EDward Gaming qualified for the Round of 8 with a surprise upset against KT Rolster and strong overall 4-2 Group Stage performance. Despite being China’s 3rd seed, EDG was still able to outperform both MAD Team and Team Liquid for the quarterfinal berth.

Prior to the quarterfinal draw, we had the chance to chat with EDG’s top laner, Jeon “Ray” Ji-Won, about his performance and EDG’s identity.

I think a lot of fans criticized your performance on EDG in the past, but you performed really well today in EDG’s wins. How did it feel to be so important your team’s wins today?

Actually, there are a lot of local people who don’t know me because I mostly played overseas. In this World Championship, my personal goal was to make myself known to people. With that goal in mind, my potential reach its climax. I was very happy to show myself and prove myself.

You guys got shutout in your first match against KT, but today, you were able to beat KT despite them feeling untouchable. What was the team reaction?

When we lost the first time around against KT, I think it’s because we didn’t perform well. We didn’t really feel like they were a really strong team. When the second chance was given, we thought we should win this no matter what. With that in mind, we weren’t nervous at all. We just wanted to rebound and do well and that’s how it worked out today.

Haro has mostly played at Worlds, but Clearlove also slips in. What’s the difference between the two?

As for Clearlove, he’s the most experienced player in our team with a stable playstyle. He is a really good fit for a perfect game. But as for Haro, he prefers a playstyle with a lot of variables. Their playstyles are very different and that’s a pro.

Of course, you were teammates with Impact in the past on Cloud9… What was it like to play against your former teammate?

Actually, Impact is the player that I respect the most. I really, really respect him and in the previous game, I was really punished by him, right? So once again, I thought really highly of him. I wish I had another chance to prove myself.

Overall, I don’t think anyone expected EDG to play so well. Who, in your mind, is the MVP?

I would say me because when our team was struggling, I was struggling and I think that’s why we lost the game. I realized that I have to do well to boost my team and I did that today.

Photo: Riot Games

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