Daejeon AutoArms claimed the final victory at the '2026 Korea Esports League (KEL)' Eternal Return Mid-Season Cup, held at the Gwangju Esports Arena in Gwangju on the 2nd. After GC Busan Stella took an early lead by winning the first two rounds, AutoArms rallied starting in the fourth round and secured the championship with a win in the final eighth round.

The following is the full transcript of the victory interview with Mid-Season Cup champions, Daejeon AutoArms.

Q. First, please share your thoughts on the win.

'Cinema': This is our second offline win, which means we get two in-game emotes. I'm excited to see what the character will look like this time, and it feels surreal. We'll continue to show our best.

'Fable': We used a Nicky - Kenneth - Priya composition for this tournament. It was our first time using Nicky as a test subject, and I had to practice hard because it was my first time playing that kind of playmaking role. We didn't win a round with that composition, but we scored well enough, and I'm satisfied that we ultimately took the title by winning with a ranged damage dealer composition.

'OneCircle' = I'm very happy that we were able to provide entertainment for our fans.

'Taekyung': We were a bit shaky in the early rounds, but it was a memorable tournament as we improved from the middle rounds and eventually took the win.

Q. How confident were you in winning today.

'One Circle': While preparing for the tournament, I had a feeling that 'today is going to go really well.' I wasn't sure about winning it all, but I did think we would place in the top three, and fortunately, we ended up winning.

Q. Which teams did you think would be the strongest competitors.

'OneCircle' = Primarily, GC Busan Stella showed great form during Circuit 2, so they were our biggest concern. Also, New Rise Gangwon looked very strong in the semifinals just yesterday, so we were keeping an eye on them as well.

Q. What was the secret to Daejeon AutoArms' victory among such strong competition.

'OneCircle' = Ultimately, as the game reaches the late stages, every team shifts to a ranged damage dealer composition to play for the win. I don't think we were behind any other team in that regard. I believe that was our strength.

Q. You were in second place after the fourth round, but a penalty for a late roster submission dropped you to third, outside the checkpoint. How did you manage the team's morale heading into the fifth round?

'Cinema': When I entered the fifth round, I assumed we were in the checkpoint state, so it was a bit of a blow when I heard we had been pushed out. However, I tried to think positively, telling myself, 'Since we aren't in the checkpoint, we won't be the primary target for other teams.' Thanks to that, we were less pressured, scored well, and were able to secure a high ranking by taking first place.

Q. The tournament went all the way to the eighth round because the checkpoint teams failed to win a round. What was your game plan to secure the win in the final round.

'OneCircle' = We focused on controlling the outer areas of the map, and by observing the matchups and item status of opposing teams, we only engaged those we were certain we could beat. That strategy proved effective.

Q. In the final moments of the eighth round, you faced New Rise Gangwon, who were running the same composition, for the title. Could you tell us about that situation.

'OneCircle' = Looking at their items, there was a slight difference in their Katja build. Their Katja went for a build better suited for taking down tanks, while our Katja went for a build that was stronger against ranged damage dealers. Seeing that, we tried to create a 1-on-1 situation where our Katja could shine. Our Katja successfully pushed back theirs, and we caught that timing to win.

Q. 'OneCircle', you were awarded the tournament MVP. How do you feel?

'OneCircle' = All of my teammates played so well today that I didn't know who would get the MVP. I was very happy when I found out it was me.

Q. Who would you, 'One Circle,' pick as the team's MVP for today?

'OneCircle' = I think everyone did well, but 'Fable' performed the best overall.

'Fable': I'm happy to receive praise from 'OneCircle', who serves as our team captain.

Q. There is still half the season left. Are there any areas you need to improve to show even better performance in the remaining matches?

'Taekyung': It's a bit disappointing that our overall team focus was lacking in the early rounds today. Our concentration improved from the middle rounds, so we will work harder to maintain that focus from the very beginning.

Q. Lastly, please share your resolve for the remaining schedule.

'Fable': Now that we've won the Mid-Season Cup, we will do our best to keep this winning streak going.