Qualified for the LEC 2024 Winter Playoffs, the Spanish power-house of MAD Lions KOI ended the group stage in 4th place with a score of 5-4 last week. Following their victory, Myrwn, the team's top laner, sat down with our interviewer to discuss his time in the 2024 LoL EMEA Championship (LEC) and his expectation for the next stages of the competition.
Myrwn, entering the stage of the 2024 LEC.
| How are you doing today?
Myrwn: "I'm doing quite well. We managed to win our game, even though personally I didn't perform at my best. However, I believe we showcased good teamwork and maintained an aggressive play-style, which ultimately is what wins you games. So, I'm satisfied with the outcome of the match."
| Were you confident you would win against Vitality or were there some doubts in the team?
Myrwn: "I mean, personally, I never doubted our ability to win the game. Especially when we have champions like Blitzcrank, they can consistently create good opportunities. But in general, even without such champions, the enemy can always make mistakes, and we can always capitalize on them. It's all about maintaining a positive mindset about the game and continuously strategizing for the next play and what actions we can take."
| What are you setting your sights on right now? Are you happy to have secured such a high placement in the group stage?
Myrwn: "We all are looking forward to the playoffs. The regular split is more about getting that initial exposure to the LEC, the first few games, and adjusting to the stage atmosphere. What we're really striving for is the playoffs, constantly improving each day, and ultimately, we're eager to compete internationally. I believe that's where we'll see the most growth and development as a team."
| How are you feeling about your performances so far in the LEC? Are you happy with yourself? What would you say you are working towards right now?
Myrwn: "I'm not entirely satisfied with my performance. While they're acceptable, I aspire to achieve more. I'm striving for a significantly better performance and a higher individual level. That's why I would say I'm not happy. However, I'm determined to improve overall. I've noticed many mistakes, some of which weren't evident in the LVP, for instance. I'm actively addressing them with Melzhet, our head coach, Zeph, our assistant coach, and the entire staff."
| A few people, notably French fans, were underrating your team before the split's start. How does it feel to prove the doubters wrong?
Myrwn: "Yeah, it's not just the French fans; I believe everyone in Europe doubted us. So it's satisfying to prove to them that we are capable and that we can achieve great things. This is just the beginning, and I believe we can perform even better. Take Fresskowy, for instance; he faced the most criticism on our team, yet he's arguably one of the team's best players. He's demonstrating his skill and proving that he deserves this opportunity."
| How do you feel about your team's current form? Do you think that you have what it takes to face strong opponents like Fnatic?
Myrwn: "I believe we haven't reached our peak yet. There's plenty of room for improvement, but we're really confident heading into the playoffs match. Playing against Fnatic is always challenging, especially considering the personal battles involved. Facing Oscarinin, who's a friend of mine, adds to the intensity. There's a bit of Spanish rivalry there, both in the jungle and the bot lane. Overall, we're really looking forward to it."
| What are the expectations then? And if you beat Fnatic, what about G2 Esports in the 2nd round?
Myrwn: "I believe we can definitely defeat Fnatic. Also, reflecting on our game against G2, we had a solid lead, but we made some easily fixable mistakes. I'm confident that, if we face them again, we can overcome them as well. Overall, I think we have what it takes to beat any team in the playoffs."
| Hot take, where is MDK going to end the split?
Myrwn: "We're aiming for top 1."
| How have your scrims been going? Are they indicative of your results in the LEC so far?
Myrwn: "I think we play better in official matches than in scrims honestly. For us, scrims are not very representative and, I think that we've kind of figured that out in the past three weeks."
| You are very well known for playing atypical champions. This week you played Varus and Fiddlesticks. Was there a PowerPoint prepared this time or does your team fully trust you with these picks?
Myrwn: "I think they simply trust me. The thing is, I've already played these champions in official matches before. I played Fiddlesticks in the Iberian Cup in Spain, and Varus in the SuperLiga. So they already had an idea of how they worked, and of course, I've practiced them in scrims as well. It's not like I'm trying out a champion for the first time after three months in the LEC. But yeah, they really believed in my picks."
| Could you tell us a bit more about how does the Fiddlesticks work?
Myrwn: "Fiddlesticks top is pretty underrated; it has more favorable match-ups beyond just Rumble. It can serve as a good counter to Rumble because, in teamfights, you can consistently disrupt him. He'll always have to play from a distance, and he can never overheat close to you. You can perma CC him, sustain well, and control the lane. Plus, if you manage to get good flanks, you become a real nuisance; the enemy team has to face check into you, giving you control over the zone. And with Nocturne, which was part of our composition, alongside Neeko, the three together create a lot of chaos for the enemy team if executed properly. However, I think we didn't execute it well against GIANTX, and that's why we lost, even though we were ahead. "
| What would you be ready to sacrifice for some Zeri buffs?
Myrwn: "Everything. I just want some Zeri buffs so I can play her top."
| What would you want to see Riot buff about her?
Myrwn: "The thing is, the best version of Zeri, especially for top lane, involved Trinity Force and increased range on Q, so I doubt that will ever happen again. If it does, I'd be grateful. Realistically, the best buff Riot could make is to increase her Q range, which would help her in certain matchups. However, I don't see it happening, so maybe some early game buffs like base stat adjustments would be fine."
| Do you have more fun picks we can hope to see soon?
Myrwn: "There's definitely more. Let's see what the playoffs and the new patch bring to the table. I will for sure try to keep cooking more things."
| Any last words for the fans?
Myrwn: "Please support us in the playoffs, we'll be working hard to showcase our true potential and aim for peak performance. We're determined to rise above the shaky performances and demonstrate our true level. And who knows, perhaps I'll even bring out more Fiddle plays for our supporters to enjoy."
Myrwn, competing in the 2024 LEC.
What's next?
Now moving on to the playoffs stage, MAD Lions KOI is poised to enter confidently against a team they've beaten in the regular season. While Fnatic remains a tough opponent, the team seems confident and prepared to face them again. Playing their first Best-of-Three (BO3) on Sunday the 4th, MDK will have a lot to prove as they advance to the next stage.
Playoffs Round 1 - MAD Lions KOI LEC Schedule:
- Sunday 4th - 20:00~ CET - MDK vs FNC
