“Being confident and not letting the pressure get to me,” G2 icy on how he can stay consistent in VCT Americas

G2 Esports is one of VCT Americas' representatives at Masters Shanghai. They turned things around in the playoffs and have put together some incredible victories. Their most recent as of writing, however, was a close defeat to 100 Thieves. We spoke to the team's Duelist, Jacob "icy" Lange afterwards.

He gave some insight on his time in the Tier 2 scene. As well as how he believes he is fitting into his role on the team and what he needs to do to stay consistent going forward. G2 plays in the Lower Final against LEV next.

"You’ve been around the VALORANT scene for a while. I mean, teams like Cosmic Divide, The Silk Road, Moon Raccoons even. Your time spent in the so-called lower tiers of the game, what’s the biggest lesson it taught you that you still utilize today?"

icy: "I wouldn't even say there's one specific lesson. I just feel like being on so many teams back then, from every player I played with, I'm just always learning new things and there's big takeaways. So, whether it be just communication or play styles, I feel like I've found my footing as a player and teammate just by playing with those past teams."

"And what have you found to be the biggest challenge getting used to starting in the VCT now?"

icy: "The biggest challenge, I would say, just finding comfort in my own role and just getting the confidence I need. Obviously, being a Duelist it requires a lot of confidence. Any play you make in the game, I feel like confidence is a big key and big factor.

"So, I kind of realized I was more of a role player, when I should be alpha it and do my own thing. That's the biggest takeaway. Just being in the league. You've just got to play confident and stay confident."

"I spoke with leaf after the game against LOUD. I asked him, with him swapping roles as you entered as the Duelist, if there was any guidance he provided you. He said they just let you do your thing. So, tell me in your words, what do you feel you bring to the table with G2?"

icy: "I would say I bring a lot of firepower. I feel like I'm yet to even show what I'm capable of, and I think soon I'll be hitting my stride. The biggest things are my good entries. I play with a sensitivity to where I can clear things. I do good at my job, so I think I am a good entry, and I bring that extra firepower."

"Well, you know as well as anyone. You haven’t been at this level for very long. Can you tell me what expectations the team and the coaching staff had for you when you joined?"

icy: "Expectations were mainly centered around just playing my role and being a good teammate. I wouldn't say I'm the biggest role player, but I think they were looking for more of a role player that could just entry and do the job of a Duelist.

"Rather than someone who's just going to go out and just make insane hero plays. So, while I'm capable of doing such things, I feel like what they were expecting of me is just doing my job, being a good teammate, and coming out there every day to play."

"Let’s get into the series now. Some, we’ll say, friendly banter from Boostio and 100 Thieves beforehand. Do you pay any attention to that? Does it fire you up?"

icy: "I wouldn't say I pay too much attention. It's kind of more of a thing I ignore. I think some of the things Boostio has said are funny, like his tweet before the game, but I don't take anything too hard. I understand that's all just friendly banter, and he is just doing his thing."

"Alright, well things didn’t look too good coming out of the first map. Much better results in the next two, but an unfortunate loss. What were the conversations like with the team and JoshRT between maps?"

icy: "After map one, we all could tell like we were playing slow, sluggish, just not our own game. Losing our map like that wasn't a great feeling. But the talk we had after that map kind of just centered around being confident in one another, making sure we're all on the same page. Playing our game, because it felt like we were letting them do too much, and we just had to take over."

"We hear a lot of players get asked what are some things they need to fix before their next match. I’d like to ask you that, but with a bit more explanation if you could. Not only, what do you think needs fixed, but how difficult is it to make those adjustments with such a quick turnaround in a playoff bracket?"

icy: "The scheduling of the format is pretty tough on us. Paying five games in a row. So, I would say going to the next game, we just have to mentally reset. Prepare ourselves for the worst. If stuff like the Ascent game happens, we've got to look past that, play together, and never doubt ourselves."

"Okay, well, you’re onto the Lower Final. Shanghai is already in the cards. We know the stakes of winning this tournament. What kind of consistency would you like to see from yourself going forward to lock down some wins?"

icy: "A lot of it centers around our team play, but also for me individually, making sure I'm making the most out of situations. I feel like there are a lot of rounds where I threw myself out there. And they had some good setups for their flooding in.

"I'm just thinking about Split specifically, with the Fade Haunts. That was just pretty tough. We just have to make sure we're all on the same page and I'm not just throwing myself out for nothing. I just have to take my time. Being confident and not letting the pressure get to me, I think that'll be pretty important."

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