Runaway Post-Finals Interview (full translation)

Full Runaway Interview post-Finals: “Thank you to the fans for supporting us and making us happy”

Written by Son Chang-sik, Park Tae-kyun

http://www.inven.co.kr/webzine/news/?news=205130&site=overwatch



Runaway beat Kongdoo Panthera in the final match of Overwatch Contenders Korea Season 2, held in the Sogang University Gymnasium on the 11th. Runaway was driven to the brink of match point in Map 5, but with remarkable teamfights and quick-tempo play they were able to even the score. And in the final tiebreaker map, they were able to seize their victory in dramatic fashion.



Q. How does it feel to win the title after such a difficult match?

Bumper: I’ve been 2nd so many times that this doesn’t feel real yet. We were seen as a team that got weaker the higher we went (in the tournament), but I’m happy that this win shows other teams can’t beat us.

Haksal: It’s good to win a title after getting 2nd so many times. But now that I’ve won, it doesn’t feel that different.

Hooreg: I haven’t been in the team long, but I’m grateful to my teammates that we got to win so soon after I joined. I didn’t get to play much but I think I helped out my teammates a lot in general.

Twilight: Last season we lost in the semi-finals as soon as I’d joined the team. This season we broke all the curses/jinxes and won, so I’m happy.

Jjanu: I’m so happy to win, I had a hard time getting into Runaway. I’ll try to win on even bigger stages too.

Stitch: I’ve been competing since APEX S2 and we’ve always only come 2nd. My mindset was “let’s do this until we win the title,” but I had a wrist injury. I’m so happy and proud to win the title even with an injury.

Slime: I joined midway through last season but I was really bad. This time I think I wasn’t a burden on my teammates, and that I did well. I hope our team gets recognized with this win.

Seominsoo: This title is really meaningful. It’s a great experience and I think I can leave a good image to the fans too. I’m happy that I helped with strategic elements by joining the team.

Flowervin: I’ve been with Runaway for 2 years, and we’ve been runner up many times. I wanted to believe in the players to the very end, even if people around me said winning the title would be hard. I’m so glad the players believed in me. This match wasn’t over until it was over, we won because we played with hope. We were always in the shadow of 1st place, but I’m happy to receive this great gift.



Q. You used Wrecking Ball, what did you like about it?

Jjanu: At first I wasn’t sure if it was a good hero. But when I tried it, it suited me, and the skills seemed good. In practice I got good results. I didn’t intend to use him in the tournament, actually, but I tried it when we were down 3:1 and it worked out.



Q. How did you prepare against Kongdoo Panthera?

Jjanu: They use Reinhardt-Zarya-Brigitte really well, so I thought a lot about using Wrecking Ball to break their formation. So we formulated a comp based around Wrecking Ball.



Q. Anything you’d like to say to say to Kongdoo Panthera?

Bumper: We were runner up 4 times, so with just two 2nd place titles it probably doesn’t feel like anything much. After more pain you’ll get your reward.



Q. When you were in danger of losing, I’m curious what the teammates said to each other. When did you think you would win?

Slime: Map 1 went our way, as we had prepared. But then starting Map 2, our hero picks got countered and we started losing. We were really confident for Map 3, too, but we drew. That was when we started getting nervous/tilted, but then the Wrecking Ball composition worked out pretty well, and we gained confidence and felt like we could win. Even when we were losing, all of us laughed and chatted. We told ourselves that even if we lost, we’d go down having fun.



Q. There was no trophy for the Contenders title last season. This is the first one, how does it feel to lift?

Twilight: This is the first trophy I’ve lifted in my life, and I’m happy to do it as a member of Runaway. It was heavier than I thought.



Q. You’re playing the World Cup team next week, can you predict the results?

Twilight: I think if we concentrate, we’ll win.



Q. Everyone played very well, but if you had to pick an MVP, who would it be? And who was the most difficult player to go up against on Kongdoo?

Twilight: Seominsoo. After he got subbed in, the atmosphere changed, we started winning maps, and we gained momentum. A tricky player on Kongdoo is Youngjin. His play is smart rather than reliant on mechanics, so he’s difficult to play against.



Q. Flowervin, you had the job of being Runaway’s GM as well as the community lead for the Overwatch World Cup team. Who are you supporting in the showmatch, and what do you want the World Cup team to learn from Runaway in the match?

Flowervin: I want to leave on the day of the showmatch (laughs). I want to support Runaway and the World Cup team so this is difficult to answer. I hope they take our positive energy, and also some strategy since we did well with Wrecking Ball.



Q. While you’ll look to win the next competition, any other goals?

Stitch: I’d like to play abroad next time (laughs). Now that we’ve won I want to join OWL. And get good results.

Haksal: Personally there aren’t any good Genjis in OWL so I want to go there and make myself known. I didn’t do much on Genji this season so I want to show it on the OWL stage. And I want to get to a new arena/stage with my teammates and win there too.



Q. What is Runaway’s strength, and what are you proud of?

Flowervin: When Runaway first came to be, it was as team very much focused on mechanical skill. Now we have good team coordination, and we’re a lot more systematic. Our players are all really good right now, but they also have potential to get better. And their mentality in particular is the best.



Q. Last comments?

Stitch: Thank you for always believing in us and supporting us from APEX S2, even with all our runner up finishes. I’m so happy and contented that we were able to repay you with a title.

Flowervin: We’ve been waiting for a title but so have the fans. It took a really long time, thank you for believing in us and shouting that we can do it, up to the end. Thanks to you we were able to win, thank you for making us happy. And I want to say I love you.



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