After a dominant 2-0 win against Team Liquid at VCT LOCK//IN, JessieVash from Team Secret shared insights on the outcome and their motivations.
Team Liquid's international debut with their full roster did not go as planned. Their first match was against Team Secret and they lost 0-2. While most fans and even some analysts felt Liquid were the favorites, JessieVash always thought they had a good chance of winning this match.
Team Secret find their revenge
“It felt very amazing but it would have been more satisfying if we had also gotten them 13-0, and now we’re looking for the three (other) members of Gambit” - JessieVash
In the pre-event Omega press conference for VCT LOCK//IN, when asked which team he was looking forward to facing, JessieVash said, “I want to prove that we, from APAC, can also win against NA and EU teams.”
This was something that holds particular weight, considering that in their sole international appearance at VCT Champions 2021, Team Secret had lost to Gambit Esports, one of which was a 0-13 game. They did make it through the elimination bracket for another two rounds but were eventually taken out by ACEND, another EMEA team, and the one who eventually won the event.
JessieVash also said yesterday that he and Team Secret were out for vengeance, considering Redgar and Nats were two of the players on the Gambit roster that defeated them so brutally.
“They were one of the teams that 0-13’d us, this is a revenge match for us, so, you watch out, Redgar.”
And find revenge they did. In their opening game against Team Liquid, Team Secret pulled off an absolutely dominant victory as they took down the EMEA team 2-0. On both maps, Team Secret had a very strong first half, finishing 10-2 on Icebox and 9-3 on Fracture.
In the post-match press conference, on being asked about how it felt to win against Team Liquid, JessieVash said, “It felt very amazing but it would have been more satisfying if we had also gotten them 13-0, and now we’re looking for the three (other) members of Gambit.”
He also said, “This was the result we were expecting,. Despite 90% of the world expecting us to lose. I just feel like we are a better team given that they have been playing together for a short time... and seeing them streaming and all that. I really feel like they are just kids, so easy to read.”
Two decades in esports and five different titles
Jessie "JessieVash" Christy is one of the oldest players at VCT LOCK//IN. At 32 years of age, he’s been a professional player in five different esports titles – DOTA 2, Overwatch, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and now VALORANT.
Esports.gg asked JessieVash about how his long experience might give him a buff over the rest of the crowd and his response was lovely. “I’ve been holding a mouse and keyboard for almost two decades and that’s one of my advantages and the experience I have.”
“I don’t feel like stopping playing as long as I remember how I started. As long as I can do my routine, I can still play.”
Team Secret is yet another Pacific League-partnered team that has, so far, stepped up massively at VCT LOCK//IN. With DRX qualifying and Talon Esports making it all the way to the finals of the Alpha Bracket, Pacific VALORANT is in good hands.
Stay tuned to Esports.gg for more esports news and VALORANT coverage. Be sure to check out the VCT LOCK//IN event page for everything you need to know!