The director of eSports shook things up by bringing in EdWard this summer in the hopes of winning the championship.
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How has Team Curse been doing this season?
To date, as of the end of MLG, we have had a disappointing start to the season – but this is something that we anticipated. I made the decision to bring in EdWard a few days before the start of the summer split. Most would think that because of that and some horrendous travel – we would underperform – and they were right. We had no time to scrim, work out communication or team comps. With that being said, I have the end in mind and that is qualifying for worlds. The team has really come together in the last few weeks and it has shown with results. We beat TSM at MLG and we convincingly beat Team Coast. If we continue to grow, there is no limit to our potential.
How have you seen eSports popularity rise this year?
ESports continues to explode. Blue chip sponsors are getting involved, the viewership rivals traditional televised sports, the professionalism and casting is equivocal to the NFL or NHL. There are more and more fans, more spectators and with that it is creating a massive opportunity and a new industry. In Korea, eSports is mainstream. Of course, the US is a bit far from seeing the same organization and maturity to the industry – but it is definitely on the right track. You can’t argue with facts and the viewership speaks for itself.
How important is MLG Anaheim in the big picture season three?
The week to week matches for LCS are important, but not as important as the playoffs (week 10). The last week, the top 6 teams will battle it out for two spots to worlds. These two coveted spots are something that Curse has its eyes set on and that is the ultimate goal. The track to get there is going to be approached differently from team to team, but everything we are doing is to prepare for a spot at worlds.
How has the competition increased for Season Three?
The competition, the level of play, the caliber of talent has all increased significantly. Imagine – you have 80 million people who have registered to play this game, at any given time 30 million are playing – right now. The more players that come to the game, the more competitive it gets. A good analogy is to compare the first pro NFL game to the current NFL games today – you already see striking resemblances from season to season in League of Legends.
