TL Spawn: “Players’ mental health is at the forefront of every second of my day”

I had a chat with Jake “Spawn” Tiberi, the mentor of Team Liquid’s League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) squad, where we discussed their ongoing victories and how Spawn manages the stresses that come with competition.

Team Liquid is currently unstoppable in this Spring split, exhibiting top-tier performance in every aspect. Much of their success can be attributed to the exceptional play of their star player, Spawn. With just one week left in the regular season and the two strongest teams out of the way, Team Liquid remains undefeated with a perfect 6-0 record. As the presumed favorites for the domestic title, Team Liquid is now poised on the brink of Playoffs and potentially Worlds Championship, following a commendable showing at the Mid-Season Invitational. In an exclusive interview, we spoke to Spawn about various topics ranging from strategic gameplay to mental wellness after their series victory.

Spawn talks mistakes: “Visibly unhappy” with TL vs C9

Esports.gg extends its congratulations on the undefeated LCS run so far, and we’re curious about your thoughts on the series. During our backstage glimpse, a mishap involving Valkyrie in mid caught our attention. We hope everything is alright with your water bottle! Can you share your feelings about the win and the series overall?

Translation: “Obviously thrilled about the victory and maintaining our leading position, and it’s satisfying to have beaten our main rivals this season. However, there were aspects of our performance in Game 1 that left me dissatisfied. The mark of a strong team is the ability to swiftly identify and rectify such issues. Kudos to APA today; he seemed shaken in Game 1, but bounced back in Games 2 and 3, significantly contributing to our wins. This demonstrates a cohesive team. We support our players, pinpoint what’s going wrong, and ensure they make the necessary adjustments, and APA was able to do just that.”

Team Liquid Spawn talks lane swaps

As a long-time League of Legends enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of the game over several years, I can’t help but notice the persistent presence of lane swaps in competitive play. Having followed the scene since its inception, I have seen them crop up sporadically across various regions throughout the split. After our last conversation at MSI, I was intrigued to see that they were still a prominent feature, especially considering the significant nerfs they received.

As someone who has been playing League of Legends for years and having been part of several teams, I can say that our strategy seems to be quite effective. We start with a checklist at the beginning of each game, and if certain criteria are met, we can swap lanes efficiently. It’s not always clear whether our opponents are still active or if they have transitioned into a different phase of the game (like a Teamfight Tactics thing), but we adapt to the situation as it unfolds.

At times, it’s not necessarily about a particular issue. Players might complain about ‘mismatched teams!’ or other things, but sometimes, all we really need is for the opposing team to shift positions slightly. We believe that when they move, they could make mistakes, and when we move, we can uncover opportunities. In essence, it’s a tactic we employ strategically. There are certain benefits we prefer to keep hidden. This isn’t a strategy we use in every game, but in the games where it fits, we certainly will.

In modern gaming, it’s worth noting that three games featured remarkably identical strategies, focusing heavily on team fights and progressing from start to finish. To some, this might seem unusual, as all three games followed a very similar pattern. However, it’s crucial to understand that the strategies themselves were strikingly alike.

Team Liquid Spawn thinks improvement and tenacity make a great team

Why does Team Liquid excel in utilizing their extensive experience, particularly by creating unusual situations for opponents that require awkward responses, which they then capitalize on by exploiting mistakes? It appears that being the only undefeated team is due to this tactic. What factors contribute to Team Liquid’s ability to strategically construct these unconventional scenarios and profit from them?

It seems our team lacks a clear hierarchy or defined roles, which can make us challenging to predict and potentially frustrating to face due to our unique playing style that changes from game to game. We have five talented players who don’t necessarily require special attention like focusing on one specific player to succeed. This unconventional approach was evident in today’s game.

As someone who has spent many years playing in various sports teams throughout my life, I firmly believe that a truly great team is not just a collection of talented individuals, but rather a cohesive unit that performs at its best day in and day out. In my experience, it’s the chemistry between players and their ability to work together effectively that sets the best teams apart from the rest. A great player may be able to carry a team for a short period, but a truly great team will continue to excel consistently over time. That’s what we strive for in our team, and that’s what I believe it takes to be successful in any competitive endeavor.

“We strive to play our game honestly, ensuring essential assets reach our top players when needed, and being strategic in our positioning and actions. It’s no secret that we’ve been emphasizing this approach. In fact, among all teams globally, I believe we hold the highest kill-rate per minute.”

“Collaborate with one another, ensuring our actions aren’t self-centered but rather team-oriented. Maintain a constructive attitude and promote positivity among us in the process.”

Team Liquid Spawn looks to Playoffs and beyond to Worlds

As we stand undefeated with just one series remaining before playoffs, my gaze is firmly fixed on the possibility of reaching the Playoffs and potentially even Worlds. Reflecting on the lessons I’ve gathered this split, there are a few key things I want to carry forward into our final push. Primarily, I aim to maintain a focused mindset and adaptable strategy in response to the ever-changing dynamics of each game.

Let’s revert to our fundamental strategies. I believe our initial performance was lackluster due to a weak basic gameplay, which we improved during the Spring split significantly. However, at MSI and EWC, we encountered top-tier opponents, making the game more complex. To counter this, we aim to build upon our strengths. It’s crucial to recall what made us successful in the first place as a team.

As a gamer, I’ve been tinkering with some tweaks lately, but initially, those adjustments seemed to set us back a bit. However, we’re not about to abandon the improvements we made; instead, we aim to bring back what we lost. The current objective is to maintain the edge we gained from our scrims over the past three weeks, where we were learning from EWC. But this week, I tightened things up and got tough with myself, which I believe significantly impacted our performance in-game.

Simplify your approach and excel at the fundamental tasks. Focus on playing for one another, ensuring unselfishness, fostering camaraderie, maintaining a positive attitude, and adhering to all such principles.

Coaches and mental health: Great power, great responsibility

As a coach with extensive experience working with players ranging from champions to newcomers in the realm of League of Legends esports, I’ve observed the delicate balance that these athletes must maintain between their unwavering passion for victory and preserving their mental well-being.

“It’s incredibly tough for me right now, my thoughts are deeply with Meech, Sniper, Faker, and their families. Watching someone go through such hardships is truly heart-wrenching, especially from a coaching perspective. I often say that I aim to help you become a skilled League of Legends player, but also ensure that everyone who’s been part of Team Liquid over the past four years leaves as a better person. As someone who plays a significant role in many young men’s lives, I feel fortunate for this opportunity.”

As a coach, you’re entrusted with shaping the lives of many young individuals during their formative years. It’s crucial for us to ensure that our athletes strive to become the best versions of themselves, both personally and in terms of their League of Legends skills. This dual responsibility can be challenging, especially when the team is struggling or on the verge of great success and needs victories desperately.

“What I will say is at Team Liquid, every single one of my players’ mental health is at the forefront of every second of my day. I hate to see my players sad. I hate to see them down, I hate to see them knock themselves down. There have been points this year where we’ve had to tackle this and go through it. And what I’ll say is — we value the person first, game second, even if we really like to win. I think that’s the attitude all of the coaches will have. I think that puts our athlete in the best area for them to succeed, not only as players, but as people.”

Spawn wants OG champions in Arcane

I truly value your insights on this matter. Just one more query, it’s not connected to professional gameplay but rather a fun, lighter topic. We’ve been inquiring from pros and coaches about their preferred characters for the Arcane series.

Well, it’s quite challenging for me as my initial character from League of Legends, which includes Garen and Jarvan IV, has a strong influence on me. These two champions were the first ones I devoted my time to playing, and I have an immense affection for them. So, reminiscing about them brings a sense of nostalgia and longing.

As someone who grew up in the heart of the Freljord, I can attest to its breathtaking beauty that leaves one spellbound. The tales and legends born from this land are as captivating as the frost-kissed landscapes themselves. However, my loyalties lie with the Arcane people, having spent a significant portion of my life amidst their enchanting mysteries. Yet, if I had to choose another region off the cuff, it would undoubtedly be Demacia – its towering walls and disciplined society have always intrigued me, despite my deep-rooted connection with the Freljord.

Spawn and Team Liquid will play their final series against a struggling NRG this coming weekend.