Hanabi: ''This Year I Want To Get Into The Finals''
The Pacific Championship Series’ (PCS) PSG Talon finished their second day of the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational’s (MSI) Rumble Stage at 1-1. This is their second time finishing the matchday with a 1-1 record, putting them at 2-2 in the standings in sole possession of fourth place.
PSG Talon first faced the League of Legends Championship Series’ (LCS) Cloud9, in which they dominated them from start to finish. In the final match of the day, they had their third rematch with the League of Legends European Championship’s (LEC) MAD Lions, in which they fell.
We had a chance to interview top laner, Su “Hanabi” Chia-Hsiang, after their second match of the day.
A second 1-1 day in a row now for you and your team. What are your thoughts on that?
It is not the best feeling. We were supposed to win the game just now, but we didn’t.
This is the second day of the Rumble Stage. With that in mind and having played the Group Stage, what are your thoughts about the tournament? Does anything stand out?
Since we’re in the Rumble Stage, the meta is kind of different from what we experienced in the Group Stage. We’re seeing a lot of different picks and bans in the Rumble Stage.
This is your third MSI; what’s it feel like to be able to attend one of the two only international tournaments of the year this consistently?
The best result we had before was the semifinals. So this year, I want to, first of all, get through to the semifinals and hopefully, we can get into the finals.
Even though you lost to MAD Lions, you’ve still taken out two of what some would say are your most important opponents in Pentanet.GG and Cloud9. How does it feel to still keep yourself in a solid position in the standings?
It’s too early to lower our guard because there’s still a second round-robin in the Rumble Stage. We need to focus on our form and try to perform better in the next upcoming matches. We also have to reduce our mistakes.
What were your thoughts on having yet another international tournament with a substitute player? Was it not as impactful this time around?
I really want to perform well in every single game because we have a sub player. And try to remain as a starter.
What do you think of your performances thus far in the tournament?
In some of the games, I would say poor. But I did perform really well, and I’m satisfied with my performance in several other games too. Out of 100, I would give myself around 60 to 70.
You touched on this a little bit in the past but what goals do you have for this tournament?
Hopefully, we can get into the finals, and we will definitely work hard.
That is now four matches under PSG Talon’s belt, and a fourth-place to boot. The fourth-place currently puts them in the four-team cutoff for the semifinals and the next stage.
While they haven’t been able to beat the teams above them, such as League of Legends Champions Korea’s (LCK) DAMWON KIA and the LEC’s MAD Lions, they’ve still been able to stand their ground on the teams below them. They’ve dominated both the LCS’ Cloud9 and the League of Legends Circuit Oceania’s (LCO) Pentanet.GG.
Hanabi and PSG Talon look to keep themselves in that four-team cutoff when they face off against the League of Legends Pro League’s (LPL) Royal Never Give Up for the first time, and get a fourth rematch versus MAD Lions on May 16.
Images via Riot Games