Hanwha Life Esports Brion suffered a 0-2 defeat against kt Rolster in their 2026 League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) regular season Round 1 match at LoL PARK in Jongno on the 12th. The first set was dominated by their opponents, leaving Brion unable to secure a single kill and facing a crushing loss.
The second set was equally challenging. Despite managing to secure one kill and briefly narrowing the gold gap while contesting a dragon, Brion ultimately fell short. Here is the interview with HLE Head Coach Kim Sang-soo and player ‘Casting’ Shin Min-je.
Q. Today’s match was a complete defeat.
Head Coach Kim Sang-soo: Our performance was lacking. We struggled to apply pressure effectively and couldn’t find our footing. I will work on coaching the team better for the next match to deliver a stronger performance.
‘Casting’: Knowing the strength of our opponents, we analyzed strategies to win and identified KT’s operational styles that align with the current meta. Unfortunately, our preparations didn’t translate well, and KT played a solid game, resulting in our 0-2 loss.
Q. What was the most disappointing aspect?
Head Coach Kim Sang-soo: KT Rolster’s strong structure and expertise in snowballing games through lane priority were challenging. We felt defeated before we could even leverage our strengths.
‘Casting’: KT Rolster’s superiority was evident in their game pace and quick, precise decision-making.
Q. What was the intention behind the first-pick Annie?
Head Coach Kim Sang-soo: Annie’s strong team-fighting abilities and laning phase prowess, especially when coordinated with the jungler and support, made her a strategic choice for our game plan. Despite our confidence in the Annie vs. Mel matchup from scrims, the opponent excelled in the laning phase.
Q. Any final words?
Head Coach Kim Sang-soo: We will learn from today’s match and prepare diligently for the next one.
‘Casting’: Our performance was subpar, but we aim to bounce back stronger next time. Personally, I am adapting and improving in practice and tournament settings, promising a better performance in the future.
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