FNC Soboro on Summer Goals: "Qualifying for Worlds is an absolute must"

An iconic organization from the LEC of olds, has struggled thus far in 2026, perhaps facing one of the toughest years in its history. After back-to-back eighth and seventh-place finishes, the boys in black and orange now turn towards Summer with renewed hunger and determination to redeem their season.

On the other hand, , fresh off a relatively short stint with in the LPL, is also seeking redemption. Following a combined 12-28 game record and an early exit from the playoffs, the 22-year-old top laner failed to retain his starting spot on the team, effectively being forced to take a break during Split 2. Now, Soboro hopes to prove that he still has the talent to hold his own against some of the best players in the world, albeit in a different region.

In an exclusive interview, Fnatic’s newest member sat down with Sheep Esports to discuss his offseason, the progress his team has been making, and how he believes he will fare against the LEC competition.

Lim "Soboro" Seong-min: “Playing in the LEC and living in Berlin has been really good. The food is good, and the people are nice too. My teammates, the coaching staff, and our managers have all been great. I'm really happy right now.

Soboro: I'm really happy to be playing with my teammates. I think , and are all very good players. As for , I played with him at Gen.G Academy in 2021, so I already knew him. He trains hard, plays a lot, and watches a lot of VODs and POVs.

Soboro: I'm really happy to be playing with him again. First, because he's Korean, and second, because I like him. He sometimes makes the team laugh. I remember one time at the trainee dorm, we bought a whole watermelon to share, but we didn't have a knife. There was another trainee named Anthony, whose pro name was Resilience, and he ended up smashing it open. It splattered everywhere. That's a memory that still makes me laugh.

Soboro: Since we already knew each other, it's been easy and comfortable, even in-game. There are some nuanced English words that I don't know very well, so I'm learning a lot from him and trying to adjust so we can fit in together. I used English before when I was in Turkey, and I'm also taking a lot of lessons now to keep improving, so in-game communication has been going smoothly. But outside the game, people sometimes use words that I don't know, and that's when it gets a little confusing.

Soboro: We're past the stage of figuring out our direction in scrims. I think we've reached a point where, if we just do our own thing well, we can beat any team. So as long as we don't get nervous in official matches and just play our game, I believe we can be a real title contender.

Soboro: They're a team that has played in a lot of international events, and when people think of the strongest teams in Europe, it's usually and Fnatic. So even before joining, I already thought the roster was strong, and I thought it was a team that could go as high as I hoped. I thought really highly of them.

Soboro: I wasn't here last split, so I can't say for sure, but it seems like the team cohesion wasn't quite there, and there were also quite a few problems on the draft side. Since I joined, we've been talking a lot about those things, and it feels like it's going well now. If we keep going like this, I think we can get good results.

Soboro: I watched a lot of G2's matches against Eastern teams, and at this MSI, I also enjoyed watching and 's games.

Soboro: I really liked when he was on . I was originally a T1 fan, so I naturally cheered for T1, which meant cheering for Canna too.

Soboro: KC itself is a very strong team, so the match should be fun, and I'm looking forward to it. If we want to contend for a spot at Worlds, or for the LEC trophy, they're a team we absolutely have to beat. So we'll prepare well, and winning is the only thing on my mind.

Soboro: Honestly, since I took a break last split, I haven’t scrimmed at all, so I don’t think my current level if anything amazing. Nonetheless, I would say I’m at least within the top four. I hope that, by the end of the season, I could become the best toplaner in the league.

Soboro: I have a really clear understanding of how matchups play out, and I'm good at communicating a lot with my teammates to create plays, like dives and other setups we build together.

Soboro: There was a time when I had to decide on my pro name. I was at home, and my mom had bought some tuigim soboro bread. I'm from Daejeon, and I couldn't come up with any ideas, so I just thought, "Let's go with Soboro, since I'm from Daejeon anyway."

Soboro: Yes, that's right. Though honestly, it's just because my mom happened to buy the bread that day.

Soboro: I was still living with the team, so I followed the team's schedule, played solo queue, and watched scrims. But more than anything, I just wanted to play, and honestly, I doubted myself quite a lot. I kept thinking, "Am I really that bad? I want to prove myself." Those thoughts came up a lot, so I told my agency, "I want to play. I'd like you to find me a team where I can actually compete." Then a good opportunity came along, and now I'm preparing well.

Soboro: Our team is brimming with confidence right now, and I feel fairly confident about my own form at the moment too. As the competition goes on, my form should keep rising and the results should follow. Honestly, the only thought in my head is, "I want to compete already."

Soboro: After Summer, when my contract ends, I think my options will really open up depending on our results. But I think the environment in Europe itself is very good. If I could go back to Korea, I'd like to, but if I can see myself building a strong career in Europe on a team that can challenge for titles. In that context, part of me thinks the West might be the better choice.

Soboro: Career and I talked a lot last year, and he's a player I'm really close with. During the EWC, since it was in Paris, his schedule lined up with my scrim times, and he kept sending me messages in League. I actually haven't told him this yet, but I want to say: congratulations on the title. I always believed he would do well, it's great to see him proving it, and it would be nice to see him at Worlds this year.

Soboro: For a personal goal, making an All-Pro team feels like a good, realistic target. As for team goals, from the moment I came to Fnatic, my mindset has been that qualifying for Worlds is an absolute must. And if we make it to Worlds, by then I think we'll be a team that's fully capable of challenging for the title and breaking through the G2 and KC line.

Soboro: Honestly, I'm not really worried about that. When I played in China, IG was also a hugely popular team with a lot of fans, so I think it's a similar situation. Fnatic is a very big and popular team too. So I don't pay much attention to those things. In the end, if the results come, the fans will support me and support us even more, and that will actually help us. If anything, I'm excited about it.

Soboro: Fnatic fans might not have high expectations because results weren't great in previous splits. But after joining, the very first thing I felt was, "This is a team full of really talented players." Our practice process is going really well right now, and my teammates, as well as our coaches, are all setting a high bar as we prepare and push forward. So if you cheer us on, we will repay that support with results to match. Thank you.”