TH RieNs: "Our highs are really high and lows are really low"

Qualified for the rest of the play-ins after their victory against NAVI, RieNs and Team Heretics can no longer afford to make mistakes in this Stage 2.

RieNs against NAVI. Credit: Michał Konkol/Riot Games

"It's like our dream to go to Shanghai again because during the time we went there, it was like the best times of our lives"

Team Heretics had to fight hard to overcome NAVI, but the victory secured their place in the next round of the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Play-Ins. The Spanish organization is now two wins away from reaching the playoffs, although their path there is unlikely to be straightforward after a turbulent few weeks marked by numerous ups and downs.

Despite a difficult series of his own, Enes “RieNs” Ecirli has emerged as one of the most consistent players on the roster over the last few weeks. Following the match, he spoke to Sheep Esports about what lies ahead for his team in the remainder of the competition.

What is your first feeling after the game?

Enes "RieNs" Ecirli: “I'm happy that we won, but I'm a bit sad that I played really badly and made things harder for my teammates. But overall I'm really happy to continue the tournament and to win.

What would you say was the key to victory today?

RieNs: Honestly, just playing with confidence. I think the enemy team also played with confidence a bit, but we were not down in any map; like, even though we lost Haven, we were still in the game. We just lost, but we were always in the game, and this is really important as a team.

During the last week of the group stage, you won two games against GIANTX and Fnatic. Last week you lost the first game of play-ins against Fire Flux. What went wrong in that game, according to you?

RieNs: In the Fire Flux game, I think they played really well, and we were not at our best version. I think they were really hungry, and we started slow; we didn't play well. And I think we made a lot of mistakes individually as well.

What would you say is the biggest issue your team met during this Stage 2?

RieNs: Our biggest problem right now is probably our inconsistency. We used to be really consistently good. Now we can be insane during one game. For example, we won 13-0 against Fnatic and Eternal Fire, but then we lost other games randomly, playing really bad. So yeah, I think we just need to be more consistent. That's it.

On an individual side, people tend to say that you have been the more consistent player of your team, actually. So how do you feel about this? What do you think of your own performances lately?

RieNs: In general, during Stage 2, I think I was really good, especially in the group stage. But these last two games, against Fire Flux and today against NAVI, I'm not at my best, obviously. I'm not playing like in the group stage, even if I still try my best, obviously. I will make sure to perform better in the next games.

What assessment would you make of your team's performances so far since the beginning of the year? Are you satisfied with how you've been playing?

RieNs: I'm obviously not satisfied right now. As I told you, I think our inconsistency is a problem. If we were a bit more consistent, I would be really satisfied because I think our highs are really high and lows are really low. If we fix these low parts, I think I would actually be satisfied.

Are you still feeling confident for the race to the Champions and Barcelona?

RieNs: Yes, of course. I think we all really want to go to Barcelona for finals and then obviously Champions in Shanghai. In our team, it's like our dream to go to Shanghai again because during the time we went there, it was like the best times of our lives. So, yeah, we're hungry, and we're still confident to make it.

Your next game is going to be against Eintracht Frankfurt, which beat Gentle Mates earlier today. How do you feel about that game?

RieNs: I think it's going to be a fun one. It's our second game against a tier 2 team. I mentioned this before, but I don't really care who we play against, like from my side individually, whether we play against the best team in the world or against a tier 2 team. I just respect them and do my best to win the game. In game, it doesn't matter if their tag is SGE or NAVI or whatever. But yeah, I think we really want to win two more games and go to the playoffs.

As you said, it's your second game against a tier 2 team. VCL teams have actually shown convincing performance against VCT teams. Did you expect there would be so many upset during those first games?

RieNs: I honestly didn't expect that, and I respect them a lot because that's really cool. They were like tier 2 all year and now they have the chance to play against VCT teams and beat them. I think it's something that we should respect, obviously. Most of the VCL teams are doing really well, but hopefully we will beat SGE and push them away from the tournament so we can continue. But yeah, I think it's cool to see that tier 2 teams can beat tier 1 teams.”