On the 9th, Bilibili Gaming (BLG) secured their spot in the finals of the '2026 LoL Mid-Season Invitational (MSI)' by defeating Hanwha Life Esports 3-1 in the third round of the bracket stage winners' bracket at the Daejeon Convention Center in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. After winning the first two sets with overwhelming leads using non-ADC compositions, BLG conceded one set but closed out the series in the fourth with a powerful duo-carry performance from 'On' on Orianna and 'Viper' Park Do-hyeon on Ezreal.

The Key to Victory: Non-ADC Picks

Meeting with INVEN after the win against Hanwha Life, 'Viper' was beaming with joy. "I prepared hard because I really wanted to win, but it feels surreal now that it's actually happened. This is something I couldn't have even imagined this time last year. Winning in my hometown against my former team, Hanwha Life, is still hard to wrap my head around," he said. "Of course, a match is a match, so I prepared with a cool head. I expected it to go to a full set, so I'm happy we were able to secure the win quickly."

'Viper' identified Hanwha Life's willingness to engage directly in non-ADC matchups as the core reason for the series win. "We prepared various scenarios based on the opponent's pick-ban phase. It seemed like they wanted to engage in non-ADC skirmishes more than I expected. I actually thought they would have preferred other champions, but since they went the opposite way, I think that gave us an early advantage," he explained.

The non-ADC champions 'Viper' brought out that day were Cassiopeia in Game 1 and Taliyah in Game 2. In the first game, BLG picked Cassiopeia first; when Hanwha Life chose Yone, BLG moved Cassiopeia to the bottom lane and used Akali in the mid lane as a definitive counter. 'Viper's' past experience with Hanwha Life played a role in this flow.

"Swap picks like this have been common, so the opponent definitely expected it. I felt that Hanwha Life, and 'Zeka' Kim Geon-woo, would have immense confidence in Yone, so I thought they might do it anyway. And they really did. They also needed an AD champion to balance their damage output. We had prepared thoroughly for that, so we were able to handle it well."

Taliyah: Prepared Since 2019

The Taliyah pick in Game 2 was a card he had used as a joker pick in the 2019 LCK Spring Finals, which ended in a bitter defeat. "My preparation for Taliyah was already finished back in 2019," 'Viper' said with a smile. "When I saw the opponent's pick at the red side's 5th slot, I wondered what champion would be the most effective. I think we chose an incredibly good composition."

After losing the first two sets, Hanwha Life switched to traditional ADCs starting in Game 3, allowing them to pull one game back. Reflecting on that situation, he said, "I think there were better options available to us, and there might have been some mistakes in our pick-ban. However, after Game 2, we assumed the opponent would definitely go for an ADC, and we even predicted the Lucian-Milio combination. We tried to counter it, but it didn't go as well as we had hoped."

He added, "We did fall behind in some early skirmishes, but that's just how it goes—sometimes you win those fights, sometimes you lose. Also, regardless of the fights, Dr. Mundo's destructive power was just too high given the team compositions. Next time, we'll just have to win those spots."

In the final fourth set, there was a moment where he was caught out while securing the lead. 'Viper' coolly admitted his mistake. "I had been tracking the opponent's position well until then, but that was the one moment I missed. Hanwha Life definitely caught me well. There were no objectives up, so it wasn't a major risk, but my team handled the engagement well even without me."

Including Cassiopeia and Taliyah, 'Viper' has played five different non-ADC champions this MSI, including Ziggs, Vel'Koz, and others. Does he have more non-ADC cards up his sleeve? "Honestly, I can play any champion if I need to. But considering the current meta and situation, I don't think there are that many picks that I would consider truly optimal," he answered candidly.

Finals Prediction: A Rematch with Hanwha Life?

Having reached the finals first, 'Viper' predicts a rematch with Hanwha Life. "I think there's a high probability that Hanwha Life will make it back up. We'll have to watch the match between Lion and G2, but no matter who comes up, it's hard to picture them gaining an edge over Hanwha Life. Since there were many upsets during the First Stand, I can't predict it lightly, but I still think Hanwha Life will make it," he said.

He also expressed his determination to prepare even more in case they meet again. "If we meet again, Hanwha Life will think more about my champion pool. I'll need to prepare more accordingly as well. I think that match might be even more exciting than today's," he said with anticipation.

Although 'Viper' is part of the visiting team BLG, he is enjoying more than a home-field advantage in his hometown of Daejeon. Receiving support from both his hometown and visiting fans, he said, "Playing in Daejeon makes me feel like I'm naturally playing better, and I'm in a good mood. For some reason, I feel more relaxed. I'm also very grateful to the fans who always come to see us wherever we play. I will make sure to leave good memories for those who cheer for us until the very end."

Finally, 'Viper' concluded the interview by saying, "I think we were able to win today because we quickly grasped what is important in the current meta. Whoever comes to the finals, both they and we will know each other well. We will come prepared with our own unique strengths that go beyond that."