Steven “Hans Sama” Liv will be staying with G2 in 2025, with whom he won it all last year in the LEC. At the Red Bull League Of Its Own, we discussed what was missing at Worlds 2024, as well as the Samurai’s journey this year. But also about him and his work ethic, as rigorous as ever despite his many years at the highest level.

G2 Hans Sama: “I’ve got to give it my all now”

How did you enjoy reuniting with French fans today?

Hans Sama: Today was a pretty nice experience, because I always enjoy playing on these stages, especially in front of the French fans. Also the interaction with the fans is something important to me. It always reminds me that I’m here because the fans are here. Some people say I inspired them, but I’m the one inspired by the strength they send me. It was a really great experience today.

Ethan: Sorry if I bring back bad memories… You guys seemed so close and I remember this pause you did in Game 3 against BLG…

How did you live this whole moment? How do you look back on Worlds 2024?

Hans Sama: It was a real bummer. I think individually, I could have played so much better, especially as I was personally on the rise. I’d say I was making a lot of progress during the summer, it was really my focus to go very far and during Worlds, I think I slowed myself down. We played T1 and BLG. BLG I remember, it was so close. When we’d finished the fight in the midlane, I remember it was like we’ve lost the fight, they’ll probably take the Nashor and too much lead. I decided to pause the game because there had been a weird interaction with my Rend. But I wasn’t sure because it happened so quickly. And actually it wasn’t a bug, there were just two Zhonyas at different timings, a bit unlucky.

Hans Sama after losing against BLG
Photo Credit: Adela Sznajder/Riot Games

It’s a shame because if we’d won that fight we might have been able to finish the game and qualify for the quarter-finals. All the way to Worlds, I didn’t get the impression that we’d managed to reach our final form, the one we’d been hoping for and talking about all year. We started to underperform by Summer. We even lost to BDS 2-0 in the semi-finals, and had to reverse sweep them. We were losing all our early games at that time, I think we were at 80% of lost earlys in the play-offs… And then by the time we got to the Worlds, we were losing all our scrims, which is very unusual for us.

Ethan: Especially given your reputation as scrims champions, at Worlds 2023.

Hans Sama: Yes, I think there was a lot of exhaustion too. But we gave it our all to go as far as we could, and it all came down to this close game against BLG.

Ethan: For years now, you’ve been one of the best players in Europe and even the West. We know it’s hard to achieve such longevity and to continue to give so much of yourself, since I know you often put yourself through intensive work processes.

How do you keep your drive to surpass yourself? Where does your insatiable esport flame come from?

Hans Sama: There are a lot of reasons.

I tell myself that I won’t have a chance like this in the future, and I’ve got to give it my all now, because maybe I’ll regret it if I don’t give everything I’ve got to progress.

When I feel like I’m playing badly, that I’m not really in top form and that my team isn’t performing well, it definitely hurts my mental state. That’s competition, and I’ve been competing since I was six years old. I was already in a competitive mindset with tennis from a very early age. It’s this competitiveness that drives me, which is why every time I do an introspection I realize that I just want to come back with as much strength and motivation as possible to go as far as I can in what I do best: esports.

Sometimes I don’t realize how many people support me, and yet this is one of the main reasons why when I don’t perform well I get sad. But it’s also why I give it my all, why I tried hard my offseason and why I’m going to try hard tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and so on. Every day, League of Legends is the only thing on my mind. So yes, it takes a lot of stamina, but I think I’m developing it more and more. Because, for example, playing 25 games a day in South Korea with just one day off to reach rank 6 is something I didn’t think I’d be able to do past the age of 16 or 17. I can go even further if I keep my focus. Even if there are some very talented youngsters coming up in the LEC, I want to keep challenging them and be better than they are.

Read also: Check out our interview with Rudy "Skewmond" Seeman.

Rapid Fire Questions with Hans Sama

  • Draven or Kalista? Draven.
  • Viper or Ruler? Viper.
  • KC 2025 or FNC 2025? KC 2025.
  • Go back to game 4 against SKT in 2017 or to game 3 against BLG this year? Go back to game 4 against SKT in 2017 *laugh*.
  • Drawing or Tennis? Drawing.
  • Mikyx or Trymbi? Nah, I can’t answer *laugh*.