G2 JKS at IEM Cologne 2023: “HooXi is having a really great event”

It seems that G2 JKS and the rest of the team are back on form at IEM Cologne 2023. After a disappointing couple of months following their Worlds and IEM Rio wins, G2 Esports have landed themselves right in the semi finals of the playoffs. We spoke with G2 JKS during the IEM media day about the IEM and taking down the Paris Major winners themselves, Team Vitality.

This isn’t your first time at IEM Cologne, how is it so far?

It’s always really nice to be here, it’s a different hotel this time so it’s a bit of a different vibe. It’s always really good, the only downside is the weather has been pretty sh*t. We’re in a different location which is nice, we’re used to the same spot over and over. It just feels a little bit different in that way. The catering is pretty good, I’ve tried a little bit of it because I usually just order food.

You had a strong finish to 2022 and a good start in 2023, but it has fallen off since then. Is Cologne helping you get back on track?

Yeah, like you said, I think we finished last year and started this year pretty well. Since then, it’s just been in the middle, nothing too bad, nothing too crazy. At least for now, making the semi finals is really good for us and it’s a confidence boost. It’s nice to get some momentum and some results happening compared to the last few months when we were pretty flat. It’s good to beat big teams at big events so we have had a confidence boost.

Speaking of big teams that you’ve beaten, you recently beat Vitality. How did it feel to take down the Paris Major winners?

Of course, they just made a line up change so it’s always going to be a little bit 50/50 but I think we did really well considering we threw away the first map. I think on the next two maps, we showed really good resilience to stay in the game and bring it back. We also closed out the last map strongly. It’s good that we forgot about the first map and can still win the next maps, I think that’s the main thing to take away from it. Of course, it’s really good to beat a team like Vitality because they’ve been winning a lot lately, they’re the number 1 or number 2 team so for us to beat them was a reminder that we’re still a good team.

Is there anything special you do as a team to ensure you keep going after a first map loss?

Not really, I think it’s just about staying together as a team and not losing focus or anything like that. Everyone is staying level headed and not getting frustrated at the small things. It’s part of the experience that we have together because we’ve been a team for almost a year now, which I think is one of the benefits.

How do you think your personal performance has impacted the team?

At this event, I think I’ve been pretty average. Nothing crazy, nothing bad. I think in the Vitality game, I had a decent series and I think if I just keep playing like that it helps with what I need to do in the game. I think it’s fine, of course it could be better. It was better than the first day I played and the second day was better than the first day. It’s getting better overall so as long as it keeps improving then I’m happy with it. Everyone on my team is playing really well as well. Hooxi is having a really great event, he is playing really well and the other three are doing what you’d expect from them. As long as we keep playing like that, we’re in a good spot to go further.

You were seeded straight into the group stage at IEM Cologne 2023 – would you rather play from the beginning or watch from afar?

I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both. I think the disadvantages are that the other teams are already ready for the environment and stuff like that. They’re used to it so they have that against us. But for us, we can watch them play and see how they’re doing. We have more material to look at so it works both ways. I guess it just depends on how you look at it.

Personally, I think I’d rather play the play ins just so I’m used to everything and I’m used to the environment. But that’s my preference, I know others wouldn’t like that. The longer you’re there as well, it is more draining. Having to play an additional tournament is tiring.

In the next stage, you’re going to be facing either Heroic or Astralis. Who are you looking forward to playing against?

Actually, I don’t really know to be honest. I think they’re both really good teams. I think Heroic are really solid and Astralis are in the period where they’re a new team so they’re really enjoying playing with each other right now. If you look at the rankings, it would be better to play Astralis but they’re underrated in my opinion compared to how they rank. Either game will be really tough and they’re both Danish teams so for Hooxi, I think it will be a good match to play.

We’re just focusing on one game at a time. First we have to play semis and then if we win, we can focus on the finals.

Fans can see G2 JKS and the rest of the team taking on either Heroic or Astralis in the semi finals of IEM Cologne 2023 on August 5th.

Read also: Spinx at IEM Cologne 2023: “It will be hard but I think we can win”