play Worlds too, and it was pretty good to be here and explore the city. That was my first time, and now it's my second time. This time, I'm with a lineup I really enjoy playing with, and the staff is great too. The stage has changed—it's a new studio! Overall, things have been great so far, on stage as well. I was feeling at home.

You've mentioned feeling good, but has traveling to Worlds and the general practice been stressful for you as well?

TitaN: It’s always stressful to travel such a big distance from Brazil, right? So, yeah, it's stressful, but in the end, it's good to not be in your comfort zone all the time, you know?

Do you have a specific teammate you are closest to, given your strong bond with the team?

TitaN: dyNquedo. He's my mid laner now, and I've wanted to play with him for a long time, so I'm glad I could this year. We win together as well, which makes it even better. I'm pretty happy to play with him—he's a really close friend, and we support each other.

Before we wrap up, do you have any words for your fans?

TitaN: [In Portuguese] Thank you! I could see you guys supporting us a lot, especially on stage today, even when we lost. I feel very grateful for that. Besides that, I think we can expect some good games ahead. We are still very confident. So, let's go win the lower bracket and do our best to get out of the play-in."

Header Photo Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games