HLE Zeus: “Worlds is where the best teams play… minor mistakes can lead to losing the entire game.”

It was a tough start for HLE as they dropped their first match to AL in Worlds 2025 Swiss Stage Day 1. We talked to HLE Zeus after the match to understand more about what went wrong and what happened with Zeka’s late Tear buy.

Editor’s note: it’s always tough to make loser’s interviews because I’m trying to be aware of the player’s mood. Zeus looked clearly disappointed today, maybe more than in previous losses, so hopefully he can reset for the coming days.

Davide: Hi Zeus, Welcome. It obviously doesn’t feel good to get the first loss, but I wanted to ask you what went wrong in the series?

Was the gameplay not good or was [the loss] due to draft?

Zeus: [There was] a lot of stuff. First off, ever since we had the control and lead in the game, our teamfighting was really off. But even in macro plays, our fundamental macro was really basic and pretty predictable. So although we had the lead in the game, I think we were actually losing the trade, so that’s a big disappointment. And overall, our performance was really bad because I was really confident before coming into the match and I was really let down.

Davide: Some viewers were noticing Zeka bought the tear at 20 minutes with zero stacks.

Did that lower the overall teamfight potential you had around that timer?

Zeus: I think I also, in game, pressed tab and realized there were no stacks on his Archangel [Staff] so I thought it was a bug and I was pinging on it. I think it was a mistake.

Davide: Aside from that, how have the scrims been?

Are you quite confident you can come back in the next few series?

Zeus: We didn’t really get to have a lot of practice but throughout those process I could tell that every team has their own kind of different tier list and meta reads and the practice has been going pretty well. I’m pretty satisfied with the outcome. But you know Worlds, you have games, matches every day.

We are all very experienced players. I think we’re fully mentally prepared for all the situations, but also we have to keep in mind that Worlds is an event where the best teams are playing. I think all five members on the team have to play their role perfectly, or minor mistakes can lead to losing the entire game. So I think we all have to step it up a little bit.

Davide: As a two time world champion,

What goals have you set for yourself this year or going forward?

Zeus: This is my first time ever to actually find a new team, start with a new team and with new players. [It’s] the first time with these players to participate to Worlds as well. So yeah, there’s a lot of difference between the previous experiences. Although I have won two world titles in the past, I think I still have to keep up the good work and my goal is, of course, winning Worlds.

Fighting!!🍀🍀#HLEWIN #Zeus #Peanut #Zeka #Viper #Delight pic.twitter.com/c8YgXPeKgn

— EleventhH_ (@EleventhH__) October 15, 2025

Did you listen to the Worlds song? What are thoughts about it? What would be your top two or top one song among the ones that have been released?

Zeus: You know, Worlds anthems brings back all the memory and because of that, my top two would be GODS and Heavy is the Crown. I hope this [year’s] can become the top three.

If you met yourself from 10 years from now, what would be the first question you would ask yourself or what would you tell yourself from now?

Zeus: I want to know if he’s surviving well up until that time.

Davide: Are you that worried? From what perspective [do you mean survive]?

Zeus: 10 years is a long period and if I have to recall the memory back in like 10 years ago, I can’t even remember. I was probably an elementary school student so I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the next 10 years.

Last message to the fans, if possible in English.

Zeus: Thanks for your support [to the] team. Thank you. (In Korean) I bet today’s performance was pretty frustrating for the fans as well. We will do our best to kind of spot our mistakes and make improvements.