Team Heretics have secured their playoffs spot, narrowly clinching qualification after defeating Team BDS and eliminating SK Gaming in the process. After a challenging split in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) Summer season, the squad now turns its attention to the cross-group deciders, aiming for redemption. In an exclusive interview, support Paul “Stend” Lardin sits down with Sheep Esports to discuss the dramatic qualification, his team’s recent slump, and his personal growth in the LEC.

How did preparations for the match against BDS go, especially after Week 3 and the previous results?

Paul “Stend” Lardin: "The losses against G2, and especially against SK, really hit our morale. We weren’t where we expected to be. So we approached this week of practice with a do or die mentality—stricter and more intense. We didn’t have anything to lose anyway. I’m quite happy with how this week went; it was better than the previous ones. Today, we showed more than we did against SK or G2, even if it was still a bit shaky and we could have finished the games much faster.

Was there a sense of rivalry facing Théo “Sheo” Borile’s former team? Did he say or do anything in particular during the week?

Stend: He was taunting nuc (Ilias Bizriken) in private messages all week. Fate works out well.

This split has been difficult. How did the team’s morale evolve, especially after the defeat to SK?

Stend: It really affected us mentally. What we changed was adopting more seriousness and discipline in scrims. Before, we had a really good and light-hearted mood, we had a lot of fun together, but maybe that worked against us for the Summer Split. During scrims, we were often on autopilot, less focused during drafts or the games themselves.

So, our staff set stricter rules, focusing on work and concentration. We became much more serious. For example, they set a rule: from the meeting around 12:30 PM, we had to hand in our phones and only got them back after scrims, around 6–7 PM. Small rules like this helped us stay fully focused on scrims.

How do you feel about the team’s progress in the Summer Split compared to the linear progression you observed from Winter to Spring?

Stend: There’s definitely been progress compared to Winter. But I think the linear progression mainly happened from Winter to Spring. At the end of Spring, we were really showing our potential. At the start and middle of the Summer Split, that upward curve wasn’t there anymore, which was very frustrating and mentally tough. Now that we’ve qualified, we hope to go even further.

What do you attribute the slump after Spring to? Was it related to the break or something else?

Stend: Honestly, I don’t know; it’s hard to say. I couldn’t explain exactly why we had this slump during Summer—it might be related to the meta.

Do you think you’re back to Spring level, or not yet?

Stend: Today, we still showed good things. In my opinion, we dominated BDS across all three games. We were playing under more pressure, so we were a bit shaky finishing games quickly, but we had control in all of them. So I think we’re not far from Spring level, maybe even slightly above. But overall, every team has still progressed.

Do you think teams like Heretics could compete with the top 4?

Stend: It’s hard, but that’s still the goal. The objective is to secure third place to qualify for Worlds. Vitality has shown they’re in good form, and GIANTX is starting to compete a bit as well. There’s always a gap between the top 4 and the rest, but some teams are closing in. For example, in our match against Fnatic, I think we showed a very good side of ourselves, and we should have won that BO in my opinion.

How are you approaching your match against Vitality in the playoffs?

Stend: Vitality is a very strong team, but they’re beatable. It’s going to be a tough match regardless. My goal is to win everything, and I’ll give it my all to be at my best during the playoffs.

Do you think aiming for Worlds is realistic?

Stend: Yes, it’s our goal. But we take it step by step: today it was BDS and qualification. Anything can happen after that.

How do you evaluate your individual progression in LEC during your first year and your overall development?

Stend: I’m quite happy with my year. If I had known I would reach this level when I started, I would have been satisfied. When conditions are right and I feel good, I can have really strong games. I still lack a bit of consistency; sometimes I have some empty moments. But overall, I’m satisfied with my individual progression. In a year or two, my goal is to be among the best European supports and to compete for the title.

Any final words for Heretics fans?

Stend: A small group of Heretics fans came to Berlin, to our offices, to support us. They made a lot of noise today, so thank you to them, it really means a lot."