As the fervor around the League of Legends World Championship escalates, a common chorus among LCS players is their belief in finally bridging the gap with the formidable LCK and LPL teams. In an interview with Inven Global, NRG Esports' mid laner, Cristian "Palafox" Palafox, delved deep into his team's confidence following their bootcamp, the distinct dynamics within NRG, and his perspective on the persistent Western-Eastern divide in the competitive League landscape. NRG is currently 1-1 so far in the tournament, but they have far loftier goals. 

Reflecting on their recent bootcamp, Palafox highlighted the positive atmosphere within the team: "The boot camp so far has been pretty good. A lot of people are getting into form, and my teammates are trying really hard, considering this year is pretty important for NA and our fans." He candidly shared the initial struggles the team faced, especially the newcomers, but also noted the valuable insights gained from playing against top-tier teams. "After scrimming these teams repeatedly, it's really easy to see the cracks in their armor," he added.

This commitment to improvement wasn't an overnight phenomenon for Palafox. Tracing back to his time in the academy and his evolution in the LCS, he's known for his pattern of peaking performance as the season progresses. With his eyes set on the World Championship, he's put in more effort and feels primed to demonstrate the best of his abilities when they matter most.

Despite being NA's top seed, NRG has paradoxically found itself in the underdog position—a scenario that Palafox finds both exasperating and oddly liberating. "It's funny, we're the first seed, so we should be doing the best, but actually, people are so down on NA that we're always the underdog. So, there's not really any pressure," he explained. This underestimation, while frustrating, has freed them from the weight of excessive expectations and fueled a desire to prove the naysayers wrong, especially against Chinese and Korean teams.

However, his faith in the capabilities of North American teams doesn't extend universally. Palafox expressed significant doubts about GG's prospects, not mincing words about their performance. "Honestly, when I was watching their games, I'm like, 'Wow, these guys are really bad.'" He conveyed concern for the fans' morale, given the inflated expectations surrounding GG, and stressed the need for a reality check regarding the team's actual standing.

Palafox rated G2 Esports highly, suggesting they have what it takes to outperform many Asian teams. This observation ties back to his broader viewpoint on the Western-Eastern gap: "My biggest goal for this Worlds run, win or lose, is to show that Asian teams aren't just outright dominating NA teams."

He criticized the stagnant approach often seen in Western teams sent to Worlds in previous years, emphasizing that fresh talent and strategies are crucial for real progress, stating "Over the years, there's been this narrative that the gap is widening, but I don't see it that way. Instead, it seems every single year NA or EU has been sending players that don't actually improve. And now that we have a lot of new faces, hopefully, we can make you guys proud."

The mindset, Palafox elaborates, is a game-changer in these high-stakes matches. "Compared to others, we at NRG, from top to bot lane, just aren't afraid to lose. Looking at past Worlds performances, many players are caught up in thoughts like, "I need to look good for next year," or "I don't want to be the worst on my team." That's not a mindset anyone on our team has. We know that if we play not to lose, we'll just lose even harder. We have to go all in. It doesn't matter how many times we die, as long as we're doing the right thing." He also pointed out, however, the cohesive gameplay prevalent among Asian teams, where every player's actions are aligned with the team's overarching objectives—a unity he finds lacking in Western squads. This disparity, he believes, is a significant factor separating the two fronts.

In conclusion, Palafox's revelations underscore a blend of bold confidence and critical self-awareness. NRG, armed with resilience and a revamped approach, is not just aiming to participate at Worlds; they're there to disrupt the status quo and, hopefully, recalibrate the global narrative around the Western-Eastern rift in League of Legends.