"I don’t want to be humble about it—I think we can be the best team"
Having slain their first three opponents in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), the newly rebuilt GIANTX have captured the gaze of new fans, now standing in an undisputed first place in the standings. The only question that remains is whether they can maintain this form next week as they prepare to face Movistar KOI, Team Heretics, and G2 Esports. In an exclusive interview, the team's rookie toplaner, Eren "Lot" Yıldız, reflects on his performance in Week 1, discusses next week's schedule, and delves into his journey from the ERLs to joining GIANTX.
How are you feeling after finishing week one with a 3-0 scoreline, especially after defeating Karmine Corp today?
Eren "Lot" Yıldız: "Well, it feels good to win games ? We did 3-0, but I think our first two games were not acceptable. Right now, I think we can be the best team. We are just really good in scrim games, but our first two games were not it. We were not playing well.
How does this win compare to your earlier games against SK and Rogue?
Lot: After that 59-minute game against Rogue, we just went to the office and reviewed the whole thing. We asked ourselves, "Why are we not playing as well as in scrims?" When we came here today, we had some fundamentals in mind and focused only on using them. We didn’t try to kill them, beat them, or do anything flashy. We just focused on the basics—what we believe is good. We played really well. Maybe we gave them too much room to breathe because we could have finished the game earlier. But it's good because after the first two games, we were kind of disappointed in ourselves. We were expecting much more.
You've gone from the LFL with AEGIS and Team GO to playing in the LEC—a move many didn’t expect. How confident are you feeling, especially with your strong performances so far?
Lot: I just found my home honestly. Before, in the ERLs, I wasn’t playing my own game. I had my own ideas about how I see the game, but my teammates or coaches kept telling me my ideas were wrong. When I came here, they didn’t even have to tell me anything. I just saw how they were playing, and it was perfect for me because they see the game the same way I do. It felt natural to play together. It wasn’t something unusual for me when I arrived—it just clicked. Everything is set up for me now. It’s time for me to play my own game. I don’t need to adapt to what others say anymore. Before, I was constantly adapting to my teammates or coaches, but now I’m just playing the way I believe. I’m really happy about it, and I feel much more confident and successful in executing my plans.
After this 3-0, some people are saying GX is the best team in the LEC right now. Would you agree with this?
Lot: If you don’t look at our first two games... this third game was pretty fine. We could have finished them earlier. Other than that, it was really good. We just gave them too much space. But well, in scrims, we are probably the best team right now. We’re just beating everyone. And I don’t want to be humble about it because I’m really proud of my teammates. We’re working really hard, and they’re putting in so much effort. That’s why I don’t want to be humble about it—I think we can be the best team.
You have a chance to prove yourself again next week against Movistar KOI, G2, and Team Heretics. Should we expect another 3-0?
Lot: I don’t want to say 3-0 for now. The way I prepare for matches is by wfocusing on one at a time. If I have a match on Saturday, I'll focus fully on that one and won't think about my match on Sunday. Even if we lose, I don’t care. As a team, we don’t care either. We’re just figuring out how we want to play. The first two games weren’t the games we wanted to play, but in the third game, we basically found how we wanted to play. Even if we lose, we’ll just keep doing this. It’s a long-term process. We want to win the LEC. We don’t care if we lose one game or even two in the group stage, or if we finish in 8th place. It’s whatever. There are always playoffs, and that’s when results matter.
Your coach André "Guilhoto" Guilhot mentioned that he doesn't think G2 will make Worlds this year. Do you agree with that?
Lot: I think they can make it. I believe in the players—SkewMond (Rudy Semaan) is my old teammate, and I really like him. I believe in him and his playstyle. I think they can make it, but there are really good teams in the LEC right now. We just want to be one of them. There'll be only two spots left, so let’s see who takes them.
What is the minimum you want to achieve to consider this season a success?
Lot: I don’t want to finish this season without winning a title.
Do you have any final words for the fans?
Lot: I don’t have that many fans, but I'm seeing more and more new faces coming to me now, and they’re supporting me really well. So, I’m thankful for it.
You might have more fans after this week...
Lot: Yeah I’m really happy about it. They’re supporting me, so thank you for the support. I’ll show even better things in the next weeks!"
Header Photo Credit: Michal Konkol/Riot Games