NS Dambi: "I want to achieve the Grand Slam”

After a flawless run and winning the title at the Santiago Masters, Nongshim Redforce answered questions from the media following their victory

Dambi celebrates his Masters Santiago title with fans. Credit: Liu YiCun/Riot Games

NS Rb: “I honestly think this is the best day of my life"

After maintaining their spot in the VALORANT franchise system through the Pacific Ascension and then securing the number one seed in VCT Pacific Kickoff with a roster of rookies and a veteran, Nongshim RedForce dominated Masters Santiago without dropping a single match. On Sunday, in the Grand Final, NS crushed Paper Rex 3-0, including two one-sided maps to close the series (13-4 on Split, 13-3 on Icebox). Minutes after their victory, Nongshim addressed the media during a press conference.

Questions for Goo "Rb" Sang-min

In your career, with all the players you’ve played with and all the systems you’ve been part of, what makes this Nongshim team different from all the past teams you’ve been on across your entire career?

Goo "Rb" Sang-min: “First of all, thank you. I used to play Neon a lot in the past. After I joined Nongshim, I heard that Dambi (Lee Hyuk-kyu) was playing Neon, and when I actually saw Dambi’s Neon play, I thought, "This player is amazing.” Personally, I was really impressed. Also, I’ve played with many experienced players before in Vision Strikers and DRX, so I accumulated a lot of experience over time. I always wanted to share that experience with others, especially with the younger generation. When I joined Nongshim, I really looked forward to seeing how far we could go together by combining that experience. We were able to cover for each other, endure the hardships together, and I think that’s why we made it this far.

What about the team’s teamwork? Do you think this team can continue all the way to the Champions?

Rb: I always think teamwork is the most important thing. Even if we don’t know exactly what will happen, I believe that if we keep playing like this, we can make it to the Masters London and also to the Champions. I think we can get there.

Over these six years, you’ve experienced highs and lows. How do you feel right now, and what would you most like to say to your past self and to the fans who have supported you over all these years?

Rb: Thank you for remembering my sixth year. It’s surprising to me that it has already been six years. For today, I honestly think this is the best day of my life. I started playing VALORANT back in the beta, and at that time, I was still learning a lot as a player. I never really thought of myself as a great player. When I was in Vision Strikers with Stax (Kim Gu-taek), Buzz (Yu Byeong-cheol), and coach termi (Pyeon Seon-ho), I learned a lot over those years. Then I went to VCT CN and joined Titan Esports Club, and I wanted to make use of all the experience I had gathered. The things I learned from previous teams, and the camaraderie and rapport I built with my former teammates, all contributed to the success I have now in my career. And I’m very grateful to the fans for remembering me and supporting me for all these years.”

Nongshim Redforce lifting the VCT Masters Santiago trophy. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

Questions for Kim "Francis" Mu-bin

How do you feel after winning all of this? And how would you describe your journey from Ascension last year to lifting a trophy today?

Kim "Francis" Mu-bin: “Since Ascension, I used to play consistently well. But after getting into Tier 1 Pacific and up until Masters, I was in a bit of a slump. I underperformed, and personally, this has been both my prime and also the hardest season of my career. During that difficult period, Rb always supported me quietly, and coach SilKanoN (Kim Gyeong-min) always made sure the team stayed stable and strong. I also want to give props to him. And I’m always very thankful to my teammates for supporting me whenever I go through hard times. They’re very precious to me.

What do you think allowed the series to feel so comfortable for your team today? And what was going through your minds what did you say to each other when you won the last round?

Francis: To be honest, going into the match against Paper Rex, I thought either we would lose badly or we would win convincingly. I didn’t expect this exact scoreline. As for the last round, when we won it, the first thought that crossed my mind was: We finally did it.

When you won Premier, when you won Ascension, when you were presenting yourselves as a team capable of these things, did you already imagine this kind of scenario in your minds?

Francis: Even back then, when we won Premier and Ascension, we knew we were really good. We believed that once we got into our first Pacific matches, our individual mechanics and overall level would improve even more. As a result, Dambi’s Neon improved a lot, Ivy’s Sentinel play got better, and I think that’s how we became a team capable of winning a championship like this.”

Questions for Lee "Dambi" Hyuk-kyu

Do you think that excellence is in Korean DNA?

Lee "Dambi" Hyuk-kyu: “I think one of the biggest reasons Koreans are so good at games is the PC café industry in Korea. It’s very alive, and kids get exposed to games from a young age. The more exposure they have, the better they naturally become. Also, players like Faker (Lee Sang-Hyeok) paved the way for esports in Korea. He became a role model for many children, and that helped a lot, too. Recently, gaming has also started being perceived more positively by Korean parents, and sometimes you even see parents and kids playing together. I think all of that contributes to why Koreans are so good at games.

The MVP Masters Santiago bracelet. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

You were named MVP today. Is there anything you want right now?

Dambi: We’re going back to Korea very soon, and honestly, I really want to eat Korean food right now. As an entry fragger, I also don’t really feel too much pressure when I go into a site, because I know my teammates can always cover for me and trade for me. I always have that in mind when I enter. So overall, I think Ascension helped me deal with stage pressure a lot.

You won the Pacific Kickoff and the Masters Santiago without losing a single time. How are you feeling at the moment?

Dambi: Right now, I’m just doing my best to maintain this momentum. Since we have an undefeated streak going on, we want to carry it into Stage 1 as well. And personally, I also want to achieve the Grand Slam as a player.

How does the MVP bracelet feel on your hand? Is it heavy? And would you let the rest of your team borrow it and wear it too?

Dambi: It feels just right. And if my teammates want to wear it too, I’ll be happy to share it with them. This was a team effort. The MVP bracelet was given to me, but it doesn’t belong only to me personally; it belongs to the team as well. So I want to share that experience too.”