TL;DR
- Markoon expresses mixed emotions about Excel’s playoff qualification despite recent loss to G2
- The jungler reveals top-four LEC placement as his primary performance benchmark
- Integration with new support Mikyx requires rebuilding crucial jungle-support coordination
- Team communication dynamics shift dramatically with roster changes mid-split
- Excel’s playoff success depends on rapidly developing new player synergies
Excel’s star jungler Mark “Markoon” van Woensel provided exclusive insights to WIN.gg regarding his team’s evolving playoff trajectory, strategic adjustments during the competitive split, and his professional perspective on the current League of Legends meta.
This revealing discussion occurred immediately following Excel’s intense match against reigning champions G2 Esports, with the organization securing their LEC spring playoffs position just 24 hours later.
Despite being on the verge of Excel’s inaugural playoff appearance, how are you processing the recent defeat against G2?
Mark “Markoon” van Woensel:The loss creates conflicting emotions. Securing a top-four LEC ranking was my primary objective, and victory today would have significantly strengthened our positioning. The defeat means our top-four destiny now depends partially on other match outcomes. While playoff qualification represents organizational progress, today’s match presented a crucial opportunity we couldn’t capitalize on. Our performance wasn’t optimal, though I maintain confidence in our playoff prospects.
Your team implemented a significant mid-split roster change with support player Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle joining. Given the critical jungle-support coordination in competitive play, how’s the adaptation process progressing?
The collaboration brings fresh perspectives, though it demands substantial adjustment. With former support Henk “Advienne” Reijenga, we developed nearly telepathic understanding through twelve months of partnership. That level of默契 meant I could anticipate his positioning and decision-making instinctively.
Working with Mikyx requires rebuilding those communication foundations from scratch. His exceptional skill is evident, but we’re still developing the intuitive connection that defines elite jungle-support duos. This synchronization process evolves naturally through shared experience and deliberate practice sessions.
You mentioned disappointment about the G2 result due to top-four aspirations. What specific achievements would define a successful split for you personally?
Achieving top-four status would represent significant accomplishment. While playoff qualification marks important progress, the top-four benchmark carries greater competitive meaning. I haven’t established specific playoff advancement targets yet, but maintaining top-four contention remains this split’s primary objective.
Action Checklist
- Accelerate jungle-support synergy through focused scrim sessions and vod review
- Establish clear communication protocols for mid-game decision making
- Develop contingency strategies for scenarios where top-four qualification depends on other match outcomes
- Create performance benchmarks beyond simple playoff qualification
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Excel Markoon talks playing with Mikyx, making the LEC playoffs Excel jungler Markoon discusses playoff ambitions, team dynamics with Mikyx, and LEC performance goals