SHFT Rooster: "I have an even stronger hunger to prove myself before leaving Europe"

For Shin '' Yoon-hwan, who arrived in Europe from the LCK Challengers in 2025 Summer, the time in LEC has been quite difficult. Leaving behind an disappointing results with , however, his face upon meeting in South Korea appeared noticeably brighter.

In an exclusive interview with Sheep Esports, Rooster opens up about his time in the LEC, his bond and gratitude toward midlaner Ilias 'nuc' Bizriken, thought about upcoming for free agency, and the mindset that continues to drive his ambition as a professional player.

Shin 'Rooster' Yun-hwan: “Since this is my first media interview in Korea, I am looking forward to it, but I also feel a bit nervous.

Rooster: It has been about two and a half weeks. I went on an overseas trip with friends, and mostly rested well at home.

Rooster: I think I mainly followed the LEC and LCK matches regularly.

Rooster: Watching the LEC playoffs, I felt some regret thinking that I could play like that or even better than that, but it was still fun to watch.

Rooster: As a professional player, remaining near the bottom of the standings for a year and a half was personally tough and hard on my mindset. However, I felt there were things I learned and areas where I grew up within Shifters and the LEC, so I was fine in that regard.

Rooster: Before going to Europe, I went in thinking I would dominate everyone in the LEC, but there were players who were better than I expected. Personally, I was already familiar with Kim ‘

Canna

’ Chang-dong since he had always been good, and along with Kaan ‘

Naak Nako

’ Okan and Sergen ‘

BrokenBlade

’ Çelik, those three players consistently delivered solid performances.

Rooster: I am grateful he said that. When I first joined Shifters, there were many times I struggled to adapt, but Ilias ‘

nuc

’ Bizriken helped me with in-game directions and looked out for me even when eating out after scrims. I am genuinely thankful to him.

The reason I was able to receive positive evaluations from officials and show better performances throughout the season was that nuc constantly approached me after matches, both in-game and during feedback, asking questions like ‘what more could I have done in a specific situation’ or ‘how we should have approached the side lane distribution’. That helped me grow significantly and showcase better form.

Also, I really liked his perspective on League of Legends and his individual mechanics, which made me appreciate him even more.

Rooster: nuc was a player who genuinely shocked me with his in-game level when I first arrived in Europe, so I hope he continues his career as a pro gamer and keeps playing League of Legends. Although I only spent a short time with Paul ‘’ Lardin, he is a dedicated player with a great mindset toward League of Legends and scrims, so I wish he would not give up on his dream as a professional player and keep going.

Rooster: I think my form in Europe was better than when I was in the Challengers League. When we scrimmed against Solary or Galions, there were games we lost and games we won, so I believe they are competitive enough against Challengers League teams and could certainly take games off them.

Rooster: I think the LEC teams can definitely contend for the title or show strong competitiveness. Personally, I really wanted to see Naak Nako from Team Vitality reach the World Championship and face Choi ‘

Zeus

’ Woo-je or Kim ‘

Kiin

’ Ki-in, so it is a bit unfortunate that could not happen.

Rooster: Looking at the playoffs before the World Championship, I usually consider to be the strongest, but other teams could also perform exceptionally well.

Rooster: I knew it was a prominent sports and esports agency, and I had seen their established success in baseball. Most importantly, I felt a high level of trust during our first meeting.

Rooster: My mindset is largely similar to back then, but my heart leans a bit more toward Europe. I went in with a strong desire to accomplish something in Europe, but having not achieved anything tangible over the past year and a half. So, I have an even stronger hunger to prove myself before leaving.

Rooster: I will mainly consider the teammates I would be playing with, the contract duration, and favorable overall terms.

Rooster: Zeus and Kiin. I want to test and see how competitive I am against them.

Rooster: What I can highlight with the most confidence is my mentality. Even when facing difficult situations or stepping onto big stages, I remain composed and consistently deliver solid performances.

Additionally, I constantly study how to outperform opponents by analyzing other top laners' gameplay across different leagues, and I believe that preparation translates well into actual games.

Rooster: Most importantly, my genuine love and enjoyment for the game of League of Legends play a huge role. When I first started out as a pro gamer, I did not fully realize it, but the cheering messages from fans and the atmosphere at the venue provided tremendous support.

Rooster: When you view it strictly as work, the enjoyment can fade and complacency can set in. I experienced that as well. However, the window of time one can pursue this as a career is relatively short, and sports are ultimately about competition. Thinking about that drives me to put in more effort, and knowing that this is an opportunity unique to this moment keeps me going.

Rooster: Even though I moved to the LEC, Korean fans who have supported me since my days continue to send encouraging messages and thoughtful gifts, and I am always grateful for that. Although my performances in Europe had shortcomings, I am confident that I will eventually qualify for the World Championship and win the title. I would be grateful if you could continue to believe in me and follow my journey.”