T1 and EDG players react to intense VCT Masters Bangkok clash

The Masters Bangkok upper-bracket semi-finals saw Eastern and Western sides locked to opposite sides of the bracket. The first match then was an all-Eastern clash between EDward Gaming and T1 and it well and truly delivered.

A 10-0 start in EDG’s favor on T1’s Split pick looked to indicate a heavily one-sided series, but T1 fought back seven of the next nine rounds. The Korean superteam was unable to close out a complete turnaround and eventually lost that opening map, however they were able to take the momentum into a dominant 13-6 map two on EDG’s Bind. Map three was another close affair — tied 6-6 heading into half time. T1 came out flying in the second half to claim four of the next six rounds, but EDG managed to turn things around to eventually claim the victory by winning the final four rounds consecutively.

EDward Gaming not getting carried away

EDward Gaming was the first of the two sides to speak to the media following the series’ conclusion, with superstar duelist ZmjjKK discussing why the matchup was so tight despite his side being clear favorites.

“We seemed not to play too boldly in the eco, we were afraid to peak because we were too scared about if our opponents force buy. It seems like we didn’t try boldly in the game.”

Nobody was later asked for his thoughts on the drop-off in momentum between the opening ten consecutive round wins compared to the much more closely-competed remainder of the series.

“It’s mainly about mentality, I think. It seems like our opponent got their confidence from map one, and on map two it feels like it was more a problem of defense.”

Of all players competing at Masters Bangkok, EDG’s CHICHOO has been lauded as the best performer so far and is the current front-runner to claim the tournament’s MVP award. He continued that form today with a ludicrous 72/43/28 scoreline and was asked for his thoughts on the performance and praise as the world’s best sentinel player.

“We haven’t got the championship from Master yet, so I won’t say that before we have the championship.” 

Head coach Muggle was also asked to comment on CHICHOO’s form, calling his player a “lunatic” for playing so well.

“I don’t know how to rate CHICHOO. He just, like, turned into a lunatic. He’s crazy since he came to Bangkok.

T1 reflective after defeat

For T1, defeat means their run must now continue in the lower-bracket where they’ll first meet EMEA’s Team Vitality who just got their first deafeated handed to them.

Speaking to the media after the match, the side was first asked about their eventual map three defeat in which a late tech pause seemed to halt T1’s ongoing momentum and subsequently saw EDG take control.

In-game leader stax conceded that the series was “definitely winnable” and cited a lack of concentration for the loss.

“The match itself was definitely winnable, and if we concentrated more and were able to develop better performances we would have definitely won the third map.”

Stax singled out G2 as his expected opponent — though the day’s second series saw Vitality drop into the VCT Masters Bangkok Losers Bracket — and, when asked about potential fixes moving forward, pointed to necessary IGL improvements needed from himself as well as added flexibility for the team on the whole.

Later, head coach Autumn was asked about his team’s mentality during the loss and whether his input was required in this regard.

“Overall the players’ mentality was a little bit off, but they were also very professional, so during the game I didn’t really have to talk to them about their mentality. They got back on their feet by themselves. 

“Especially on the last map throughout the tech pause, we did also see that the mentality of the players was a little bit cracked. But I also want to complement them for getting back on their feet during the last map.”