Speaking to Deutsche Presse-Agentur, the 19-year-old from Hamburg explains the significance of the title for him, how strong the cohesion is between German FIFAe athletes and that the final opponent was no stranger.

Question: Now, a few days after the World Cup title – how does it feel?

Answer: I don’t know if I’ve fully realized that I’m now world champion. It’s already something completely different than winning the German championship.

Question: What significance does the individual championship title have for you?

Answer: For me, the singles world championship already has by far the greatest significance, because you’re only playing for yourself. It’s simply about being the best player. And it also pays out the most prize money. The goal of every e-sports player is first of all to reach the World Championship. And then, of course, the big, big goal is to win the World Cup – but that’s unlikely, no matter how good you are. The fact that it worked out for me right away the first time is outstanding.

Umut: “Didn’t prepare for penalty shootouts”.

Question: Have you prepared especially for a penalty shootout, perhaps specifically for the final opponent Nicolas “nicolas99fc” Villalba?

Answer: To be honest, I didn’t prepare for the penalty shootout at all. I didn’t have one before and I didn’t practice it. I actually score more goals, so it’s relatively unlikely that it will happen for me. With Nico, however, it was completely different. He doesn’t let many goals pass because he’s so strong defensively. We also trained together a lot in the days before the World Cup because he was on the other side of the tournament tree and is also a strong player.

Question: In the audience, many German e-sports players were cheering loudly along with you. Is this close cohesion of the German top players an advantage over other FIFA nations?

Answer: We really stick together. In the game, I heard them yelling all the time. And the day after, you notice how everyone’s voice is gone. It’s super cool that they were so happy for me, cheered me on and pushed me. I really appreciate that! But Nico was also cheered on. That was a good battle. But I think Germany won in terms of the atmosphere.

World Champion in FIFA 22: “I take it very, very seriously”.

Question: The streamer Elias “EliasN97” Nerlich praised your discipline in his stream. Unlike other e-sports players, you would have usually turned him down when it came to playing other games together, such as Fortnite or Among Us. Do you see yourself as disciplined there as well?

Answer: I don’t know if I’m that disciplined – but I do take it very, very seriously. When I play a World Cup, I focus completely on it and give it my all. You don’t know what will happen in the future. I know that I was very good in my FIFA skills this year and FIFA 22 suits me well. That was also my personal ambition to say: I have to go through it now – even if I would have liked to play other games with the guys. FIFA is my job.

Question: You seemed very mentally stable and calm throughout the tournament. Do you put any special energy into it?

Answer: I think that’s just my personality. I’m more the type that I want to stay focused. After the win against Emre Yilmaz in the semifinals, for example, I just tried to stay focused and not yell around. Because I knew that the final was still to come.

Next task for Umut: FIFAe Nations Cup

Question: The big – Season finale is the FIFAe Nations Cup next week. How do you see your chances with your teammate Mustafa “Musti” Cankal?

Answer: It’s a 2v2, so it’s a completely different game. The cards are reshuffled there. But I would say that Musti and I are very good in 2v2. That’s why I think we have a good chance.

Personal details: Umut “RBLZ_Umut” Gültekin has been a professional FIFA player at RB Leipzig since 2020. Last year he won the German Virtual Bundesliga individual championship, and this year he was runner-up. The FIFAe World Cup title is the 19-year-old from Hamburg’s greatest success to date. He has already been named “eFootballer of the Year” twice by “kicker”.