OMG Pre All-Stars Interview: The domination of OMG, future predictions, and lane swapping

All questions directed at both Bigpomelo and Allen (formerly LoveLin). This interview was conducted before OMG's match against Invictus Gaming where they used Cool.

First of all, I want to thank you two for doing this interview! You guys have been ahead of the competition in the LPL for a really long time. How does that feel? Do you ever fear you might get complacent with your success and perform worse?

Pomelo: I feel good. I think we are modest. We take a lot of time to practice every day, and I don't feel like we'll be complacent if we win more games.

Allen: I feel very happy and relaxed. To be honest, sometimes I am a little bit worried. Experience tells me that this is a dangerous situation to be in.

Allen, you've both been considered one of the game's best junglers and best support's simultaneously; Pomelo has been given similar respects. Both of your transitions have looked smooth back and forth, how did you manage to make such a smooth transition, and is there a preference between jungle and support? Allen, you've both been considered one of the game's best junglers and best support's simultaneously; Pomelo has been given similar respects. Both of your transitions have looked smooth back and forth, how did you manage to make such a smooth transition, and is there a preference between jungle and support?

Pomelo: It largely depended on how we practiced daily. It's really helpful to know each position better, that way you get more out of practice. I practiced a lot, so it won't ever be a big deal if we change our positions. However, I prefer to be my current role of jungler.

Allen: It depends on personal experience. I played support last season for some time. I pay a lot attention to my practice this season as well. I actually prefer to be a jungler, because controlling the rhythm of the game make me feel good.

OMG will participate in the upcoming All-Stars match to face off against Taipei Assassins, Fnatic, Cloud 9, and SK Telecom T1 K. Out of those teams, OMG is the only one to play SKT T1 K. You guys went even in record against them, both for group stage points and win-loss ratio against the team. How do you anticipate the tournament will play out?

Pomelo: Hard to say, but I hope we don't choke and play well in this match. Winning the whole thing is our goal!

Allen: I think at our best, we can hopefully be champions. If we aren't, hopefully we can still show a strong performance.

You guys have been practicing on the Korean servers in anticipation of this tournament. Do you think you'll be at less of a disadvantage than World Elite and Invictus Gaming were at IEM Katowice? Do you still feel disadvantaged at all?

Pomelo: I personally haven't practiced a lot on the Korean servers due to the lag. However, we have experience on the latest game version, so we can work better with it. It'll be less disadvantageous than IEM for World Elite and iG.

Allen: We still are at a big of a disadvantge, but we can offset that with hard work and my immense drive to not let our team down.

Back at Worlds, many would say OMG was "upset" by Royal Club, and that Royal Club even making it into the tournament over teams like World Elite or Positive Energy might have also been an unexpected result. What happened in your match against Royal Club if you can recall? Explain how you feel the matches against Fnatic and SKT T1 K would have gone had your team advanced.

Pomelo: We are good friends with Royal Club's players. We didn't feel upset*. We were beat by

them because we made a lot of mistakes. We felt bad when we lost to Royal Club during the quarter final. Fnatic and SKT T1 K are strong teams, we are looking forward to play against them at All-Stars.

Allen: We were worried when playing against them because we lost to them continuously before, so we made many mistakes during the games. After losing the first game, we became negative. We are confident we can beat the teams we missed later in the bracket. We are looking forward to play against them.



How do you think the Chinese region as a whole compares to Korea in it's current state? What about the rest of the world? Most would argue that Korea is stronger than China for League of Legends, could you explain to our audience what might be the missing puzzle piece so China can find the same success?

Pomelo: Teams in the Chinese region are strong. Compared to the rest of the world, Korean teams are our strongest opponents, so we are constantly watching games from Korean teams to study. We know less about other regions' teams. I think the environment of e-sports in Korea is pretty exceptional, being that it receives support from the country and government. Many regular people care as well. It helps the pro-players pay more attention to practicing. Chinese eSports still have a lot of work to do. Many Chinese people don't understand eSports. Once the infrastructure and acceptance becomes less of an issue, players can focus a lot more on strictly practicing and improving.

Allen: We are not as professional as Korean teams. Compared to the teams in other regions, we may practice harder. Also there are more players in China because of the population. I think personal quality is very important for a pro-player. Most pro-players are young, they may be complacent when they become well-known. It is also influenced by clubs. But fairly, some hard-working and talented players will be popular and successful. However, I hope the association can focus more on how to increase the talent of players. Also, if pro-players can get more salary, they will train harder.

Again reflecting on the strength of China as a whole, the most recent patches have heavily favored 4 vs. 0 tower pushing, something you guys were familiar and comfortable with before it was "the meta". While OMG is usually quick to adapting to different playstyles regardless, do you think this is the region's era to shine?

Pomelo: I think so. I do look forward to these matches and hope that we can achieve our goal.

Allen: Maybe. But each team will have practice on the same game version this time around, so maybe there will be something there that we don't expect from other teams.

You guys will be bringing Cool back in the match against Invictus Gaming after a long hiatus with Xiyang subbing in. However, Xiyang is by far the MVP of China. What is to become of Xiyang after Cool comes back? Could you express your thoughts on the differences between the players both personality-wise as well as strength and weaknesses? You guys will be bringing Cool back in the match against Invictus Gaming after a long hiatus with Xiyang subbing in. However, Xiyang is by far the MVP of China. What is to become of Xiyang after Cool comes back? Could you express your thoughts on the differences between the players both personality-wise as well as strength and weaknesses?

Pomelo: I think this doesn't only affect Xiyang, it is challenging for Cool as well. We'll have to wait and see if Cool can play well or even play much better than before. Xiyang has to face a lot pressure from this, so I expect him to also grow stronger. They are both top solo players. It is known that Xiyang is a little bit shy and cute. He works very hard. Cool is a talented player, but sometimes he is slow to get started. Cool also has more experience than Xiyang. Xiyang is a little bit aggressive he will be more vulnerable to ganks. Cool always tries to play a safe game, he will gank enemies and help out his teammates, but sometimes he will do something foolish as well.

Allen: It may effect Xiyang in some different ways. However, everything will be fine if we see his effort.

Both of them are humble, but obviously, Cool can play out teamfights much better because of being a teammate to us for one and a half years. However, since Xiyang is by far the current MVP in LPL, maybe he'll surprise us and grow consistently stronger.

OMG is very close in standings to Edward Gaming; however, unlike them, OMG has not dropped a set 0-2 yet. What are some distinguishing factors between both teams that allow your team to be more successful?

Pomelo: EDG is a very strong team, and a very important opponent for us in China. I think we have better mentality. Also, we control the game better than them. I think the most important thing to play the game well is to practice hard while also studying your opponents. Doing those things alone will make you a successful team.

Allen: I think our team has more experience than them. We have been together for a long time, so we get used to most of the patches. We participated in far more games than them. Though there's a new teammate who's joined us, it doesn't mean we will make the same mistakes as we made before because of our core functionality.

While this doesn't particularly pertain to you two, I'd like to know your thoughts on the focus of the game. A lot of players are transitioning to damage dealing top laners and junglers instead of tanks. Many feel that China is a region that is incredibly focused on keeping the AD carry alive and treating it as the most important role on the team. Do you think that mentality is going to have to shift with the changes to top and jungle? Are the AD carries going to have to be more self sufficient? While this doesn't particularly pertain to you two, I'd like to know your thoughts on the focus of the game. A lot of players are transitioning to damage dealing top laners and junglers instead of tanks. Many feel that China is a region that is incredibly focused on keeping the AD carry alive and treating it as the most important role on the team. Do you think that mentality is going to have to shift with the changes to top and jungle? Are the AD carries going to have to be more self sufficient?

Pomelo: Each champion may have a different skillset, but they can buy same items, which means that most champions can be a tank if they adjust their runes and masteries. But it's a team game. Stuns are very important. Damage varies a lot based on how you build the champion. When we are picking champions, most of time team will pick champions with stun, high damage or blink. Those champions can stun, can do damage and even be a tank with suitable items, runes and masteries. It's much better than those heroes that can only tank or aren't as flexible. As the saying goes, “The best defense is a good offense”. Every team has different styles, some teams make ADC the core of the team, while others make AP the core. For most of the Chinese teams, the core is based around ADC. I think that's why people think Chinese teams focus more on ADC. However, it still depends on the team style. Now, ADC can't farm well without help because there are two influencing factors on the bottom lane and support is now equal in importance to the ADC. But everything may change in the future. We are looking forward to it.

Allen: I think there can be more ways to play this game. Maybe it is because every player in a team has different personal quality. I am very willing to see the traditional changes. Everything is acceptable for winning a game. In other words, we don't personally feel we'll be affected if the meta shifts.

While you two are probably some of the best at your positions, you probably have people you look up to. Do you have any idols, especially from other regions such as Korea, that you look up to or feel are incredibly strong players you can learn from?

Pomelo: I like Samsung Ozone's support Mata most as a support influence. Diamondprox is also one of my favorite junglers.

Allen: For a long time, I haven't really had any pro players that I've admired. I think all pro players can be equal. If I want to be successful, I have to learn the same way others have to achieve success.

Is there anything your team does for fun to relax and get away from League of Legends after practicing and scrimming all day?

Pomelo: I will take a long time shower, listen to music, watch movies, or have a big meal.

Allen: I will watch movies, take a shower, have a big meal, or do some other activities, such as seeing a movie or playing another game.

OMG would like to thank GALAXY, Gunnar SADES, DouYouTV, Genius, and other sponsors at the end of this interview.



=QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS=

[Pomelo]

Favorite food : potatoes, chicken, Chinese cabbage

Favorite player : watching a movie or TV shows in bed after taking a shower*

Most memorable match / Tournament : the two games against Royal Club in S3WC

Favorite Animal : horse

Most enjoyable hero:

Most annoying hero :

Biggest fear : Saying farewell without meeting again

[Allen]

Favorite food: I don't know what my favorite food is. I will eat all kinds of food when I am hungry.

Favorite player: none

Most memorable match / Tournament: I don't want to review that, it's painful, :D.

Favorite Animal: Cat

Most enjoyable hero:

Most annoying hero:

Biggest fear: To lose some important games

Favorite music: The music that can make me feel energetic

* = Possibly misinterpreted answer due to language barriers







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