This will be one of the main attractions of the
Rocket League Major in Paris. A little over a year after their last RLCS international title in Birmingham, Karmine Corp have the opportunity to return to winning ways in front of their home crowd.
To do so, they will first need to navigate the group stage, which begins this Wednesday and concludes on Friday. The playoffs will then be played this weekend in front of a live audience of 20,000 people at La Défense Arena, a venue that has previously
hosted two KCX events, the gathering of the Blue Wall fanbase.
A few hours
before the start of the event, Europe’s leading goalscorer of the split, Axel “Vatira” Touret, reflected in an exclusive interview with
Sheep Esports on the team’s current momentum. After a convincing start to the season, KC experienced a more challenging spell over the past weeks, but nonetheless arrive with confidence.
KC have not managed to win a tournament since last January. How are you approaching this Major?
Axel “Vatira” Touret: “I’m approaching it with confidence. We’ve recently proven that we’re capable of great things. Less so in the second split, but overall, our preparation has been solid. I’m satisfied with everyone, so things are good.
You mentioned that the second split has been a bit more difficult than the first. How do you explain that?
Vatira: I think we struggled more because some teams have shown a better level, like Team Vitality or Gentle Mates, and even against NiP we had a lot of trouble. We also struggled more in our own preparation. We faced issues we didn’t have in the first split. That’s probably why it was harder. But I think we’ve bounced back.
Can you go into more detail about those issues, or are they internal team matters?
Vatira: No, they’re internal matters. It’s just that as the season progresses, you run into difficulties playing together, and you try to find solutions to those problems.
It’s quite rare since you joined KC to go through a multi-month period without success. How do you handle it?
Vatira: It’s not really the first time. I already missed a Major with rise (Finlay Ferguson). Our worst result this time is a top six in a regional. Honestly, it’s fine—I’ve had worse in my career. We manage it well. We don’t overthink things, we keep looking for solutions, stay positive, and trust the future and our roster.
How would you judge KC now compared to KC before Boston?
Vatira: Much better prepared. We understand our strengths and weaknesses more clearly. We communicate better and get along better as the season has progressed. I think everyone wants to do better than in Boston, because there were a lot of issues there, and we’re gradually fixing them.
With a few months of experience, how is it working with Charles “juicy” Sabiani?
Vatira: It’s going well. He’s a very good guy, really kind, with a strong mindset. We get along very well, we’re close friends, and he’s also a very strong player, so everything is going smoothly.
You are the top scorer in Europe this split. How do you maintain such a high level of performance, even in a split without Open victories?
Vatira: Honestly, I’m not really trying to. It’s just that as a team we play well. I’m the one scoring the most goals, but that’s simply thanks to the team. There’s no real secret—I’m not trying to score more than anyone else. We just play our game, and I end up scoring a lot.
How do you assess your individual level today compared to your past performances?
Vatira: I’d say I’m evolving. I feel like I’ve reached a stage in my career where I’m gradually fixing small issues in my gameplay, and I feel stronger individually as time goes on, so I’m in a good place.
So you consider yourself stronger than last year?
Vatira: Yes, honestly. I’ve never really had a slump except in 2024 when I was with rise. I felt like I was stagnating, but in 2025 I regained a lot of confidence with dralii (Samy Hajji). And in 2026, I feel even stronger individually.
You’ll be playing in groups against Team Vitality—without a crowd. How are you approaching that match?
Vatira: It’s just another match. It’s not because it’s Vitality that everything changes. The only focus should be on us. We just need to play as well as we can. If we’re satisfied with our performance, good; if not, then it will be frustrating. But that’s the only objective—playing well.
Matches like this, and potentially Gentle Mates later in the playoffs, are the atmospheres you want to experience on stage?
Vatira: These are the kinds of matches we expect to play. We’re at a Major, so there are strong teams. Even NRG, it’s the same idea. These will be intense games. So if we get to play them, I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be great.
As a KC player, you’ve already experienced very intense atmospheres. Do you expect something different for these playoffs?
Vatira: I expect it to be even more impressive visually and in terms of sound. We’re at La Défense, there will be more people. It will be the biggest arena we’ve had in RLCS competition, so I just expect everyone to make a lot of noise.
There have already been two KCX events at La Défense. Do you feel somewhat more prepared than others?
Vatira: Let’s say I’m used to it. I won’t be shocked when I see more than 20,000 people in that arena. But in an RLCS context, it’s different. You have to perform, you need results, so it will be special.
Do you think playing at home is an advantage?
Vatira: I think it depends on the players. For us, it’s positive to have a lot of support, people celebrating with us when we score. It can be a confidence boost. But I know many players prefer silencing away crowds rather than playing at home. So it depends; it’s a matter of perception.
You recently tweeted about cheating issues in ranked. There was an update in April. Has anything changed since then?
Vatira: I posted a few tweets saying some things were improving, and honestly, since then, there haven’t been bots at our MMR at least. I think they still exist, but they get banned much faster. There have been good updates. Even though BakkesMod is gone, I think they’re doing solid work. So overall, I only see positive changes—hopefully it continues.
So the scene is improving in the right direction?
Vatira: Let’s say any competitive player can now play 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3 without issues. And for everything the community has been asking for—on Twitter or elsewhere—they’re actually making changes. That’s a good sign.
You recently turned 20. How does it feel to be a “grandpa” of Rocket League?
Vatira: Honestly, I don’t feel like a grandpa. A lot of players are 20, and many won their first Worlds at that age. I feel fine. Even with my current level, I don’t feel like I’m declining or anything like that.
In another tweet, you mentioned starting GTA RP. Have you actually gotten into it?
Vatira: I’ve played on a few small servers here and there, but I don’t really have the time to do anything serious. But yeah, it’s fun.
So we’re waiting for GTA 6 then?
Vatira: “Yeah, exactly. I’m looking forward to GTA 6.”
