VIT Naak Nako: "We will see who wakes up better, but we'll probably win"

Despite a disappointing start to their LEC Versus playoff campaign against Movistar KOI, Team Vitality responded convincingly this weekend by eliminating Fnatic. The Bees reaffirmed the level they had displayed throughout the regular season, comfortably overcoming an opponent that, by contrast, has yet to find its footing at the start of the year.

Amid this success and strong opening to the season, the team’s top laner, Kaan “Naak Nako” Okan, has stood out, further establishing himself as one of the league’s leading players. With a matchup against Karmine Corp and Kim “Canna” Chang-dong on the horizon, he spoke to Sheep Esports about the forthcoming confrontation.

Kaan “Naak Nako” Okan: “I'm happy. I would say that these games weren’t even close. So I'm overall happy.

Naak Nako: I didn't expect them to be stronger, but I expected the toplane to be a bit rougher than this. But overall, we were ready and they didn't surprise us, we didn't expect them to be really good.

Naak Nako: In my matchup, I think it was mostly coming from Empyros (Panagiotis Tantis) not being in a good day and I was just punishing him. Overall, today was alright except for the int on the second game, when Carzzy (Matyáš Orság) died. Before that I think the game was clean, but there he just shouldn't die, and we should be ending the game after that play. But yeah, I'm happy with our gameplay today.

Naak Nako: I definitely improved since last year, but I just don't feel it when I'm playing in the game. I know that I improved, but I just don't see it in myself. I think I became better at laning and team fighting mostly. It's just coming from playing more officials and getting some more experience with my opponents and learning their patterns and stuff. I think it's not about confidence. I was always the same player, emotionally speaking. The more you play, the more you learn about your opponents, and the more you know how they play, like officials converting to scrims. So I would say it’s mostly coming from the experience.

Naak Nako: Yeah, it kinda helps because we are mostly laughing and talking about stuff in-game. It helps me for sure.

Naak Nako: In summer I think I will be the best, but right now I'm just probably even with BrokenBlade (Sergen Çelik) and Canna level-wise. I think we are close to each other.

Naak Nako: In lane his main strength is to be able to bait some spells with his movements. It's probably the hardest thing to deal with when I play against him. But I will probably be even. Let's see what happens; he's a good player, and he knows what to do in the matchup, so he will not do silly mistakes. It will be hard for both of us, I think.

Naak Nako: We will see who wakes up better, but we'll probably win. I think that both teams are close right now. I'm happy with our team, and I do think we will probably play three games, but we will win. But let's see what happens. I think whoever wakes up better will win the game.

Naak Nako: Their midgame is cleaner than ours right now. By the summer I think we should be able to fix those issues in the mid game and late game. I think our early game is already solid, so yeah, probably mostly mid and late game.

Naak Nako: This split is not a success so far. We have to win tomorrow and go to Barcelona, and then after, maybe it will be a success. But overall happy with our improvement this split.

Naak Nako: It would be a failure for me. It would still be alright overall, but I expect better.”