Vortex Gaming

On March 8, 2025, the '2025 First Stand ASSET DAY 1:1 Interview' was held at LoL Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The main character of this interview is 'Kanavi' Seo Jin-hyeok, who is playing as a jungler for the strong LPL league team Top Esports. He led the team to win the LPL league, and he is about to meet Korean fans by participating in this 'First Stand' tournament as a representative of the LPL.

From his feelings after a short break after winning the championship to his meaningful first championship with a new team, his thoughts on the Fearless Draft and patch, and his tournament goals and messages to Korean fans, we have captured Kanavi's honest and confident story.

Q. You won the LPL league and came back to this place. I'm curious how you spent your time after winning.

Kanavi:I had about 3 days after winning, and I rested at my house in Korea. I ordered food and rested at home.

Q. You won the LPL league. I'm curious what it meant to you. I think you can find various meanings because it was the first championship after changing teams?

Kanavi:It was my first tournament after changing teams. But at first, I was a little anxious because I didn't have good teamwork with my teammates. But I think it's very meaningful that we finally won.

Q. How did you find a way to solve the parts where the teamwork didn't match?

Kanavi:Everyone is a very talented player, so they had a lot of their own thoughts. We started by gathering our thoughts together and playing together while playing the game.

Q. I know it's your first time playing a tournament at the LCK stadium. I'm curious about your impressions.

Kanavi:I've been to the LCK stadium before. I've been to the stadium to watch the game before, and I remember filming here when the 2023 World Championship was held. However, I've never played a game, so I'm looking forward to it. I adapt quickly wherever I go in the stadium, so I'm not too worried, but I'm still looking forward to it. It's my first time.

Q. You will meet a lot of Korean fans. What are your expectations for this?

Kanavi:I was very grateful that there were many Korean fans when I came to the stadium once before. I think they will support me a lot this time too.

Q. What was your mindset when you participated in the First Stand tournament?

Kanavi:This tournament is the first First Stand that Riot is doing, so I thought it would be great to be the first champion. I came with the mindset of winning no matter what.

Q. Since this tournament is held under the Fearless Draft rule, didn't you have a lot to prepare? How did you prepare for the tournament?

Kanavi:I feel that Fearless Draft is fun, but I think it's a tournament that puts a lot of pressure on the players. I always use a variety of champions when I play ranked games or scrims, so I felt less burdened.

Q. Are you personally positive about the Fearless Draft?

Kanavi:I think it's very good. And when I watch the tournament, I enjoyed it more when Fearless was there.

Q. Before this tournament, several things such as the lane swap ban patch were applied. I think the game will be very different, do you have any thoughts on this?

Kanavi:As of the date of this interview, we've only done two scrims since the patch. I still don't have an accurate understanding of the patch, so I think I need to practice more.

Q. There are a lot of expectations for the joker card because of the Fearless Draft method. I'm curious if you have a joker card prepared.

Kanavi:I shouldn't say it, but I have Shyvana that I showed in the tournament, and I'm sometimes touching Jungle Darius, which is popular in ranked these days.

Q. Do you think both champions are picks that can come out at any time?

Kanavi:I think it will come out if there are no jungle champions.

Q. I'm a little surprised that you're talking so coolly about the joker pick.

Kanavi:I think it will come out if we go to the last game while playing the tournament, and even if it comes out, the opponent will not have met it, so I think it's okay because it's difficult to deal with these champions.

Q. Then, even if you go to the end, is there a champion that you shouldn't let go of to me?

Kanavi:Those champions have already done a lot in the tournament. The champions with good win rates in the tournament are all those champions.

Q. Is there anyone you are particularly wary of while coming to this tournament? Or a team.

Kanavi:I watch a lot of other league games, and I think Hanwha Life in the LCK and Karmin Corp in the LEC are doing well.

Q. Which player are you looking forward to playing against among the junglers?

Kanavi:I'm looking forward to Hanwha Life Esports' 'Peanut' because he seems to be doing very well. When I watched the game, I felt that he was a very smart player, and recently his physical abilities have improved a lot.

Q. What is your goal for this tournament?

Kanavi:There are only 5 teams in this tournament, so the goal is to win.

Q. Do you feel pressured because you came out representing the league?

Kanavi:This tournament is only for the 1st place in each league, so I feel a little pressured, but I always have a mindset of winning.

Q. Then, finally, this will be an interview to greet Korean fans after a long time, so can you say a word of greeting?

Kanavi:I'm playing a game at Korea LoL Park for the first time. Thank you for your interest and support.

Webzine InvenKim Byung-ho Reporter
2025-03-09