T1 top laner 'Doran' Choi Hyun-joon has moved one step closer to the EWC 2026 finals.

Reflecting on the victory, Doran smiled and said, "Many people expected Hanwha Life to win, so I'm quite proud that we defied those expectations and pulled off an upset. It was a really fun match." When asked about the secret to his 180-degree turnaround in performance compared to the disappointing showing against BLG, he credited 'mind control' and 'team communication.' He explained, "I think I was too rushed in recent matches, and we had some unresolved issues as a team. But after yesterday's match, we talked things through, which boosted our confidence and allowed us to execute our game plan well today."

He also emphasized the importance of condition management. 'Doran' noted, "It sounds trivial, but I managed my condition better today, and my body definitely felt lighter." He added, "My shoulders felt very heavy yesterday, but I stretched thoroughly after the match, and that better condition management led to a good result."

Regarding the EWC signature ritual of destroying the losing team's logo, he said, "It was my first time pressing the button myself, and I felt a mix of emotions—a bit of sympathy for the losing team, but also the joy of winning. It also fueled my determination to protect T1's trophy and logo at all costs."

He added, "T1's only goal is to win it all. Every player is united and preparing intensely to match that goal. Our confidence is growing with every tournament we play."

He concluded the interview by saying, "There have certainly been some upsetting moments for me personally recently. But I believe that as a pro player, it's natural to be praised when you do well and criticized when you don't. I will do my best tomorrow for the fans who silently believe in me and shower me with praise when I perform well."