Images: Riot Games
After two years, PSG Talon is finally back in Worlds. JunJia shares his thoughts on how they made it this far.
Whenever the League of Legends (LoL) World Championship comes around, most fans and players have their eyes set on the powerhouse leagues of the world, like China's LoL Pro League (LPL) or South Korea's LoL Champions Korea (LCK).
However, every now and then, other regions shine bright from the Play-ins — and many fans, despite having their favourites, hope these teams will challenge the status quo and make it far. Such are the hopes of fans of the Pacific Championship Series (PCS), who have longed for PSG Talon’s return to glory after missing the main stage for the last two years.
After a strong showing throughout the year, PSG Talon have done it again, triumphing in the Worlds 2024 Play-ins and earning their place in the Swiss Stage.
It’s just the second week of Worlds, but it’s already been a long road for the PCS Summer Champions. They entered as the heavy favourites at the Play-ins, particularly after an exceptional showing at the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), where they pushed LPL first-seed Bilibili Gaming to the edge in a five-game series.
Despite this, PSG Talon were caught off guard in their opening game against paiN Gaming, dropping the first game in a one-sided affair that left many fans and analysts scratching their heads. However, the team managed to bounce back to win the series 2-1.
Another challenge arose against LEC third seed MAD Lions KOI, who swept PSG Talon and pushed them to the decider match. PSG Talon knew they had to bring their best if they wanted to make it out of Play-ins. Thanks to a strong performance, they swept North America's 100 Thieves, 2-0, to qualify for the Swiss Stage.
GosuGamers had the chance to catch up with PSG Talon’s jungler, Yu "JunJia" Chun-Chia, to discuss their journey, preparations for the Swiss Stage, and what lies ahead for them in Worlds 2024.
A change in mindset
PSG Talon’s return to the main stage wasn’t just a result of individual talent nor was it only a change in strategy — it was a reflection of the team’s evolving mindset. When asked about their approach to this year’s Play-ins, JunJia highlighted a more relaxed and focused mentality:
"I feel like maybe for this year, we just tried to be more relaxed and enjoy the stage, not to be so nervous. Because of that, we were able to showcase better mechanics and a better performance."
According to him, the team’s past failures to qualify for the Swiss Stage made this year’s success even sweeter.
Their opening match against paiN Gaming reminded them of the challenges of the Play-ins. In the first game, PSG Talon started cleanly, pulling ahead because of their superior macro skills.
However, as the game progressed, the plays the CBLOL champs were pulling off were getting scrappier. JunJia was specifically targeted every time they faced their opponent at the Baron Pit, Dragon Pit, or even in the river. This threw him and the rest of PSG Talon off guard.
Unable to fight back, paiN overwhelmed the Play-ins favourites and eventually took down the Nexus. Rattled, PSG Talon were forced to regroup.
"After losing that game, we were all a bit disappointed. But the coach told us that we could easily win the next day’s practice match, so we treated it like practice and stayed focused."
That mindset shift proved pivotal as the Play-ins progressed. While PSG Talon adjusted their strategy to fit patch 14.18, JunJia emphasised that the biggest change came from their mental approach:
“In the first two matchups [paiN Gaming and MAD Lions KOI], we were afraid of losing. That's why we played so badly."
The coach encouraged them to relax, and it worked, as the team played better and ultimately qualified for the next stage.
Reflecting on their decisive win, JunJia was candid about the emotions behind the victory:
"I feel so happy and excited about getting the victory against 100 Thieves, and hopefully in the future, we can do better and better."
Looking ahead to the Swiss Stage
When asked if there were any players he was excited to face, JunJia didn’t hesitate to name one of the world’s top junglers, Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu. "I’d like to face [Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu] from Gen.G,” he said with a smile.
For him, facing one of the world’s best junglers will also be a learning experience, and he can pick up a thing or two from the Gen.G jungler.
“I’ve watched a lot of [Canyon's] games, and he's definitely a very strong jungler. I hope we can meet on stage."
Facing some of the world’s best will be no small task, but JunJia and PSG Talon are ready. JunJia is optimistic about their chances in the Swiss Stage format.
"In the Swiss Stage, it's all best-of-ones, so it’s possible for us to win against the top teams. We just need to concentrate and showcase our optimal performance."
However, to make a deep run in Worlds, JunJia knows there’s always room for growth, particularly in his own play. "I think I need to improve my jungle plan a bit more. That’s something I’ll be working on to help us go further in the competition."
This includes his jungle rotations, his cross-mapping, and of course, utilising the champion pool. JunJia’s go-to picks during the Play-ins included Skarner, Wukong, Vi, and Sejuani, with an overall win rate of 62.5%, according to popular esports stats page, gol.gg.
While Wukong is currently strong in the meta, he may need to consider counter picks for specific opponents.
As for the current state of the jungle meta, JunJia feels it's well-balanced: "I don’t think there are any really overpowered champions right now [in the jungle]. It’s a pretty balanced meta, so it comes down to individual preference and who plays better."
Fuel for the challenging road ahead
JunJia highlighted their convincing win over 100 Thieves as a favourite moment of Worlds 2024 so far:
"Those two games we won felt pretty easy, and I hope I can remember that feeling moving forward. It motivates me to keep pushing."
Before wrapping up, JunJia had a heartfelt message for PSG Talon’s supporters: "Thank you for your support. We’ll keep working harder and try to make it to the quarterfinals."
PSG Talon have proven their resilience in the Play-ins, but the road ahead is perilous. Will mindset be the game-changer for PSG Talon in Worlds 2024?
