“It was suffocating, our win conditions just weren’t there at all" — GEN Canyon on facing Shen/Kog'Maw vs G2 at First Stand
After crushing BNK FearX at the end of last week, Gen.G made quick work of T1 this Wednesday (2–0). The team’s jungler, Canyon, looks back on the start of the season in an exclusive interview with Sheep Esports.
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Credit: Grégoire "Aries" Bgz/Sheep Esports
"When we came back from Brazil, everyone definitely had some jet lag issues"
You started Week 2 in a good mood. Could you share your thoughts on today's victory?
Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu: “First of all, matches against T1 have always felt tough, so I came in pretty nervous today, but things went well, and we won, so I'm really happy.
What do you think were the key factors behind today's victory?
Canyon: I felt like we did a good job in teamfights and in the early-game macro phase, so that was a big part of it, and I think the biggest factor was that our prepared draft and gameplay lined up really well.
Including today's match, Ambessa is on an 8-game losing streak. Do you think this champion doesn't fit the current meta, or do you think it's just a coincidence?
Canyon: I don't remember every team comp from the games where Ambessa was picked, but rather than a coincidence, I think Ambessa is a champion that really depends heavily on team composition. And depending on the comp, her performance can vary drastically, so I think composition matters the most.
On the flip side, unlike Ambessa, Anivia's win rate has been climbing. Anivia is being used in top, mid, and support. What aspects of the current meta do you think make Anivia so strong?
Canyon: Well, in a meta where teamfighting is so important, Anivia has the biggest — she can create terrain with her wall, which is a crucial skill for generating favorable geography, and her ultimate itself is also really annoying in fights, and on top of that, she can also be flexed to different lanes. I think all of those things are really significant.
Many people say that in the LCK, there's a fairly standardized pick-and-ban flow. When you faced champions like Kog'Maw or Shen against G2 at First Stand, how did that feel?
Canyon: When we actually went up against Kog'Maw and Shen, it was really suffocating in-game. Like, our win conditions felt extremely limited — like they just weren't there at all. And the opponent... when both sides played toward their win conditions, it felt like the other side had the advantage, so I think we've been learning from those experiences and continuing to grow.
Do you feel T1's overall game management or team identity has changed with Kim "Peyz" Su-hwan’s addition, or do you think T1's signature team color is still intact?
Canyon: I think it's a bit too early to make that judgment right now. Because it's still very early in the season, at least in my personal opinion. So as time goes on, how things will develop... I don't know either. I'm curious too.
Your coach mentioned that after the KT series, the team was physically drained due to the First Stand schedule. But over the last two series, your performance looked much better. Do you feel the team is fully back on track in terms of stamina and mental fortitude?
Canyon: When we came back from Brazil, everyone definitely had some jet lag issues, even through the tournament schedule... [Laughs] We adjusted to the time zone really quickly in Brazil, but ironically after coming back, managing sleep and conditioning has been harder. So we haven't fully recovered yet — we're still in the process of getting back to normal.
Lastly, since we're a global media outlet, is there anything you'd like to say to your international fans?
Canyon: First of all, thank you so much for keeping up with and cheering for other leagues. [Laughs] And I think health is really important, so please take care of your health.”
