T1's ranged damage dealer 'Phase' Kim Su-hwan, competing at the 2026 EWC in Paris, kicked off the tournament on a high note with a victory in his first match.

After a stellar performance on Taliyah, 'Phase' shared his thoughts on the win: "We decided Taliyah was a solid pick when it fell to the 4th or 5th slot, and I'm glad the game played out well." Regarding the non-ADC meta currently being actively explored, he added, "There weren't many ADC champions available to begin with, so it's fun to be able to use a wider variety of picks now that non-ADC champions are trending. Personally, I'm quite confident in my ability to play them."

He also discussed his preparation following the painful elimination at the previous MSI. "After MSI, I spent time monitoring the remaining matches and thinking deeply about the meta," 'Phase' revealed. "We didn't have a lot of time for actual practice, but I tried my best to prepare as efficiently as possible."

T1's next opponent is BLG. Facing BLG once again, 'Phase' remained cautious, noting, "BLG showed great form at the last MSI and they are the team that defeated us." However, he expressed his determination, adding, "I believe we have a winning chance if we prepare thoroughly this time. I'm determined to get my revenge."

When asked about the atmosphere on-site, he said, "The scale of the tournament definitely feels bigger than when I participated in the past. Even though the weather is incredibly hot, the fans who traveled such a long way to Paris to support us give me the strength to play my best."

Addressing concerns about the practice environment, he was candid: "Since there are so many teams and players from different games gathered here, it's hard to say the practice environment is perfect." He concluded the interview on a resolute note: "Even so, I'm grateful that we were provided with a space and environment to practice, and I'm doing my best. I'll prepare well for the remaining matches and aim to finish this EWC with a strong result."