zhokiNg: "Our team's biggest problem has always been the lack of a secondary IGL[...] when I'm on the server, I can actually fill that gap"

TYLOO may have struggled at international events over the course of the season, but despite losing Dongkai "⁠Jee⁠" Ji to illness, they have taken a massive stride towards PGL Major Singapore qualification with a victory over 9z at PGL Masters Bucharest.

"It didn't really affect our mentality too much," super stand-in WeiJie "⁠zhokiNg⁠" Zhong said of Jee's absence in the wake of his team's victory. "The players probably felt like they could just play freely, without too many concerns, and they played really well."

zhokiNg also spoke about what he brings to the team when he plays, the importance of this win over 9z, and their struggles across the season thus far.

Note: This interview was conducted with the help of an interpreter, and the answers translated by HLTV.

How important was that series for you and TYLOO? It looked after the game like you were very happy to get that victory.

This match actually, to a large extent, determines whether we can qualify for the Singapore Major. So it's very important, this is key, this victory was crucial.

How did the situation with Jee, his illness, affect the team's mentality going into the match?

Actually for us, it didn't really affect our mentality too much, but on the server our firepower was definitely a lot weaker. But the players probably felt like they could just play freely, without too many concerns, and they played really well.

TYLOO have had a lot of success with you as a stand-in. Why do you think that is? Do you help with the calling in game, or what is your contribution to the team as a stand-in?

Actually our team's biggest problem has always been the lack of a secondary IGL on the server, lack of someone who can help share the pressure with our in-game leader. So when I'm on the server, I can actually fill that gap pretty well. I can offer my own opinions and give calls, and in the mid-round I'll also coordinate everyone to execute things more smoothly.

You've had a difficult season in international tournaments. The Big Event you've not had a lot of success, particularly compared to previous seasons. Why do you think that is? Why do you think you've struggled at these big international tournaments?

You mean recently, right?

Yeah, recently.

The main reason is also what I just mentioned, that we're now stuck in a bottleneck. There's no secondary IGL on the server to share some of the pressure on offense, and also on defense, having a second person's ideas as well. That's mainly the reason. And that's also what we need to change and improve going forward.

Maximiliano 'max' Gonzalez

Franco 'dgt' Garcia

Ignacio 'meyern' Meyer

Luciano 'luchov' Herrera

Matias 'HUASOPEEK' Ibañez Hernandez

Bruno 'BIT' Fukuda Lima

WeiJie 'zhokiNg' Zhong

TYLOO

Yi 'JamYoung' Yang

Dongkai 'Jee' Ji

Jingxiang 'Mercury' Wang

Qianhao 'Moseyuh' Chen

Su 'Zero' Jingshen

WeiJie 'zhokiNg' Zhong

Dongkai 'Jee' JiPast 3 months