It’s back here once again this year. The PUBG Nations Cup (PNC). Unlike other Battleground esports competitions, PNC is a national competition in which players compete on behalf of their countries rather than their teams.
16 teams representing 16 countries around the world will participate in this PNC 2023. In addition to last year’s champions Great Britain, Germany, Türkiye, Denmark, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Korea, China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam, India and Australia will participate.
In celebration of PNC 2023, we met the Korean national team on the KRAFTON blog. Let’s listen to their announcements, which showed a cheerful but hidden seriousness?
※ This interview was conducted before the start of the PNC 2023.
Nice to meet you both. I’d like you to briefly introduce yourselves to the KRAFTON blog readers.
Heaven: Hi, I’m Heaven. I play in Team V7 FUNPIN and I’m here to represent Korea.
seoul: Hello, I’m seoul, Cho Ki-yeol.
Loki: Hello, I’m Loki, member of the Korean national team.
Inonix: Hello, I’m Inonix of Danawa Esports, who was selected as a member of the PNC 2023 Korean national team.
seoul, Inonix, and Loki once again became national representatives following PNC 2022, and Heaven became a national representative for the first time. Can you tell us how you feel about being selected as a national representative?
Heaven: I had some expectations before the PGS1 prematch. However, I thought it would be a bit difficult because my performance in the PGS1 prematch was not good. But I felt really good when I got a call saying I had been selected.
Loki: I expected to be picked. Because I really liked my performance in this year’s competition (laughs).
Inonix: I really didn’t know I would be selected. So when I was selected, I thought I had to work really hard.
How are you preparing for PNC 2023? Are there any difficulties in coordinating teamwork?
seoul: There is no problem because I, Loki, and Inonix were originally one team. However, Heaven may be unfamiliar with us, so I think we are trying to accommodate and align that. We’re working on our teamwork while doing scrimming.
Wouldn’t it be difficult for Heaven to adjust to the fact that the other team members are on the same team except you?
Heaven: I didn’t think it was too difficult because I expected these three members to be selected in Danawa e-sports.
How are you form or condition recently?
seoul: It’s keeping it very good. I think you guys can look forward to it.
Loki: Same here.
How confident are you about your expected grades?
Heaven: Because these members are so good, I think it’s entirely possible for them to win.
seoul: I think we can win the tournament.
What TMI did you learn about each other while staying in the camp?
Heaven: I realized that Danawa e-sports players are definitely high-tension in their daily lives (laughs).
Is there a personal goal you would like to achieve at PNC 2023?
Inonix: I don’t have any personal goals. Winning, the team’s goal, is my biggest goal. I will try to get a lot of ranking points.
Loki: I want to supplement the feedback I’ve heard so far and show you a good performance.
seoul: The goal of the team is also my personal goal, so I really want to win.
Can you pick the team or player you are most wary of in this PNC 2023?
seoul: I would pick the team Australia and TGLTN.
Loki: I will pick the team China and shou. I think the power of an old man would be scary (laughs)
Since this PNC will be held in Seoul, I think many fans will come and cheer for Team Korea. Is this definitely an advantage of you?
Loki: I think being able to eat the same foods you used to eat comfortably is a big advantage. I’m actually not sure about the rest.
seoul: Actually, I feel a little anxious because I feel like I’m the top dog because it’s my home ground (laughs). I like the position of Underdog.
Please give us a few words about your resolution for the competition.
seoul: I will work really hard and get good results.
Loki: I will increase your patriotism to the maximum.
Inonix: It is an honor in itself to represent the country. I will prepare hard and repay you with good results.
Heaven: I’ll show you a good performance as I’m with good players.
