Retals: "It's pretty impossible to have a bad mood with Wahvey in there"
After leaving Gen.G Mobil 1 Racing for Shopify Rebellion after the RLCS Birmingham Major, Retals is playing with a point to prove.
Here at the RLCS 2025 World Championship, his first World Championship in three years, he faces the tough task of making it out of the Playins to exceed the performances of his former teammates.
Ahead of the Playins, we sat down with Retals to discuss the team's growth since he joined, as well as the benefits to the atmosphere that come with their newest addition, Wahvey.
"Qualifying for the events is always the most nervous I get"
It's been three years since your last World Championship appearance. How are you feeling?
I'm feeling really blessed, very lucky. I think that this group of guys that we have here for this tournament is really exciting, we could go really far.
Photo: Stephanie LindgrenHow does the current Shopify Rebellion team dynamic compare to when you first joined at the start of Split 2?
I think that Wahvey in the place of Paarth gives us a much needed energy in the room. It's pretty impossible to have a bad mood with Wahvey in there, he's loud, energetic, very fun to be around. He brings up what can sometimes me a moody me and 2Piece.
We saw Memory get emotional in a video posted by the organisation a few days ago, what are the general vibes in the team at the moment?
Yeah, Memory has been doing this longer than I have and I've been doing it for a long time, so to see him finally get to his first RLCS LAN, it's really exciting. For the org in general, I think everyone is really happy with how this turned out, they've been in Rocket League since 2021 and this is their first LAN, so everyone is ready for it.
Now that you're here, do you feel more or less pressure than during the rest of the season?
I think qualifying for the events is always the most nervous I get. Actually playing at them, and playing the regionals, it doesn't really effect me while I'm in it, even though there are stakes on the line. I'm feeling good.
Do you have a main rival here? Is there a team or player you want to do better than?
I think outperforming Gen.G Mobil 1 Racing is always going to be the goal, I played with that team for the better part of two and a half years. They're all still my boys, but I definitely want to do better than them.
You've been on the content grind for a while. Do you ever see yourself doing it full-time?
Content is always second to competing, I love competing. It's more just there as an extra thing to do, and I do love it, but it will never be the same.
Who do you think will make it out of the play-ins?
Ourselves, NIP, Gen.G Mobil 1 Racing, and ROC.
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