kioShiMa, wearing FaZe's colours

You’re currently stuck in the top 10/15 and you haven’t won a big lan yet. What is missing in your team to win such an event according to you ?

I don’t think anything is missing, to me, this team has a huge potential. Now, the problem isn’t to “see this potential” but rather to exploit it, and that’s the most difficult. If each player is able to execute his role properly I’m pretty sure we can do some massive damage in tournaments.

FaZe is better online than offline, the league format seems to suit you. You finished 4th at the ESL Pro League with 18 wins for 8 losses and you made it to the finals, where you unfortunately lost in the group stage. You’re currently well ranked at the ECS too. How can you explain that ? Is it the Bo2 format ? Is it because you play every games one after another without any pressure ? Or maybe something else ?

I didn’t play the ESL Pro League finals so I can’t tell you what happened there. For me, it’s the fact you’re at home that makes you more at ease, you have less pressure and you’re more willing to “try” some moves. But I’m sure our results will be more stable with karrigan’s arrival since he brings a real structure within the team.

Let’s jump to the past for a moment if you don’t mind. How come you landed playing with FaZe ? Did you contact them after Maikelele’s departure or did they ask you to join them ?

We could say it happened from both sides : I was contacting international teams to see if they were interested.

Did you consider some other projects or did you have some proposals after you left EnVyUs ?

Yes, mainly foreign ones.

Like some other Frenchmen did, you chose to go for an international career. Is it a matured project? And in that situation, did your departure from EnVyUs trigger everything, or is that the lack of French opportunities that led you to play elsewhere ?

To be honest, I chose to take some vacations after we parted ways with EnVy. I wanted to relax and to see what I could do. The french scene was blocked off with G2 recruiting bodyy and I didn’t see anywhere else to go aside from the USA or FaZe / mousesports, which were the only teams who spoke a language I was learning (at the beginning of LDLC, I was a real mess in English)

We’re hearing a lot about a possible “french shuffle” after January’s Major. What’s your position about that ? Would you consider going back to a French team if you had the chance, or are you pleased with the FaZe roster and you don’t feel concerned?

I don’t think I have my spot into this shuffle, whether it is about my in-game role or anything. And I’m good where I am.

As a professional player, what did you think about DEVIL’s arrival ? Was it a surprise for you to be replaced by a young subtop player ? What about his performances inside the roster ?

Indeed, I was really surprised by EnVy’s choice and I didn’t understand it at the same time. It’s a huge gamble to recruit someone who has never known big stages, but what surprised me the most was the fact that me and DEVIL have a total different profile and different roles. Was the logic to find some improvement or to change a role inside a roster ? Well, I don’t know. DEVIL must have had a really hard time, changing style is very difficult and has a huge impact on your decisions and performances.

kioShiMa : " the atmosphere inside the roster has always been special"

We noticed the atmosphere wasn’t that good in EnVyUs even if it seems to be better since SIXER joined. You said it when you left by the way. Were you surprised by the failure of DEVIL’s integration or were you expecting it ?

I was expecting it, the atmosphere inside the roster has always been special and I can’t even describe it to you. Any player would have met a similar fate in my opinion. It’s almost impossible to take part in a group when the ambiance isn’t that great.

You were part of NiaK’s France national team during the TWC. What was your role inside roster ? Captain, In Game Leader ?

I would say a little of everything ! :D

G2 and nV had a huge schedule at this period so the French selection had about 80% of subtop players during the finals. How was it to play with subtop players ? Was it different from what you’re used to ?

It’s different, obviously. The communication, the terms you use are not the same. When you play with experienced players, they don’t hesitate to do some moves so your leader can be more comfortable, or because they spotted a weakness in the opposite team. The subtop players lack a bit of game sense and don’t react to do some executes or redirections which seem logical to me.

What do you think about the new hopes of the subtop scene like xms who has been remarked lately ?

Satisfied, yes and no. We had a difficult start the first day, we were disappointed and we needed to wake up, what we did. But this defeat versus Turkey… We were close to beat them, the lack of experience made the difference, the victory would have been ours otherwise :p

Aside from an astrology website (suggesting that you could be cheap by the way :p), I couldn’t find any significance of your nickname. I don’t want to be intrusive but would you explain it to us ? Do the capital letters S and M mean anything in particular or is it for a pure aesthetic purpose ?