Days after the G2 VALORANT roster announcement, wippie sat down with esports.gg to speak about his new teammates and switching over to Smokes.
A brand new period begins for G2 within the type of a area and roster shakeup. After lacking on a franchise spot, G2 has pivoted and dedicated to constructing a roster able to leaping from Challengers to the VCT — this time in North America.
Signing former Sentinels stars Shahzeb “ShahZaM” Khan and Michael “dapr” Gulino confirmed G2 is seeking to compete instantly, however it’s the trio from Version1 that makes G2 harmful. Maxim “wippie” Shepelev and Erik “penny” Penny have been key contributors to V1’s Stage 1 success and head coach Ian “Immi” Harding proved to be a artistic and structured sport planner.
A type of gamers, a 23-year-old, Russian-born Controller predominant, wippie, joined me over a voice name to speak about his new journey ahead with G2. How his expertise and the six-month match layoff impacted his type throughout the offseason. And eventually, the potential and pleasure of taking part in amongst this proficient group of gamers on G2.
Interview with G2 wippie
So that you’re becoming a member of G2, probably the most recognizable manufacturers in esports – how was the free company course of?
wippie: “I imply, it went quick. It’s most likely been every week since I used to be requested to affix, so it went quick.”
What enticed you concerning the G2 provide? And, did you get another gives?
wippie: “Probably, I had yet another provide from one other non-franchised group, however I selected G2 over them as a result of I belief these teammates extra as a result of we’re all actually good.”
Alongside along with your former teammate penny singing with G2, Immi is coming alongside as head coach. How necessary is that continuity going from Version1 to G2?
wippie: “It’s positively simpler for me as a result of I do know these two. I’ve performed with them for 2 years so becoming a member of a brand new group is simpler for me as a result of it’s at all times tougher when you’ve got 5 new individuals. So, having Immi and Penny is definitely actually good for me. I don’t like assembly new individuals and issues like that, so taking part in with individuals I do know is best for me.”
Wippie on his new teammates
You get the chance to team up with Shahzam and dapr. Two guys with a storied historical past in Valorant. What are your early impressions of these guys?
wippie: “I’ve identified these two since CS days as a result of all of us performed CS, FPL, and issues like that.”
Photograph by Colin Younger-Wolff/Riot Video games
As for the 17-year-old rookie addition, how acquainted are you with Francis “OXY” Hoang as a participant?
wippie: “I play rank so much, and I at all times type of hated this man as a result of he’s actually good. You’ll identical to play in opposition to him and at all times lose, so it’s actual good that we obtained him. He’s truly unreal from seeing him in scrims. He dominates everybody. The man’s truly actually good.”
The Chamber Meta
Again in Stage 2, you have been totally on Chamber for Stage 1, however flexed onto Killjoy, and Viper. Does this new Chamber-less meta profit you or damage you?
wippie: “I’m going to be taking part in smokes on G2, so it doesn’t actually have an effect on me as a result of I’m not going to be taking part in Chamber.”
Does Chamber disappear solely or is there a spot for him on this meta?
wippie: “I don’t suppose persons are going to play him as a result of, even in scrims, some groups attempt to play him and it simply appears to be like horrible. He doesn’t have the identical affect that he had earlier than so I don’t suppose a variety of groups will likely be taking part in him.”
The Lengthy Layoff for penny and wippie
To shut out the 2022 VCT season, V1 didn’t have the success in Stage 2 that was anticipated following a 5-0 in Stage 1. We didn’t get to see a variety of you on the finish of 2022. What did you’re taking away from that have?
wippie: “To be sincere, I used to be unhappy all yr as a result of as soon as we misplaced in stage 2, we had nothing to play for and we have been out of LCQ, out of every part. We had like no matches for 5, six months. The final time we practiced was again in June, so it has been an extended interval. Since I began working towards once more — I began working towards with G2 in November, so yeah, it’s been nearly 5, six months, I’d say. It’s been a tragic interval for me.”
With so many months eliminated out of your final official match with V1, has your type suffered in any respect? How did you keep at peak efficiency throughout that interval?
wippie: “It positively affected my type. Again in November, I felt I used to be worse, however after every week of working towards, I really feel like I obtained my type again. It’s exhausting to maintain your type whenever you solely play ranked as a result of ranked actually doesn’t do something for you if you happen to’re like a professional participant.”
Specializing in the area, G2 will play within the Americas. Which Challengers groups from this area do we have to control?
wippie: “From simply working towards, I might say Faze and Shopify Riot. I feel these two groups will likely be good going into subsequent yr.”
the expertise in Challengers is unreal. How do you’re feeling the highest Challengers groups match up with the partnered groups?
wippie: “I imply, I really feel the franchised groups are extra proficient due to the shortage of spots. There’s what, 25 individuals? If I examine franchise groups to non-franchised groups, the franchised groups are clearly a bit higher talent-wise.”
How did you get your begin in esports and when was the second you realized you have been adequate to make it professional?
wippie: “I used to be taking part in CS again once I was in Russia and learning in class however I by no means tried to go professional as a result of I loved learning extra. However, once I moved to the US for faculty, after like three months, I obtained actually bored as a result of I didn’t know anybody and it’s like a distinct tradition and a very completely different language. So, I began taking part in extra and that’s once I thought I might go professional.”
G2 wippie on the transition to full-time Controller
You ended the VCT season taking part in a variety of Chamber and Killjoy. Now with you and dapr sharing an identical agent pool, you’ve moved again to the Smokes position. How will you deal with the transition again to Controller?
wippie: “I don’t suppose it’s going to be exhausting. After I initially began taking part in Valorant professionally, I began taking part in Smokes for 3 months once I performed for Ghost Gaming. And once I performed for V1, I performed Viper, who’s mainly a Controller. And once I left V1, I performed Controller for the final 5 months, so I don’t suppose it’s going to be an issue. I really feel like I’ve performed the Controller position greater than the Sentinel position, to be sincere.”
“I don’t wish to jinx us, however really feel like we are able to make franchising, simply.”wippie
What are the group targets? And do you suppose there’s a major expertise hole between Challengers and the partnered groups?
wippie: “I don’t wish to jinx us, however really feel like we are able to make franchising, simply. Simply take a look at the ends in scrims and how briskly we enhance. We had this related factor in V1 the place we have been enhancing quick and you might simply see that we’re group in consequence.”
How good is penny?
wippie: “Enjoying with penny — I like taking part in with penny as a result of he’s a very calm individual. He doesn’t have a variety of feelings and by no means exhibits them. That’s why I like him. He by no means tilts. Most individuals do once they play on Duelist roles.”
How do you see this group meshing chemistry-wise?
wippie: “At first, once we began working towards, I might see that chemistry was not good in any respect. I might see some issues however we’ve been working towards for like 4 weeks so I really feel like every part’s stable and we even have good chemistry now.”
G2 and wippie must wait until February 11, 2023 to get an official match to play. Nevertheless, that offers this newly assembled group time to gel and observe. With the mix of expertise and expertise, G2 could possibly be a drive in VCT Challengers.
Blake Van Poucke
Blake Van Poucke is a Valorant author at esports.gg. He discovered esports by the early days of MLG and the Tremendous Smash Bros Melee scene. He is been competing and writing about esports courting again to 2008. He has written for a number of publications and needs to return to in-person esports occasions in 2022