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Interview with Romain “Imuhan” Serra, Esports Director for Cicadas

Evalunna (Vitality)

1. Welcome and thank you for accepting this interview. Can you briefly introduce yourself and your team?

Alexandre "Leyiko" Festeris : Hello, I’m the president and founder of Klanik Esport and Klanik Production, a gamification agency. Klanik Esport is an esports club based in Marseille and part of the Klanik Group.

2. What exactly is the role of a Head of Esports?

Leyiko : My role is simple: coordinate the club’s development and ensure its sustainability, keep esports alive within the Klanik Group on strategic topics, and oversee the commercial development of the gamification agency.

3. How do you handle players’ pressure and motivation before and after competitions?

Leyiko : It’s very complicated and depends a lot on the games. When we were in Div2 on LoL or in the Open Tour on Valorant (2023 French champions), with my rather fiery temperament, I preferred to stay back, let the staff handle it, and step in only at the end of a meeting or debrief. Due to my position, I need to maintain a certain standard and professional image.

4. In your opinion, what qualities should aspiring pro players have?

Leyiko : Excellent discipline, creating a professional work environment both in and outside the game. You have to understand that being a player isn’t the ultimate goal—there are other career paths connected to esports. And most importantly, you need to be hungry—truly hungry, because becoming a pro requires a lot of sacrifice.

5. Is there a person or team that particularly inspires you? Why?

Leyiko : I’d say, like most people, the story of KC. I relate a lot to their values and storytelling because they remind me of the football club I support, OM. That’s what I aim for with Klanik Esport: to become the OM of esports.

6. When and how did you start playing video games?

Leyiko : Very young, thanks to my family.

7. Do you think age is a factor in becoming a pro player?

Leyiko : It’s not about age, it’s about maturity.

8. If you could change one thing about how young players are trained in esports, what would it be?

Leyiko : I genuinely believe we should move towards an Esports / Professional Life training model.

9. What motivated you to get into esports?

Leyiko : Passion, excitement, and the ambition to have a club in Marseille that represents me.

10. What advice would you give to someone trying to break into esports as a player?

Leyiko : Be realistic about yourself. If you don’t have the skill or drive, don’t waste your time. But if you do, give it your all—no holding back.

11. What makes Klanik different from other teams?

Leyiko : I think our business model is unique, which can be both a strength and a weakness.

12. Outside of esports, what other hobbies or activities help you keep balance in your life?

Leyiko : My wife and children, as well as football—it’s like a religion for anyone from Marseille.

13. How do you see the evolution of esports in the coming years, in France or Europe?

Leyiko : In France, not well. The model is becoming more elitist, with only 4 or 5 clubs truly able to develop, which hurts the rest. We lack proper tiering in games to allow new teams to emerge.

14. How many hours a day should a player practice to go pro?

Leyiko : It’s not about how much you play. You can play 10 hours a day and learn nothing. There needs to be a balance between playing and learning.

15. What role do commercial partners play, and what do they bring to your team?

Leyiko : They support us in developing our projects.

16. Is there an underrated player you’d like to highlight or support?

Leyiko : In 2025, with our pause from pro esports, I no longer follow the scene closely. I’ve stepped back after the exhausting year of 2024.

17. How do you keep players motivated after a tough loss?

Leyiko : It’s very difficult when working remotely. During bootcamps, it’s easier—a hug, a smile, reinforcing the weight of your words.

18. If you could design the “perfect path” to becoming a pro player, what would it look like?

Leyiko : Wake up at 8 a.m., play solo queue from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., lunch, solo queue from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., reviews and learning from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., dinner, and then sleep.

19. What’s the biggest myth about esports you’d like to debunk?

Leyiko : That women are weaker than men.

20. If you were in charge of esports tomorrow, what would you improve?

Leyiko : The professional scene is fine, but I’d focus on tiering teams to help more players emerge, similar to football with its different leagues. I’d also improve the broadcast model. When we were in Div2, we had zero revenue despite being professional, which is unthinkable compared to other sports.

21. Any final message for the fans?

Leyiko : Even though Klanik Esport isn’t currently competing on the pro scene, our community is still alive and we’ll be back soon. Forever the first <3

esport, Leyiko, Klanik

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