BK ROG Esports had a very strong regular season in the best-of-one format of the LFL Spring Split, finishing second just behind Vitality.Bee. However, they faced more difficulties during the Swiss Stage with the switch to best-of-threes, losing twice to Galions, which sent them to the Last Chance Qualifier against GameWard.

They came out on top in that match, securing their spot in the Playoffs, where they will face Ici Japon Corp. Esport on Wednesday. Sheep Esports spoke with Šimon "OMON" Řiháček about his synergy with Enes "Rhilech" Uçan and his teammates, the midlaners who inspire him, how his offseason went, and the rumors about him moving up to the LEC.

How did you feel about the win against GameWard, and what’s the mood like in the team now?

Šimon "OMON" Řiháček: Overall, we are really happy because we finally broke our curse — it’s the first time we’ve won a game three as a team. As for my performance, I was very satisfied. I played really well, and I hope I can keep this level up for the rest of the playoffs.

You had a solid start to the split, but things got a bit tougher during the Swiss stage. What went wrong during that best-of-three phase?

OMON: We just got outskilled, honestly. They were the better team in both best-of-threes, they simply deserved it more. That’s why we lost to them. Still, it felt a bit strange to face them twice in the same stage.

How are you feeling going into this best-of-five against IJC? What’s the team’s mindset ahead of the matchup?

OMON: Of course, I’m really excited to play them. I’ve always enjoyed the rivalry between me and IJC. Going into this matchup, my mindset is that they’re heavily relying on Hans SamD (Lee Jae-hoon) to carry. They’re basically hoping he pops off — because if he doesn’t, they’ll most likely lose. He’s the key piece that holds the whole team together.

How would you describe your relationship with your teammates, especially Rhilech, both in and out of the game?

OMON: We're all friendly. Even outside of the game, training, or scrims, we just talk to each other, make plans together, go out to restaurants, or whatever. With Rhilech, we talk a lot because we want to play the game the same way. We're trying to understand what each other thinks so we can play very similarly.

You’re not afraid to go for solo kills — we saw it against Jonathan "Backlund" Bäcklund in game one. Do you feel it’s important to stick to that aggressive playstyle?

OMON: That’s just my personal style. I like to be very aggressive and play right in people’s faces. When both players are low on HP, I try to pressure them and create stressful situations. My goal is to put them in high-tension moments where I can capitalize on any mistake. It’s a high-risk, high-reward approach, and that’s usually how I play.

Is there a midlaner who inspires you?

OMON: I usually prefer LPL midlaners. For example, Knight (Zhuo Ding) has always been the midlaner to watch and learn from. Shanks (Cui Xiao-Jun) is another midlaner I try to get the most out of—that’s why I enjoy watching him. As for Korean midlaners, you can’t forget Chovy (Jeong Ji-hoon). He’s been incredibly solid. Even though the midlane meta is pretty stale right now, he’s still outclassing everyone. If you look at his stats, he’s absolutely dominating.

Maybe a name in the LEC?

OMON: Caps (Rasmus Winther) for sure, he’s still the best. Vladi (Vladimiros Kourtidis) is catching up quite nicely too—he’s been performing really well, and I can’t wait to see more from him.

Is making it to the EMEA Masters a goal for you all, or is it something you’re not thinking too much about right now?

OMON: We try to focus on our goals one step at a time, and the first is winning the next series. But of course, qualifying for EMEA Masters would be a huge achievement for all of us. We’re working hard to make it happen. It’s going to be a tough journey, but I have a lot of hope and trust in this team—we can do it.

Your name often comes up among ERL players who could make the jump to the LEC. Is that something you aim for?

OMON: At the start of the year, I definitely did. But over the last two splits, I got humbled— I’m not fully at that level yet. I need to improve quickly and be the best version of myself to match the players in the LEC. Of course, it’s the end goal for everyone, but I want to earn it, not just get lucky.

How was the offseason period for you?

OMON: The offseason was pretty hectic for me. I just hoped to join the team where I could improve the most. I chose BK ROG, and I think it was the right decision out of all the options I had.

How did you feel about Kamil "Kamiloo" Haudegond joining the LEC?

OMON: It was crazy. Just hearing both our names suddenly come up in the LEC transfer market was wild. The fact that we both had a chance to make it there is amazing. He’s a really nice guy with a lot of ambition, and I wish him all the best.