FLY Massu: "My confidence has definitely grown this season [...] but it’s hard for me to say I’m playing well because I have high standards for myself"

Fahad "Massu" Abdulmalek, ADC of FlyQuest, competing at Worlds 2024 as the LCS' first seed.

"I didn't expect this much success this early. I thought I’d have to grind a lot longer"

With the hopes and dreams of North America in the palm of their hands, FlyQuest advances to the last round of the League of Legends 2024 World Championship Swiss Stage after suffering a defeat at the hands of Hanwha Life Esports. Pushing the South Korean champions to their limits, the LCS representatives may have come close to making history, but they must now look ahead to the future. In an exclusive interview with Sheep Esports, the team's AD Carry, Massu, discusses his confidence and expectations and reflects on his rookie year.

How are you feeling after coming so close to a win? Do you think it's a good sign for the rest of the tournament?

Fahad "Massu" Abdulmalek: For sure, I’m happy because we played well as a team, but I’m pretty disappointed overall. I feel like I played badly, and if I could just play how I usually do or better next time, then for sure we would have won.

Could you walk me through how you've been handling the nervousness at Worlds so far, and what you're doing to manage it?

Massu: So far, I've had two international tournaments, so coming into this one, I’m not that nervous. I’ve been fine so far, except for today when the nerves kind of got to me. I was thinking too much about who I was playing against and their history, and of course, I was up against Viper, so I felt a bit nervous. Usually, I try breathing exercises since I’ve heard they help. I just focus on the game, not the situation. It’s not like I’m playing at Worlds; it’s just a different game, and I’ve got to focus on doing my best in that one.

You've mentioned dealing with imposter syndrome. Do games like today, where you came close to beating HLE, help with that?

Massu: Yeah. I think throughout the season and the year in general, my confidence has gone up a lot. But every now and then, I might feel less confident or have a bad performance, which gets to me. Usually, I just try to take myself out of that mindset. So yeah, it's been good.

Did you expect your rookie year to go this well, moving from NACL to LCS, winning the LCS, and now going to MSI and Worlds?

Massu: I definitely did not expect this success this early. I thought I’d have to grind a lot longer, maybe put in some years, and build a path where good players would want to play with me. But I’ve been very fortunate to have a really good team, and I’ve learned quickly. So, the success has been pretty shocking to me, but it’s really nice.

From now on, every match you'll play could be an elimination match. Does being 2-2 change how you approach future matches? Do you think the team's mentality will shift?

Massu: Definitely not. It does feel more dangerous to lose now because we could get knocked out, but that’s something you try not to think about. We’re just going to focus on the team we’re playing, make the best preparations, and just play the series.

Are you expecting to make it to the quarterfinals?

Massu: I try not to think about it, but of course, it’d be really nice. So yeah, I’m hoping we do make it at least that far.

Do you think fans can feel more hopeful after today’s performance?

Massu: I mean, of course. I think our team has a really high ceiling, and when we’re all playing our best, we can definitely put up really good games. So yeah, I think so.

What’s been the highlight of this year for you?

Massu: Definitely the World Song, but maybe more than that... I guess our playoffs run. It gave us a lot of confidence, and I could see us improving as a team, fixing the issues we had all split. So that was nice to see.

In a Drive video, you mentioned feeling homesick when you first moved to the LCS and had to leave your family in Canada. How has it been, especially now traveling to Berlin?

Massu: Yeah, I would say when I first moved from the Academy, I definitely felt homesick. I wasn't used to living alone and not having my parents or family around. But now that I've been doing it for about two years and traveling a lot, I’ve gotten a lot better at dealing with it. Of course, I still miss them a lot, but I don’t feel the need to have them around. I call them every day and talk to them every day, and that’s good for me.

You’re statistically one of the best ADCs at Worlds so far. Can you recognize your performance amid the stress, or are you still critical of yourself?

Massu: For sure, I think I’ve been playing okay. But it’s kind of hard for me to say I’m playing good because I always hold myself to high expectations. So, I think I’ve been playing decently, but there’s a lot more I can show.

Are Ruler, Deft, and Guma still your top three idols? Which bot lane do you want to face at Worlds, aside from Viper?

Massu: I mean, that list is what I thought of instantly, but I like so many ADCs that it's hard to choose. For sure, Viper is up there; he’s one of my most watched, if not my most watched, ADCs. So, I don’t know. I would like to face G2’s bot lane; it would be fun. Maybe Top Esports as well. Weibo Gaming’s bot lane looks fun to go against.

Do you see being at Worlds as proof that you made the right decision to go pro? Do you feel like you're fighting for your family in a way?

Massu: Definitely. I think making Worlds holds a lot of weight in terms of being on the right path so far, so that feels good. I play every game hoping to do my best and win, of course, especially to make my family happy. Even though they don’t understand the game much, they see when we win and lose. They’re super happy when we win and very supportive when we lose, so I like to give them good memories.

I heard you got into skincare from your sister. Have you seen LS’s skincare routine on Twitter?

Massu: [laughs] I saw he posted a video, but I didn't watch it. I did hear about the salmon, though. I think I heard about that, yeah. I don't know the science behind it, but I'm sure he knows what he's doing.

What will you do after this match, and how will you prepare for Sunday? Are you confident about facing any opponent?

Massu: I'm definitely confident. For myself, I have to review the games, of course. I need to learn how to bring my best performance to the game there. I have to make sure I come in with a clear mind and can be focused. So, it's about practicing the game and working on my mindset.

Do you have a message for your family and fans?

Massu: It's generic, but thank you everyone, for always watching and supporting. It really means a lot, especially when we're not having the greatest time, to have people who always support us. So, thank you."

Header Photo Credit: Adela Sznajder/Riot Games