Ekki on an important skill for Tier 1 teams: “It often comes down to how well they adapt between the first and second games.”

It was pretty surreal; it still feels like I’m right in the middle of the game. The adrenaline won’t let up, and thoughts keep popping into my head: “Oh, when are we going to lock them down on the high ground, with banners, siege waves, and all that.” We took it step by step, and I really liked that we played—I’d say—very methodically.

To be honest, I think one of the main reasons was that both we and GamerLegion were desperately fighting for the last spot in the playoffs, and because of that, there was a bit of tension in the air. From the very first game—even during planning before the draft, during warm-ups, and in the game itself—everything was nerve-wracking. You know, when you’re in a situation like that, you don’t want to give your opponent any chances, and in many moments you end up playing even more cautiously than you should.

To be honest, I think it often comes down to how well we adapt between the first and second games. In matches against the Falcons and other teams of that caliber, we usually dominated the first map and often won it. But then we need to reset. These are very strong opponents: they skillfully adjust their draft, change their style, and adapt to their opponent. Our goal is to match that level so we can close out series with a 2-0 score.

We need to find our strength—what we feel confident about as a team. For us, this process has been very experimental. If you just look at our drafts, our priorities have been all over the place: one moment we’re on one track, the next we’re on another. We’re still figuring things out, but the closer we get to the final and decisive matches—and I think all teams feel this—the more each one refines its strategies: what to pick, how to play. We’ve pretty much decided what we want, so I’m really confident in the outcome.