Interview with the #1 woman on EUW solo queue, Kittxnly: "At some point I just became obsessed with playing Solo-Q and seeing the LP rise"
Kittxnly will make her competitive debut next week
Kittxnly is the highest-ranked woman in EUW solo queue, having peaked Challenger 1277 LP last season. She recently joined a competitive team for the first time, and will make her debut as the support of “Int Quick” in Division 2 of 4 Nations, the official league for the United Kingdom & Ireland. I had a few words with Kittxnly about her history in League of Legends, her rise to Challenger, and her future plans.
Congratulations on having the most successful solo queue season of your career. What’s behind your success?
Thank you!! It was a number of things: mostly playing it out slowly rather than spamming 10+ games a day and burning out. Doing 5-6 games a day at most and make them be quality ones helped me so much. I definitely felt the most energized and focused during those ones. I'm not too sure if anything changed too much in regards to my gameplay this split: I was still the typical lane bully as I do think I shine the most during laning/mid-game, I definitely fall off the longer the game gets as it gets to my mental and I lose focus. But to add: the higher I went up the easier it became macro-wise, as I could rely on the other players to be where they should be, and I can trust that their calls are the right ones.
When was the first time you reached Challenger?
The first time I ever hit Challenger was in Season 8 and it was on EUNE. I ended Challenger as well for the whole season, they were even still doing physical rewards back then so I managed to get the backpack! It was very exciting and truly that time felt like I had peaked, even if it was on a minor server. But I did know that at some point I'd have to move to EUW, and I did shortly after, albeit I was again a for fun player for a while after that point, and didn't try competitively until a season or two later.
When did you start playing League of Legends? What made you try it out?
I first started in Season 1 or so, when my sister showed me the game, but I was way too young to understand what the game was about and I just remember spamming wards in base thinking its like a tower defense kind of game, haha. Then, I started properly at the end of Season 3. It took me a while to figure out what role/champs I wanted to play, and back then I started out as a Nidalee top lane player and I took the game for fun and not competitively. What made me want to play was the fact that all of my friends were playing it and they helped me learn and we all had a blast together for 1-2 years at least, until most of them quit. At some point I just became obsessed with playing Solo-Q and seeing the LP rise, and that's what kept me going back to the game.
How did you end up deciding to main support?
It took me like 3 or so seasons to actually see what I enjoy and have the most success with. I had started out with Nidalee, then mained Katarina and Jinx, then I had a friend who played ADC and he urged me to try Leona and that was pretty fun! But at some point I tried the typical enchanters and I fell in love with them the most, and the game just seemed simpler and more fun with them, plus as a typical girlie I just loved their designs - I always wanna play something pretty and cutesy in a video game!
What are some players that you find interesting playing with or against in solo queue and why?
Caps!!! I love playing with Caps, he is absolutely insane at what he does!! But also Hans Sama, as well! I just have this specific game that comes to mind with him, where we basically had the same rotations that we saw at Worlds, with ADC going top lane, etc. It's something that I don't think I would've experienced if I hadn't had him in the game. But in general with him as my ADC the games have been a lot easier.
Are there any specific players that you look up to in particular?
It used to be Kaseko but not any longer, as I found him as a role model for the fact that he got so high with Lulu, but his behavior to women/directly towards me has been disgusting to say lightly. First time I got mentioned in his chat and he was being misogynistic and his chat flaming me, and him egging them on, rather than shutting it down. And recently I also had the same experience while I played with him - he was harassing me in game, his chat was being abusive towards me/sexually harassing me, etc. All around not pleasant at all.
What are your hobbies outside of League of Legends?
Gym!! the biggest one after League! Nothing can replace the endorphins that I get after a good gym session, as I'm also chronically depressed for a few years now, which is probably not quite unusual for someone that plays League during the majority of their time haha. But yeah, it is something that I've had for a while, and I've been trying my best to learn how to better live with it and cope, as it also leaves me with a lot less energy to do stuff.
I'd also say cosplaying, but I'm not entirely sure if it's just a hobby, or more of a work thing, haha. But it's pretty fun getting to dress as your favourite anime/game characters and feeling like a hottie.
I studied English philology after high school, but It's not something that I really enjoyed and I dropped out after 2 years. Now I'm saving up to be able to study interior design instead. For a while I've been doing interior design in Sims and I'd love to be able to turn that into a job someday!
How big of a role does League of Legends have in your life?
It's been something that I have been playing almost daily ever since season 3, so I'd say quite the big role. It's part of my identity, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I wanna continue being a menace on the Rift, and I want people to know me as THAT Lulu/Soraka player.
Any advice to give to aspiring Challengers?
Keep going! Half of the battle is just not giving up. I was never too confident of myself, and wasn't really seeing myself as someone who could hit Challenger in EUW, but after a lot of hard work, I managed to improve enough eventually. Strive to be the best version of yourself.
Finally, how do you feel about making your competitive debut soon?
Very excited!! It's something I never thought I would be doing, as I am an OTP and didn't think any team would pick me up, but alas I am in one now!! I'm a bit bummed out I had to miss out on the qualifiers, but I'll be able to play my first game during the main tournament part, next game being on the 27th, which I'll also stream to my Twitch, so be sure to check out my stream!
Kittxnly regularly streams League of Legends gameplay on her Twitch account.
Kittxnly’s LOLPros
Kittxnly’s YouTube
Caps photo source
Hans Sama photo source
Int Quick announcement graphic source