On the 19th, T1 swept DRX in the 2021 League of Legends Champions Korea Spring Split and had their revenge for the loss in Round 1. In this match, T1 came out with the same starting lineup from the previous match — Canna, Cuzz, Faker, Teddy, and Keria. After the match, Ryu “Keria” Min-seok joined Inven Global and spoke about today’s game and the season.

You had revenge for the loss in the first round. How do you feel about today’s win?

We lost to DRX in the first round because we didn’t play well. I’m happy that we won today.

You seemed very nervous in the broadcast POG interview. Why were you so nervous?

From last year, I tend to feel hot after the games are over. I think I lose concentration when I’m hot, and I get less tense after the game’s over. It also could be that I’m nervous around cameras. [Laughs]

It was a match against your former team. Did that motivate you more?

I could have been motivated on an unconscious level, but I didn’t think of it too much. I thought if I’m aware of that, I might play emotionally, so I tried not to.

What was different from the first round match?

In the first round, I was still learning. The team was still learning as well. We weren’t able to get through the game precisely enough. In today’s match, I improved a lot and the team improved as well. I think we were able to win that way.

In which part did you improve over the year?

After last year’s Worlds was over, my goal for this year was to make more exact shotcalls in the mid-late game and to play smarter. I think I improved much in that matter. I learned more about winning the game the easy way and I improved in delivering my thoughts to my teammates.

Did you talk with Pyosik before the match?

Since we’re nearing the end of the season, we’re all quite busy and working hard, so I didn’t contact him individually.

Seeing the comms at the end of game 1, you seem to be talking much more than before.

I did make a lot of calls before as well, but I think I do talk more recently. It feels that my shotcalls are improving with better decision-making.

Today’s lineup was the same as the previous game. As the bot duo partner, what’s the difference between Teddy and Gumayusi?

They’re both great players. At first, they each had their own strengths and weaknesses, but now, they’ve absorbed each others’ strengths and improved their weaknesses. They’re both really good. [Laughs] This is really hard to answer.

The season is nearing an end. It was your first season after moving to T1. How was it overall?

There were so many games that we could have won in the first round, but we lost some of them because of me. That’s really regretful. Still, I improved a lot going into the second round and I feel good that I’m still improving.

Was there anything that troubled you after moving to T1?

What was hard was… When I was in DRX, things were close. I just needed to get on the elevator to get from the team house to the practice facility, but here in T1, it's a lot farther. I have to walk for about one or two minutes, so it’s tiring.

[Laughs] It’s tiring to walk for two minutes?

It’s really tiring. [Laughs]

You have two games left in the regular season. Which team do you think will be more difficult to face?

I think playing against Hanwha Life Esports will be difficult. Chovy and Deft were already great players and it feels that their champion pools got even wider. I think it’ll be hard from the picks and bans. We would need to prepare thoroughly.

Any last comments?

The spring season is almost over. It’s surprising that time flies so fast. As much as the playoffs are nearing, I’ll do my best and work hard to come back with even better performance, so please cheer for us. Thank you.