Karmine Corp (KC) has successfully qualified for the Swiss Stage at the League of Legends World Championship. After a tense opening match against Cloud9 that ended 3-2, KC showcased a more confident performance, securing two clean 3-0 victories over MVK. Head coach Bok "Reapered" Han-gyu evaluated the team's performance, discussed the bootcamp results, and shared his expectations for the upcoming matchup.
According to the coach, the Play-In stage served as a kind of warm-up for the team. Despite the first series against C9 being difficult and the team playing below their practice level, the players quickly recognized their mistakes and adapted. Reapered emphasizes that KC is currently a much stronger team than they were during the LEC playoffs. Although they faced opponents who were weaker on paper in the Play-Ins, the team demonstrated their desired style and objective strength on the map.
One of the key achievements of the bootcamp was a noticeable improvement in side-lane macro play. The coaching staff deliberately worked on weaknesses: two-lane timers, overloads, and teleport discipline. The synergy between Canna, kyeahoo, and jungler Yike confirmed the effectiveness of this training. In addition, a significant emphasis was placed on individual player responsibility to avoid blindly following team calls and losing momentum in crisis situations.
Reapered dismissed the claim that the team's inconsistency is solely due to "stage nerves." He explained it as a combination of factors, including preparation, individual confidence, and psychology. The coach noted: when the team plays well, they are at their best, but in case of mistakes, their performance drops sharply. Nevertheless, the squad currently remains calm, believes in its abilities, and is fully ready for the main stage.
In the first round of the Swiss Stage, KC will face Anyone's Legend (AL) — a team they previously defeated at the EWC tournament. Reapered is satisfied with the draw, as the teams know each other well thanks to joint practice sessions. Despite AL's top laner change, their LPL victory, and strong international performances last season, the KC coaching staff feels no fear toward their opponent and is determined to showcase their best game.
Assessing their overall prospects at the tournament, Reapered avoids bold predictions and adheres to a "step by step" approach. The primary goal is to make it through the Swiss Stage and reach the quarterfinals. At the same time, the coach does not rule out the possibility of a massive upset, recalling the historic success of the DRX team. Finally, Reapered thanked the French fans for their endless energy and support, promising that the team will continue to push themselves to the limit to deliver the best possible results.
As a reminder, Karmine Corp Sweeps MVK Esports to Reach Worlds 2026 Main Stage for the First Time
