Tian on 369’s return for Worlds: “You can feel he still has a lot of passion for the game”

I wanted to touch on TES’ playstyle first. During the Spring Split, one of the things that made Top Esports so exciting to watch was how aggressive and decisive you were. But after MSI, it felt like some of that spark was missing. Would you agree that TES has played a more controlled, perhaps even more passive style during the Summer Split?

I think you really grasped the key point, and I totally agree. Right now at Top Esports, we want more stable plays. We’re trying our best to get the details right and to play more controlled games.

Was that a deliberate decision? Did the experience at MSI make you realize you needed to be less volatile and more disciplined in the way you approach the game?

As for the MSI result, we simply performed badly. And in LPL Split 3, we had some roster changes, so we really needed time to build synergy with the new members.

TES has been incredibly competitive domestically over the years, but translating that success to the international stage has often been a different story. From your perspective, what has been the biggest obstacle preventing the team from consistently performing at the same level internationally?

In previous international tournaments, we were sometimes just one step away from a good result, but that one step can make all the difference. Trying to pinpoint which game or which specific thing we should have changed in past matches isn’t realistic. I don’t think that feedback is the most important part.

In the past, TES often arrived with a lot of expectations on your shoulders, as one of the tournament favorites. This time, after a difficult Split 3 and with 369 stepping in at the last minute, the expectations seem quite different. Do you think coming into this Worlds with less pressure, as underdogs, could actually work in your favor?

Personally, I see no difference. Before, people had very high expectations of us, but all we can do is try our best to showcase our performance on stage. It’s the same now. Our mentality may be slightly different, but we don’t want to treat it any differently. We just want to put 100% of our concentration into the game.

Let’s talk about 369. He’s coming in to replace Zuian despite having very little recent competitive play, and reportedly not even much soloQ. How has that affected your preparation, and how confident are you in building synergy with him in such a short amount of time?

For veteran players coming back to the stage, confidence is always the key. It reminds me of when JackeyLove and I came back to Top Esports. Back then, it didn’t take us very long to adapt to the tempo of the game. I realized that finding a way to win from within your comfort zone is very important. With 369, you can feel that he still has a lot of passion for the game. So we want to help him, go through this together, and put in the effort in practice to build that synergy.

You reached the very top of League of Legends at a very young age, lifting the Summoner’s Cup in 2019. Seven years later, you’re still chasing another major trophy. If you could send a message to the Tian who had just become world champion, knowing everything you’ve been through since, what would you tell him?

All these experiences made me stronger and gave me a better mentality. So I don’t want to say anything to the younger Tian.

Do you have one last word for the fans watching?

I’d like to thank all our fans around the world, I really appreciate you. I hope you look forward to our performance at this World Championship. I’m going to try my best. Thank you all.