ash: “I’m super proud of how we’ve done”

GamerLegion go to the winter break with the feeling of a job well done after reaching top 16 at the Major.

GamerLegion were knocked out of the Perfect World Shanghai Major after falling to Natus Vincere in the Elimination Stage’s 1-2 pool, but head coach Ashley “⁠ash⁠” Battye is happy with his team’s performance and the experience gained at the event in China.

The European squad went into the RMR less than two months after bringing Sebastian “⁠Tauson⁠” Tauson Lindelof into the fold and with Timur “⁠FL4MUS⁠” Marev taking on new roles and responsibilities in the team. Yet, they managed not only to qualify for the Major despite starting 0-2 at the RMR, but also went 3-1 in the Opening Stage to reach the top 16.

“I think the players are all happy now, so as far as I’m concerned, we keep this team at the start of next year,” ash said when asked about the possibility of losing players after their showing in China. “That was the whole point of changing the roster as it was: to build for the future and try to keep all of the players.”

I know it was already an achievement for you guys to come here, but there were moments when it felt like you could have taken it further. What are your thoughts on the run?

I’m super proud of how we’ve done. I think that it shows the potential in this team because we were kind of just throwing rounds away, and they can look at this game and say that they won a lot of rounds that they shouldn’t have. I don’t think we can really say the same about ourselves, so I can see a lot of individual mistakes that can be fixed, hopefully pretty soon, and then next time, we’ll be more ready. I feel like we haven’t really been ready for this Major, and we’ve kind of gotten through it because these guys are so talented.

What makes you say that? Down to inexperience and not having a lot of time with the team, or why do you think that?

Yeah, mostly inexperience. We have FL4MUS and Tauson both in completely new roles. This is a completely new experience for them, and they’re playing such important ones. These roles take a lot of time, and they’ve not really had any time whatsoever. They’re doing everything they’ve been asked for, so yeah, they’re getting punished at the highest level, but I mean, it’s still an amazing job, and a lot of the teams that have gone out before us should probably be where we are today and yeah, we’re here, and they’re not.

Does it feel like you guys got the short end of the stick? You had a pretty tough run: Vitality into Liquid into NAVI.

Maybe a little bit, but I also think we didn’t have the hardest run before that, so I think it kind of evens out. Maybe we have some regrets about the Liquid game. It was such a close game; we could have had that one. It would have been nice to beat one of the big dogs, but I think Vitality, in particular, were amazing, and I would back them to go very deep now. I can’t complain; we’ve done so well and shouldn’t be beating those teams, anyway, so I’m fine with it for now.

We’re not quite ready right now, but in a couple of months, after the player break, hopefully then we can start showing potential championship form
Ashley “⁠ash⁠” Battye
How are you feeling about getting the chance to test these guys in front of a crowd and having such an experience to look back on and take with you into 2025? What are you going to take away from this run?

A lot of confidence. It feels very similar to when we were at Rio, and it was our first real taste of a big crowd, and then we went on to the Major and did so well. I think that these guys now have a lot of confidence in themselves. They know how to play in front of a crowd, and it’s going to be a big hurdle we don’t have to go over in the future when we’re more developed as a team.

For now, when we’re still so raw, we kind of just enjoyed it, and next time we’ll know how to deal with it. I think we’ve learned a lot of lessons, and hopefully, in the future, this means that we’re going to be a bigger force

The guys are so mature that I don’t think it will be a problem to get better in the long term
Ashley “⁠ash⁠” Battye
2025 seems like it’s going to bring a lot of opportunities to teams like yourselves. If you can prove that you belong at that level, you will get there. It’s not going to be a problem getting kept out by partnerships. How do you look at that challenge for such a young team?

Yeah, it’s a really great opportunity. I mean, hopefully, we get invited to these tournaments if the rankings are favorable for us. We’re just looking forward to it. Again, I think we’re not quite ready right now, but in a couple of months, after the player break, hopefully then we can start showing potential championship form.

It’s very early for these guys. As you can see, it’s a bit of a mess sometimes. We’re going to hopefully get better and learn some more lessons, and the guys are so mature that I don’t think it will be a problem to get better in the long term.

Is there any worry that after such a showing, especially from guys like FL4MUS who also show that they’re showmen, it’s something people could look at and see value in if they want to bring a guy like that to their team? GamerLegion has been a bit of a farm team in the past. Is there a worry that this could happen again?

It’s always a bit of a worry, but from the talks I’ve had I think he’s happy here. I think the intention is that we keep him here and turn down offers if we can. It’s an amazing opportunity for the team. Hopefully, this brings new sponsorships, and I think GamerLegion themselves want to build up the organization, so in order to do that, you have to make some difficult decisions.

I think the players are all happy now, so as far as I’m concerned, we keep this team at the start of next year. That was the whole point of changing the roster as it was: to build for the future and try to keep all of the players. I’ve said this before, but hopefully, we’ll stick to our word and keep the team as it is, and next year, we can show what we can do.