TL;DR
- UoL’s surprising Play-In success stemmed from strategic preparation and mental resilience
- Nomanz’s Kassadin performance forced opponents to reconsider draft strategies
- Regional perception of CIS teams created initial underestimation of UoL’s capabilities
- Group D presents significant challenges but UoL maintains confidence in competitive ability
- Team focuses on stage comfort and draft optimization for main event advancement
The Unicorns of Love delivered one of the most compelling narratives during the 2020 League of Legends World Championship play-in stage, demonstrating that regional underdogs can compete at the highest level.
Yev “Nomanz” Yakshin, the team’s mid lane specialist, invested extensive preparation time that directly contributed to their breakthrough performance. As they transition to the main event, Nomanz and his teammates face the formidable challenge of Group D, which includes powerhouse organizations DRX, TOP Esports, and FlyQuest. In this exclusive interview, the mid laner provides transparent insights about their journey and competitive aspirations.
How did SuperMassive’s victory over MAD Lions impact your team’s preparation mindset?
Nomanz: We definitely took notice of that result. MAD Lions consistently performed exceptionally well in our practice sessions, making their stage performance somewhat puzzling. When SuperMassive secured that win, it signaled they had elevated their game significantly for the international spotlight.
What strategic advantage did your team gain from having a day off between matches?
The rest day provided clear benefits, though not necessarily through analytical review. We utilized the time for mental recovery and strategic contemplation rather than intensive match study. My focus remained on developing effective approaches for our upcoming SuperMassive encounter and champion selection decisions.
Which regional performances during Play-Ins diverged most from your expectations?
LGD Gaming met our anticipated performance level, while PSG Talon exceeded expectations considering their roster challenges with three substitute players.
How would you characterize the competitive gap between your team and Play-In opponents?
Nomanz: Our success resulted primarily from executing our strategies effectively rather than opponents underperforming. We maintained our expected level while capitalizing on key moments.
Which team presented the most significant competitive challenge during the Play-In stage?
PSG Talon stands out as our most difficult opponent, given our split results against them. However, our sample size of international matchups remains limited at this stage.
Your Kassadin performances have been particularly impactful. How do you anticipate opponents responding to this champion threat?
I expect teams to implement draft countermeasures rather than direct bans. They’ll likely adjust their composition strategy to include better damage type distribution. Effective Kassadin counterplay requires balanced physical and magical damage sources rather than removal from the champion pool entirely.
Which mid lane opponent presented the greatest individual challenge during the tournament?
Xiye from LGD Gaming undoubtedly stands out as my most demanding lane opponent. I experienced significant performance issues in our match, where my decision-making and execution fell below my standards. These situations highlight the importance of maintaining mental clarity under competitive pressure.
What factors contributed to the initial underestimation of your team’s capabilities by the viewing audience?
Our CIS region heritage primarily explains the skepticism, as teams from our region historically haven’t achieved consistent international success at this level.
How do you evaluate your individual performance throughout the Play-In stage?
My performance falls within acceptable parameters though with clear room for improvement. I’ve struggled particularly in high-pressure situations, demonstrating inconsistency between matches from my perspective. Significant performance elevation remains achievable through focused practice and experience accumulation.
Hello
@TOP_Esports_,
@DRXGlobal
,@FlyQuest
!Nice to meet you ????
And special greetings go out to
@PowerOfEvilLoL
????❤️????#Worlds2020
#ThinkPink
pic.twitter.com/Rh7HLARvZR— Unicorns Of Love (@UnicornsOfLove)
September 30, 2020
What specific improvement areas are you targeting for the Group Stage matches?
My preparation focuses primarily on acclimating to the competitive environment. Despite the challenging draw, I maintain confidence in our team’s ability to compete effectively, even against tournament favorites like TOP Esports.
What are your team’s primary objectives for the Group Stage competition?
Securing victories against FlyQuest represents our immediate priority. We’re dedicating substantial preparation time for TOP Esports encounters, recognizing that optimal draft strategies could yield competitive games. Playoff qualification remains our overarching tournament ambition.
Action Checklist
- Analyze opponent draft patterns and identify champion-specific counter strategies
- Develop mental preparation routines for high-pressure tournament situations
- Create balanced champion pools to mitigate targeted ban strategies
- Implement stage acclimation exercises to reduce performance anxiety
- Establish progressive tournament goals with measurable performance benchmarks
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » UoL Nomanz: “I think we are really strong, even against TOP Esports.” UoL mid laner Nomanz shares insights on Worlds 2020 performance, champion strategies, and Group D preparation