This interview was answered shortly after All-Stars and NOT following Invictus Gaming's 2nd place play-off placement. All questions are directed at the solo laners of iG -- Zz1tai and PDD.
First of all, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview. How is the morale and feeling inside the team now that you guys have secured 4th place in LPL groups?
PDD: Certainly the feeling was fantastic. Our performance wasn't ideal in the first place, though -- pressure and skeptiscism from outside became more and more severe, yet via continuous alteration and fusing new ideas, and through the efforts the entire team had made, we did better and better. We faced ordeals and felt joy in the process, it was a substantial accomplishment.
Zz1tai: I felt very bad... but we can enter into the playoffs so all in all it's still pretty good.
At the start of the LPL season, you guys were hovering near the bottom. Also, at IEM, you did well on the first day but falled off on the second day. What happened? Where do you think the inconsistency comes from?
PDD: Actually, we cannot say that it was a great difference of our performance, because the game version was the problem. The day before we went to the IEM venue we were notified that it was a different version. What's more, we hadn't seen that version before. Thus, we initiated intensive preparation and research as soon as we arrived. On the first day we indeed achieved some good results. On the second day, I just want to say our rivals did their research toward our tactics very well, they were awesome.
Zzltai: On LPL that was our bad status quo. On IEM, all chinese teams had no knowledge to that patch at all, we did not know which were the dominant heroes. On the chinese servers at the time, the most powerful champions were still Yasuo + Monkey King (Wukong) XD. We fell off on the second day because after the matches on the first day were finished off, we were busy at getting familiar with the current version but we lacked practice. We were in a tizzy.
iG at IEM
Recently, Invictus Gaming placed third at IET, winning over World Elite Academy, but dropping one game. World Elite Academy as well as Young Glory will be playing in the next LPL split. How strong do you think they'll be, in comparison to the bottom two teams Energy Pacemaker and Positive Energy? Do you think they are tougher teams to face?
PDD: Losing IET it was indeed unfortunate, but I believe we will reverse it on the playoff stage. We will not endure being beaten twice by the same opponent. We are strong, and IG is a team which never be put down after defeats!Speaking of WE.A, YG, EP, and PE, they are all powerful as well and they have their own unique traits. For us, each of them are strong, we will not underestimate them, because we've made such mistake in the matches in this spring season.
Zzltai: They are both surprising teams, but they need more practice. The skills of individual players in both teams are impressive.
Continuing on the topic of the summer season: What are your thoughts about two top LSPL teams automatically qualifying instead of fighting for the spot? Do you disagree with it or does it not really bother you?
PDD: There's nothing bothersome. As long as one team is strong enough, it will be kept in the loop anyway. I believe IG will be one such team.
Zzltai: Chinese teams in LSPL are both surprising, it's hard to say which team will avoid relegation. However for me no worries are caused; afterall, there is a disparity between LSPL and LPL.
To end LPL, iG managed to take a game off of OMG, who seem unstoppable at the moment in China. Do you think they have a weakness, or have you not found it? Secondly, they used a very weird composition (Lucian, Nunu, Nidalee, Tryndamere, Alistar), did you feel they were taking it seriously?
PDD: Every team has its own strength and weaknesses, the brownie points belongs to the teams which play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. After all, not everything can be done perfectly in a match, and I think OMG is a team does it very well in this respect amongst all teams.
When I saw this composition, I felt they were exploring the viablity of this composition, because Nunu and Tryndamere are a good jungle combination; our team also even tried it once. All in all, this composition has is feasible if you take advantage of it.
Zzltai: The composition they played was initially used by us at the very beginning... so we understand the weaknesses and advantages of it. Nevertheless, OMG is still very powerful; we coincidentally encountered that composition, thus we acquired victory.
On the topic of strange team compositions, Invictus Gaming seems to thrive off playing very unusual champions rather than following the meta. For instance, Kid has been playing Ezreal a lot lately and PDD has been bringing back top Jayce and Kayle. Do you think the best strategy is to remain unpredictable or will you try stepping up your "standard" game?
PDD: Kid is really confident when he uses Ezreal, he has a unique comprehension of this hero, and it was exhibited successfully on the field. But I think in this era of using tank heroes frequently as an off-lane hero, I want to try more aggresive heroes attached to different compositions, it may have different effects. We, IG, never follow other teams' paces. We have stuff only we possess, why not let other teams catch up with our footprints?
Zz1tai: Based on our own understanding of this game, we pick heroes we think are most prevalent, and if we pay attention to the balance of the composition a little bit, it will be utterly surprising. Normal compositions are indeed strong as well, but new heroes often counter regularity.
In the beginning of ths season, iG were never able to close out games, but seems to have fixed the issue recently. However, your laning has always been strong. Since your team is full of veterans who have been playing for a very long time, this is unusual. Why do you think you had this issue and what did you do to fix it?
PDD: Firstly our team has a new player right now, and certainly there will be an adjustment period for him. Also, this happened at the beginning of the season, it's normal for the teams to have some fluctuation, but we've been striving to find our own roles, and gladly, we made it. We won consecutive games in a row. Undoubtedly, every member of our team is experienced.
If we have good attitude toward every single game, we will be very strong.
Zz1tai: it's about our state of mind and our gaming environment. Put our attitude into the right place, and everything will be okay.
As you may know, The Chinese squad of LMQ was able to qualify for the North American LCS, Have the professional Chinese teams been following their journey and keeping track of their progress and success? Do you still talk to anyone from the team?
PDD: The success of LMQ was inevitable, it connects well to the progress the team made, however, as long as we are still in LPL, we should do what we should be doing; we exhibit our style in every match in return for our club, fans and every person who is concerned.
Zzltai: I think as long as five excellent players want to win, there's a good chance anyone can make the league.
Since you two have been playing League of Legends for a very long time, how much longer do you think you'll continue playing? I've heard Kid was planning on retiring if iG didn't qualify for the summer split, is that true? In addition, do you two have any plans for your future once you are finished with professional gaming?
PDD: I haven't heard any thoughts of retiring within my team, we are going to focus on playing subsequent games.
Zzltai: I'm not "persisting", I don't need to be persistent, it's a matter of love. I think if we didn't get promoted into the summer season, not just Kid, but everyone wouldn't be in the greatest of moods to play. Personally, I am not thinking of retirement for now, I want to fight longer.
Overall, where would you put the strength of LPL teams in comparison to the other regional tournament teams (OGN, LCS, GPL) ? 1st, 2nd, 3rd? What's holding you back from being first?
PDD: Speaking of the level of this league, we feel it's only no better than what OMG has to offer. We can also see this from All- Stars this time around. Chinese electronic sports initiated later than South Korea, we have many aspects to learn from and flaws to improve, including personal skills and the environment of the leagues.
Zzltai: LPL places 2nd. OGN places 1st, we cannot become 1st due to our team system not being strict and set. The enviroment of play is very important.
When your team isn't training to grow stronger, is there anything you guys do together as a group for fun? What do you like doing when relaxing?
PDD: Of course we do, we are young men as well. Except for E-sports, we have many hobbies just as other peers in our age. Specifically, can I say I like eating? There are many people in my team who also enjoy it. Hotpot and roast duck are delicious cuisines we will never tire of. Apart from that, we will also occasionally go Karaoke, get a massage, etc.
Zzltai: Personally I will plyer Dota2, HearthStone, KOF97,Samurai Spirits, and occationally Cross Fire and so on and so forth. But I really don't spent much time on it, just a few hours in one month.
Does anyone on the team have any relationships they must commit to while also balancing professional gaming?
PDD: Of course we do, please don't ever differentiate E-sport players from "normal" people! It's just our profession, in private time we have our personal life as well, that includes emotional life. As a professional player, I believe we can cope with the balance between career and personal life.
Zzltai: Everbody does! But they all back us , so that's completely fine~...
Invictus Gaming ended up placing 4th, but you've proven that you can take games off the strongest teams in China, as you proved in the last week of LPL Spring. Where do you predict you'll place in LPL Summer and what will do to try to make sure you have a higher placement?
PDD: It's hard for me to predict, but we will try to do our best. As for how to make efforts, first of all we need to set up intense training and go over strategies. Second of all we need to adjust our state of mind in order not to let external factors affect our performance.
Zzltai: Definitely we want to be the champion! Fight! Fight! Come on! Come on! >.<
While both of you are two of the strongest solo laners in the world, I'm curious if there's anyone you idolize. Is there any players from other regions you have a high respect for or look up to? Who are your favorite players beyond the borders of China?
PDD: There must be. Many rivals are worth respecting, including those player who contribute to LOL and E-sports. They are all worth the respect. Shy is the one who I want to confront the most, it's about the game at all-stars, you know.
Zzltai: I wish my idol was myself, but I'm not that strong yet... I respect every single player, and I am very fond of Imp and Mata, they are both very cute.
I'd like to thank you once again for taking the time to answer these questions. Are there any last words you'd like to say or any shoutouts you want to make before we close out this interview?
PDD: I really truly appreciate my friends and fans who support us for all these long years , regardless when we were in tough predicaments or when we cheered for our triumphs. Without your company and encouragements, IG wouldn't go this far, I thank you all very much.
Zzltai: (nothing)
iG would also like to thank their sponsors SteelSeries, Logitech, and Lenovo.
=QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS= (Try to answer in one word!)
[PDD]
Favorite food: Whatever is tasty
Favorite player: Myself
Favorite tournament/match/event: can't recall
Favorite Animal: =?= dog
Most enjoyable champion: 
Most annoying champion: 
Biggest fear: milk (lactose intolerant?)
Favorite music: children (Child's music?)
Childhood Dream: ... Being the President
Describe yourself in one word: passionate
[Zz1tai]
Favorite food: sweet meat
Favorite player: myself
Favorite tournament/match/event: The Seasonal Series
Favorite Animal: dog
Most enjoyable champion: 
Most annoying champion: 
Biggest fear: any sort of bugs
Favorite music: ....... unpopular sentimental songs
Childhood Dream: Esports Pro
Describe yourself in one word: ....! laziness
