Interview conducted by: Amanda "Sagegnosis" Stevens

Article written by: Logan Leavitt

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In a fashion that’s fit only for North America, Cloud 9 has fallen in the first day of Quarter Finals in a 3-0 sweep by group D’s first seed from Korea, Samsung Galaxy. As NA’s World Championship hopes and dreams died in the middle of the Windy City, Samsung Galaxy continued to build on their increasingly impressive performances throughout 2016’s Worlds. 

Just hours before, Riot’s first foray into the midwest quickly turned south when, during pre-game team introductions, the fans filling the historic Chicago Theatre booed Samsung Galaxy. As the night’s challenge to hometown favorites Cloud 9, the boos for SSG (which sparked social media outlash) are unfortunate, but not entirely surprising.

After the game Samsung head coach Choi Woo-beom told Esports Heaven’s Amanda Stevens, “I didn't take [the booing] too personally, but I was just worried that my players would get a bit discouraged in front of the home crowd [fans]”. While such a response is never what you want to see, especially for competitive guests in a foreign land, Woo-beom took to reasoning with his players by reminding them, “this is their home crowd but let’s play our own game”.

By the end of the series it was clear that Samsung’s mentality was not hurt in any way that would affect their play. With a dominant performance in all three of their consecutive victories against Cloud 9, SSG has locked in their spot at Madison Square Garden for Semi-Finals in New York.

C9 was not the first team from North America to fall to the up and coming Samsung roster, after hometown brothers Team Solomid were dismantled by them in the second week of groups. This gives SSG mid laner Lee “Crown” Min-ho the unique experience of facing off against both of North America’s top mids in Cloud 9’s Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen, and TSM’s Soren “Bjergsen” Bjerg. When asked about Crown’s North American adversaries, coach Woo-beom had nothing but praise for both players.

“Crown and I, we thought that the players were even better [than expected] and that both players were really really good. If I had to pick [between them] I would pick Bjergsen, but even in [today’s] game Jensen played a really good game at the mid and I don't think Crown had the upper hand [against him].”  

Leading up to Worlds, Crown had mixed expectations with some personalities such as LCK caster Nick “LS” De Cesare praising him as one of the very best in the world, while other opinions had him at distant third to top Worlds mid laners Bjergsen and SKT’s Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok. Crown quickly showed his value, however, and at this point in the tournament hasn’t really been challenged one on one by any of his competition, regardless of his coach’s humble words.

With a week until their next match, Samsung will work to continue building on the many improvements the team has seen since their close set against KT Rolster in the Worlds-deciding LCK Gauntlet. They enter semi-finals in a favorable position with their opponent being either Wild Card team Albus Nox Luna, or the more likely H2k Gaming out of Europe, who showed stronger play in the final week of groups than any of their eastern counterparts. If Samsung is able to find victory over either of these opponents in New York, they will secure their place in the Worlds Finals, and after their showing thus far in the tournament, a good shot at the Summoner’s Cup.

Raw Interview:

Amanda Stevens: How does it feel it feel to hear your players be boo’d and is there anything you did ahead of time to prepare them for this?

Choi Woo-beom: So, I didn’t take it too personally but I was worried my players would get a bit discouraged in front of the hometown crowd fans. Because even during the opening ceremony the entire team got boo’d on. But I just try to cheer them up and tell them “keep in mind this is their home crowd but let’s play our own game and try to keep the spirit up.”

Amanda Stevens: The Samsung brand holds a lot of weight in the esports world. So much so that even Western fans think highly of it. What is like for you to be a part of that legacy and do you feel any pressure from it?

Choi Woo-beom: So, while some fans might try to connect the 2014 Samsung team and the current Samsung team, but I personally think that they are two completely different teams. I am pretty sure that the players are on the same page. We don’t get any pressure from the Samsung esports team brand.

Amanda Stevens: During this World Championship Samsung played against the two best mid laners in North America, Team Solo Mid’s Soren “Bjergsen” Bjerg and Cloud 9’s Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen. What did you do to prepare Lee “Crown” Min-ho to play against them? After playing both of them, who do you think is better?

Choi Woo-beom: During the prep stage I asked Crown to expand his champion pool. So we prepared Crown to play more champions for two or three weeks. And after playing against Bjergsen and Jensen both Crown and I thought that the players were even better than expected and that both players are really really good. If I had to pick, I would say Bjergsen. But even in [yesterday’s] game, I don’t think Crown ever had the upperhand against Jensen. It was a really competitive lane. Overall, I think that through Jensen and Bjergsen tha NA mid laners are really talented and really good.

Amanda Stevens: On your side of the bracket is H2K and Albus Nox Luna. Between these two teams, who do you think you will be facing at the semi-finals in New York City?

Choi Woo-beom: Looking at the Group stage performances, I think that H2K is a better team for now and I think they have a higher chance of advancing to the semi-finals. We’re already prepping Pick/Ban against H2K and I think if we start right away with prep for the semi-final match up we stand a pretty good chance of playing well against them as well.

Images courtesy of Lol Esports Flickr