How to Defeat Top Players, By Top Players:
Francesco Pio Pero (@pero_francesco)
🧵🔽 Question 1: You’re paired vs Marco Silva for a win-and-in to Top Cut. What are you thinking when you first sit across from him?

"This is actually funny because I played Marco in the 2024 LAIC top cut, but anyways! Whenever I play against a top player in a big tournament, I don’t feel afraid.
My confidence comes from all the practice I’ve done. Even in a tough match, I know I have at least a 50% chance of winning if I prepared well. I’ve trained with some of the best players ever, so I’ve been in this situation plenty of times before.

I remind myself that my opponent is probably just as nervous as I am. They may be more so than I! Fear isn’t something I need to get rid of. It’s natural, like a survival instinct, but I can feel fear and still be confident at the same time.

For me, tournaments are all about chasing the strongest players and testing myself against them. That’s what makes competing exciting. After spending thousands of hours playing, I want the challenge of battling the best. That thrill and adrenaline rush are something I don’t get from an average ladder match."