Worlds 2024: “It’s All in the Details, It’s Awesome,” Says paiN’s TitaN

Worlds 2024 has kicked off, bringing both hope and disappointment for paiN Gaming fans. After a hard-fought series, paiN lost 2-1 to PSG Talon, a painful result for the Brazilian team. In an interview with Mais Esports, TitaN shared his thoughts on what went wrong for paiN Gaming.

TitaN, what are your thoughts after this first series against PSG at Worlds 2024?

The main feeling is that we could have won. A lot of people were saying we would just lose, that it would be a stomp, and that we weren’t at PSG’s level. But we proved that we really do have the ability to compete. We just made a few mistakes in the details. I also think some of our drafts, particularly in the second and third games, were too focused on the early game. We ended up losing pressure on the sides. But honestly, everything here comes down to the small details, and it’s awesome to be part of it.

You mentioned the mid-lane level was surprising, with everything revolving around Maple. Do you think Akali made the difference in the series?

After they banned Sejuani in the second game, trying to stick with the same strategy wasn’t ideal. That’s my opinion, but we’ll still talk with the team. They played well, especially on the top side of the map. I also made some big mistakes, particularly in not helping to relieve pressure on Wizer in the Rumble vs. Gnar matchup. I could have done a lot more to help, but like I said, it’s all about those fine details, and PSG played them better.

How could you, playing bot, have relieved that pressure on Wizer?

It really depends on the champions. I was playing enablers in most of the games, and I took off some pressure in the third game. In the second game, though, I didn’t help at all, which was my biggest mistake. I think I could’ve helped Wizer calm down and get back into the game. In the first game, I played well and helped a bit more, but we also had a better composition and were able to take control of the game.

You were very vocal after the first game. What sparked that?

Yeah, I gave a shout-out to dyNquedo. It was such a cool moment. We played well, and our communication was on point. I was really proud of how we worked together in that game. We got a bit undisciplined later on, but that’s something we can easily fix in practice.

paiN has faced a lot of pressure in the past. How are you dealing with it this time around?

We’ve really focused on our mentality this time. We spent a lot of time together outside of the game, just reminding ourselves that we’re a team. We’ve worked on staying calm and not arguing too much. Of course, there have been disagreements, but no team is perfect. We faced some early struggles with patch changes and adapting after a long break, but we’re in a good place now. We’ve got our heads on straight and are focused on what’s working in the meta.

Has the result sunk in yet?

It’ll take some time. Once I watch the games back, I’m sure I’ll see plenty of things I could’ve done differently and think, “If only I had done this or that.” But for now, we’re already looking forward to the next game.

That next game is against Vikings. How’s the team feeling?

We’re still confident, even in the Lower Bracket. Beating PSG would’ve been a bonus, but we weren’t expecting to stomp them. It wasn’t until our last two scrims that we felt we could take them on. We had some productive discussions, and everyone agreed we had a shot. Now we need to carry that confidence into the match against Vikings.

How do you feel about the Vikings as your next opponent?

I watched their game, and they seem to ignore macro play a lot. They’re aggressive, constantly engaging. I played with them in scrims against GAM, so I picked up on some of their tendencies. They engage without proper information, and that’s something we can punish. We’re confident—if we play like we did today, we’ll be fine.

Is it fair to say that winning the next series is the minimum expectation for paiN?

Definitely. If we lose, I’d be really disappointed. With the lineup we have and the form we’re in, we should beat Vikings.

paiN Gaming’s Last Chance at Worlds 2024

paiN Gaming will face Team Vikings in the Lower Bracket, where a win is required to stay in the tournament. The losing team will be eliminated, while the winner will go on to face the loser of PSG Talon vs. MAD Lions.

About Worlds 2024

Worlds 2024 is taking place in Europe from September 25 to November 2, with matches in Germany, France, and the final in the United Kingdom.

Mais Esports will provide full coverage, so stay tuned for the latest updates, player interviews, analysis, and more!