100T Sniper: “24/7, I feel that pressure to always do something, always be perfect.”
Q: How do you play with such confidence as a rookie?
Sniper: When I got to LCS I started sacrificing so much to just play the best possible league I could play, grinding the game 24/7, finding what’s best for me, all to improve the most.
Q: On 100T, you guys are encouraged to play loose, how does that feel for you?
Sniper: I think it has to do with the environment, it’s so laid back and my teammates are very patient with me — the vibes allow me to play however I want to, give me confidence to be my own player.
Q: No offense, but you guys have been fucking inting scrims, how do you keep your mental strong?
Sniper: For myself at least, I feel like the moment I get in game, nothing can stop me at all — from how I’m playing the game and how confident I feel. We’re stage players.
Q: You’re similar to jojo and Danny, as young prodigies coming up into LCS and succeeding so early — how do you deal with that community pressure and the success?
Sniper: When jojo and Danny were on EG, they had a lot of pressure to perform, when you feel that pressure, you just have to perform. Either you perform, or you’re trash and your reputation is gone. That’s how I felt before the split, so I was like okay, I’m gonna play my best.
Q: Do you still feel that pressure?
Sniper: I definitely still feel it, 24/7. I still feel pressure to always do something, always be perfect. It takes a toll on your mental, especially on mine, but I don’t let it affect me on stage.
Q: Even in this game, you weren’t perfect. You made a lot of mistakes. How do you stop that from getting to you?
Sniper: The FLY game against Bwipo definitely woke me up, I wasn’t thinking about my matchup, my brain was completely fogged. But now I have a game plan, and it shows.
Q: So you just have a mental of iron [to focus on the game]?
Sniper: I wouldn’t say my mental’s the greatest, but it’s definitely very stable. If I fall behind, I know my teammates have my back, and it’s vice versa. If my teammates fall behind I’ve also got their backs.
Q: My all-pro ballot is due in 4 days. Tell me why you’re the #1 top laner.
Sniper: I definitely think I can be the best top laner in the LCS, but it’s kind of clear that Bwipo’s #1. I’d put myself #2, and I think Impact is really good. I was trash-talking him before because I just didn’t think much of him, from his year before. But he’s surprised me so much and I think he’s one of the best top laners in the league right now, so he’s definitely #3.
Q: Time for some trash talk, what do you want to say?
Sniper: Both of the games against FLY, we shouldn’t have lost. The only reason they won is because their topside is always ahead — whenever they fall behind, their team crumbles. s long as I have an early game plan, I’m gonna take freaking Bwipo to Narnia. 100%, in a bo5, it’s gonna be a good match.
Animal that represents him: Goat
Favorite pro: Viper, of course, and Brokenblade in NA
Favorite food: Whatever mom cooks at home (or burrito bowls or shake shack)
Favorite album: Justin Bieber’s 2014 deluxe playlist
