At the EWC 2026 LoL Finals held at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles on the 19th, Dplus KIA cruised to a 3-0 victory over Karmine Corp (KC) to claim the championship. For most of the DK roster, this was their first time in an international final, yet they were so dominant that they seemed to fully enjoy the stage.

Q. How do you feel about winning the title after defeating KC?

Head Coach Kim Dae-ho: The bond between the players is truly incredible. The way we navigated and overcame our mistakes during this tournament was excellent. I’ve always prioritized teaching them how to get back up after falling rather than how to avoid falling in the first place, and the players proved they could do just that.

Q. The support from the home crowd for KC was immense during the finals. What was the secret to staying calm?

'Lucid': The jeering was quite loud while we were waiting. But it didn't bother me; I just wanted to win so I could turn those jeers into cheers. I actually thought it was fun.

Q. (To Smash) You showed an overwhelming performance in the finals?

'Smash': After losing our first match at the EWC, we kept winning, which really built up my confidence.

Q. (To ShowMaker) It’s been a very long time since you won an international tournament.

'ShowMaker': It really has been a long time. Looking back at the periods where we couldn't win, I feel a lot of regret regarding my individual performance. This tournament feels like a reward, so I think I’ll remember it for a long time.

Q. How did it feel to play here in Paris?

'Siwoo': This was my first international tournament, and I’m so happy we won it cleanly. It was so much fun and a great experience to play on such a big stage.

Q. (To ShowMaker) You must have had goals set at the beginning of the year. How do you feel about them now?

'ShowMaker': Honestly, since this was our first time participating in the EWC and it wasn't even certain we would qualify, 'winning the EWC' wasn't in our initial goals for the year. That’s why this victory feels like an unexpected gift, which makes it even more joyful. My new goal is to use this positive momentum and feeling as strong motivation to continue performing well in the upcoming LCK regular season and, eventually, at Worlds.

Q. (To Head Coach Kim Dae-ho) The snowball that started from the Road to EWC has led to such a great result. You’ve made many attempts to establish a unique color for DK during the regular season. As the head coach leading the team, what did you gain from this tournament?

Head Coach Kim Dae-ho: Honestly, establishing a 'unique color for Dplus KIA' is extremely difficult because I pursue an ideal version of LoL. I learn a lot from the top-tier teams during the LCK regular season: turn-taking and tempo from T1, build-ups and formations from Gen.G, and impact and bold decision-making from Hanwha Life. As a coach, I often blend these strengths and make somewhat complex demands of my players. It might look inconsistent, but at the end of the day, it’s our players who perfectly execute these things on their own discretion in-game. The fact that they performed so brilliantly is my greatest happiness and gift as a coach.

Q. In one word, how would you summarize this tournament?

Head Coach Kim Dae-ho: It’s incredibly meaningful, and I will use this victory as a stepping stone to keep working hard.

'ShowMaker': Yeah!! (Laughs).

'Lucid': Very good, very nice.

'Siwoo': cvMax is a master coach.

'Kellin': It’s so good.

'Smash': We worked hard enough that we wouldn't fall behind any team, and we did it.