After his first victory in VCT Americas
Kickoff against Evil Geniuses, Mirel Braco
"Kyu" Hrustemovic answered our questions and explained how the team handled the defeat against FURIA, why he doesn't let outside noise bother him, and what gives him the confidence to lead a team with such high expectations. He also explained how he shares the mic with
Mohamed Amine "johnqt" Ouarid, what has changed between Tier 2 and Tier 1, and more topics.
Congratulations on your first VCT Americas win. How are you feeling after beating EG today?
Kyu: "It feels good. After what happened against FURIA, we had to bounce back. We knew we could be a lot better, and we showed some of it today. I still think we have a long way to go, but every match we’ll get better, get stronger, and fix our mistakes. Today was the first show of what we can really do.
After starting the season with a loss, what did you do as the IGL in the days that followed? How did you experience that moment personally?
Kyu: We had a long talk. I can’t disclose everything, but we had a team meeting where we laid out the facts. No sugarcoating; everyone said how they felt. Then we got straight to work. We had three days of scrims before this match, and every day was deliberate. We practiced what we needed to win today. And even after this win, we don’t have much time. We play Sunday, I think, so we’ll keep grinding and executing the work we put in.
Sentinels have a huge fan base, and the reaction after a loss can be intense. How do you deal with social media and outside pressure?
Kyu: I came from a sports background and a rough neighborhood, so I’ve got tough skin. I don’t really care about what people say online. You can win Champions, and people will still talk. You’ll have haters and fans no matter what, and a lot of the haters are fans. I just laugh it off or try not to look. Even if I do, it doesn’t matter. They don’t see the work we put in outside the server or what really happens; it's just an outside view.
As the new in-game leader joining a roster with huge expectations, how would you describe this group, and what gives you confidence in this team?
Kyu: The biggest reason I’m confident is our chemistry as five. We work together naturally; we’re already like a brotherhood, and it just started. We have great staff and coaching behind us. Kaplan is amazing, Luke Gunter is amazing, and they help me a lot. We also have a great performance coach. We have small issues, but we’re ironing them out. As long as we keep going, we’re going to be amazing.
You took over leadership after a player like johnqt. How did you organize that transition, and how do you split the voice in-game?
Kyu: I call most pre-rounds, and I do most of the mid-rounding. John speaks when he has something important, like a strong read. But that’s not just
Johnqt;
N4RRATE (Marshall Massey) is very vocal on Duelist too. When teammates have reads, they say it. Most calls come from me, and the biggest adjustment was making sure John and I are on the same page.
I’ve always been an IGL who gives freedom, especially on defense. Everyone has to be their own IGL because I can’t see what’s happening on the other side of the map. I’m doing more micro-calling: exact setups, positioning, and “go here, move left.” My goal is to help everyone, including John, focus on their crosshairs and shoot while I lead the team with calls.
Sentinels during the match against EG. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
Some rookie IGLs struggle to impose their plan when they join a team with established names. Why is it different for you?
Kyu: One of my strengths is experience. I’ve played Tier 2 for a long time, and I’ve played a lot of comps. I’ve had ups and downs. I told Kaplan that no matter what comp you give me, I can call with it. Fast double Duelists and slow default double controller lurk comps anything. You can give me three controllers and two sentinels, and we can make it work. That flexibility is one of my strengths as an IGL.
How was your offseason and tryout process before joining Sentinels?
Kyu: In the beginning, I trialed online, and my ping back home was kind of bad. But I got to show Kaplan (Adam Kaplan) and the team my voice. We tried a lot of different people. Kaplan wanted to see if I was the same in person, so he flew me out for a couple of weeks to see how I was day-to-day. I think I impressed him, he impressed me, and the guys liked me early. Then it was mainly John and me figuring out how we would do it, and once we agreed, it was just working every day.
You’re coming from Tier 2. What changed the most for you once you started playing Tier 1 matches?
Kyu: Tier 2 players are mechanically gifted just like Tier 1. There’s not a huge mechanical difference. Tier 1 teams are just faster at thinking on the fly: faster reactions, faster mid-round decisions, and more structure. The other big difference is support. In Tier 1, you have staff and an organization behind you. In Tier 2, a lot of teams don’t have that, and they’re grinding it out themselves.
When things get messy mid-match, what’s your reset plan to fix issues quickly and keep everyone on the same page?
Kyu: If it’s something small that can’t happen again, you point it out right away; it doesn’t have to be me. Then you go next. If it’s something that won’t happen again or doesn’t matter, you laugh it off and just be better. If it’s something you can’t fix on the fly, you can’t let it affect you. We haven’t had issues with people arguing; we’re good.
Redux also moved up to Tier 1 with you. Did that help you adapt faster? And if you had to describe Redux in one key quality, what would it be?
Kyu: Yes, it helps because it’s a
familiar face. He’s used to my calling and knows how I like to call.
Reduxx (Yassin Aboulalazm) is a
“silent demon.” He’s flashy but very nonchalant, with cool energy. When he’s shooting like today, it shows. He looked more comfortable, and it’s my job and the coaches’ job to keep everyone comfortable so they can play their game.
To close it out, what’s the key focus moving forward?
Kyu: Keep grinding. Keep executing the work. We’re not where we need to be yet, but we’ll get better every match and keep fixing mistakes."
