TYLOO recently climbed to the top of Asia's rankings, surpassing The MongolZ, but their captain knows the real work is just beginning. The team is fighting for the region's single direct invitation to the Major's second stage.
Jingxiang "Mercury" Wang, who took over leadership duties in summer 2024, opened up about the demands of calling shots for his squad. The 25-year-old acknowledged that captaining comes with significant stress. When asked if he thrives under such conditions, he confirmed he does, though he admits to self-doubt after particularly devastating losses. Managing his mindset becomes crucial in those moments.
The team is actively working on a weakness previously identified by teammate WeiJie "zhokiNg" Zhong: game sense compared to elite international squads. Mercury outlined their training philosophy to address this gap. Rather than drilling rigid tactical playbooks, practice sessions emphasize default situations where players face unexpected scenarios.
"The purpose of practice should lean more towards default play," Mercury explained, "and let the players encounter those sudden situations themselves, so they can make their own judgment calls, not just be limited to what's written on the tactics sheet."
Regarding his approach to leadership, Mercury described a collaborative process with his coach, who provides tactical suggestions that Mercury incorporates into match preparation. He emphasized the need to vary his style against different opponents, as predictability makes teams vulnerable to counter-strategies.
With two major tournaments remaining before the ranking deadline, TYLOO faces a critical stretch. Securing Asia's number one position means bypassing earlier Major stages and entering directly into Stage 2, making every match point essential in their rivalry with The MongolZ.
