Ianis “Blidzy” Paul will serve as the Head Coach of Karmine Corp Blue in 2025, joined by Benjamin “Fara” Stoffel as Assistant Coach, sources tell Sheep Esports on Thursday. Together, they reunite the coaching duo that guided KCB to their EMEA Masters Summer Split triumph.

After the academy team’s LFL Summer victory under Vasilis “TheRock” Voltis, the coach moved to Natus Vincere in the LEC to begin building their 2026 project. As a result, his assistant Blidzy took over. As he mentioned in a post on X, he was supported by Mario “CptMario” De La Torre, coach of KC Blue Stars, as well as Fara, who had spent the past three years coaching GameWard.

A First Time at the Helm

Blidzy will therefore take the helm for the first time as a head coach in a team. His coaching career began in the Open Tour in 2023 alongside Wadi “Wadi” Benarbia, before joining IziDream in LFL Division 2 on Nicolas “Horéüs” Briandblidy’s team.

They had under their guidance a certain Kamil “Kamiloo” Haudegond, whom he would reunite with in his KCB roster in 2026. In Summer 2024, he joined Karmine Corp Blue, reuniting with Wadi for a split. He spent the next year under TheRock’s leadership, winning the 2025 LFL Flash In, the Summer Split, and the EMEA Masters as head coach.

A New Experience for Fara

For Fara, a new challenge awaits at the Blue Wall. Like Blidzy, his career also began in the Open Tour before he joined GameWard directly in the LFL, where he spent three years. Across the six splits he coached GW in the LFL, he reached the playoffs three times. After the end of Summer 2025 and TheRock’s move to NAVI, Blidzy was supported by Fara, who expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and ultimately played a part in Karmine Corp’s title-winning run.

As a reminder, Karmine Corp Blue will take part in the LEC Versus at the beginning of 2025, a tournament featuring the ten LEC teams, Los Ratones, and KCB. The event will serve as the LEC Winter Split and will act as a qualifier for the First Stand, which will be held in Brazil from March 16 to 22, 2026.

As reported by Sheep Esports, KCB will field Johnny “Yukino” Dang in the jungle, who has decided to remain in Europe despite FlyQuest's offer; Kamiloo in mid; Costin “Hazel” Pestrițu, promoted from KCBS after a promising year in Division 2; and veteran support Olivier “Prime” Payet. The team’s toplaner is still to be determined.

Karmine Corp Blue's reported 2026 roster:

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