“We want to qualify for Champions”: GenG IGL TS talks about the team’s goals

On the final day of the VCT LOCK//IN, the Korean Tigers GenG took on RRQ for their opening match. The game started shaky for the Tiger Nation. But the slow start did not stop them from dominating RRQ and bringing home the first victory for the Korean GenG roster. After the game, Strafe had an opportunity to talk with GenG TS i.e. Yu "TS" Tae-Seok, about the game win, the team’s goals and more. 

Q. What can we expect from TigerNation this year? Where do you rank yourself currently?

GenG TS: "After signing our new players, our mechanical prowess has definitely increased. As per where do we rank ourselves this year, Definitely among the top tier teams."

Q. GenG gave LOUD a hard time in the match-up at LOCK//IN, but you eventually lost that match. Can you break down what went wrong in the match?

GenG TS: "I think the biggest problem was the breakdown in our communication. I don't think our communication went well. Apart from that, I think we lacked individual firepower."

Q. How does it feel winning under the GenG banner?

GenG TS: " RRQ put up a much stronger fight than we anticipated, but I am happy that we started on the right foot"

Q. You displayed some amazing Valorant today, except in the first four rounds, where you seemed lost. Can you tell me what was going on in those four rounds? How did you reset your mental after the 0-4 start?

GenG TS: "I think our team is very strong mechanically, but sometimes some of our players rely too much on my shot calling and our movement as a team becomes too rigid, so I think in the first couple of rounds we did not show our mechanical prowess as well as we could've. I don't think anyone on our team gives up or the mental crumbles just because we are down four rounds and the enemy team made it pretty comfortable for me to IGL. So, I just shot-called as usual and staged a comeback."

Q. Why did you choose the double-controller composition on Fracture over a Single Controller sentinel?

GenG TS: "I think these days, it's really easy for enemy teams to break a Sentinel set-up, so we decided to go for a double-controller set-up."

Q. We already saw a rotating roster from GenG, with Sylvan sitting out on the first map and eKo on the second. Will this be a continuing theme? Or was it just experimentation?

GenG TS: "I think our plan right now is to rotate Sylvan and eKo, but if one player stands out in particular, He'd definitely be a starting member. But for now it's up in the air."

Q. Sylvan is known for playing Controller. Why did he play initiator instead of his usual role:

GenG TS: "Sylvan has a really good aim, so we thought it would be a waste of sylvan for him to play from the backline. In fact I think that If Sylvan, Goddead and Meteor group and move together, they'd be formidable. That's why we put Sylvan in that initiator role."

Did the new additions (Goddead + Sylvan) impress you on your first outing as a team?

GenG TS: "It was their first match and they played much better than expected and I just think they played really well."

Q. At the Face-off event, you mentioned the two problems with GenG were Comms and firepower. After the game, firepower did not seem like an issue at all. Do you think the comms issue is fixed?

GenG TS: "I think communication is still difficult, and I think it is something we need to work on."

Q. As mentioned earlier, the team relies a lot on your calling. Does calling extensively in such cases hinder your performance?

GenG TS: " Yeah, I think today I struggled mechanically, but I think our team is very strong in that regard. If everyone is one form, I can IGL very comfortably, and we can sort of coast to a victory."

Q. How does it feel to be reunited with Coach Bail and Meteor?

GenG TS: "I am very accustomed to working with them so It was very easy to work with them and practice with them."

Q. As the IGL of Gen. G, what are your short-term and long-term expectations from the team?

GenG TS: "I think long-term, we want to qualify for Champions. In terms of the short-term, even if we lose, we want to play in a way that we leave no regrets and can give our best.

Q. Who do you think will be the toughest opponent at VCT Pacific?

GenG TS: "I think DRX, because they have kept the same roster for a very long time. I haven't put too much thought into this but I think it will be Paper Rex."

After a dominant win in their opening game, GenG has shown they are one of the toughest teams at VCT Pacific. The game displayed GenG’s true potential after multiple losses leading up to the game. GenG will face Detonation Focus Me in the VCT Pacific League Stage Week 2. A victory over DFM will solidify their position in the league.

Credits: Riot Games // VCT Pacific

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