SLY Markoon: “It’s either a win or a failure”

Solary had a successful weekend at LFL Days. With two wins over some of the heavy favourites in the French league (Karmine Corp Blue and Galions), Mark “Markoon” van Woensel talked about the energy of the Solary fans, the tense matches he played at the Arènes of Évry-Courcouronnes, and his ambitions.

Ethan: You’ve just beaten two title contenders.

Is Solary truly aiming for the title this time?

Markoon: I mean, we were fighting for the title last split already. We just lost. I came into this this team with the ambition to win. So just because we came third last split doesn’t mean we were not fighting for the title back then. I didn’t came here to get third, you know. So yeah, we are title contenders for sure.

How does it feel to beat KCB in their own stadium?

ARTHUR PERTICOZ ARTHUR PERTICOZ ON A 2-0 CHEZ TOIIIIIIIIIIIIII pic.twitter.com/0OM5CwlPai

— Solary (@SolaryTV) April 10, 2025

Markoon: The amount of dopamine I got after that game, it was insane… Also, because the game was so back and forth and it started so good. I was getting really hyped and then we started throwing. Are we going to lose against KC again with 8K gold lead? Those f*cking bounties popped up again and we started losing and then we won in the end anyway. I was so hyped after the game. It was insane.

Ethan: I feel like for the first time in your career you are the experienced player of the roster in Solary.

How are you taking on this new status of “leader” that you may have in this team?

Markoon: I think when I got thrown into SK, I kind of already was the most experienced player there. But then I think I was completely ill prepared for that role. I think I was not a good leader. I wasn’t even close to being a leader in SK. I was just a rookie at that point anyway. Even after one year experience, I felt like a rookie. But after 2 years of more development in the LEC I guess, gaining more and more experience, like now I actually feel like I’m doing a much better job. I’m still far from perfect, but I think I am actually being a way better leader that I would like to be. Rather than for example in SK when I kind of had to take on the same role.

Ethan: Speaking of LEC.

Do you still have the ambition to come back and compete in the LEC at some point?

Markoon: Yes, the goal is just to go back to the LEC, simple as that.

How was your first experience in front of such a crowd?

Markoon: I’ve played in Rogue, SK, and Excel… I appreciated the fans we had right, but the amount of passion and energy that the Solary fans have had, it is actually surreal. I wasn’t sure what to expect.

I just realized, when some players said: “I’m doing it for my fans, I want to win for my fans”. Now I truly understand what that means.

To give your fans the happiness and the energy they give you back for winning… It is insane.

Do you have a message for the Solary fans?

Markoon: The energy was insane. Just thank you for giving me one of the best experiences of my esports career so far. And I just want you guys to expect us to go first (in the LFL Spring Split). I don’t want to hear anything about going second and that we did well. It’s either a win or a failure.