100T Sniper: “This is the lowest point I feel like I’ve been at. Like, through my life so far.”

Esports.gg talks with Rayan "Sniper" Shoura about his struggles this split and the very real mental health costs of esports competition.

The 100 Thieves took a relatively convincing Game 1 in the series against FlyQuest last weekend. However, the previous finalists rallied back to take the series 2-1, leaving 100 Thieves at 1-4 split-long record. After the series, we sat down with top laner Sniper to talk about how this difficult split is taking a toll and how he's working past those obstacles. A relatively new talent, Sniper stands as one of the next wave of North American players, following in the footsteps of older brother Omran "V1per" Shoura. Sniper got honest with esports.gg about how the split is affecting him and why he won't let that stop him.

Obviously, this series wasn't the result you wanted. How are you feeling about it? More broadly, where are you at on the split right now?

Sniper: "I mean, I feel like this is the lowest point I feel like I’ve been at. Like, through my life so far. I dunno. It just feels terrible, honestly. I don’t necessarily feel like I’m myself at the moment, I feel like I’m in a different universe. I’m just trying to keep calm. Game 1 felt good because I got a pick I was comfortable on. The other games were just ‘they ban Jax, I don’t know what to blind.’ I just have to be better." 

When you're talking about not feeling like yourself on stage, is that due to comfort picks like Jax being removed or is it more than that?

"That’s a really good question. It’s definitely not because I feel like I have a small champion pool or anything. I can play multiple champions. I just feel like I should be doing way more than I am right now. But, like, my mind just isn’t right at the moment, if that makes sense." 

As a player and a competitor, during these moments of hardship, what tools have served you best? You're newer to the competitive stage, maybe your brother has had some advice, but what are the processes that help you cross these mental roadblocks that we see lots of young talent run into early in their career? What tools do you use to work through tough moments like this?

"Yeah, 100%. To be honest, I just try to keep myself distracted, like, 24/7. That’s what I’ve been doing ever since the split started because, even when we 2-0’d NRG at the beginning of the split, I didn’t feel happy about how I was feeling in general. I definitely feel like I need to just speak to myself, kind of just, y’know, gain the muscle memory I had last split."

We just spoke to G2 Mikyx and Fnatic coach Nightshare at the end of LEC playoffs, and discussed the meta with both of them. Both felt that the games felt like they balance on a knife's edge with the introduction of AD solo laners and the dominance of AP junglers. Do you see that same volatility, and how do you feel about the meta?

"I think what Mikyx and [Nightshare] were saying was very valid. I do feel like these games are very skirmishy, and there’s so much fighting going on the entire game, you know? I feel like you have to be present in-game at like all times because if the enemy top laner gets one kill, if anybody gets one kill, they can easily snowball that into a solo carry. So, there’s definitely a lot of fighting."

And I imagine it doesn't help when their top laner is an ADC, their mid laner is an ADC, and their bot laner is an ADC.

[Laughs] "Yeah, exactly." 

Do you have any matches that you are looking forwards to right now? Is there a match you're looking to have fun in?

"I don’t look forward to playing against anyone at the moment. I feel like I need to just figure out myself first. Although, I’ve been trying to do that this entire split. We just have to focus on, honestly, winning these next two series. There’s a chance we don’t make playoffs, so take it one series at a time, day by day. Just trust the process and hopefully we win the next two weeks of LCS." 

What are the key differences in your mindset from last split to now that are making the difference, do you think? Is it confidence, is it in the way that you relate to your playstyle, what's different?

"That’s also a really good question, to be honest. Last split, besides the first week of LCS — after that, I was completely present. I was trying to be, at least. That kind of allowed me to focus, review more, and really take in what the coaches are teaching me. When you’re present, you don’t get nervous about the future. Even if you do, you know there’s nothing to worry about and you can just kind of take it step by step. This split, I feel like I’m overthinking. I’m like, ‘What if I don’t play good tomorrow? I don’t feel that good in-game. What do I need to change?’ I’m always overthinking things, and I’m not necessarily present even though I’m trying my best to be."

Thanks for the transparency. For the end, we've got lighthearted questions that have nothing to do with pro play. Firstly: have you tried out Swarm?

"I did try it out, but like, bro, I am the worst fricking Swarm player in the world. My support, Eyla, he plays the game a lot and he’s a very good Swarm player."

We've been asking tons of pro players and coaches what regions and champions they want to see from Arcane Season 3. What are your picks? I think I might have a pretty good guess, though.

"Since you’ve said you think you might know, I want to hear your guess."

I think you probably want to see the broken blade reforged. I think you probably want Ionia with a Riven origin story, probably some Ionian/Noxian war, the Placidium, all that.

"Yeah, exactly. You completely said it. The Riven story, the Irelia story, Ionia, the broken blade, whatever it is."

So I'm hearing you want to see Swain get his arm cut off no matter what.

"Yeah, exactly, exactly."

Any words for fans to sign off with as you move on to next week?

"I’m not going to apologize or anything because the season isn’t over yet. Keep trusting in us, keep having hope that we’re going to start playing good again, that we’re going to start winning these stage matches. Then, come Playoffs, we’ll be a very good team. Just like Team Liquid was last split. Look at where they are now. They’re one of the best teams. Just keep supporting us, and we’ll make sure to win these next two weeks."