A few hours before the start of this year’s second
VALORANT Masters tournament
in London, one player from each team answered questions from the media at a press conference. The players discussed who they’d like to face, their thoughts on the meta, the changes to Neon, and other topics.
Question for Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto
Considering how frequently Neon was picked during Stage 1, how significant will the impact of her nerfs be at Masters London, and will she still be a priority pick?
Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto: “It depends. For me, the movement changes do not matter too much because I do not really use that part of her kit as much. I mainly use the utility. For players like Dambi (Lee Hyuk-kyu), who use the movement a lot, it could be a bigger nerf. But for me, Neon is still usable in this tournament.”
Questions for Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza
Which team are you looking forward to playing the most, and which team are you least looking forward to facing?
Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza: “I’m looking forward to facing G2 the most, mainly because of Babybay (Andrej Francisty). I said it before as well, but it was really fun to play against him, and he’s a really nice person.
What is the biggest development or evolution between the PatMen we saw at the Masters Toronto and the PatMen we are going to see at the Masters London?
PatMen: Last year, I was very selfless for my teammates. This year, I developed the kind of ego I need to have for this event. I have really worked on myself, both inside and outside the game. I put in a lot of effort, and it finally paid off because we qualified for the Masters London with Global Esports. It feels really nice to be back internationally.”
Question for Papaphat "primmie" Sriprapha
You made your international debut at Champions 2024. Now that you are back on the international stage in London, what feels different compared to your first experience? What has changed the most about you as a player?
Primmie: It mostly comes down to experience. Back then, I felt really inexperienced. Now, as time has passed, I have gained much more experience, not only individually but also with my team. Because of that, it feels very different this time.
Question for Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang
With the stigma around CN VALORANT and some underperformances at international events, how does your team look to perform well and turn things around in London?
Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang: “We need to focus on improving ourselves. We should be able to perform well this time because we are fully prepared, and we all have the desire to win. We do not want to accept defeat.
How has your experience been in London so far, and how is your preparation going ahead of your first match?
ZmjjKKv: It is really cold here, but our preparation has been pretty good. Everyone is in a good state right now.”
Player during the press conference. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
Questions for Eduardo Kenzo "Sato" Nagahama Sato
Leviatán had a tight schedule after playing the final on May 24, followed by only a few days of preparation and a long flight. How has the preparation been, and how is the team adapting to the new meta?
Eduardo Kenzo "Sato" Nagahama Sato: “I feel very good. The rest of the team is suffering a little from jet lag, but I’m the only one sleeping well. Things will become more stable. In terms of preparation and how we feel at the tournament, we feel very good. The team is extremely excited, practice has been going well, and we are very happy to be here. We are eager to play, so I have good expectations for our match.
Even though Leviatán did not qualify for Masters Santiago, you and some of your teammates attended the event. Has that experience helped now that you are competing in a Masters environment?
Sato: It was really important for us to have that bootcamp in Chile. We were able to experience Masters Santiago and feel the emotions coming from the stage, even though we were not there as competitors yet. That made us even hungrier. It was also fun seeing all those players there. Now, being here, it feels a little strange. Two months ago, I was just watching them, and now I’m standing on the same ground as them. That experience made us want to push even further.”
Question for Efe "s0pp" Tur
FULL SENSE has often been seen as a Neon-centric team. With Neon being nerfed coming into this tournament, how do you and the team look to adapt?
Efe "s0pp" Tur: “The Neon nerf is okay. I can play anything, and we can manage everything. We have been practicing really well, and we will see tomorrow.”
Questions for Benjamin David "benjyfishy" Fish
As one of the few British representatives at the event, are there any hidden gems or must-do experiences in London that you would recommend to the other competitors?
Benjamin David "benjyfishy" Fish: “I have been recommending this to everyone coming to London, but one cool part of England is the pub culture. Obviously, we are in a tournament, so players cannot really drink, but I still think experiencing a pub is pretty cool. When the weather is good, everyone should go to a park before leaving. I also think doing the tourist things, like seeing Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, is amazing.
You are finally in London, at home. What are your expectations for this tournament, and how do you feel about playing at home?
benjyfishy: I feel amazing. After we qualified, I don’t think I have ever been that happy to qualify for a tournament before. It is really special to me, mainly because my family and friends will be able to watch me play. I hope the crowd brings a lot of energy. English crowds are known for bringing a lot of energy, so I hope they bring that to this tournament. I will do my best to make them proud.
This is the first time you have come to an international tournament as the first seed from the region. As one of EMEA’s representatives, how do you see the region’s performance at this tournament? Do you think EMEA can win a trophy again?
benjyfishy: It doesn’t sound great when you put it like that. The last time EMEA won was Masters Tokyo, if I’m not mistaken. But EMEA looks good right now. Vitality can do very well, and a lot of teams in this tournament depend heavily on momentum and confidence. For a team like FUT, if they get confidence from their first game, they can go really far. For us, it is the first time we have been the first seed, so it feels a bit strange.
Having this much time to practice and prepare, while also getting to watch other teams play without showing anything ourselves, is very good for us. First seeds have often struggled internationally, maybe because of experience, but our team will benefit a lot from this situation. We will try to use the time as well as possible and make EMEA proud.”
The London Masters began this Saturday, June 6. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
Questions for all the players
If you could pick one team to face in the Grand Final, who would it be and why?
f0rsakeN: “For me, it would be Vitality because they have Derke (Nikita Sirmitev) and Chronicle (Timofey Khromov). I see them as a super team, so I really want to face them.”
benjyfishy: “I would like to play against Team Heretics again because Benjyfishy said he wanted to face us in the Grand Final again.”
ZmjjKK: “My answer is EDG. I want to run back the Champions Seoul final.”
Andrej "BABYBAY" Francisty: “I would like to play PRX. G2 versus PRX would be a great Grand Final. If possible, Global Esports would be the runner-up choice, because playing against FrosT (Hector Rosario) in a Grand Final would be crazy. We might even do a live podcast before the game.”
Sato: “I want to play against G2 in the Grand Final. I am still a little bit hurt from our last match against them in Americas, so I want to face them again.”
so0p: “I want to play against North American teams. I do not really mind which one, just NA.”
PatMen: “It would be Paper Rex, because I want that rematch.”
How do you feel about Masters London being held in London, and what is your favorite thing about English culture?
Babybay: “For me, it is just cool because when you think about places you want to travel to in your lifetime, London is definitely one of them. It is nice that we get to play a tournament here. Having the first seed also helps because we actually get some time to explore. In Chile, we had to grind the whole time. Here, we have been able to see Big Ben and experience the city a little. The food has also been great so far. The English breakfast gets joked about a lot, but it was pretty good.”
Sato: I have always wanted to come to London. I studied English when I was younger, and many examples in our books were about London. I am very excited to be here. I do not know if I will be able to explore much because of practice, but it is amazing to be here. It is also my first time in Europe.
so0p: “I have not really tried English breakfast or much of the food yet because we have been practicing and have not had enough time. But when I first got here, I really liked the streets. It felt like a movie to me. I like the streets a lot, and the people are nice too.”
Primmie: “For me, it is about the weather. Sometimes it is hot, sometimes it is cold, and for some reason, I actually appreciate that.”
benjyfishy: “Masters London means a lot to me because when tournaments are in places like Shanghai or Seoul, I cannot really bring all my family and friends to watch. Now that it is in London, all my friends are about 30 minutes away. I’m getting around 20 tickets for my friends and family. For me, that is what I play for: having my family there to watch me play. That is the biggest meaning for me.”
PatMen: “It is my first time in London. I have an auntie staying here, and she is going to watch one of our games. Earlier, I tried an English breakfast, and it was really nice. Yesterday, I tried a Belgian waffle as well. I have not explored the city much because we have spent a lot of time practicing, and we are still dealing with jet lag, so we are trying to adapt and prepare for the match. Hopefully, one day I will have more time to explore the city.”
f0rsakeN: “It is my first time here as well, and I really like the environment. I also like the weather. I have not explored the city much yet, but I cannot wait to see Big Ben. Since I like football, I also want to visit some stadiums here, so I am really excited.”
