after dropping a set to the same opponents earlier in the split. The win moves Gen.G to 7–3 on the season and keeps them near the top of the LCK standings, but
was the first to admit there's still a long way to go.
The veteran toplaner was characteristically measured in his self-assessment, rating the team's current synergy no higher than 6 out of 10. He also broke down the Nidalee top pick in Game 3, reflected on
's comments about "shifting the narrative," and explained why winning matters more to him than solo kills right now.
How does it feel to kick off Round 2 with a win?
Kim "Kiin" Ki-in: "It was tougher than I expected, but I'm glad we pulled it out 2–1.
What was the key to today's win?
Kiin: I think we played well around our comp when it mattered, and that's what let us take the win today.
What was different today compared to the Round 1 loss against DK?
Kiin: To be fair, I don't think today's performance was perfect or anything like that, but compared to Round 1, our teamwork and macro have definitely improved, and I think that's what made the difference today.
How did you prepare your draft against DK's unpredictable picks after
Kiin: I mean, the Illaoi did come out last time, but if you start overthinking those kinds of picks during draft, you end up tripping yourself up more often than not. So we didn't really put too much weight on it, just kind of figured if it comes out, we'll deal with it. That was our mindset.
Kiin: Actually, when we were playing, our comp felt like it was easier to execute, so I didn't really feel any pressure playing it out.
What went wrong in the Game 2 early game?
Kiin: So much got decided at level 3 in the early game. I think if I'd used my Flash better in that 1v1, the whole game could've been played out completely differently. That's what I keep thinking about.
What was the strategic reasoning behind the Nidalee top pick in Game 3?
Kiin: Game 2, since we were playing without much prio, the game felt way more frustrating than expected, so for Game 3 we decided to prioritize having prios and playing proactively.
Gen.G is now 7–3 and at the top of the standings, but you've spoken about not being satisfied internally. What does the team need to focus on?
Kiin: We know what we look like when we're playing at our best, so I think it's about gradually leveling up our teamwork and individual play, things like that. And I think we've been trying hard on that lately.
Where would you rate the team's synergy right now compared to Round 1?
Kiin: In Round 1, it honestly felt like the players weren't communicating well, almost like we were playing solo queue. But now, if a perfect score is 10, I'd say we're around a 4, 5, maybe 6.
Kiin: Since the tournament patch is different from the live patch, I haven't actually gotten to buy and try those items myself, but from playing against them and looking at the stats, they seem better than expected. Doran's Bow, especially the fact that it comes with two potions, is a pretty big deal, so I think it's a solid item.
developing so fast, do you feel the overall level of LCK toplane has gone up recently?
Kiin: Whenever I get this kind of question, I always end up saying there are a lot of talented players coming in. I remember always answering that way. From way back, whenever rookies come up, they've always been pretty solid in lane. The current players are all performing well too, so it pushes me to keep working hard. I definitely feel motivated by it.
Lucid said after beating Gen.G that it felt like the whole narrative had shifted. How do you feel hearing that?
Kiin: I think when I was on weaker teams, every time we'd beat a top team, the game just felt so fun. I'd get that rush. So I think Lucid probably felt something similar, and I can relate to that. But since we were the ones doing well and then lost, it was a wake-up call. It reminded us to push even harder from that point on.
Is there a player you'd love to solo kill this round?
Kiin: The meta right now has a lot of extreme champion picks, so solo kills are happening more often, but winning games is more important right now than solo kills. I'd rather focus on helping the team win than chasing solo kills.
Credit: Grégoire "Aries" Bgz
Any message for the international fans?
Kiin: I'm always so grateful to the fans supporting us from far away, and I'll keep working hard to show you guys even better performances. Thank you."