"If we perform well in Spring, we'll do the same in Summer"
After a year at Aegis and one at Karmine Corp, Jules "Hantera" Bourgeois, current support for BK ROG, is ready to take on his former teams. More confident than ever and at the top of his game after his matches at the LFL Days, he's gearing up for his rematch against Karmine Blue.
| You went 2-0 this week, currently sitting at the top of the leaderboard. How do you feel after that game?
Hantera: "I feel good despite the unusual early game. I'm very happy to go 2-0, especially on stage, so now I'm just waiting to celebrate. It's always nice to play in front of everyone. Even though I've changed teams now, all the KC fans still come to see me. There are even some Solary fans, Aegis fans... Everyone comes to see us, and it's really cool to meet and see people again."
| How do you feel about the team's level? Do you think you're the best team in the LFL?
Hantera: "I think so, the standings prove it. I think the only times we've lost were when we tried drafts that were a bit too complicated or ambitious for our level. I think we only have KC or BDS as rivals. The rest, I think they're a bit below."
| Looking forward to playing against KC again, your former team?
Hantera: "Yes, definitely. The first match was one of the drafts we tried that was a bit too complicated, so next week, we'll play more normally. Of course, I'm looking forward to playing and, especially, winning."
| This year, you're with BK ROG, a relatively new team in the LFL with a small fanbase. How do you feel about that? Is the atmosphere different?
Hantera: "When I was with KC, the fans' expectations were very present. It's positive and negative at the same time. When you win with KCorp, the atmosphere is just incredible, but when you lose, it's more complicated on social media."
"This season, I'm a bit more in the back since BK ROG has a smaller fanbase, but it doesn't bother me. Anyway, I'm still followed by many former fans."
| You reached the heights of Europe and then came back down to the LFL. How do you feel about your career?
Hantera: "I still have the ambition to play in the LEC. I think a lot of LFL players can play in the LEC. But then there's playing in the LEC and winning in the LEC."
"Personally, I don't think I have any major shortcomings to target during training. This year, I get along well with my ADC, which makes me more confident. It's a change for me, since it wasn't the case at KC and Aegis. I can finally show what I'm capable of, and I'm very happy about it."
| This year, you're playing with SamD, a Korean player. Were there any problems at the beginning?
Hantera: "Yes, at the beginning, there was a language barrier. His English was a bit rough, but he's learning. At first, we were mostly communicating with pings, like in SoloQ. Gradually, he started speaking more often. He got to know me, and when you're more confident with someone, it's easier to talk. Now, he's not afraid to speak anymore, so honestly, it's good."
| How is the atmosphere in the team?
Hantera: "Czekolad is a bit of the team's joker; he takes up the space of two players. 113 wasn't at the gaming house because he had Visa issues, but now it should be fine, we'll have him for at least a month. I'm looking forward to having him back; I think the atmosphere will be really great."
| Have the last few weeks of scrims gone well?
Hantera: "They've gone a bit too well. With 113, the early games are very aggressive, and we tend to wrap up the games too quickly. It doesn't give us as realistic training as official games or games on stage. Sometimes we have to calm him down a bit to have more stable games. The team's goal is to win everything, so we really pay attention to training."
| The past two years, you have had two good Spring Splits and two weaker Summers. Do you have any fears for this year?
Hantera: "No, I don't think there's a curse. Two years isn't enough to talk about underperformance in the Summer. This year, I guarantee that if we perform well in Spring, we'll do the same in Summer."
Photo Credit: Elliot Le Corre
