Caliste on KC’s elimination: "Either we win together, or we die together"

How are you feeling, right after the loss to T1?

Obviously very disappointed. Honestly, it’s not the defeat that hurts the most, but it still hurts a lot. It’s just a mix of feelings — I’m disappointed, and I have this impression that it’s unfinished. We really thought we could go all the way, that we had our chances against T1. I think we showed in games three and four that we could fight, that the games could be very close. But the BO just started in the worst way, with game one, then game two exploding in the third minute, and we find ourselves 0-2, with no more room for error.

And honestly, we gave everything. We never thought about being out, or about losing. After game two we told ourselves, good luck, we’ve got nothing left to lose, it can’t get worse. We all gave it everything, we all motivated each other, we were just laughing, shouting, supporting each other as much as possible. So it really hurts to lose a close game four like that, especially since we could see ourselves going to game five and just fighting all the way, do or die. So yeah: disappointed, and that feeling of unfinished business.

Full interview (in french) on the OTPLoL broadcast from 9:06

How do you explain starting the series so badly, compared to games three and four? Was it the pressure once you got on stage?

I think, in general… Game one is the type of comp we’re just not strong on, where we have to take early leads against top teams like that, knowing that isn’t the simplest thing. And then our comp is really — we have to be very sharp in the early game on our timings, one item, two items, and just fight on repeat. The problem is that we didn’t do it, so we ended up in an even game against Yunara–Lulu, and, well, spoiler alert: you lose. I think they had a good approach to that.

Game two, let’s say it’s unlucky. We just didn’t have the same information, that’s all. We thought we were in a 3v3, we ended up in a 3v4 — well, a 2v4 — and from there the game exploded. And you’re a bit forced to flip things, to try to find good plays. So the game gets a bit chaotic, and it’s a shame.

Before we talk about what’s next for you: now that you’re out, who do you see going all the way? You’ve scrimmed against everyone.

Gen.G will definitely go to the final, as long as they don’t do their classic semifinal. But honestly, I think they’re really good. And I’d say BLG — I think BLG are the better team, but it’s T1, and it’s T1 against the LPL, so we don’t know. I think it’s very complicated, because… I’d still say BLG, because I think they’re stronger overall. But honestly, huge respect to Peyz at this Worlds, I think he’s very, very solid, and maybe he can take them all the way. And in another way, T1 in general gain a lot of confidence and play better and better. But I’d still say BLG and Gen.G.

Before Worlds you told me this team needed time, that this was only your first year. How do you see the future of this team? Do you think you still have a ceiling to go and reach, that you haven’t been at your best level yet?

For me, we clearly showed that we had weaknesses and strengths. But the way we worked all year, we bounced back from an enormous number of bad things, we came back from pretty far, and I think it’s a very good group where everyone gives it everything. Honestly, even in the defeat, in the last game, we were all together and we just lost together, we died together. We clearly told ourselves: we go together, either we win together or we die together. And honestly, it’s a very pleasant group that works well.

So personally, I’d really like us to continue next year with the same group. I think we can really be very, very strong, and that we can be a very dangerous team. And now we have lessons to learn from Worlds. There’ll be the mercato. But honestly, I think this team showed it could do great things, and we can go further.

A last word for the French fans?

So that’s the end of the year for us. We’re sorry — we would have liked to make at least the semifinals. It’s very disappointing, because with the scrims, with everything we know, our level, we know very well that we really could have been a very dangerous team and gone to the semis. Today we ran into someone stronger, and I think we started our first two games very badly, so honestly, I’m sorry.

But I hope we gave you a thrill with games three and four, that we gave you some hope. Like I said, I really want to start again next year, to work with this group again, for us to continue with the same team. In any case, these are Karmine’s first Worlds. So every year, I’ll make sure to do better and to be a better player. So a big thank you for the support, it means an enormous amount. And go and support my teammates, that’s very important. And honestly, just sorry for not going further.