“We had to perform at every turn”: AS Monaco Esports defies the odds and wins eLigue 1

You were not announced as favorites before the start of the competition. How do you explain this journey to the trophy?

We were clearly starting out as an outsider. Out of eight teams, we were often seen seventh or eighth, and therefore outside the playoffs. Finally, we finished third in the regular season. We quickly showed that we had the level to compete.

Despite this, in each round of the playoffs, we remained underestimated. We had to make exploits at each turn. Against Lorient, five-time champion, then against PSG Vitality, in a very close match which was decided in the last match, 4-3. In the final against Troyes, who had world numbers 1 and 3 among their players, the feat of winning 4-1 was even greater. We had to show each time that we deserved our place.

How does this championship work for those who are discovering it?

Each team is made up of two players, who compete one against one. If we win both matches, we take three points. In the event of a tie, a deciding match is played for two points.

In the playoffs, we move on to best-of-seven match confrontations (BO7). It is a long, demanding format, where mental management is essential. You have to be able to stay focused from one match to the next, even when the pressure mounts.

What makes the difference in these high-pressure matches?

Clearly, cohesion. The three of us had already been ensemble with Marwan “MarwanMC9” Chahhou and Karim “Karimisbak” Rmaiti, previously in Bordeaux. We know each other perfectly, and we know how each other works.

When Monaco gave us the opportunity to reform this team, we knew we had real collective strength. During the regular season, Karim was exceptional, with a series of ten consecutive victories, equaled a competition record. He also won every possible individual award: best player, best foreign player and best championship performance for this series. In the playoffs, Marwan completely raised his level. He was decisive in key moments.

This complementarity gave us a certain serenity and great mental strength.

Exactly, what is the place of the mind in your approach?

It is central. I am also a mental trainer, so I work on this aspect a lot.

We are in a very nervously demanding discipline. Players must play one match after another, remain lucid, manage the strong moments and the weak moments.

We draw a lot of inspiration from traditional sport: video analysis, tactical preparation, but also sleep, recovery, nutrition. Everything is optimized to arrive in the best conditions on long deadlines.

Did the final in public change anything?

Completely. The final at La Cigale, against undoubtedly the best team in the world, with the public, the atmosphere… It’s another dimension.

Despite this, we had to stay focused. In a BO7, everything can change very quickly. The players knew how to keep calm and apply what we had prepared.

Did the framework proposed by AS Monaco play a role?

Yes, very much so. We have a very professional organization. For example, we play in the Paris region to be as close as possible to the servers, with players arriving the day before to acclimatize.

They can train, recover and adapt to conditions. This is a real advantage compared to other teams. These are details, but at this level, it makes the difference over the duration of a season.

What are your prospects now?

Thanks to this victory, we now have several big deadlines to come. We got our tickets for the eChampions League and the World Cup this summer. During these tournaments, we will face the best European and world teams. We will still have to give the best of ourselves.

It is a source of great pride for the players and for me to be able to represent AS Monaco on the international stage. For the future, there is a real desire to continue with this group. We made history, so obviously we want to extend the adventure.