Ukrainian LoL top laner Ivan "NightSlayer" Bilous, playing for MKOI Fénix, secured a victory in the Spanish LES league Final Four. In just two years of his competitive career, the player conquered the Spanish ERL and took his first steps toward the LEC by joining the main MKOI roster in Berlin. In a recent interview following his championship win, he shared his thoughts on playing on a big stage, the impact of the war on his career, and his gaming worldview.
Discussing playing on a big stage and the difference between leagues, NightSlayer admitted that the LES grand final did not make him nervous. The change in atmosphere and the scale of the arena only added to his confidence in front of the crowd. Comparing his time with MKOI Fénix to practicing with the main roster in Berlin, Ivan noted that the primary difference lies not in the players' behavior, but in the immense in-game experience of the LEC representatives.
The significant impact of the war and the high price of gaming time became key challenges on his path to the professional scene. Due to the hostilities in Ukraine, he did not have access to a computer for some time. Upon returning home, the player quickly climbed from Diamond to Challenger rank. Ivan recalls that even before the full-scale invasion, his parents strictly limited his PC time to 3-5 hours, which taught him to use every minute of a match as productively as possible, even when he was forced to abandon ranked games at his family's request.
Ivan bases his playstyle and choice of inspirations on efficiency rather than emotions. His aggressive laning phase drastically contrasts with his calm personality in real life—it is a drive to flawlessly punish opponents for the slightest miscalculations. In team communication, he mostly remains quiet but speaks up in critical moments to stabilize the squad. Among those who influenced his development, he highlights Ukrainian esports player Maynter, who inspired him at the age of 15, and acknowledges Counter-Strike legend Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev.
Forming his own gaming philosophy, NightSlayer perceives League of Legends not just as a job, but as a school that gave him important life lessons instead of a traditional education. He articulates his approach as follows: "Some people play League to escape reality. I play to create reality." To aspiring players facing difficulties, the Ukrainian top laner advises not to give up, because even without electricity and ideal conditions, constant hard work and belief in one's own strength can lead to success.
As a reminder, NAVI Jungler Rhilech Named LEC 2026 Rookie of the Year