Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu of South Korea's League of Legends national team expressed satisfaction with the team's group stage performance. He stated that even against Saudi Arabia, about whom they have little information, the team will focus on playing their own game without being shaken by the opponent's choices.
On September 30, South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei, India, and Hong Kong in sequence during the group stage of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at Aichi Sky Expo in Japan. Securing first place in Group B with a perfect 3-0 record, South Korea will face Saudi Arabia in the semifinals on October 1.
Speaking after the matches, Canyon shared that the team has been steadily practicing in Japan to sharpen their form. "I think our performance turned out well because we practiced a lot," he said. "All three matches went by without any major issues. We won't let our guard down and will do our best until the end."
He also adjusted well to the morning match schedule. Thanks to adjusting their daily routines starting back in Busan, managing wake-up times and condition in Japan was smooth. Recently, he has been waking up around 7:30 a.m. to eat and prepare for matches. "Since I adjusted my daily routine, my performance was similar to usual," Canyon said. "It felt nice waking up early because the day felt longer. Usually, I'd wake up at noon or 1:00 p.m. and the day would be almost over once scrims ended, so starting early felt good."
Reflecting on Hong Kong's lane swap, he noted that it felt similar to strategies he had seen in past tournaments. In particular, he praised his teammates' response. "'Zeus' Choi Woo-je and 'Gumayusi' Lee Min-hyeong communicated well and responded effectively, which made playing as a jungler much easier," Canyon explained.
In the semifinals, he plans to focus on solidifying the national team's gameplay and champion priority tier list. "Although we have limited information on our opponent, I believe we can win as long as we focus on our own play without getting shaken by their picks or plays," he said. "We'll prepare well and definitely win." As for the semifinal match on the other side of the bracket, he saw Chinese Taipei as slightly more likely to advance to the finals.
Finally, Canyon shared the sense of responsibility he feels as a national team representative. "Since this is a tournament where I represent my country, I never relax and am always preparing hard," he said. "I want to achieve a good result and share the joy with the people of South Korea."
