FLY Gakgos: “I [1v1] against Massu usually. Best top laner in LCS is Massu. […] I don’t know how he plays so good.”
Q: That looked like a stomp. How confident were you, going into this?
Gakgos: I mean, I was 100% confident because the scrims were going so well. […]
I was so nervous in the K’Sante game, the first game — but after like 10 minutes, I was so chilling. I think they played well.; it was hard to finish the game. I mean, our early games are usually good, but we didn’t end easily, I would say. But still, it was a chill game. I didn’t expect it to be that easy. But I think that was pretty chill for me. I played tanks, so nothing was hard.
Q: Where would you put yourself, as a top laner, compared to the rest of the league?
Gakgos: I mean, the Koreans are pretty good. Thanatos Morgan, Castle is pretty good. I mean, I would put myself number one of course, but… I think the Koreans are pretty good.
Q: What do scrims look like? How well are you guys doing?
Gakgos: So basically, I mean, we are usually winning early game. Sometimes… I mean, our team is a pretty young team, so we sometimes don’t have discipline and we get tired sometimes. So later in the scrim, games sometimes goes bad.
Q: Later in the game or later in the block?
Gakgos: Later in the block. Later in the block seems not as good as the first block. So, I mean, we are as a team, playing a very good early game, I think.
Q: You may be the third best team, the other argument is LYON, who are murdering DIG right now. Were you watching?
Gakgos: Yeah. It’s not very funny, yeah.
Q: How do you feel about the potential matchup against LYON?
Gakgos: I mean, I feel pretty confident. I think Inspired is a good player. It’s hard to play against him. But other than that, they are not that scary, I will say. I’m pretty confident against them, I think we can beat them.
Q: How did you end up joining FLY?
Gakgos: I mean… FlyQuest scouter contacted me from Twitter. Empyre contacted me from Twitter. He asked for vods and he was basically asking for a sub last year. I was a sub and I didn’t know 100% if I would play this year or not. I ended up playing this year, I’m the starter.
Q: Was it an easy decision? Instant yes?
Gakgos: No, not like that. We had a lot of talks.
Q: Wasn’t it scary to move around the world at 17?
Gakgos: It’s my dream to play in tier 1, doing good at internationals, so it’s not scary, since it’s my dream.
Q: You think you guys can make First Stand?
Gakgos: Yeah, if we continue playing like this.
Q: Considering C9 stomped TL yesterday, they’re considered the best, what do you think of them?
Gakgos: I think they are strongest, yeah I would say. I think TL’s bot lane was doing better. But they couldn’t get a good enough lead and they got outscaled.
Q: Thanatos tweeted after, and I thought he looked invisible, as well. Did you not feel that?
Gakgos: I think he was playing good, like… in the Rennekton Sion game, he was ahead on CS, which is pretty good for a Rennekton. Normally they go maybe 5050 or Sion has a little bit of CS lead, but he was ahead on Rennekton. I was surprised actually.
Q: Who do you 1v1 for laning practice?
Gakgos: I play against Massu usually. Best top laner in LCS is Massu. Like I don’t know how he plays so good. Every matchup I play against him, he’s surprising me every time.
I also play 1v1 with Zamundo.
Q: With role quests, you can do lane swaps, maybe.
Gakgos: I’m down actually. Massu could [seriously] beat everybody in top.
Q: What do you think of Gryffinn and Cryo?
Gakgos: They [seem] like pretty good people — that’s the most important thing. They are so chill, they are funny people and they don’t have many mistakes actually. I think they’re gonna be much better players at the end of this year. I’m pretty happy with them actually — they’re really good people.
Q: Quad mentioned that Gryffinn’s always asking him about girls, has he asked you the same?
Gakgos: Everyday. [laughs] I mean it’s just a meme like, he’s always just watching girl streamers. I see that a lot. I don’t know.
Q: How much do you talk or shotcall in-game, as a rookie?
Gakgos: I mean… I would say in this official I talked [a lot]. I talk pretty a lot in this official match, but in scrims I usually try to focus on my 1v1s since I don’t play tank champs. I need to fully focus to learn tanks and new meta champs basically.
In scrims I don’t talk too much but in official I think I talk a bit too much. In scrims, I mean, generally meta is around bot side and now no one is coming top usually. So I don’t need to talk anyway. I just need to play my own 1v1, and the game is played around bot usually.
Q: You said your tanks aren’t that good, but they looked really strong in today’s series, have you practiced a lot?
Gakgos: I mean, I said my tanks are not good, but I mean, in scrims I usually play tanks, so I kind of learned, I would say.
Q: Last year, you were solo-killing repeatedly in scrims, and your carry champions earned a lot of respect. Even then, is there just no point picking carries right now?
Gakgos: Who did you hear that from?
Q: LS said it.
Gakgos: LS? Really? I didn’t know that.
Q: Do you feel like that’s true? Do you solo kill a lot?
Gakgos: I mean, last year I was solo killing a lot I would say. I was pretty confident because the meta was much different. Now I’m playing tanks, so my main [goal] is to play for the team. Even if I get a little lead, it’s not worth losing lane.
Q: So with bot quest, is there just no reason to pick any carries top; just tanks and maybe Rumble?
Gakgos: Yeah. That’s true. That’s actually true.
Q: So will it be all tanks, even in Bo5s?
Gakgos: I mean, there are not that many tanks. So, first two games, first three games would be much like the tanks and then… Then you pull out some flex champs, jungle, Ambessa, Aatrox, are really good.
Q: EU’s played Kled and Gwen, thoughts on those champs?
Gakgos: I think Gwen is pretty good in a good matchup. I think… I don’t know actually. Kled is good against Sion, some people play it.
Q: Do you think you’re the most flexible top laner in the LCS? It feels like the other players are more locked-off.
Gakgos: I think yeah most of the top laners don’t have good champion [pool] and also I watched Bwipo last year. His champion was incredible, like so big. So I learned a lot.
Q: Do you watch any players specifically to learn?
Gakgos: I mean, I watch mid lane and top lane. I watch Chovy a lot. On top, I would say when I see Kiin, I click. Other than that, I don’t mind. I mean, I watch anyone. Usually I watch Chovy, Siwoo, and Kiin right now.
Q: Any fun stories about the team?
Gakgos: No not really.
Q: Do you have a favorite cuisine or favorite food?
Gakgos: Chicken and rice.
Q: You guys have a lot of gym enjoyers on FLY, right?
Gakgos: Yeah, I was doing it last year, but this year I wanted to give everything to League.
Q: Do you guys all work out together?
Gakgos: I didn’t know if Quad and Massu were working out. I think… Coaches, Gryffinn, and Cryogen go together. I’m not sure.
Q: Do you ever join them?
Gakgos: No, but I will start this week, hopefully.
Q: So if you need any girls to hit you up, I’ll let them know you’re bodybuilding.
Gakgos: Sounds good.
Transcription help from @rysaphine
Header Image Credit: Riot Games
