Defeat to Team BDS succumbed G2 to a 1-2 opening weekend in the LEC’s 2024 Summer Split with a healthy dose of MSI fatigue seemingly affecting the roster. We spoke to Jungler Martin “Yike” Sundelin after the loss to get his verdict on the start of the split, as well as taking a look back on MSI now that the dust has settled.

What are your thoughts on the 1-2 start? Is there a bit of an MSI hangover?

Yike: Yeah, I mean, I don’t want to make excuses because I think we also just are not playing as good as we used to. We came back from MSI, we probably had the least practice of all the teams and it kind of shows with our performance.

I think we look a bit disconnected and we’re not really on the same page a lot of times.We’re not playing as good as we did in MSI or other splits, so we just have to keep playing the game and improving.

How do you rate G2’s MSI now that there’s been some time to reflect?

Yike: Overall, I was slightly happy with the performance. At least [what] we did versus T1 the first time we played them and versus Top Esports. I was very happy with how I played against them, but it was a very sad way to end it because I think we could have [done] much more. I think we were performing very well, like in scrims and everything, and I really thought we had a shot to win the whole tournament because I think we really played well at the tournament.

So it was very sad that we lost the T1 that second time, and for sure they played much better and we also played worse, so that’s sad. But overall I’m proud of how we improved and that we finally beat an Asian team.

How do you guys take it further against the Asian teams then for an even deeper run?

Yike: For Worlds, if we qualify, I think we have a lot more hope now. I guess since last year we didn’t do good, for sure want to do much better than that. And I think the MSI was a good start for it, for our international performance.

Lee: At MSI last year you said that you felt you could match up against the best junglers in the world.

How do you think you rank against them now?

Yike: During MSI, I thought I was playing very good, at least on the champs that I really practiced on. Like the Rek’Sai, for example, I thought I was probably the best, and on other champs like Ivern too.

I think me and Oner were kind of going even both times we played against each other, so it was always nice to play against him. I think Canyon is probably the best. I don’t know how good Xun is because I didn’t really play him this year, but I think he’s probably up there too. I would still say it’s like Canyon, Oner, Xun and me. So yeah, I would still rank myself high, maybe top four.
Lee: Given G2’s dominance these last two seasons, it feels almost expected that you’ll claim four LEC titles this year and will then be aiming for a deep international run.

With that in mind, how do you go about validating whether the year was successful at the end, given that domestic success is more of less expected while a Worlds run is of course going to be very difficult?

Yike: I think we always have the pressure on us because people expect us to win every split and that’s our goal too. We want to win every split. So that’s the motivation, and also to make sure that we look very dominant. I think that’s the most important thing right now.

That’s a goal for us because if we win by winning shaky games — like we go late game, we win 3-2 — then it’s not like we’re like by far the best team. I want to show that we are by far the best team in Europe, and that’s also giving us more hope for the international games.

Lee: When you spoke to Esports.net last you said your favorite Swedish dish was Korv Stroganoff.

How do you rate that against Lomo Soltado?

Yike: It’s a very hard question actually. I like them both a lot. You know, usually it’s my dad doing the Korv Stroganoff and my mom doing the Lomo Soltado. So, like, I kinda have to choose one side. I don’t know if I can choose that, but… yeah… I like both of them a lot. Yeah, it’s hard to say.

Lee: Diplomatic.

Yike: I don’t want to choose, then I have to choose between my mom and dad and I can’t do that.

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