Following an intense opening half of the year across LEC Versus, the LFL and the EMEA Masters, Karmine Corp Blue head coach Ianis "Blidzy" Paul spoke with RFT.GG. He reflects on the team’s progress and the mental impact of competing in the LEC, the development of Yukino, Tao and Kamiloo, Looki’s promotion from KCBS — and KCB’s wider ambition to prepare its young talents for the highest level of European competition.
I’m doing well, even though the split was very intense and very tiring. We had a lot of events back-to-back: LEC Versus, then the EMEA Masters Spring one week after we came back. That was not planned, and we found out about it around five days before the competition started. We thought we were going to have some time off, but then another event came up and completely interrupted that break.
After that, we had the LFL Split, followed by the EMEA Masters again. It was very intense, especially because we had not fully recovered from LEC Versus. Even though nobody expected us to win, losing that many games inevitably has a mental impact. But I’m doing fine and trying to get some rest.
In terms of level of play, yes. We showed things, and it's an incredible experience — especially for a team like ours, where it was Tao's first time on stage, and he was doing it every week. We lived together for a month, a month and a half. But there's fallout: when you lose, it's automatic.
No matter the expectations around the team, when you work in competition you have to expect to win, otherwise it doesn't work.
So you're inevitably disappointed. But with hindsight, it was very beneficial. I'd change a few things on the mental side and take away that pressure for results.
None from the outside. But in the players' heads, yes. And it's hard to convince them there isn't any. Even I wanted to win, to make LEC playoffs, like everyone on the team.
I separate the two. At EMEA we took a slap: we lost to BIG and Misa, very good teams. We were wondering what had happened, because in LEC, without being monstrous, we'd played good games — a very strong early against G2, close matches against NAVI and Vitality, top-5 or even top-1 teams. So mentally it stung. As for the LFL split itself, it's not a terrible split. We finished third behind Solary and Galions, the two best ERL teams.
What disappointed me is that we had very little prep for those matches and got 3-0'd by both without really contesting them. But in pure results, top 3 with this team is fine. And those playoffs were hugely beneficial, especially for Tao: people forget it was his first BO5s and first playoffs ever. He reacted really well at EMEA, gave everything, and performed very well individually.
For everyone, really. We didn't prepare well enough for BO5s: very few scrim days before LFL playoffs, then we went straight into EMEA with a new ADC. It's something we'll fix for summer. It already improved at EMEA: Tao played a lot more champions, a Galio or Sion for example.
Yes, it's much harder for him to shine, for those reasons. But that's exactly what he needs to develop. If he develops that in-game and out-of-game leadership, that's what will make him a great player: he won't need others to win anymore. Last year we had a very experienced team, with 3XA and Maynter who talked a lot. But you don't have that everywhere. It's important he develops this for the future, for when he goes to the LEC or LCS.
Actually, Tao has developed that a lot: he talks about what's happening on the side, about everything. Kamiloo talks a lot, Looki too — about what he needs, how he wants to fight. So there are players talking. It's just not one clear plan from a single person like last year; here, everyone gives a lot of information.
It's confidence. He has ego, like every player, but he doesn't say it arrogantly — I know him personally. When you've won the LFL, you tell yourself you should be at a higher level. It's not arrogance, just a lot of confidence in himself and his abilities. It's never been an issue.
Yes, in terms of level of play. Jool and OMON are very good, Toffe too, but Kamiloo was the best mid in the league. He dropped off a little at EMEA, but he still had very good games. In pure laning, that's his biggest strength — for me the best laner in ERL. And he's developed something in fights: he finds flanks, finds positions. There's the Aurora play against Solary, in the long bush, where he kills Lucian on mid: people thought he'd misplayed it.
He did it completely on purpose. And the only midlaner in Europe who finds windows like that is Caps.
And above all, I'm very proud he developed his consistency — his biggest problem in the LEC. This split, very few silly deaths, always clutch.
Yeah, a lack of rigor. But he changed a lot, he has become very consistent — that's the most important thing. He's always been very strong mechanically and in lane; now, with those two added aspects, he'd be much stronger in the LEC than during his previous stint.
Generally happy. What Fara brings in review and areas to work on has helped us progress enormously. But when you rebuild everything from scratch, you don't become the best team overnight. We don't have Solary's baggage — Kryze, Piero, Zicssi — who just need to get on the same wavelength; same for Galions. Four of our five players were short on confidence before arriving. And even Yukino: we won everything with him at KCB, but he's only done two splits, he still has a lot to develop. There was a huge amount of work this split, so I'm very happy, and I can't wait for summer.
I can't say why it happened, but I can talk about the choice to take Looki. He had a very good split in Division 2, with crazy stats. I was confident in his level, and pleasantly surprised at EMEA — I didn't expect him to be that good or that vocal. He talks a lot about what he needs, about targets in fights. Very happy to have him for summer, and I think he'll fit really well with Prime.
Both. And it's also KCB's goal: to promote a Division 2 player. It shows KCBS players that if they perform really well, they have a chance to move up.
No. It'll be his choice, but I think he can bounce back — plenty of teams could take him, in ERL or elsewhere. No doubt about that.
That's the goal, that's the academy's purpose. Players arrive very early at KCBS and develop there with a staff I find legendary — Wadi, Nayas. Above all, they learn work ethic, professionalism. Then KCB is another level: always at the office, scrims every afternoon.
Last year I promoted two players. I raid the talents I believe in. We discuss it a lot as staff with Wadi: which profile is ready for the LFL. I follow the Division 2 team closely, I watch all their matches.
My goal is to get my players into the LEC — ideally at KC, otherwise elsewhere — and to raise the level of Europe.
Last year, three players went to the LEC, one who could've gone LCS in Yukino, plus Piero — it's an anomaly he's not in the LEC. The year before, Fleshy, Caliste, 113. Before that, Wadi promoted Lyncas and Vladi.
Fairly confident. There's the change, so things to review, but I'm confident for summer. And I think the LFL will be more competitive: Joblife has a decent roster, ZYB has Saken and Adam, Jezu is still there and very strong. The level of the league will rise, and I like that. That said, I never say "we're going to win everything" — we'll work, try to win, and we'll see.
Personally, yes.
But the biggest failure for an academy is when talents who are close to being LEC-ready don't get there.
Yukino, Kamiloo, Prime are developing to truly be ready when they move up; Tao isn't LEC-ready today, but I want him to be by year's end. The goal is developing players — and for that you need results, you need to play playoffs, finals. That's where you learn the most.
No, it'll stay like this until the end of the year.
Fairly surprised, yes. I think three could go up. Prime, because support is the weakest role in the LEC — a lot of supports there aren't very strong. Yukino has his place in the LEC without question, and so does Kamiloo.
It depends, I'll go role by role. Yukino is very young; Thayger and Zicssi are really strong, but all three junglers could be in the LEC, it's a team's choice. Yukino is frightening mechanically and more aggressive — that can be a good or a bad thing, that's Yukino. At mid, Jool is Korean, so an import slot, and I don't know if he wants the LEC. OMON — I don't know him well enough, including on a human level — a lot goes into it. At support, Zoelys, Prime, Piero could go up. In the end it's the teams' choice based on their needs, but players from these three teams generally have LEC level.
Thanks to everyone who supports us all the time. We read a lot of the messages, it helps enormously, especially to give the players strength. Support KC during MSI too, it matters.
