Markoon reflects on last LEC week, says SK played “pretty bad”

Following SK Gaming’s decisive 2-0 victory against Team Heretics in the LEC Winter split, we sat down with jungler Mark “Markoon” van Woensel to discuss the team’s recovery strategy and playoff positioning. The Dutch professional shared insights into their approach to overcoming recent performance dips.

WIN.GG: How does it feel to bounce back from last week’s defeat to beating Team Heretics today?

Markoon: The win provides significant momentum after our disappointing Week 3 showing. We recognized our gameplay had deteriorated significantly, making this clean sweep against what I view as a lower-tier LEC opponent crucial for demonstrating our best-of-three capabilities.

While we executed relatively clean matches, numerous mistakes persisted particularly during early game phases. However, the overall performance demonstrated marked improvement from our previous outing.

Was there anything that you think went wrong last week, that was corrected against Heretics and made a difference?

Markoon: Last week we abandoned many core principles that had previously driven our success. Our preparation focused intensely on reestablishing these fundamentals while ensuring we maintained proper game tempo. We shifted focus back toward macro-oriented play rather than chasing individual eliminations – these foundational elements had temporarily slipped from our priority focus.

Additionally, our meta comprehension during Week 2 was exceptional. We pioneered Elise selections and developed strong bottom lane strategies, whereas Week 3 saw uncertainty creep into our draft confidence and champion comfort levels.

How do you prepare against such a storied opposition jungler as Jankos? Would you plan games differently and have different expectations?

Markoon: I don’t experience heightened pressure when facing established veterans like Jankos. His extensive experience doesn’t significantly impact my approach since I currently assess him as performing at average LEC jungler level rather than among the elite competitors. This perspective allowed me to approach the series with normal competitive intensity.

You’re up against Team Vitality next, and you were the first team to beat their jungler Bo so far in his career. Was there extra motivation to do that, given that there was so much hype around him?

Markoon: The victory carried exceptional satisfaction. I secured first blood against him at level three during our previous encounter. Truthfully, I anticipated competing against Bo since his European arrival during preseason. While streaming, constant viewer inquiries about his skill level – approximately every thirty minutes – fueled my desire to test my capabilities against the highly anticipated newcomer. When we achieved victory, the accomplishment felt particularly rewarding.

What’s the expectation for the best-of-three against Vitality, then?

Markoon: Currently, the surrounding excitement about Bo has diminished somewhat as I’ve gained clearer understanding of his actual capabilities. He demonstrates solid jungling proficiency but I don’t consider his performance extraordinary. My focus remains on executing my optimal League of Legends gameplay, which I believe positions us favorably for success.

A win over Vitality would move SK Gaming into the playoffs. How far can you go?

Markoon: We possess championship-winning potential, though currently we haven’t reached the necessary performance level. Our skill progression has experienced fluctuations – Week 2 demonstrated peak performance, Week 3 showed regression, and currently we’re trending upward again. Our advancement depends entirely on next week’s practice quality. If we defeat Vitality and continue our upward trajectory, I’m confident we can overcome any opponent in the league.

There wasn’t much expectation for SK to do so well this split given that the roster is largely inexperienced at the LEC level. Did this cause a lack of outside pressure that helped the team’s success so far?

Markoon: The absence of external expectations certainly benefited our development. Entering the league projected for ninth or tenth placement creates comfortable underdog dynamics. However, we maintained substantial internal pressure as we collectively believed in our team’s potential after initial practice sessions. The primary pressure source originated internally rather than externally, making outside perceptions relatively insignificant.

You talked about taking on a leadership role during an interview with Em Dash Esports, and in your LEC Spotlight you mentioned your willingness to be direct and voice your opinions within the team. Do you feel that you’ve had to adjust your communication to become a leader, or has your communication style helped?

Markoon: I’ve continuously refined my teammate interactions throughout my professional journey – it’s an ongoing developmental process. Entering a new competitive environment during your inaugural season presents challenges in understanding effective team dynamics. Each year brings incremental learning, and currently I’m focused on enhancing my collaborative capabilities.

My coaching staff provides invaluable guidance in this area, ensuring I maintain constructive dialogue rather than becoming excessively argumentative during strategic discussions. Since I value expressing my perspectives, this remains an active development area that will likely continue throughout my career.

Speaking of your coach, we feel that SK’s head coach Simon “Swiffer” Papamarkos has somewhat flown over the radar since he came to Europe. How much impact has he and his staff had on SK’s run so far this split?

Markoon: The coaching impact has been monumental. Our staff performs exceptionally well. I understand why talented coaches like Swiffer receive insufficient recognition – evaluating coaching quality proves challenging even for professionals, making fan perspective even more difficult. Without direct working experience or connections to those who have collaborated with specific coaches, accurate assessment becomes nearly impossible.

Our current coaching team delivers outstanding results. Swiffer primarily ensures team morale remains positive and resolves issues promptly. Assistant coach OWN3R excels at optimizing our laning phases – evidenced by our bottom lane’s consistent dominance throughout the regular season.

You worked with Swiffer previously on BTXL in the NLC before you joined Excel’s main roster. Did you think at the time that he would make a good coach at this level?

Markoon: Absolutely. During our BTXL collaboration, I hoped to continue our partnership when I advanced to LEC, though circumstances prevented this initially. I’m grateful for our current collaboration opportunity.

For players looking to improve their own gameplay, our Class Guide provides essential strategies for role optimization similar to how we approach professional play.

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