Dplus KIA secured a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against T1 in the first round of the 2026 LCK regular season, held at LoL PARK in Jongno on the 17th. In a post-match interview with INVEN, Choi 'Lucid' Yong-hyeok shared his thoughts, saying, "I am happy that the team seems to have grown, as we were able to overcome a significant deficit early in the third set to win." He particularly emphasized that the tougher mindset and improved performance gained through a series of matches against strong teams served as the foundation for this victory.

The following is the full interview with 'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk.

Q. I'd like to start by hearing your thoughts on today's win.

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk= I think the first and second sets were intense back-and-forth battles, and in the third set, the situation was so bad that it actually felt difficult to win. But it feels great because it felt like we managed to turn it around and win.

Q. You mentioned feeling that the team truly grew the moment you turned the third set around. What did the players say to each other during that comeback?

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyeok= We were at a significant disadvantage in Game 3, but we tried to stay in sync by communicating about what each of us could do. I felt that every player's call was filled with confidence that we could win, and there was a lot of talk about how 'even if we're behind, we can still win if we play well.'

Q. After winning Game 1, losing Game 2, and then starting Game 3 at a disadvantage, did you feel any sense of urgency?

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk= Personally, I think I did, and it showed in my play. For example, there were moments during team fights where I used my skills too hastily or was a bit impatient with our coordination. But that wasn't the case for every fight—only in a few instances.

Q. Who was the player that kept the team centered during the disadvantageous situation?

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk= I think it was 'Smash' Shin Geum-jae and 'ShowMaker' Heo-su hyung. Geum-jae supported the team firmly, like a pillar essential to a building, and Heo-su hyung kept us centered in a similar way.

Q. Was there a moment during the game when you were certain you had turned the tide?

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk= When we caught Aurora twice in a row, I felt, 'We can actually turn this around.' I think that was the moment the momentum of the match shifted.

Q. I'm curious about your thoughts after finishing the 'hellish four-game stretch' against Hanwha Life, Gen.G, kt Rolster, and T1.

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk= My form wasn't great during the Hanwha Life match, so that's a real shame. Since then, playing against Gen.G, KT, and T1, I think my performance has improved a lot compared to that match. The KT match was one we absolutely had to win, so it was very disappointing, but I also gained a lot from it personally. Especially with this T1 match, perhaps because it was after a three-game stretch against strong teams, I was able to play with a more relaxed mindset. The result is a bit disappointing, but I'm happy because there were many aspects of our performance I liked and I gained a lot mentally.

Q. You mentioned gaining a lot from the KT match; what specifically was that?

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk= I realized that I need to be more aware of objectives and the important boundaries we need to maintain within the game while playing.

Q. As this is a long season, maintaining this momentum seems important. How do you plan to prepare.

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk= I plan to keep the good parts and review the disappointing ones to check myself. The first round isn't the end, so I intend to keep this up.

Q. With this win, your team's goals might have become higher.

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk= Actually, I used to always set winning the championship as my goal, but lately, I've been letting go of that mindset. Right now, I'm just focusing on improving my own performance in every game. Rather than thinking deeply about big goals, I plan to focus on developing my skills and doing my best.

Q. Lastly, please share your resolve for the remaining first-round matches.

'Lucid' Choi Yong-hyuk= We have matches left against Hanwha Life, DN Super, and BNK FEARX, and I think those are all very strong teams. I will try my best to prepare well and show a good performance.