The South Korean League of Legends national team defeated Saudi Arabia 2-0 to advance to the Asian Games final. 'Zeka' Kim Geon-woo, who played in both sets, expressed confidence and faith in Korea's mid and jungle ahead of the final against Chinese Taipei.
After completing the semifinal held at the Aichi Sky Expo in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on October 1, Kim explained that he prepared various strategies for an unfamiliar opponent. "It was a team we were facing for the first time, and from a country we don't usually play against, so we didn't know what to expect," he said. "We prepared as many strategies as possible, and because our preparation was solid, I think we were able to win 2-0."
During the pick and ban phase, the team focused on limiting the champions the opponent plays well. Kim noted that teams from overseas leagues tend to prioritize comfortable picks based on player champion pools. "We did as many targeted bans as possible. Since Hong Kong also brought out a new strategy against us, we took that into consideration as well," he assessed. "I think the bans and picks went well within what we could do and knew."
Their opponent in the final, Chinese Taipei, is a team more familiar to them than Saudi Arabia. Kim noted that having faced them multiple times and watched many of their matches, maintaining their usual preparation and play style would be key. However, he also remained wary of the possibility that Chinese Taipei, having lost to Korea in the group stage, might adjust their strategy. "Since they lost our previous match, I expect them to make a lot of adjustments to their strategy and other areas. We need to prepare even more thoroughly," he said.
He showed confidence regarding the matchup against Chinese Taipei's mid and jungle duo, who are considered the team's core. "I think Chinese Taipei is a team centered around their mid and jungle," Kim said. "I believe our mid and jungle are much better, so if we trust each other and execute well, we can win the gold medal."
He is also adjusting his physical condition to match the match schedules. Kim explained that he adjusted his daily routine, which had been set for 9:00 AM matches during the group stage, to align with the timing of the semifinals. "I don't think my condition is quite at the level of a usual 5:00 PM match that I'm used to," he said, adding, "but because we've been adapting throughout the Asian Games, I'm adjusting it so that there isn't a significant difference."
He has also adapted to the venue environment. Kim shared that among differences in desks, chairs, and match times, using a wired mouse was the most noticeable change for him. "Since I play on low sensitivity, I was a bit sensitive to that aspect," he explained. "I practiced as much as possible with a wired mouse to prepare, and after actually playing matches with it, I'm very used to it now."
Finally, Kim expressed his determination: "I believe we must never let our guard down. For the fans and people back in Korea supporting us, we'll make sure to bring home a clean gold medal." Korea will play against Chinese Taipei in a best-of-five final at noon on October 2.
