Gen.G Kiin on defeating Hanwha Life at Worlds 2024: "I really, personally, wanted to get a good revenge against them"

Gen.G came into Worlds 2024 as one of the absolute favorites to take home the title. Now, with their most recent 2-1 victory over Hanwha Life, Gen.G have finished their Swiss Stage run with a 3-0 scoreline to be the second team to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Following the team's dramatic victory over Hanwha Life at the Swiss Stage, Gen.G's top laner Kim "Kiin" Gi-in spoke with Strafe Esports in an exclusive interview. In it, the South Korean player discussed the level of Hanwha Life, dealing with the pressure and his thoughts on Aurora in the top lane.

To begin I'd like to ask you how important was it for you and the team, this win and making sure that you got revenge against Hanwha Life.

Yeah, because we lost against them at the finals, I really, personally, wanted to get a good revenge against them and I’m just really glad that we were able to secure today’s victory. It was a little bit of a regretful 2-1 victory. But, regardless, I’m pretty happy.  

What do you think went differently during this series compared to your last series (vs HLE) during LCK Summer Finals?

So, at the finals, I think it was just a difference of us making more mistakes than the opponent. And for today’s match, I believe that we were still making some mistakes but we were always one step ahead of our enemy. And that enabled us to do a lot more today.

Once more, Gen.G and HLE push each other to the limit. So, I want to ask, with Gen.G being so dominant all year long, do you feel like Hanwha Life are your biggest competitors for the Worlds title?

Every time we face Hanwha Life Esports I think it always comes to a really close match, so, I believe at this point, currently we do believe they’re the most difficult opponent.

Gen.G are clearly one of the biggest favorites to win Worlds. I want to know how you make sure you stay humble and focused despite all of the pressure and expectations.

Yeah, it’s true that we have had a good performance and a really good year thus far. But, it all really counts, all this process and all the steps that we had to go through, all that matters only if we win at the very end. So, I believe that it’s very important for us to keep our focus regardless of whether the game went well or not. I think we just have to really focus on whatever is left in front of us. So we need to always think about the next match that we have to prepare for.

You played Aurora in all three games vs HLE. What is it you think that makes the champion so strong in the top lane despite the recent nerfs?

Despite all the nerfs that Aurora had, there were so many other top champions that also got nerfed. So, I believe that Aurora has a lot of strengths. And her laning phase, where she is able to keep a good range, I think that’s what really makes her powerful.

During an interview with Esports.net you referred to yourself as the best top laner at Worlds. Now, I'm curious, could you reflect a little bit on what have been the biggest factors throughout your career that have caused you to reach the level that you have?

Just looking back at my entire career, I feel like I was always going through really rough patches, and there were a lot of hurdles in my career as well. But, I believe all the support that I had around me really let me just stay in this path and I just never gave up and I wanted to just do even better, so I think I tried even harder. And that’s why I’m here today. And I think what’s more important is for me to try even harder and work even harder to improve and really just be on the uphill for the remainder of my career as well.

You've been to Worlds twice in the past, the first time being all the way back in 2018. When you look back, do you feel like there's a big difference in your level of play and your confidence between then and now?

So, the first time I came to Worlds in 2018 I think I was just so naïve. I didn’t really know much so I was just really excited to play the matches and I feel like right now I’m a part of a team that is considered one of the best so I do feel a little bit of pressure and there is a pressure to do well. And in terms of my confidence, I think it’s just like, almost like a ritual before match starts where I always try to go into a game with the highest confidence. So, I think that hasn’t really changed.

Could I get your thoughts on how the rest of the LCK teams will perform at Worlds? Particularly DK and T1.

All these teams were the same teams that we play in the LCK and I believe that whenever we do play against them I feel like they’re really strong. So, I believe that they’ll definitely make it to quarterfinals but obviously we’ll always have to be a step further above them. So, we just have to focus on our play.

Peyz played Twitch on your final game of the series vs HLE. Was that something that you practiced a lot or did you just think it would work inside that draft?

As for Twitch, I think we were able to practice one game with him yesterday and I think the conclusion was that he’s pretty viable, he may be useable. So, I think that’s why were able to bring it out today.

(Jokingly) Peyz had an amazing game on Twitch, and yet, there was a moment during the game where Doran flashed towards Peyz to ult him on Gnar and Peyz wasn't able to react in time to flash away. So, my question for you would be, do you think Peyz is getting old?

Yeah, we were actually talking about this in the waiting room earlier. He (Peyz) said: ‘oh my gosh, I completely missed the Gnar that was coming into me flash-ult.' So, maybe that does mean that Peyz is getting old.

 

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Image source:  Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

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