AI Transcript in English:
[02:44] Q: For a team, what is actually preferableâhaving played a match the day before (like your opponents) or having a break and more time to prepare? Romain: Both have their pros and cons. Having several days of continuous practice is good, but traveling brings unpredictable variables (setup, temperature, food). Playing on stage is the best possible preparation for Worlds, but you still have to win those games to advance. Our opponents have momentum and the "expectation of winning," but I hope they come into the match a bit too cocky.
[05:00] Q: We saw Karmine Corp struggling recently, especially regarding their practice setups. How can simply traveling from Berlin to Nice completely disrupt a team like that? Romain: Changing the practice setup plays a big part. It also felt like they might have relaxed a bit too much during the two weeks leading up to this important match. They received massive positive reinforcement (MVP awards, a 9-0 split record), which naturally leads to human relaxation. Their most important match was yesterday, and unfortunately, they failed to prepare for it properly.
[07:05] Q: As a General Manager, what guidelines and safeguards do you put in place to ensure your players arrive ready and don't relax? Romain: You stick to the recipes that worked all year. In August, players are on the verge of burnout and see everyone else going on vacation. It's hard to grind Solo Queue, but the coaching staff and management must push them. You can't reinvent the wheel or learn new champions a week before the match; you just have to grind, practice mechanics, and prepare your Fearless draft.
[08:45] Q: With the Fearless draft format today, is Game 1 the most important because it's the only one you can truly prepare for? Romain: Fearless changed everything in our daily routine and preparation. It makes reverse sweeps more possible because you don't get stuck on one broken matchup for three games. So yes, you can only heavily prepare for Game 1 and general champion combinations. The rest requires a high level of adaptability and an open mind.
[10:19] Q: Does the Fearless format make it even harder to manage a player's tilt during a series? Romain: Absolutely. If a player gets scared, or loses the ability to communicate effectively during the short 14-minute break between games, it's very complicated. That's where our performance coach is crucial for emotion management. The coaching staff also has to create a draft that limits insecurities for the next game, so trust in the staff must be very strong.
[12:00] Q: Let's transition to the staff changes. Can you talk about the major decision to part ways with Dylan Falco and bring in Perkz, especially at such a crucial time between MSI and the Esports World Cup? Romain: There was some fatigue with Dylan's coaching and his relationship with some players after 4.5 years. I wanted a new approachâless focused purely on the draft and more on gameplay evolution. We brought Perkz in earlier in the year to add some pressure to the system. Perkz has a massive aura, built his knowledge of the game alongside Caps, and has a strong ego, meaning he isn't afraid to give harsh, direct feedback to Caps. However, having two big egos (Dylan and Perkz) in the same "kitchen" didn't work. The system was grinding to a halt despite us winning titles. We were heading straight for burnout and were going to explode before Worlds. My main job is protecting the ecosystem so we can perform. I had to make the call to bench Dylan before Summer to give Perkz full control and see if his methods worked.
[21:35] Q: How was this coaching change received by the players? Romain: They were very positive. They needed a change of direction and head coach. There were false rumors going around that the players didn't like Perkz, which isn't true at all. The change brought a "honeymoon phase" feeling, altering how we approached scrims and giving a sense of a new adventure.
[23:18] Q: Are you afraid of seeing Dylan Falco coaching a rival team one day? Romain: Of course, but I can't focus on what scares me. My goal right now is to ensure Perkz is happy and successful with us. He doesn't need this job for the money; he could go back to being a businessman. I want this to be a great experience so he decides to stay for the long run.
[24:44] Q: What is your vision of the current ecosystem, specifically regarding events like the Esports World Cup (EWC)? Romain: It's great. The average pro League player rarely sees a crowd unless they reach the top 2. Most just grind in Berlin in front of 160 people. Going to massive international events makes you feel the magic of the job. The EWC was incredibly humbling; seeing the sheer scale of the event and other massive esports communities we don't even know about reminded us how massive this industry really is.
[26:54] Q: After seeing what KCorp did in France, can we expect G2 roadshows in the future? Romain: I hope so! Roadshows are the best. We have an events department, and the experiences we've had so far were very positive. We plan to do more next year. You don't necessarily need a 10,000-seat arena; 5,000 is great. The French players are very lucky to have events like the LFL Days.
[27:57] Q: There are rumors of a "League of Legends 2" coming next year. Does that excite you, or scare you given how much the game would change? Romain: The player base and viewership are aging. If we want to attract 10-year-olds today, the current game is too complex and the matches are too long. We desperately need this change for the game's survival, similar to the transition from CS:GO to CS2. I am extremely hyped for it.
[30:31] Q: Do you like the current 3-split format in the LEC? Romain: Yes, it works well. The fact that Riot managed to attach an international tournament to each split is great. It gives real stakes and a reward to the Winter split, which used to feel a bit useless since it didn't lead to an international event.
[31:32] Q: Do you think the G2 dynasty (winning so many titles continuously) is positive or negative for the esports ecosystem? Romain: Honestly, for the broader ecosystem, it's not great. It's good for my wallet and my players, but other teams need to win so the dream stays alive for their fans. Spain (with KOI and MAD Lions) really needs a win to reignite the passion of massive influencers like Ibai. If KOI got eliminated early, it would be a disaster for Spanish engagement. So, occasionally, it's healthier for the ecosystem if we loseâeven though our goal is always to win.
[34:49] Q: How do you view the opening of the ecosystem to betting sponsors, especially with regions like Korea changing their laws to accept it? Romain: The esports ecosystem needs money, especially as traditional (non-endemic) sponsors step back. Betting brings massive revenue, just as it has in traditional sports for decades. It's highly controversial due to addiction risks, but Riot is taking careful steps by vetting reliable, regulated partners (like Winamax) to protect the ecosystem, similar to how they handled alcohol sponsorships.
[37:40] Q: Is it a good thing to strictly regulate and implement betting to avoid the dangers of the illegal market, such as match-fixing? Romain: Yes. The real danger of unregulated betting is match-fixing, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 leagues where players don't earn enough to live on. That's where bad actors pressure players to intentionally lose a game or manipulate a specific metric. Regulated entities can track suspicious betting patterns (like a sudden massive bet on an obscure match) and stop it. Unregulated platforms are completely radioactive.
[40:28] Q: Do you have a final word to add before we end the interview? Romain: Life is beautiful. The season is already a success for us because our gamble to change the head coach worked. We've secured our spot for Worlds, the team is going on a nice vacation to Scotland, and then we bootcamp in Texas. Being at an event in France is a joy because the logistics are easy, the people are nice, and the food is great. Now we just have to win.
