Kevin Edward ‘Shaves’ Tolman is a UK League of Legends coach that, in his words, likes to ‘support in the background, in the shadows, and work my magic there’.
Now, in his first ever interview, he’s stepping out of the shadows to talk about reuniting with YamatoCannon at Karmine Corp for the French org’s very first LEC Season: Winter 2024. The pair previously worked together at Fnatic – can they work their magic again at KC? Dom Sacco asks.
Hi Shaves, congrats on joining Karmine Corp. How’s it going?
The days have been pretty good, we’ve been having good results and we’re really excited to play in the LEC.
Have you done any interviews in the past? I couldn’t see any.
No, I was more like the support in the background, in the shadows, and working my magic there! This is my first interview.
Got it, I’ll try to make it as great as I can. I’d love to start by asking you about your background. Your Liquipedia page has Fnatic and KCorp on, but prior to that back in 2017 I could see you tweeting a lot about the old Overwatch team Laser Kittenz. Were you a part of that? Please tell us about your background, including the origin of your name and perhaps where you grew up.
Indeed I was part of Laser Kittenz as a coach. Before that I was part of the Benelux scene in the Netherlands, there I met Bwipo as a 14/15 year old and I’ve been working with them ever since – but obviously not now.
Then I took a break from League of Legends and tried Overwatch, we had good success, then I took a longer break and came back to Fnatic – and now KCorp.
Shaves is just a random name generated in my past. And I am from Germany, I never lived in the UK.
“For me, Yamato is one of the best, if not the best, head coach in the LEC. When I was offered to join KCorp and be reunited with him, I was very excited, it was a no brainer to join. He is one of the sharpest guys to work with and is always motivated.”
Shaves, Karmine Corp
You’re one of several UK coaches in the LEC this season, alongside the likes of Duffman, Fredy122, Peter Dun, Mac, Carter and Ewbuff. Why do you think we have so many UK coaches and broadcast talent, in the LEC, but not a single UK player?
That’s actually a good question, I honestly don’t know! We’re just maybe talented as coaches.
Do you follow any of the ERLs, the UK and Nordics NLC?
No, honestly not.
You of course previously worked with YamatoCannon on Fnatic. What’s it like reuniting with him for this project with KCorp? What’s he like to work with? He seems like a fun guy and a positive influence on teams.
For me, Yamato is one of the best, if not the best, head coach in the LEC. When I was offered to join KCorp and be reunited with him, I was very excited, it was a no brainer to join.
He is one of the sharpest guys to work with. He is always motivated and always tries his very best to push his team from the starting line and be in a good position to win a trophy.
The Karmine Corp fanbase is one of the most passionate. What’s it like to be a part of the org, and do you have any message for the fanbase going into the org’s first season in the LEC?
It’s a big, big honour being part of this fantastic team. I felt at home from the very first moment I joined the office in Paris, it’s like a family and a small dream come true.
To all the fans, I just want to say it makes a difference if they share the positive, good energy I felt also at Fnatic. There will be good times, there will be bad times, and if they will push us through the bad times, it will make a big difference.
Speaking of dreams, when Karmine Corp joined the LEC late last year, org founder Kameto said: “To qualify for Worlds would be amazing. Winning Worlds in year one, let’s take it slowly! I’m a dreamer, you know, but it won’t happen in year one, but then again, you never know!” Are you a dreamer, Shaves?
I’m a dreamer, but I like to think from game to game. Like, for example, people are asking me: ‘How was the new format? How’s the system?’
And honestly, I do not care about the system or format. I just think from game to game. And as long as you’re winning, good things will happen.
“To all the KCorp fans, I just want to say it makes a difference if they share positive, good energy. There will be good times, there will be bad times, and if they will push us through the bad times, it will make a big difference.”
Shaves, Karmine Corp
Karmine Corp CEO Arthur said: “We’re not aiming for victory in the LEC, we’re aiming for the World Championship in five to ten years. There’s no point in burning everything to win the LEC in the first year. It would be the worst possible decision and I wouldn’t make it.” I found this quote interesting. What are your thoughts on that and the season ahead? It sounds like there’s a real long-term plan here rather than quick short-term gains.
For sure, if you have a good infrastructure and you’re in a good position to do damage to Worlds, and if you want to win Worlds, you obviously also win the LEC eventually, right.
So with the infrastructure, having a good frame will always carry a team through good and bad times.
Again, I was talking about good and bad times before. Every team, no matter which one, whether it’s G2, Fnatic or whoever, there will always be good times, but also bad times, every single year. And with a good infrastructure and good frames, you will power through.
What are your views on the KC roster – Cabochard, Bo, Saken, Upset and Targamas – and their chances this season?
Personally, I always work the same. Basically, by that I mean I look at the meta, and look at: Who do I have? Who’s my top-laner, who’s my jungler, my mid… and they all have different assets and different strengths.
For example, Humanoid had a different Orianna to Nemesis, who had a different Orianna to Nisqy, who had a different Orianna to Saken. I need to picture that and put it together in the meta, and given that, see how far we can go.
It’s always hard to say. What’s the difference between the old roster and this roster? Player strength, player this, player here, it’s hard to say but I always try to remember and think back but I honestly can’t say it’s a big difference. Maybe that’s just me. But we’ll see.
I think we can do good things, for sure.
Do you have any personal goals or ambitions you’d like to share?
Oh, for sure. I want to win Worlds, I want to win LEC and I would also like to win the LCS, and if possible, also the LCK. I would like to win in every major region.
It’s a bit more tricky but I would like to win in every major region, win MSI and win Worlds.
Thanks for your time, Shaves. I wish you all the best for this season and beyond.
Thank you, thank you.
Karmine Corp face Fnatic in their first match of the LEC Winter 2024 this Saturday January 13th, from 7pm CET (6pm GMT)
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
