On the eve of the
EMEA Masters final between
and
, the
LFL champions are determined to take their revenge against the pirates. Entering the tournament as one of the favorites after winning the first LFL title in the organization’s history, Solary suffered their first loss of the year to Galions in the upper bracket final.
After reverse sweeping Misa Esports to secure qualification for the EWC EMEA Qualifier, Solary support
, the only player from last year’s roster still able to defend his title, spoke with
Sheep Esports about what lies ahead for his team in the coming weeks.
How do you feel about this grand final coming?
Kim "Piero" Jeong-hoon: “I'm pretty happy because we got the EWC Qualifying. I'm looking forward to more than the final because we can play versus LEC teams. For sure, I will focus on the final, but right now I'm more focused on the LEC teams.
You'll be playing against Galions, one of the teams you faced a lot this season, which caused you some trouble in the last matches. How do you feel going into the matchup against them?
Piero: This year, we played against them a lot. We won some games, we lost some games, but we found some problems when we lost the semi-finals against them. So we did work on it. So we know how to play versus them right now. Our momentum is coming through the same as against Misa. So we are playing really well right now. And also, our relationship is really good. So I think it can be winnable for sure.
The last time you lost against them in the best-of-five during the EMEA upper bracket final, it was the first loss against them in the series after you beat them 3-0 during the LFL final. What did you think was wrong in this match?
Piero: I think we were in a hurry in the mid-game. Especially the second game, we wanted to finish so early. If you chill and stay calm, and we’re not in a hurry like this, and if we can play our game properly, we can win. Also, we had a draft problem a bit, but we really did focus on this problem, and we kind of solved it, so I don't think these things are a problem anymore.
As you said, you got the momentum with a win against Misa Esports that you reverse-swept last week to reach the final. How did this game go for you? Would you say it was one of the most high-pressure matches you played in your career?
Piero: After game 1 and game 2, we knew that if we stayed calm and didn't rush, we could reverse sweep them. Because we played against them in scrim and we won 5-0, 4-0 last week. And we kind of knew that we were playing better than them. So after game 2, I talked to everyone. We were not playing well, we were too hurried, we were losing too much, and we were not calm. So I said to everyone that if we were focusing on this problem, we could beat them, and it worked.
After the game, you said on X that you wish Misa players to show more sportsmanship while playing. Just to clarify this point, did anything go wrong for you during the game?
Piero: In game 1 and game 2, we were kind of choking some fights. We missed flashes, we died for fun. And after, they said things like “XD”, something like they were laughing at us. But it was very, very bad sportsmanship. I really don't like this stuff, so I wanted to advise to stop doing this.
Is it something that you don't like in general, or was it more the way they did it?
Piero: I think it was the way. Generally, I like them (Misa Esports) because sometimes
plays different as usual in scrims, so we can practice another style. They tried a lot of flanks so we could get some good practice. I respect them, but the way they did like that for me in chat, when I saw this, I wanted to say “
stop doing this, okay”. There’s nothing personal against them.
You are also the last player in the competition to be able to complete the back-to-back in the EMEA Masters with your previous win with . Is it an additional motivation for you to keep your title?
Piero: Yeah, for sure. EMEA Masters are important, but I wanted to improve myself and as a team. That's especially important for me. I think I'm playing better and better every day. I feel like maybe it's not a good attitude, but I think we are improving really, really well. So I think if we focus on our play, then we can win EMEA easily.
Before the EMEA Masters, you won the first title of Solary in the LFL after long years of struggling for the club. Did you feel like how important it was for the team and the fans to finally get that title?
Piero: After we won the LFL, we went to the bar, and they said, “We waited like seven years.” I didn't know at the moment, so when I heard this, I was like “Oh we did a really great job” [Laughs]. So after we did, I was surprised, but I was still not satisfied with only the LFL. I want to give more trophies to Solary and to me. I want to win a lot, and I want to go to a bigger league like LEC and LCK as my final goal, I think.
You're going to play against LEC teams during the EWC EMEA Qualifier. Do you feel like you have a chance first, competitively, against those teams?
Piero: Honestly, in scrims, we've played against LEC teams a lot because we won the LFL, and we were winning in EMEA also. They wanted to scrim with us. Against the lower tier of LEC teams, we were winning everything. Everything was like 5-0, 4-0, or sometimes 4-2 or 3-3. But we didn't lose against the lowest LEC teams. But against middle or top tier LEC teams, sometimes we lose, sometimes we get some games. But we’ll face
or
. I think they are like middle or top tier. So we need to really, really play well. And we still have a chance if we lose. So I wanted to see our limit, and I want to be an underdog and everyone can be surprised if we win, so I'm really motivated.
Is there anyone in particular that you would like to face the most?
Piero: Right now, I'm not sure. I just want to focus on Galions first. And then, we can focus on the other teams. Anyway, in the EWC Qualifier, we need to be top 1 or 2 if we want to go to EWC. We need to win everything, so I don't want to focus on the teams, we need to win everything. I want to focus on improving.
Did you expect to get a chance in LEC after the end of last season when you won the EMEA Masters? Also do you feel like the qualifier, and the games against LEC teams will help you to show yourself to the other teams?
Piero: Yeah, I think it's a chance to show and prove myself. Honestly, after I won EMA Masters Summer last year, I couldn’t go to LEC, even if it was like 90% done. Unfortunately, someone took my spot. KCB didn't know and they took Prime. I needed to find another team. I could have gone to a Turkish team or to France, Germany or Spain. But I think the LFL is the best league in the ERL. I trusted Solary.
There has been a lot of banter between Solary and Galions, between when one team wins or the other one does. So for the last question, would you like to send a message to Galions before the final?
Piero: I just want to say that this time will be different from the last game. So you guys need to check yourself, and get nervous.”
