MKOI Elyoya: "We Just Weren't on the Same Wavelength"

MKOI can't find its footing: after two hard-fought wins against Shifters and Fnatic last week, the team suffered a harsh 0:2 loss to GiantX.

After the match we spoke with team captain Elyoya, who openly criticized his own performance, addressed a breakdown in communication – and made a pledge of loyalty.

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RunItDown · Jusuf Hatic

"I Had a Really Bad Performance in Both Games"

RunItDown: Let's talk about the game. The first one slipped away from you really fast. How do you reset after a loss like that – personally and as a team? Do you have specific rituals for that?

Elyoya: Yeah, definitely, we have those. Everyone on the team has a specific routine they go through between games to fix things. But this time it clearly didn't work. I think personally I had a really bad showing – a really bad performance in both games. And yeah, it just didn't work out.

"We Just Weren't on the Same Wavelength"

RunItDown: At least from my perspective, it looked like you'd stabilized significantly at the start of game two. What was the key difference – the point where you thought: okay, this is what was missing to pull it off?

Elyoya: Well, obviously the last sequence – we just got picked off one by one. We weren't on the same wavelength at all.

I didn't adapt to the team, we didn't adapt to where our teammates were on the map, and we just kept getting caught out. That's how the game ended – I just kept getting caught over and over.

"I Don't Know. That's the Honest Answer"

RunItDown: Before the Summer Split, you told Sheep Esports this was your last chance to prove you can win – which hasn't really worked out so far.

Your words as team captain naturally carry more weight than others'. Why hasn't that wake-up call landed yet?

Elyoya: I don't know, that's the honest answer.

"We Know What We're Capable Of"

RunItDown: MKOI has had rough patches before and still put together good playoff runs. What's the recipe going to be to repeat that magic?

Elyoya: We know what we're capable of – we know we're individually really strong players, even compared to other teams. I think we just need to work on fixing what's not working right now. We still believe we have it in us.

"To Me That's 90 Percent of the Game"

RunItDown: Let's zoom out a bit and talk more broadly about League of Legends. Jungle-support synergy has always mattered, but right now it feels like supports are basically a second jungler from level one onward.

Is that something you actually prefer, or would you rather have more freedom in the jungle to focus purely on ganks, camps, and vision?

Elyoya: No, honestly I think I like it. I think it makes the game exciting – it's a lot about macro decisions, and you always have multiple options.

I think jungle-support makes up pretty much 90 percent of the game in this meta, it just controls so much. I like that about the meta, I think it's really fun.

RunItDown: So you wouldn't want to change anything about it? As far as I know, Riot is changing something about Camille as a support in the next patch, for example – so you'd rather it stay the way it is?

Elyoya: Yeah, maybe top lane is a bit too extreme – being that dangerous from level one already might be a bit much. But overall I enjoy the meta of an aggressive support and an aggressive jungler, where a lot revolves around map control, really, and I think that's good.

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RunItDown · Jusuf Hatic

Elyoya at MKOI Through 2028? "Definitely"

RunItDown: Let's zoom out even further. If I remember correctly, you signed a long-term contract with MKOI through 2028.

Unlike in football, for example, where players – especially with star power – get bought out of contracts like that: what would have to happen for that to change in the LEC? So that G2, Fnatic, or whoever could basically buy out a player at will – do you see that coming?

Elyoya: No, not really, I don't see that coming. It's mainly up to the club, and it depends on the individual player contract. But yeah, I don't see that changing so far, I think it'll stay that way.

RunItDown: Do you think that's good for the esports scene, or would you rather have more power as a player to say: I want to be able to switch teams without any hassle?

Elyoya: Honestly I'm not sure, I've never really thought about it. I think in the end you have to be mature enough when you sign a contract – you have to be aware of what you're signing. I think it's fair that the organization has the final say. But yeah, as a player it does feel harsh sometimes. So, I'm not sure.

RunItDown: Let's do it like in football then: so MKOI fans can assume you're staying through 2028?

Elyoya: Yeah, definitely.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.