Karmine Corp Blue is having a much stronger regular season than in previous splits. Already guaranteed a playoff spot and with their fate in their own hands for EMEA Masters qualification next week, Thomas
"3XA" Foucou opens up about his return to form and his team’s progress. The competitor reflects on his personal ambitions — especially the EMEA Masters that continue to elude him, his battles with the other AD Carries in the league, and his perspective on the current level of the LFL.
*Interview conducted before the matches against Galions and Vitality.Bee
You’re almost already locked in for playoffs. Do your results reassure you?
Thomas "3XA" Foucou: Honestly, if we look back a bit… the first two splits, Winter and Spring, things didn’t go too well. At some point, it almost became a meme within the team, because every time we had to go through tiebreakers, so it wasn’t great. But I’m reassured to see that everyone has improved a lot in the team, that we practice well, and that we trust ourselves.
To be real, we have to be honest: we’re aiming for EU Masters. That’s the title we didn’t get this year, and one that I personally still haven’t won. So keeping this form and seeing that we’re confident reassures me a lot.
There’s a strange phenomenon in the LFL where any team can beat any other team from one week to the next. How do you explain that?
3XA: There’s this preconceived idea that a lot of players are strong, when in reality they’re not. I also feel like the LFL gets looted of its best players almost every split. Our team is living proof:
we lost Boukada (
Mehdi Lahlou),
then Isma (
Ismaïl Boualem), even though he didn’t really get the chance to play with us. Of course, that has an impact. A lot of good players get promoted between splits, and naturally, from experience, when you change a player between two splits — especially your jungler — your team level takes a big hit.
And you, personally, you seem to have stepped up this year?
3XA: 2025 is special, yes. Because I finally understood what I need to feel good in every game. That doesn’t mean I’m doing it perfectly or in the most optimized way, but I always know what I need to do to be in a good spot.
And I think that helps me a lot because back in the LEC, I used to get carried away by my own in-game comms or by what was happening around me. Here in LFL, it’s more enjoyable. First of all, the overall level is lower, so it’s easier. But more importantly, when you have a good team, it’s very simple to play for yourself. I know what puts me in a good position in the game, what generates gold… overall, I think that’s why I’m mentally calmer. And that benefits the team in return too, because if the ADC is fed, obviously it helps.
There’s been a lot of talk about Jean "Jezu" Massol and Lee "Hans SamD" Jae-hoon leaving. How do you feel about them no longer being in the LFL?
3XA: For Hans SamD, I don’t want to say I’m relieved, but he was the best ADC in the LFL, by far. So obviously, if he’s gone and my goal is to win the LFL, I’m not going to complain. That said, I would have preferred to be in the LEC in his place, of course, because that’s what I’m aiming for in the long term. And for Jezu, I don’t really have any particular feeling from a competitive point of view, but I’m a bit sad because he quit altogether. If he’s happy doing what he does now, then I’m happy for him.
Do you then consider yourself the best ADC in the league again?
3XA: Yes. I think there are some good ADCs. TakeSet (Belan Ahour) has really improved in a lot of aspects and is no longer the “vegan ADC” (who doesn’t hit much in lane) I used to see before. He’s reached a decent level, it’s just that his team isn’t always very strong. Comp (Markos Stamkopoulos) is also really strong. But when I play at my best, I’m the best ADC in the LFL.
3XA: I think he’s in a mood where they’re overflowing with confidence since they’re 6-0. And I get it. The thing that bothers me with their botlane, HARPOON and Zoelys (Théo Le Scornec), is that they play very aggressively, very high-risk. I don’t think that’s always the best thing to do. They can quickly put their game in danger. Now HARPOON is mechanically good, but I think he’s still lacking a bit of stability, let’s say.
If they run into a team that knows how to respond and has good hands, it could get harder for them, and they might not shine as much. That said, I understand why he made that statement. I don’t really feel like being arrogant or answering back, I’m not really into that anymore, unless it’s just to make some jokes… but if he wants to be in that kind of mood, good for him. Honestly, I don’t really care.
"Maybe before the split, he didn’t really know me. But after the game, he’ll constantly think about me."
What do you think of the controversy about the EMEA finals being moved to November?
3XA: Yeah, I saw that, it actually made me laugh (laughs). I don’t remember exactly when the LFL ends, but the fact that it’s in November, when we’re in August and already almost in playoffs… it’s cringe.
There’s even a rumor that Los Ratones might boycott the competition to go bootcamp in South Korea instead. What’s your take on that possible decision?
3XA: The competition would completely lose its appeal. I think it’s during Worlds semifinals if I’m not mistaken. If on top of that, Los Ratones isn’t there, and they’re by far the most followed team along with us, I think… they really went overboard with the schedule. Especially since two weeks later it’s the official transfer window. That’s a lot. I like the fact that we can still have a final with a live audience, but compared to two years ago, when we played a sold-out venue in Montpellier, you have to admit it’s a bit much.
You saw Yasin "Nisqy" Dinçer join KC LEC as a sub—did that spark any ambition for you to possibly support and challenge Caliste "Caliste" Henry-Hennebert in the same way next year?
3XA: No, not at all. Let’s be honest: Caliste is much better than I right now. There would have to be a huge problem for me to take his spot. And even considering the role he plays in the team and what he represents for the club… unless suddenly there’s a massive gap and I completely crush him (laughs). But realistically, that spot isn’t open for me. I think Caliste is someone who could play in the LCK in terms of level. To compare, it’s like if tomorrow I had to crush Jiwoo (Jung Ji-woo), Nongshim RedForce’s botlaner. It’s almost impossible.
To conclude, can you rank the supports you’ve played with?
3XA: Too easy. It’s Piero (Kim Jung-hun), Doss (Mads Schwartz), then YellOwStaR (Bora Kim). Sorry, YellOwStaR, but it was a different game back then, and he wasn’t at his prime anymore when we played together. It was also a time when players in general weren’t as strong as they are today.
I’d say Piero is better also because he’s someone who takes way more risks, which I like. He’s also better mechanically, more creative. Doss, on the other hand, is more about absolute control, it sometimes lacks aggressiveness, which can be frustrating.
Header Photo Credit: Elliot Le Corre/Webedia
