Rock, paper, scissors, Splyce?
Group D has wrapped up for the week, and three teams are deadlocked for first place going into the climax in week two, with Splyce trailing 0-3. Team SoloMid lost to Royal Never Give Up, TSM beat Samsung Galaxy, and to close out Saturday night, Samsung kept its hopes alive by using a gung-ho engage composition to take down the undefeated Chinese side RNG. The only change in the Samsung lineup from Friday's loss to TSM to the victory over RNG was in the support position, former Dignitas AD carry Jo "Core JJ" Yong-in taking over the starting role from veteran support Kwon "Wraith" Ji-min. The change worked for the team, and the newfound proactive play from Samsung led them to a must-win victory over RNG.
ESPN spoke to Core JJ following the win.
"I think the impression [Wraith is more defensive, I'm more offensive] comes from that I'm really proactive about the things I want to try in game," said 22-year-old Core JJ. "[I want] to make plays, so that's why people might say I'm aggressive."
Core JJ began his career in the semi-pro South Korean scene as an AD carry. He played alongside Counter Logic Gaming starting mid laner Choi "Huhi" Jae-hyun on Bigfile Miracle and was seen as a promising rookie with the potential to break out as the next big marksman in South Korea. After having so-so results in South Korea, he left to join Team Dignitas in the North American League Championship Series where he played until joining a rebuilding Samsung at the start of the 2016 campaign. It wasn't until later in the year when he decided to switch roles full-time and become a support.
"When I was playing AD carry, I thought to myself I'm not going to be the best AD carry in the world," he admitted. "So that's a thought I always had. But because I have so much experience in the bottom lane, I thought I could transition into a support and actually become the best support in the world. So that's why I decided on a new role."
Back on Dignitas, Core JJ was partners with longtime veteran of the North American scene Alan "KiWiKiD" Nguyen. I asked if his former support had inspired him in any way or taught him anything while trying to switch to his new position.
"When I made the decision to become a support, he didn't at the time give me advice or tips," Core JJ said. "But playing with KiWiKiD was a great experience in itself. He's just like I am: a really proactive player and likes to make a lot of creative plays. So I watched him and learned from his successes and failures, [and] it was actually a valuable lesson."
"I [remember] Team Dignitas as a great opportunity for me," he said. "I was always going back and forth between pro and semi-pro leagues, and NA LCS was an actual pro league I could play in so it was a great opportunity. Dignitas allowed me to make a lot of great friends with the players and also the staff. So [Dignitas] is a really [positive] memory that I have."
Closing the interview, we looked ahead into next week with Samsung's chance to make the quarterfinals at the World Championship after being one of the worst teams in South Korea last year.
"TSM [is the team I want to play against the most]," he said. "They beat us once, and I want that revenge. Also, today, I wasn't trying to get solo kills in lane, but come next week playing against TSM, I'm ready to do that."
