VIT Zen: “This one hurts. It’s not us. It’s just very frustrating to lose like that”

Team Vitality’s run at the Esports World Cup ends with a 4-3 loss to Karmine Corp, as zen discusses the pressure, Worlds, the schedule, and his relationship with head coach Eversax

VIT Zen at EWC. Credit: Esports World Cup

“I feel really good on the field, so I think it’s just up to us to improve.”

Team Vitality’s Rocket League run at the Esports World Cup came to an end on Saturday after the Bees fell 4-3 to Karmine Corp in front of a French home crowd in Paris. Following the match, Alexis “zen” Bernier joined us for an interview to discuss the pressure they are playing on, the upcoming Worlds, the competitive schedule, and his relationship with head coach Benjamin “Eversax” Wagner.

How do you analyze today's match and the defeat?

Alexis "zen" Bernier: “I don't think we really got into the tournament. We had a good preparation, but there were a lot of individual and team mistakes. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves, especially on the pitch.

Overall, we weren't very strong. We were just lucky to have FURIA and TSM. The format is a bit boring, and it's our first lost match. There are others who have lost a match and are in the same position as us. But that's the competition, that's the tournament. We'll come back.

You said you put a lot of pressure on yourselves. What does that mean collectively? Do you know why?

Zen: No, I don't know. I think it's just overthinking a lot. We were really good. We had good gameplay, but we just started thinking too much. I don't know why.

You told me before the Paris Major that you had improved at managing defeats. How do you feel tonight? Are you already thinking about what’s next?

Zen: No, this one hurts. It's not us. It's just very frustrating to lose like that. I think there was really room for us to go and win.

Gaspar "stizzy" Andres said on X that it was his least good individual loss. Do you think it's primarily an individual or a collective issue?

Zen: I think it's the individual level that then affects the team. We have to stay focused.

Could you tell us what happened in Games 4 and 7? You conceded a lot of goals, What happened?

Zen: We conceded a goal and then it snowballed. I have nothing else to say about that.

After Game 4, you won two games. Did you change anything, perhaps in terms of strategy?

Zen: No, we just said to continue playing the same way, but calmer, and just go for it. There are times when we don't need to rush. After that, at Game 7, I don't know what happened. Maybe it was too much confidence because we came back.

Since the Paris Major and the defeat by the same score against KC, did you make any adjustments in your preparation, perhaps specifically for KC?

Zen: No, not at all. We focus on ourselves.

Do you have the impression that there was a bit of a mental block today, perhaps because of the previous results?

Zen: No, it's just that the tournament wasn't very good. We just started overthinking, and that's all.

The EWC often creates momentum heading into Worlds. Are you a little worried about what will happen in a month?

Zen: No, I'm not worried because we just came back from a two or three-month break from official matches. It's okay, but for Worlds, we're going to have to work our asses off.

Do you think this break helped your preparation for the Esports World Cup?

Zen: I think it helped, but our mindset wasn't great. There are a lot of things to review. We're just going to go home and give it our all.

Do you think the 2v2 and 1v1 matches between the Major and now could have affected your 3v3 performance?

Zen: No, not at all. When I won the 2v2, I was really confident, and I'm still confident now. I feel really good on the field, so I think it's just up to us to improve.

You knew Eversax as a coach for other teams. Now that you're working with him, did he bring you what you expected?

Zen: Eversax taught me a lot of things, especially how to set myself up for 3v3. I think I had lost a bit of what I had in 2023, but he managed to bring it back.

To be honest, I'm really happy with him. I think he's a top coach. He really deserves a top-tier team because he's giving his all. He's always there, even in bad times. For me, he's a really good guy, and even as a person, he's a really good guy.”