It’s been a tough start to the LTA North Split 3 for Team Liquid (TL). Following the loss against Cloud9, HotSpawn spoke with TL Yuuji, the new member of the lineup who had joined at the end of the last split.

Nick: We’re coming off a 0-2 loss to Cloud 9. Obviously, [it’s] not the result that you guys wanted. I thought you guys looked quite strong at several points in the series. You certainly had the initiative at a couple of points in both games.

But what are you feeling about the series? What do you think went wrong? Where’s your mind at?

Yuuji: I think both games, I think, I guess [the] first game, I think we were in a very good spot. I think we should win the game from this spot if we played better. But I think we were just making individual mistakes, and just, I guess, maybe we took some fights too split, and I think that’s why we lost the game 1. And I think [in] game 2, [the] early game was kind of off, but we managed to come back.

I think after that, we also could have won if we just played the fights better and the games felt pretty close.

Nick: I wanted to sort of check up on some of the things we talked about last split. One of the things you were talking about then was how your debut in the LTA was very sudden. You were talking about how you hadn’t expected it at all, but you were really enjoying the process of just learning and getting up to speed.

How has that process been? How’s the transition to get an actual offseason to prep and the knowledge that you’re gonna be playing on stage?

Yuuji: I mean, it’s been pretty fun. We’ve been scrimming during MSI, the MSI teams, so we’ve been scrimming for a long time now. I do think we had a decent amount of time to get on the same page, get closer playing together, that kind of stuff.

Nick: Do you feel like you’re getting a little bit more assimilated to the differences between tier 1 and 2 play? Because I know, like what I’ve I’ve talked to a lot of newer players in LTA, over the years. And a big thing that comes up, especially in, you know, in those first couple games that you had, I guess last split, is just like the difference in like tempo and like the micro decisions that you get punished for.

Are you feeling more assimilated to like where tier 1 play is at going into the split?

Yuuji: I think I’m getting used to tier 1 for sure, and I think the more I play scrims or stage matches, I feel more confident going into the next matches, and yeah, I think I’m just playing more scrims, more games, more stage games, so I’m just getting used to it.

TL playing on stage during the LTA North Split 3 2025
Photo Credit: Robert Paul/ Riot Games

Nick: Exactly right, it just takes reps, and I think there is also a visible improvement that’s pretty clearly comfort. You’re just more ready to take the plays that you think are good, find the angles that you like. So the next questions have nothing to do with pro play, just for fun, but it’s to get you guys to work your imagination a little bit. So Riot has been doing these themed seasons. We went to Noxus, we went to Ionia, and Riot has said there are two buckets that they’ll pull from when they’re theming a season. One is a place in the world like Ionia and Noxus. Then the other one is skin lines like Project and High Noon. Those will be the two general things that they’ll theme these seasons after.

If you got to pick, is there a region of the world or a skin line that you think would be a cool aesthetic for Summoner’s ref?

Yuuji: I think last time I said High Noon, but now I would say maybe that project, cyberpunk world, you know, cool skins. Maybe you could add something to the map. I don’t know, Baron, for like robot, you know?

Nick: Robot Scuttle. Robot Scuttle.

Yuuji: Yeah, that would be great.

Nick: It can get little jet boosters whenever it jukes all of my skill shots.

Yuuji: Yeah, I mean, that would be actually good.

Nick: Yeah, Scuttle’s goated. The other thing is, I’ve been asking junglers about this, so I’m not sure if you’ve been keeping up, but Riot seems to be teasing throughout the last two seasons that there’s a Darkin champion coming up wielding a glaive, a two-handed melee weapon. And to me at least, when I hear Darkin melee champion with a glaive, my mind immediately goes to this being a jungler. And so I’ve been asking junglers if you could put like one little thing on the wish list for a new jungler to get with a Darkin glaive champion. The answers I’ve gotten so far were to terrain reversal. Blaber just wants to clear his camps fast.

If you had to put one mechanic or one little thing on a wish list for a new jungler, what would you want?

Yuuji: Maybe [a] champion that transforms like Jayce, at least you know you can press your R and you can transform, and you have more spells. I think jungle champs are being similar or the same for so many splits or seasons, many champs are always similar. So I think it would be fun or good for the game if you have more junglers to play for sure.

Nick: So the other question is, how are you feeling about the format of the LTA North Split 3? It’s very new and the requirements of who can and can’t pick each other lead to some weird matchups. You guys have had to play the two strongest teams right out of the gate, essentially.

How are you feeling about the Split 3 format?

Yuuji: Well, to be honest, I didn’t play the regular season of last split, so I don’t have much input since it’s my first regular season. But I do think it’s kind of weird to just play three games, then just go into BO5s, and also some teams like LYON played against us, FLY, and C9.

I think, I do think that the format is not that great, you know, there’s some luck. Also, the last displayed standings matter for a bit.

Nick: It matters in terms of like pick order and who gets to pick when.

Yuuji: Yeah, and I know some teams changed their players, like LYON, DIG, maybe they improved stuff like that.

Nick: Looking at the rest of the split that we’ve got coming up, we’re about to transition to all BO5s. And it’s a bit of a weird last split where it feels like the whole focus is on top 2, those last two slots getting to Worlds.

What does success look like to you this split? Is there a bar that if you reach it, you think you’ll be able to be satisfied with your performance because of such a top-heavy end of season?

Yuuji: I would say just winning the split or at least qualifying for Worlds.

I think if we don’t make it to Worlds or if we don’t win this split, I wouldn’t be satisfied with myself. So we’ll have to see.

Nick: That matches pretty much exactly what APA told me in terms of his goals. Sorry about the series, but I think you guys are looking a lot stronger this split, and I’m excited to see where you go. Appreciate you taking the time, man.

Yuuji: Thank you.