Disguised, a team many (
including Sheep Esports) ranked dead last in LCS Lock-In predictions, has kept on surprising. After a solid start, the addition of intended starting jungler
Christian âKryRaâ Rahaian has seriously elevated the roster, handily defeating Kacper â
Inspiredâ Sloma and LYON in a more-than impressive debut. Now heading into this weekâs playoffs matches, DSG, up 2-1 against Sentinels, looked poised to take another big win. That win didnât come, after SEN managed to take the last two games and send DSG to the lower bracket. Following this close loss,
Sheep Esports sat down with KryRa to discuss the series, the teamâs chances going forward, and his outlook on the game.
Today was your first LCS playoffs series, and it was an intense best-of-five, ending in a tough loss. What takeaways do you have immediately following the series?
Christian "KryRa" Rahaian: âI feel like I just need to be able to work on my consistency. If I play every game like I played Game 1, I'm gonna be very good. I just need to take this loss, learn from it, just be consistent.
Speaking of that Game 1, you were absolutely everywhere on Nocturne, with 90% kill participation. How did you exert so much control over the map this game?
KryRa: It was just jungle gap this game. We got the second crab, then I invaded him on blue, and then I just matched him everywhere on the map. He canât really play. And when I see him somewhere, I go on the other side first. The whole map couldnât really breathe, because I got us ahead early.
Today, you picked the first Ivern of the year in Tier 1 play, making for a unique draft alongside Cho "Castle" Hyeon-seong's very rare Nasus pick. What do you think defines DSG's draft identity right now?
KryRa: We just play some funny shit sometimes. Most of the time, weâre gonna play the normal stuff, but we do have a few pocket picks, each of us.
You've critiqued the low expectations many had for DSG, addressing the heuristic that âthey're new so they must be bad.â Is DSG's newness actually a strength?
KryRa: I think weâre just good players. We have two rookies, so of course weâre going to be undervalued, but the more and more games we get, especially stage reps, weâre just going to level up. I feel like this is really good for me and Sajed (Sajed Ziade.) Weâre just going to keep working hard, and together as a team. Especially us as rookies.
You and Sajed have, through your standout play, been making a real case for the insane potential of NA rookies. Why do you think it is that talent in the region has gone so undervalued?
KryRa: I feel like itâs âcause itâs true. There is actually not that much, in the lower level. But there are some, and these ones I think you need to look for, and they can be really good. But, I feel like itâs kind of true. There are many people who are not that good, but there are some hidden gems, and if you find them, you can do good, and itâs good for the league.
You had a late arrival to the team, joining after two missed weeks due to visa issues, while James âKisnoâ Woo was subbed in on your behalf. Did that affect your fitting into the team?
KryRa: It didnât matter; I was playing the scrims from home, with like 100 ping. So, when I came, itâs just that Iâm in person now, so itâs better. Kisno was just playing the matches, I guess, and a few scrims, like three.
After beating Inspired last week, you posted âThe new king is here,â with a Lion King GIF. What does the path look like for you to really becoming the new Western jungle king?
KryRa: I just need to keep working hard, not be complacent. Today could be a reality check for me, which will help. I will learn a lot from this. Just more and more reps, more and more every day, just try hard. I think I could really become, actually, the king. It was more a meme last week. Inspired is him. Even if I beat him a hundred times, heâs still gonna be the king. It was just funny, but I just need to keep working hard, know what I need to work on, ask for help if I need it, and just lock in.â
