It lastly occurred. After going fully winless within the first half of the 2023 LCS Spring Split, Dignitas prevented historical past by scraping out a win over Evil Geniuses on Feb. 23.
Dignitas held a large lead for a lot of the sport however threw it away fully within the late sport. Ultimately, it took a picture-perfect Emperor’s Divide from Dignitas mid laner Jensen. Seemingly refusing to lose, Jensen put his crew on his again as EG assaulted Dignitas’ base, shuffling all 5 of the opponents and turning the tide of the teamfight for his squad. Moments later, Dignitas secured their first victory bow on the Riot Video games Enviornment stage.
It wasn’t simply Jensen’s efficiency that obtained Dignitas their first win of the season, although. Frank “Tomo” Lam, who has been tearing it up with Dignitas Challengers, was promoted to the LCS squad’s starting AD carry role on Feb. 23. Whereas Tomo was capable of assist his new teammates get a win in opposition to EG, Dignitas got here crashing again to actuality the subsequent day when FlyQuest handed them a convincing loss.
Jensen was disillusioned when he sat down within the LCS interview room after dropping to FlyQuest however agreed that it was simple that Dignitas had been improved with Tomo within the lineup, even when it comes to others’ particular person play. “When a brand new participant is available in, everybody feels a little bit of rush, so everybody could play a bit higher,” Jensen advised Dot Esports. “I’m not likely positive, however I do assume we’re extra synergized once we play with Tomo.”
For Dignitas, at the very least to this point, Jensen considers Tomo an all-around improve on the ADC place: “I believe he’s extra developed than Spawn was as a participant. He understands extra of what he wants in a sport and has a greater understanding of the best way to play with the crew.”
A 1-1 week is definitely higher than a 0-2 week (or 0-3 superweek), however in final place with a file at 1-10, it’s secure to say issues haven’t gone as deliberate for Dignitas. Jensen spoke candidly concerning the morale of the crew from his standpoint.
“Personally, I really feel a bit disillusioned with how the break up goes as a result of realistically, our playoffs likelihood is nearly useless by now,” the veteran stated. “I really assume I’m enjoying actually fucking properly, so it sucks. On the identical time, I’ve performed professional League for a very long time now, so I perceive that there are going to be ups and downs in your profession.”
No matter Jensen’s particular person efficiency, the beginning of the season is an all-time down in his professional profession. Since his debut in 2015, Jensen has received three LCS titles, solely missed the playoffs twice, and has competed internationally at the very least as soon as yearly of his profession.
“There are going to be some issues which are a bit extra out of your management,” Jensen continued. “You’ll be able to’t all the time win, you may’t all the time be one of the best crew—so I believe that is only a shitty time. However I’m feeling assured. I do know I’ll bounce again and we’ll bounce again as a crew. Proper now issues suck, for positive, however you may’t all the time simply have highs in esports.”
Jensen’s disappointment is comprehensible. After not discovering a crew within the first half of 2022, he reunited together with his first group Cloud9 in the summertime and received the LCS Championship. Whereas Jensen was pleased with what he achieved final yr, C9’s 1-5 efficiency within the group stage of the 2022 World Championship left him wanting extra.
“We may have had higher outcomes at Worlds, clearly, however I can’t actually complain about how LCS went, to be sincere. We had a tough begin after which sort of bounced again to turn out to be a very, actually good crew in NA, however whenever you get to Worlds, actuality hits fairly arduous,” Jensen paused and chuckled earlier than persevering with. “You’re not likely nearly as good as you assume you’re and it sort of exhibits how far forward the Jap groups actually are. It sucks to get that actuality examine each single yr, but it surely occurs each single yr, so it’s one thing I’m used to.”
Since his skilled debut within the 2015 NA LCS Summer season Break up with C9, Jensen has attended the World Championship each single season. He’s turn out to be accustomed to being outmatched by groups from different main areas. However in eight journeys to Worlds, his perspective stays the identical.
“Yearly, I am going into Worlds considering, ‘Oh, perhaps issues shall be completely different this time round.’ However then I understand how way more coordinated the Jap groups are,” the mid laner stated. “Any time there’s a gap within the map otherwise you’re behind in tempo, you get punished actually arduous. You don’t see the identical factor right here in LCS, even with one of the best groups right here. They’re rubbish in comparison with one of the best Korean and Chinese language groups.”
Whereas C9 loved home success final yr, the character of the crew’s worldwide efficiency had Jensen contemplating different alternatives within the offseason. “I noticed that that particular roster was capped a bit when it got here to worldwide play, so I believed {that a} change may perhaps be good,” he stated.
Jensen set free a rye chuckle earlier than following up with, “Clearly, in hindsight, I can’t actually say that proper now.”
It’s notable that Dignitas was dealt a foul hand to start out the 2023 season. Prime laner İrfan Berk “Armut” Tükek didn’t begin practising with the crew till lower than every week earlier than the start of the Spring Break up, and beginning assist Lee “IgNar” Dong-geun didn’t arrive till week 4 on account of visa points. However Jensen isn’t excited about making excuses.
“It sucks that issues began the best way they did, however the fact is, we weren’t enjoying in addition to we should always have whatever the late arrivals,” Jensen stated bluntly. “It was unlucky circumstances, however that’s the fact of the state of affairs.”
“Lose is enhance” is a typical time period within the aggressive League of Legends area, and that is essentially the most dropping Jensen has performed in his profession. However the Dignitas mid laner doesn’t really feel like he’s gleaning a lot from the losses: “I believe I’ve performed very well in most of our video games, and issues had been sort of out of my management as to why we misplaced the vast majority of the video games, so there weren’t actually any large learnings for me… I don’t assume any of the mid laners have impressed me when it’s come to studying one thing new, so I’m sort of simply going by means of the motions of dropping, dropping, dropping.”
Wanting ahead, Jensen is assured that Dignitas are going to bounce again, and for extra causes than simply the arrogance he has in his personal degree of play. “Proper now, I really assume we’re not a foul crew,” Jensen stated confidently. “The rating doesn’t symbolize how we’re as a crew proper now.”
Dignitas can have an opportunity to again up Jensen’s phrases in week six of the 2023 LCS Spring Break up. A win over Immortals on Thursday, March 2 will surely verify Dignitas’ enchancment, however a victory over C9 on March 3 can be a convincing assertion in assist of Jensen’s declare.
