LOUD tkzin on VIT series: "We learned a lot from that overtime"

LOUD's run through the VALORANT Champions Shanghai Group B upper bracket came to an end on this Wednesday, September 30, after a 2-0 loss to Team Vitality. The European representatives secured their place in the playoffs, while LOUD were sent to the lower bracket and must now win their next series to keep their tournament alive.

Following the defeat, LOUD's players and coaching staff spoke at the post-match press conference about their slow starts on both maps, the lessons they can take from the series, and their approach to the upcoming elimination match. The team also discussed the possibility of facing EDward Gaming or Global Esports, Enzo "tkzin" Zimiani’s experience playing a tense overtime, and the support LOUD have received from Chinese fans throughout Champions.

Gonzalo "Romanilly" Manzano: “I think we simply started slowly. When the team started to get into the series, things were already a little more difficult. That was it. There wasn’t really anything else.

Romanilly: I’d say Global because we haven’t played against them yet. But we’ll respect whichever team we face. We’ll trust our game and try to work on things in the best way possible today to win and secure this spot in the playoffs.”

Miguel "Bati" Batista: “I think what we have to take from it is to do a little more of what we do in practice, which is for us to set the pace of the game and show that we’re there. I think we were letting them play too much. That made us play scared and then make a few more questionable decisions. We were giving them too much space, especially on the first map. On the second one, not as much, but on the first map, yes. I think that’s probably the main lesson we’ll take from this. Obviously, after watching the game back, we might have another opinion, but right now, that’s the main thing.

Bati: Our expectation is to win, obviously. I don’t think there’s any other answer. We’re prepared; we’ve been practicing well. I hate saying that it was an atypical game, but I think this was a very close one, and I think the second map could perfectly have gone our way, and then the third map might have gone our way as well. But our expectation is to win. We don’t have any other expectation.”

David "DaviH" Cruz: “For EDG, ZmjjKK (Zheng Yongkang). And for Global Esports, I don’t know. I haven’t watched much of their game, so I don’t know the players.”

Enzo "tkzin" Zimiani: “I think that was something we didn’t do on the first map, and we talked about it as well. I was going to try to always keep the team’s energy up because I think I can really get the guys going. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the win on the second map, but for me, it was a good experience playing overtime. I really like feeling the pressure, feeling my heart beating really fast. I like that adrenaline rush. I think it was also a good experience for the team. We learned a lot from that overtime, and I really enjoyed playing this match. Unfortunately, we didn’t win, but I think it was a good experience.

tkzin: From my side, I had no idea I had fans in China, to be honest. I’m really enjoying it. We receive a lot of gifts, and we always have to take a lot of pictures with the fans. We take a lot of pictures at the mall and at the hotel, and sometimes it’s even difficult to leave or enter the hotel because people are always trying to take a lot of pictures. But I think it’s a good thing. I really like that part.”

Lucca "lukxo" Travaioli: “It’s been difficult to leave the hotel or walk around the mall. It’s pretty absurd, really. It’s really cool; I’m enjoying it a lot, and we’re making the most of it. I was already expecting it to some extent, but at the same time, it surprised me a little bit. I’m really enjoying this dream, and I’m also trying to get closer to the fans.”