There are few gamers whose tenure is longer than Faker’s at this level, although Caps comes fairly shut. Since he dropped out of highschool to play League of Legends full time, he’s been at or close to the highest of Europe, and he’s proper again at Worlds 2024.
He got here nearer than anybody else within the West to successful Worlds again in 2019, with G2’s roster for that yr falling simply wanting finishing the Golden Highway. They’d the facility to shift the narrative in favor of Western groups for the primary time since Jap groups got here into the professional scene, however they failed on the final leg.
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Nevertheless, Caps continues to be chasing that objective. Till he’s in a position to get that Worlds title, he doesn’t plan on stopping. However he’s additionally decided to do it his approach, in Europe, whereas staring down the participant who impressed him to begin taking part in. And, because it seems, Faker’s nonetheless motivating him to win all these years later.
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What’s extra, Caps is assured. He must be. In spite of everything, he’s the most effective hope the West has at this level.
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Right here’s our interview with G2 Caps, the shining North Star of Western League of Legends:
G2 Caps reveals how Faker’s nonetheless motivating him all these years later
Caps and the remainder of G2 received the LEC Season Finals but once more in 2024
I observed on the tail finish of your season in Europe, G2 was type of sticking to extra conventional drafts than you’d usually go together with. Was there any explicit purpose you guys have been taking part in safer, and do you could have some distinctive picks in thoughts for Worlds?
I imply, we had the Gwen popping out, proper? (laughs) I believe it was fairly laborious to innovate, simply a number of AD carries, no less than for mid lane. I undoubtedly tried a few of the extra, let’s say, progressive ADCs. There are some conditions the place I might have pulled them off, however they didn’t essentially find yourself occurring? So… Yeah, it was a number of the identical drafts. However this meta is unquestionably a bit extra loopy, it’s not as solved about, like, what champions are essentially the most effective in mid.
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I noticed you decide Sion mid in champ’s queue and also you restored my hope somewhat. (laughs)
(laughs) I didn’t say something.
So, once we spoke at MSI this yr, you have been speaking about the way it appeared like individuals within the West have been type of dropping the dream of successful MSI or successful Worlds as a result of we’ve had such a tough time. Do you are feeling just like the strain is on you to hold the West’s hope at this occasion?
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For certain. I believe we actually want to point out that there’s some room for us. I believe Staff Liquid has really been doing an awesome job in NA, it seems like some NA groups are beginning to consider extra as a result of that they had good type towards Fnatic and strong type towards T1. We have to step up for Europe as nicely, present we will win greater than just some video games, that we will really take better of fives and make it out of teams. I believe it’s been 4 years since I’ve made it out of teams? Which sounds loopy. I believe this one could be it.
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This may occasionally sound like a wierd query, however is there any a part of you that needs you misplaced extra domestically? As a result of, you’ve been first or second place since, like, 2018 man. It doesn’t actually look like you could have a lot competitors within the LEC relating to mid laners. Do you would like there was somebody who might actually problem you in your area?
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That’s a tough query to reply as a result of – in fact, I imply, I really like successful. (laughs) However, on the identical time, the primary objective is Worlds, proper? If there was somebody I might be taught from extra domestically, that’d be nice. Somebody like Perkz, I realized so much from up to now. Taking part in towards the LPL/LCK mid laners, I undoubtedly be taught greater than I do once I play towards European mids. There’s some room to catch up, and I believe it’d be nice to get extra classes.
Riot Video gamesPerkz was Caps’ finest competitors earlier than the 2 joined the identical workforce collectively and placed on the most effective run in EU’s historical past
It looks like Jap groups waited till the final minute to get to Worlds this time round, didn’t actually rush to scrim you guys or something. Is the hole widening?
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Yeah, we didn’t get to play many LPL/LCK groups… I believe our scrims have undoubtedly not been the most effective. I believe we’re nonetheless discovering our footing within the meta, we’re nonetheless testing issues out and determining precisely what we need to do. We nonetheless have to determine issues out, however I’m assured we will make a deep run.
Caps, you’ve been taking part in League of Legends for a really very long time. And, I imply, if we’re being sincere, you could possibly step away proper now, retire, and doubtless be set for years doing content material or no matter you needed to do, proper? What do you like a lot about League that you simply’re nonetheless competing at such a excessive stage like this?
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I imply, for me, it’s Worlds. It feels good to be right here. Season 3, I watched Faker win Worlds, and I used to be like, ‘Oh, I need this to be me.’ Since then, I’ve simply spammed solo queue. Ultimately, I give up highschool and joined Fnatic again in 2017, so I type of joined with the mindset that I need to win Worlds, I need to be the most effective. So, so long as I haven’t fulfilled that, I can’t simply cease. I can’t cease the grind. I actually need to obtain that, and I’ll do every thing in my energy to take action.
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So that you’ve been on the prime of Europe for this lengthy, however, like, you don’t suppose you’d be glad together with your profession till you really win Worlds?
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I imply, I don’t wanna say that I’m not glad as a result of it might really feel, in some methods, disrespectful to others, proper? On the finish of the day, it’s a contest. Not everybody can win. However, if I gave the cellphone to 16, 17 yr previous Caps and instructed him I haven’t received [Worlds] but, he’d undoubtedly be mad at me. (laughs) I should win no less than as soon as.
Is there any a part of you that noticed Rekkles go to Korea and went, ‘Rattling, perhaps I ought to strive working towards in one other area for some time?’ Is there any a part of you that’d wish to spend an prolonged period of time within the LPL or LCK?
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It’s one thing I’ve thought of to some extent, however I haven’t actually had that many off-seasons. It’s not one thing I’ve thought of an excessive amount of. However, on the identical time, I believe taking part in towards LPL/LCK gamers would undoubtedly be a number of enjoyable on a extra common foundation. It’d in all probability be a better strategy to win Worlds, to some extent, as nicely. However it could additionally take away a little bit of the… I believe it’d be the simpler approach out in that sense, proper?
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I imply, clearly, it could nonetheless be extraordinarily laborious to make it to a powerful workforce and compete there, however it could even be a better strategy to win Worlds than making it with a European workforce. It’d additionally really feel mistaken to some extent, I believe, to play in a unique area. However, I haven’t actually had the low season to consider it. I’ve had like, one low season in my profession.
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Yeah, G2 is doing every thing they will to carry on to you.
(laughs)
I imply, do you ever image your self leaving G2? You’re such a franchise participant at this level.
I don’t actually suppose an excessive amount of about it, as a result of it’s like – I imply, it’s simply type of wasted ideas in a approach. So many issues change, proper? Particularly in esports nowadays, so many groups are going out and in, up and down. However, what I need has additionally modified all through the years, like what I worth in my workforce and teammates. I’m glad that G2 has performed every thing they will to accommodate as nicely relating to the workforce setting. I’ve undoubtedly been glad right here. I can’t discuss concerning the future, proper? It may change in a heartbeat.
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Colin Younger-Wolff/Riot Video gamesSo, I’m simply having fun with the second we now have right here. We’ve made it to Worlds, and we will undoubtedly win this factor. We simply have to play higher than we’ve performed thus far, and we have to put every thing into our scrims to make it so.
What would you say is the largest factor that’s modified so far as what you need on a workforce between once you began and now?
I imply, I believe issues change on a regular basis, proper? Like, my mindset on the sport – I imply, the sport itself additionally adjustments to be honest, there are a number of patches. However I believe, once I first got here in, I used to be very a lot within the mindset of simply grinding the sport 24/7, nothing else. Like, simply solely performed league. And now I additionally worth watching extra VODs. I worth getting a greater understanding of the opposite lanes, getting a greater understanding of my teammates lanes and their perspective, and ensuring that there’s good workforce spirit as nicely within the workforce. Whether or not or not it’s by means of taking part in like a board sport or doing – like, we do a number of one on one-on-ones on our workforce as nicely, one thing we do to, like, actually get to know one another. If one thing is bothering them, they will share it.
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So, [what’s changed] may be very way more like relationships and stuff like that, I believe, extra than simply the sport itself. As a result of I believe simply taking part in the sport can solely take you thus far, and it’s good to make it possible for everybody else can be maintaining with you and your understanding of the sport. There’s not only one approach of League. You may have a look at it many alternative methods, and, once you’re on a workforce, it’s good to have the identical method to the sport.
Faker had a wrist damage final yr, is there any a part of you that sees that, particularly with Faker being somebody you regarded as much as earlier in your profession, and goes, ‘I solely have a lot time to win Worlds?’ Is that one thing that’s in your thoughts?
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Colin Younger-Wolff/Riot Video gamesThe second Faker received Worlds in 2023
Lots of people retire early in esports, proper? And I undoubtedly would have cherished to win already, however I don’t suppose it’s one thing you possibly can rush. And I additionally, if something, noticed the alternative. I noticed Faker win Worlds final yr after not reaching that top in a few years. I used to be motivated for certain, seeing that. And, in fact, I used to be additionally nervous about my very own wrists, proper? Be sure that I do some wrist workouts and keep in good condition. However it’s true, proper? Like, you by no means know what’ll occur subsequent yr. You by no means know should you’ll get one other shot at Worlds, so this may very well be the final one. I’ve to make it rely.
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