More fear than harm for
Karmine Corp, who qualified for the
Rocket League Esports World Cup Playoffs this Friday after nearly being reverse-swept by
R8 Esports. The French team joins NiP.eStar, Team Vitality, Team Falcons, Twsited Minds, Spacestation Gaming, Shopify Rebellion, and Gentle Mates in the Playoffs.
Following a closely contested seven-game series, French player Axel "Vatira" Touret joined us to discuss the intense best-of-seven against the Saudi team, his mindset heading into Game 7, what the EWC means to him ahead of Worlds, what it felt like to wear the French national team jersey and how he feels about being considered the GOAT of Rocket League by many players and fans.
What did you think of the team's overall performance today?
Axel "Vatira" Touret: “I think we played pretty well. It was a pretty tense game. We won 3-0, but they came back. They surprised us, but overall, we stayed calm and did the job.
What happened after Game 3? Did they read you a little better?
Vatira: I would say that with a team like that, it's always easier to come back because you have nothing to lose. It's easier to play without pressure. They played really well. I don't think we gave up. I just think they were better. That surprised us. We adjusted a little late, but we managed to do it at the last moment.
What were you thinking before Game 7, when you went from 3-0 up to 3-3?
Vatira: Overall, we don't say a lot of things. The things we have to say, we say them before Games 4, 5 and 6. When you get to Game 7, it's 3-3. Honestly, it’s useless to add things to your head, you just have to go and be calm. It will be the calmest team in the game that wins.
It's not the first time Karmine Corp have been in a back-to-the-wall situation. Is it a comfort zone for you?
Vatira: I wouldn't say it's a comfort zone. We would prefer to win more easily. But I would say that a team that wins a lot of Game 7s and goes very far in matches and tournaments is a great team. We were a great team today.
Do you feel that yesterday's defeat and the fear that came with it can bring something positive, both now and in your preparation for Worlds?
Vatira: Overall, this is a very important tournament for us. But the end of the season is the most important because Worlds are still to be played. Yesterday's slip-up is something that happens. We're in esports, we can't win all the time.
At the moment, we're questioning ourselves a lot. We're trying to think and find solutions. That's how we manage to become better. Today, I think we played pretty well. It's up to us to show tomorrow that we're capable of doing great things.
Tomorrow, it's Team Vitality. What does that matchup mean to you?
Vatira: It's going to be a great matchup. It's a team that we play all year long. I'm very confident and I can't wait to play them.
Would you like to play Spacestation Gaming again in the tournament?
Vatira: No, I'm not interested in playing them again. They won 3-0, they played very well. We weren't in it at all and we had a lot of trouble. It allowed us to bounce back today. But honestly, I don't care if we play them again or not.
There's a lot going on around the Esports World Cup, with the keys and the defending champions. Does that add to the hype?
Vatira: Yes, it shows how invested the tournament and the Esports World Cup are. It shows that we can do great things, even in Esports. I love the concept of having certain keys and breaking them when we beat teams. Even when we won last year, having to put them in a wall, in the trophy, etc. It's really cool and it changes things in esports.
What key would you take this year if you won?
Vatira: It depends a lot on the teams we can play. If we can play Falcons and win, I'd take Falcons or Vitality.
The League of Legends KC team have done something really big at the Esports World Cup. Do you feel like there's a sense of emulation within the club?
Vatira: For the club itself, it would always be cool to win and go as far as possible. The global club ranking will give them money, so it will certainly help them do other things in the future. But honestly, we're not really interested in the performance of the LoL team. Last year we won and they weren't necessarily there, and now they're in the top two.
We're going to do our best to go as far as possible. But we're not coordinated by saying, "Guys, you're in the top two, It's up to us to be number one”.
What happened on the Champs-Élysées with the jersey? What did it mean to you to wear the French team's jersey in front of an audience?
Vatira: It was really cool. It was a great experience to play Rocket League during the showmatch. It was really cool for the ENC. It was especially cool to do it on the Champs-Élysées. Never in my life did I think I'd play a showmatch on the Champs-Élysées. It was a great experience.
And what do you think of the jersey?
Vatira: It's really beautiful. There are beautiful colors, and it's very French. So it's cool.
Since the Major, you've dominated the stats, which has started again the debate about the best player in Rocket League history. What would define you as the best player in history, and where would you place yourself in relation to that?
Vatira: Honestly, it's not something I really think about. Of course, I'm one of the best because I've won a lot of tournaments. But as I always say, as long as I haven't won Worlds, I would never consider myself one of the best players of all time.
And in any case, it's not up to me to say it. It's up to people. It's people's opinion, honestly. But it makes me happy to know that a lot of people think of me as such. It warms my heart when people say that.”
