dignitas LoL EU player Sencux Talks About the Challenger Series and Mid Lane Meta

Team Dignitas has returned to European League of Legends with a challenger team. The mid laner of our new team, Chres 'Sencux' Laursen has been playing League of Legends since season one and is ready to take on the European Challenger League. He took the time ot tell us about the current mid lane meta, state of the Challenger series, and how he got into League of Legends.

 

 

Europe is known for having a lot of the best mid laners in the world. Why do you think it is that European mid lane talent is so high?

Sencux: The competition is bigger than any other region. In the western scene it’s just bigger. I guess because people like playing mid. I don’t know why it’s so contested.

So there’s good mid laners because there’s other good mid laners?

Sencux: There’s strong mid laners you get to play against and you get a lot of experience. You get better every match when you play against better mid laners, it’s obviously going to make you better.

Do you think it holds up in the challenger scene as well? That mid lane tends to be some of the strongest spots in Europe?

Sencux: They are definitely. I don’t know about the challenger scene as much. Mid lane is maybe not the strongest lane this season.

Where do you think the strongest lane in the European Challenger scene is then?

Sencux: The most consistent players are probably AD carry. Its AD carry and mid. I think mid is also pretty strong.

How do you think you personally stack up against European mid laners are both the Challenger and LCS level?

Sencux: In challenger I feel pretty confident in most matchups. It’s only against Origen I feel it’s going to be a bit hard. Against LCS mid laners I feel like I can win against some of them but there’s obviously some good ones like Febiven, Nukeduck, and Froggen.

 

Riot has put a lot of effort into improving the Challenger scene from where is started being a feeder into the LCS and is now a scene of its own. Do you think the Challenger scene has progressed enough? Do you think it’s making the right talent for the LCS or do you think they still need to improve it to make sure they’re getting the best people?

Sencux: I like the new format. There’s only one chance to get in every half year. That makes it a bit harder for the newly formed teams. But I like the new format it’s a lot better than the other one. You could play the best team in the first round and get kicked out. Now you get to play all of them.

So it’s protecting you from having one bad run and ruining your chances?

Sencux: Yes. With the playoffs you get the right teams into the promotion tournament for the LCS.

How do you feel about the broadcasting of matches they’ve been having issues with? They want to move some matches into being broadcast live, some are just being recorded, what do you think?

Sencux: I get that they might not have the time for both days but I feel like they could have streamed both Tuesday and Wednesday. I don’t see the biggest problem.

Do you think they’re going to move the challenger scene to live broadcasts eventually? Maybe change the day?

Sencux: I don’t think they’re going to change the day. I think it depends on their viewer count.

So if the challenger series gets more views they’ll start broadcasting it live?

Sencux: That’s what I’ve heard.

How about your personal playstyle? The mid lane meta has been assassin oriented but it’s been shifting a lot. How do you feel about the meta, especially what champions are strongest?

Sencux: I like the current meta. I disliked the DFG nerf, I was a big Ahri player. I like the assassin style with DFG I think it was really fun to play. But I really like the meta, it fits me really well. I like to play assassins but I can go back to Xerath if that’s open as well. Everything else is not that good in the matchup.

You think assassins were hit that hard by the change to DFG or do you think it was necessary?

Sencux: I don’t think it was necessary but I think it’s fine because they buffed Ahri. But now they kind of nerfed her again.

So you like to play Ahri, do you have any pick that you prefer that are a little off-meta or not as popular?

Sencux: I used to play a lot of Talon but then his silence got nerfed. Now I actually think Diana is underrated. I think she’s actually really good in a lot of matchups.

 

Do you think Diana might be making a comeback or is that just your personal pocket pick?

Sencux: It’s maybe just my personal pocket pick. I think it’s strong.

How do you feel about mid’s impact on the game right now? It’s always been probably the most impactful lane besides the jungle. Riot has toned down early snowballing. Do you think mid laners still have the same kind of impact on the game that they always have or do you think it’s been toned down a bit?

Sencux: I think it’s a lot about bot lane. There’s a lot of contested drakes. I don’t feel like it’s changed that much in impact. If you can get the mid control you can get a lot of jungle control as well.

So they’ve made bot lane more impactful instead of making mid less?

Sencux: Yea in some way.

Is that why we don’t see constant lane swaps anymore? Because you want to get control of bot lane for the dragon?

Sencux: There’s still some lane swaps. Towers are in some way more useful than a dragon because 6% is not more than a tower gives gold for the early game. It’s only really good when you get 20-30 minutes into the game and get your items.

Your team and your teammates, do you guys have a lot of experience playing on teams before this? Or are most of you guys just solo queue players? We know Brokenshard has a lot of experience in the Challenger scene and LCS in both regions.

Sencux: I’ve played for a challenger team for the past year so I have some experience there. I played with our top lane on a Danish team the past, I think it was from May to November, so he has some experience on a team as well. I know Crazycaps he used to play on a team but then he had a break and he came back to play with us. Zytan has played with SK Prime so there’s some experience on other teams.

And Brokenshard is the move experienced in terms of LCS?

Sencux: Yea he’s the only one who’s been in the LCS.

Do you think having someone like him who has LCS experience is really important for a Challenger team or do you think Challenger teams can be strong even if they’re lacking someone who has LCS experience?

Sencux: They can be strong still if they have the right coach. I don’t think it matters that much. They can still teach them how to shotcall properly.

A lot of Challenger teams have picked up coaches and the in LCS pretty much every team has a coach now. Do you think the coaching staff is as impactful in the challenger scene? Or do you think it’s more player reliant in the Challenger series?

Sencux: I think it’s the same. I think the coach actually has more to do in the Challenger scene. People don’t have the same teamplay.

So the macro experience of a coach is needed?

Sencux: It helps, especially me after a game, he can see the whole map and can see what happens. So it’s not only from my perspective. It really helps a lot.

How did you first get into League as a game?

Sencux: I think I was 10 years old… no I was 11… I was a little kiddle. My friends kept suggesting me to play this game. I used to play a lot of football which is soccer in your case. I played a bit of League, then I broke my arm and I played a lot, and I got a lot better so then I just played League.

 

What motivated you to want to play competitively and on a team?

Sencux: After I couldn’t play football anymore because I had an injury I started watching some streams and I watched the season one finals and it looked cool and it just got bigger and bigger and bigger. I felt like “this could be fun to try” and I’m not really the best in school so might as well just try something.

So you just needed a competitive outlet and since you couldn’t do sports anymore you went to League?

Sencux: Yea, and I really enjoyed playing it.

Do you have any final remarks or shoutouts for fans or anything we didn’t touch on you want to talk about?

Sencux: Thanks for everyone who watches our games and supports us. Thanks to all my fans.

And thank you to all of Team Dignitas’ sponsors and thank you for watching.