The Piltover Post

With the third split of the year approaching, FlyQuest is continuing their desire to quench their thirst for an international stage. While they weren’t lucky enough to qualify for First Stand and the Mid-Season Invitational, it isn’t going to stop them from leveling up their game. Contender for Rookie of the Year Michael “Cryogen” Luu sat down with me to reflect on his first year, the Korean boot camp, and everything he’s learned so far.

Q: FLY had an incredible run in the second half of Split 2, where it felt like you guys were more cohesive and really ramping up. What do you attribute this change to?

A: We learned to play and communicate better, especially in stressful situations, and we built more trust in each other, which made our games feel a lot cleaner. We focused heavily on our team’s identity and helped each other stay on the same page.

Q: Unfortunately, you ran out of steam in the final stretch against Team Liquid Alienware, going 1-3. Did watching them crush the undefeated Cloud9 at Arizona State University offer any consolation for losing to such a strong team?

A: I wouldn’t say it offered any consolation since we wanted to win at the end of the day, but Team Liquid definitely showed how strong they were towards the end of the playoffs, and it gave us a better idea of the level to expect going into split 3.

Q: In the regular spring season, you played Nami and Nautilus the most. Do you prefer enchanters, or do you like champions that can tank for days? Is there an off-meta champion that you would love to play on stage?

A: I enjoy both styles; I think it’s important to know what your team needs rather than sticking to a certain style. I think the meta right now is shifting a lot, but I think champs like Camille will be relevant going into split 3.

Q: Your head coach, Thomas “Thinkcard” Slotkin, left the LCS for a year and coached FURIA in Brazil. CBLOL is a region that is known for being scrappy and just fighting, even if it might look disadvantageous on the outside. FLY seems to have taken on that tradition and brought it to the LCS, where it felt like teams struggled with knowing how to deal with a team that is constantly in your face. How much do you think his time with Brazil influenced how he coaches you? 

A: Thinkcard emphasizes team play and being decisive; we must stick to the same play. I think we are a really proactive team, and we are more comfortable creating opportunities.

Q: FLY was fortunate to bootcamp in Korea. Have you ever been to Korea before? What was your favorite memory with your team there?

A: The level of solo queue and scrims really pushed us to improve because there were a lot of mistakes we were making in Korea that wouldn’t normally get punished in NA. We spent a lot of time together during the bootcamp, and it helped us relax and build chemistry.

Q: With the opportunity to queue up with some of the best players in the world, whether it was scrimming with teams who competed in the Mid-Season Invitational or just being in solo queue with them, who did you learn the most from?

A: I think what stood out to me the most was how consistent the top players/teams were. It feels like in NA, there is a lack of consistency in overall play, and it seemed like no matter the team comp or the game, the top Eastern teams always knew how to play to their team’s strength and paid a lot of attention to detail.

Q: Your fellow LCS team LYON came back from deficits in their games against what would become the MSI champions in Hanwha Life Esports. Do you think the gap between the LCS and the LCK is closing? 

A: 7. I think the meta right now is changing a lot, so it’s hard to say if the gap is closing. I think the Western teams definitely have had a great showing during MSI, but the Eastern teams are still better for sure.