The post-match press conference between Karmine Corp and Shopify Rebellion offered a candid behind-the-scenes look at one of the most anticipated VALORANT Game Changers Championship series of the tournament, evendutally won by SRG (2-1). On the KC side, Şura "Jiex" Yıldırım and Anastasia "Glance" Anisimova reflected on a hard-fought defeat, highlighting both the team's growing synergy and their confidence ahead of a crucial lower bracket clash against KRÜ Esports. On the Shopify Rebellion side, Melanie "meL" Capone and Alexis "alexis" Guarrasi analysed their comeback against KC, the impact of their participation in the VCL NA, and more topics.

Shopify Rebellion Gold

Question for Melanie "meL" Capone

On Sunset, you were able to turn things around on your own, starting around round six. What was the communication like in the server to flip that switch and get back on track?

meL: "I honestly can’t even remember the exact call that changed things. It might have been us identifying a particular piece of utility they were using, or recognizing a default they kept running. The first couple of rounds were just very gimmicky plays from them that caught us off guard. One of them was pure LAN audio; they Omen ulted, and we literally didn’t hear it. They got me, they got us, they genuinely caught us with that one.

Even though we were down by about five rounds, we already had a feel for the game. We were starting to understand what they were playing for, what they were trying to achieve, and which areas of the map we could contest or take space in. So I don’t think we were ever truly “out of it” in those first five rounds; there wasn’t some huge mental shift. We were already quite locked in. I do remember that dodonut typed, “I’m just going to stop hesitating on plays,” and I replied something along the lines of, “Yeah, I’ll go with you”. That was kind of the moment where we fully committed to playing more decisively.

And for the record, when you saw us flipping off the camera, that was at our coaches, not at the crowd. It’s something we do with them; there’s content of it in our behind-the-scenes videos. We love giving our coaches the finger. If we hadn’t done it, maybe we would have lost. The coaches told us, “Smile, guys”, and in perfect unison, we all did it together. It was a team effort.

How did this match and the KC crowd differ, and how did you all stay grounded and focused amidst the chaos?

The KC crowd has been very respectful. After KC lost and we had won, we were standing right in front of them, and they still clapped, no booing, just normal, respectful behavior. I really appreciate them for that; they were genuinely great. They also weren’t jumping in the middle of the rounds. They would jump and go wild during timeouts and pauses, which is completely understandable, but I never felt the desk shaking during a clutch or anything like that. They were actually very pleasant. We walked over to our own fans afterwards, talking with them and shaking hands, and the whole environment felt very relaxed. KC fans are very calm, in a good way. Shout-out to French people, I love French people.

You competed in VCL this year. How does that experience help you grow as a team and as a player, considering it’s different from Game Changers?

meL: "It definitely gives us a significant edge in the sense that we learned a great deal from that run. Obviously, we’re not sitting in playoffs right now, and we’re not making Ascension, but the number of reps we got against those teams is extremely valuable. I think the North American tier-two talent pool is incredibly deep. You can see it now with how many tier-two players have made the jump from Challengers to partnership this year alone. We were playing against a lot of those same players earlier in the year.

For example, TSM were grand finalists at Ascension, and players like Timotino (Timothée Lavigne Dupont) and vora (Jordan Pulwer) are now on 100 Thieves. Getting repeated reps against tier-one-caliber players, and tier-one-caliber duos, means a lot to us.

However, we can’t come into this event thinking, “We played VCL this year, we won a match there, so that automatically makes us the best team.” Not at all. For us, the important part isn’t the result itself, but the process that led to it. We need to keep replicating that process as closely as possible as we approach this tournament. That’s how we will reproduce the level of form we had before, if that makes sense. We’re not automatically “super amazing” just because we made it there. We can’t relax and assume it’s enough. We have to keep replicating those habits, practicing with intention, and doing the things we did back then, and keep doing them now. That’s what gives us the real edge."

Question for Alexis "alexis" Guarrasi

How did this match and the KC crowd differ from previous events where you weren’t the favorites, like in Brazil, and how did you stay grounded and focused in all that chaos?

alexis: "The main difference was that the jumping was actually shaking the tables. That was really the only major change. I feel like the Brazilian crowd wasn’t jumping quite as much, or at least they were farther away, so we didn’t feel it as strongly. Here, they were right on top of us. They were also really coordinated: they would literally hold onto each other and move as a unit. They were completely locked in. But honestly, I’m happy for them; that kind of atmosphere is incredible. It was cool. I don’t think we minded it much at all, it was actually fun to play in.

What is the confidence like within the team to keep going on this journey and possibly win a third title? Has that confidence changed during the tournament, or has it stayed the same throughout?

alexis: I would say we’re very confident, but not complacent. We’re not going into these matches expecting to win 13–0 every game. We’re mainly just genuinely happy to be here and to be playing. We’re having fun. So yes, our confidence is quite high, but we’re also very aware that we need to keep working and respecting every opponent."

Karmine Corp

Question for Şura "Jiex" Yıldırım

Despite this defeat, you put the reigning champions under real pressure. How do you feel about your performance?

Jiex: "On the first map, our performance was a bit shaky, maybe because of pressure or nerves, but we didn’t really play our own game. On the second map, we talked things through and realized that we should have been playing that style from the very beginning. But you know, it happens sometimes, and we couldn’t manage it on the first map. On the second map, we did manage it, and we showed a really good level on their map. I was expecting something similar on Sunset, the third map. We started very well on defense, and then they came back. We couldn’t properly close the gaps. In the end, they simply made fewer mistakes than we did, and they won. That’s how this game works.

We can see a strong synergy within your team. Did it come naturally, or did you have to work hard to build it?

Jiex: I would say synergy comes both naturally and through work. When our coach selected us, he already saw the potential for synergy that could develop through practice. I think all five of us had the right profiles to build that synergy and let it grow naturally over time. As time went on, we kept working, and we refined that synergy day after day. I would also say that if we did not have at least some natural synergy, we would not have been able to win Stage 1 in EMEA. So we built up very effective synergy in a short period of time, with very good adaptations. Yes, I would say it comes quite naturally, overall."

Question for Anastasia "Glance" Anisimova

You have a new opponent on the horizon: KRÜ Esports, for your next match tomorrow. What are your thoughts on this team, and what do you expect from that match?

Glance: "I know the players, especially dods (Caue Fernandes). I know she is a very strong Duelist. But I think, and I feel, that the more we play on stage, the more confidence we gain. So I believe tomorrow is going to be a good match, and I think it will be a better day for us. They are a good team in their region, but we have been competing against a lot of teams throughout the season in EMEA, so we are used to facing many different styles. I don’t think they will be a surprise for us, and I simply think we are going to play well."