Interview with Dignitas robyYE at AEF - Article

It’s no understatement to say it has been a bad day at the office for Team Dignitas. Having lost to Derailed they then followed it up with a with another defeat against Team Thermaltake. Two defeats is usually enough to see most teams crash out in the group stages, however this wasn’t to be the case thanks to the cushion of round difference coming to the rescue of the champions of Gamersject.

This prompted complaints about conspiracy theories and requests from many teams to employ the head-to-head system but these were, of course, unheeded. So, Team Dignitas progress but only just. I caught up with a clearly deflated Robin “robyYE” Swaters as his team packed away around him.

Why do you think the team has been misfiring today? The manager has been suggesting that maybe you didn’t have the best nice sleep due to antics in the hotel. Was that a factor?

I had a good sleep, I was fine. The rest of the team didn’t sleep well.  We don’t really care about it. Not sure, it’s probably due to tiredness and just no sleep.

I heard at one point during the game you said something along the lines of “listen to the comms.” Do you think communication has broken down in the team?

I think we just had a bad day and underestimated some teams. You can see in the last match when we played against Mondialservers, we were under pressure. If we’re under pressure, apparently, we can play really well.

You’ve done enough to still be in contention and you have gone through to the brackets on round difference. Are you confident going into the brackets?

If everyone can get some decent sleep, I am very confident going into the brackets.

A lot of people said, because gamersject wasn’t a bit tournament, winning that was a bit deceptive. Now, you have come here and you’re seeded 2nd, which a lot of people was a bit high. What’s your take on that?

I can understand people not thinking gamersject a big LAN, and I can also understand people saying we shouldn’t be seeded off the back of 1 good result, so maybe we should have been seeded lower, I can agree on that.

You’re still sniping at the moment, even though Blackmane has come back into the team. Has that been something that the team has discussed? Was there ever a consideration that you would switch weapons?

Nah, never. There is one map in which Blackmane is using the scope as I don’t like using the scope on the map. Theres not been a disagreement.

Hows he been fitting back into the team? Has there been any issues with him not fitting in?

Nah, not really. He’s known as a fiery character, he can be quite aggressive. I’ve never seen him being aggressive once at LAN or online. Everyone has a bit of rage now and a again but it’s not bad like it was before.

In terms of the tournament as a whole, what targets did you set yourself coming in? Obviously, you’ve come off the back of a tournament win against Fnatic and that’s very impressive result in isolation, where abouts did you place yourselves?

I came here to go really far. Hopefully, we’ll go to the final, but top3 would be my goal.

Do you think the rest of the team share that goal?

Well, we came with one goal, to go far and win it.

What about the other teams? Theres been some other upsets in the group stages, h2k are another seeded side going through in 2nd place. Do you think this is an event that perhaps we will see some surprises?

I think Qoob is about to start, we played them in practice. They have such great individual skill but their playstyles are so different. I don’t know how long they were boot camping, but we helped them a bit so hopefully they’ll do well. The Dutch team Rage will do well also, they’re really good and everyone underestimates them.

(At this point Duffer gatecrashes the interview screaming “These lot are shit” before being hauled away by his team mates)

What about the favourites for the tournament, obviously, I’m sure you’re confident and hoping to be in the final. Who do you think will be joining you in that final, or who do you expect to be jockeying with to get into that final?

Everyone is thinking fnatic. But, I just don’t think fnatic are going to reach the final again. I had it prior to this tournament. I have a feeling it might be h2k.

There's been a few people thinking that, having dominated the scene for so long, Fnatic might be losing their touch. Do you think we’ll see a changing of the guard?

Yeah, I think they have had their domination, but I think its time for a new team to come and step up. I hope it’s us.