It’s been a massive year for the RLCS, and the Winter Major has undoubtedly been this season’s biggest event so far. Not only did it have massive implications for the season, but fans were finally able to be in attendance for the first time since 2019.

We were able to sit down with Dignitas pro player Jack “ApparentlyJack” Benton to discuss his, and the team's, experiences at the event.

Hey, Jack! So, you guys have a bit of a break before the Spring Split. Are you looking forward to some time off? Any plans?

ApparentlyJack: Yeah, it’s always good to have time off. Especially when you’re playing at such a high level - you need a break to take your mind away from the game and let loose a little bit. I think I’m just going to be taking the time to myself and letting myself off a little bit.

Throughout the Winter Split, you guys got some pretty good results in order to qualify for the Major. You got 2nd in Regional Event 1, 5th - 6th in Regional Event 2 and 3rd in Regional Event 3. How did you feel about the Winter Split as a whole leading into the Major?

ApparentlyJack: It was pretty good! I think we overall felt it was a little bit of a step below our Fall Split performance, but it really wasn’t that drastic of a step. We were one of three teams from Europe that qualified for both Majors, so that’s really good. I myself was happy about how we played in the split and how things were going heading into the Major.

So, the Winter Major took place in Los Angeles. Was this your first time coming to the U.S. and how did it feel to be here with the team?

ApparentlyJack: I’ve actually been in the U.S. several times! But I’ve only been in Orlando and New York, so this was my first time in Los Angeles. I think it’s a great place. And obviously, being with each other online is good, but it’s not the same as being in person. When you’re in person, personalities really shine. It was nice to see the guys and it was nice to meet everyone from Dignitas.

So, your group at the Major was a bit weird. It consisted only of Pioneers and Spacestation, because Sandrock Gaming was unfortunately unable to participate. What was your impression of the matches, both going in and afterwards?

ApparentlyJack: We had full confidence going into it. I felt we were the strongest team going into the group. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way. With Spacestation, it started off good, but it slipped away and they adapted better and played better in the series overall. They deserved that win. It kind of went as expected against Pioneers. They looked better than I expected, they were playing well and it was nice to see. But overall, that match did go as expected. Just not the Spacestation one.

The road did sadly come to an end against Evil Geniuses in the first round of the lower bracket. Talk a little bit about how you think things went overall and your biggest takeaway from the games.

ApparentlyJack: Yeah, overall, we weren’t happy with how we played. I think everyone can see that, but we’re the biggest critics of ourselves. As much as fans can rip into us or they aren’t happy about it, we’re even less happy about it. Overall, I think the issue was that we just didn’t adapt quick enough. Our opponents adapted way faster than us, and that’s why we got reverse swept two times. It’s definitely something to take away, we all have to keep on our toes and make sure we’re not getting complacent. We have to get over that last hurdle and close the series out, that’s the hardest part.

Obviously, it sucks that you guys weren’t able to perform in front of the crowd at this event. But you still got to meet fans! How was it having them back in the building and just how important do you feel fan presence is for the esport? Also, do you have any fun fan stories to share?

ApparentlyJack: It’s crazy. I knew people knew me, but I didn’t realize the extent to which it was. I got mobbed whenever I stepped outside, and it was an amazing experience. I absolutely loved it! I just really enjoyed talking to the fans. It wasn’t even like they were just taking a picture and saying bye, I actually just wanted to talk to them. I have a picture with 3 or 4 guys that were dressed in a cheese outfit with no shirts, which was quite funny. I think my favorite was when I just queued up for food and started talking to this guy. We just had a 20 minute conversation about anything and everything really. It’s just nice to talk to them. And, of course, it’s great for the esport. More interaction is always a good thing.

You touched on this briefly earlier, but Dignitas was very well-represented at this event. We had a lot of content creators in attendance, and of course, the headquarters is in Los Angeles. There was also more freedom for you guys to interact with other players than there was in Sweden for the Fall Major. How was it getting to meet and hang out with everyone?

ApparentlyJack: It’s always nice to meet people from Dignitas! I’ve been talking to these guys since November of 2020, so it’s been a while. It’s really great to finally meet everyone and see the office. As for meeting other teams, I’ve been playing with these guys for years. Some of them, I’ve been talking to for years. Meeting those people and being able to spend time with them in person is really great. Being able to chat until whatever time is very nice.

Tell us a little bit about some of your favorite memories from the event. You talked about some fan ones earlier, but give us a little glimpse at some of your favorite moments with your peers.

ApparentlyJack: I think just chilling in the hotel and the pool was really nice. You know, it’s just the simple stuff. To be fair, we did do some stuff. Metsanauris met a fan on the first day who worked for the Los Angeles Kings hockey team. He was a sales rep, so he was able to give us 4 free tickets, so shout out to that guy! Metsanauris took me, Kronovi and Rise with him. So, us 4 went and it was like a VIP box ticket. It was crazy. We also got to tour the SoFi Stadium, which was very cool. Having B0ston there was cool too, being able to meet him was one of the highlights. He’s one of the nicest people. At the boot camp, we all went to our psychologist’s house because he lives in Los Angeles for a barbecue. Again, the simple and casual stuff. Being able to just be a human with people.

Hey, I apologize in advance for this question, but it has to be asked. Just how many orders of fish and chips did you get while in Los Angeles?

ApparentlyJack: Okay okay, they definitely made it seem bigger than it was. I don’t remember ordering that many, maybe we got into the 4 or 5 range. Which is still quite a lot, but Dignitas Rocket League Twitter blew it out of proportion for sure. One of them was even chicken! They tried to play it off as if it was fish and chips, but it was chicken. Definitely a lot of fish and chips, but you’ve got to stick to your British ways. You can’t forget who you are.

This is fair! But like, how did fish and chips over here compare to fish and chips over there?

ApparentlyJack: Yeah, it’s definitely not as good. But it’ll do, it’ll do.

So, the Spring Split will be here before we know it. And with that, there’s a cut-throat bracket format the whole way through. What’s the outlook for you guys heading in and how much do you see the competition elevating as teams are trying to secure their spot at the World Championship?

ApparentlyJack: That’s a good question. I think Rocket League is a game where people are evolving in skill level every split. Teams are getting better, players are getting better. There are so many star players nowadays who can make a difference. It’s definitely going to be interesting and almost impossible to predict at this point. Teams who have stayed consistent throughout have to be credited because it’s not easy to do. These young, mechanical players keep coming up and it’s going to be interesting to see who the next star players are. Competition is going to be fierce, those last few Worlds spots are going to be up for grabs and we’ll see who gets them.

Finally, do you have any shout-outs you’d like to give?

ApparentlyJack: Shout out to all the fans. Obviously we couldn’t get the performance that you guys wanted and that we wanted, but we’re still going to be there. We’re going to be practicing harder than ever and fighting for the top spots. Hopefully next time, we’ll be able to live up to expectations.

That’s all I’ve got for you, thank you for taking the time!

ApparentlyJack: No worries, thank you!

To keep up with Jack, be sure to check out his content on YouTube and Twitch. You can also give him a follow on Twitter and Instagram.