Busio takes pride in FlyQuest’s performance at Worlds 2024 despite losing to Gen.G

In my humble opinion, Gen.G is indeed a force to be reckoned with at this year’s World Championship. They have shown incredible skill and adaptability, and I can’t help but feel a tinge of admiration for their performance. After all, I’ve been around the block a few times, and I know a top-tier team when I see one.


After their elimination from Worlds 2024, TopMob had a conversation with FlyQuest’s coach, Busio. The discussion took place moments later, and it seemed like they were on the verge of an impressive victory – a feat that many, apart from FlyQuest themselves, found hard to believe would happen.

It was tough not to cheer for FlyQuest as they were leading 2-1 in the series, just one win away from defeating one of the greatest League of Legends teams ever created. Gen.G assembled a squad of top-tier players with the goal of taking home the trophy, and almost a team from a fading region managed to knock them out.

It was so close.

Busio takes pride in FlyQuest’s performance at Worlds 2024 despite losing to Gen.G

In the brief span of several matches, their contest with Gen.G seemed almost self-contained, a fleeting instance where geographical rivalries and fan loyalties took a backseat. The spectators found themselves immersed in a game that promised to carve its place among the greatest ever played.

Indeed, FlyQuest came close to pulling off an unexpected victory at Worlds 2024, but ultimately they stumbled just shy of the finish line. The match was one where many spectators underestimated their potential for even a single win.

Even though the outcome wasn’t favorable, Busio remained cheerful during our conversation. He took great pride in his team’s achievements, recognizing that he and the rest of FlyQuest had given their all in a final effort to leave a lasting impact on the League Championship Series (LCS) as it transitions.

FlyQuest Busio leaves Worlds 2024 with his head held high

First off, let’s discuss the decision regarding the Game 5 Baron call. Did you ever feel second-guessed about attempting a bold move and aiming for an opportunity to significantly alter the game’s dynamics, rather than opting for a more conservative approach?

Absolutely, let me rephrase that for you: To clarify, we’re completely satisfied with the outcome. If given another chance, we would make the same decision. The circumstances were favorable, as you can imagine; Quad and I were going head-to-head against Drake, and our Baron was advancing at a swift and robust pace. We certainly took them off guard.

Busio takes pride in FlyQuest’s performance at Worlds 2024 despite losing to Gen.G

It’s clear that the game wasn’t going our way. With Kalista against Ziggs, we were struggling to hold onto objectives. The enemy team was advancing steadily, making it tough for us. To turn things around, we needed to either engage in fights by taking objectives or come up with a clever strategy. It seemed like an ideal moment to initiate an objective, knowing full well that sometimes these situations just occur. In other words, it happened to be the case.

Is it your belief that many international teams struggle due to excessive fear of attempting to create opportunities during matches?

Indeed, it seems that’s a common trend across all teams. They tend to exhibit more caution when performing live compared to scrimmages, perhaps because they prefer to minimize risk. However, it’s essential to maintain balance; one shouldn’t overdo it by taking excessive risks or playing recklessly either.

However, I believe one significant issue for teams arises when they become overly cautious about not losing. When fear of loss is prevalent, teams tend to hesitate at seizing 80% chances, instead opting to wait for a guaranteed 95% or 100%, as they prefer calculated and safe moves. Teams that are comfortable with the possibility of losing, on the other hand, make bolder plays, occupy more territory, and generally find it easier to play the game compared to those who shy away from potential losses.

Despite the outcome, Worlds seems to have presented a significantly different experience for your team compared to MSI. It appears that there are substantial improvements evident, and I’m curious if you believe this transformation is rooted in FlyQuest’s courage to take risks and do things that other teams might not dare to?

Well, I’d put it this way: Not exactly, but I do believe our team is more strategic and cautious in our approach. We’ve significantly improved as a unit, and that shows through our smart game reads, effective strategy switches, and innovative pick choices. Our teamwork was exceptional too; everyone knew their roles and responsibilities during different situations. I wouldn’t say we played recklessly, Gen.G might have had more pressure on them, but we weren’t playing chaotically either.

Bwipo consistently opts for unorthodox strategies in his games. This is simply his playstyle. It creates plenty of room for him on the battlefield, and this isn’t due to the game being Worlds or against a specific opponent, but rather an integral part of his strong gameplay. He doesn’t rely on ideal situations; he creates them himself.

Busio takes pride in FlyQuest’s performance at Worlds 2024 despite losing to Gen.G

Indeed, I had an enlightening chat with Bwipo about his mental well-being and enhancing his skills as a player, focusing particularly on helping him discover and solidify his unique playing style. I believe you’ve also achieved something similar for yourself, right?

Over this past year, I’ve undergone significant development in various aspects. Playing numerous games, internationals, and scrimmages has contributed greatly to my growth, both in terms of my gameplay skills and my mental approach towards the game. However, there’s always more to learn. As I gain a deeper understanding of the game, I become adept at distinguishing what matters from what doesn’t. This newfound awareness empowers me to make informed decisions, such as knowing when to listen to my teammates and when to politely decline their suggestions.

One of my habits that could use improvement is blindly following instructions given to me. Instead, I’ve been learning to visualize a situation before taking action, as it’s essential for making the right moves. For instance, when playing Rakan, I used to rush in as soon as someone told me to, but now I wait for the carries to strike first and then join the fight once things heat up.

If you grasp the expected flow of the team battle, particularly considering the compositions we used today, it simplifies everyone’s tasks significantly. We won’t struggle to find an opening. Instead, it seems more intuitive, the battles unfold smoother, and that’s because it commences with understanding how the team fight should progress. This enables me to assert, ‘No, I prefer not to do this way. Let’s engage like this,’ you understand? And that was a significant learning experience for me.

Hey there! You’ve got this upbeat energy going on. I must say, before the series started, what did you anticipate would happen? Given that we’re now at Game 5, are you feeling a sense of accomplishment, despite not securing the victory?

This was the top method for us to lose. There’s no superior way to lose than game five, where we came close to winning against one of the world’s best teams. Yet, I can’t help but feel sadness. If only we had won, it would have been wonderful to advance to the Semifinals and prove our ability to beat an Eastern team, facing T1 next. That would have been fantastic. Despite feeling sad about losing, this is one of my happiest losses.

Busio takes pride in FlyQuest’s performance at Worlds 2024 despite losing to Gen.G

That’s a good way to think about it. I mean, there’s nothing we can do about it now, there’s always next year.

Yeah, it’s impossible to be happy after a loss, but you can be less sad than after other losses.

Are you of the opinion that Gen.G currently stands as a strong contender for the World Championship title? In other words, were your initial thoughts centered around possibly encountering the top team globally during the competition?

Yep.

Yeah…

In simpler terms, I believe this team might be the top in the global league. Their performance against Top Esports was extraordinary, showing they’re currently at their best. As for BLG, I’m a bit uncertain about them. For now, T1 is generating a lot of buzz and excitement – it’s all about T1 at the World Championships. They started off sluggish but have since dominated, almost as if they possess supernatural skill.

It’s hard to say which is the best team in the world, but Gen.G easily could be.

Is it your impression that North America lags significantly behind other parts of the world today? Despite criticism, you’ve demonstrated that we have the ability to compete at a high level with the best.

On average? Yes.

I believe that when a team’s five members are fully focused and aware of the game’s progression, they play with confidence as if it were just an ordinary game of League of Legends. It’s indeed anyone’s match, as we demonstrated today. However, it’s common knowledge that the Eastern region tends to be stronger due to their extensive practice, a larger player pool, and superior solo queue servers. Therefore, they probably excel in certain aspects.

Busio takes pride in FlyQuest’s performance at Worlds 2024 despite losing to Gen.G

On one hand, we do possess certain benefits. For instance, our open-mindedness during the draft provides us an edge, which we’ve effectively utilized in this tournament. However, if you manage to balance the scales, the outcome becomes unpredictable for everyone involved.

I observed that FlyQuest quickly resorted to analyzing their past games, even though the season has ended. What’s the main lesson they focus on when they suffer a defeat such as this one?

Regardless of the outcome, if you continue playing next season, there’s always something valuable to take away from each game. This series in particular offers unique learning opportunities since it represents the peak of competition we’ve faced all year. Pushing yourself during such high-stakes games is when growth happens most. It’s beneficial to review these matches and identify areas for improvement.

Imagine standing at the threshold of 2029, looking back on your past, specifically the year 2024. What event or experience do you believe will stand out as the most significant in your memory?

Achieving the LCS title was quite something. Simply put, it was a victory. Throughout my professional journey, I had never before secured first place. Not in school competitions, not in the LCS, and certainly not on an international stage. So, yes, winning was truly exceptional. The feeling of winning, I must admit, was indescribably gratifying.

Busio takes pride in FlyQuest’s performance at Worlds 2024 despite losing to Gen.G

But, this Worlds tournament is going to be memorable. Two super close series against great Korean teams. This arena today was super cool. It was completely packed, the noise was unreal. Hearing yelling through my teammates mics, I couldn’t even hear what my coach was saying in draft.

It’s an amazing experience, and I just hope to win in an arena like this soon.

Note: This interview has been edited for content and brevity

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2024-10-20 23:19