Although not a new name in the VCS, CERBERUS Esports seems to be becoming a peculiar phenomenon in this summer tournament. They have virtually transformed completely with 4 consecutive victories and are dominating the top position of the group stage leaderboard.
It’s easy to recognize that the most notable changes leading to CES’s impressive performance streak lie in the tactical direction of the team, as well as the peak form of the players. As Coach Archie shared on social media: “It’s been a long time since we were at the top of the table”, let’s join us in a conversation with the coaching staff and players of CERBERUS to hear their insights about their recent successful journey as well as their upcoming goals, a name that, until now, many fans have started to refer to as the “championship contender of VCS Summer 2020”.
Interviewer: CERBERUS Esports has had a dream start in VCS Summer 2020 with 4 consecutive victories. Right now, do the team members feel confident enough to think about competing for the championship?
Currently, although the team has 4 victories, everyone must remain highly focused for each match to gain as much advantage as possible and prepare well for the playoffs. The entire team is confident that CES will go far this season.
Interviewer: Before this season, CES often did not achieve the desired results in VCS despite having many quality players. What is the difference that has led to the current team’s satisfactory results?
This season, the members have bonded more; outside of practice, the team engages in other activities like playing soccer, watching movies, and even playing Monopoly to enhance interaction.
Interview with Mr. Lee “Icarus” In-cheol (Coach and Manager of CES): CES has defeated 3 out of 4 of the highest-rated teams in the championship race (TF, TS, EVS). As a coach, can you tell us the key aspects of those victories?Player performance or improvements in tactics and gameplay.
Mr. Lee In-Cheol: The first factor in defeating those teams is that my players maintained their focus in every match. That is also a well-deserved reward for the entire team’s hard work. Archie also took time to study various strategies and new plays from other regions.
Mr. Lee comes from a country with one of the most developed esports scenes in the world, and CES is currently regarded as the most well-structured organization in Vietnam’s League of Legends scene. Do you think experiences from developing esports in South Korea have helped you in building CES to where it is today?
Mr. Lee In-Cheol: Building an esports team takes a lot of time to establish a unique play style for the team. South Korea has developed esports for a long time, so I will do my best to make CES an esports organization on par with other prestigious organizations.
Many opinions suggest that the VCS is lagging on the international stage because the quality of coaching staff in this region is still inferior to others. What do you think about this?
Mr. Lee In-Cheol: I think it’s true because when comparing players, the general skill level of players in VCS is very good. If teams invest adequately in coaching staff, they will be able to compete fairly with strong teams from other regions.
Interview with Coach Archie: One very noticeable thing in CES’s transformation this season is that XuHao is performing at a very high level. How do you assess this player’s progress?
Coach Archie: Besides practicing with the team, XuHao also spends time honing his skills by training new champions, and I am really satisfied with that.
Coming from a Marksman background, how do you feel about Artemis’s current playstyle? Do you think this guy can truly compete for the number 1 ADC position in Vietnam?
Coach Archie: Artemis is inherently an aggressive marksman with a wide champion pool. I think currently in the VCS, there are many skilled marksmen, and Artemis is one of them. In the near future, you will have the most accurate answer to this question.
Does CES still have any weaknesses that need to be addressed? And which opponent does the team feel most concerned about facing currently?
Coach Archie: Currently, CES still has weaknesses, but I will keep this information confidential. In the summer split, all teams are well-prepared, so CES will always stay focused in all remaining matches.
Interview with Mr. Tuấn Koo: After having the best start in the team’s history at VCS, how is the atmosphere within the team currently? Can you share a bit about it? I’m sure the players are very determined to “try-hard” towards the highest goal, right?
Mr. Tuấn Koo: The atmosphere in the team is quite relaxed; everyone emphasizes self-discipline in practice and daily life. They are maximizing their time for training.
The issue of salary debts is currently a sensitive topic in professional League of Legends, not only in VCS but also in many other regions. What do you believe is the cause of this recurring issue that significantly affects the esports scene?
Mr. Tuấn Koo: Recently, the entire world has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is partly why esports organizations globally are facing financial crises that lead to salary debts. Additionally, running a team requires a lot of costs. Therefore, if teams have more sponsors, there will be no more salary debt situations.
Interview with Support Player RonOP: With competitive experience, RonOP can be considered one of the most veteran players in VCS. How do you feel about the changes in this tournament over recent years?
RonOP: After each season, there are always new faces among the players, and the overall strength of the teams is gradually evening out, which increases the quality of the tournament.
How do you assess the strengths and weaknesses of your current team? And by the way, a slightly personal question, who is the best partner you have ever played with in the bottom lane?
RonOP: Our strength lies in our synergy with each other. The team has no weaknesses at all. Each player has their own strengths, so everyone coordinates well with me.
Interview with Marksman Artemis: Artemis is regarded as one of the most talented marksmen in Vietnam. It is known that before joining CES, many top teams expressed interest in having you. What made you decide to join the “Cerberus”?
Artemis: I see that CES has a promising lineup, and after discussing with the CES coaching staff, they convinced me, so I joined the team.
After more than half a year with the team, how do you assess your teammates?
Artemis: If I say it, people will call me humble, but I think I’m the funniest one in the team :D. Besides, my whole team is very fun.
Interview with Jungle Player Xuhao: Xuhao has truly made remarkable progress this season. Can you share your tips for improving your performance?
Xuhao: I spend a lot of time in solo rank and listen to feedback from my teammates and coaching staff. Additionally, I also watch other tournaments to enhance my own experience.
Recently, the issue of players facing personal attacks on social media has attracted considerable attention. Xuhao, can you share your feelings about this issue?
Xuhao: As an esports athlete, I believe there will be times of good performance and times of poor performance. I just hope everyone supports me personally and all players in general, limiting negative comments. Love you all.
Thank you to the coaching staff and players of CERBERUS for this conversation. This afternoon, on July 10th, CES will enter the 5th match of the VCS Summer 2020 group stage against Percent Esports – another phenomenon in this tournament.
Will CERBERUS Esports continue their impressive performance streak when facing BigKoro and his teammates? Stay tuned for the latest developments of VCS Summer 2020 at 5 PM today.