“Slow start is definitely an issue” NRG s0m on NRG’s loss against Leviatan at VCT Americas Week 1

In the first week of VCT Americas, NRG and Sam "s0m" Oh took on Leviatan. The first map of the series ended with NRG losing with a 11-13 scoreline. The second map was a complete shutdown from Leviatan. After the match, Strafe had an opportunity to talk with NRG s0m. In an exclusive post-game 1-on-1 interview, s0m addressed NRG’s slow start problem, role change and teams he’s looking forward to playing.

Q. What are your thoughts about the game? What went wrong?

NRG s0m: “At Least on Pearl, I think it could’ve gone both ways. If we would’ve won the 1v2, If we would’ve flanked it could’ve gone our way. On Lotus we just had a slow start all of us, and Taco had a great start going 10-1 and it helped with shifting the momentum in their favor.”

Optic were notorious for the slow starts in a tournament. And it seems to be the case for NRG too. You guys do close it in the end but do you think the slow start is a disadvantage to you?

NRG s0m: “I mean it’s definitely an issue. Ultimately, if you win the game it’s overlooked but if you don’t it’s the only thing looked at. I think slow starts are an issue for us. But I am fully confident on my team that we’d be able to bounce back in the next matches”

Since the slow starts, you guys find yourself in a lot of disadvantageous situations. How do you guys handle it?

NRG s0m: “For us, I think almost everyone on the team actually, We are pretty used to it(the disadvantageous situations). I know it’s something we shouldn’t be used to but every round is a new round, it's a new game, a new map at least. So we just take it step by step and bring it back”

How do you handle clutch situations?

NRG s0m: “I don’t think I do anything in particular. I think my team sets me up pretty well. We all set each other up in great positions. So I don’t think I do anything in particular in the clutch situations”

Does the experience of playing multiple agents help with your game playing a controller?

NRG s0m: “yeah, Definitely playing different agents, even in rank, gives you an insight on what the agent can do, what’s the limit for the agent. So I think playing these past agents in matches, scrimmages and in ranked even helps me a lot.”

Does the NRG and Optic team add pressure on you to perform?

NRG s0m: “Not individually, I don’t think there is an extra pressure for me. I think it’s kinda like a goal I guess, where I wanna live up to it and I wanna continue the W streaks and high placing and it's the same for my team as well.

Why did you guys switch roles?

NRG s0m: “The role switch was mainly for FNS to kinda just control and put himself in positions where he can. But if you play like Killjoy, you kinda limit yourself within the range and I think that’s the biggest reason.”

Does playing multiple agents affect the performance at all?

NRG s0m: “In Valorant the metas are constantly shifting, so I think you need to be able to keep playing all different kinds of characters on the map. I am not really worried about my teammates, they all have a lot of experience, they play the game, they know how to play their agents and extra agents, so I am not really worried about it.”

What are your thoughts on Gekko?

NRG s0m: “Yeah I think Gekko can be used more on some maps than other maps. I think right now it's the testing period where teams are trying the agent and watching the agent. If he’s good or not. Maybe in the future teams might or might not play the agent”

What will be Ethos’ role in NRG?

NRG s0m: “Yeah I think Ethos will be just our sub in case something goes wrong”

Who do you think will be the toughest team to face going forward?

NRG s0m: “Going forward, All of these teams are no pushovers. But I am looking forward to playing LOUD for a rematch”

You’d be facing Tenz and Co. next. What are your thoughts on the matchup?

NRG s0m: “Like I said, None of these teams are pushovers. All these teams are here to win and they’d be giving it their all. And we’d be giving our all as well. This was not the start we wanted but we definitely will bounce back”

What are your expectations from the roster?

NRG s0m: “Personally, I am looking at this one step at a time. Right now we want to make it to Tokyo and then moving forward set a goal from there. But right now for the team and myself, Tokyo will be the goal.

Any International team in particular you are looking forward to playing?

NRG s0m: “Probably Fnatic, they look really strong and I really want to face them”

In the second week of competition, NRG and s0m will take on Sentinels. Sentinels are already a game up after their win over 100 Thieves in the first week. NRG had to bounce back after their loss against Leviatan.

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Credits: Riot Games - VCT LOCK//IN

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