G2 Esports clean-swept
100 Thieves to open its playoffs run at
VALORANT Champions Shanghai. With the win, G2 is now just one series away from reaching the Upper Final, while 100T will face the loser of Team Vitality vs. Nongshim RedForce match in the Lower Bracket.
Moreover, this is the first time G2 has gone past the first round of the playoffs bracket at a Champions event. Following the team’s 2-0 victory over 100T, Sheep Esports interviewed G2’s IGL, Jacob "valyn" Batio, to discuss the revenge win, the team’s comeback on Ascent, the team’s playstyle at the tournament, and more.
How do you feel after getting your revenge against 100 Thieves?
Jacob "valyn" Batio: “I didn't feel my best today, but I knew the boys had me, and they were clutching. It was a scrappy game, and we knew it would be. They're a strong team, so I feel like all my energy is gone after going back and forth throughout that match. But it's an amazing feeling to come out on top and continue in the upper bracket.
From qualifying for VCT with The Guard to dominating the Americas and reaching the top rankings at international events, you've come a long way. Looking back, how do you feel about your growth, particularly as an IGL?
valyn: Looking back, the path was really slow and steady for me. I've always had to climb my way into the position I'm in with my teammates, so I'm very grateful that the road has been consistent and smooth. Of course, we're still chasing that top spot (at an international VCT event) to really put the cherry on top, but right now I'm enjoying the process a lot. I've grown a lot as an IGL.
When I first started, I didn't really understand the out-of-game aspects of being an in-game leader. I felt like I was a good shot-caller, but I wasn't a complete IGL. Now, with age and experience, I feel like I'm reaching those next steps pretty smoothly. I'm starting to understand these moments better and how to be a good leader in them. It's been a great journey.
I saw an old clip resurface on X of you and your older teammates? Do you miss them? You've shared some great moments together, but not everyone from those rosters is still here.
valyn: Absolutely, 100%. I wouldn't be in this position without all the teammates I've had. Everyone has put in a lot of effort throughout this grind to get to the top, and they all deserve what they've achieved. I definitely miss those guys. Sometimes, when I see a clip like that resurface, I think back to those moments, and it was great. It gives me some new fire and motivation when I think about where I was a couple of years ago.
G2 seems to be playing more on individual instincts at this event rather than trying to play perfect, structured VALORANT. What has helped the team make that shift while maintaining its composure and synergy?
valyn: I think it's come from watching games across all the regions and seeing how the meta has developed this year. Even our losses have made us realize that we're not a super top team anymore. We've lost in our own region, at Masters London and at EWC. Those losses put a reality check on us throughout the year and helped us peak for this moment.
We realized that our perfect playstyle wasn't enough. We needed to step up individually to compete with the best players in the world. So we've been putting in a lot more individual time and trying not to stress too much about the big picture. Instead, we're focusing on the micro picture, the little details and our own play.
From there, we can play any style or composition and compete with the best teams. I'm really happy that my boys are in form. We still have room to improve, including myself. I need to be a little bit better. Every game, we're trying to get a little better and peak at the right moment.
On Ascent today, 100 Thieves nearly forced a decider. What did you do in the final few rounds to close out the series?
valyn: It wasn't really an adjustment. JoshRT (Josh Lee) did a good job of calming us down and getting us to run some of the set executes we'd been practicing this week. We had blown some easy rounds that could have allowed us to close the game earlier, so we had to calm ourselves down, reset from those losses and run the things we knew. We didn't have to adjust much. We just had to fix the little details and execute what we'd practiced because the prep was really strong today.
How do you see the offseason playing out for you and the team? You've talked about Champions being the "last dance." Can you share anything more about that?
valyn: The offseason is still up in the air. As it stands, I'm playing with the boys in the biggest tournament of the year, so I'm not really worried about that right now. After this event, I think things will shake up a bit. Other than that, we're just focused on the present.
What has been your most memorable moment at Champions, and what stands out from the year as a whole?
valyn: I'd say the most memorable moment was after we lost to Paper Rex. The conversation we had was really positive, and we didn't get too down on ourselves. That was a turning point for us. In the past, when we'd choke a game like that, we'd get too harsh on ourselves and mess up the next game. But this time, we didn't care. We said, "All right, we're going to win the decider." That was a really memorable moment for us in-game.
For the whole year, I think the most memorable moment was qualifying for Santiago. That was the first big step in proving that our team could get back to the international stage. I also had a monster game, something like +30 against MIBR, so I felt really happy individually after that day.
valyn: It's the way we're approaching the games. We're not too stressed about trying to play perfectly, like we talked about earlier.
As an IGL, I'm not too worried about remembering every strat or executing the game plan perfectly. It just has to be enough to win on the day. That allows me to play in the moment more, take in the crowd, have more fun, hit more shots and get more clutches. It feels like I'm playing more freely and we're doing the same as a team, so it's just really fun. We're just fighting out there.”
