Regardless of lacking a big chunk of the early 2022 LCS season as a result of delays within the acquisition of a inexperienced card and private issues, star Staff Liquid assist Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in appears to be like to haven’t missed a step so far as sustaining his standing as the perfect assist — and arguably the perfect participant — in North American League of Legends esports.
After Staff Liquid’s most up-to-date win within the 2022 LCS Spring Break up towards Evil Geniuses, CoreJJ spoke to Inven International about re-integrating himself again into TL’s beginning roster, his position within the improvement and execution of Champions Queue, and TL’s upcoming match towards fellow 1st place crew Cloud9.
I am right here with CoreJJ after a dominant win over Evil Geniuses wherein Staff Liquid actually appeared to benefit from EG’s Reneta Glasc choose. This champion has not performed properly within the LCS up to now, however what are your ideas on it?
There’s a bonus to taking part in Renata as a result of she is a brand new champion. Nonetheless, the gamers within the LCS taking part in Renata do not even know what Renata is, so it does not look very robust within the LCS. Nonetheless, this champion is damaged.
So she is powerful, however individuals who have performed her up to now within the LCS do not know tips on how to play her?
Sure. Quickly, I’ll play her, and I’ll train them.
LCS followers are excited for the battle for 1st place tomorrow between Staff Liquid and Cloud9. Any ideas forward of that matchup?
Truthfully, primarily based on our scrim expertise up to now, I used to be extra fearful about EG than C9. Nonetheless, C9 is definitely doing rather well on stage, so I am truly excited to beat them.
Final time TL beat C9 within the Spring Break up, Academy assist Invoice “Eyla” Nguyen was taking part in in your home. Was there something you had been in a position to study from an outdoor perspective that you just assume will show you how to tomorrow?
We ready for that C9 matchup collectively. We had been speaking about their playstyle main as much as the match. Hans sama and Eyla ended up destroying their bot lane final time, and that may most likely occur once more.
Has your beforehand established synergy from final season along with your jungler Lucas “Santorin” Larsen helped you fit again into the beginning roster this season?
Enjoying with Santorin is clearly a simple job as a result of we have been doing it for some time and we additionally see the sport in fairly related methods. As a jungle/assist duo we’ve a reasonably clear concept of how we wish to play the sport, however we additionally give you plenty of new concepts, which I believe is admittedly good. I can see the sport in a brand new perspective, so it has been a reasonably good expertise up to now.
You and your AD carry Steven “Hans sama” Liv haven’t had as many video games on stage collectively as different LCS bot lanes. What’s it been like been constructing synergy with him regardless of that, and the way do you assume he has performed individually up to now on this season?
He is actually good. Enjoying with Hans makes me really feel like, ‘How can I lose the sport? That is OP.’ I can simply play confidently. In any scenario, I’ve confidence that our gamers will make good performs. Every scenario could differ, however we’ll win ultimately.
Are you able to speak concerning the lengthy strategy of getting your inexperienced card? Have been you in a position to keep concerned with the crew and hold your expertise sharp earlier than your return to the beginning roster?
I have been watching nearly each skilled recreation in each area whereas making an attempt to play Champions Queue as a lot as potential on the identical time. I forgot about the whole lot else outdoors of the sport and was simply focusing solely on the sport. I might simply watch and play League of Legends all day, and I truly assume it is essential to do each of these issues to be a constantly good participant.
Do you assume having the ability to watch Eyla play in your home gave you a singular perspective on TL as a crew?
Clearly, yeah — Eyla and I see the sport just a little bit in a different way. At any time when I watched our crew with out me, I might see how I might assist our crew in sure components of the sport. It was actually useful.
You simply talked about that you just had been taking part in plenty of Champions Queue earlier than returning to the beginning roster, and also you had been truly a giant a part of bringing it to the North American scene. Are you able to discuss your position in establishing Champions Queue with Riot Video games and the way the concept got here to fruition?
Due to the ping in North America, I used to be actively facilitating in-house video games, which is analogous to Champions Queue. Riot Video games felt prefer it was a very good foundation for the concept and all of the LCS gamers have been saying we want a low ping server. Since making it occur, it has labored rather well up to now.
Not too long ago, the LCS Gamers Affiliation signed a brand new partnership with OneTeam Companions. As a member of the board, what are you able to say about how this partnership got here to be and your position in making that occur?
As a member of the PA, I signify the gamers when it comes to what advantages us. I do not know what else to say concerning the partnership besides that it’s going to make issues higher for gamers.
Is there the rest you’d wish to say to the Staff Liquid followers?
Thanks for watching us, I am glad we’re successful. I used to be pondering that Evil Geniuses can be one of many hardest matchups and I am glad that we gained towards them in right now’s match.