Chris Luck: “I’m really emotional about Major in Peru, because other players are going to try the food. I think our food is the best”Exclusive

Evil Geniuses midlaner Jean “Chris Luck” Gonzales Salazar shares his profound enthusiasm for hosting the Major in Peru, offering insights into EG’s scrimmaging partners and his perspective on elite midlane talent. Our Lima-based correspondent Polina Mashina conducted this exclusive interview during the third day of Group Stage competition.

— How did the matches against Tundra unfold? Were you anticipating a 2:0 victory?

— The opening game presented significant challenges. Despite establishing substantial early-game momentum, we executed several critical errors that completely eroded our advantage. Ultimately, maintaining composure and patience proved decisive in securing that victory. Prior to arriving at this Major, we engaged in three to four practice matches specifically against Tundra, which provided invaluable strategic preparation that significantly influenced our performance.

— What are your thoughts on hosting the Major in Peru, within the South American region?

— I’m experiencing genuine emotion because this event introduces international players and teams to authentic Peruvian cuisine. I firmly believe our culinary traditions represent the pinnacle of global gastronomy. This cultural exchange aspect adds tremendous personal significance to competing on home soil.

— Which Peruvian dishes do you consider your favorites?

— I particularly enjoy ceviche [a refreshing combination of lime-cured fish, sweet potatoes, and complementary ingredients], tallarines rojos [pasta featuring chicken with a rich tomato and carrot-based sauce], and rosca mariscos. Each dish showcases the depth and diversity of Peruvian culinary arts.

— Could you describe rosca mariscos for our readers?

— Rosca mariscos is a flavorful rice preparation incorporating various seafood elements, representing coastal Peru’s maritime heritage. It’s a dish that perfectly balances seafood freshness with seasoned rice mastery.

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— South America demonstrates remarkable competitive strength currently. What factors contribute to this development? Did last year’s TI provide significant momentum?

— Our region’s improvement stems from consistent participation in international tournaments. By competing against diverse teams globally, we’ve accumulated extensive knowledge about various regional playstyles. We’ve developed specific strategies for facing teams from Russia, North America, and China. This exposure through scrimmages has been incredibly beneficial. The more we engage in high-level practice matches, the more refined and adaptable our gameplay becomes.

— StingeR mentioned your team established a bootcamp in Brazil while scrimmaging with European squads. What ping conditions did you experience, and how challenging was finding suitable practice partners?

— During our initial Brazil bootcamp before completing DPC, we successfully arranged scrims with European teams despite playing with 90-95ms latency. However, after DPC concluded, we returned to Peru briefly before coming back to Brazil for focused preparation. Unfortunately, technical complications with our VPN infrastructure emerged, forcing us to practice with 140ms ping. These connectivity issues ultimately led us to cancel European practice sessions and redirect our focus toward North American and Southeast Asian opponents, who offered more stable playing conditions.

— Which European teams did you compete against during practice?

— We engaged in scrims against multiple prominent European organizations including Entity, BetBoom, Liquid, HellRaisers, and Nigma. While I don’t recall every opponent, we faced numerous high-level European teams during our preparation phase.

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— How effective were your practice sessions leading into the Major?

— We observed significant improvement in our collective performance during the pre-Major preparation period. Extensive scrimming provided excellent preparation, particularly against teams we anticipated facing in the tournament. This focused practice regime has positioned us well for the competitive challenges ahead.

— Do you study other midlaners’ gameplay? Which players do you follow?

— Occasionally, I review matches featuring gpk~ and sometimes Nisha, though not extensively. I tend to study opponents more systematically when preparing for direct matches. For instance, when we faced Talon here, I analyzed several of their recent games to understand their approach.

— Many consider you among the world’s strongest laners. Could you provide your ranking of the top five midlaners globally?

— I haven’t really contemplated such rankings. Midlane players exhibit diverse styles—some favor aggressive approaches, others adopt more conservative positioning, capitalizing on opponent errors. Both gpk~ and Nisha demonstrate exceptional laning capabilities. The talent pool extends far beyond these two players, making definitive rankings challenging. However, they certainly represent the elite tier in my assessment.

— Which opponent presents the greatest challenge in the laning phase?

— I consider gpk~ to be an exceptionally formidable laning opponent. His mechanical precision and strategic decision-making create significant pressure throughout the laning phase.

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Following three days of competition in Lima, Evil Geniuses currently occupies the middle tier of Group A standings. They share fourth and fifth position with PSG.LGD, both teams accumulating 10 points. Their upcoming match against group leaders Gaimin Gladiators presents a crucial opportunity to improve their tournament position.

1. Analyze opponent playstyles through VOD review before matches
2. Establish consistent scrimming schedule across multiple regions
3. Develop patience strategies for maintaining early-game advantages
4. Create backup practice partners for connectivity issues
5. Document regional meta differences for strategic adaptation
6. Implement cultural exchange activities during international tournaments
7. Study elite midlaner mechanics for personal improvement
8. Maintain composure during high-pressure tournament situations

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides » Chris Luck: “I’m really emotional about Major in Peru, because other players are going to try the food. I think our food is the best”Exclusive Chris Luck reveals Peru Major excitement, EG's scrim strategy, and top midlaner rankings