"Everyone here wants to win more than anything else. We want to win it all."
Triumphantly qualifying for the League of Legends 2024 World Championship Bracket Stage, Weibo Gaming now advances after defeating the South Korean third-seed representatives. As last year's runners-up, Light and his team hope to establish themselves among the tournament's top contenders and bring some fire to the competition. In this exclusive interview, the team's AD Carry discusses his aspirations for the final few matches, his team's progress, and delivers a warning to any future opponents.
Light, you're back in the quarterfinals once again. How do you feel after your qualification?
Wang "Light" Guang-Yu: "I feel super happy about qualifying for the quarterfinals, and hopefully, we can get victories against many strong teams and try to go further in this tournament. We'll take it step by step.
Last year, you finished second at Worlds, and Weibo Gaming tends to perform well in best-of-five formats. What are your expectations for the quarterfinals, regardless of your matchup?
Light: Ooh... I really have high expectations that hopefully we can get to the grand finals once again. We're going to put in a hundred percent effort into practice. We only need to secure victories in two consecutive best-of-five matches to make it to the finals again, right? I'm hoping we can solve all our current issues so we can show our best form, challenge the top teams, and prove ourselves.
Your career has had its ups and downs, and you have yet to earn a title in local or international tournaments. How hungry are you to claim your first trophy in 2024?
Light: It took me a few years to grow into who I am today. I spent so much time working on my individual growth—maybe even too much. Sometimes, I feel a bit of regret that I could not find success earlier in my career. Still, when playing at Worlds like now, I know I have the confidence it takes to show what I'm made of. I really hope that we'll perform well in the quarters and beyond.
This year, especially in the spring split, you faced a lot of issues and made roster changes. Is it extra special for you to reach the quarterfinals again this year?
Light: Definitely. This year has been though but being here is extremely meaningful because, even though we faced obstacles and got some losses, we worked hard to get here and improve both in-game and as humans. Everyone here wants to win more than anything else. We want to win it all.
You’ve been regarded as a very talented ADC, possibly one of the best in the world. Do you agree? Are you confident in your performance so far?
Light: Right now, I feel like I have a major test ahead of me in the quarterfinals, and I hope I’ll pass it. I think we need to beat more strong teams to prove what we’re made of. I want to win against more of them. That’s how I’ll prove just how strong of an AD Carry I am.
After your early losses, many still doubt Weibo. How do you assess the team’s current level? Do you think you can compete with the top favorites in the tournament?
Light: We still need to work harder and put in more effort if we want to face the top teams on equal grounds. Even though we beat Dplus KIA, we’re still one of the lowest-seeded teams because we lost twice in Swiss. Any team that drops that many games in Swiss has issues. We might have won, but we’re not the best yet. We need to perform well and beat our next opponents now.
You're good friends with Tarzan and even lived together before joining Weibo. How has it been playing with him this year?
Light: I feel like Tarzan is a very easygoing person, and we’re really good friends. We have a close relationship. From when he first came to China, we were always joking with each other, and after some time, he could fully understand and join in. I always feel quite relaxed around him.
Do you have a warning for teams that are still doubting Weibo?
Light: No one thought we'd win against DK. A lot of people thought they'd smash us 2-0 and kept doubting us. To whoever we face next, don’t sleep on Weibo Gaming.
You seem to be more reserved and less outspoken than others. Would you agree with that? Do you think your calm and focused nature is reflected in your gameplay?
Light: I'm more of an introverted type in my everyday life, definitely more reserved. But during games, I have to communicate a lot and be proactive for my teammates. There’s so much happening at once. I feel at home when I’m playing, and I loosen up my introverted nature."
Header Photo Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games