The Istanbul Wildcats’ ADC “HolyPhoenix” explains his previous split and how his team could have won against PSG during the Group Stage at MSI 2021. We should also keep an eye out for the TCL reigning champions as they approach their road to Worlds 2021.
Although they ended their run to the MSI 2021 title with an unlucky 1-5, the Istanbul Wildcats distinguished themselves with their playstyle and also with the victory they managed to achieve against the LEC champions. One of the best performing players was HolyPhoenix, winner of three TCL titles and current ADC of the Turkish team.
We had the opportunity and the pleasure to interview him: from his team to the upcoming Worlds, HolyPhoenix left nothing out, giving us a more in-depth look at his performance so far.
Written below is the transcript of HolyPhoenix’s interview. Bold font goes for the media’s questions and standard font signals Istanbul Wildcats’ HolyPhoenix’s answers.
You previously took a split off from summer but decided to come back this spring, how did you feel coming back from that break? What were the biggest differences you noticed in your team?
I mean the team is so talented and they really wanted to win last year and these three was the same: StarScreen, Ferret and Serin. Actually me and Farfetch last year, in the final, we won vs them the winter split in the finals, I think it was 3-0, and summer season the Wildcats lost in the semifinals so they were so close to winning their first title and yet so far. So this year I think this year with me and Farfetch coming they were more ambitious and I think they played very well in the TCL, it was an easy split for us there wasn’t a really big challenge winning this TCL.
So your thoughts on your ascension and journey to this MSI are that it was actually pretty easy for you since you are a so talented team?
Yeah I think it was easy this split, I think the real fight, like semifinals, we played against Galatasaray we came back from 2-0 to 3-2, we reversed sweep them but it shouldn’t have been like this, we should just 3-0 also, but I think we just wanted some excitement in the semifinals. Other than that I think we were by far the best team in TCL this split. It wasn’t that hard.
There has been a lot of reverse sweep this split, what do you expect from the next split, do you think you’ll be 3-0 all the way to the final?
I mean I don’t want any more reverse sweeps actually, even though you think you are the better team and you can win it’s not just good for the heart. There is just so much stress, I just want to go 3-0 from now on or like this. Reverse sweeps are fun to win but they’re no fun when you are 0-2 down, you just crush under the stress, like we perform better after 3-0, but it’s not good on the human body I think.
So regarding MSI, who was the toughest team you played against MSI and who do you think has the most potential among your opponents?
PSG really surprised me, I think they might be better than MAD Lions, I’m not certain, but they play a really good macro game like skirmish meta and if they can play this game, like this macro-slow game in the Rumble Stage I think they have a pretty good chance at MAD Lions. I think they have talented players but they make so many mistakes and they should lessen those mistakes and play more calmly. Other than that if I had to say about other groups I think that RNG will win the tournament, I think they are the best team, DWG is also good. MAD Lions and PSG depend on the hype they are getting, I think they’re decent, they’re just not good as RNG and DWG, but if they work really hard they still have a chance against these two teams I think. Other teams, I don’t know, but these are the best four teams right now.
Earlier today In the match against MAD Lions it’s safe to say you carried your team against them, there was a real Kai’Sa difference, and also in the match against PSG you had a lot of damage on your side, what do you think went wrong and what were the things you felt you could do differently as a team?
I think the PSG game was pretty close, in the late game we should have just engaged without getting poked by Jayce, but we were too late to engage with the Nautilus ult at the right time, so that’s how they won the late game. Of course, in the early-to-mid game, we had so many things we could do better but it’s just too long to explain so I’ll focus on late-game: we should have just go without the Jayce poke and I think we would have a pretty good chance at winning the team fights because at this point of the game it was all ARAM, and whoever wins that ARAM gets the Baron and wins the game. That what we could have done better, maybe.
What was the mindset when you approached what was, unfortunately, your last game at MSI for this year?
We wanted to take our revenge on Brazil and wanted to go home with a win on them, we wanted to just crash them and win the game in twenty minutes, and we could do that because in the first game we did really good and we thought this game we could do the same and at least be happy with a win before we got out of groups, but I think in the game things got somehow wrong and it was kinda demoralized, there wasn’t a really good mood in the team in mid-game so we just lost the game. I think we could win the game if we just tried harder if we just communicated better in the game but after not getting out of groups I think it affected us mentally.
But I think at the end of the day you gained a lot of respect from your opponents and a lot of fans that will follow you home and will follow your next split. With that in mind what do you think it’s the best memory and what will you bring back with you from this MSI?
I think the MAD Lion win it’s a success, it shows how the TCL can win against the LEC top team, so I think this is like a gift for the TCL to bring home. This is the best thing. Now next Worlds, next year we will show that we will be a better region as TCL. Also, this is the first time that an only-Turkish team goes to an international event, there was always a European or Korean in the teams, so this is the first time which it’s a big achievement so far. These things are cool. I wish it was a better tournament, I wish we could have beaten Brazil two times or something like this, but it didn’t happen, I will just look forward to the next Worlds and take my revenge on the international tournament.
Thank you so much, I’ll look forward to seeing you on an international event!
Hopefully! Thank you so much.
