League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) Gauntlet Finals opponents Team SoloMid, after a bit of history could make a win “sweeter” for him.
The 21-year-old has been vocal about wanting to destroy TSM in the lead up the Summer Gauntlet. He previously called CG the “favorites” to win in best of five series, and said that it “shouldn’t be too difficult to beat (TSM).”
In an interview with Travis Gafford, the American mid laner explained why people shouldn’t “count out” TSM, but still likes his chances against them since the team might be going into the series amped up.
Damonte gave insight on the “interesting stuff” that happened between his team and TSM, which might be in the back of CG’s minds when they load up into the Rift.
“We scrimmed (TSM) after Detroit, they were our first scrim partner,” he said. “I don’t know exactly if I should share this, but we got pretty dumpstered by TSM in our first scrim set against them. Then we had two more scrims lined up after that, so I would say we practiced two or three days after Detroit.”
TSM went on to cancel their remaining two scrim sets, something that didn’t sit well with Clutch Gaming and their mid laner.
He figured that because they got destroyed in the first set of scrims against TSM that they probably “justified (their absence by thinking) ‘wow, we don’t want to scrim you guys.’”
While true intentions might escape the mid laner, he’s been fired up since the botched scrims and is gunning for the 2017 Summer LCS champs.
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(Timestamp at 1:51 for mobile viewers)
“I think they fucked up, because we’re pretty motivated after that,” Damonte said. “I mean, there’s nothing more I want to do than beat a team that tried to deny us practice. It’s pretty ridiculous to me.”
The pro tried to temper himself moments after by cooling off the trash talk saying: “But you know, I’m going to be humble, and not say anything.”
Damonte has been a force to be reckoned with on the Rift during his 2019 campaign. The mid laner had a 3.68 KDA in the Summer Playoffs only to be outdone by his 4.86 KDA while netting over 70% kill-participation during CG’s Regional run.
After a dominating path to the Gauntlet Finals, he’s looking to book his team’s ticket to Worlds when they face off against TSM Sunday, September 8 at 12 pm PST / 3 pm EST / 8 pm BST.