T1 Rossy: “The pressure definitely got to us”

T1 Esports will begin life in VCT Masters Shanghai with a 0-1 record. The South Korean squad fell to G2 Esports in a thrilling three-game series that ended in an overtime win for the VCT Americas side. T1 showed up in this series and will have many positives to take away when G2 was considered the favorite. Following their series, the entire T1 VCT squad spoke to the media.

Pressure Got to T1 in Game One

Although the G2 Esports roster had a point to prove after international disappointment on The Guard, T1 felt pressure in this best-of-three. Playing on the international stage is a different kettle of fish.

How even the most skilled players will handle the biggest stages is unknown. T1’s Rossy voiced that after game one, the team realized they were not playing as they would normally, as they felt the pressure.

“After the first game, we realized that we weren’t playing like our game. We were trying to pay differently. The pressure definitely got to us, I guess.”

In game two, however, it was a completely different story. T1 were able to play more like themselves and obliterate G2 on Icebox. The NA squad could only accumulate one round of the entire map, a map Valyn described as “the most annoying” VALORANT map he has ever played in his career. This was the biggest compliment the T1 VCT squad could receive.

They played the perfect game, and there was nothing their opponents could do but respect the level T1 displayed on Icebox.

Unfortunately for T1, they couldn’t close out what would have been an impressive third map from them at VCT Masters Shanghai. G2 was able to clutch it out in overtime, sending T1 to the 0-1 bracket of the Swiss Stage.

For Rossy, he believes the squad lost control of the game plan that was working for them.

“I think we strayed away from the game plan initially. And then they gained momentum.”

Once you lose control of a winnable game, you rarely get the opportunity to win it back. G2 did not allow T1 to regain momentum and could take it 14-12.

Pressure was the word echoed a lot in the T1 press conference. Despite having a good series, small mistakes were the difference between a 0-1 start and a 1-0. Xccurate also believed it was a difference of experience:

“There is nothing we need to change honestly […] its just a matter of experience for some of the players.” […] Today was good, we just need to figure out how we can play under the amount of pressure.”