“I am ready to bounce back” SEN Marved after SEN VCT 2023 conclusion

After their loss to the heavy hitters in Cloud9, Sentinels were forced into a lower bracket. Facing Leviatan who lost to KRU, Sentinels started the game really strong. Starting on Fracture picked by Leviatan, Sentinels won six rounds in a row. Leviatan came back to equalize the score. In the second half, Leviatan’s defense completely shut down all the attempts by Sentinels to secure a 13-8 win. Split was one sided with Leviatan’s duelist bullying Sentinels into submission. Strafe had an opportunity to chat with Sentinel’s IGL Jimmy “Marved” Nyugen. In an exclusive interview, SEN Marved talks about the season, the LCQ run, IGLing for the team, personal performance and more. 

Q. Any thoughts on what went wrong today?

SEN Marved: “They were playing very well, it wasn’t our best day today. Preparations went well and they just played very well today.”

Q. Fracture started really well for the Sentinels but in the second half, you couldn’t get any rounds. What was the issue there?

SEN Marved: “The game started out well. We were feeling confident. I just think we made, you know, a lot of mistakes that cost us and it built on top of one another and they just kept, it’s kinda like a domino effect. We just needed to stay more prepared and locked in and we just let it slip”

Q. You took on the team’s IGL duties after Dephh left. What was the thought process behind you choosing to IGL for the team?

SEN Marved: “We didn’t have an IGL because Dephh left the roster. So someone needed to step up and I felt like I had the experience specially playing with a great IGL in FNS before where I have gained the experience and  knowledge from him. I felt like I can do it well and lead the team so I gave it a shot”

Q. Do you think the IGL’ing has been impacting your personal performance at all?

SEN Marved: “It definitely affects me I think right now especially since I just started. Before when I played I didn’t really make the calls and I had someone else make the calls for me. So I just focused on my crosshair and I felt like I got a lot more frags out that way and I could pop off easier so it definitely does affect my game. I think about the whole team, look at the radar a lot more plus play in different spots, can’t focus on my lurks. So it definitely does affect me, I don’t really care, It is what it is. I try to set up my teammates. So to answer your question, it does affect”

Q. How comfortable is IGL’ing now compared to your first game?

SEN Marved: “I feel I am a lot more comfortable right now compared to the first time I IGL’d against I don’t remember who it was. I am a lot more comfortable now but I am not definitely the best I can be. Still there’s a lot of work to do. If I do continue to IGL, I don’t know what’s gonna happen next, there's a long break. I don’t know what I am doing next so for now. I didn’t have that much time I feel like IGL’ing is something you need a lot of time for and not just couple of games so”

Q. According to you, Is there anything you could’ve done better as a team?

SEN Marved: “Honestly, we put in a lot of hardwork and the coaching staff did a great job preparing us. I can’t really think of anything that we could’ve done better right now. I’d say everyone tried really hard, just fell short today and had a really bad day and that’s all it took”

Q. Sentinels scrimmed a lot of teams during the LCQ and were heavy favorites according to the scrim bucks. Why do you think Sentinels couldn’t translate the scrim success on stage?

SEN Marved: “Maybe it’s just playing against the same team over and over. We were not used to the other teams yet because we were so used to playing the same teams over and over. These teams brought us new looks that we haven’t seen plus many mistakes that we get punished by that we might not get punished by in the scrims. So we don’t really run into the same problems that we may face during a match. And yeah honestly, I’d say we played well and on the day, you make a couple of mistakes and it costs you and I have learnt that throughout my whole career.”

Q. Any team you are supporting in the LCQ?

SEN Marved: “Honestly, it doesn’t really matter to me but Cloud9 of course. I have a couple of good friends on the team so I am always hoping they’d do well so Cloud9 I will definitely support. I think KRU, coming from a really bad season, being able to turn it around and make it to the grand finals is incredible so, you love an underdog story. Yeah, Leviatan is also a great team and have been sticking together for a really long time. But Cloud9 for me.”

Q. Any parting words to your fans and Sentinels Fans?

SEN Marved: “I appreciate you guys supporting me and believing in me. Even after losses, I can see the continuous support and belief in me. I am gonna continue to grow as a player, I feel I am still young, 23 years old, and still have a whole career ahead of me. I don’t think I am gonna retire this time and am ready to bounce back”

With the loss to Leviatan, Sentinel’s VCT 2023 journey comes to an end. Despite the mixed results, Sentinels remained the heavy favorites throughout the tournament. Marved came in the team mid way and was on damage control duty. With Marved leading the team, Sentinels looked much better and cemented themselves as the hopeful winners of VCT Americas 2023. Marved as an IGL did his job really well and if he decides to continue to lead the team, he’d be amazing at it. For now, the game concluded the team and Marved’s VCT 2023 journey.

You can follow the updates regarding the same on VCT NA twitter. 

Credits: Riot Games // VCT Americas 

You can also follow VCT Americas on Strafe.