Back in his days as a player, NoFe was renowned as a strategist; despite his less-than-stellar mechanics, teammates and opponents alike spoke highly of his mind for the game. Even during his eight-month retirement, he kept up an impressive series of match analyses on his blog, each post brimming with detail. No one was surprised when NoFe was announced as the manager of the newly founded HUYA Tigers.

On paper, the Tigers' strength seemed questionable. Many fans doubted whether GorillA would be able to carry three unimpressive sophomores and a washed-up PraY. Whether NoFe would successfully make the jump from cerebral player to competent manager was also a point of concern.

All doubts dissipated as they took home the regular split in their debut season, then secured their Worlds ticket in the next. Displaying an attractive mix of spirited aggression and rugged determination, the Tigers continued their underdog fairytale by knocking aside KT Rolster and Fnatic. They had become, against all odds, the second best team in the world.

2016 came, and the Tigers kicked into third gear. Galvanized by the addition of the devilish prodigy Peanut, ROX would dominate both rounds of the Spring season with style. No longer were they a group of undervalued misfits, hungry to prove their true worth; they were the second best team in the world, ready to usurp the Final Throne.

With each passing week, hope grew. No team was standing up to their signature aggression. The archenemy SKT had encountered their worst slump in history and were lucky to make the postseason. The time had come. This was their season. Nothing could stop them now.

Nothing... but for an SKT back from the dead.

Dreams were crushed. Hearts were broken. The Tigers had once again fallen to their demons.

Would they be able to rise again?

How have you been?

Since the finals, I've been taking it easy at the teamhouse, sometimes going out to hang out with friends or family. It really has been a while since I've been able to enjoy some time of my own. It was always hectic during the regular season, but the league schedule getting stretched out across six days exacerbated the situation this year. It was hard for me to go out any further than our front porch.

How does it feel to be champions at last?

It was our first trophy. We finished second last Spring, last Worlds, and this Spring. Then finally, first. First at last. The players were full of bliss. I was too. I wanted a tournament victory so very much. It was fulfilling and meaningful.

How stressful was it pulling through three consecutive runner-up finishes?

When we first got to 2nd place, it was not so bad for us - it was our first season and we did not expect to do so well. Our standing then was very satisfactory and we just wanted to do better next season. But as was later well publicized, we had issues with our sponsors that summer. No one was getting paid, money was very tight, and everyone had a hard time. It was a very difficult period for us.

Despite everything, we stuck together and kept trying. It felt like the heavens acknowledged our efforts and guided us to a second place finish at Worlds. It wasn’t a trophy, but it still was a great achievement all of us were happy about.

Our loss this spring was unexpected for the opposite reason. We had retained most of our roster, everyone was in great spirits, and everything had been going very smoothly all season. We all had high expectations; I think we were all expecting victory. Finishing second once again, under such circumstances, was heartbreaking. It hit us really hard. [grimace]

Despite their recent triumph, the Tigers' shadows had not yet completely passed.

Let's talk about Worlds. Which foreign teams do you consider a threat?

To be honest, I haven't been able to closely follow every foreign league - I'm short on time. There is simply no way I can watch all regions' regular season games [laugh]. I do watch the playoffs and finals, though.

As everyone knows, NA has made huge improvements this season. Shotcalling, mechanics, teamfights… they're doing everything better. The LPL has also become a more competitive league. So I really think it’s going to be the toughest Worlds ever, although that's said every season [laugh].

I consider our biggest threats to be TSM and EDG. Both teams are coming as their region's champions and are considered to be strong teams. I think they'll do well; compared to last year's foreign teams, they come with a more imposing aura. Games against them will not be be easy.

We’re planning to have scrims with TSM, and I'm curious as to how they will go. We won't make much out of the results, of course, as they'll be fresh off the boat. No getting cocky just because we win a few, or worrying overmuch just because we lose a few. Scrims are scrims. But I'm looking forward to it. [Editor’s Note: This interview took place on September 7th.]

TSM seems to have a different philosophy to initiating teamfights and tend to lane aggressively. How are you planning to capitalize upon these style-of-play differences?

I've prepared a lot, but the Worlds meta is very fickle. Many teams will change up not only their picks, but their entire approach to the game, throughout their tournament run. So it's difficult to say anything definite as of now. There are some constants, though. Bjergsen is one - he's an outstanding midlaner that really demands respect. Doublelift is another - his play breaks down severely once he tilts. We have these externalities down. Anyway, TSM is clearly a strong team and will be a tough opponent.

The Flash Wolves are renowned for their undefeated record against top Korean teams as well as their world class midlaner Maple. Thoughts on the Flash Wolves?

I almost forgot - Flash Wolves is another strong team. They have a strong midlaner and jungler, and when they get rolling, their aggressive style of play and explosive teamfighting really shine. Their bottom lane duo is also skilled, as deducible through their rankings on the Korean ladder. It's difficult to keep them down, as a large part of their strength comes from sheer individual skill. But although they are a very dangerous and clutch team, I think their aggressive tendencies are double-edged. If we avoid mistakes, we should be able to match them well.

Most consider EU to be this season's underdogs. Do you agree?

Their rotations are less refined and their drafts are unconventional. The latter worries me, as EU is usually the birthplace of new metas. At first, everyone thinks what they're doing is weird and suboptimal… but in the end, all the other regions end up catching on. [laughs] So if EU brings something new to the table, they may turn out to be a serious contender; if not, most if not all of them should go home in the group stage. If they do utilize their open-mindedness to great effect, we’ll be right there taking notes. [laughs]

Any players in particular you’re looking out for?

Bjergsen has been a star for quite some time and is an amazing player. He can even hold his own against Faker. But Kuro is skilled at playing his lane conservatively while keeping one step ahead in terms of map movement, so I think we will be able to contain Bjergsen as a team. I would have pointed next to Score… what a shame. The last player I would pick is Mithy. His unorthodox style of play left a big impression on me last Worlds. When he's on his game, he's a force to be reckoned with. I rate his unpredictability quite highly.