T1 Oner: “I tend to ignore comments about how the roster has changed, or how our team won’t work without certain components.”

Q: Everyone doubted T1 would work without Zeus, but you beat their expectations and made it to MSI finals. How does it feel to prove people wrong?

Oner: While fan and analyst evaluations carry a good amount of fair points, I do think they [understand far less] about our situation than us, the players. So I think I try to pay less mind to what others say. And I think that’s also why I tend to ignore comments about how the roster has changed, or how our team won’t work without certain components. 

We’ve continuously believed in ourselves and our capability to climb high. I think that’s why we were able to demonstrate such a strong showing, even if it was a bit rough making it to MSI this year. Playing together has also increased our overall synergy, so I’m hoping that we can demonstrate our strength against GenG and snag the win.

Q: Canyon is one of the few junglers to have a winning record against you. Is he the hardest jungler you’ve ever faced?

Oner: I remember that our head-to-head record became quite even after Canyon joined GenG, but I also think junglers tend to differ drastically based on their teams. 

While Canyon’s definitely a difficult jungler to face, it’s not due just his unique traits as a player – I think junglers’ teams also affect their gameplay and performance.

Q: Do you have a message for Canyon tomorrow?

Oner: Since I’ve faced him many times, I hope we both play a good match with no regrets.

Q: What does your necklace mean? Did you buy it for yourself?

Oner: Yeah, so I actually put in a custom request for this – it’s a tiger pendant. The tiger is a bit of a meaningful animal to me. Even my fandom is called the Tiger Clan. I think the tiger as a whole represents me pretty well. 

I wanted to draw on those meaningful little aspects in a way that wouldn’t interfere with my gameplay, so I chose to go with a necklace and put in a custom request.

Editor’s note: The chain is attached to the pendant with a link that’s embezzled with “2002”, Oner’s birth year

Q: Every series, Gumayusi steals and secures objectives. Is he coming for your job as the jungler?

Oner: I think it’s quite impressive when Gumayusi steals objectives with global ults.

Usually, we call objectives as a group and count down, like, “1, 2, 3” with smite. So there’s a lot of instances where, instead of me, the ADC claims the objective. I think especially lately, with the added variable of more players opting for Unsealed Spellbook, you see more moments where the log shows the ADC taking objectives.

Q: What’s your max bench press?

Oner: I haven’t actually tested my maximum yet, so I’m not totally certain what it is. Right now, I’m working with a personal trainer, so I just follow what they tell me to do.

Q: You basically started your career on T1, and you always had a massive fanbase. You’re always the favorites and everyone loves you. Do you ever feel insecure about having it from the start? Do you ever think of players who don’t have that?

Oner: As a professional esports player, I do think it would be pretty tough if I didn’t have the fans’ attention or love. I think I was very lucky to debut with T1, who have an incredible amount of fans. I used to think it was unbelievable. 

I think it’s thanks to my fans’ love and support that I’m able to play so earnestly, and I’d like to deliver my thanks to them every day. There are so many fans cheering us on that I think I just feel grateful, rather than insecure.

Translation cleanup and transcription by @eonmoons