On the 3rd, the 13th day of the ‘2023 LoL Champions Korea (LCK)’ Spring Split was held at Jonggak LoL Park. In the second match, Gen.G eSports won 2:1 against Liv Sandbox. The attack from the live sandbox was fierce, but Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon’s performance and one-level management made it possible to turn the tide.
The following is the full text of the interview with director Go Dong-bin and Han Wang-ho of ‘Peanut’.
Q. How do you feel after winning the Liv Sandbox match?
Head coach Koh Dong-bin: We won today’s game by sweat and sweat, and it was nice to be able to keep first place. I think I’m glad I got over the big hurdle.
‘Peanut’: It was one of the games I really wanted to win. It’s a pity that our performance wasn’t that good, but I think ‘winning is the best thing’. It’s so good to win.
Q. (To coach Koh Dong-bin) It was a confrontation with coach Yoo Sang-wook, who once played on the same team.
Director Koh Dong-bin: I am in frequent contact with director Yoo Sang-wook. I didn’t want to lose, and I won because the players were good. I am so happy to be able to play.
Q. You expressed sweat and sweat, did you expect it to be this hard?
Director Koh Dong-bin: This spring comes with the mindset that it can always be difficult. We lost the 1st set and won the 2nd set with difficulty, but I think we talked well so that we could play the game without being shaken until the end.
‘Peanut’: I had a sense of futility after tossing and turning in the first set, so I thought the next set would be difficult as well. In the 2nd and 3rd set, the number of cases where I could win was almost only one dive, but I was able to win by doing that. It seems to be satisfactory in that respect.
Q. “Face” Kim Soo-hwan’s growth rate is amazing. How would he compare now to when he was first called up?
Head coach Koh Dong-bin: Even when we first called up, the pool of champions was wide, but we were gradually increasing the number of champions that could be used in the tournament. I can handle more ADs now than I did back then.
Q. The recent head-to-head matchup with rising jungler Kim “Willer” Jeong-hyeon was a hot topic. What is it like to stick?
‘Peanut’: I felt that he was a player with a high level of understanding in the beginning and a good understanding of his role. So it wasn’t easy today, but I think I was able to lead to victory because the team members did a good job with concentration.
Q. You mentioned ‘Doran’ as a player with a big gap between scrims and tournaments. ‘Doran’ was very active today, how about ‘Doran’ in the recent scrims?
‘Peanut’: After that interview, Hyunjunie changed a lot. Now he’s really good at scrims too. It could be just an old story. Because we are good at scrims, it seems that we are showing such a good image in tournaments as well.
Q. After losing the first set, what changes did you make to the ban/pick?
Director Koh Dong-bin: As a result of watching the first set, I thought it might be difficult to follow the same composition. The opponent looked very good at teamfight concentration. So, we also made a composition that would be comfortable for teamfights. As a result, I think I won through it well, but it was very difficult to go to teamfights. I was able to win because the players did well.
Q. The next match is the Gwangdong Freecs vs. Nongshim Red Force.
Manager Koh Dong-bin: Actually, rather than caring about other teams,
Q. At the beginning of the 3rd set, you got a solo kill from the top. I wonder what kind of story was going on at the time.
‘Peanut’: I was a bit sad when Hyeonjun died, but the rest were completely fine. I didn’t care because I didn’t think it would lead to additional damage because I was doing well in the laning battle.
Q. With today’s victory, you rose to the top spot, what do you need to improve to keep this position?
Director Koh Dong-bin: To win first place, you have to do everything well. If I could simply become a little bit better than I am now in all areas, I think it would be worth aiming for.
Q. Any last words you want to say?
Director Koh Dong-bin: We achieved first place while winning consecutively. I think the players are doing well thanks to the fans who have always supported us a lot. As much as the players are good at it, the coaches will work hard to make a team that can go to the finals this season as well.
‘Peanut’: It’s on a winning streak, but I personally think I was lucky. There’s still a lot left in the game, and we don’t know what’s ahead. If we don’t fall behind and continue to improve, I think we’ll be able to do well in the playoffs and go to the finals no matter how the regular season ends. I hope we become a team that can fill in for each other without burden. Plus, it’s my birthday today and I’m really glad we won. 먹튀검증